'Oh no, I forgot about that!'
Sakura Baimu's face remained impassive, but her heart pounded wildly.
She hadn't mastered Zone either, but she had Aura.
She could easily tell whether Rice Shower had activated Zone or was only using Aura by observing the strength of the Aura displayed on her.
Zone enhances both speed and Aura in every aspect, so Rice Shower's current state, which Sakura Baimu perceived as relatively weak Aura, couldn't possibly be the result of activating Zone.
Sakura Baimu couldn't explain her reasoning in realistic terms, so she replied expressionlessly:
"Just guessing."
"Tch—"
Sakura Baimu's answer was met with disdain from Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, and Smart Falcon.
"So, it's possible that Rice has activated Zone? She's only recently recovered. Can she still use Zone?"
Smart Falcon's heart, which had just settled after Sakura Baimu's words, tightened again.
"When you don't know, you can just look at her expression. During the Takarazuka Kinen, Rice Shower's expression and complexion clearly showed that she was very weak. That's a sign that Zone was draining her life force."
"Looking at Rice Shower this time, she doesn't show any weakness. Her face only shows determination and focus. So even if she really has activated Zone, it shouldn't put too much strain on her body right now."
"Oh~"
Smart Falcon nodded and murmured, finally feeling somewhat relieved.
The race had now become a stage for Rice Shower to shine.
The attention that had been focused on Ogura Storm had shifted back to Rice Shower.
Rice Shower established a lead of over 10 lengths over Ogura Storm in less time than it had taken her to do so against Holy Jacket, who was in second place.
Rice Shower's pace, similar to that of Spring Tenno Sho Mejiro McQueen's, was naturally dazzling in this G3 race.
At this moment, the gap between a G1 Umamusume and the other Umamusumes was laid bare.
Rice Shower was simply too dazzling on the track, impossible to look away from.
The commentator, who had been reporting on Ogura Storm for quite some time, began excitedly reporting on Rice Shower's progress.
"Too fast! Rice Shower is incredibly fast!"
"Such a huge difference! Rice Shower has pulled far ahead of Ogura Storm!"
"200 Meters to go!"
"What kind of speed is this?! Rice Shower who unfortunately fractured her leg at the Takarazuka Kinen has achieved this speed in her comeback race just a month later!"
"Is this Rice Shower's strength? Is this the strength that defeated the 'strongest active-duty runner'?!"
Tokai Teio & Mejiro McQueen: "..."
---
On the track, Rice Shower was currently focused on the feedback coming from every part of her body.
She didn't begin focusing on her body only at the final corner.
She had been focused from the moment she entered the gate.
"Onee-sama told Rice that in this race, Rice shouldn't worry about others and should focus on the feedback from her whole body."
"Feel every muscle, every cell."
"Run at Rice's best without using Zone as much as possible."
Just as Sakura Baimu had instructed, Rice Shower wasn't concerned about winning or losing from the start.
In this race, she focused entirely on feeling her body's recovery.
Although Rice Shower discovered she could run on the day she joined TCB,
that was training, and there was still a difference between that and a real race.
"Rice's legs feel so light, her lungs are full of oxygen, and every muscle in Rice's body is brimming with power."
"She's recovered! Rice is really recovered! Rice is fully recovered!"
"Rice can feel it! Rice is stronger than before! Stronger than during the Tenno Sho in the spring!"
"Even stronger than during the Takarazuka Kinen!"
"Onee-sama didn't lie to Rice! Rice can really keep running! Rice can really keep racing! Rice is even better than before!"
"Rice Shower! Now, with a huge lead—"
"Crosses the finish line!"
Deafening cheers and applause echoed throughout Kokura Racecourse as Rice Shower crossed the finish line.
Rice Shower looked around at the cheers and applause erupting for her for the first time.
And feeling the surge of energy and the complete lack of discomfort after finishing the race...
Joy and excitement finally welled up in Rice Shower's eyes, turning into glistening tears.
After so many races, this was the first time Rice Shower had heard genuine cheers and applause from the audience.
This was also the only race in Rice Shower's career that truly brought her joy and happiness.
A fleeting moment of brilliance will ultimately be forgotten by history, and an Umamusume with only a few occasional flashes of brilliance is unlikely to be remembered with a positive image.
Regarding Rice Shower's grievous injury at the Takarazuka Kinen, where she single-handedly ended the M.T. duel:
While many were surprised, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
After all, Rice Shower had previously thwarted Mihono Bourbon's dream of a Triple Crown in a similar manner.
Rice Shower, relying on self-sacrifice, defeated two of the strongest active-duty runners before suffering a brutal end—a result befitting an assassin.
But...
"Rice Shower makes a high-profile comeback after more than a month away due to injury."
"In this Kitakyushu Kinen, she has once again demonstrated her extraordinary strength."
"Rice Shower has proven to all the spectators that her strength isn't simply the result of burning the candle at both ends or pushing her body to its limits to produce a dazzling performance."
"Rice Shower has proven herself!"
"Rice Shower is not some 'one-hit wonder' Black Assassin! She is a chaser! A true chaser!"
"Blue Rose Chaser!"
"Let's congratulate Rice Shower on her comeback and celebrate her return!"
"She overcame her injury and proved her strength to all the spectators!"
"She is the true protagonist of this Kitakyushu Kinen!"
The commentator's excited voice echoed throughout the entire Kitakyushu Kinen venue.
Many spectators, moved by the commentator's passionate words, turned their attention to Rice Shower, who was in tears and happily waving to the audience, and gave her even more enthusiastic applause.
Several TCB members, including Sakura Baimu, also happily applauded Rice Shower.
But just then, a clicking sound rang in their ears.
Click
Smart Falcon took a picture of Rice Shower, who was displaying an angelic, healing smile in the hall.
"Rice-chan is amazing! Falcon is going to send this picture to Miss Bourbon!"
Smart Falcon's excited voice caused the TCB Umamusumes and Sakura Baimu to stop clapping.
Everyone turned to look at Smart Falcon, who was intently tapping on her phone, with strange expressions.
"Um... I was just saying... is it possible that Miss Bourbon... can't use a phone?"