In an instant, a grey meteor flashed across the track. Starlight pierced through the pack of Uma Musume in a heartbeat, closing in on Seiun Sky ahead.
Because of the doubled effect of her bonus, combined with her days of weighted training, her speed rose like a climbing rocket under the influence of these dual buffs.
Ahead, Seiun Sky, who had been feeling happy about her imminent victory just a second ago, felt a crushing sense of pressure surge from behind.
'What's going on... This feeling... it's like some kind of monster is chasing me...'
She turned her head slightly. The moment she saw that grey figure behind her, her pupils contracted sharply.
The other girl's golden eyes seemed to pierce toward her like sharp swords.
No— to be precise— they were piercing toward the finish line just a few hundred meters ahead.
That pressure wasn't directed at Seiun Sky personally, it was Starlight's thirst for victory manifesting into something physical.
"Divine Starlight has broken through the pack! Her speed is rising— it's rising in a straight line!"
"The leader, Seiun Sky, has realized the opponent is closing in, but it seems to be of no use!"
"The distance between the two is shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye! Three lengths, two lengths..."
Starlight overtook Seiun Sky at around the 100-meter mark. It wasn't until the two crossed the line that the data flashed onto the big screen.
1st Place: Divine Starlight
2nd Place: Seiun Sky
The gap between them: Three-quarters of a length.
Standing at the finish line, Starlight panted heavily as she stared at the screen announcing her victory. The tightly wound string in her heart finally relaxed.
"Let us offer our congratulations! The final winner is the underdog who surged from behind, Divine Starlight! In this race, she snatched the championship from Seiun Sky by three-quarters of a length."
"What a magnificent race! I didn't expect to see such an intense clash between these two contestants."
As the final results appeared, the time displayed on the screen made everyone present gasp.
"Gasp— Contestant Divine Starlight has broken the 1600-meter course record by a full three seconds!"
Outside the track, Inami looked at the grey figure standing at the finish line, her heart filled with both emotion and joy.
"Starlight..."
In the VIP room, Symboli Rudolf looked at the data on the screen in surprise.
While she might not have been entirely shocked that Starlight could win, the fact that the 1600-meter record had been shattered truly gave her a pleasant surprise.
"I will seize the championship..."
The girl's determined and confident voice echoed in her ears. A faint smile played on Rudolf's lips.
"I'm starting to look forward to her future performances."
After dropping those words quietly, Rudolf turned and left the VIP room.
"How can this be..."
Holding her head, Seiun Sky was in a state of disbelief.
"I clearly... I clearly made sufficient preparations. Divine Starlight... wait, that person..."
She suddenly remembered with a start that her own Trainer had told her the opponent was "nothing to fear."
"I should have known better than to let my guard down. I should have investigated her. Sigh..."
Seiun Sky sighed. Though she had lost the race, she had at least learned a lesson.
While there was certainly sadness, there was nothing she could do— the result was final, and the opponent had taken the crown while breaking a historical record.
Just as she was about to walk away, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her. The first thing to catch her eye was that pair of golden, hexagram-star pupils.
The girl's bangs had been scattered by the wind, though they were messy, it was a perfect kind of mess.
"Divine Starlight... congratulations."
"Thank you. You were very impressive this time, Seiun Sky-san."
Reverting to her usual listless state, Seiun Sky threw up her hands. "What's the use of being impressive? I still lost to you..."
"No, Seiun Sky. The gap between us was actually very small. Three-quarters of a length— you were doing your best, while I was risking my life. That's all."
"So, I'm looking forward to our next match."
"Is that so... Me too. I didn't put in much effort this time, once I train a few more days for the next one, I'll definitely beat you."
"Hahaha..."
Hearing such a typical slacker remark, Starlight couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"What are you laughing at? I really only lost because I didn't train much this time."
"Mhm, next time you want to find me, you don't have to ask around the entire training center. You can just call my name directly."
"Also... I was actually there several times during your early morning practices, you know~ You're really quite hardworking."
Starlight tidied her hair, letting her bangs cover her eyes once more. After finishing her playful remark, she turned and ran toward Inami and Helios.
By the time Seiun Sky snapped out of it, the other girl was already far away. Watching that grey figure, Sky's face suddenly flushed bright red.
"Being exposed in public like that is so embarrassing... Divine Starlight..."
"Trainer~ I won the race!!"
"Yes, I saw. You were truly amazing— "
"Eh, Helios, why are you here?"
"Hey~ I'm hurt! We clearly agreed that I'd come see your race. I even cheered specifically for you."
"I'm just kidding~ Hehe, thank you for coming, I'm really happy."
"You rascal, to celebrate your success, remember to treat me to some sweets!"
"Fine, the day after tomorrow is a holiday. Come find me, and I'll take you to that same dessert shop..."
"Really? Yahoo— too good!"
Because she won the race, Starlight no longer had to worry about the crisis of being expelled.
Currently, it was the day after her race. In the morning, the outside temperature was very high, the sun shining down was enough to make anyone feel drowsy.
After class ended, the teacher glanced at the state of the class, said nothing, and turned to leave the classroom.
Many Uma Musume woke up and stood, some chatted, while others went to the restroom in pairs. As for our Starlight, she was still slumped over her desk, not yet awake from her dreams.
Her front-seat neighbor, Super Creek, was currently sitting sideways against the wall, her gaze drifting toward Starlight at the desk behind her from time to time.
At that moment, a brown-haired Uma Musume walked over. She had a streak of white in her bangs shaped like a bayonet.
Her brow was filled with a heroic and sharp aura, and she wore a red paper crane earring on her right ear.
She looked like the kind of character you wouldn't want to mess with.
Coming to Starlight's side, she reached out and knocked on the desk.
"Hey, Divine Starlight-san, where is your homework?"
"Mmm... that... it's in the desk drawer. Could you just grab it yourself?" Starlight mumbled groggily.
"No... that won't do. Get up and hand it to me yourself."
Her ears twitched slightly, Starlight's voice just now had been quite cute. Yaeno Muteki's face even turned a faint shade of red.
After crawling out of her slumber, Starlight rubbed her sleepy eyes, pulled out her workbook, and handed it over.
"Here..."
"Oh dear, it seems Starlight stayed up late last night?" Super Creek said with a gentle smile.
"Mmm, not exactly. It's just that there are two cats in the room, and they've been very rowdy in the middle of the night lately, so I didn't sleep well."
"Oh? You have cats? Can I come see them next time?"
"Of course."
Yaeno Muteki didn't join their conversation and simply turned to walk away. However, after the third period ended, she came back again.
"Divine Starlight-san, where is your practical report?"
"Eh? Isn't that being collected tomorrow?"
"Is... is that so? I must have remembered wrong. Sorry."
Watching her walk away, Starlight was a bit puzzled.
Once the final class of the day ended and Starlight was preparing to head to lunch, Yaeno Muteki approached her once more.
"Divine Starlight-san, please wait a moment."