"Time really flies so quickly when you set a goal in mind, huh?"
One month goes by, and before anyone knows it, Tokyo Hai is right in front of them.
Just as scheduled before, this is the race that Haru Urara will be partaking in regardless of whether it's a G2 race. The young man remembers that he will take things slowly with Haru Urara, but the cute pink blob caught the stupid disease from the Monarch.
"Slluuuurrrrpppp~~~~ Aaaahh~~ I can't believe Urara gets to race in a G-two before me." Says a dejected first-rate king.
"I wasn't planning on signing her on one."
Amongst the spectators, a certain red-haired young man and first-rate umamusume can be seen sitting together. They're the parents of one of the runners. But if one is even more perceptive, one can see their long-white-haired uncle, who is selling hachimi after escaping her training.
"Do you think Urara can win?"
"I hope so… It would certainly be a challenge."
"GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE!!! THE DAY MIGHT BE COLD, BUT THE SPIRIT STILL BURNS HOT!!! WELCOME TO THIS YEAR'S TOKYO HAI!!!"
The announcer's voice rang from every speaker on the racetrack. Her enthusiasm for the race was palpable, as if she was screaming directly in your ears.
"NOW!! LET US WELCOME OUR RUNNERS FOR TONIGHT!!!"
"Ooh~~ That's Urara!!!" The mother screams proudly while pointing at her daughter on the race track.
The pink blob of a daughter is smiling ear-to-ear as she joyfully jogs on the race track amongst the other runners. Her mood was made even clearer when most runners simply waved with just their hands, but the daughter waved with her entire arms.
"She takes after you…"
"And which part are you talking about? But tonight's race is quite stacked, isn't it?"
"Yeah…"
The young man couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the participant list for tonight's race. Since this was a G2 race, he expected to know only one or two names, but his eyes almost popped out of their sockets when he read the list. Those names were: Copano Rickey, Wonder Acute, Shinko Windy, Espoir City, Yukino Bijin, and most importantly—
"HERE SHE COMES!! THE DIRT DEMON!!!"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!!!"
Smart Falcon.
Smart Falcon's name is referred to with both fear and awe amongst those who race in the dirt. You can imagine just how dominant you must be in a race for people to call you the Dirt Demon. Even Symboli Rudolf only receives the moniker of the Emperor instead of the Turf Emperor, because even her reign on the turf is still contested.
Smart Falcon is different.
There was a year that is dubbed as the Age of Darkness on the dirt racing scene, and it all happened because of Smart Falcon. Her domination during that year was so ABSOLUTE that it said only the Three Goddesses could actually hold a candle to her.
"Most of them are most likely here to duel against Smart Falcon."
"Yeah… That girl is a monster."
"Quite sad for her idol's image, huh?"
"Can't be helped considering how scary running against her is."
Also, since Yukino Bijin is here, I assume Gold City is watching this in her apartment with Ellerslie and Folkqueen.
The Dirt Demon has a perfectly round head to the point that it hardly produces air resistance if it weren't for her almond-colored hair, which she fastened into a twintail with a pair of checkered ribbons.
"Can I be honest? I don't feel confident about Urara's prospect of winning."
"Yeah… It can't be helped."
The runners enter their gate one by one and do their pre-run routine. Everyone has their eyes on the Dirt Demon, but only 2 have their eyes on the pink blob. Urara is the 13th favorite to win, so it's no wonder why no one is looking at her, even though she is a member of Team Minaz.
*Beep*
*Beep*
*Beep*
…
…
…
…
*BAAAAAAM*
"AND THEY'RE OFF!!!!!"
Smart Falcon activated [Focus] Level 4, [Early Lead] Level 3, and [Front Runner Savvy] Level 5
"AS EXPECTED OF THE DIRT DEMON, SHE BURST THROUGH THE GATE AND LEFT EVERYONE IN HER WAKE!!!"
She is not helping her cause…
Copano Rickey and Wonder Acute activated [Pace Chaser Savvy] Level 3.
Haru Urara activated [Slipstream] Level 1
Haru Urara gained a hint for [Late Surger Straightaways]
"Aaahh!! Urara is tailing someone, and she seems to be keeping up pretty well!!!"
"At the very least, she could learn something from this race…"
It feels wrong for the young man to accept that Haru Urara has no chance to win, considering he is her trainer. If anyone here is to believe in Urara's chance to win, it should be him.
Sorry, Urara… Even in thousands of simulations, I simply couldn't imagine the current you winning against them.
Haru Urara gained a hint for [Late Surger Savvy]
The race is just outright unbalanced. It's as if the spectators are watching 2 entirely different races, with the named umamusumes taking center stage at the front of the pack and the rest being left behind. Haru Urara used the Late Surger strategy, but the distance between her and the lead makes it seem like she is using the End Closer strategy.
This… is a complete defeat.
And it seems that it wasn't just the young man who thinks like that. Those who were left behind stop even trying to run, as the front pack is entering the last corner and eventually the last spurt. Even the announcer stops paying attention to the leftovers and only focuses on the front pack.
Haru Urara activated [Corner Acceleration] Level 1, [Corner Adept] Level 1, and [Super Duper Climax] Level 1
"Urara…"
Everyone except for the smallest one…
The young man can see his trainee, upon whom he has lost hope, advancing through the ranks of the runners until she positioned herself in seventh place. In her eyes, the fire for first place has not been extinguished, even with the distance between her and Smart Falcon.
And then the young man remembered who he was training…
The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere…
"Hahahahaha…"
"Eh?"
Of course!! She is the dumbest of the dumbest!! Of course she would not understand when to give up!!!
BUT THAT'S HARU URARA!! THE MOST BELOVED HORSE WHO COULD NEVER WIN A SINGLE RACE!!!!
"AND SMART FALCON CROSSES THE LINE FIRST, WITH ESPOIR CITY TAKING SECOND PLACE AND WONDER ACUTE TAKING THIRD!!!!!"
Haru Urara gained a hint for [Homestretch Haste], [Relax], and [Start the Charge]
"Seventh, huh…"
"Well… Amongst sixteen runners, Urara is placed seventh. That isn't bad, right, Trainer Igo?"
"Heh… No… She can do better."
"Eh…"
"I'm her father, mama. I have to believe in our daughter's potential when no one else does."
"Papa…"