"Today, thousands have gathered to witness this historic moment with their own eyes!"
"The last race of the Triple Tiara, the [Queen Elizabeth II Cup]; G1 Turf, 2200 meters!"
Obey Your Master whistled as she took her seat. "「Goddamn!」The crowd's going crazy." She smirked. "But that's good. A performer needs to have a large audience, right?"
The old man sitting next to her gave her no reply, nor was he expected to. He was simply someone designated as Obey's guide throughout her stay in Japan, whether that meant becoming her cab driver or her chauffeur.
Obey playfully clicked her tongue. "No reaction? 「How boring.」"
"Today, twelve exceptional umamusume shall enter the main track!"
Dicta Striker smirked as she crossed her legs. "So six dropped out, huh? That's honestly not bad!"
Mejiro Ardan hummed. "Perhaps it has something to do with how Blossom Star prefers to run in front of everyone else." She calmly drank from her cup of tea. "The lack of a constant threat hanging behind one's neck would inspire a little more confidence, I suppose."
Dicta cleared her throat, resisting the urge to laugh. "Man, you make it sound so damn sarcastic." She didn't disagree, though. Compared to running with Oguri, Blossom Star's Great Escapes was a little less soul-crushing. It was an instant feeling of defeat instead of a constant growing terror that built through the entire race.
"First of all! 1st block, 1st gate,"
"Having already won the previous two races of the Triple Tiara, she now covets the last jewel!"
"The Comet that soars across the track! One of the Heroes of our current generation!"
"The first favorite—Blossom Star!"
The audience of tens of thousands exploded with cheers as Blossom Star stepped onto the track. Garbed in her G1 outfit, with her new golden star dangling from her left ear—combined with her confidence and seeming indifference to the crowd's excitement, she cut a heroic figure as she walked onto the racetrack.
Fujimasa March gulped as she saw the burning fervor of the crowd around her. This wasn't the first time she'd experienced this—the crowd's excitement had been just as incredible back during Oguri's [Kikuka Sho], but she was still unused to it all.
Belno smiled gently. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it eventually, March-san."
March sighed. "Hopefully." She then watched as Star silently entered her own gate, and she frowned slightly. "Will she be okay?"
"Of course she will!" Kitahara easily said, grinning ear to ear. "This is Star we're talking about. She'll surprise us all just like usual." He glanced to Musaka, who sat next to him. "Ain't that right, Roppei-san?"
"It's Musaka, you fool!" He retorted instinctively, before he sighed. "And she'll be fine, girl. She's been preparing for this from the very start."
"...is that so?" March eventually said, clenching her fists. Knowing that Star had been planning on heading to Central from the very start made her feel somewhat inadequate, but she quickly swallowed her feelings up.
All the while, Oguri Cap remained silent, her eyes having not moved for even a second from Star. There was a quiet confidence in her shoulders; she was completely certain in Star's victory from the very start.
"Now, 5th block, 6th gate,"
"Previously having taken 2nd place in the [Japanese Oaks], she displayed incredible stamina by shadowing Blossom Star throughout nearly the entire race!"
"The second favorite—Sakura Chiyono O!"
Maruzensky smiled fondly as she saw Chiyono O step onto the track. "She looks so confident~." She giggled. "How cute."
Symboli Rudolf smiled wryly as she reclined into her chair. "Don't you ever fear that you've doted on her far too much?"
"Dote? No, no, I'm just being a good senpai, that's all~" She then gave her an amused glance. "Besides, I don't think you have the privilege to say that either, my dear Emperor. Don't you have a little admirer yourself?"
She cleared her throat. "She…simply refuses to leave, that is all."
Maruzensky raised an eyebrow. Of course, she didn't believe that in the slightest. Rudolf could've easily leveraged her position as the Student Council President, but she hadn't. Little Teio was basically granted early access to Tracen Central due to Rudolf's growing affection for the young umamusume.
"But this shall be no easy race." Rudolf then added, smiling slightly. "Blossom Star remains an indomitable threat." She glanced back. "Can Sakura Chiyono O catch up to her fleeting figure this time?"
Maruzensky smiled back. "Who knows~?"
"6th block, 8th gate,"
"She's previously placed 3rd in the [Japanese Derby], but the strength she displayed can't be ignored! And with her recent victory in the [Miyako Stakes], it's clear she's at her best condition!"
"The third favorite—Yaeno Muteki!"
Muteki took a deep breath as she walked onto the racecourse. The turf beneath her was in good condition—perfect for a race. Sakura Chiyono smiled and waved as she approached, and Muteki returned a small wave of her own. She then glanced at Star's gate, but Star gave no response.
She nodded. That was good. It meant that Star was truly focused.
"Let's have a good race, Yaeno-san!" Chiyono O said, her smile sharp and confident.
Muteki returned a focused nod. "Let's." And saying no more, she walked towards her own gate. The metal doors slammed close behind her, and she took a breath as she rolled her shoulders.
This time would be different. She couldn't feasibly shadow Blossom Star like Chiyono O likely would; she simply didn't have the stamina to sustain such a grueling pace. But she'd trained extensively during the summer camp and the months leading up to this race.
It no longer mattered if she won or lost.
She would give it her all, no matter what.
"All runners have entered their gates!"
"Now, it is time! Will Japan be greeted with a new possessor of the Triple Tiara, or will Fate take a turn?"
"Which umamusume will shine today!?"
Obey Your Master snorted. "「So dramatic…」" She smirked as she leaned back, relaxing into her chair. Looking at the audience around her, it was clear that they were all expecting the same thing.
Blossom Star was just too overwhelming. Her victory was practically guaranteed.
Obey didn't disagree, but she thought differently. Star's showing in the [Japanese Oaks] had been incredible, but that was the thing. That amazing display had been what she'd shown over 5 months ago. Nearly half a year had gone by since Star once again stepped onto the racetrack, and Obey had no doubts that she would display a performance even more dazzling than anyone could ever imagine.
So blow them all away, Blossom Star.
Destroy them all.
"Now, it's time for the [Queen Elizabeth II Cup] to begin…!"
The world grew silent. The audience waited in tense silence. The runners subtly positioned themselves, ready to burst forward the moment the gates opened. The clouds above lazily drifted through the sky, occasionally blotting out the sun's light.
And unnoticed by most, a small smile curved Blossom Star's lips.
BANG!
"The gates have opened!"