Chapter 31. 1:32.4
250 from the finish line, Mejiro Dober, leading the pack, was the first to ascend the uphill section of the Tokyo Racecourse's final straight.
Although she entered the uphill section, relying on the momentum she had conserved earlier, Mejiro Dober's speed showed no signs of diminishing, and she continued to widen the gap between herself and her opponents behind her.
"MEJIRO DOBER! NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN! THE OPPONENTS BEHIND ARE STILL CONTINUOUSLY BEING LEFT FURTHER BEHIND! WHERE IS AIR GROOVE?! WHERE IS AIR GROOVE?!"
After the live commentator asked this question, he was surprised to find Air Groove at the back of the pack.
"AIR GROOVE HAS JUST BROKEN OUT OF THE PACK! ONLY 200 METERS LEFT TO THE FINISH LINE! CAN SHE CATCH UP?! CAN SHE CATCH UP TO MEJIRO DOBER?!"
"IT LOOKS VERY DIFFICULT! IT LOOKS VERY DIFFICULT!"
After a series of self-questions and answers, the live commentator stood up.
"THE FINAL 150 METERS! MEJIRO DOBER IS GETTING FASTER AND FASTER! IT SEEMS THE PREVIOUS PACE HAD NO EFFECT ON HER! AIR GROOVE HAS MOVED INTO SECOND PLACE! BUT THERE'S STILL A SIX-LENGTH GAP BETWEEN HER AND MEJIRO DOBER!"
As his voice fell, Mejiro Dober first turned her head to the left to glance at the giant LED screen in the center of the Racecourse, confirming that the distance between Air Groove and herself was quite safe. Then she turned her head to the right to survey her opponents behind her again.
"UNBELIEVABLE! MEJIRO DOBER LOOKS BACK AT THE MOON!"
The live commentator keenly caught Mejiro Dober's small movement and shouted,
"THE PRESTIGE OF THE UNDEFEATED TRIPLE TIARA WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY WAVERING! MEJIRO DOBER IS ABOUT TO SHAKE OFF ALL HER OPPONENTS AND CROSS THE FINISH LINE FIRST!"
With the finish line 50 meters away, the gap between Mejiro Dober and Air Groove widened to seven lengths, while Air Groove had pulled four lengths ahead of Red Chili Pepper, who was in third place. The entire pack had split into three parts—Mejiro Dober in a class of her own, Air Groove forming her own group, and the remaining Uma Musumes barely participating in the race under Red Chili Pepper's lead.
"RUNNING WITH THE WIND! MEJIRO DOBER GALLOPS ACROSS THE TURF OF TOKYO RACECOURSE WITH THE SWIFT WIND! WHAT KIND OF TALENT IS THIS?! WHAT KIND OF POWER IS THIS?! MEJIRO DOBER HAS SHATTERED ALL PRE-RACE DOUBTS! THIS IS THE FIRST-EVER UNDEFEATED TRIPLE TIARA! THIS IS FOURTEEN G1 VICTORIES—NO, MEJIRO DOBER IS ABOUT TO BE CROWNED WITH HER FIFTEENTH G1 VICTORY! CONQUERING THE TRIPLE TIARA SERIES WORLDWIDE! THIS IS THE QUEEN IN THE QUEEN! THIS IS THE PRIDE OF THE MEJIRO FAMILY!"
As the live commentator was almost hoarse, Mejiro Dober's figure flashed past the finish line.
"MEJIRO DOBER CROSSES THE FINISH LINE! WHAT POWER! CRUSHING ALL 17 OTHER OPPONENTS! THE UMA MUSUME OF THE TEAM SADALSUUD ARE INDEED ALL VERY STRONG!"
Hearing this, Rice Shower lowered her head. And Shuta also frowned. Upon hearing this, he immediately turned to look at Rice Shower, noticing the Black Deer-haired Horse Girl's reaction.
"If you want to praise Dober, just praise her directly. Saying it like this just puts more pressure on Rice Shower, doesn't it?"
The young man expressed his dissatisfaction internally.
—
After Mejiro Dober crossed the finish line, Air Groove glanced at the fixed completion time on the display board—1:32.4.
"So fast, this completion time." she mused as she followed across the finish line. "Mine should be around 1 minute 33 and a half seconds, a difference of nearly a second."
But Air Groove also realized something during the final sprint. The gap between herself and Mejiro Dober was not that significant. Her complete defeat in this race was also related to Air Groove's hesitation in taking a position at the start.
"I was blocked for too long. If I could have broken out earlier, although it would still have been very difficult to win, I wouldn't have been left behind by such a large margin."
Air Groove, gradually easing up, reflected on herself.
Meanwhile, Tojo Hana in the stands extended her hand towards Shuta.
"It was a complete defeat on my part."
"Well, Dober was in great form today."
Shuta said with a smile, shaking Tojo Hana's hand, then quickly letting go.
"I haven't forgotten, Shuta-kun, you said this morning that Mejiro Dober was only at 95% today." Tojo Hana shook her head, complaining.
"Mejiro Dober is an Uma Musume who has already conquered the world. 95% is already very difficult to handle for Uma Musume, who has never left Japan." the young man reminded her. "You arranged many expeditions for El Condor Pasa back then, Miss Tojo, why didn't you consider it later?"
Tojo Hana waved her hand, not answering the reason. Shuta also didn't press the matter; if Tojo Hana felt she could tell him, she wouldn't have waved her hand.
"I'm going to pick up Dober and then head to the interview area, Miss Tojo?"
Shuta looked at his friend.
"I'll help you look after Miss Suzuka and the others."
Tojo Hana didn't plan to accept interviews now, so she found a good excuse.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Miss Tojo."
Shuta nodded, then stepped out of the restricted area in the stands.
—
When Shuta arrived at the exit of the underground passage at Tokyo Racecourse, Mejiro Dober was already standing there. Today, she hadn't lingered to greet all her opponents after the race; she had just chatted briefly with Air Groove before leaving, so she was, for once, earlier than the young man.
"I'm late." Standing in front of Mejiro Dober, Shuta An voluntarily admitted his mistake. "I hope Dober hasn't been waiting long?"
"No, not at all~ I just got here myself."
Mejiro Dober shook her head repeatedly, her hands behind her back,
"Ann, what do you think of my performance today?"
"Flawless."
The young man offered his praise without hesitation,
"The tactical execution was clean and decisive. You consciously pressured the front-runner to control the pace, mobilizing the initiative of the opponents behind her to box Air Groove in on the inside. Your finishing time of 1:32.4 is also a time that is not slower than any Yasuda Kinen winner—no, this finishing time would have won the Yasuda Kinen in any given year."
"Hmph hmph~~~, I'll perform even better than this at the Yasuda Kinen!"
Mejiro Dober hummed a few times, seemingly very pleased with her lover's evaluation.
"After the Yasuda Kinen, your next race will be overseas in the summer. Dober, just make sure you don't get injured; as for the rest—" S
huta An paused,
"You've already won 15 G1s, which is a monumental achievement that will be hard for any Uma Musume to rival for decades to come. For the final three races, Dober, just approach them with the mindset of running however makes you happy."
"Only the joy of victory is lasting." Mejiro Dober embraced her lover, breathing softly into his ear. "So Ann, you still have to help me win."
"That is my duty."
Considering that staff could come over at any moment, the young man resisted the urge to make a move.