"Seiun Sky's uphill speed is incredible! Can the other Uma Musume behind her still catch up?"
Quite a few of them had taken losses on uphills before. Naturally, they'd all done uphill training since then. Their current uphill speed was matching Seiun Sky's stride for stride.
But matching wasn't enough. Closing an eight-length gap wasn't that simple, especially not this late in the race.
Several uma musume threw every ounce of strength they had left into the chase, but they still couldn't close the distance.
"Damn it, there's no time left."
"How does she still have this kind of speed? An uma musume who just debuted is crushing us like this?"
Was it really a gap in raw strength?
No. They'd just misjudged the entire race.
From the moment they gave up chasing Seiun Sky in the midfield, they'd already lost. They just didn't know it yet.
With more skills than they had and a unique skill on top of that, it would've been hard for Seiun Sky to lose even if she tried.
They'd given up chasing in the corner, too. Of course, this was the result.
If it were Grass Wonder or Special Week, there might still be a chance to catch a front-runner like Seiun Sky in the final phase. But them? Completely impossible.
"Hehe, idiots! I'm going ahead!" Seiun Sky had already crested the slope and could see the finish line waiting for her.
"The final fifty meters! Seiun Sky still leads by seven lengths!"
The spectator seats erupted. Everyone was shouting her name, screaming encouragement at the tops of their lungs.
"Go, Seiun Sky!"
"Go for it!!"
She crossed the line.
The announcer called it two seconds early.
"SEIUN SKY HAS REACHED THE FINISH! With powerful strides, she's dominated the entire Osaka Hai GII!"
"Seiun Sky wins her first Grade race by seven lengths! What an absolutely crushing performance!"
Having won the race, Seiun Sky enthusiastically waved to the audience. The applause and cheers got even louder in response, the noise washing over her like a wave.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey! Thank you, thank you!"
"Thank you to my trainer's help, thank you for everyone's support, thank you for all the applause and cheers!"
"I, Seiun Sky, will work hard!" She pumped her fist. "Let's set a small goal of dominating both Spring and Autumn first!"
"My first Grade race. I really didn't expect it. Even I, Seiun Sky, have a day like this! Hahaha!"
After responding to the audience, she glanced at the other uma musume sprawled on the ground, completely spent.
Thank you for looking down on me, Seiun Sky from the countryside. If you hadn't taken such good care of me, the outcome really would've been hard to say.
Seiun Sky has won a Grade-level race. Reward distributed: Base stat points +12.
Seiun Sky's affection +10. Has risen to Level 3. Personal profile updated. Can now view.
Name: Seiun Sky
Intimacy Level: 3
About ears: Sometimes meaningfully straightens them.
About tail: Doesn't need maintenance, naturally becomes smooth.
Unlock more information by increasing intimacy.
For the stat points right now, Hayato allocated them all to Stamina and Guts. He'd been wondering if the slowdown in stat increases was caused by stat imbalance.
Even if that wasn't the case, it didn't matter. Raising them had benefits regardless. After allocating them, Hayato instantly felt much more refreshed.
"How about it? Does my Seiun Sky qualify to compete in the Tenno Sho Spring now?"
The question was naturally directed at Tojo Hana beside him.
"Hehe, it was just luck."
She didn't say it like praise. Maybe she was never the type to do that.
"Just luck?" Hayato looked down at Seiun Sky on the track. "If it's luck, then fine. Luck is part of strength, too. If I can make her luckily win once, I can make her luckily win again. Luckily win the Osaka Hai… and luckily win the Tenno Sho Spring as well."
…At this point, could it still really be called luck?
"Then I'll be waiting." Tojo Hana stepped away.
Maruzensky smiled. "Mr. Hayato sure talks a big game."
"Uh... it has nothing to do with me. It's all the result of their own growth."
"How modest." Maruzensky's eyes narrowed with amusement.
As Hayato and Maruzensky were chatting, Rudolf Symbol suddenly spoke up. "I'm planning to hold a tea party. Would Hayato Trainer be interested in coming?"
Hayato could tell that for Rudolf Symbol to say this, she must have gathered tremendous courage.
"Rudolf, you're holding a tea party?" Even Maruzensky beside her looked startled. She really didn't expect those words to come from the President's mouth.
Air Groove glanced at Hayato, then looked at Rudolf Symbol. She didn't understand why the proud President would suddenly talk about holding a tea party either.
President, do you even know what a tea party is? Could this be another one of your jokes?
Hayato felt it wouldn't be that simple, so he didn't want to agree just yet.
At that moment, Oguri Cap walked over, having finished the snacks in her hand. She was rubbing her stomach. "Trainer, shouldn't we celebrate?"
Cough... Cough...Seiun won the race. What does it have to do with you? Don't talk to me while rubbing your stomach, Oguri!
Whenever Oguri Cap rubbed her stomach, Hayato got nervous.
Watching Hayato shrink back like that, Maruzensky found it amusing. "How about we all go together? My treat!"
Rich girl Maruzensky was obviously loaded and didn't care about that kind of expense.
"That's not really appropriate, is it?" Hayato tried to deflect.
Having someone treat them was great, of course. Hayato really didn't want his newly earned ten-million-yen prize money disappearing into Oguri Cap's stomach.
"Trainer, I think we shouldn't refuse others' goodwill." Oguri Cap wasn't about to miss this food invitation.
I didn't expect you to be this kind of person, Oguri Cap... Hayato nodded. "Alright then, but we have to go after Seiun Sky's winning stage."
"Um, the tea party..." Rudolf Symbol still wanted to try.
Air Groove's eyes kept flickering. President, that's really not a cold joke?
"Forget it. I've got nothing else going on anyway. If you're inviting me, I'll go." Hayato felt he still couldn't refuse this invitation.
"If you're inviting me, I won't refuse either." Oguri Cap was already giving Rudolf Symbol a longing look.
Please, this is a tea party, not an eating contest. If you go, no amount of pastries will be enough for you.
"Mm."
Surprisingly, Rudolf Symbol agreed.