"Ha… ha… ha…"
In the final straight, both Mejiro McQueen and Meisho Doto were giving it their all. The two Uma Musume, who had previously trained together with weights to lose weight, had now removed them, as if they had removed their constraints, unleashing unprecedented power!
Their bodies felt lighter than ever; their legs experienced a freedom they had never known, as if they were flying. After adapting to the weights, it allowed McQueen and Doto to unleash even greater bursts of speed than before!
"As expected of Doto-san, I knew you would be the most difficult opponent in this race."
Mejiro McQueen watched Doto, who was about half a length ahead of her. Even though she was panting, she spoke to Doto with a tone of admiration:
"I've always watched your training, your dedication, your effort, and that conviction—I knew your strength would exceed my expectations, and it truly has!"
"...I just don't want to let Trainer down."
Doto bravely expressed her view. On the racetrack, Doto was more courageous and decisive than her usual self. Although not as imposing as McQueen, as an Uma Musume that was running for victory, Doto had already contended with McQueen for countless rounds.
Suddenly, it was as if the phantom images of two Racehorses condensed behind them, constantly clashing, competing, and neighing, yet neither would even concede an inch, nor give the other any opening.
They both held onto their beliefs, they both refused to lose, and they both hoped their victory would be witnessed by those they cared about!
"Trainer, he is watching me."
"So I absolutely... ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LOSE!"
Doto gritted her teeth and continued to swing her body. Her point of acceleration was slightly earlier than McQueen's, which led to a lack of stamina now, but there was still some distance to the finish line.
The final straight was the most crucial place for determining the outcome of the race. At this moment, Doto had no other option but to cling to and block Mejiro McQueen—as long as she could maintain her half-length advantage, McQueen would be truly incapable of doing anything.
"Tch." McQueen also gritted her teeth slightly. Doto was more tenacious than she had imagined, not falling behind in their clash of Aura, making it nigh impossible for her to overtake Doto.
Was she really going to lose this race?
"McQueen! Don't lose!"
In the stands, the Mejiro Family sisters were also shouting vigorously to cheer on McQueen. Mejiro Ryan stood up and yelled to McQueen on the track:
"Swing your arms! McQueen! Get all your muscles working!"
"R- Ryan-nee, McQueen won't hear you even if you're shouting like that..." Mejiro Dober, who was beside her, saw the gazes of others around them and, being somewhat shy, seemed to feel embarrassed.
And most importantly, Grandmother was also nearby; they should maintain the elegance expected of the Mejiro Family. Dober was worried that Ryan's actions would earn her a scolding from Grandmother.
However, fortunately, Grandmother seemed very calm, always focusing on the race but neither cheering nor frowning. She seemed quite composed… "Darn it, can anyone closer cheer for McQueen!" Mejiro Ryan anxiously looked around. McQueen was the only one currently racing; otherwise, they could've helped ease some of the pressure McQueen was facing, allowing her to find an opportunity to break through.
But now they could do nothing, not even find a good spot to cheer. Were they just going to watch McQueen lose to Meisho Doto like this?
"Leave it to us!"
Just then, a figure suddenly leaped from the stands. An Uma Musume with long silver-gray hair who was carrying a young man on her back swiftly moved from the top to the bottom of the stands—the area closest to the track!
"Gold Ship?!"
"Everyone, please move aside!" However, Gold Ship, who had appeared without warning carrying Imanami, paid no attention to the gazes of others. Instead, she quickly continued running along the track's direction with Imanami on her back, shouting as she ran:
"McQueen! Go for it! The old man is here to cheer you on too! Don't lose!"
"!"
However, Gold Ship's voice made McQueen, who was locked in a stalemate with Doto on the track, stiffen. She instinctively looked outside the track and saw Gold Ship's running figure, almost keeping pace with her while carrying Imanami. On Gold Ship's back, Trainer Imanami, with gauze still covering his nose, was clearly recognizable to McQueen.
Trainer Imanami, why was he here? Wasn't he still not allowed to leave the hospital?
"—Miss McQueen, focus!"
However, Imanami seemed to notice McQueen's eyes and immediately, with a serious tone, prompted her: "Don't get distracted! Focus wholeheartedly on the race! The finish line in front of you is the only thing you need to pay attention to!"
"...Is that McQueen's provisional Trainer? The Takatoshi Imanami she always talks about?"
At this moment, the Mejiro Family Head in the stands finally reacted. Watching Takatoshi Imanami, who was riding on Gold Ship, not simply bursting out in a burst of enthusiasm to cheer for McQueen, but rather telling her to concentrate on the race, she finally showed a slight smile and nodded.
"...Not bad, but considering such a young Trainer, it's truly rare."
"Trainer Imanami…" McQueen's expression was slightly dazed, but she quickly refocused her attention on the race at Imanami's reminder.
For McQueen, encouragement might not directly change the course of the race, but she clearly unleashed a stronger Aura to try and overwhelm Meisho Doto ahead of her. McQueen's leg speed also continuously accelerated, clinging to Meisho Doto's half-length gap without letting go!
Doto also felt the pressure increase severalfold, but she still gritted her teeth and persevered.
"I absolutely cannot lose—Trainer's expectations! I cannot let him down!"
The struggle between Doto and McQueen put immense pressure on both Uma Musume. Just as they were locked in a stalemate, a sharp figure suddenly burst into their duel!
"It's Tokai Teio! Tokai Teio is surging forward!"
"What?!"
Tamamo Cross's words startled both McQueen and Doto. They then noticed that Tokai Teio, whom they had left behind, had somehow caught up and was now about one length away from them!
"haaaAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH—!!!" Tokai Teio screamed with all her might, surging forward. The gap between her and Special Week behind her widened. Her eyes fixed on McQueen and Doto ahead, she shouted:
"YOUARENOTALLOWEDYOUARENOTALLOWED! YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE ME BEHIND LIKE THIS!!!!!"
"THE LEGEND OF THE INVINCIBLE TOKAI TEIO IS JUST BEGINNING!!!"
"Teio…"
At this moment, neither McQueen nor Doto had expected Tokai Teio, who had clearly fallen behind, to surge forward again. Faced with Tokai Teio's unstoppable Aura, Doto's Aura, which had been clashing with McQueen, suddenly stopped, and she instinctively felt a hint of fear.
She had already given her all to block McQueen, but Tokai Teio's entry disrupted her rhythm, causing Doto to momentarily panic.
And Doto's moment of fear instantly sobered McQueen, who immediately seized the opportunity!
"There it is!" McQueen's mind suddenly recalled Imanami's warning: focus on the race!
"Oh oh oh! Doto lost speed for a moment; was she intimidated by Tokai Teio? An— MCQUEEN! MEJIRO MCQUEEN HAS PASSED DOTO AND IS NOW ACCELERATING!"
"The final fifty meters! Mejiro McQueen is accelerating a second time! There is no one in front of her! No one can stop her now!"
This is bad! At this moment, Doto, who had reacted, and Teio, who had unexpectedly interfered, both watched McQueen's sudden surge forward. But now, neither Uma Musume could contend with McQueen; they could no longer stop her acceleration.
Doto's eyes widened suddenly at this moment. She watched as the finish line that she should've crossed to win… was being crossed by McQueen…
"AND SHE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE! FIRST PLACE! MEJIRO MCQUEEN MANAGED TO BREAK THROUGH MEISHO DOTO'S BLOCKADE AND HAS WON THE MOCK RACE! BECOMING THE BEST UMA MUSUME OF TRACEN ACADEMY'S NEW GENERATIOONN!!!!"
Tamamo Cross's shout accompanied the cheers that erupted throughout the venue. Mejiro McQueen's crossing of the finish line signified that the sole winner of this mock race had emerged.
"Eclipse First, The Rest Nowhere." Any Uma Musume that did not get first place are merely losers.
"Second place is Tokai Teio! Third place is Meisho Doto who only reacted and crossed the line just now! Fourth place is Special Week...!"
"— And the winner of this race is Mejiro McQueen. Her victory in this mock race has earned her the honor of being the best Uma Musume of Tracen Academy's new generation!"
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I love translating the races, it's fun to mess with how the text looks when they are shouting and such.
Also, two extra chapters? I'm fucking cracked!!!!!
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.