"Everyone! Welcome to Hanshin Racecourse! Up next is the GIII Mainichi Hai! An 1800-meter turf race!"
"Currently, our Uma Musume are still preparing backstage. So, next, we will announce the popularity rankings for this race!"
Two months of preparation had finally passed, and now, at Hanshin Racecourse, the spectator stands were already overflowing. Whether it was the grandstand or the seats, there wasn't a single empty spot. Many people had come to watch this GIII-level race and support their favorite Uma Musume.
"It's finally here: Hanshin Racecourse, Mainichi Hai."
In the stands, Ikezoe, who had brought Curren Chan, was also standing there, waiting for the race to start. Ikezoe held his phone, and Imanami's figure was displayed on a video call. Ikezoe said:
"Imanami-senpai, how are things on your end?"
"McQueen, Gold Ship, and I are unable to come. Please tell Wada-kun that I'm truly sorry. We should have been there to cheer him on... But McQueen's Debut Race is now as well, so we have to rush to another location first."
"It's alright, Imanami-senpai. Wada will understand you."
Facing this situation, Ikezoe couldn't help but worry for Wada. He was still backstage, boosting Doto's morale. Ikezoe and Curren Chan were not participants in this race, so they had no right to enter backstage and could only wait anxiously here.
"I wonder how things are going for Wada... Wada, don't make the mistake of overthinking things and messing up due to pressure this time. Otherwise, you'll miss this opportunity to get T.M. Opera O... Wada-san, do your best! This time, none of us can help you. After all, you're the only one here who knows T.M. Opera O best..."
For some reason, Ikezoe felt more nervous than Wada right now. After all, this could be a history-changing moment. Was it even possible for Meisho Doto to defeat T.M. Opera O? Even Ikezoe, whose skills and experience were greater than Wada's, didn't know—or rather, wasn't that confident.
And Wada had been fighting for this goal for two months. Would this kind of "brute force" approach work? No one was confident... At this very moment, backstage, one by one, the Uma Musume whose popularity rankings had been announced were stepping onto the stage for their appearance. At this time, Doto, standing in the middle of the backstage path, was constantly taking deep breaths, as if calming her mind.
"Calm down, calm down... Doto, you've trained enough. You have a chance to win, Trainer told you so..."
"Don't be afraid; you can't be afraid anymore. This time, this time you absolutely cannot disappoint him..."
Meisho Doto, standing in the center of the path, was emanating an unstable Aura. Her tail was wagging back and forth behind her, and she didn't know if it was out of happiness, excitement, or fear, with her ears also constantly switching between an unconfident droop to a fiercely competitive pull-back.
Doto was very nervous right now even though she had already made thorough preparations. Since staying in the hotel yesterday, Doto had been constantly checking if her horseshoes were properly nailed, if there were any problems with her shoes, if the food she ate was fresh, if her weight had exceeded the limit again... She was very afraid that her clumsiness would once again hinder her Trainer's dream—although this hadn't happened for a long time since she became Wada's assigned Uma Musume, and she always felt that this might be the luck Wada brought her, she was still very worried.
However, now that she was at the Racecourse, Doto could temporarily put these minor issues out of her mind. She repeatedly took deep breaths to calm herself down.
She had already undergone special training. A week ago, Wada had already told her many things to pay attention to in this race. Wada had basically thought of everything; the rest depended on her own performance and judgment.
If, if she still couldn't win, then what would Trainer do... However, as soon as she thought of this, Doto's shoulders were suddenly grasped by a pair of hands from behind. Doto was startled instinctively, but the familiar touch quickly made her relax, and the nerves that had been incredibly tense since yesterday also relaxed a lot.
"Don't be nervous, Doto. Just follow the tactics I told you." Wada also pressed Doto's shoulders, allowing the Uma Musume's nerves to relax a little.
During this time, he had seen Doto's training and efforts. Wada had also continuously studied T.M. Opera O's tactics through his memories and the limited number of videos. They both felt that they had put in their maximum effort—just for this day.
"We have done our best, Doto, so don't be so scared and don't have any reservations—just like when we trained, run with all your might."
"Trainer..." Doto also felt that her state was very strange. Although she was extremely nervous at first, when Trainer held her shoulders like this, she felt very calm, as if there was nothing to be afraid of.
"Trainer, I want to ask something."
"Hmm?"
"This race, whether we win or lose, Trainer... will you still be my Trainer?" Doto asked, raising her head slightly, her eyes trembling slightly.
She felt like she was getting addicted to having Trainer around. Although she didn't want to disappoint Trainer, she was very worried that Trainer would be disappointed in her if she lost. And... she was also worried that if she won and recruited the even more attention-grabbing T.M. Opera O, would Trainer... still be with her as he was now?
This was Meisho Doto's last concern in her heart, but no matter how she guessed, she couldn't find the answer. The only one who could give her an answer was Wada Ryuji.
"You silly girl." When Doto asked this question, Wada gently ruffled her head, as always. Doto greatly enjoyed this process. Whenever Wada ruffled her, she felt a sense of deep happiness from the bottom of her heart.
Only when patting her head did Doto feel that Trainer's gaze was always on her, not paying attention to other Uma Musume. At this moment, they only had each other.
"I am your Trainer, and you are my Uma Musume. The seals of our agreement are here. How could I abandon you because of one failure?"
Wada's gaze was also a little profound as he said faintly: "If even I can afford to lose this race, then you can too. But we didn't come here to lose; we came to win against T.M. Opera O."
"So, Doto, don't give up. Believe me, this is the highest chance you have to defeat T.M. Opera O. There will absolutely not be a time as good as this."
"—Mhm!"
Doto also nodded heavily at this moment. Her eyes changed slightly at this moment. She gained a few more beliefs and the hope entrusted to her by Wada—she had never yearned for this victory this much before.
Just then, beside the two of them, Hana Toujou led T.M. Opera O to their side. At this moment, Wada Ryuji's gaze met Hana Toujou's, and Meisho Doto's eyes met T.M. Opera O's.
This was a true duel. Both sides were fully prepared for this decisive showdown!
"—Go, Doto (T.M. Opera O)." x2
"Yes, Trainer!" x2
Doto and T.M. Opera O answered in unison. The two Uma Musume walked towards the stage together, and at this moment, the outside voices had just reached their ears.
"Next, our second-favorite—oh! The first-favorite Uma Musume has also come onto the stage? Then let's announce them together!"
"Both are excellent Uma Musume from Tracen Academy. First, the Uma Musume who took third place in Tracen Academy's most recent mock race, and also our second-favorite this time—Meisho Doto!"
"Following her is the Uma Musume who won the Yukinayanagi Sho with her final spurt, an Uma Musume from Tracen Academy, and also the first-favorite, T.M. Opera O!"
"This time, two excellent Uma Musume from Tracen Academy have taken the first and second popularity spots in the Mainichi Hai. Undoubtedly, the two brightest Uma Musume of this race. So, who will achieve victory?!"
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When you know that Doto is sus but just can't prove it yet...
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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.