Meisho Doto was timid. This was something everyone at Tracen Academy who knew Meisho Doto was aware of.
Meisho Doto was clumsy, often making mistakes in the simplest of tasks, and was constantly unlucky; she always seemed to run into problems, even if everything had been fine during the last check.
Meisho Doto's timid nature would improve slightly when racing. Although her competitive spirit might have been a notch below other Uma Musume, her talent had been enough for her until she won her Debut Race—and indeed, as Meisho Doto thought, part of the reason she won was good luck, as she hadn't faced any overly strong opponents.
Therefore, Meisho Doto admired T.M. Opera O, who was always so confident. Even though she had only won a Debut Race, the dazzling, confident T.M. Opera O, who proclaimed herself "The Overlord" at the time, earned Meisho Doto's admiration.
But Meisho Doto never understood why she found T.M. Opera O so admirable.
Perhaps it was a subtle influence that made Meisho Doto feel she too could become confident. Or perhaps… a subtle connection between the two Uma Musume?
This was Meisho Doto and T.M. Opera O's first confrontation. They had never even trained together before, but from the moment Meisho Doto stepped onto the Racecourse, a very strange feeling welled up in her heart for the first time in her life.
Meisho Doto had never experienced this feeling, but if other Uma Musume could empathize with Meisho Doto, they would immediately recognize this emotion—an emotion called "competitive spirit."
Yes, competitive spirit. Meisho Doto was now burning with an unprecedented competitive spirit. If this competitive spirit had not been ignited before this point in the race, then the moment T.M. Opera O's Aura struck, it was as if a spark had lighted a gas tank, instantly igniting a raging inferno in Meisho Doto's heart!
"DON'T GET IN MY FUCKING WAY!"
"I WANT TO WIN! I WANT TO WIN! THIS RACE! I MUST WIN!"
"I CAN LOSE TO ANYONE! BUT! I CANNOT LOSE TO YOU— T.M. OPERA O!!!!"
At this moment, a voice, full of anger, repeatedly echoed in Meisho Doto's mind, which ignited Meisho Doto's anger. And, as if a bully victim had suddenly erupted after enduring repeated humiliation, an unprecedented power burst forth in her heart!
No matter what, I must win! For my Trainer, for myself, and as T.M. Opera O's opponent!
Even if my legs break, I must win this race!
"Can Meisho Doto hold on?! T.M. Opera O is constantly closing the distance! They are now less than ten meters from the finish line!"
"Go, Meisho Doto!"
And at this moment, even Wada excitedly gripped the railing with both hands, shouting towards Meisho Doto: "Go! You must win!"
"RAHHHHHHH!!!" Meisho Doto also roared as she moved her legs. Her footwork didn't falter in the slightest, but under T.M. Opera O's powerful final spurt, the gap between them continued to close.
A lot of time seemed to have passed, but in reality, it was less than two seconds. The gap between Meisho Doto and T.M. Opera O was closing, and Meisho Doto could see T.M. Opera O's figure in her peripheral vision.
But the closer T.M. Opera O got, the more Meisho Doto refused to give up, pushing forward with all her might for the singular goal of reaching the finish line!
And at this moment, the finish line was just one step away from her!
In this instant, T.M. Opera O also nearly reached a position parallel to Meisho Doto, but at this moment, T.M. Opera O silently closed her eyes, a slight smile appearing on her lips… "So that's it… That's what this is all about."
T.M. Opera O murmured, seemingly understanding something in that moment. In her mind, with her eyes closed, Wada Ryuji's face flashed.
It seems… I didn't lose to Meisho Doto, but to you, Wada.
From the very beginning, when you chose Meisho Doto to be your Uma Musume, you were planning for this exact scenario, weren't you?
You knew of Meisho Doto's special quality, which is why you used her to compete against me. You knew that my Aura might intimidate other Uma Musume, but it wouldn't intimidate Meisho Doto.
Because you understand everything about me, more than even myself.
Truly… I've been defeated by you.
A wry smile slowly appeared on T.M. Opera O's lips, and when she opened her eyes again, the finish line had already been crossed… "THEY'VE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE! ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY! MEISHO DOTO AND T.M. OPERA O HAS CROSSED THE LINE ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY!" The excited voice of the commentator immediately came through, shouting to all the fervent spectators: "But there are no ties in a race! Therefore, we will check the video footage to determine the result. Please, all spectators and Uma Musume, wait patiently."
"Staff member, please watch the video with the judges and make the final decision."
The commentator's voice slowly faded. At this moment, the rest of the competing Uma Musume had also finished crossing the line, and their rankings were announced one by one on the large screen displaying the race results, until only the top two names remained.
And at this moment, the panting Meisho Doto, enduring the sensation of her muscles tearing, stared blankly at the big screen, not daring to relax for a second.
T.M. Opera O was also struggling greatly, yet she seemed to already know the result, merely offering a strained smile as she watched the screen.
And countless spectators, Uma Musume, all stared intently at the big screen, awaiting the final result… "Pleasewinpleasewinpleasewin." Wada also tightly gripped the railing with both hands, his eyes fixed on the big screen, not blinking once. Although he wasn't participating in the race, he was now sweating profusely from nervousness.
Everyone at the Racecourse was silent. This stillness lasted for several minutes, and finally, with a sound, the final result was announced with the commentator's excited words!
"THE RESULT HAS BEEN DETERMINED! THE WINNER IS MEISHO DOTOOOOOOOO!!!"
"Unbelievable! Meisho Doto surpassed T.M. Opera O by one-third of a chest! The winner of this GIII Mainichi Hai is Meisho Doto!" (T/N: Opera got boob diffed)
Accompanied by the commentator's excited and incredible voice, all the accumulated passion and frenzy of the spectators erupted violently at this moment. Continuous applause echoed throughout the entire Hanshin Racecourse, solely for the only winner.
However, at this moment, Meisho Doto, having exited the race state and gradually recovering her mental composure, after a brief moment of stunned surprise, wailed and bent over, covering her face with her hands. One of her legs restlessly spun on the turf, as if she wanted to find a hole to crawl into… "Hahahaha… This really is… a dramatic scene."
And T.M. Opera O, hearing this result, also had a somewhat strange expression. Though she knew she had lost the moment she crossed the finish line, she hadn't expected to lose so… completely.
She wanted to maintain the demeanor of "The Overlord" as always, expressing her current feelings with a hearty laugh, but upon hearing that she had lost by "one-third of a chest," T.M. Opera O couldn't find it in herself to even laugh.
She even instinctively glanced at her chest, then at Meisho Doto's unscientifically curvaceous figure beside her, and suddenly a very strange… jealousy welled up from the bottom of her heart.
"Nonono... how can I, as The Overlord, show jealousy over such a small matter? This doesn't align with my tolerance and magnanimity as the Overlord, HAHAHahahahaha…"
T.M. Opera O comforted herself and moved past it. And just as T.M. Opera O was about to go to Meisho Doto's side, to offer some encouragement to her respectable opponent and most cherished subject, to help her gracefully accept her status as the victor… "Oh? Someone has suddenly arrived at the Racecourse? It seems to be Meisho Doto's Trainer. Is he here to give his in charge Uma Musume a hug?"
"T- T- T -Trainer?!"
However, the commentator's voice quickly jolted Meisho Doto out of her stupor. When she looked up in that direction, she saw that Wada, along with Ikezoe and Trainer Hana Toujou, had all arrived.
And at this moment, it was Wada who spread his arms towards her, clearly intending to give Meisho Doto a big hug.
T- t- thisthisthis—what should she do?! At this moment, Meisho Doto, whose brain had short circuited, was at a loss. But her legs reacted before her brain, taking a few steps forward towards Wada… All of these actions were fully observed by T.M. Opera O, who was standing nearby. However, at this moment, even T.M. Opera O, who hadn't been jealous about "one-third of a chest," subtly showed a trace of… displeasure.
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Getting boob diffed and NTRed in the same chapter...
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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.