From the moment she entered the racecourse, Tokai Teio was overly excited.
Her single ponytail and real tail bounced rhythmically together, creating a peculiar sense of rhythm.
"Teio, stop jumping..."
McQueen looked helplessly at the excited Teio, her eyes irresistibly drawn to Teio's tail.
She didn't know why, but the jumping Teio always seemed so beautiful.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, but I'm just so happy."
The Satsuki Sho, as the first leg of the classic three crowns, could be said to be where dreams began.
For Tokai Teio, who had always aimed to surpass Symboli Rudolf, its significance was even more extraordinary.
At this moment, Teio wished she could race in Legend's place.
"Are you looking forward to today's Satsuki Sho, Teio?"
Looking at the excited Teio, the Trainer flicked the lollipop in his mouth.
"Of course! The undefeated Triple Crown, that's my dream!" Teio said, jumping up excitedly again.
"Then you'd better keep your eyes wide open, and watch this race carefully. You must remember that your opponents next year will be just as strong as today! Don't get complacent!"
The Trainer was well aware of Tokai Teio's talent and hard work, and knew that although she was a good girl, she was also a very proud Uma Musume. Letting her witness strong opponents in advance was also a form of training, perfectly suited to temper her sharp edge.
"...Will my opponents next year include someone like Legend?" Teio narrowed her eyes, somewhat worried.
"...Uh, she's an exception." How am I supposed to continue the conversation if you respond like that?
"Well, it doesn't matter even if there is! Before next year, I'll become even stronger, at least stronger than the current McQueen and Legend! After all, I am Tokai Teio!" Teio said with a smile, making a 'V' sign at the Trainer.
"Then you'll have to work hard." McQueen said with a smile, without the slightest hint of displeasure.
"Hoho, such a relaxed attitude, McQueen, you're very confident." Gold Ship poked her head out from the side, saying nonchalantly.
"Of course, I am Mejiro McQueen, I will never disgrace the glory of the Mejiro Family!" McQueen proudly puffed out her chest. "Speaking of which, Gold Ship, weren't you going to sell snacks?"
Why are you back so quickly?
"Thanks to these two, I closed early." Gold Ship pointed her thumb at Special Week and Oguri Cap, who were feasting beside her, next to Silence Suzuka and Tamamo Cross, who had inexplicably found camaraderie.
"Uh..." McQueen swallowed, watching the two big eaters.
"Oh~ McQueen, do you want some?" Gold Ship leaned her face close to McQueen's.
"N-no way! As a representative of the Mejiro Family, I would never do something so embarrassing!" McQueen said with difficulty.
"Is that so? What a pity, I was thinking of giving you the chestnut cake I specially saved if you wanted some, but it seems I'll have to enjoy it myself." Gold Ship said, feigning disappointment.
"Chestnut cake..."
"You're drooling, McQueen." Vodka whispered a reminder.
"You're completely caught, McQueen." Daiwa Scarlet quipped.
"Alright, Golshi, don't bully McQueen too much." A gentle voice sounded from behind, and Ardan smiled as she approached the group.
"Mejiro Ardan, why are you here?" McQueen pretended nothing happened and wiped away her drool.
"After all, I'm also Legend's friend. Ah, long time no see, Senior Tama, and also, Oguri Cap." Ardan calmly replied to McQueen, then greeted Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross, even winking at Oguri Cap.
"Mm." Oguri Cap nodded calmly to Ardan in response.
Tamamo Cross looked between the two, confused. When did these two start interacting like this?
"Oh, the race is about to start." The Trainer reminded.
"Here it comes, where's Legend?" Teio immediately turned her head to stare at the track.
"There, number eight." The Trainer pointed to the position on the track.
"Oh, I see her, as expected of Legend, she's very conspicuous!" Teio immediately spotted the golden figure in red.
"Everyone is so amazing, their aura is so powerful." Special Week swallowed the food in her mouth. "But, is it my imagination? Legend's aura seems very, um, quiet?"
"Nani nani? Does that mean Legend isn't in good form?" Tamamo Cross immediately stood on her tiptoes, trying to get a clearer view of the situation on the track.
"No, how should I put it? Compared to everyone else, Legend's aura is very calm, like, like..."
Special Week looked at the situation on the track with some confusion, racking her brain to describe what she perceived.
"Like the sea before a storm." Oguri Cap, who had also swallowed her yakisoba, finished the sentence. "No, even grander than that..."
"Although I don't know what happened, the junior's state is terrifying, right?" Tamamo Cross, who had been with Oguri Cap for many years, knew very well how powerful this Gray Mane monster's intuition was. Even she used 'grander' to describe it, so Legend was probably in an extraordinary state right now.
"Legend-san..." Silence Suzuka looked at Legend on the track. She actually felt a sense of tranquility from Legend, experiencing a silent stillness amidst the noisy stands.
Then, under everyone's gaze, the race began... For a Front Runner, the moment the gate opens often determines whether they will have an advantage in the race.
In that brief second, it's decided whether you can secure a favorable position and control the pace of the entire race.
But Gold Legend had no such concerns at this moment.
"Start!"
The moment the gates opened, the Uma Musume poured out, scrambling for suitable positions, vying for what they believed to be an advantage.
Gold Legend didn't particularly strive for anything; she simply started naturally, moving forward naturally.
There were no obstacles, no pressure.
All she could feel was the touch of the grass beneath her feet.
All she could hear was the sound of the wind rushing past her ears.
All she could see was the scenery before her eyes.
"My steps are so light, my body seems to crave running."
She could perceive everything around her as clearly as if she were seeing it with her own eyes.
The breathing of every Uma Musume on the track, the cheers from the distant stands.
The dirt kicked up by her feet on the grass, the scattered sweat.
The world had never unfolded so clearly before her eyes.
"Ha, hahahahahaha!"
She couldn't suppress her laughter.
Rhythm? Breathing? No need to care about those anymore.
What I have to do, and only one thing!
Run as my heart desires!
..."Gold Legend accelerates! She's accelerating on the first turn! She's overtaken the Uma Musume in front! One length, two lengths, she's not slowing down! Faster and faster! She's pulling far ahead!"
The Commentator's voice was filled with surprise and excitement.
"...That's too reckless! Starting to accelerate now, even with Legend's stamina, she won't last until the finish line." Air Groove said, frowning.
"..." The three Triple Crown Uma Musume remained silent.
"Don't jump to conclusions so quickly, Legend-chan can handle this much." Maruzensky stared at the track with interest.
"Uma Musume cannot maintain high speed indefinitely, and acceleration takes time. Even Legend, at such high speed, will quickly exhaust herself. Once she starts slowing down due to lack of stamina, it will be difficult to burst forth again." Air Groove said worriedly, "What is she thinking, squandering her stamina so recklessly?"
"She's not thinking anything." Narita Brian suddenly spoke. "Because there is no thought, it is pure. Because there is no Thought (nen), it is natural. This is Perfect Internal Harmony."
"The pinnacle of the domain..." Mr C.B said with a complex expression, leaning her head back, instantly becoming a slacker. "Young people nowadays are truly terrifying."
My life is already very happy just living idly like this.
"Luna, how long do you think it will take for Legend-chan to reach the realm of Flawless Perfection?" Mr C.B seemed a bit dispirited, even calling Symboli Rudolf by her nickname.
"...Not too long," Rudolf stared intently at the golden figure pulling far ahead, her voice filled with unconcealable excitement.
"Ahem, rein it in a bit, Rudolf. We're fine, but Air Groove can't handle your overflowing domain." Maruzensky reminded.
"Sorry." Rudolf, hearing this, hastily controlled her domain.
"...No, it's nothing, I'm just too weak." Air Groove said with some reluctance.
"Oh my, Luna, I... I thought you were disheartened when you returned from your failed expedition to become the Student Council President." Qian Ming looked at Symboli Rudolf in surprise. "Such an intense aura, have you advanced further?"
"Ah, thanks to that Secretariat, after seeing a broader landscape, how can one be content to hesitate and stand still?" Rudolf said with a natural expression. "As for you, Senior Chiaki, you can't stay stagnant either."
"...Hmph, who do you think I am!"
"This race has no suspense left. Let's go." Narita Brian turned and left, cleanly and decisively.
"A complete soliloquy..." Maruzensky shook her head and continued watching... "The race has reached the final turn! The rankings on the track haven't changed much! First place is still Gold Legend, far in the lead!"
Oh my, has it come to this already?
She could hear footsteps behind her; though futile, some still hadn't given up.
She estimated her 'blue bar.' Hmm, room desu (plenty of room).
Heh, never giving up until the very last moment, that's what an Uma Musume is.
Yosh! I'll go all out too! No need to worry about anything else, just give it my all and unleash my top speed!
With one stride, dirt splashed on the grass, and her golden hair flew and fluttered.
Then, an explosion.
Exerting her full power, Gold Legend lowered her stance and fully unfurled her domain.
The entire track's momentum was suppressed and replaced by one individual.
Here, she shone brightly!
[Sparks bloom, Legend descends]
The Uma Musume chasing with all their might behind her suddenly felt something.
Looking ahead, there was only darkness.
Then, a brilliant light illuminated the dark night sky, and her golden figure shone with dazzling radiance, igniting the splendid sparks of the world's dawn.
"Cross the finish line! Over 6 lengths, 1:57.0! A new record! Unparalleled dominance! With absolute superiority, she takes the Satsuki Sho championship! Let's congratulate her, Gold Legend—this year's Satsuki Uma Musume!"
Slowly decelerating, stopping her steps, Legend, slightly breathless, looked up at the scoreboard, her name at the very top.
Turning to look at the stands, she saw Tokai Teio jumping high with excitement, waving at her.
Her Spica teammates and Trainer cheered for her excitedly.
Oguri Cap smiled and gave her a thumbs up.
The entire audience called out Gold Legend's name.
Then, she saw a white Uma Musume in a wheelchair, quietly watching her.
Gold Legend smiled.
Then, she raised a finger to the audience.
Glory begins here.
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