"Rudolf, do you think Oguri Cap can win?"
Up in the VIP seating at Tokyo Racecourse, Maruzensky and Symboli Rudolf were naturally there as well.
As two of Tracen Academy's most representative figures, there was no way they would miss an occasion as important as the Japanese Derby.
"Heh. Whether she can win or not isn't for me to decide."
"But..."
Symboli Rudolf's gaze shifted slightly, settling on a certain man seated elsewhere in the VIP section, and the corner of her lips curved faintly upward.
"I do hope she wins."
"Is that so?"
Maruzensky was not particularly surprised.
In her eyes, Oguri Cap did indeed have tremendous potential, so it was only natural for Rudolf to think that way.
"As for me... I might be a little more optimistic about Chiyono O."
"You really do believe in your kouhai that much, huh~"
Symboli Rudolf sounded a little surprised.
"I thought you'd be more inclined to pick Yaeno Muteki."
"Well... Yaeno Muteki really is amazing, considering she won the Satsuki Sho~"
Resting her elbow against the railing of the VIP seating, Maruzensky looked toward Sakura Chiyono O's lively figure on the track and smiled with quiet satisfaction.
"But I believe Chiyono O is going to put on a brilliant performance in this race."
Seeing her say that, Symboli Rudolf merely smiled without commenting.
She knew very well what kind of bond existed between Sakura Chiyono O and this friend of hers.
As the senpai Sakura Chiyono O admired, Maruzensky herself might well be the very reason Chiyono O stood on that track and ran.
Back then, Maruzensky had been unable to enter the Japanese Derby because of the rules.
And now, the kouhai carrying on her will stood on that very track in her place...
Symboli Rudolf thought that was rather nice. If someday she too had a kouhai who admired her and stood out on the track, she imagined she would be wearing that same smile.
Just thinking about it felt pretty good.
...
"Why isn't Oguri out yet...? This is making me so anxious."
Watching the other Umamusume file out one after another, Norn Ace looked visibly restless.
There were as many as twenty-four runners in this race, and each Umamusume had to step out and present herself, so it was taking longer than expected...
"You don't have to wait this long on the Regional Circuit," Fujimasa March remarked with a sigh.
"Well, well. Good things come to those who wait," Sakuraba Ryo said with a smile from beside them.
"Oguri's going to make her entrance sooner or later, and we'd have to wait either way."
"That may be true... but waiting still feels awful."
Norn Ace pouted unhappily.
"Oh! There she is!"
Fujimasa March's expression changed at once, and she pointed toward the track.
Sakuraba and Norn Ace followed the direction of her finger and, sure enough, spotted a familiar figure emerging from the entrance tunnel.
"NEXT TO APPEAR—CHARGING UP FROM THE REGIONAL CIRCUIT TO CENTRAL, AND STILL UNDEFEATED TO THIS DAY!"
"A TRUE DARK HORSE!"
"PLEASE WELCOME... THE GRAY-HAIRED MONSTER—"
"O—GU—RI—CAP—!"
The commentator practically shouted herself hoarse as she screamed the name of the girl walking out from the entrance!
At the Tokyo Racecourse, every eye turned toward Oguri Cap.
Oguri Cap, however, lifted her gaze toward the VIP seating, carefully searching for one particular person.
It did not take long for her to find who she was looking for.
Norn Ace was waving a handkerchief at her excitedly, while Fujimasa March, who often raced against her, had her hands cupped around her mouth as though shouting something to her. The distance was too great for Oguri to hear it clearly.
And most important of all, seated between them, Sakuraba was smiling and waving at her.
Oguri Cap smiled in complete satisfaction.
"...Watch closely, Ryo."
"I'll definitely bring the win back to you!"
The girl turned and walked toward the track.
...
"What a grand reception."
Seeing how the track had come alive the moment Oguri Cap appeared, Mejiro Ardan laughed softly behind a hand.
"So that's what it feels like to be the most popular... I'm so jealous!"
Beside her, Sakura Chiyono O looked openly envious.
And just then, Yaeno Muteki walked straight over to Oguri Cap.
Stopping in front of her, she fixed Oguri with a sharpened stare and said,
"Oguri Cap, this time I'm going to beat you!"
Yaeno Muteki's gaze was unwavering. There was not the slightest trace of hesitation in her eyes.
She meant it.
But when it came to seriousness, Oguri Cap would not lose either.
"I'm sorry, but I have no reason to lose this race."
Oguri Cap's expression did not change as she answered calmly.
"Hmph. Then let's settle it on the track!"
"And don't think I'll lose to you that easily again!"
Throwing down those words, Yaeno Muteki turned and left.
Oguri Cap watched her departing back, and her body began to tremble slightly.
Was her body's instinct responding to that provocation...?
But that was fine.
If she was going to win, defeating her opponent was something she would have to do sooner or later anyway.
...
"Let me see what you've got, Oguri Cap."
In a corner of the regular stands at Tokyo Racecourse, a somewhat small gray-haired girl watched the track with a bright smile.
It was none other than Tamamo Cross!
Since Oguri Cap had chosen to run in the Japanese Derby, there was no way Tamamo Cross would miss the chance to watch this race.
To be honest, she still had not fully acknowledged Oguri Cap's strength.
Nor did she think Oguri Cap yet possessed the power to walk forward together with Sakuraba.
She admitted that Oguri Cap's strength interested her.
But it was only interesting, nothing more. If she wanted to be of help to Sakuraba, this level of strength was not enough.
"So..."
"Show me. Show Sakuraba."
"Show us how far you can go with us!"
"Oguri Cap!"
...
The somewhat nerve-wracking wait before the race soon passed.
Out on the course, the runners had all finished their warm-ups as well.
And just then, the commentator's voice rang out at precisely the right moment.
"ALL UMAMUSUME, PLEASE ENTER THE GATES!"
"THE RACE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!"
Guided by the track staff, the Umamusume entered their assigned gates one by one.
As though the whole venue had realized the race was about to start, the crowd, which had been somewhat noisy a moment ago, quickly fell silent.
"READY—"
CLACK!
"AND THEY'RE OFF!"
With a crash like a gunshot, the gates flew open, the iron barriers bursting wide, and the runners who had been waiting inside seized that instant and shot forward!
The Japanese Derby had begun!
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T/N: woah idk how to feel about the new thing i think ill miss my --- sigh.... anyway was gonna do 10 chapters but i should leave it here at a cliff then do 10 chapters of the race so we dont end in the middle anyway yeah suck a dick (thats for patreon)