[Under the bright sunshine, the race has begun.] [Over a dozen Uma Musume broke from the gates in unison, with no one missing the break.
Northern Rainbow, the first favorite in gate seven, smoothly settled into the Stalker pack.] [Oh my, several Uma Musume are vying for the lead position.
Who will come out on top?] As the announcer called out the plays, the eyes of the entire audience followed the runners.
Seeing Northern Rainbow secure a favorable position, many spectators broke into cheers.
Hana’s expression grew even more serious at the sight.
Northern Rainbow securing that position was already tough enough to deal with, and Rice Shower could only choose to stay in the Midfield now.
But as she thought this, she saw that Rice Shower didn’t linger in the middle of the pack.
Instead, she accelerated and pushed forward.
[Straight Accel] Kaito watched as the skill name flashed above Rice Shower’s head.
She then pushed her initial speed to the absolute limit, sweeping past the Stalker pack and Northern Rainbow in one fell swoop.
Amidst the shocked expressions of all the Uma Musume, she arrived at the very front of the pack!
[Rice Shower has taken the lead!] [Rice Shower, who has only ever participated in short-distance races, has adopted an unexpected Runner strategy in her first 2000m race!] The announcer’s voice was full of disbelief.
Hana was also taken aback.
Making Rice Shower, who had only run short distances, adopt the Runner strategy that consumed the most stamina.
How could Kaito be so bold?
But immediately after, Hana’s expression shifted from mere surprise to something much deeper.
Under the gaze of the entire stadium, Rice Shower, having taken the lead, opened up a one-length gap over the Uma Musume in second place.
But she didn’t just maintain that advantage.
Instead, she accelerated even further in the early stages of the race, continuously widening the gap.
Two lengths, three lengths, four lengths…
She was ultimately leading by eight lengths!
This wasn’t an ordinary Runner strategy.
This was a massive breakaway!
The spectators finally realized what was happening and gasped in astonishment at Rice Shower’s performance.
“That speed is way too fast!” “It’s completely reckless.” “Her stamina is probably going to run out before the halfway mark.” “Kaito, what are you thinking?!” Hana couldn’t help but question Kaito.
“This running style is purely a gamble on how long the Uma Musume can hold out.
Once she can’t keep it up, she’ll completely collapse!” “No, this is exactly what I want.” Kaito’s reply left Hana utterly shocked.
She looked at Kaito’s face, but she didn’t see a trace of nervousness.
Instead, it was full of excitement.
This massive breakaway was the result Kaito wanted?
Hana didn’t know what to say.
She had no idea her junior had such a crazy side.
But she can’t win the race like this.
Hana let out a long sigh.
Resolving to give Kaito a piece of her mind later, she turned her gaze back to the track.
…
“Riko-senpai, the leading Rice Shower has already opened up a gap of over ten lengths from Rainbow-chan!” The assistant beside Riko was somewhat panicked, clearly frightened by this self-destructive running style.
But Riko only frowned deeper.
“He’s truly a reckless guy.” Her dislike for Kaito grew by another degree in her heart.
“A gambling running style like this isn’t a tactic, nor does it make sense.
It’s purely increasing the risk of failure for the Uma Musume!” “Riko-senpai?” It was the assistant’s first time seeing Riko this angry.
Riko realized this and quickly composed herself.
“It doesn’t matter.
A running style like this will inevitably lead to a loss of speed at the end.
As long as Northern Rainbow maintains her current pace, the victory will definitely be hers.” On the track, the unexpected breakaway drama was still unfolding.
[The race has reached the third corner, a steep downhill section, and the speed of the breakaway leader Rice Shower has not diminished.] [Behind her are Light, Shiro, and the heavy favorite Northern Rainbow in order.
Some Uma Musume try to close the gap with Rice Shower, but fail.] [Rice Shower’s mid-race cruising pace is maintained at 12.5 seconds!
This is a mid-race speed that doesn’t lose to Graded Races!] [The other Uma Musume can only fall behind at this speed, waiting to decide the winner on the final straight.
But can Rice Shower hold out until then?!] “Isn’t Rice Shower-san’s speed a bit too fast?” On the other side of the stands, someone from the Ichibangai Shopping District cheering section voiced their concern.
The Police Officer also frowned, asking Berno beside him.
“You watch races often, don’t you, Bright-chan?
What do you think?” Berno crossed her arms over her chest and gently shook her head.
“There’s a saying at Tracen that there are no absolutes for Uma Musume.
I don’t know if Rice Shower-san can hold on.
All we can do is cheer for her.
But winning a race with such awe-inspiring momentum…” “I witnessed it with Oguri Cap-san.” Whoosh!
The green grass on the track was swept up by the slipstream as Rice Shower took the lead into the final fourth corner.
After the corner lay the final straight!
Behind her, over a dozen Uma Musume also began to accelerate.
The sound of horseshoes striking the earth formed a dense vibration that could be felt even in the spectator stands.
Just then, Rice Shower’s speed began to visibly slow down.
Was her stamina finally giving out?
Some people lamented in their hearts.
[Entering the fourth corner, the Uma Musume all began to push hard to catch up.] [The stamina stored in the early stages is fully released at this moment, while Rice Shower’s speed is gradually decaying.] [Northern Rainbow is accelerating!
Northern Rainbow is accelerating!] The figure of the first favorite blurred in an instant, pushing forward at a speed far exceeding the others.
In the blink of an eye, she reached second place.
The spectator stands instantly erupted with earth-shattering cheers.
“Rainbow-chan!” “Go for it, go for it!” “Take the victory!” [Ten lengths!
Eight lengths!
Five lengths!
The gap is constantly shrinking, the gap is constantly shrinking!] [Is Rice Shower going to give out?
Is Rice Shower going to give out?!] Riko stared straight at the live broadcast screen, watching Northern Rainbow continuously close the distance to Rice Shower, her fists clenching involuntarily.
“Right on the uphill of this corner, finish the battle!” Hana clasped her hands tightly, her heart pounding.
Seeing Rice Shower hold on until the fourth corner had actually exceeded her expectations.
Hana even guessed that Kaito had made a desperate training regimen for this tactic.
For a moment, she even thought Rice Shower could just run away to the very end.
But as the main pack accelerated collectively, the distance advantage brought by the massive breakaway was visibly being eaten away by Northern Rainbow, making Hana suddenly realize the truth.
She was going to be caught!
This tactic really wasn’t going to work!
She looked at Kaito beside her once again.
He had his hands resting in front of him, his eyes as calm as a still pool of water, showing no trace of panic.
Why was he still so composed at a time like this?
Or had he already accepted his fate?
Hana’s mind raced with thoughts, while Kaito just took a deep breath, directed his gaze toward the uphill of the corner, and whispered softly.
“Let’s decide this.” Rice Shower’s feet stepped on the grass of the slope, but she couldn’t feel any feedback from her thighs.
She felt like her legs no longer belonged to her.
It was so frustrating.
She had clearly done so much training, but during an actual race, these legs were still so useless.
“No more strength~” “No more strength~” Behind her, an Uma Musume let out a groan.
Someone must have been unable to hold on anymore, but there were also footsteps constantly closing in.
Had someone caught up to Rice Shower?
How far away were they?
Were they right behind her?
They were getting closer and closer.
Rice Shower could even hear the other person’s breathing.
It looked like she was about to be caught.
But, but, Rice Shower couldn’t give up yet.
Even though every breath felt like swallowing iron shards, Rice Shower could still breathe.
Even though her legs were numb as if filled with lead, Rice Shower could still run.
Even though her vision was growing increasingly blurred, Rice Shower could still clearly see the finish line.
She could win.
Rice Shower and Onii-san could win this!
“The one who will win is me!” Northern Rainbow roared as she chased from behind, like a charging beast.
In her eyes, Rice Shower’s figure was growing larger bit by bit.
She was about to catch up.
She would just overtake her in one go.
[Mountaineer] The very next second after Northern Rainbow thought this, the petite Uma Musume in front of her suddenly stomped on the grass with all her might, as if it were a signal to restart.
Her already exhausted legs took another stride, and her speed, which should have been decaying, increased once again.
At the very end of the uphill corner section, Rice Shower opened up the distance once again!
How is that possible!
Northern Rainbow’s eyes were full of shock.
Ignoring her recently healed leg bones, she chased with all her might.
The distance was indeed closing bit by bit, but Rice Shower wouldn’t give her any more time to catch up!
[Rice Shower has accelerated!
She maintained her speed at the very end of her massive breakaway!
Her stamina hasn’t run out.
She still has a length advantage, she still has the advantage!] [This is simply unbelievable!] [Northern Rainbow is chasing desperately!
Look at that terrifying, thunderous late kick, eating away at the gap with Rice Shower bit by bit!] [But!
But!
She hasn’t caught up yet!
Rice Shower is still maintaining the lead, Rice Shower is still maintaining the lead!] [There are less than a hundred meters left to the finish line!] The announcer’s voice was incredibly impassioned, witnessing this crazy scene together with the entire audience.
No one had anticipated such a development.
“What is going on?
She didn’t lose speed at the end of a massive breakaway?
That stamina is just terrifying!” “Never mind that, Rainbow-chan isn’t going to catch up, ahhh!” “There are less than a hundred meters left!” Riko’s mouth was slightly open.
The assistant beside her couldn’t see her expression at the moment, only noticing that the hand holding the tactical paper was trembling slightly.
Hana was speechless, able to only stare blankly at the scene before her.
Kaito watched Rice Shower’s running form, his fists clenched tightly.
The next second, earth-shattering gasps and cheers rang in his ears.
[Rice Shower crosses the line first!] [The winner of the Heather Stakes is the unexpected breakaway leader, Rice Shower!!!]