With an invisible “Go!”, three lithe figures shot out like arrows from a bow, instantly leaving Kitano behind.
The explosive power of Uma Musume was on full display, creating a significant gap on the flat ground right from the start.
“Did you see that?!
That’s our speed!” Narita Brian even had enough breath to shout back.
Marvelous Sunday and Seeking the Pearl also moved like two streaks of colored light, weaving rapidly through the narrow streets, elegant and swift.
Kitano watched the quickly receding figures without the slightest panic, instead adjusting his breathing and rhythm.
“As expected, I can’t match their straight-line acceleration…
but the real show is yet to come.”
However, as they delved deeper into the streets, the situation began to change.
Clotheslines crisscrossed, requiring them to duck or turn sideways; discarded wooden planks and bricks were haphazardly piled up, forcing them to constantly change direction; every now and then, low awnings needed to be jumped over, and potholes on the ground required precise footwork.
This was a brand-new challenge for the Uma Musume, who were accustomed to standard racecourses or training grounds.
Their speed inevitably slowed down.
Marvelous Sunday tried to navigate with skill, but the unfamiliar environment caused her to miscalculate, nearly crashing into a pile of bamboo poles; Seeking the Pearl had to brake suddenly to avoid a puddle, disrupting her rhythm; Narita Brian was startled by a suddenly appearing clothesline and hurriedly bent down, her movements appearing quite clumsy.
Indeed, this route is too unfamiliar for them, Kitano observed calmly, his feet never stopping.
Just as the three Uma Musume were bogged down by obstacles and their speed greatly reduced, Kitano began to exert himself!
He knew this street like the back of his hand.
He moved like a nimble cat, sliding sideways past two closely packed trash cans, his toes lightly touching a wall to push off and clear a pile of broken bricks.
Facing a low-hanging clothesline, he didn’t even pause, executing a smooth roll to pass underneath.
He utilized parkour techniques to their fullest, every movement precise, efficient, and full of power and fluid beauty.
He was no longer the ordinary person overwhelmed by absolute speed on a track, but a dancer thriving in complex terrain!
“Wh-…?!” Marvelous Sunday caught a glimpse of Kitano’s rapidly approaching figure out of the corner of her eye, a trace of disbelief flashing in her eyes.
“H-he, how is he so fast?!” Narita Brian’s Uma Musume ears perked up in surprise as she watched Kitano overcome obstacles in a way they had never imagined.
Seeking the Pearl also felt the pressure, trying to accelerate, but tripped on scattered parts on the ground, almost losing her balance.
Kitano’s figure weaved quickly through the cluttered background, forming a stark contrast with the three Uma Musume who were gradually coming to a standstill.
He was closing the distance with astonishing speed and efficiency!
Finally, in a relatively open section a few dozen meters from the old blue mailbox, the ground was covered in fine gravel and small potholes.
Kitano, relying on his mastery of the terrain and parkour skills, successfully caught up, running neck and neck with the three panting Uma Musume, who had to carefully watch their steps to avoid twisting an ankle.
He even had time to turn his head and give the three dumbfounded girls a slightly cunning, relieved smile.
“It seems the title of Uma Musume isn’t very useful here, is it?”
After saying that, he took a deep breath, unleashed his final burst of sprinting power, and was the first to touch the rusty blue mailbox.
The street instantly fell silent, leaving only the somewhat hurried breathing of the Uma Musume and the mournful whisper of the wind blowing through the abandoned street.
They looked at Kitano, who stood beside the mailbox, his breathing also a bit uneven but his eyes bright, and for a moment, they couldn’t utter a single word.
He won.
In a way they had never imagined.
Kitano leaned on his knees, slightly out of breath, watching the three Uma Musume who subsequently arrived, also breathing unevenly.
Their faces were a mix of reluctance, disbelief, and a flush from the exertion of running.
Despite being severely hampered by this unconventional course, their final spurt in the relatively open area still showed astonishing speed potential, which made Kitano feel a bit emotional.
Indeed, pure speed talent is truly terrifying… Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
If I hadn’t used a trick, I probably wouldn’t even be able to keep up with their shadows.
He straightened up, patted the dust from his pants, and his face returned to its usual relaxed expression, as if the thrilling chase he had just experienced was merely an after-dinner stroll.
“Alright, as per our agreement,” his tone was calm but carried an undeniable authority, “I won, didn’t I?
So from now on, please don’t bother me anymore, and let me live my life in peace, okay?”
Narita Brian opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to argue something, perhaps about the unfairness of the course, or their lack of preparation…
but Marvelous Sunday reached out and stopped her.
Marvelous Sunday looked at Kitano, her eyes complex.
She understood that no matter what, losing was losing.
Kitano looked at their hesitant expressions and suddenly felt a bit disheartened.
He waved his hand, cutting off any potential statements they might be formulating, his gaze sweeping over the three future stars, his tone calm:
“Instead of caring so much about what others think, or agonizing over what an insignificant person thinks…” He paused, his voice not loud, but it clearly reached their ears.
“…you’d be better off focusing on your own race.
Whether it’s on the track or in life, isn’t it all the same?”
After speaking, he didn’t wait for their response, turning directly away from them and casually waving his hand, as a final farewell.
“Jaa na.”
The setting sun stretched his shadow long as he slowly walked toward home, his pace unhurried, a stark contrast to the agile figure that had just flown through the obstacles.
Only the three Uma Musume remained standing, watching his gradually receding, somewhat lazy figure, pondering the words “run your own race” and the crisp “Jaa na,” their hearts filled with mixed emotions.
The street returned to silence, with only the rustling of discarded newspapers in the wind, as if putting a pause to this absurd yet unexpected race.
It really helps the fic grow!