Tokyo Racecourse was packed with people.
Under the guidance of the staff, Luocheng accompanied Tokai Teio to the competitors’ waiting area.
Horse girls moved in and out of the neighboring rooms as they made their final preparations, while Trainers gave their trainees last-minute encouragement.
For an Uma Musume, this was the first official race of her career.
Luocheng wasn’t particularly good at comforting people, and Teio didn’t look like she needed comforting anyway.
Still, after everything they had been through, he had a few things he wanted to say.
Even if it had only been because of program logic, Teio had been the one who reached out whenever he was in danger back in that other world.
Teio had been the one who could react to his words.
And Teio was the one he had spent the most time with.
In a sense, Tokai Teio had been one of the reasons Luocheng managed to keep going at all.
Every day, arranging her training gave him something to do during those unbearable stretches of emptiness.
Because she existed, he had possessed a goal.
That was why Luocheng held a special affection for Tokai Teio.
“Go win it, Teio.”
Hearing that, Tokai Teio grinned and threw herself into his arms.
“Trainer, just watch!
I’ll show you exactly how the great Tokai Teio becomes an undefeated Triple Crown champion!”
The announcer’s voice sounded outside.
The competitors began entering the track one after another.
Teio released him.
She looked at Luocheng, rose onto her toes, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Then I’m off, Trainer!
Make sure you sing the praises of the great Teio’s magnificent performance!”
Like an excited child, Tokai Teio dashed out of the room and toward the track.
…
“Welcome, everyone, to Tokyo Racecourse!”
“Fourteen rising stars are about to compete in the first official race of their careers!”
“And first, our number-one favorite—Tokai Teio!”
Even before her debut, Tokai Teio had attracted considerable attention.
She had repeatedly performed well in practice races, displaying extraordinary natural talent.
Naturally, she became the focus of the entire venue.
Standing beneath the spotlight in her racing uniform, Tokai Teio raised her chin proudly and pointed toward the crowd.
“Victory belongs to me!”
There had been light rain yesterday.
The turf wasn’t in ideal condition.
Even Luocheng could tell that parts of it were uneven and slippery.
Unlike the mobile game, however, real training included methods specifically designed for poor track conditions.
There was even something called Heavy Track Training, where horse girls practiced on turf already torn up and uneven from previous running.
Luocheng had noticed that Teio’s training efficiency barely changed on bad turf.
In other words—
her affinity for poor track conditions was excellent.
Gifted.
That word might as well have been invented for Tokai Teio.
Soon, the race began.
Fourteen horse girls burst forward.
The early leader was a striking red-haired girl named Beautiful Talent.
Tokai Teio settled into second.
A clean start.
This was another area where reality differed from the game.
Every horse girl ran differently.
Some used short, rapid strides.
Others had enormous stride length but a slower cadence.
Virtually every Uma Musume possessed her own distinct running form.
Luocheng had read about the effects of those differences.
Foot placement.
Arm swing.
Stride frequency.
Posture.
Every detail affected speed.
This was where his lack of real Trainer education became obvious.
He knew how to combine different training methods to maximize stat gains.
But when it came to analyzing and correcting running form, he couldn’t provide much useful advice.
Fortunately—
Teio didn’t seem to need it.
Her body seemed almost weightless as she danced over the turf.
Was this what people called the Teio Step?
Her lower legs snapped straight at the instant before contact, converting the landing directly into explosive forward propulsion.
Both technically and visually—
it was nearly flawless.
“They’re entering the final corner!”
“Time Passage remains in the lead!”
Then Luocheng heard it.
“Trainer, I’m going!”
The distance between them was enormous.
Yet somehow—
he heard Tokai Teio’s voice.
Teio lowered her body briefly.
She shifted into an acceleration posture.
Then her legs exploded with power.
Her speed surged.
The strength of an Uma Musume was displayed in full.
“Tokai Teio is making her move!”
“Tokai Teio is coming up!”
“She’s breaking through!”
“Two lengths!
Three!
Four lengths!”
“Tokai Teio continues extending her lead over second place!”
“Incredible!”
“What overwhelming strength!”
The announcer’s roar accompanied Teio across the finish line.
The entire racecourse erupted.
Tokai Teio won by four lengths.
Luocheng finally released the breath he had been holding.
The training plan he had tortured himself to create over the past month hadn’t ruined her after all.
Watching Tokai Teio slow down beyond the finish and wave toward the spectators, Luocheng felt his heart pounding.
What was this feeling?
It was almost like watching a child he had personally raised step beneath the cheers of thousands.
His eyes stung.
He remembered the first time he had ever played Uma Musume.
That moment when the girl crossed the line—
and he stood up and cheered.
…
“Trainer!
Did you see the magnificent performance of the great Teio?!”
After the race, Luocheng held a celebration in his office.
He bought Teio a huge cake and even hired a high-end chef to prepare food and deliver it fresh.
The celebration emptied most of Luocheng’s wallet.
He didn’t care.
Money was one of the least meaningful things in his life.
If spending it lavishly could make Teio happy, then it was worth it.
Tokai Teio wrapped her arms around Luocheng’s waist while endlessly boasting about her victory.
Seiun Sky lounged nearby.
“Pretty impressive, Teio.
Here’s to you.”
Seiun Sky picked up Luocheng’s cup and clinked it against Teio’s.
“Hey!
Recognizing the greatness of the great Teio is fine, but why are you using Trainer’s cup?!”
“I don’t have one.”
“You absolutely do!
I gave you one!”
Teio had specifically prepared a bright red cup for Seiun Sky because she had suspected something exactly like this might happen.
It had been on the table.
Now it was mysteriously gone.
Seiun Sky glanced sideways at the red cup she had hidden beneath the sofa.
Then smiled.
“Trainer, praise me again.”
“You were amazing.”
“Hehe~”
Teio happily rubbed against him.
The celebration continued deep into the night.
At one point, Seiun Sky noticed that Luocheng kept checking the clock.
“What’s wrong, Trainer?”
“…Nothing.”
Luocheng shook his head.
The handbook listed midnight tonight as the end of the Debut Race scenario.
It was already 11:40.
Only twenty minutes remained.
What would happen when time ran out?
“You two, it’s really late.
Go back and sleep.”
“No!”
Teio immediately protested.
“We only just started and Trainer’s already throwing us out!”
“We’ve been eating for four hours.”
Luocheng counted on his fingers.
Uma Musume really did have terrifying appetites.
He had thought he bought far too much food.
Instead, these two small girls had demolished nearly everything.
Teio’s stomach was visibly rounded from eating, yet she was still going.
“I want to stay with Trainer a little longer!”
Teio whined beside him.
Who would imagine that the overwhelming conqueror of the racecourse behaved like this around him?
“I’ll come find you first thing tomorrow morning.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Sky, please take Teio back.”
“Sure.”
Seiun Sky hesitated.
“Trainer…”
Whatever she originally meant to say turned into something else.
“See you tomorrow morning.”
Then the two girls left.
Luocheng sat alone on the sofa.
Outside, the sky had become completely black.
He looked at the clock.
Tick.
Tick.
Every movement of the second hand felt like a blade scraping against his nerves.
Luocheng picked up the half-finished slice of Teio’s cake and ate it.
So sweet…
The second hand crossed midnight.
A translucent screen appeared before him.
[Story Quest: Debut Race — Complete]
The world instantly turned black.
When Luocheng opened his eyes again—
he was sitting inside his office.
The room was a mess.
Trash lay everywhere.
There were even leftover chicken bones scattered around.
Luocheng rubbed his face.
Had he fallen asleep?
When?
He remembered celebrating with Teio and Sky last night.
Then…
A notification had appeared.
Luocheng abruptly stood.
He rushed outside.
Several students were walking down the corridor.
Luocheng grabbed one by the shoulders.
“Hey, you—!”
The rest of his words died in his throat.
His arms slowly fell.
The moment the girl turned around—
Luocheng saw the status UI floating above her.
This was the game world.
He was back.
[ END 401 Chapter ]
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