“Ugh…
Maruzen-san…
maybe you should stop driving and just play Yu-Gi-Oh cards instead…” “Accel Synchro would definitely evolve in your hands…
ugh…” After enduring a ride at speeds straight out of *Fast & Furious*, intense enough to give Kouki severe sports car PTSD, Kouki finally couldn’t hold it back any longer.
He begged the school guard for a plastic bag and began vomiting uncontrollably by the side of the road.
As the culprit behind his suffering, Maruzensky stood beside him with a gentle, apologetic smile, softly patting Kouki’s back to help him catch his breath.
Truth be told, Kouki had inadvertently helped her fulfill a dream she had harbored for years.
Even without a timer, Maruzensky could feel that she had broken her own personal land-speed record today.
That exhilarating thrill was just like leaving opponents far behind on the racetrack to claim victory—utterly addictive.
Umamusume, after all, were creatures who naturally pursued higher, faster, and stronger peaks.
Once Kouki finished throwing up, Maruzensky sprinted to the school vending machine in a flash, bought a bottle of cold mineral water, and rushed back for him to rinse his mouth.
After Kouki composed himself, he tied up the plastic bag, tossed it into the trash bin, and began walking unsteadily toward the academy’s competition selection track.
‘Good citizens shouldn’t litter or throw up in public walkways, okay!’ “Teio!
Teio!” The spectators in the stands sent wave after wave of thunderous cheers toward Tokai Teio on the track.
In addition to regular fans, many people in the crowd wore official Trainer badges, eagerly anticipating Tokai Teio’s performance.
Although Tokai Teio’s overwhelming strength was common knowledge to everyone, the selection race was originally intended for uncontracted Umamusume to showcase their talents to potential recruiters.
As Trainers, they were naturally the biggest admirers of talented runners, and none of them wanted to miss Teio’s exhibition run.
“I just don’t get it, Hana-senpai…
Why on earth did Team Rigil reject Tokai Teio’s application to join?!” a young female Trainer asked, clutching her forehead in frustration as she stood next to Team Rigil’s head Trainer, Hana.
To her, Rigil’s official excuse of “no current recruitment slots available” was complete nonsense.
Tokai Teio’s talent was obvious to anyone with eyes.
Forget rejecting her—if given the chance, she would gladly drop to her knees and beg Teio to join her team!
“Well, I actually wanted to invite Teio to join Rigil, but…
it was the Emperor’s personal request,” Trainer Hana sighed deeply.
It was a painful decision for her as well.
Having to turn away an elite prodigy she had scouted with her own eyes was pure torture.
“Eh?
Symboli Rudolf?
Why?” The female Trainer was utterly shocked.
Anyone with eyes could see how much Symboli Rudolf cherished Tokai Teio—she practically doted on her like her own daughter.
If she were in Symboli Rudolf’s shoes, she would have placed Tokai Teio into her own team without hesitation, pouring all her resources into forging her into the next undefeated Triple Crown champion!
“‘Teio’s potential far exceeds mine.
Her innocence and radiant brightness are her unique wings…
If I keep Teio confined under my wing, her true nature will gradually fade…
I don’t want her to become a mere copy of me.
She deserves a team and a Trainer that suits her better.’ When the President put it like that, who could possibly refuse…?” Trainer Hana said, perfectly mimicking Symboli Rudolf’s solemn tone.
“I see…
I feel like I understand…
but at the same time I’m still confused…” The female Trainer nodded, half-comprehending.
“Well…
all of you came here today aiming for Tokai Teio, right?
If I were you, I wouldn’t waste my breath,” Trainer Hana chuckled softly.
“Eh?
Why?!
Even if senior Trainers like you are competing for her, I still have the right to try my luck, don’t I!” the female Trainer protested in an annoyed tone.
“No, it’s not that…
Tokai Teio already joined a team…
several days ago, in fact,” Hana laughed.
“WHAT?!
Then why is she running in today’s selection race?!
Isn’t this supposed to be a showcase for uncontracted runners?!” The female Trainer’s mental fortitude collapsed on the spot.
The prodigy she had been dreaming about recruiting hadn’t even been approached, yet someone else had already snatched her up?!
Where was the justice?!
Where was the law?!
“Well…
maybe she’s doing it to prove something.” “Prove something?
Does she still need to prove her racing talent?!” “No…
not her racing talent, but to show off to her Trainer: ‘Look!
See how insanely popular I am?!
If you don’t pay attention to me, someone else is gonna steal me away!’ …Something like that,” Hana said, playfully imitating Teio’s pouting voice.
“Hana-senpai…
please don’t do that, it’s gross…” The female Trainer took two steps back, staring at Hana as if looking at a piece of trash—a reaction that deeply wounded Hana’s pride.
*** ‘As expected…
he didn’t come.’ Tokai Teio scanned the spectator stands, failing to spot that familiar figure, and let out a disappointed sigh.
Even though Silence Suzuka had warned her that even if Trainer Kouki caught the fastest taxi from Tokyo Station, he still wouldn’t make it in time for the start of the race, Teio had still held onto a tiny flicker of hope.
*What if…
the bullet train arrived early?
Wouldn’t he be able to make it then?* *He could stand in for the President while she’s away…
and watch me run.* *And then, just like the President, just like everyone else, he could shower me with praise and make me happy.* *As my Trainer, isn’t that what he’s supposed to do?* *So why aren’t you here…?* Tokai Teio stepped into her starting gate with a heavy, disappointed heart.
Stretching her arms listlessly, she waited for the gates to open.
*Clack!* The red light flashed, all the gates sprang open, and the runners broke forward in unison—except for Tokai Teio!
[“WHAT HAPPENED?!
Tokai Teio suffers a severe late start!
She’s languishing at the very back of the field!”] “Ugh!
This is all Trainer’s fault!
It’s his fault for not being here in place of the President!” Tokai Teio bit her lip and immediately decided to force her speed up.
For a runner who excelled at pace-chasing (*Senkou*), a late start meant she had to expend extra energy early on to push back up to the front and make up for her mistake.
Even though this would burn through her stamina rapidly, it was far better than getting trapped in the heavy pack using a running style she wasn’t comfortable with.
[“WOAH!
THE SITUATION ON TRACK IS VERY STRANGE!
Tokai Teio is STILL accelerating!”] [“She blows past the race leader, Gate 5 ‘I’m Waiting For You’!
Tokai Teio has switched to an ALL-OUT ESCAPE TACTIC!”] [“Tokai Teio is using a solo Escape strategy for the first time ever!
And she did it right after a terrible gate break!”] [“TOKAI TEIO TAKES THE LEAD!
Tokai Teio is leading by three full horse lengths!”] [“Passing the 1,000-meter mark!
Time: 58.2 SECONDS!
Tokai Teio is blazing through the course at a terrifying pace!”] “Eh?” Tokai Teio suddenly snapped out of her trance.
Before she even realized it, there were no longer any Umamusume running ahead of her.
She glanced left and right, but found the track completely empty in front of her.
‘Did I…
run all the way to the front…?’ The heavy clatter of hooves behind her was loud and clear.
Tokai Teio realized that she had unconsciously sprinted into a tactical position that didn’t belong to her style.
‘Should I maintain this lead…?
Or should I slow down to save my stamina first…?’ Lost in confusion, Tokai Teio unconsciously slackened her stride.
[“CLOSING IN!
Gate 5 ‘I’m Waiting For You’ is rapidly closing the distance on the leader, Tokai Teio!
Two lengths!
One length!”] [“SUCCESS!
‘I’m Waiting For You’ retakes the lead!
Tokai Teio drops back to second place!
TOKAI TEIO IS IN SECOND PLACE!”] [“WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON TODAY?!
Tokai Teio’s running rhythm is completely uncharacteristic today!”] ‘What…