“Hey, Hana-senpai…
Tokai Teio seems really off today,” the young female Trainer said, her voice filled with anxiety.
She looked around the venue.
It wasn’t just the Trainers who noticed even the crowd in the stands had picked up on Tokai Teio’s uncharacteristic behavior.
“Hey, what’s going on with Teio today?!” “I don’t know either…
Come on, Teio!
Get it together!” “Fight on, Teio!
You can’t lose here!” “Teio!
Teio!
Teio!” The crowd’s chants echoed across the stands.
Their eyes were filled with nervous anticipation and hope, desperately cheering for Tokai Teio as she struggled on the track.
“Yeah…
she can’t afford to disappoint the fans,” Trainer Hana sighed deeply.
‘Since when did an un-debited trainee have to carry this kind of overwhelming expectation on her shoulders…?’ *** [“The runners sweep into the third corner!
Setting the pace in front is still Gate 5, ‘I’m Waiting For You’, sticking to her Escape strategy!”] [“Running right behind her in second is Tokai Teio, but her rhythm looks precarious!
AH!
Did she burn through too much stamina in the early scramble?!
Tokai Teio is wiping sweat off her brow!”] [“Trailing behind her is Gate 3…”] As the commentator read off the runner list, everyone in the audience realized that Tokai Teio’s stamina was running dangerously low due to her early rampage, sending a wave of panic through the stands.
“No way, right?!
Is Tokai Teio actually going to lose?!” “How is that possible?!
She’s supposed to be the prodigy destined to surpass the Emperor!” “But look at her!
She just wiped sweat off her forehead!
Her stamina is totally drained!” “Is Tokai Teio’s undefeated streak going to shatter before she even runs her official Debut…?!” “Shut your mouth, you bastard!” Even the various scout Trainers scattered throughout the crowd began whispering anxiously among themselves.
A few impatient Trainers, believing the outcome was sealed, even began packing their belongings and leaving the stands.
“Hana-senpai…
if Tokai Teio really loses today…” Sensing the heavy, suffocating atmosphere in the stadium, the female Trainer nervously tugged on Hana’s sleeve.
“Don’t worry.
She’s Tokai Teio,” Hana placed a hand on her shoulder, comforting her calmly.
“Right…” “Sigh…
her temper really is childish as ever.” Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from right behind them, startling both Trainers so much they instinctively parted, creating an opening for Kouki to step between them.
Kouki didn’t waste a second, leaning over the spectator railing as he looked down at the track.
“Counting the days Symboli Rudolf has been away, it’s only been two days, right?
If her mental state crumbles this easily over a short absence, what’s she gonna do when she competes at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the future?
Cry while running?!” “KOUKI?!
When on earth did you get back?!” Hana asked in shock.
She knew the exact arrival time of his bullet train his sudden appearance here was physically impossible!
“Oh, I just made it back from hell…
aboard the Maruzensky Express,” Kouki forced a bitter, weary smile on his pale, motion-sick face.
“…My deepest condolences,” Hana patted Kouki’s shoulder with a heavy sigh of shared trauma.
“Eh?
What are you two talking about?
Did Maruzensky-san do something?” the junior female Trainer asked, completely confused.
“You’re much better off not knowing!” both Kouki and Hana blurted out in unison.
“Huh?!” *** [“The runners enter the final corner!”] [“Holding first position is ‘I’m Waiting For You’, with ‘Rice Cake’ locked right beside her in second—the two of them are stuck together like glue!”] [“Third place goes to Speed Factor, while Tokai Teio sits in fourth…
Tokai Teio is down in fourth place!”] The commentator mentioned Tokai Teio’s name twice while reading the field order—perhaps he himself couldn’t believe that Tokai Teio was still stuck in fourth place entering the home stretch.
After the final turn was a 400-meter straight line.
If she failed to launch her acceleration right now, she might lose the race simply from lacking momentum—and on a racetrack, losing by a nose was still a defeat!
“You clearly knew Teio is still emotionally dependent like a child!
As her Trainer, you should have paid more attention…
HEY!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Hana was about to lecture Kouki, only to see him press his hands onto the spectator railing and vault cleanly over the barrier!
Beyond the spectator railing was an outer safety fence guarding Turn 4.
Kouki dropped down right along the curve.
Looking at the pack of Umamusume charging rapidly toward him, Kouki took a deep breath, pulled a phone strap from his pocket, and yelled at the top of his lungs: “TEIO!
I BOUGHT THE KAICHOU’S LIMITED-EDITION PHONE STRAP!
IF YOU LOSE THIS RACE, YOU’RE NOT GETTING IT!” These character phone straps had been bought by Kouki while browsing souvenir shops with Rice Shower in Noboribetsu.
Kouki had chosen Narita Brian’s strap for himself, Silence Suzuka’s for Special Week, Symboli Rudolf’s for Tokai Teio, and Biwa Hayahide’s for Silence Suzuka.
Interestingly, Rice Shower had originally wanted to buy Mr.
CB’s, but on the shop owner’s recommendation, she had picked up a colorful charm featuring the energetic Umamusume Daitaku Helios—which had left Kouki slightly puzzled at the time.
When Kouki asked why, the shop owner simply smiled and mentioned that Daitaku Helios had a great relationship with Narita Brian’s circle.
Kouki hadn’t thought much of it, paid for the souvenirs, and continued shopping with Rice Shower.
(Of course, what Kouki and Rice Shower didn’t know was that in another timeline, after Narita Brian retired, a notable real-world offspring named Daitaku Flag was born from that bloodline—a subtle, mysterious twist of fate arranged by destiny!) Getting back to the main track— “Eh?!
Trainer?!” Seeing the figure leaning over the track fence shouting at her, Tokai Teio was initially stunned.
But remembering how he had vanished for days without answering her LINE texts, she stubbornly turned her head away, pretending not to care.
However, seeing the limited-edition Symboli Rudolf charm dangling from his hand—and catching sight of his pale, exhausted face—Tokai Teio suddenly recalled Silence Suzuka’s words from yesterday: *”Unless a miracle happens, Trainer Kouki won’t be able to return before your selection race…
But…
Trainer Kouki is the absolute best at creating miracles.”* A miracle…
had actually happened.
“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
GO GET ‘EM, TEIO!” Seeing Teio’s eyes lock onto him, Kouki clenched his fists and roared.
“YOU DON’T NEED TO TELL ME!
I’VE BEEN READY ALL ALONG!” Teio stormed past the fence line where Kouki stood, her eyes locking onto the lead runners occupying the inner lane ahead.
‘If the inside lane is blocked…
then I’ll just take the outside!’ [ Skill Activated: *Light Footwork* (Lane change stamina recovery) ] [ Skill Activated: *Positioning Adaptability* (Late-leg positioning boost) ] [ Skill Activated: *Technician* (Optimal track navigation) ] Three distinct aura lights flickered around Teio as stamina recovery, lane positioning, and acceleration abilities triggered simultaneously!
Tokai Teio cut to the outer lane in a matter of split seconds, and then, as if riding the wind itself, she unleashed her explosive speed past the lead runners!
[“INSIDE OR OUTSIDE LANE?!
IT’S THE OUTSIDE LANE!
TOKAI TEIO SWEEPS AROUND FROM THE OUTSIDE!”] [“ENTERING THE HOME STRAIGHT!
WHO WILL CLAIM GLORY ON THE FINAL 400 METERS?!”] “SORRY FOR GIVING YOU ALL UNNECESSARY ANXIETY…
TEIO-SAMA WILL ACHIEVE VICTORY IN HER OWN, BRILLIANT WAY!” Tokai Teio planted her left foot onto the turf, and from her already staggering speed, she accelerated into a whole new dimension!
First place?
That was an absolute guarantee!
[ Unique Skill Activated: *Ultimate Teio Step* (Explosive overtake acceleration on the final straight) ] Rainbow-colored light particles surged into her body as Tokai Teio’s iconic unique ability burst into full glory!
[“SHE’S CATCHING UP!
TOKAI TEIO HAS BLOWN RIGHT PAST THEM!”] [“TOKAI TEIO, THE UNSTOPPABLE LEADER!”] [“SO FAST!
TOO FAST!
NO ONE CAN STAND ON PAR WITH HER ANYMORE!”] [“TOKAI TEIO!
TOKAI TEIO!”] [“TOKAI TEIO CROSSES THE FINISH LINE WITH A COMMANDING THREE-LENGTH LEAD!”] [“THE CHAMPION IS TOKAI TEIO!”]