Upon hearing the announcer's introduction, the three Uma Musume briefly shifted their attention—not out of curiosity for the newcomer, but because the final contestant's arrival signaled the imminent start of the race.
They had already exchanged fierce words before the race, each declaring their intent to seize the Kobe Shimbun Hai, and now they eagerly awaited the moment the competition would begin.
As a black-haired Uma Musume with a single ponytail emerged from the competitor's tunnel, Fujino Makken O let out a cold snort and strode decisively toward the starting gate.
She had grown tired of this meaningless standoff. Fujino Makken O no longer wished to exchange another word with Merci Stage or that arrogant Star Man. Let victory—brutal and decisive—speak for her instead.
Watching Fujino Makken O's retreating figure, Merci Stage gritted her teeth and muttered under her breath:
'I will win this race.'
She and Fujino Makken O had enrolled in the same year, been placed in the same class, and faced off in two consecutive races after their debut.
The first, a race below graded stakes level, was won by Fujino Makken O.
The second, an OP graded race, ended with Merci Stage as the victor.
They were constantly compared by those around them, and Merci Stage had always regarded the other as her rival.
When she won two G3 graded races while Fujino Makken O came up empty-handed, Merci Stage thought the comparisons would finally end.
And indeed, the discussions surrounding the two of them did cease—but not in Merci Stage's favor.
After finishing near the bottom in both the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby, she no longer deserved to be mentioned in the same breath as Fujino Makken O.
Watching her former rival pull further and further ahead, left behind in the dust, Merci Stage refused to accept it. That was why she had to win this Kobe News Cup.
She would prove to Fujino Makken O—to everyone—that she could still stand shoulder to shoulder with her.
With that, Merci Stage turned without another glance and marched toward the starting gate.
Left behind, Star Man rested her hands behind her head, brimming with fighting spirit and single-minded desire for victory. She couldn't quite grasp the complicated history between the other two, and was somewhat puzzled by their haste.
'But it doesn't matter.'
'The winner of this Kobe Shimbun Hai is gonna be me!'
She already knew those two were the strongest competitors in the race besides herself—that's why she'd approached them in the first place.
Otherwise, why wouldn't she bother talking to the other racers? Why not announce her ambitions to them?
It was precisely because she recognized them as rivals that Star Man felt her competitive spirit ignite.
'Fujino Makken O's stamina is lacking. She struggled in the two-thousand-meter Satsuki Sho, which is why she dropped from the top three to fourth in the two-thousand-four-hundred-meter Derby.'
'This Kobe Shimbun Hai is exactly two thousand meters. Her stamina will barely be enough—no way she can match me!'
'The same goes for Merci Stage. She's been off her game since the Derby and can't perform at her true level.'
'In other words, there's zero suspense about who's gonna win this thing!'
Muttering to herself as she watched the two walk away, Star Man might have seemed carefree on the surface, but as an Uma Musume aiming to rival Narita Brian, how could she not know her strongest competitors inside and out?
Her trainer had laid out all the details before the race. Confident and well-prepared, Star Man only needed to maintain her self-belief and perform at her best to secure victory.
Luckily, confidence was something she had in spades.
"All contestants, please take your positions!"
Hearing the announcement, Star Man broke into a wide grin and strode confidently toward her assigned gate, following the sound of the commentator's voice.
Each of them had their own reason to win, their own strategy, and no shortage of will to seize victory.
They had identified all the strong rivals in this race and mapped out their path to triumph. All that remained was to step onto the track.
The racetrack is a merciless place. Though every Uma Musume who dares to set foot on it desires victory, the gap in power and ability means many are destined to play only supporting roles.
In the minds of these three, the lead role in this drama had already been decided, the competition narrowed down among themselves. Each believed she would defeat the others and become the most dazzling Uma Musume at the Kobe Shimbun Hai.
That last-minute entry was nothing more than a prelude to the main event.
Having never heard the name "Northern," they had no idea what it represented—nor what kind of history the Uma Musume bearing that name carried.
So focused were they on their chosen rivals that they completely overlooked the performances of the other racers.
Naturally, they failed to notice how the venue fell into a sudden hush after the black-haired Uma Musume made her appearance, or why the other competitors had gone deathly quiet.
Driven by their burning desire for victory, they stepped into the cold starting gates before they could sense the danger.
So it was only when Dream Weaver finally entered the gate, when she stood close enough to touch, when that suffocating pressure became inescapable, that they dimly realized something was wrong.
Their hearts raced—not from excitement, nor from the thirst for victory, but from—
Dread.
Just moments ago, their blood had been boiling with declarations of certain victory. Yet now, inside the gate, their fiery fervor had frozen over in an instant, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
"What… is this…?"
Fujino Makken O frowned deeply, instinctively scanning her surroundings. Every instinct screamed that something terribly wrong was nearby.
But all she could see were the cold starting gates and the other Uma Musume, their faces equally pale. She knew danger was close, yet couldn't see it—a nameless fear began coiling around her heart.
"Fujino? No, this doesn't feel like her. That arrogant girl from earlier? How could she be this strong?!"
Merci Stage shuddered faintly. This powerful, unfamiliar presence reminded her involuntarily of someone—an Uma Musume who had nearly shattered her spirit.
"Narita… Brian?"
"Why would she be here?!"
She looked around in panic, as if somewhere just beyond her sight, the legendary Narita Brian—the one who had dominated an entire generation—was watching her.
"A hero can't just run away…"
Cold sweat trickled down Star Man's forehead now. Though she encouraged herself aloud, her body tensed uncontrollably, beading with nervous perspiration.
While the other Uma Musume were lost in anxiety, only one remained calm, her gaze steady on the track ahead.
Dream Weaver had no reason to be nervous—why would she be?
After all, just by standing here, setting foot on this track, the outcome of the Kobe Shimbun Hai had already been decided.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.