"Haa..."
Nearl stood backstage, letting out a soft breath. She was ready to step into the spotlight.
"Time to go."
After a final moment of self-assurance, Nearl strode decisively onto the stage.
"She's here, she's here! The crowd's number one pick, Nearl, is entering the stage!"
"Wooohoooo!!"
The moment Nearl appeared, a significant portion of the audience rose to their feet, cheering with an intensity and fervor that seemed unbelievable for a Uma Musume who had just debuted.
"Now that's a warm welcome," mused Dicta Striker, leaning casually against the railing as she scanned the roaring stands.
"I've been in most races bigger than this, but in terms of personal popularity? She's on another level."
"That just proves how exceptional Nearl is," Ardan chimed in, moving closer to the rail, her eyes sparkling as she watched Nearl ascend the presentation platform step by step.
"The audience recognizes talent. Her last race must have completely won them over."
"You know, you seem a little too invested in her," Dicta said, a teasing grin playing on her lips as she glanced sideways at Ardan. "Just before, the moment you heard her name, you dropped all that noble lady poise. It was quite a sight."
"But why did Platinum refuse to come? She was so resistant, acting like we were asking her to walk to her doom."
At that, Ardan could only sigh in frustration. "I truly don't understand what's going on in that child's mind. It's just watching a race, her own sister's race at that. Does she really not want to see her sister at all? Even if they were separated as children, they're still blood relatives."
"I recall Nearl grew up in an orphanage, right? Makes you think her parents were utterly worthless."
Dicta Striker voiced her profound disdain for Nearl's parents.
"And Centaurea-chan doesn't seem to like her parents either. She's never even mentioned them. I asked her about her family situation once, and she flatly said her parents 'aren't in this world anymore.'"
"Seriously? They passed away?"
"I'm not entirely sure. In a way, if they haven't, it's even sadder, isn't it?"
Ardan thought of that disinterested white figure and felt an inexplicable pang of heartache.
Parents: Uhh...
"But Platinum and her sister are polar opposites. Even without having met her, just looking at Nearl's composure and demeanor during this presentation, I can tell she's steady and serious. Then I think about her little sister..."
"Haha, indeed. The contrast between the sisters is just too strong. I don't know whether to praise Nearl's family for raising her so well, or blame Centaurea's family for being irresponsible."
Three Goddesses: Please, stop, just stop...
"But can an orphanage's education really be that good? Nearl's bearing seems almost on par with you Uma Musume from the Mejiro family. That bow of hers was particularly graceful."
"To be honest, I wish Nearl were from our Mejiro family..."
Ardan smiled shyly, swallowing the rest of her sentence.
Luckily, Dicta Striker was easygoing by nature and didn't press the matter.
"The presentation's over. Good, I'm getting excited! This race better be worth the price of skipping class."
"But why didn't you just ask for leave...?"
--+--
"They're here! All the Uma Musume have now entered the track. Are they ready?"
"Oh, Nearl still looks so confident. Is she meditating? Truly the composure of a great general."
"The crowd's number two pick, Southern Maiden, is full of energy as usual today. Although her racing career is nearing three years, that aggressive drive hasn't diminished in the slightest. What kind of run will she show us today?"
"And the number ten pick, Dancing Traveller, her recent few failures have led the audience to believe her form is declining. But the racetrack is a place of infinite possibilities! Let's believe she can achieve a breakthrough today!"
"With that, all fourteen Uma Musume have entered the starting gates. They await the start of the race, and the audience can hardly wait."
"A 2000-meter course, with two bends. Let us await this fierce contest."
The commentator's voice, amplified by the speakers, echoed throughout the venue, reaching the ears of the Musume on the track.
They eyed each other warily, each trying to put on their fiercest expression to intimidate their rivals.
But the focus of their attention remained Nearl, positioned in the outermost gate. Nearly every Musume glanced her way, marking her as their primary opponent.
Nearl simply kept her eyes peacefully closed, silent and still.
Beeeeep!
The signal light on the starting gate flashed, and the metal doors swung open instantly, revealing the seemingly vast green turf compared to the confined gates.
Her eyes snapped open. Nearl pushed off powerfully with her legs, bursting forth immediately.
"There they go! They're off! Nearl is the first out of the gate!"
"What incredible reaction speed! You can see the other Uma Musume are clearly a beat slower than her."
"Yes, truly remarkable reflexes."
But up in the stands, Dicta Striker sensed something amiss.
"Why isn't she changing lanes? She's in the outside gate this race. If she doesn't change lanes now, she'll end up running nearly 50 meters extra later."
Ardan beside her was also a little puzzled, but she remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on Nearl's running form.
"Nearl takes the lead! Right from the start, she's seized the front position. Is she planning to employ the Great Escape she used in her debut race?"
"Her lead is steadily growing, while the main group behind shows no sign of reacting yet."
Southern Maiden was positioned within the leading pack, her eyes locked intently on the curve ahead.
'Stay calm. Let her run. The curve ahead is the chance to close the gap. Endure until then.'
'Wait for the curve!'
"They can't afford to wait for the curve."
The Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, suddenly spoke up from her seat in the stands.
Her trainer was no longer by her side. Mr. C.B, who had been wandering around earlier, had returned and was now watching the race with keen interest.
"Why not? Isn't it common sense that faster Musume need to slow down for curves?"
Drawn by Rudolf's words, Mr. C.B tore her gaze from Nearl and looked at her instead.
"Those closely involved can't see as clearly as bystanders."
"Any judgment must be based on the actual situation. Senpai, look at Nearl's footing and her running position."
"I can't see anything special?"
Mr. C.B's face was a picture of confusion, practically screaming 'clueless'.
"Oh, my mistake."
Symboli Rudolf facepalmed in exasperation. "I forgot, Senpai, you're an instinct-type Uma Musume. You never analyze these things."
--+--
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.