"Akitsu Teio is accelerating! Akitsu Teio is accelerating! Truly the Emperor of Mile Races! What incredible speed!!"
The commentator's excited voice blared from the screen.
She had won the Autumn [Tenno Sho] and the Mile Championship by a staggering five lengths, then shattered the track record in the [Hakodate Kinen].
Akitsu Teio, the powerhouse known for her devastating acceleration, unleashing it from mid-race and maintaining it all the way to the finish, utterly crushing her opponents, was flying across the screen.
"She's still accelerating! Akitsu Teio still has more in the tank! She's surging to the front of the pack! Wait!? What's this—!!"
Like a thunderclap, a white figure flashed past Akitsu Teio's side.
So fast! Even before Akitsu Teio could react, she was already far, far ahead.
What terrifying acceleration!
Not only the commentator, but even the spectators in the stands and the race cameras struggled to track the blur that shot past.
The white figure streaked by, leaving everyone else in the dust.
That was—!
"Tamamo Cross!!"
The commentator practically shouted, slamming the desk.
"Tamamo Cross charges to the front! The gap is widening, the gap is widening!"
"One length, two lengths! And the finish—!!"
"The winner of the G1 [Takarazuka Kinen] is Tamamo Cross!!"
"Seven consecutive graded stakes wins! This is the power of the Spring [Tenno Sho] Uma Musume, an undeniable, overwhelming victory!"
--+--
"So, what do you think?"
Musaka Ginjirou asked, watching the replay.
Oguri Cap was speechless.
She was still reeling from the shock of that final sprint.
She hadn't even gotten a clear look at her. There wasn't even a moment of running side-by-side—she had blown past the famous Akitsu Teio in an instant.
The champion of the Spring [Tenno Sho], a grueling 3200-meter marathon, seven major wins in a row—a true titan among titans.
"As you move up to higher-level races, you will inevitably have to face her," Musaka stated.
"And that's not all." He adjusted his hat brim. "That other one will also be stepping onto the track soon."
The news of the 'Red Supercar's' return had reached Musaka Ginjirou's ears loud and clear. He never thought a retired Uma Musume would make a comeback.
It doubled the pressure on Trainer Musaka.
Because both Tamamo Cross and Maruzensky were future opponents Oguri Cap would meet on the track.
And their abilities? One could say they stood at the very peak of the pyramid.
Oguri Cap's brows were tightly furrowed.
Musaka Ginjirou gripped his cane and tapped it firmly on the floor.
"I've put all the race records for both Tamamo Cross and Maruzensky on the desk. Look them over if you want. We'll resume training tomorrow."
With that, Trainer Musaka left the room.
Flipping through their race records, Oguri Cap's mind was in turmoil.
Nine races, nine wins, utterly undefeated. Each time leaving the second-place finisher nearly lapped. The genius once lost to regulations, now the Red Supercar returning to the track.
Speed and stamina combined, a streak of major wins, the blinding White Lightning.
And then there was the other one, the one who frequently popped into Oguri Cap's head during training.
The one who defied rules, identity unknown.
The Uma Musume who had snatched victory from the Central Association multiple times, the one who left no records.
The Black Lightning on the track, the Jet Black Phantom.
All of them were beings that filled Oguri Cap with awe.
Preoccupied, she left the room and headed to the training grounds.
She spotted Belno Light, who had left earlier, and next to her, a black-haired girl relentlessly running up and down the slope.
"Oguri!"
Belno Light waved happily upon seeing her.
"Light, what's going on here?" Oguri Cap asked.
Noticing the newcomer, the black-haired girl in the cap gradually slowed to a stop and walked over to them.
Huh? Her...
Oguri Cap narrowed her eyes. There was something oddly familiar about her.
"She's that classmate who showed us around last time," Belno Light reminded her.
"Ah, right, no wonder I felt I'd seen her before. Just... dressed a bit differently?"
"Something like that. The sun's been strong lately," the girl replied without batting an eye.
Oguri Cap nodded, unconcerned.
Her attention returned to Belno Light, who held up the clipboard she'd been furiously scribbling on.
"Oguri! I think I've figured out a way to tackle slopes more efficiently!"
Getting straight to the point, Belno Light eagerly showed her findings to Oguri Cap.
The board was covered with nearly a hundred data sets, each representing a different running posture.
Through constant adjustment, Belno Light had finally pinpointed the most efficient method for hill climbing.
Having noted the optimal frequency and stride amplitude, Belno Light said excitedly, "If you practice using this method, I'm sure it'll help your racing!"
Looking at the dozens of pages of scribbled and erased drafts, thinking of how Belno Light had been constantly by her side, helping throughout her training, a wave of gratitude washed over Oguri Cap.
"Thank you, Light."
"No, no, don't thank me! Thank Cafe-san here. She's been helping me all this time. Without her, I couldn't have gathered nearly this much data."
"Thank you, Cafe."
"And she's seriously amazing..." Belno Light couldn't help but marvel. "Even after running that slope dozens of times, her breathing is as steady as ever. Just what kind of incredible stamina does that take!"
"Dozens of times?"
Oguri Cap's eyes widened, looking at the hundreds-of-meters-long slope.
That was seriously impressive.
"You flatter me," the black-haired girl said. "I might look fine, but I'm just toughing it out. Truth is, my arms and legs are so tired I can barely lift them..."
"Eh! Really?"
Faced with the girl's blunt honesty, Belno Light cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Well... in that case, let me think, I can't possibly let your effort go unrewarded..."
She squinted, pondering how to repay the favor.
"Light is right. If someone helps you, it's only natural to repay them somehow."
Oguri Cap placed a hand on her chest.
Her mind was still on that recording tape. The powerful racers who once seemed so distant back in the regional circuits were now tangible presences right in front of her. Oguri Cap was filled with emotion.
She couldn't have come this far without the help of her friends.
"That's how I feel. I'll always remember the joy and happiness I felt from receiving help. And then, I want to repay everyone."
The ache of leaving her past companions was still vivid in her memory.
Golden eyes watched her from behind sunglasses.
"Hoh?" The girl listened to Oguri Cap's earnest speech, nodding thoughtfully. "So, for you, what exactly is this 'repayment'?"
"For me, repayment is..."
Repayment is...?
Strange.
Oguri Cap couldn't answer.
She couldn't recall actually doing anything substantial for everyone.
Just saying thanks didn't feel like nearly enough.
Why exactly was I pushing myself so hard again?
Was it just for the sake of running?
It felt like her original goal was getting further and further away.
Watching those powerhouses dominate the track, Oguri Cap felt a heavy pressure.
But where was this pressure coming from?
A competitive spirit?
The determination to win?
Somehow, it didn't feel like just that.
Oguri Cap was lost.
When did I start craving victory so much?
"You don't know?" The girl tilted her head.
Oguri Cap shook her head honestly. Immediately, the girl in front of her showed a disappointed expression.
"The answer is simple. Give those who helped you what they want."
"What they want..."
"Think carefully. What do they hope to see in you?"
Material rewards?
Or spiritual support?
Oguri Cap's brows furrowed involuntarily.
"On the racetrack, striving for that dazzling summit, climbing ever higher—that is my repayment."
The black-haired girl straightened up.
What she despised in a race wasn't winning or losing.
It was boredom.
Are you really going to step onto the track with that half-baked mindset?
How utterly... boring.
"I..." Oguri Cap clenched her fist. "For everyone, for those who have expectations of me, my repayment to them is—"
"Oh! I know! How about we go out this Sunday! I found a great coffee shop. If Cafe-san doesn't mind, we could go there on Sunday. How about it?"
Lost in her own thoughts, Belno Light seemed to have struck upon a brilliant idea, clapping her hands and cutting off the two girls' conversation.
--+--
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.