With all the competitors being incredibly strong, the race had already drawn quite a bit of attention even before the official start.
This G2 [Mainichi Okan] had gathered a group of top-tier Uma Musume, all perfectly suited for races ranging from mile to middle distances.
The winner would carry her glory straight into the upcoming G1 race, which was why the audience often called this [Mainichi Okan] the prelude to the Autumn Tenno Sho—a super G2 event.
Its prestige was on par with a G1.
"So many people…"
In the competitors' lounge, Oguri Cap gazed out at the track, at the dense, bustling crowd, and couldn't hold back a sigh of amazement.
Though she'd already taken part in several major stakes races, none had been quite as grand as today.
The front rows of the spectator stands were completely packed; even the aisles beside the seats were filled with spectators who couldn't find a spot.
Nearby, Belno Light was making some final adjustments to Oguri Cap's horseshoes, ensuring everything would go smoothly during the race.
It was usually her job to perform these pre-race checks for Oguri Cap, minimizing any uncertainties once the competition began.
Knock, knock, knock—
The lounge door swung open as Trainer Musaka, tapping his cane, stepped inside.
"How are you feeling?"
The same routine question as always.
"Really good," Oguri Cap replied.
Hearing the roar of the crowd from the track, Oguri Cap's heart began to beat with an unstoppable, powerful rhythm.
"You've been in quite a few major stakes races by now, but this will be your first time facing the highest level of competition among them."
Walking over to the window, Musaka Ginjirou looked out at the passionate spectators who never missed a year, then turned toward the gray-haired girl.
"Every single one of the Uma Musume you're racing against today is among the very best—completely different from the opponents you've faced before."
"Their experience, skill, and physical conditioning are all first-rate."
"But even so," he went on, his tone even but his words weighty enough to make one's shoulders slump, "if you put these same competitors into the dragon's den, the monster-class [Tenno Sho] race, they'd still be completely out of their depth."
Listening to Trainer Musaka's blunt assessment, Belno Light swallowed hard.
The monsters' lair… the Autumn Tenno Sho.
"Let me put it plainly." Trainer Musaka adjusted his cap. "If you can't win this race, then don't even bother showing up for the Tenno Sho."
"How can you—!" Belno Light's mouth fell open. She wanted to defend Oguri Cap, but one look at Trainer Musaka's calm, unyielding expression made the rest of her words stick in her throat.
Giving up on the Tenno Sho just for losing the [Mainichi Okan]—wasn't that way too extreme?
But Oguri Cap didn't seem fazed by Trainer Musaka's words at all.
She nodded, accepting it readily.
"Alright. I'll definitely win this race."
After all, her friends were already here, in the stands.
--+--
"It's so crowded."
Up in the spectator area, Norn Ace, who'd woken up early to carefully style her hair, now found it messed up again by the jostling crowd.
"I've seen it on TV a few times, but being here in person is something else."
Mini the Lady, who was a bit shorter, stayed close to Norn Ace's side. The more crowded the place, the harder it was for someone of her height—she almost felt like she was about to be shoved right between people's legs.
"Hey, where are you guys?" Just then, Rudy Lemono's voice cut through the noisy crowd and reached the girls.
They raised their arms, waving in the direction of the voice.
Spotting them, she slowly made her way over.
"These seats are really close to the front."
Right near the edge of the track.
"That's a good thing—you can see everything up close," Mini the Lady said, leaning on the railing. "Where's March? Is she behind you?"
"She said she was heading for the upper stands—somewhere with a good view of the whole track."
"Aww, I thought we were all gonna stick together," Norn Ace said, a little disappointed.
"She's not like the rest of us, you know."
Rudy Lemono explained, "March is going to be a competitor herself one day, so she needs to carefully study everyone who might become a future rival."
"The upper stands are perfect for watching the whole race unfold."
Even if it meant she couldn't cheer for Oguri Cap up close, for Fujimasa March, the real way to support her would be to meet her on the track someday.
"That's so cool, getting to compete here in the central circuit. And I heard that to encourage inter-school competitions and student exchanges, local Uma Musume can request to use Tracen's training grounds when they come to race here," Norn Ace said, her voice full of envy.
"Wait, really?"
Did that mean Fujimasa March could officially enter Tracen Academy?
That would be a perfect chance to train together with Oguri Cap.
For the three of them, though, who hadn't qualified for major stakes races, that privilege wasn't available.
Not that they were completely barred from Tracen.
They could still visit the school and see Oguri Cap, but using Tracen's training facilities was off-limits.
If they tried to use them without permission, not only would campus security and the discipline committee kick them out, they'd probably be banned from the academy altogether.
Definitely not worth the risk.
"No wonder March has been in such a good mood since this morning…"
She'll have so many more chances to see Oguri Cap than we ever will.
The three of them continued chatting as they waited for the race to start.
Meanwhile, up in the elevated spectator area, which was also packed tight, a girl with crimson eyes and long blue-green hair tied into twin tails was lost in her thoughts.
It's different…
Completely different.
Whether it was the spectators or the competitors, the central circuit was on a whole other level compared to the local ones.
The crowd here was many times larger—maybe even a hundred times larger—than what she was used to.
In her past races, the number of spectators might have only filled a tiny section of these stands.
Watching on TV hadn't done it justice, but being here in person…
Fujimasa March felt like an ant standing on a land-ship called 'Tokyo Racecourse.'
The crowd swayed like ocean waves.
Everyone was waiting for the main players to arrive.
"Ah, over here! There's some space!"
A girl with brown, bob-style hair and white highlights waved to her companions behind her.
Soon, three girls made their way over and stood in the spot next to Fujimasa March.
"Oh, the view's pretty good from here," remarked one who looked particularly spirited and wore earrings, raising a hand to her brow as she looked out over the track. "Looks like we made it just in time."
"If Vodka hadn't overslept, we wouldn't have had to rush around the whole racecourse just to find a spot."
Beside her, a brown-haired girl with twin tails shot back, her tone full of annoyance.
"What did you say? Who was it stomping around first thing in the morning, sitting on a stool fixing her hair and making all that noise with the hair ties, huh? Woke me right up!"
"Ha! And who was the one lazing in bed way past when she should've been up, insisting on getting more sleep?"
"You got a problem with that?"
"You wanna go?"
"Vodka! Daiwa Scarlet! The race is about to start—cut it out, you two."
The bob-haired girl quickly stepped between them, and the bickering stopped.
Students from Tracen, huh? Fujimasa March glanced their way briefly before turning her attention back to the track.
--+--
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.