A week passed in the blink of an eye for the Uma Musume. After the announcement of the Friendship Race, the newly enrolled Uma Musume all began preparing for it. However, it was clear that not all new Uma Musume could participate in this race. Besides the few "catfish" personally selected by Symboli Rudolf, the other participating Uma Musume couldn't truly be small fish.
Even if they were small fish, they had to be the largest among them. Although this Friendship Race had no race level and was just an internal competition for new Uma Musume at Tracen, it was an event that Tracen Academy made public to the outside world, so the preparations had to be thorough.
None of the new Uma Musume at Tracen Academy would be weak—this was the message Symboli Rudolf, as the Student Council President, wanted to convey to the outside world. Therefore, even the freshmen who competed would undoubtedly be the cream of the crop, selected through multiple rounds of screening.
Finally, at noon one day, with a large number of external visitors and reporters entering Tracen Academy to watch the race, filling the vast grandstands of Tracen Academy's track all the way to its entrance, the Friendship Race was officially declared open… "Welcome everyone to Tracen Academy to enjoy this internal Friendship Race hosted by Tracen Academy!"
On the stage, Symboli Rudolf, dressed in her winning uniform, stood as the Student Council President alongside Air Groove and Narita Brian, addressing the audience:
"Although it is an ungraded Friendship Race, to uphold Tracen Academy's motto of 'One Horse Leading, All Others Dimmed,' this time, we will conduct it in the format of a formal race."
"And while the new Uma Musume who wins this Friendship Race will not achieve a debut race victory and become a winning Uma Musume, we will award the first-place Uma Musume a medal recognized by the Tracen Student Council, signifying that this champion is the most outstanding representative among Tracen Academy's new Uma Musume!"
Symboli Rudolf's words ignited a fervor among everyone present. When Air Groove and Narita Brian, who was chewing on a blade of grass, brought out a medal and declared it to be the proof of the most outstanding new Uma Musume, the entire venue—audience, reporters, and participating Uma Musume alike—erupted in unprecedented cheers.
"Alright—! Teio-sama, I've made up my mind to win now! For the medal personally awarded by the President!" Below the stage, Tokai Teio excitedly rubbed her hands together. She was determined to win this race.
"…I never knew. It seems the President still has many things she hasn't told us." Ikezoe, who was giving Curren Chan her final instructions for the race, shrugged helplessly, but he didn't mind.
Curren Chan is a short-distance Uma Musume. She might be able to lead for the first three turns in a middle-distance race like this, but she would definitely "oyster" by the final turn. He wasn't aiming for the championship anyway.
"Tra-Trainer, there's a medal, you know." On the other side, Meisho Doto, who was preparing for the race, tugged on Wada's sleeve and said with a hint of excitement:
"If we win this race, we'll have a chance to win the medal and become 'Tracen Academy's Most Outstanding Freshman'."
"Yes, the Most Outstanding Freshman. That truly is tempting." Wada, of course, understood what Doto meant. Although Doto didn't explicitly say it, she was asking Wada for permission to remove her weights for the race.
Although Wada felt that even with the weights, Meisho Doto's current skill level would have no problem placing in the top five, seeing Doto's hopeful expression, Wada pondered for a moment before saying with a smile:
"Alright, this time, take off your weights, Doto. Run with all your might and strive to claim this honor!"
"Yes, yes!"
After a slight surprise, Doto immediately nodded happily. She had already prepared herself for rejection—because the Mainichi Hai race against Opera O was getting closer and closer, and Doto had discussed this matter with Wada more than once.
The plan Wada proposed was called "playing the pig to eat the tiger." It meant concealing her abilities, not revealing her true strength, and then unleashing everything at once on the Mainichi Hai track to catch her opponents off guard, thus greatly increasing her chances of winning against Opera O.
Doto also felt that this was the most successful method at the moment. Therefore, in her daily training, except for three rest days, she wore weights almost every other day. She didn't take them off even when sleeping, except for showering, all to accustom her body to the weight.
The effect was significant. At first, she was unaccustomed, even having sleepless nights, but now, Doto increasingly felt these weights becoming lighter, and she was gradually adapting to the weight.
However, she still lacked actual combat experience, lacking an opportunity to understand her current strength after shedding the weights.
This was one of the reasons Wada agreed to let Doto remove her weights and go all out. The value of this Friendship Race was not low; even if all were new Uma Musume, it was probably not much less difficult than some GIII races.
Additionally, another point was that, although Wada encouraged Doto verbally, deep down, he was mentally prepared for Doto not to win this race… The reason… Wada unconsciously cast his gaze to the other side—there, Mejiro McQueen, who had long since removed her weights and was doing warm-up exercises, had been poised for action for a long time.
Around McQueen, the other Uma Musume all shied away, not even daring to approach. Everyone could feel the powerful conviction and determination to win emanating from McQueen.
"She's really a bit intimidating… This Mejiro McQueen gives me the same feeling as Rice Shower during the Spring Tenno Sho back then…"
Although Wada had never personally seen the actual Racehorse Rice Shower, known as the "Jet Black Assassin" at Shadai, nor had he seen the Uma Musume Rice Shower in this world, through recordings, he knew the terror of Rice Shower that had panicked other Racehorses at the time.
And now, a similar feeling appeared in Mejiro McQueen, but it wasn't a "beast-like" Presence like Rice Shower, but a purer craving for victory.
"At this rate, even Tokai Teio will probably have to temporarily avoid her, won't she?" Wada muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, outside Tracen Academy, which was surrounded by an impenetrable crowd, a luxurious stretched limousine slowly pulled up to the school gate. Soon after, with the help of bodyguards and assistants, the car door slowly opened, and several Uma Musume emerged. Although their hairstyles varied, they had similar appearances, clearly indicating they were all from the same bloodline.
"Grandmother, please hurry. The Friendship Race is about to begin. This is McQueen's debut!"
"Ryan, you need to change your impatient personality. You are an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, on whom great hopes are placed, and the most likely to win the Tenno Sho."
From the car, an elderly woman, clearly the Family Head, slowly stepped out with the support of her entourage. The old woman was dressed in splendid attire, and though aged, she exuded an extremely dignified Presence. Surrounded by everyone, her appearance immediately struck one as extraordinary.
This was the Mejiro Family Head, the one whom all the Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family respectfully called "Grandmother." This time, for Mejiro McQueen, this early debut Uma Musume from the Mejiro Family, even this old woman decided to personally come and observe.
Of course, not only her, but all the proud Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family came along. The Mejiro Family Head slowly spoke, surrounded by the Uma Musume:
"Alright, Ryan, Dober, Yoshin, Ardan, and Bright."
"Let's go see McQueen's performance, and while we're at it, let's see if that Trainer Imanami Takatoshi, whom McQueen always talks about and has written many letters about, truly has genuine talent."