"Hehe, as expected, I, Teio, am the strongest! Everyone else is far behind me!"
At this moment, although she was supposed to be running a go first race, due to a smooth start and securing a good position, Tokai Teio unexpectedly took the lead. As a result, the view ahead was unobstructed, with no impediments whatsoever.
However, running at the very front undoubtedly means facing greater wind pressure and a significant drain on stamina. But Tokai Teio, overjoyed by her perfect start, didn't pay any attention to these minor hindrances from the wind pressure.
A 2000-meter middle-distance race, with clear skies and a grassy track—it was a perfect course tailor-made for her victory! Was there any reason she wouldn't win?
Although she excelled at go first , perhaps running as an Ōnige (The Great Escape) all the way to the finish line wouldn't be bad either!
Thinking this, Tokai Teio's speed didn't decrease; instead, it increased, her powerful legs propelling her forward even faster, as if she truly intended to run as an Ōnige (The Great Escape) straight to the finish line!
"...Teio is too arrogant and complacent."
On the other side of the stands, Symboli Rudolf watched this scene, shaking her head inwardly, and said calmly, "2000 meters is indeed Teio's preferred distance. As long as she races according to plan, Teio has a very high chance of winning."
"But now, I'm afraid she will realize her lack of power and stamina in the final turn."
"Perhaps not even the final turn, President." At this moment, Air Groove's gaze was also fixed on the Uma Musume competing for the front positions on the track, and she revealed a slight smile.
At this moment, having just passed the first turn, Air Groove had already noticed that one Uma Musume was about to make her move.
"Good opportunity!" At this moment, Curren Chan, who was behind Mejiro McQueen and Meisho Doto, also seized the opportunity. Just as she and Ikezoe-kun had discussed earlier, she burst forward with a sudden surge of power at the first turn!
"Oh! Curren Chan is making her move! She's making her move at the first turn! She's overtaken Meisho Doto and Mejiro McQueen! She's closing in on Tokai Teio!"
"What?!"
Tamamo Cross's voice also made Tokai Teio look to her side in surprise, and at this moment, Curren Chan, who was displaying astonishing footwork, was almost parallel with Tokai Teio!
When Tokai Teio's eyes met Curren Chan's, the disbelief in her pupils was almost impossible to hide—she only considered McQueen her rival, and had never paid any mind to Curren Chan!
After all, during the previous simulation race, she was the only Uma Musume who "oystered" midway!
"Hehe, sorry, Teio."
Even during the race, Curren Chan maintained a smile. After giving the shocked Teio a cute wink, she laughed and said,
"I'll be taking the first-place position for now~"
As soon as she finished speaking, Curren Chan's legs pushed forward again, gradually increasing the distance between her and Tokai Teio, whose pace had been affected by her shock.
"Oh oh oh oh! This is the first time I've seen a running style that starts accelerating at the first turn! Oguri! Do you think Curren Chan can maintain this all the way to the finish line?" Tamamo Cross was also very interested in this Friendship Race, which had become exciting from the first turn, and quickly asked Oguri Cap beside her.
"...It's difficult. If it were an Ōnige (The Great Escape) strategy, she should have taken a favorable position from the start and maintained the lead throughout. Curren Chan's start just now wasn't like Twin Turbo's, where she was stuck in a bad position and couldn't execute an Ōnige (The Great Escape) running style. She is clearly employing a go first strategy now."
Upon hearing about the race, Oguri Cap, whose eyes usually only held thoughts of food, finally showed a different expression. She then said with some confusion, "So, I don't know what Curren Chan's strategy is, but I don't think she can lead all the way to the finish line."
"However, it's a fact that she is currently in the lead."
"Exactly! I think so too. Although I don't know what strategy Curren Chan has chosen, she is now in the lead!"
Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap's commentary also drew gasps from the audience. They hadn't expected Tokai Teio, who was highly anticipated in this race, to be overtaken at the first turn. Instantly, the entire Racecourse erupted in excitement, and many people began cheering for Tokai Teio, or rather, for Curren Chan.
"...Ikezoe-kun, what exactly are you thinking?" However, Wada on the stage also found this scene a bit strange. Looking at Ikezoe-kun, who appeared very confident, Wada didn't know what his strategy was.
"You should be very aware that Curren Chan is a short-distance Uma Musume, right? A 2000-meter distance is inherently disadvantageous for you. If you want to win, shouldn't you adopt a chasing tactic? Conserving stamina at the back of the pack and then making a final sprint for victory?"
"—You're right, Wada. If Curren Chan had even a slight adaptability to middle-distance, I would have used the method you just mentioned." However, Ikezoe-kun shrugged his shoulders helplessly upon hearing this and said with a smile,
"Unfortunately, Curren Chan only has short-distance talent. Even if I don't want to admit it, Curren Chan understands this very well. While ensuring she doesn't lose speed, even completing the entire 2000 meters is a challenge for Curren Chan, let alone accelerating or performing a Last Spurt."
"So, I just decided to go all out. Curren Chan and I discussed it: we'll accelerate at the first turn. In the first 1200 meters, while all the Uma Musume are conserving stamina for the final straight, we'll lead for the first three turns!"
Ikezoe-kun's words made Wada pause slightly. Seeing Wada stunned , Ikezoe-kun's face broke into a cheerful smile, and he said with great spirit, "This way, Curren Chan's talent in short distances will be evident even to an amateur. Even if we don't win later and get overtaken, we'll lose gracefully, won't we?"
"And Wada, you need to know, Curren Chan and my first goal isn't this Friendship Race, but the 1200-meter Hakodate Racecourse New Uma Musume Race in July!"
"...I see." With everything laid out, Wada suddenly understood, nodded, and murmured to himself, "Knowing you can't win, so you lose gracefully, and you can also showcase Curren Chan's strengths, thereby gaining more popularity for Curren Chan in the New Uma Musume Race, huh..."
It must be said that Ikezoe-kun's initial intention of not aiming to win was something Wada and others had not expected. After all, for both Trainer and Uma Musume, once they step onto the Racecourse, they are competitive. Even on a Racecourse that is not conducive to their performance, no Uma Musume would initially believe they have no chance.
But, coincidentally, Ikezoe-kun understood himself and Curren Chan's limits, and Curren Chan also considered herself not good at racing. She had no objections to Ikezoe-kun's arrangement, which could both showcase her strength and boost her popularity.
—If it had been Gold Ship participating, Ikezoe-kun would have arranged a winning strategy. Even if Ikezoe-kun wanted Gold Ship to give up, Gold Ship would probably scold him fiercely.
And everything was as Ikezoe-kun had expected. Curren Chan led almost unopposed, even being a Horse's length ahead of Tokai Teio at the second turn.
Tokai Teio also refused to be outdone. Carried away by Curren Chan's pace, she accelerated early and constantly vied with Curren Chan. Through the first two turns, the positions of the two Uma Musume continuously changed, neither daring to relax!
"Keep going, Curren Chan!"
"Go, Curren Chan!"
Many spectators in the stands, captivated by Curren Chan's leading performance, cheered for her. Now the group had reached the third turn. If Curren Chan could just hold on for one more turn, she might actually win!
However, unfortunately, Curren Chan's battle ended there.
"I'm really sorry, Oni-chan. I wish I, Curren Chan, could run middle distances..."
Curren Chan also felt herself slowly losing speed, and her footwork was declining. Although deep down she was somewhat unwilling to give up the victory that was so close, she had already given her all for her performance... "Oh oh oh! This isn't good, Curren Chan is losing speed! Is she running out of stamina?"
"Now, second-place Tokai Teio is closing in on Curren Chan! Two Horse's lengths, one Horse's length—they're parallel!"
"Phew... that really scared me." Tokai Teio's nerves, which had been tense from the first turn until now, finally relaxed when she ran parallel with Curren Chan. This time, however, Tokai Teio finally looked at Curren Chan seriously and said,
"Curren Chan, I'm sorry, I've always underestimated you. If this were a short-distance race, I'm afraid I would have lost to you."
"Hehe, to hear even Teio say that means Oni-chan's strategy has succeeded." Curren Chan, however, didn't care at all. She and Ikezoe-kun both knew they couldn't win, but what they pursued was merely a spectacular performance.
Next, other Uma Musume would take over her task.
"But, you can't relax just yet, Teio~"
"What?"
However, in the next moment, before Teio could even react, Doto, who had been closely following behind Teio and McQueen, seized her chance!
At this moment, Doto's legs suddenly surged with power, even leaving a footprint in the grass! Her explosive power, finally unleashed after being freed from the weight, came rushing like a raging flood at this moment!
"Oh! Meisho Doto is making her move! In the final turn! She's overtaken Tokai Teio in one fell swoop!"
"?!"
At this moment, Teio, who had just overtaken Curren Chan and thought she had finally returned to first place, caught a glimpse of Doto, who swept past her like a gust of wind, instantly appearing in front of her and pulling away. Teio was instantly dumbfounded.
"I'm sorry, Teio, but it's my turn to make a move."
And behind Teio, McQueen's voice slowly drifted over. Before Tokai Teio could react, McQueen also propelled herself forward with both legs, her astonishing burst of power allowing her to overtake Tokai Teio at this moment, chasing directly after Doto's back!
What's going on? What happened? Why did Doto and McQueen suddenly get ahead of me?
At this moment, Tokai Teio watched McQueen and Doto, who had suddenly pulled away from her. The dumbfounded Tokai Teio even forgot that she was still on the Racecourse. The self-doubt in her mind unconsciously slowed her down... She seemed to gradually realize that she, at this moment, and the two Uma Musume ahead, were already existences on completely different levels...