"Ha… ha… ha…"
In the final sprint, both Mejiro McQueen and Meisho Doto gave it their all. The two Horse Girls, who had previously trained together with weights to lose weight, had now removed them, as if shedding their restraints, unleashing unprecedented power!
Their bodies felt lighter than ever, their legs experienced a freedom they had never known, as if they were riding on fiery wheels. After adapting to the weights, their running allowed McQueen and Doto to unleash even greater bursts of speed than before!
"As expected of Doto-san, I knew you would be the opponent most worthy of my attention in this race."
Mejiro McQueen watched Doto, who was about half a Horse length ahead of her. Even though she was panting, she spoke to Doto with a tone of admiration:
"I've always watched your training, your dedication, your effort, and that conviction—I knew your performance now would exceed my expectations, and it truly has!"
"...I just don't want to let Trainer down."
Doto bravely expressed her view. On the racetrack, Doto was more courageous and decisive than her usual self. Although not as imposing as McQueen, as an Uma Musume on the track, Doto had already contended with McQueen for countless rounds.
Suddenly, it was as if the phantom images of two Racehorses condensed behind them, constantly clashing, competing, and neighing, yet neither would concede an inch of Presence, nor give the other any opening.
They both held onto their beliefs, they both refused to lose, and they both hoped their victory would be witnessed by those they cared about!
"Trainer, he is watching me."
"So I absolutely cannot lose!"
Doto gritted her teeth and continued to swing her body. Her point of exertion was slightly earlier than McQueen's, which led to a bit of a lack of stamina now, but there was still some distance to the finish line.
The straight sprint was the most crucial path to change the course of the race. At this moment, Doto had no other option but to cling to Mejiro McQueen—as long as she could maintain her half-Horse length advantage, McQueen truly had no chance.
"Tch." McQueen also gritted her teeth slightly. Doto was more tenacious than she had imagined, not falling behind in their clash of Presence, making it difficult to defeat her quickly.
Was she really going to let this opportunity slip away?
"McQueen! Don't lose!"
In the stands, the Mejiro Family sisters were also shouting vigorously to cheer on McQueen. Mejiro Ryan stood up and yelled to McQueen on the track:
"Swing your arms! McQueen! Get all your muscles working!"
"Ryan-nee, McQueen can't hear you shouting like that." Mejiro Dober, who was beside her, saw the gazes of others around them and, being somewhat shy, seemed to feel embarrassed.
And most importantly, Grandmother was also nearby; they should maintain the elegance expected of the Mejiro Family. Dober was worried that Ryan's actions would earn her a scolding from Grandmother.
However, fortunately, Grandmother seemed very calm, always focusing on the race but neither cheering nor frowning. She seemed quite composed… "Darn it, can anyone cheer for McQueen closer to her!" Mejiro Ryan anxiously looked around. McQueen was currently racing, and they weren't on the track, otherwise they could help ease some of McQueen's pressure, allowing her to find an opportunity to break through.
But now they could do nothing, not even find a good spot to cheer. Were they just going to watch McQueen lose to Meisho Doto like this?
"Leave it to us!"
Just then, a figure suddenly leaped from the high stands. A roan Uma Musume with long silver-white hair, even carrying a young man on her back, swiftly moved from the heights to the bottom layer of the stands—the area closest to the track!
"Gold Ship?!"
"Everyone, please move aside!" However, Gold Ship, who had appeared without warning carrying Imanami, paid no attention to the gazes of others. Instead, she quickly continued running along the track's direction with Imanami on her back, shouting as she ran:
"McQueen! Go for it! The old man is here to cheer you on too! Don't lose!"
"!"
However, Gold Ship's voice made McQueen, who was locked in a stalemate with Doto on the track, stiffen. She instinctively looked outside the track and saw Gold Ship's running figure, almost keeping pace with her while carrying Imanami. On Gold Ship's back, Mr. Imanami, with gauze still covering his nose, was clearly recognizable to McQueen.
Mr. Imanami, why was he here? Wasn't he still not allowed to leave the hospital?
"—Miss McQueen, focus!"
However, Imanami seemed to notice McQueen's eyes and immediately, with a serious tone, prompted her: "Don't get distracted! Focus wholeheartedly on the race! What's in front of you is the only thing you need to pay attention to!"
"...Is that McQueen's provisional Trainer? The Imanami Takatoshi she always talks about?"
At this moment, the Mejiro Family Head in the stands finally reacted. Watching Imanami Takatoshi, who was riding on Gold Ship, not simply bursting out in a burst of enthusiasm to cheer for McQueen, but rather telling her to concentrate on the race, she finally showed a slight smile and nodded.
"...Not bad, but considering such a young Trainer, it's truly rare."
..."Mr. Imanami…" McQueen's expression was slightly dazed, but she quickly refocused her attention on the race at Imanami's reminder.
For McQueen, encouragement might not directly change the course of the race, but she clearly unleashed a stronger Presence to try and overwhelm Meisho Doto beside her. McQueen's leg speed also continuously accelerated, clinging to Meisho Doto's half-Horse length gap without letting go!
Doto also felt the pressure increase severalfold, but she still gritted her teeth and persevered.
"I absolutely cannot lose—Trainer's expectations! I cannot let him down!"
The struggle between Doto and McQueen put immense pressure on both Horse Girls. Just as they were locked in a stalemate, a sharp figure suddenly burst into their duel!
"It's Tokai Teio! Tokai Teio is surging forward!"
"What?!"
Tamamo Cross's words startled both McQueen and Doto. They then noticed that Tokai Teio, whom they had left behind, had somehow regrouped and was now about one Horse length away from them!
"Haaaaaah—!!!" Tokai Teio also screamed with all her might, surging forward. The gap between her and Special Week behind her widened. Her eyes fixed on McQueen and Doto ahead, she shouted:
"You're not allowed! You're not allowed to leave me behind like this!"
"The performance of the invincible Teio-sama has just begun!"
"Teio…"
At this moment, neither McQueen nor Doto had expected Tokai Teio, who had clearly been performing poorly, to surge forward. Faced with Tokai Teio's unstoppable Presence, Doto's Presence, which had been clinging to McQueen, suddenly sharpened, and she instinctively felt a hint of fear.
She had already given her all to cling to McQueen, but Tokai Teio's entry disrupted her rhythm, causing Doto to momentarily panic.
And Doto's moment of fear instantly sobered McQueen, who seized this unique opportunity!
"Good chance!" McQueen's mind suddenly recalled Imanami's warning: focus on the race!
"Oh oh oh! Doto lost speed for a moment, was she intimidated by Tokai Teio? And McQueen! McQueen is accelerating!"
"The final fifty meters! Mejiro McQueen is accelerating a second time! Unstoppable! No one can stop her now!"
This is bad! At this moment, Doto, who had reacted, and Teio, who had unexpectedly interfered, both watched McQueen's sudden surge forward. But now, neither Horse Girl could contend with McQueen; they could no longer stop any of this.
Doto's eyes widened suddenly at this moment. She watched the finish line of the victory she could have won… being crossed by McQueen… "Finish—line—! First place! Mejiro McQueen broke through! She won first place in this Friendship Race!"
Tamamo Cross's shout accompanied the cheers that erupted throughout the venue. Mejiro McQueen's crossing of the finish line signified that the sole winner of this Friendship Race had emerged.
"One Horse leads, all others fade." The Uma Musume after first place were merely losers.
"Second place is Tokai Teio, third place is Meisho Doto, who only reacted and crossed the line just now, and fourth place is Special Week!"
"And the winner of this race is only Mejiro McQueen. Her victory in this Friendship Race will earn her the honor of the most outstanding freshman Uma Musume of this year at Tracen Academy!"