"We can see that the Uma Musume have now entered the track; they are doing their final warm-ups, and after all of this, they will enter the gates for this 1800-meter Race!"
At this moment, the commentator's voice did not catch the attention of the key personnel here. Tojo Hana, standing beside Wada, who was with Ikezoe, rarely stood with the two of them. She calmly said to Wada beside her:
"Speaking of which, I might even have to thank you. I didn't expect Opera O to actually stabilize after your guidance. Although there was only one week left, I felt that Opera O's condition truly recovered this past week. She no longer blushes for no reason, and she doesn't get distracted during training. She has returned to her original state."
As she spoke, Tojo Hana looked at Wada beside her with a puzzled expression and couldn't help but ask, "How did you do it? Although Opera O isn't the type of personality that makes people feel troublesome, how did you manage to calm her down so quickly?"
"Or perhaps, you were her past life lover, and you two have a telepathic connection?"
"...Well, I'm not entirely sure about that, but when it comes to encouraging people, I'm quite experienced."
Wada also didn't know how to explain this. In fact, Opera O was quite restless when she first saw him. Not only did she frequently avoid his gaze, but she even stammered when speaking, as if Wada was some kind of monster.
However, fortunately, this problem was eventually resolved with Wada's persistent persuasion. Since that day, Opera O's condition has indeed recovered a lot, and now, Opera O looks no different from usual; she is very normal and very confident on the Racecourse.
"That being said, it doesn't sound like something you would do. It's just that Opera O was simply feeling a bit unwell for a few days..." Tojo Hana also realized she might have wronged Wada, but at that moment, she looked at Opera O and said,
"But if Opera O's condition has recovered, your chances of winning have actually decreased."
"How about we treat this Mainichi Hai as making friends? We'll see each other at the Satsuki Sho after this?" Tojo Hana wanted to give Wada a way out. She was very clear about Opera O's strength. This GIII Race was not difficult for Opera O. Although Meisho Doto had worked very hard these two months, she couldn't possibly surpass Opera O.
In fact, Tojo Hana also suffered from a lack of information. She had been busy with her team members' Races and Opera O's training. She hadn't watched that Friendship Race, only learning about Doto's third-place finish from other team members.
If Doto had taken first place, perhaps Tojo Hana would have been surprised and then viewed Doto as a true opponent. But even now, Tojo Hana still didn't take this to heart and even thought Opera O would win very easily.
Tojo Hana's words also made Wada look slightly to the side—it sounded like the communication between Opera O and her Trainer hadn't been extensive during this period.
At least for Opera O, Doto was definitely a formidable opponent, and she dared not be careless, but Tojo Hana, as her Trainer, was completely unaware of this... This also highlighted a problem that Wada was very concerned about: during this period, Opera O's condition didn't seem as good as he thought or saw.
"The Race hasn't even started yet, Miss Tojo. Perhaps Doto will give you a big surprise."
Wada also watched Doto and Opera O, who were slowly entering the gates on the Racecourse, fully prepared, but still felt a little uneasy in his heart... Whether this Race could develop as Wada expected would depend on this start... And Doto, who had now entered Gate No. 2, was also incredibly calm. Stepping onto the Racecourse, she was completely different from her usual timid image. Her eyes gradually became serious, staring fixedly at the track ahead.
In Gate No. 1, next to Doto, Opera O was equally solemn. She silently closed her eyes, recalling the words Tojo Hana had said to her before the Race.
"Opera O, although we are determined to win this Race, you've seen the results of the training from a while ago. Your Senko is not very mature yet. If we had more time, I would definitely have you train in the Senko running style, but the Mainichi Hai is imminent, and we need a steady victory."
"Therefore, in this Race, you must use the Sashi running style. As long as you use the Sashi running style, we will win this victory."
"Sashi, huh..."
However, Opera O now opened her eyes again, muttering the advice Tojo Hana had given her. Even Opera O had to admit that Tojo Hana was right.
The Senko technique she had only learned through dreams was not yet sufficient. It would be extremely reckless to compete against a strong opponent like Doto, whom she might not even win against with her full effort right now, using a running style she was not yet proficient in.
But what Opera O hadn't told Tojo Hana was that her Sashi technique would no longer improve, while her Senko technique was, on the contrary, different from before.
And the reason for all this came from that period of overthinking. Opera O was indeed out of sorts during that time, largely because after her contact with Wada that day, many fragments in her mind began to gradually become clearer.
Not only in her dreams, but even during regular training, Opera O's attention was constantly divided. Her Sashi running style would always unconsciously transform into Senko, and whenever she used the Senko running style, which she was originally unfamiliar with, she would feel a different kind of confidence surge from her heart.
It was as if this was the royal running style that could make her heart beat with encouragement. It was as if she had already achieved countless victories with this running style, leading to a confident mindset—making Opera O feel that running Senko would definitely make her stronger!
And now on the Racecourse, this joyous emotion became increasingly evident. Opera O simply couldn't control her inner yearning.
Therefore, she decided to make a bold decision. A decision that, even if she won, might displease her Trainer and cause her to leave the team.
"I'm sorry, Trainer, but as the Overlord, I have my own thoughts."
"What the Overlord decides to do, no one can stop, just like the victory the Overlord wants to achieve—no one can lay a hand on it."
"Clang!" At this moment, the sound of the gates immediately came, and all the Uma Musume rushed out of the gates in unison!
"A perfect start! Not a single Uma Musume was late!" The commentator's voice also came immediately, and very quickly, the live broadcast personnel began to analyze and explain all the Racehorses on the field.
"In this 1800-meter distance, quite a few Uma Musume have chosen the Nigashi tactic! Are they all very confident in their stamina?"
"Currently leading is the third favorite Uma Musume, with the sixth and ninth favorites also not to be outdone! And closely following is Meisho Doto!"
"To be able to maintain almost the same speed as so many Nigashi Uma Musume, if one doesn't observe carefully, they might even think Meisho Doto is also using the Nigashi strategy!"
"And after that—oh! This time, Opera O is surprisingly not using the Sashi running style that won her the Debut Race, but the Senko running style that shone brightly in the Yukinayanagi Sho! Is she going to have a showdown with Meisho Doto?!"
Indeed! And at this moment, Meisho Doto, who was tightly following the group of Nigashi Uma Musume ahead, subconsciously looked to her side after hearing the commentator's voice, at Opera O, whose figure could still be seen in the corner of her eye.
At this time, Doto couldn't help but recall a week ago, when she and Wada were making their final efforts in special training. However, the content of the special training was no longer about developing Doto's Last Spurt and stamina, but about analyzing Opera O's tactical steps.
"Doto, you are different from Opera O. Opera O can choose between two running styles, Sashi and Senko, but I have only trained you in the Senko tactic. Of course, this won't affect the situation at the time, but what I want to tell you is, absolutely do not be influenced by Opera O."
"But Trainer, you said to formulate tactics according to the situation, but I have no idea what running style Opera O will use," Doto asked worriedly at the time, and Wada pondered deeply over this.
But in the end, with a slow tap on the table, Wada confirmed his judgment and said, word by word:
"I think Opera O will run Senko."
"Opera O has strong self-cultivation abilities; she will adjust her tactics according to different Race environments and courses—the 1800-meter turf is no pressure for us, and probably the same for Opera O."
"Therefore, I don't think Opera O will use a heart-pounding running style like Sashi, even if it's more stable. Instead, she will choose Senko, burst out in the final straight, and then win the Race without any suspense!"
"And Doto, what you need to do is to occupy a favorable position with all your might from the very beginning, relying on the strength of your physique, which you've developed during this time and should definitely surpass most Uma Musume in the Mainichi Hai, to maintain a lead of about one Horse Girl length over Opera O."
"Then, block Opera O's attack route! Hold your position tightly! All the way until the last turn!"
..."As the Trainer predicted, Opera O chose the Senko running style!"
At this moment, Wada's successful prediction theory boosted Doto's confidence, and at this moment, she was indeed a bit ahead of Opera O in pace—this was the result of continuous intense training in strength and speed during this period. She had been specifically training her strengths under Wada's guidance.
Opera O, on the other hand, received comprehensive training. Tojo Hana pursued perfection, which meant Opera O had no weaknesses in any aspect.
However, in this Race, the well-rounded Opera O and the extreme Meisho Doto created a gap!
Opera O, despite a nearly perfect start, was steadily suppressed by Meisho Doto, who also had an almost perfect start!
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