"Huh?"
Tamamo Cross had just heard something that took her by surprise.
Her gaze shifted slightly, and she spotted the familiar figure of Oguri Cap far behind her.
'What's going on? Oguri Cap is good at coming from behind because of her explosive final speed, but I've never seen her lag this far back. Is there a reason for this?'
Tamamo pondered what Oguri Cap might be thinking, but all the guesses swirling in her head made it hard to pick one out.
"And Michelle My Baby surges forward! What a tough body! The Uma Musume in front can't hold her position under this pressure! She's fading!"
"Haha, this is a breeze. Are Japanese Uma Musume always this polite? Just giving up a good spot like that."
Michelle My Baby had moved into her favorite position, musing to herself.
"That was a dirty move, wasn't it!"
Beside her, Berno Light cried out in shock, and Oguri Cap's mother, sitting nearby, furrowed her brow.
"Mr. Musaka, are moves like that allowed these days?"
Oguri Cap's mother pointed at the competitors on the field, a puzzled expression on her face as she asked Trainer Musaka.
Even back in her day, that kind of behavior would have been penalized.
"There are differences in racing culture. Competition among foreign Uma Musume is more intense, and they're more lenient about physical contact. They probably don't even realize it's wrong."
Trainer Musaka explained calmly, not a trace of panic on his face.
The reason?
Because Oguri Cap was completely avoiding that kind of unexpected trouble right now. Her position was so far back, there was no reason for anyone to fight over it.
Pulling down his cap, Trainer Musaka recalled the revised plan he'd given Oguri Cap just yesterday.
"Looks like having her hang back and observe the whole field paid off. If she'd run her usual race today, she probably would've taken a big hit."
--+--
Out on the track, Oguri Cap was thinking the same thing.
'Uncle Musaka was right. I originally wanted to run near the front this time. If I had, I might have wasted too much stamina in that fight for position.'
But unlike the relieved Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross was growing frustrated.
She tried several times to accelerate and move up, but Moonlight Lunacy firmly held the position, blocking her path.
Being a smaller-framed Uma Musume, she simply couldn't win a physical battle for position against the far more robust Moonlight Lunacy.
So, she made a decision.
"Wait, Tamamo Cross is making a move!"
The off-track commentator's voice suddenly boomed, having noticed Tamamo's obvious action.
"She's slowing down! Ellerslie Glory has passed her. No, wait! Tamamo Cross is picking up the pace again! She's starting to advance from the outside lane!"
Yes, this was the solution Tamamo had come up with.
'Dammit! I'll lose some stamina and have to cover more ground this way, but I've got no choice. I just don't have the power to bump with them.'
With that thought, Tamamo began to accelerate, steadily gaining ground.
"The competitors have mostly settled into their positions now, entering the turn. Their next clash will likely be in the final stretch."
"Indeed. Currently leading is Britain's Sherry Sky, closely followed by Michelle My Baby. Tony Bianca and Obey Your Master are in the middle of the pack."
"It seems Oguri Cap is employing a come-from-behind strategy today. Even now, she remains at the very back of the field."
"Ahead of her are the two lovely ladies, Ellerslie Glory and Gold City."
"And the most conspicuous of all is our top contender, Tamamo Cross! She's now running alone, away from the main group, overtaking on the turn!"
"I'm catchin' up now!"
One by one, she passed her rivals. Tamamo traded extra distance for a clear, open track ahead.
"Yahooo! Miss Tamamo, coming up on the far outside, are ya?"
"Annoying."
Just hearing that voice made Tamamo's ears flatten back against her head.
"You're so damn bothersome."
She shot a sidelong glance at Obey Your Master, who wore a catlike grin.
"Time for you to make your move, isn't it?"
Obey Your Master said with a smile. Though phrased as a question, her tone and eyes held certainty.
"I'm planning to make my move too, you know."
"I ain't lettin' the likes of you catch me."
With that sharp retort, Tamamo quickened her pace, leaving Obey Your Master behind.
"Hmm... Just as I thought."
Obey Your Master chuckled mischievously. At the same time, a power began to gather within her, gradually summoned forth.
"And they're out of the turn! They've hit the straight now, and you can see the competitors are getting restless."
"This is it!"
Tamamo gritted her teeth, pushing off hard with her feet.
"Time to show ya! The lightning from Japan!"
Her dramatically increased speed took all her rivals by surprise. They could only watch as the grey Uma Musume swiftly, unstoppably, blew past them.
"No way!"
"I can't hold on...!"
Cries of dismay rose around her, but a few strong competitors were prepared.
"So arrogant, the champion of Japan."
Tony Bianca fixed a sharp, hawk-like gaze on Tamamo Cross ahead.
"But who do you think I am! To dare waste stamina running wide like that in front of me? Utterly foolish!"
A haze seemed to shimmer in her eyes. The swing of her arms suddenly intensified as she shot for the opening ahead.
"Tony Bianca accelerates! Incredible! She's passed two Uma Musume in an instant!"
"All the competitors are speeding up! They're practically bunched together on this straight! The cheers are rocking Tokyo Racecourse!"
"Tama-chan..."
In the stands, Trainer Komiyama clasped her hands tightly, praying.
"It's here! The feelin' is here!"
A shudder ran through Tamamo's entire body. The light in her pupils irregularly expanded like forking lightning.
Crack!
Though the sky was clear and sunny, every Uma Musume on the track seemed to hear a clap of thunder.
"Watch closely! The gale and the thunderbolt! See it for yourselves!"
Domain: [White Lightning]
Overwhelming white lightning enveloped her body. Every Uma Musume felt the awe-inspiring majesty of the heavens.
With looks of sheer disbelief, they watched Tamamo Cross's extreme-speed sprint.
"Nobody can catch me now!"
Tamamo laughed exuberantly, the fierce wind resistance making her race suit flap noisily.
But was that truly the case?
"Hehe."
It was as if a playful laugh sounded by her ear. Tamamo could feel a chilling cold spreading around her.
"What... what is this? This pressure!"
Instinctively, she tried to glance back. Even without seeing, an image floated into her mind: a figure wearing ridiculous star-patterned contact lenses.
Crrack!
Every Uma Musume hallucinated the sound of shattering glass.
--+--
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.