"Sorry about this, Rudolf-chan."
One day, Maruzensky suddenly apologized to Symboli Rudolf.
"Maruzensky? What's this all about?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, a bewildered Symboli Rudolf asked.
"Currently, there don't seem to be any cases of retired Uma Musume making a comeback, right? I think... I might be the first?"
Oh, so it was about this.
"As a senior, when my era ended, I should have retired to the background."
Yet here I am, stepping back onto the racetrack, competing with them for the spotlight.
To be honest, Maruzensky understood that her choice could affect the futures of the younger generations.
But she couldn't suppress the yearning in her heart.
Even in her dreams, she saw that long-awaited scene—herself standing on that supreme stage.
So, she was sorry...
She had committed an act that wasn't conducive to the students' growth.
As a senior, she felt she had been somewhat negligent.
Hearing Maruzensky speak of herself this way, Rudolf shook her head. Back when Maruzensky was galloping on the track, Rudolf hadn't yet set foot on the racing scene.
As a spectator, she was just like everyone around her, feeling regret over Maruzensky's career.
She even felt sorrowful for a long time after Maruzensky announced her retirement.
She felt that Maruzensky shouldn't have bowed out like that.
There were still so many people, so many races, waiting for her.
In truth, from beginning to end, Maruzensky was not only Rudolf's friend but also the idol she had always looked up to.
She had never missed a single one of Maruzensky's races.
"Maruzensky." Rudolf spoke up, "I'm glad I was able to secure the right for you to return."
This world owed you too many spectacular races.
"And now, you're merely reclaiming what you lost."
So there's no need for self-reproach.
March proudly towards the racetrack you yearn for.
--+--
"Maruzensky-senpai—!!!"
"Go, Senpai!!!"
Listening to the deafening cheers from the training ground, watching the red figure on the track, Rudolf slowly clenched her fist.
Show me once more that breathtaking speed of yours!
Hooves pounded rapidly against the turf, kicking up clods of earth that flew in all directions. As the four Uma Musume settled into their positions, the broadcaster's voice rang out again:
"Whoa! Such a fast pace—it's already exceeded the normal speed for a 2000-meter race! As expected, when the seniors step onto the track, they go all out from the start—!"
Excited shrieks erupted from the students surrounding the track.
This was the first time they were seeing retired seniors compete in earnest.
Behind Maruzensky, Tosho Boy narrowed her eyes, controlling her breathing.
She had anticipated that Maruzensky would take the lead at the start and push the pace.
The current situation was still within manageable limits.
The only question was, how long could Maruzensky maintain this rhythm?
All the way to the end, or would she start accelerating in the mid-to-late stages?
Watching the brown-haired girl ahead, Tosho Boy had already decided to cling tightly to her heels, not giving her a chance to break away.
But this race wasn't just a two-person show.
Gone was her pre-race leisure; Ten Point's expression was now completely serious, her gaze sharp as she watched Maruzensky and Tosho Boy formed a line ahead.
It seemed they intended to maintain this pace all the way.
If so, the only chance to overtake them would likely be the turn before the final stretch.
Ten Point quickly calculated.
Although the opponents ahead were daunting, the one behind couldn't be ignored either.
The sound of Green Grass's footsteps maintained a steady rhythm, echoing incessantly in her ears, the distance between them seemingly frozen.
This meant Green Grass could surge past from the side at any moment.
For Ten Point, the opportunity to overtake was on the turn, but for Green Grass behind her, acceleration and a pass could happen anytime.
There was no way to pin down her timing.
Who would have thought that after all these years, Green Grass's technique remained so masterfully terrifying, her presence undiminished from the old days.
"So strong..."
Oguri Cap, standing in the spectator area, couldn't help but murmur, while Belno Light beside her gaped.
Musaka Ginjirou adjusted his cap, his hawk-like eyes scrutinizing the track from behind dark sunglasses.
Four individuals, four different rhythms; their steps seemed chaotic yet harmonized perfectly.
Each was running to her own pace, unaffected by the others.
Throughout all of Tracen Academy, those who could perform at this level were exceedingly rare.
They had perfectly merged mindset and ability.
Perhaps the students couldn't grasp it, but for the trainers, this race was already dazzling enough.
"Isn't this pace too fast...? Won't they burn out before the finish?" Belno Light voiced her concern, feeling the current race tempo might even exceed that of a mile race.
"Belno, at their level, the trainer's role changes."
All tactics are internalized; they can control the race rhythm themselves.
Apart from physical training, there's little left for a trainer to contribute. They no longer need excessive interference; they can manage their pace independently.
The seemingly frantic rhythm was actually fully under the control of all four.
"The senior truly lives up to her title. Such precise control—others couldn't hope to mimic it."
Tamamo Cross, leaning against the railing, praised.
Beside her, Komiyama furrowed her brows, mentally strategizing as intensely as if she were one of the competitors.
--+--
"What masterful deception..."
On the training ground's southern side, atop the training building, a girl in black murmured to herself.
Through subtle cues, she could tell that each of the four competitors on the track was holding back their speed to some degree.
Their strides seemed exaggerated, but upon landing, they subtly checked their momentum.
It felt like they were running all-out, yet they were secretly conserving energy.
"Sandbagging."
The term surfaced in her mind.
It meant appearing to go all out while actually saving strength, using a false front to mislead opponents.
Of course, as contemporaries, they surely knew each other's tricks, yet all four were simultaneously employing this deceptive technique.
These people...
They claimed they wouldn't rely on tactics, yet they were shrewder than anyone.
Or perhaps these habits were so ingrained in their running that they came out unconsciously, without deliberate thought.
This practice race was truly different.
The fundamental awareness of Uma Musume who had once stood at the pinnacle of the sport, with their rich racing experience, was on another level compared to ordinary Uma Musume.
Her focus entirely on the track, she barely noticed as the race reached its midpoint.
Led by Maruzensky, the four finally began to make their moves.
Tosho Boy started altering her running frequency, her strides growing longer, clearly signaling an acceleration.
Maruzensky simultaneously lowered her posture.
Both were accelerating now.
--+--
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.