"Nishino Flower... she's a bit too timid. If we bring her on as a veteran commentator, I don't think it'll have the impact we're looking for."
"Bamboo Memory is currently away from Tracen Academy, so she's unavailable for commentary duties."
"In that case, our choice comes down to Sakura Bakushin O and Hishi Akebono."
"Bakushin O is a class president; her speaking style leans a bit too close to an official press release. Since this is a pilot program, I'd recommend Hishi Akebono instead."
The senior council members discussed the candidates with the familiarity of seasoned experts before finally settling on the guest commentator for the Sprinters Stakes.
As the winner of the race two years ago, Hishi Akebono still boasted a dedicated fanbase, and her sunny personality made her an ideal choice for the role.
As for Sakura Bakushin O's "class president" vibe—Tracen Academy was a microcosm of society, and leadership positions there often mirrored bureaucratic roles.
Naturally, her public speaking tended to be stiff and formal.
Of course, once the veteran commentary system matured, having the likes of Nishino Flower or Sakura Bakushin O would be perfectly fine.
For now, however, they needed an Uma Musume who was bright, outgoing, and capable of dynamic banter with the play-by-play announcers.
"Since the guest commentator for the pilot has been approved..."
"Moving on to the second item: Pre-race Vlogs. Our current pre-race interview segments are far too dry. We've taken cues from other major sporting events to revamp the format, and we'll be testing these changes during the Sprinters Stakes."
"The interviews will no longer be released days in advance. Instead, they'll be broadcast on the giant screens at the racecourse on the day of the event."
"The goal is to set the atmosphere ablaze and ignite the competitive fire within the Uma Musume."
The female secretary spoke clearly. Seeing no objections from the council members, she concluded that portion of the briefing. "That covers the main points of today's meeting."
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the final entry on her documents—Project Number Three, which had already been marked with a heavy 'REJECTED' stamp.
[Project: God-Maker — The World Focuses on You!]
It was a concept borrowed from League of Legends esports, designed to build a single Uma Musume into the benchmark—the literal flag-bearer—of the Japanese racing world.
However, once Chairman Ikari reviewed it, he shut it down immediately. It hadn't even earned the right to be discussed at the meeting.
Unlike League of Legends, Japanese racing already had its "Emperor"—Symboli Rudolf.
While it was true that Barbatos was currently at the height of her power, there was still no concrete evidence she could surpass the Emperor.
Furthermore, the racing world didn't need a "Void God" built on hype; if she failed to deliver, she would become nothing more than a laughingstock after the Winter Dream Cup.
--+--
Late September.
Despite a torrential downpour, the stands at Nakayama Racecourse were packed to capacity.
Sprinting events, which usually garnered less attention, were experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity.
The livestream—which had been looping recordings of past races—boasted record-breaking viewership numbers.
Fans who had once loved the sport but had drifted away due to the pressures of real life were tuning in once again for this G1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama.
The news that Hishi Akebono would be appearing as a special guest commentator had pulled them back in.
More importantly, since the usual pre-race interviews hadn't been released yet, the air was thick with curiosity and anticipation. Everyone wanted to see the clash: Taiki Shuttle vs. Barbatos.
They wanted to see who would claim the crown as the reigning King of Sprints.
The livestream interface flickered, transitioning from old race footage to the commentary booth.
Unlike previous broadcasts, a new face sat among the announcers: the winner of the Sprinters Stakes from two years ago, Hishi Akebono.
"Hello to everyone here at the track and those watching from home! I'm Akasaka Misato," the green-haired announcer greeted the camera with a smile.
Beside her, a black-haired woman with an air of intellectual grace introduced herself.
"And I'm Hosoe Junko. I'm sure our keen-eyed viewers have noticed we have an extra guest in the booth today. Akebono-san, why don't you say hello?"
Sitting next to Hosoe Junko was an Uma Musume who stood a good two heads taller than her. She waved cheerfully at the camera. "Hi everyone! I'm Hishi Akebono! Does anyone still remember me?"
Seeing the sheer scale of Hishi Akebono, viewers who weren't familiar with her era let out a collective "Whoa!" in surprise.
Meanwhile, those who had followed her generation felt a wave of nostalgia, remembering the days they spent watching races with friends or partners.
The chat immediately flooded with a familiar refrain: "How much more does Akebono weigh this time?"
It was the kind of secret a girl usually keeps to herself, a question that shouldn't be asked, but Akebono just beamed, making no effort to hide it.
"Well, since the last time you all asked, I've only put on about 10 pounds!"
It was a question she had been asked constantly during her active career.
Over time, it had become a tradition for her fans. Akebono had gone from being self-conscious about her size to being touched that people still remembered her even after retirement.
"It seems the audience is very fond of you, Akebono-san," Akasaka Misato noted. "So, tell us—who are you rooting for in this Sprinters Stakes?"
Hishi Akebono didn't hesitate. "Barbatos, of course!"
"If she wins this race, that'll be six G1 victories in a row. She'll be only one G1 win away from the Emperor!"
In the Japanese racing world, seven G1 victories was the absolute peak.
Even the most legendary figures had stopped at seven; that eighth G1 win seemed to carry a curse, an untouchable summit.
"Since Akebono-san is backing Barbatos, I think I'll throw my support behind Rigil's Taiki Shuttle," Akasaka Misato countered.
"Taiki Shuttle's record in sprints is undisputed. While Barbatos's overall record is brilliant, she has never competed in a G1 sprint, nor does she have a win in a graded sprint race."
"On that basis alone, Barbatos might find it difficult to adjust to the breakneck pace of a sprint."
As she spoke, a few voices in the chat disagreed, but they were in the minority.
Ever since the official announcement that Barbatos would enter the Sprinters Stakes, the "experts" had been analyzing the matchup, predicting a clash of titans.
Common consensus put the odds at roughly 70/30 in favor of Barbatos, though Taiki Shuttle was far from a pushover. And of course, one couldn't completely ignore the rest of the field—there are no weaklings in a G1 race.
"Hosoe-sensei, what do you think? In this battle between Rigil and Canopus, how do you see the odds between Taiki Shuttle and Barbatos?"
Hosoe Junko looked out at the heavy rain and quickly adjusted her mental notes. "I'd say it's a 50/50 split."
"As Misato mentioned, Barbatos lacks experience in graded sprints. Plus, given today's weather, you could say Taiki Shuttle holds the advantage of both 'time' and 'place'."
"Time?" Akasaka Misato asked, puzzled. If 'place' referred to the rhythm of the sprint track, what did 'time' mean?
"Barbatos has never raced in heavy rain. Meanwhile, there's a certain saying about Taiki Shuttle circulating online..."
Before Hosoe Junko could finish, the livestream chat was already being spammed with a single phrase:
INVINCIBLE IN THE RAIN!!!
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.