Chapter 56. Subtle Condition
Before Grass Wonder even appeared on screen, the atmosphere in the hotel lobby had already settled into a subtle divide.
Among the Uma Musume gathered there, opinions were split almost evenly between supporting Special Week and Grass Wonder. If anything, Special Week held a slight edge in popularity.
Despite never having truly defeated Grass Wonder head-on, she carried the title of Derby Uma Musume, and that alone held a certain weight. In the eyes of many, it symbolized not only strength, but also resilience—the kind of quality that could shine again on a stage like Hanshin Racecourse.
However, the moment Grass Wonder's figure appeared on the screen, that balance shifted almost immediately.
It wasn't something that required explanation.
Even at a glance, her condition was clearly off.
There was a lack of vitality in her movements, a subtle heaviness that could not be concealed, no matter how composed she tried to appear. It was not the kind of fluctuation one would expect before a G1 race, especially not for someone of her caliber.
"Can she really run like this?" Mejiro Dober murmured, her gaze fixed on the screen, her tone carrying a trace of doubt that she did not bother to hide. "It feels like she's forcing herself."
"Hard to say," Shuta An replied quietly.
His answer was not evasive, but cautious.
Because from his perspective, if it were him managing her condition, such a situation would never be allowed to reach the racecourse. For an Uma Musume to present herself in such a visibly compromised state—it was already a failure of control somewhere along the line.
"What is she thinking—" Air Groove said, her voice tinged with helpless frustration.
"If her condition is this bad, why hide it? What is she trying to achieve?"
Silence Suzuka watched for a moment before speaking, her tone softer, more understanding.
"She probably doesn't want to miss the rematch with Spe-chan."
Although she was not a member of Team Rigil, her relationship with both Grass Wonder and Special Week was close enough that she could guess the underlying reason.
"Even though she won the Arima Kinen last time," Shuta An continued, picking up the thread, "the general evaluation didn't shift in her favor."
He paused briefly, as if choosing his words carefully.
"Most people believed Special Week had already run the Japan Cup before that race. Under those conditions, the fact that she could still keep up with Grass Wonder until the end—that was seen as proof of her strength."
In other words, even in defeat, Special Week's reputation had not diminished.
From Grass Wonder's perspective—that was unacceptable.
"She won the race," Shuta An said calmly, "but the one who lost was considered more impressive. It's only natural she wouldn't accept that."
He glanced back at the screen.
"And the Takarazuka Kinen— is one of the few opportunities they have to face each other again. There's no way she would willingly give that up."
Silence Suzuka shook her head slightly, though she did not seem surprised.
"But in this condition, she's more likely to lose to Spe-chan," she said. "Isn't this just handing her the advantage?"
"That's exactly why it's naive," Shuta An replied without hesitation.
"If she loses, no one will consider her condition as an excuse. They'll only see the result—she lost, and Special Week is stronger."
His tone remained calm, but the conclusion was absolute.
—
"What if she wins?"
Tokai Teio's voice cut in at that moment, her expression unusually serious as she looked toward the screen.
The question hung in the air for a brief second.
Mejiro McQueen turned to look at her, her gaze carrying a clear disbelief.
"Do you really think that's possible?" she asked. "I admit Grass Wonder is strong, but in this condition—she can't perform properly."
Tokai Teio met her gaze without backing down.
"Only those who believe in miracles can be favored by them," she said simply. "I only said 'what if.'"
Her voice did not rise, but her conviction was unmistakable.
"Until I cross the finish line, I would never assume I've already won. There's always a 'what if.'"
Mejiro McQueen stared at her for a moment, then her eyes widened slightly as something else came to mind.
"You're really saying that?" she said, her tone shifting. "Then who was it that was waving to her Trainer before even crossing the finish line earlier today?"
Tokai Teio coughed lightly and turned her head away.
"That was different," she muttered. "I was leading by too much."
"That kind of reasoning is exactly what annoys people," Mejiro McQueen replied, also turning away, though there was a faint hint of amusement mixed into her frustration.
For someone who had already lost her undefeated status, Tokai Teio's words carried an almost excessive confidence—one that was difficult to accept without reaction.
—
Meanwhile, on the racecourse, the starting gate preparations had already begun.
Grass Wonder drew gate five.
Special Week, gate nine.
Both had odd-numbered gates, meaning they would enter relatively early.
As Grass Wonder stepped into her position, she closed her eyes briefly, allowing herself a moment of stillness.
Her breathing steadied.
Her thoughts quieted.
A deliberate effort to stabilize herself.
A few gates away, Special Week turned her head slightly, her gaze naturally falling on her friend—and rival.
Grass Wonder's condition was obvious.
Even without close observation, the difference was clear.
"She doesn't look well," Special Week thought, though she did not voice it.
There were still several runners between them. Speaking across that distance about something so personal would not only be awkward, but also inappropriate.
"I'll talk to her after the race," she decided silently. "And I'll tell her about that."
—
Grass Wonder, meanwhile, reopened her eyes and shook her head lightly, forcing her focus back onto the present.
"My condition is a bit off—but it's fine," she told herself.
The issue was real.
But it was not illness.
It was something more subtle, something she herself could not fully explain. Normally, Uma Musume were not significantly affected by such conditions, but this time, the impact was more pronounced.
And beyond that—there was something else.
"I feel…uneasy," she murmured quietly.
The sensation was vague, difficult to grasp. But it did not come from herself.
It came from Special Week.
"I keep feeling like something happened to Spe-chan—"
She had tried to ask.
More than once.
But every time the opportunity arose, something interrupted—El Condor Pasa's interference, unexpected conversations, trivial distractions that broke the moment before it could take shape.
"It doesn't matter," she decided. "After this race, we'll have time."
—
The sound of the starting mechanism snapped her attention back.
A sharp, clean click.
The gate opened.
Grass Wonder surged forward.
Despite her position, she did not drop back into the middle of the pack to seek a safer outside route. Instead, she maintained a position within the leading group, choosing proximity over caution.
Special Week did the same.
Her position, however, was slightly ahead.
Even with runners between them, that did not prevent Grass Wonder from focusing on her.
"I need to mark her," she thought, her eyes tracking Special Week's movement closely.
Without making it obvious, she adjusted her path slightly, ensuring that no one blocked her line of sight.
—
From the screen, Shuta An watched calmly.
"A marking tactic again," he said, his tone unsurprised. "She's sticking to what she's used to."
He paused briefly, his gaze narrowing slightly.
"The question is…whether Special Week has improved."
He shifted his attention toward Mejiro McQueen.
"She lost to this once. Has she prepared a counter this time?"
Mejiro McQueen did not answer immediately. Her eyes remained on the screen, her expression thoughtful.
"It's hard to say," she said at last.
Her voice was quiet but firm.
—
Shuta An glanced at her, clearly surprised.
After all, if he were in Nishizaki Ryu's position, he would have drilled countermeasures relentlessly after such a loss.
"Why?" he asked.
And this time—he genuinely wanted to hear her answer.
As the field approached the first turn, the overall formation of the race had already taken shape.
The early pace-setter was Nishino Daio, with Hikoki Gumo following closely behind. The distance between them was minimal, the rhythm steady, neither pushing excessively nor holding back. About one length behind Hikoki Gumo, King Halo settled into third, forming a compact leading group that naturally drew the attention of the spectators.
Behind them, the structure of the race continued to unfold in a controlled and orderly manner.
In fourth place was Stay Gold, last year's runner-up in this very race. Not far behind her was Special Week, maintaining a measured distance without forcing the pace. Slightly further back, Suehiro Commander held her position, while Grass Wonder ran just behind her, forming a layered formation with Special Week ahead and herself trailing just enough to observe clearly.
Further back in the mid-pack, Rosen Kavalier maintained a steady presence. Although she had achieved notable results earlier in the year, in Shuta An's eyes, she was not a true factor in determining the outcome of this race. At least, not when compared to the confrontation between Special Week and Grass Wonder.
Once the field entered the bend, the positions remained largely unchanged.
The race was still in its early phase, and each Uma Musume had already settled into her chosen rhythm. No one made any unnecessary adjustments. No sudden accelerations, no experimental changes in pacing—only a steady, disciplined continuation of their initial strategies.
This was, after all, the Takarazuka Kinen.
The decisive race of the first half of the Twinkle Series.
On such a stage, even the most confident competitors would naturally lean toward stability, preserving their strength and waiting for the moment that truly mattered.
Neither Special Week nor Grass Wonder showed any intention of disrupting this balance. Despite being among the strongest contenders, neither chose to force a change in tempo. They were content to observe, to wait, and to prepare.
Shuta An watched the screen calmly before speaking, his tone unhurried as he addressed Tokai Teio beside him.
"When you are stronger than your opponents, you can prepare for changes," he said, "but you don't need to seek them out yourself."
Tokai Teio listened attentively, her gaze still fixed on the race as she absorbed his words.
"You are the strongest," he continued. "If nothing changes, your chances of winning are already the highest. The moment you start trying to force something different, you're actually reducing your own probability of victory."
Tokai Teio nodded slightly, her understanding forming almost immediately.
"That's why Senko tactics are considered the most orthodox approach," she said, her tone thoughtful. "If you control the front, you control the rhythm of the entire race. You don't have to worry about tricks from the front, and you don't have to worry about interference from behind. As long as you're strong enough, you can win steadily."
Shuta An's expression softened slightly.
"Exactly."There was clear approval in his voice. "When you're the strongest, don't overcomplicate things. Just win normally."
Mejiro McQueen and Air Groove both listened quietly, their attention fully drawn to the conversation. They understood the logic behind his words, even if they each interpreted it in their own way.
However, Mejiro Dober tilted her head slightly before speaking.
"But Trainer still arranges tactics for us before races, doesn't he?"
Her question was simple, but it immediately shifted the atmosphere.
Mejiro McQueen's expression stiffened for a brief moment, a subtle unease passing through her thoughts.
If tactics were still necessary, did that imply that the Uma Musume receiving them had not yet reached the level of overwhelming strength described just now?
It was a conclusion that was difficult to avoid.
And because of that, the space grew quiet for a moment, the commentator's voice from the screen filling the gap left by their silence.
Mejiro Dober, however, did not seem to shy away from the implication.
"I know I'm not overwhelmingly strong within my generation," she said, her tone calm, though there was a faint trace of stubbornness beneath it. "In the Oka Sho, I almost let Kyoei March get away, and for the Yorkshire Oaks—my chances aren't that high."
She looked directly at Shuta An.
"You don't need to avoid the topic. You can just say it."
Shuta An did not hesitate for even a moment.
"That's not what I meant," he replied immediately, his tone firm but not harsh. "I was thinking about whether I should not arrange tactics for you in the Yorkshire Oaks, and instead let you run freely once."
The answer came so naturally that it left no room for misunderstanding.
Mejiro Dober blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard by the direction of his thoughts. Almost instinctively, she reached out and wanted to grab his wrist, then quickly loosened her grip, changing it into a light pinch on his sleeve instead.
"That won't work," she said quickly, her voice carrying a hint of urgency. "I'm already used to your arrangements. I can't do without them."
There was no embarrassment in her admission.
Only sincerity.
—
On the racecourse, the tempo began to shift as the field entered the straight opposite the stands.
Special Week was the first to make a move.
She found a gap with precision, her stride lengthening just enough to overtake Stay Gold smoothly. The maneuver was clean, controlled, and free of unnecessary force.
However, after moving ahead, she did not cut inward.
She maintained her line, leaving space behind her instead of closing it off.
This was not an oversight.
It was deliberate.
Before the race, Nishizaki Ryu had emphasized this point clearly.
"Don't block Stay Gold. Don't provoke her. Don't make contact. Once you pass her, just ignore her."
He had not explained the reason explicitly, but Special Week understood well enough.
Stay Gold's reputation within Central Tracen Academy was widely known. Causing unnecessary friction with her would bring nothing but trouble.
Shuta An, watching from the screen, noticed it immediately.
"That's a smart decision," he said quietly.
Air Groove gave a faint, wry smile in response.
"Given Miss Stay Gold's reputation—it's understandable," she said. "Biting people, fighting outside the academy, skipping curfew—the Student Council has always struggled with how to deal with her."
She shook her head slightly.
"And yet, her performance is strong. Even if her main win is only a class race, she has repeatedly placed highly in graded and G1 races. Because of that, the academy has no choice but to treat her with a certain level of leniency."
Her tone carried a trace of resignation.
"Even when she causes trouble, it's never serious enough to warrant strict punishment. So in the end, the only option left is to hope she matures on her own."
Shuta An listened quietly, a brief thought passing through his mind.
"So in the end… nothing is done."
There was no judgment in the thought, only observation. At the same time, he felt a faint sense of relief.
"Not letting Suzuka deal with her back then was probably the right choice," he thought. "Otherwise, getting her tail bitten during a race would have been a disaster."
—
Back on the track, the dynamics continued to evolve.
After Special Week moved past Stay Gold, she created a small gap between herself and Grass Wonder. The distance was not large, but it was enough to change the structure of their interaction.
Grass Wonder responded almost immediately.
She did not rush, nor did she force a sudden burst of speed. Instead, she increased her pace slightly, her stride lengthening just enough to overtake Suehiro Commander within a few steps.
The difference in ability was unmistakable.
To Suehiro Commander, the experience felt almost unreal.
Grass Wonder passed her as if it required no effort at all, her movement smooth and unrestrained, as though the act of overtaking carried no resistance.
Suehiro Commander had already accelerated in response to Special Week's movement, yet it made no difference to the current Grass Wonder.
She was still overtaken effortlessly.
"Is this the difference of a G1 Uma Musume?" she thought, a flicker of disbelief crossing her mind.
For a brief moment, her attention wavered.
And in that instant, two more runners passed her from behind.
Her expression tightened.
"Don't treat me like I'm not even here," she muttered under her breath, irritation rising sharply.
Without thinking further, she accelerated again, abandoning any consideration for the later stages of the race.
At that moment, all that remained in her mind was the desire to respond—to resist the feeling of being left behind so easily.
Even if it meant paying the price later.