The voices of the live announcer and commentator echoed through the speakers.
"Under this clear blue sky, at the Aichi $1800\text{m}$ Maiden Racecourse."
"Fifteen contestants from all over the country have come to this stage to compete for a debut spot..."
"Let's look forward to the performance of these contestants."
"The contestants are now beginning to enter the gates."
"The highly anticipated contestant, Tokai Teio, calmly enters the gate. Her expression certainly shows great confidence in this race."
"Contestants have finished entering the gates!"
The moment the gates closed, the entire venue became quietly silent.
Everyone was waiting for the traffic light to turn on.
Until the green light flashed, the gates opened, and accompanied by the cheers of the audience—
All the contestants surged out onto the track!
Tokai Teio's start was as beautiful as it was in the school training race. Although she was supposed to be a leading runner, she instantly took the lead.
However, she quickly eased her speed. She didn't need to push herself to the limit like Saint McQueen.
She had seen enough of the front view in her memories.
Compared to the front view, the other contestants were also a beautiful sight.
"Now, let's begin this pleasant race."
Tokai Teio looked at the runaway runner surging ahead beside her. Instead of competing for the lead, she continued to maintain her current speed and watched the other contestant temporarily pass her.
"The race begins! The leader off the start is Tokai Teio!"
"What a beautiful start, truly pleasing to the eye."
"Contestant 2, Magnum Rocket, surges ahead. She has stolen the lead from Tokai Teio!"
"As a runaway runner, she can't tolerate her position being challenged."
Truthfully, for a leading runner to lead for nearly $200\text{m}$ at the start is quite an exaggeration.
The runaway runners' pride was utterly crushed, but fortunately, a runaway runner quickly surged back into the lead.
"As expected of Teio. If I hadn't known beforehand, I would have thought that child intended to run as the runaway leader."
Air Groove couldn't help but smile.
Tokai Teio's start was now a hot topic at the school. Many runaway runners had even gone to her to ask for tips on starting technique.
Because that start was truly beautiful.
It was practically a dream-level start.
It was the perfect start that all runaway runners dreamed of unleashing.
"That is the display of Teio's physical talent. Teio's body is incredibly flexible, allowing her to perform many difficult movements with ease."
Symboli Rudolf thought back to a previous event as she said this.
During one training session, Hanabusa Tojo discovered an issue with Tokai Teio's body and immediately had her take Tokai Teio to the hospital for a detailed examination.
Even the doctor was surprised, stating that Tokai Teio's physical talent was unbelievable.
It was the body of an ideal athlete.
It possessed not only terrifying flexibility but was also incredibly resilient, not easily injured.
She remembered the doctor's excited expression, as if he had seen the perfect physique and was filled with the desire to research it.
In the race, the straight track ended, and the live broadcast began announcing the current rankings.
"Currently in first place is Contestant 2, Magnum Rocket."
The commentator continued.
"Her stamina consumption is a little concerning."
"This pace is already faster than the record she submitted upon registration."
Not only the first-place Magnum Rocket but the second-place contestant, Dairai Go, had the same issue.
As the two runaway runners in this race, having been suppressed by Tokai Teio's start, they had no choice but to push themselves to the limit from the beginning.
Their expressions, visible through the camera, were strained, as if they were forcibly holding their breath.
"In third place is Contestant 4, Crimson Nova, followed closely by Contestant 1, Tokai Teio, running wide..."
It was clear that almost all contestants, except for Tokai Teio, had entered a state of bursting effort from the start.
The runaway runners, needless to say, had already used all their hidden skills from the start.
The remaining contestants were also pushing their abilities to the absolute limit without using burst skills.
The trainers excitedly watched their girls' performances. This pace already exceeded their personal training bests; they were performing beyond their normal capacity in the race.
"You can do it! You're doing great!"
"You have to win!"
"Let them see our grit!"
In the stands, a group of trainers began cheering for their girls.
Regardless of the past, right now, they saw the will to run a good race and the desire to win in their girls!
As trainers, how could they not be moved by such brilliant children?
Even the trainers from smaller local areas had entered this profession with great aspirations.
The contestants in the race seemed to feel a certain power.
"I can hear my trainer's voice!"
"I don't want to lose like I did before!"
"I want to win! I want to stand on the winner's stage!"
Their fighting spirit was completely ignited at this moment.
Tokai Teio's eyes were filled with satisfaction.
"That's right, you all have it, too. The light has been in everyone's heart from the beginning."
She believed from the start that every Horse Girl possessed her own potential—that was the most beautiful light!
"The race is entering the middle phase. The competition between the contestants is incredibly fierce!"
"Is this really just a debut race?"
The commentator couldn't help but exclaim. She had never seen such a passionate debut race.
It wasn't a case of a natural-born genius or monster dominating everyone; instead, all the contestants were achieving supernormal performance.
"Go, hold on, Magnum Rocket!"
"Catch up, Dairai Go!"
The audience was also captivated by the contestants' performance.
Well, what do you know!
Even if they came from smaller local areas, they could run a great race!
Horse Girl races are meant to be an explosion of everything they've accumulated in training, for the audience to witness!
And the contestants in this race were undoubtedly achieving that!
"The passion of the fans is also reaching the track from the stands."
"Now! The race is about to enter the final curve. Which contestant will break through and emerge victorious in this race—"
It was visible in the race that the runaway runners, Magnum Rocket and Dairai Go, were completely drenched in sweat, but they were still gritting their teeth and sprinting.
They heard the cheers of their trainers and fans.
This was the first time they felt the race was so enjoyable. They didn't want to lose this one race!
"Hold on, body!"
"Ooh ooh ooh, Dairai Go-sama makes a brilliant appearance!"
"This is the end for you two! I, Crimson Nova, will take this race!"
The moment they entered the final curve, all the contestants began their final burst.
The contestants from the back surged forward. Crimson Nova, who was third, also moved up to the front position.
At this point, only one goal remained in their hearts:
To win!
They could see it—the finish line!
They had to be the first to step onto that spot!
At this moment, the finish line gate was glowing with incredibly brilliant light in their eyes.
That was the dream destination of all Horse Girls, the finish line that every Horse Girl wanted to reach!
"Your turn is over, right? Now it's my turn."
Just then, Tokai Teio suddenly surged from the outside with astonishing momentum.
"Tokai Teio!"
"Tokai Teio, who has conserved her energy until this moment, is finally pushing forward! She is bursting out from the wide lane!"
Tokai Teio's expression was the same as at the start of the race.
Crimson Nova, ahead of her, turned her head slightly and saw Tokai Teio surging forward as if riding on a wave.
"Nani!"
Crimson Nova was deeply shocked upon noticing Tokai Teio's eyes.
What kind of look is that? It's as if she's certain of victory!
Damn it! Is this the difference between her and Tokai Teio!
In the latter half of the curve, Tokai Teio completed the overtake, surging from fourth place straight into first.
"She's broken through! Tokai Teio has successfully broken through! What a composed overtake!"
The live announcer shouted excitedly.
The commentator also added, "Tokai Teio, her strength is simply overwhelming."
"The race has reached the final decisive phase, the last $200\text{m}$ straight track! Will Tokai Teio maintain this lead all the way to the finish line?!"
Fans in the stands cheered excitedly.
"Go, Tokai Teio!"
"Don't give up, Crimson Nova!"
Symboli Rudolf stood with her hands crossed over her chest, her fingers twitching on her shoulder.
Even she had to admit that the contestants in this race performed exceptionally well. Is that the power of Teio? That child will definitely surpass me in the future.
Air Groove was also affected by the passionate atmosphere around her.
"This is really something."
She knew the fundamental reason for all this was Teio.
Although she didn't know how Tokai Teio did it, she truly succeeded in motivating the other contestants and making them achieve supernormal performance.
This child, Teio, might have already surpassed Luna, Air Groove thought silently.
At that moment, the sound of the finish line cannon announced the contestant's arrival.
"Finish line!"
"The one to cross the line is Tokai Teio!"
"A magnificent burst, with the unshakable strength of a king!"
"In second place is Crimson Nova. Her performance in this race was spectacular. If she can maintain this momentum, she will be very likely to make her debut soon."
Although Tokai Teio was the undisputed protagonist of this race, the performance of the other contestants, as supporting characters, was also exceptional.
They were so outstanding that they truly earned respect.
Some trainers who had almost given up regained hope after this race.
They might still have a chance to challenge again.
Only by passing the debut race can one truly become a Horse Girl and challenge those glorious races!
Tokai Teio, the winner, walked towards the audience seats and once again struck her signature pose, pointing her finger to the sky.
The sun shone upon Tokai Teio. She was the victor bathed in light!
The defeated contestants, upon seeing that dazzling figure, were overcome with intense frustration despite their earlier dejection.
At that finish line that all contestants wanted to reach, Tokai Teio looked as if she had stood there from the very beginning.
You are too dazzling, Tokai Teio!
...
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