"What do you think?"
Sakura Baimu asked with a smile.
"That sounds like a pointless question."
Obey Your Master laughed heartily, showing no embarrassment whatsoever, but rather growing even happier.
"So you really do want to compete, and you still hold a grudge about URA's suspension of you. I'm relieved."
"I didn't say that." Sakura Baimu shrugged again.
"Hahahaha."
Obey Your Master let out another burst of wild laughter, then extended her hand toward Sakura Baimu.
"I really like you. Let's have a match! Ever since I found out your identity, I haven't been able to contain myself."
"I've already beaten the two strongest from that year; only you are left."
Sakura Baimu nodded slightly, gave Obey Your Master a high five, and then walked toward the starting point of the 2400-meter course.
She didn't even need to think; Obey Your Master was definitely going to challenge her to a 2400-meter race.
--
Meanwhile, Maruzensky, who had been wearing a sly expression, instantly changed her face when she saw Sakura Baimu preparing to race Obey Your Master.
She was the one who invited Sakura Baimu; how could Obey Your Master have stolen the spot?
Maruzensky hadn't seen an Umamusume pique her interest like this in a long time.
Tonight, for the first time in a long while, she felt the urge to race someone.
And she had successfully invited Sakura Baimu.
Now that Sakura Baimu was going to race Obey Your Master, how could she allow that?
After she finished her race, how would she have the energy for a second one?
Maruzensky was immediately unsettled.
"I'm going to run with 'Ogura'."
She said this, preparing to walk toward the track, but Symboli Rudolf grabbed her arm.
"Obey Your Master invited her first. Maruzensky, it's not good for you to go up now; you might scare Ogura away," Symboli Rudolf said softly.
'I invited her first!!'
Maruzensky stared wide-eyed at the serious-looking Symboli Rudolf beside her, shouting inwardly.
She wasn't going to tell Symboli Rudolf that she knew Ogura's identity yet.
At least she had to run with Sakura Baimu first.
Clearly, Symboli Rudolf was unaware of Maruzensky's thoughts, muttering to herself.
"This Obey Your Master is quite strong; she's even stronger than she was in the Japan Cup. While she's not as strong as Oguri Cap, her performance against Tamamo Cross in the Arima Kinen is no match for her."
"I'm curious to see how Ogura will fare against Obey Your Master."
Symboli Rudolf said this while glancing at Maruzensky.
She found that Maruzensky, who always wore a playful smile, was staring at her with a resentful expression.
"Wh... Maruzensky, what's wrong?"
Symboli Rudolf asked in surprise.
"Never mind, let's watch the match."
Maruzensky sighed, abandoning the idea of racing Sakura Baimu that evening.
"There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, as long as she's still at Tracen Academy."
Maruzensky thought to herself, a smile returning to her lips.
--
On the track, Obey Your Master and Sakura Baimu stood at the starting line.
"Give it your all and have a serious match with me, okay?" Obey Your Master asked with a smile.
"We'll see."
"Hmph, do you think my strength isn't enough to make you go all out?"
"No. You're the strongest Umamusume I've ever encountered. I don't even know the true level of my own strength."
"Hahahaha, that's quite arrogant."
Obey Your Master held out her hand and flicked a coin into the air.
While the coin spun in the air, she spoke to Sakura Baimu.
"You don't need to worry about my aura, okay? I'm not like Golden Crown Eagle."
"I know; after all, you defeated Oguri and Tamamo."
Sakura Baimu said this, assuming a ready stance.
The coin landed, and Sakura Baimu and Obey Your Master both dashed off at lightning speed.
"It's starting!" Symboli Rudolf exclaimed excitedly as the two began to run.
Maruzensky: "..."
She should have been the one running on the track right now.
"Ogura's leading speed this time was even faster than during the last race against Golden Crown Eagle. It was truly amazing," Symboli Rudolf commented with a smile.
Maruzensky: "…"
She should have been the one running on the track right now!!
On the track, Obey Your Master watched Sakura Baimu leading with such incredible speed from the very beginning, her face filled with excitement.
"That's more like it. This kind of race is more interesting. It's completely different from racing against Maruzensky. I can sense that you don't treat the race as mere entertainment."
As Sakura Baimu said, she had participated in very few races.
So far, Obey Your Master was the strongest Umamusume she had ever encountered.
Therefore, for Obey Your Master, who always liked to thoroughly understand her opponents before a race, Sakura Baimu was completely unknown.
She could only be certain of one thing at this point.
That was... Sakura Baimu is very strong.
"This brings back that feeling from my early days. Facing an unknown opponent, that sense of urgency and panic is truly exhilarating!"
Obey Your Master's lips curled into a wide grin, clearly enjoying the race.
In the blink of an eye, Sakura Baimu had finished the second turn and was now heading toward the steep climb before the third turn.
At this moment, Obey Your Master was about seven lengths behind her.
Although there was a significant difference in their positions, Obey Your Master showed no anxiety.
Only an extremely pleased smile.
"She's even faster than when she raced Golden Crown Eagle last time. Can she really maintain this leading speed?"
Obey Your Master wondered, but she couldn't find a definite answer.
In that case, she had to consider the worst-case scenario.
That was a speed enough for Sakura Baimu to complete the race and still have room to accelerate.
"I can't wait any longer..."
Obey Your Master took a step forward, her speed increasing, and a faint white aura began to appear around her.
She chose to accelerate in the middle of the race.
The distance between Obey Your Master and Sakura Baimu gradually shortened, and the gap between them began to close.
Finally, Sakura Baimu reached the top of the steep slope.
Maintaining her pace, she charged straight up the slope.
Obey Your Master, following behind, also surged forward with almost no loss of speed.
"Watch me overtake you in one go,"
Obey Your Master thought to herself, chasing after Sakura Baimu.
Just as Obey Your Master was about to catch up with Sakura Baimu, she noticed a momentary pause in Sakura Baimu's steps.
A moment later, Sakura Baimu was also enveloped in a white aura.