Fujiwara Chiya had come with the team to Chukyo Racecourse, but they were a little late. There were no empty seats left near the front, so they could only stand at the back and watch from a distance.
Rice Shower, being the shortest among them, stood on her tiptoes.
After meeting Chiya's father, Rice's wariness toward Shirayuki had dropped sharply. After all, no matter how close Shirayuki was, she was still only a younger sister. Their relationship could never develop into anything else.
Rice, however, was different.
Chiya's father had even invited her to Onii-sama's home. Wasn't the meaning already obvious?
Therefore, Shirayuki was no longer a threat. She was even Rice's future relative, her cousin. Once she accepted that layer of relationship, Rice suddenly saw the light.
If Shirayuki became her cousin, then Rice's Onii-sama would also be Shirayuki's older brother. Shirayuki's way of addressing him would no longer be wrong. That form of address would not push Rice out of her position, and at the same time, it would also confirm Rice's relationship with Chiya.
It was killing two birds with one stone.
But how could she make Shirayuki see her as an older sister?
In terms of age, Rice, as a high-school division student, was indeed older than Shirayuki. But her height and atmosphere had nothing to do with the word "older sister." If anything, Shirayuki, who was tall and gentle, looked far more like an older sister than Rice did. There would be no sense of mismatch even if Rice called her "Onee-sama."
Absolutely not! If I call her that, the family hierarchy will be ruined!
Although the mission was difficult, Rice still decided that she had to change her image in Shirayuki's heart and establish the relationship among herself, Onii-sama, and Shirayuki properly.
So first, she would start by cheering with all her heart.
Rice kept standing on tiptoe, but no matter how much she stretched her neck, her height of a little over one hundred forty centimeters could not get her past the human wall in front of her. She could only sway helplessly in place.
Seeing Rice trapped in the crowd like a little kitten unable to poke her head out, Fujiwara Chiya crouched down.
"Onii-sama?"
"Sit on my shoulders, Rice. You'll be able to see better that way."
"S-Sit on Onii-sama!? Then... Rice is going up."
After a brief moment of surprise, she carefully straddled Chiya's neck. When he stood up, Rice's field of vision instantly rose above the crowd.
"Ah! So high!"
Rice's face lit up with excitement. Then she lowered her head and looked at the man caught between her legs. Her eyes moved slightly, and then she bent forward to hug him.
"Rice?"
"It's too high. Rice is... a little scared. This way Rice feels safer."
"Is that so? Then hold on tight."
"Okay!"
As she said that, Rice stretched out her tail and wrapped it around Chiya's neck too.
Rice, if you do that, I won't be able to watch the race...
"What a scheming black-haired loli. I hereby declare Rice Shower this year's Best Little Sister!"
Gold Ship had pulled a Rubik's cube out of who-knew-where. After glancing at Rice for a moment, she turned her attention back to the racecourse.
Meisho Doto looked at Gold Ship in confusion, not understanding what she was shouting about. Then she shook her head, cleared her thoughts, and pressed her hands together.
Shirayuki-san, please win.
"McQueen."
"Ah, you two... Why are you holding hands!?"
Seeing Special Week and Fujiwara Shirayuki running out of the competitors' tunnel hand in hand, Mejiro McQueen pointed at them and shouted.
"I told Shirayuki to hurry up, and before I realized it, I'd grabbed her hand."
Special Week immediately let go.
"This is the racecourse. Can you at least act a little serious?" Mejiro McQueen pressed a hand to her forehead.
No matter how close their relationship was normally, once they reached the racecourse, they should not be casually acting like sisters. They were about to race in front of thousands of spectators. What kind of image was it for them to be tugging each other around like children?
"Shirayuki, and Spe-chan too, let me say this first. I don't share your relaxed mood. I won't hold back in this race."
Mejiro McQueen looked at both of them.
"Betting on the honor of the Mejiro family, I absolutely cannot lose."
"I feel the same, McQueen. I'm sorry if I made you think I wasn't taking this seriously. I also want victory very badly. No, not only victory. I want even more to race against the two of you. Let's find out who is stronger on the track."
As expected of Shirayuki. With only a few words, she revealed a presence that felt almost detached from the ordinary.
McQueen had seen Shirayuki wearing those thick, heavy horseshoes. Even during daytime classes, she had not taken them off. The steady clacking sound of those weighted shoes seemed to make Shirayuki's resolve perfectly clear.
This would be a race she could not afford to underestimate.
Even if Shirayuki was Dober's younger sister, and even if one day she might inherit the Mejiro name, the racecourse was merciless.
McQueen would defeat her with everything she had.
Just as the girls were stating their determination to one another, a blue figure suddenly came charging out.
"Gyaaaahhh!! Twin Turbo, appearing now!! The amazing Turbo! The powerful Turbo! Bang bang bang!"
She formed finger guns with both hands and fired them at Shirayuki and the others.
"This race, I'll show all of you what Turbo can really do! You there, Shirayuki!"
She pointed at McQueen.
"Duel me!"
"You've got the wrong person. She's Shirayuki."
"Huh? Ah... You there, Shirayuki!"
Without a hint of embarrassment, Twin Turbo straightened her back.
"I heard your name from Teio! You're someone Teio has her eye on too! But I, Turbo, am Teio's number one rival! Before my duel with Teio, I'll defeat you, challenger!"
Twin Turbo raised her fist high, passionately challenging Shirayuki.
When did I become Teio's challenger?
Well, whatever. No need to worry about the details.
Since the other party had issued a duel, Fujiwara Shirayuki, as an Uma Musume, had no reason to refuse.
"Alright, then I'll..."
"What do you mean, challenger and Teio's number one rival!? I'm Shirayuki's only rival!"
Special Week suddenly jumped in.
"Shirayuki's rival is me, got it? Me! Not Teio!"
"W-What...? Shirayuki, you already have a rival? In that case, I'll defeat both of you! The great Turbo is the strongest!"
"You're just a two-pump engine. You sure talk big!"
Perhaps because Twin Turbo had casually used Teio to replace her position, Special Week clenched her fists in obvious dissatisfaction.
"What even is all this...?"
Mejiro McQueen's eyelid twitched.
"Would all competitors please enter the gates."
The announcer's voice cut through their conversation. After glaring at each other one more time, Special Week and Twin Turbo began heading toward the gates one after another.
Mejiro McQueen lightly moved her feet.
This was her first OP race.
Mejiro McQueen did not merely want to win. She wanted to win beautifully.
Because she was an Uma Musume of the Mejiro family.
Surely the other Mejiro girls were watching her too, cheering for her.
"Shirayuki! Go for it!"
From the stands, Mejiro Dober shouted at the top of her lungs.
"You called her wrong, Dober-tan."
Gold Ship twisted her Rubik's cube.
"Ah, right. Snow Dancer! Go for it!"
Amid the team's cheers, Fujiwara Shirayuki walked toward the gate.
"Shirayuki."
Beside her, Special Week suddenly stopped and held out her fist.
"It's about to start."
Seeing that, Fujiwara Shirayuki immediately understood. She raised her own fist and bumped it against Special Week's.
"You too, Spe-chan. Don't lose to me."
"All Uma Musume have entered the gates!"
Fujiwara Shirayuki took her starting stance.
Twin Turbo grinned, revealing sharp sawtooth-like teeth.
No matter who her opponent was, she was going to shock the entire crowd in this race.
"Turbo engine..."
Full throttle!
With a loud clang, the gates opened.
The blue figure shot forward instantly.