The commentator's sudden roar ignited the entire grandstand. Countless hands hammered the metal railings into a continuous tremor that echoed above Nakayama Racecourse alongside the thunderous cheers.
The brilliant afternoon sunlight turned the track into a corridor of molten gold, and fifteen shooting stars ignited their tails at once.
At storm-like speed, Kitasan Black's short black hair and long ponytail stretched taut behind her.
Grass kept flying up beneath the pounding of her Victory Outfit racing shoes, turning into emerald ripples that followed in her wake.
Before those ripples could fade, the Horse Girls surging up from behind trampled them into fragments.
"The Final Bend is about to end!
"The fan favorite, Satono Crown, has begun her sprint!
"She's locked onto Kitasan Black! She's locked onto Kitasan Black! She's launching her sprint from the outside lane and beginning to overtake the runners ahead!
"After so many years, will another undefeated Horse Girl claim the Satsuki Sho?!
"Will the Satomi Family's long-cherished wish finally be fulfilled in such a perfect way?!"
Staring fixedly at the figure ahead as she sprinted with every ounce of strength, Satono Crown clenched traces of regret between her teeth.
She had never expected that after the early struggle for position, the first steep slope, and the acceleration through the first turn, her childhood friend—her opponent at this very moment—would still have such astonishing stamina.
Nor did she hear the commentator's impassioned cries. There was only one thing on her mind.
Catch up!
Catch up to Little Kita!
To fulfill her family's long-standing wish, she had to catch up, overtake her, and seize the Satsuki Sho title!
Yet the instant her field of vision suddenly opened up and the final straight came into view, her heart gave a violent jolt.
One ahead and one behind, two figures