At 12:50, the warm late-winter sunlight of the end of January shone over Tokyo Racecourse, lighting up the Uma Musume filing into the starting gates.
Above the stands facing the track, a young commentator's voice rang out over the nearly one hundred thousand spectators.
"Next to enter the gates is the third-favorite, Hokubu Genkoma.
"She's a first-year student at Central Treisen Academy, and she's competing in her Debut Race right after enrolling. Hokubu Genkoma's spirited determination is truly inspiring.
"Her Trainer has only just started out as well, so this race marks not only her debut, but his, too.
"What kind of performance will these two newcomers give us? Let's wait and see."
A slightly older voice then came over the broadcast.
"From what I've seen of her training, Hokubu Genkoma has quite good strength and stamina.
"Compared with the favorite, Mickey Joy, and the second-favorite, Eden, those are her clearest advantages.
"I hope she makes the most of them in the race ahead and gives us a thrilling performance."
Commentary for Uma Musume races was always arranged this way, usually with two commentators.
One handled the live coverage and worked up the crowd, while the other served as a guest commentator, offering brief analysis.
After hearing the commentary, the already lively stands reached a small crescendo. Discussions and questions about who would take the title rang clearly through the crowd.
At the very front of the stands, beside Yasui Makoto, two Uma Musume who looked alike were quietly talking.
"Big Sis, do you think Xiao Bei... can win her Debut Race?"
After Rizumu Hikari asked anxiously, Satono Crown, standing beside her, looked troubled.
"About that... Even if it's you asking, Hikari, I can't predict something like that."
The sisters had both come to cheer on their friend, though Satono Crown's chosen runner had been in an earlier race.
After that race ended, the two of them had gone to the preparation room to encourage Hokubu Genkoma. Then, quite naturally, they had followed Yasui Makoto to the stands.
After a moment's thought, Satono Crown continued:
"Still, from what I've seen, Mickey Joy, the favorite, does have a clear advantage.
"She signed with her Trainer last year, and she's been preparing for her Debut Race for two or three months now.
"I've seen her training at the academy, too. She's been consistently strong in every area.
"Unless something else affects the race, her chances of winning... should be the highest, just as her popularity suggests."
After finishing her assessment, she looked at her worried younger sister and offered some reassurance:
"But you don't have to worry about Xiao Bei's performance.
"I think her Trainer must have considered things more thoroughly than I have.
"Isn't that right, Trainer Yasui?"
She turned to Yasui Makoto.
Yasui Makoto had his binoculars raised, naturally keeping his own Uma Musume, Hokubu Genkoma, in the center of his view.
Her breathing was steady, her complexion healthy, her warm-up just right, and she'd entered the gate without a hitch.
After making his quick assessment, he looked over at Satono Crown.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Crown.
"That's right. I've made arrangements for Xiao Bei based on the specific circumstances of this race.
"But the details..."
He was about to say that there probably wasn't time to explain when the commentary on the broadcast grew more animated.
"All the Uma Musume have now entered the gates."
Without a thought for whether it was polite, Yasui Makoto immediately raised his binoculars again.
Satono Crown's gaze sharpened, and she and her still-worried sister both looked toward the starting gates.
The commentary continued:
"And now, the Tokyo Racecourse, 1,800 meters on turf, Debut Race...
"Start!"
At the commentator's loud declaration, all sixteen gates burst open with a bang.
Sixteen figures shot out like arrows from a bow, all rushing toward the inside of the track.
Seeing them battle for position right from the start sent the stands into an uproar. Tens of thousands of spectators erupted in cheers all at once.
As he watched Hokubu Genkoma through his binoculars, Yasui Makoto nodded to himself.
No matter the race, the inside lane was bound to cover the shortest distance. Claiming it in the Opening Phase would unquestionably give a runner a greater advantage.
When he'd been learning from his father, he'd visited Local racecourses.
To be honest, their level really was a far cry from the central circuit.
Take the fight for position in the Opening Phase, for example. Many Local Uma Musume didn't even think about it.
Even training them hadn't helped much. They'd only realize they needed to find a position long after leaving the gates, by which point it was too late.
But every runner in this race was a newcomer, with no experience in previous races.
And yet every one of them had chosen to fight for position right in the Opening Phase. That kind of awareness was something the Local circuit simply couldn't match.
Hokubu Genkoma had also made an excellent start, carrying out his pre-race instructions perfectly.
The black-haired girl seemed to be fighting for the inside lane, but in truth, from the moment she left the gate, she'd had her eye on the runner in the neighboring number-six gate, keeping close behind her.
The commentator reported the race as it unfolded.
"What a beautiful start! No mistakes at all.
"In the battle for position in the Opening Phase, the favorite, Mickey Joy, is currently in the lead...
"Wait—Cosmic Harbor has overtaken her! Cosmic Harbor is now in front.
"Mickey Joy is temporarily in second, followed by Eden, the second-favorite.
"The two popular runners are living up to expectations, showing excellent awareness of position right from the start.
"Hokubu Genkoma, the third-favorite, hasn't chosen to join the front-runners.
"She's right behind Eee Turbo. Is she planning to mark her opponent?"
The guest commentator chimed in:
"Marking an opponent is usually too complex a tactic for a Debut Race.
"From what we've seen in Hokubu Genkoma's training, she has a decent sense of rhythm. She's probably hoping to adjust during the race by following her opponent's stride.
"It's a very clever choice, and one of the most effective tactics for a newcomer."
The commentator continued:
"The field has passed the front stands and entered the first turn.
"The positions haven't changed. Cosmic Harbor, ranked eleventh in popularity, is still in the lead.
"The top two favorites, Mickey Joy and Eden, are close behind.
"Hokubu Genkoma, the third-favorite, is running in a mid-pack position. It looks like her Trainer must have planned for her to run as a closer."
In the stands, Satono Crown and Rizumu Hikari frowned at the same time.
"A closer... If I remember right, Xiao Bei..."
After exchanging a glance with her younger sister, Satono Crown turned to Yasui Makoto, hesitating.
"I remember a Trainer saying Xiao Bei might be suited to a front-running style, or even leading from the start...
"A closer...
"Trainer Yasui, is that really right for Xiao Bei?"
Yasui Makoto briefly lowered his binoculars and looked at the Satono Sisters with a smile.
"True, I think Xiao Bei is better suited to running near the front or leading from the start.
"But there isn't much pressure in a Debut Race. Locking her into one running style completely would shut off too many possibilities, so I think it's worth trying something bolder.
"Besides, haven't the Trainers you've spoken with said it's best for a newcomer to run farther back in her first few races?"
I want to try for another recommendation push, so here's one extra chapter. Please give the story a follow!
Just go to the latest chapter and click to follow along with the ranking. I'd really appreciate it!
After this, there'll be the usual two chapters.
Some readers have asked about Explosive Updates. That shouldn't be a problem. Anyone who read my last book knows I once posted 200,000 words in a single day.
For this book, it looks a bit difficult at the moment, and honestly, posting that much all at once is a bit rough on the brain.
But I really enjoy writing about Uma Musume, and I have enough ideas to keep going for at least a million words. Rest assured, everyone.
Thanks again, and please give the story a follow. (ω)
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