Why Couldn't I Catch Up at All?

Yamato Akagi cried out while Vodka furrowed her brow in thought.

Like her best friend, she had been puzzling over Yasui Makoto's strategy for Hokubu Genkoma in this race.

As far as she could tell, the junior's burst of speed and ability to maintain her pace were both quite good.

But she struggled with changes of pace, cornering, breaking through the pack, and other finer points, given her limited strength.

In that situation, the best choice was to take the lead.

Only by running in first place from start to finish, setting and controlling the pace of the race all the way through, would she have the greatest chance of winning.

She was very familiar with this tactic. The rival beside her was best at it, and even if she wasn't good at it herself, she certainly knew it well.

However, the Trainer beside her clearly hadn't planned to use that strategy for Hokubu Genkoma.

From the Opening Phase through the middle stretch, Hokubu Genkoma stayed close behind the leading group, seemingly waiting for a chance to overtake them with her Final Speed near the finish line.

It was a standard front-running strategy, Vodka was sure. Aside from the mid-runner tactic, front-running was precisely what she was best at.

The problem was, Xiao Bei didn't seem to have much Final Speed. At least, not compared to the other competitors in this race.

So if she was going to run up front, how would she manage the final stretch...

She was still thinking it over when she heard Yamato Akagi's exclamation.

Satono Diamond? Was she the Uma Musume in front of Xiao Bei?

What did she have to do with this? But if Yamato was reacting like that...

Wait. Satono Diamond's position, and where she'd placed herself earlier...

"I see!"

Vodka cried out too.

"Hey, hey, isn't that tactic a little too crafty? But for someone as honest as Xiao Bei... it's surprisingly well suited to her?"

At that moment, Yasui Makoto, who had been watching his Uma Musume through binoculars, shifted his gaze toward the two astonished Uma Musume.

"Crafty... Maybe."

He smiled, then looked through the binoculars again.

"Looks like I don't need to explain it. Your talent really does live up to its reputation."

At that, Yamato Akagi and Vodka exchanged a glance, clearly seeing the understanding and admiration in each other's eyes.

It was true. A race at this high a speed put Xiao Bei at a disadvantage in many ways.

Of course, there were ways to handle it. She could take the lead from the start to avoid those difficulties, or use a mid-runner tactic and rely on her Final Speed.

But as they thought about it, they had unconsciously drawn on their own experience and abilities, overlooking one reality.

This was only Xiao Bei's second race, and she had only been training for two months.

No matter how outstanding a Trainer was, they couldn't give an Uma Musume systematic racing experience in just two races and two months.

But without needing an explanation, everything suddenly became simple.

Xiao Bei didn't need to consider how to handle every possible situation on the track.

At least, not before she entered her acceleration phase.

Because one of her opponents would handle those situations better than she could.

All she had to do was keep her eyes on that person, then, when the remaining distance was just right, use her outstanding stamina to accelerate all the way to the finish.

The opponent who would handle things better than she could was none other than the "Satono Diamond" Yamato Akagi had just cried out about.

On the track.

Power kept surging into her legs and feet. As she instinctively sensed how much distance remained, Hokubu Genkoma felt a flicker of surprise.

Just like the Trainer had said, this race... was much faster than the Debut Race.

And the other competitors were burning through a lot of stamina. It felt like... the pack had stretched out quite a bit.

Diamond's adaptability was as good as expected, too. Judging by her breathing and footsteps... she should still have plenty left in the tank.

And I still have plenty left, too.

Maybe... even more.

So... it's time!

Just like in the Debut Race, a sudden tremor seemed to ripple through every fiber of her being. Without a second thought, she leaned forward, lowered her stride, and planted her foot firmly on the ground.

At the same time, the commentator's voice paused, then grew excited.

"The front-runners have entered the third turn. The pack hasn't changed much so far... Wait!

"Hokubu Genkoma is making her move!

"Hokubu Genkoma is making her move!

"She suddenly accelerates and charges toward the group ahead!

"There are still a full 600 meters to the finish. Is it really wise to make a move now?

"But she doesn't hesitate for a moment. Hokubu Genkoma is gradually overtaking the runners ahead!

"She's through the third turn, and now she's entering the fourth!

"Saint Martin, Minisuke, Crush Rally, Touki...

"On this turn, which stretches nearly 300 meters, Hokubu Genkoma has overtaken four runners in a row!

"Hokubu Genkoma has taken the lead!

"And she's gradually opening up a five-Horse Length gap!

"Incredible! What incredible stamina! How does she still have so much left after maintaining that pace?

"Will she hold on to her lead all the way to the finish?! Hokubu Genkoma?!

"The other runners have realized what's happening! They're trying to catch up!

"She's out of the turn! 300 meters to go!

"Satono Diamond is catching up, too!

"She's moving fast!

"Just like Hokubu Genkoma, she's overtaken four runners in a row to catch up!

"What incredible Final Speed! She's steadily closing in on Hokubu Genkoma!

"But there are still four Horse Lengths between them!

"Now three Horse Lengths!

"The final straight!

"200 meters!

"It's clear! Hokubu Genkoma is in the lead! Satono Diamond is two Horse Lengths behind!

"The winner will come from these two!

"Can Hokubu Genkoma hold off the challenge from behind?!

"Can Satono Diamond catch up?!

"100 meters!"

On the track, everything else had disappeared. In Satono Diamond's vision, only the figure ahead remained, seeming at once within arm's reach and impossibly far away.

She fought the urge to reach out and grab that retreating figure. At that moment, along with her resolve to give everything she had to catch up, she felt a faint pang of regret.

I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have backed down then...

And I shouldn't have hesitated...

How could this...

In just a moment...

Why couldn't I catch up at all?!

"Hokubu Genkoma—!!!"

As she let out a hoarse roar, her vision suddenly blurred, and the black-haired girl ahead disappeared.

Satono Diamond froze.

She kept running forward on momentum for several dozen meters, then heard the crowd's cheers shake the sky and the commentator's shout over the broadcast.

"One-quarter of a Horse Length!

"Let's congratulate Hokubu Genkoma, who has won this race by a quarter of a Horse Length!

"A commanding second win in a row...

"Achieved!!!"

She froze again. Then came the panting she could no longer hold back, followed by a sudden wave of exhaustion. Satono Diamond struggled to look back.

It wasn't that the black-haired girl she'd been chasing had disappeared.

After crossing the finish line, she had gradually slowed down and come to a stop.

At the same time, Satono Diamond heard a quiet murmur, full of delight.

"Hehehe, I didn't trip and embarrass myself this time..."

Then came an excited shout.

"Hey—Trainer! Grandpa! Dad! Senpais! Everyone! Did you see that? I won—!"

...The Trainer, and her senpais...

Satono Diamond jolted, then turned toward the stands, crestfallen. Her ears drooped as she panted heavily.

I'm sorry, Trainer... Senpais...

I... shouldn't have backed down and hesitated in that moment...

But...

She clenched her fists without realizing it, gave the black-haired girl cheering excitedly nearby one long look, then turned and headed off the track.

Next time... I absolutely won't hesitate!