At Tracen, Skilled at Doing Time

I could understand that, but it was rude.

Zhou Yuang recalled how Special Week had excitedly stared at Silence Suzuka in the anime, only for some brainless perverted senior to come running over...

"No."

Zhou Yuang glanced around and, seeing that pervert was nowhere to be found, stopped paying attention to Special Week.

Not to mention that she might follow him when he took Silence Suzuka away later, she probably wouldn't be able to listen to him right now.

He would either have to make a very loud noise or reach out and poke her.

Neither was something Zhou Yuang would do to a stranger.

Compared to this village girl who had appeared out of nowhere, Zhou Yuang cared more about his own Silence Suzuka.

How could an interloping Uma Musume compare with his own Uma Musume?

Unless that Uma Musume was his type.

He figured that being dragged into the plot now meant this was Silence Suzuka's debut race.

No matter who it was, everyone remembered their first time doing anything clearly.

For the Silence Suzuka before him and for himself, this was the most important moment.

After this, perhaps he would become like he was in the game and not even bother watching the debut races of other Uma Musume.

Zhou Yuang still clearly remembered that when he raised his first Uma Musume, he hadn't skipped a single bit of the story. After playing for a long time, even when he got a new Uma Musume, he stopped watching the new storylines.

Turning his head toward the final stretch, Silence Suzuka maintained an elegant posture, her expression serious.

The Silent Comet was about to make her first battle known.

No one behind her could catch up, because this was the domain of a Front Runner.

She gazed at the empty finish line ahead and smiled.

Then, maintaining her speed, she crossed the line!

"Across the line! Silence Suzuka has left every Uma Musume behind by an astonishing margin!"

The commentator shouted excitedly, and the spectators erupted in cheers.

There was no Last Spurt, nor any fierce contest.

There was only one horse leading the field, leaving all others in her shadow.

With an Uma Musume like this emerging, perhaps one day she could become a star no one could afford to ignore.

The Grand General from Hokkaido

"Ha... ha..."

After crossing the line, Silence Suzuka slowly came to a stop.

Even the sweat covering her body couldn't stop the smile on her face.

She raised her head and spread her arms, as if embracing this victory that belonged only to her.

The wind swept past her ears. The scenery only she could see and the joy of running with all her might filled her face with an intoxicated delight.

"Was I... really that happy?"

Silence Suzuka on the screen watched herself win the race, but she didn't feel the same happiness.

She hadn't run the race herself, so how could she know how happy it was?

Was it really that enjoyable?

I don't believe it.

Unless you let me run a race like that!

She blinked her beautiful eyes and looked at herself beyond the finish line, as well as the results on the Results Board.

She had opened up a full eight lengths on second place?

That result and that running style...

"So all I have to do is run as a Front Runner?"

Thinking back to what that generic trainer had said, Pace Chaser was the safest running style.

Saving energy before accelerating was the most normal choice.

But she remembered that, in order not to mislead anyone, that trainer had told everyone they had to learn to find the running style that suited them.

Combined with what the streamer had said, if she debuted as a Front Runner, would she no longer be helplessly buried among the other Uma Musume like before?

In the previous Trial Race, she had run out of strength before the final sprint. She could only watch helplessly as the others ran past her, blocking her view and leaving her with nothing but one cold back after another to stare at.

That situation had given Silence Suzuka an indescribable sense of powerlessness.

She didn't want to remain trapped in that unwilling depression forever. She only hoped that she could find happiness and experience once more the joy she had felt running across the Turf.

[Uma Musume Fan]: Woohoo! This Uma Musume is so strong and powerful! We're definitely going to see some incredible scenes in her future middle-distance races!

[Tracen Cold-Joke Master]: That was a fine run. She left her opponents far behind and embodied Tracen's motto: "One horse leads the field, leaving all others in the shadows."

[Invincible Lord of Seaside]: Feels like... she should keep winning like this in G1 races too.

[Hates Flashes and Manic Guys]: Don't think it'll be that easy just because of this. Debut Races aren't graded stakes. The highest-level graded stakes races, the G1s, can't be won so easily.

[Unbreakable Glass]: That's true. I have a friend who once said that G1-level races are serious battlefields, and no Uma Musume can afford to underestimate them.

[Side-Eyeing Lewd Manga Teacher]: That "friend" of yours... wasn't it you?

The debut race was the beginner's village. Most Uma Musume couldn't make it past it, but if someone was a genius of her generation, winning her debut was highly likely.

That didn't mean victory was guaranteed. Even a world-class champion like Secretariat could lose her debut through a mistake caused by bad luck.

But an Uma Musume who won her Debut Race through sheer ability would certainly not be mediocre.

With enhanced training, securing a place for herself would be no problem.

After their debut, Uma Musume were divided into two groups.

One was the Winners' Group, and the other was the Unwon Group.

Many Uma Musume without talent were eliminated in the Debut Race.

At Central Tracen, there were generally around eight thousand students. More than twenty percent failed to participate in a Debut Race, while more than twenty-five percent belonged to the Unwon Group.

The proportion who could win graded stakes was pitifully small.

The road ahead was long and arduous.

That was why the Uma Musume with G1 victories in the anime were the elite of the elite.

"If things progress according to the timeline, next... I have a feeling Sunday Silence will become a hurdle. If she gets past it, maybe she'll end up frequently fighting with the five-person group from the anime's dining hall."

Zhou Yuang muttered to himself. Some people in the comments heard him and grew curious.

Whether it was the words "hurdle" or "fighting with the five-person group," certain sharp-eared Uma Musume took notice.

There were quite a few clever horses present.

"Sorry, I have to go find Silence Suzuka."

Zhou Yuang used the most straightforward excuse to leave and quickly ran to the edge of the track.

At that moment, Silence Suzuka was also about to come over.

She had seen Zhou Yuang, and the joy of her recent victory had swept through her mind. She couldn't wait to tell him how happy running had made her.

Zhou Yuang had only taken a few steps when Silence Suzuka rushed over like a cheerful little fawn, her steps light and quick.

A smile covered her face, and her footsteps brimmed with happiness.

She ran up to Zhou Yuang.

"Trainer! Did you see it?! I won!"

Silence Suzuka stood before Zhou Yuang with her hands folded over her chest, her appearance delicate and fragile.

Yet this seemingly frail girl had run at the very front of the Fifth Pack and won the race in a way that created a startling visual impact.

"Congratulations."

Zhou Yuang raised both hands and applauded Silence Suzuka.

Uma Musume were emotional creatures, even more sensitive to their own emotions and those of others.

Since she was so excited, all he needed to do was offer his congratulations.

Zhou Yuang planned to speak with Silence Suzuka about learning to control herself and other matters after a later race.

No matter what it was, the first experience was always the most deeply etched in one's memory.

Even if it happened again in the future, the impression left by the first time would always subtly change a person's behavior.

For now, he would let Silence Suzuka properly enjoy her victory.

"Don't become conceited just because of one victory."

"Mm, I understand."

Silence Suzuka nodded obediently.

Her ears, fitted with green ear covers, twitched back and forth. She looked adorable.

"From here on, we still have a lot to do. We can't relax for even a moment before retirement."

Zhou Yuang's large hand reached toward the top of Silence Suzuka's head.

Seeing her ears and the bright smile on her face, Zhou Yuang instinctively wanted to pat her.

But when he saw Silence Suzuka blush, his hand froze in midair.

His hand snapped back like lightning. Zhou Yuang smiled at her, then turned and walked back, wondering why they still hadn't returned to the main menu.

As Zhou Yuang turned and left, Silence Suzuka's little face became somewhat blank. Looking at his back, she nervously jogged after him.

She followed closely behind Zhou Yuang like a newlywed wife too shy to speak, trailing him all the way out of the stadium.

[Uma Musume Fan]: Adorable! I'm only supporting her! Oh my god! Why is there such a quiet and obedient Uma Musume!!!

[Side-Eyeing Lewd Manga Teacher]: Tamamo's! Why is the guy upstairs so imaginative?!

[Hates Flashes and Manic Guys]: You idiot! Do you even know what you're saying?!

That was right. The impression formed during a first meeting could affect someone for a long time and gradually lead to serious consequences.

That declaration about wanting to marry thirty Uma Musume really did influence me too much.

But that really was his dream.

If possible, Zhou Yuang would rather not raise Silence Suzuka in this game. Wouldn't it be better to raise such a cute Uma Musume in real life?

Forget it. I'll treat this as practice. Even if I can't raise Silence Suzuka, I'll definitely be able to apply what I learn to other Uma Musume later.

He already had a strong and adorable Oguri Cap at home.

Although they had only spent a few days together, had her affection already reached maximum?

Sooner or later, he would truly be able to pet and cuddle an Uma Musume.

After leading Silence Suzuka out of the stadium, he had her perform Winner's Live as well.

When he realized that he still hadn't exited the story, Zhou Yuang nearly wanted to call the Three Goddesses and complain.

"Wonderful dancing. You worked hard just now."

Unlike in the anime, where the performance took place only at night, the staff had required Silence Suzuka to change into her performance outfit and dance as soon as she left the track.

Zhou Yuang had been stunned when he first saw this setting.

Only the top three finishers in a race could go onstage and dance?

Were idols really this competitive? Did only those with outstanding running results deserve to do this?

After her Winner's Live, Silence Suzuka changed back into her Tracen uniform.