By afternoon, the sunlight had begun to turn scorching, spilling freely over every inch of Tracen Academy.
Almond Eye and Lucky Lilac had completed the course tests together. Their cheeks were faintly flushed from running, sweat still caught in their hair, yet their eyes were filled with resolve and anticipation.
Because next, the mock races were about to begin, and Almond Eye's race was first.
It was called a mock race, but judging from how it had been arranged, it faintly resembled an official event.
The venue used for this race was the largest field in the academy.
Almond Eye's steps were light, yet they carried a trace of nervousness. When she reached the entrance, she confirmed her number with the senior in charge of guidance, took a deep breath, and slowly stepped onto the lush turf.
She subconsciously glanced toward the spectator stands, and the sight before her made her freeze for a moment.
The stands were packed with people, row upon row. Most of them were Umamusume, with a smaller portion who looked like trainers.
And from the school uniforms worn by the Umamusume, all in the same style, it was clear that they were seniors from the academy.
Just then, a distinctive voice suddenly came through the broadcast. It was both steady and playful, and Almond Eye recognized it at once as belonging to student council president Tokai Teio.
"Now, will the participants in this 1400-meter turf mock race please proceed to the gates at the starting point."
Tokai Teio's voice spread clearly and powerfully through the entire field. Immediately afterward, she continued.
"As usual, allow me to introduce today's special guests for the mock races: Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa!"
The moment her words fell, thunderous cheers erupted from the stands and all around the field.
The cheers rose and fell like surging waves, sweeping across the entire racecourse.
Almond Eye could not help feeling her blood stir, and she quickly turned her gaze toward the large screen across from the stands.
On the screen, the image swiftly changed. First appeared an Umamusume with long chestnut hair and a white diamond-shaped fringe. Then an Umamusume with similarly long chestnut hair, wearing a mask, came into view as well.
When Almond Eye lowered her gaze from the big screen, an indescribable excitement welled up in her heart, because those two legendary seniors were sitting right there, smiling brightly as they waved to the juniors present.
Grass Wonder-senpai's smile was warm and kind, as if it spoke of glorious races from days past. El Condor Pasa-senpai, meanwhile, carried a faintly mysterious air, and the gaze beneath her mask seemed to hold endless experience.
At the sight of all this, Almond Eye's heartbeat suddenly quickened.
This mock race was grander than any race she had ever taken part in before... No, not races. Those had just been events. It was grander than any event she had ever known.
Not only was it grander, this race was also a chance to show herself in front of so many seniors and legendary guests.
She clenched her fists, her nails nearly digging into her palms, and unconsciously swept her gaze around her.
The participants around her were making their final preparations as well, their eyes shining with the same nervousness and anticipation.
Almond Eye took a deep breath, adjusted her condition, and walked toward the gates at the starting point. Every step was firm and powerful, as if she were measuring the distance between herself and her dream.
Once she entered the gate, Almond Eye unconsciously looked to either side.
To her left was an Umamusume with long black hair, her expression cold and stern, her gaze fixed intently forward.
To her right was a participant with short silver-gray hair, loosening her wrists and ankles as she did her final warm-up.
Almond Eye did not know either of them, and a mutter rose in her heart.
So where are Lily Noble and the others...? Mm... I was so focused on the venue earlier that I forgot to check their numbers and match them to their faces.
She could not help feeling a little frustrated, her brows faintly furrowing, but she soon regained her confidence.
For this race, she had been lucky enough to draw a middle gate.
In her memory, Yasui had said that for a 1400-meter course, this kind of gate position was very advantageous.
And those opponents she had been paying attention to were either on the inside or the outside, which meant she had already seized a bit of an advantage at the start.
But she quickly remembered that Yasui had also said, and Kitasan had emphasized as well, that with her personality and abilities, it would be best not to force herself onto the lead right out of the gate. A Pace Chaser-to-Late Surger approach would suit her best.
So she needed to use the advantage of her gate to secure a better position early.
That should be right... Ah, if only I could talk to my trainer and senior before the race.
She sighed softly in her heart, filled with regret.
So then, right now... they should be watching me from the stands, right? With that thought, she could not help looking toward the spectator stands, her gaze searching eagerly through the crowd for Yasui and Kitasan.
Just then, Tokai Teio's slightly heightened voice came through the broadcast.
"Now then, for the new student evaluation, the 1400-meter turf mock race will now... Start!"
The stands erupted into cheers. The Umamusume stood one after another, waving the flags and streamers in their hands as they cheered on the new students on the course.
Their faces shone with anticipation and excitement, their eyes following the participants closely, as though they were seeing their past selves.
Oh no...!
Almond Eye was not swept up by the lively, excited atmosphere. Instead, her heart lurched in alarm, and she instinctively shot out of the gates the instant they sprang open.
In that instant, the wind whistled past her ears. She felt as if all the blood in her body had begun to boil, her muscles tightening, every step full of power.
The participants beside her had also rushed out like arrows from the string, their shoe plates striking the turf with a dull, powerful sound.
Sensing all of it, Almond Eye grew even more anxious.
Because she had let herself get distracted... she had been slow out of the gate!
At the same time, a gentle voice came through the broadcast.
"Now then, I, Grass Wonder, will be providing the live commentary for this race."
"Most of the participants broke from the gate smoothly. One... that would be Almond Eye. Almond Eye was a step slow out of the gate."
"She looks somewhat anxious. She seems to have fallen into a common kind of race panic. I hope she can calm down, and the rest of you students should take this as a lesson as well."
"At present, the one in front is... Sayakachan. She is running ahead of the field, leading by two lengths."
"Following right behind her is Cantabile. She is not making an effort to chase... another student is catching up."
"It's Lily Noble. She is moving up toward Sayakachan."
"The race is heating up right from the start. This year's students certainly have spirit."
No sooner had Grass Wonder's gentle voice fallen silent than a vibrant voice followed right after it.
"Hi, hi~ This is El Condor Pasa~ Next up is my analysis and commentary!"
"A 1400-meter sprint/mile-distance race demands speed and power. Just like wrestling—hey! Ha! It's the kind of distance where victory can be decided in an instant!"
"In an official race at this distance, the finish usually comes in about one minute and twenty seconds, but students, you don't need to use that as your standard."
"The reason I emphasized official race is to remind both the students participating and those watching that sprint and mile distances demand the speed and power I mentioned at the start."
"If you're one step slow, you may very well stay slow all the way~"
"Do your best, everyone! Go, go!"
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T/N: hmmm since this isnt a REAL REAL race, no need for the BOOMING VOICE OF THE COMMENTATORS~!!
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