Chapter 99.
Inside the Team Canopus clubroom, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation.
The girls clustered around the table, their eyes glued to the screen displaying the finalized gate draw for the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Because of its prestigious "Imperial Viewing" status this year, the entry list was notoriously bloated, but the Canopus runners had successfully ground out enough prize money in their prep races to secure their slots.
"Gate 3! That's Turbo!"
Twin Turbo thrust both fists into the air, practically vibrating with excitement.
"It's perfect! Turbo is going to blast to the front and lead everyone all the way to the finish line!"
"Gate 3 is undeniably a premium position." Trainer Minamisaka nodded in agreement. "Given the notorious layout of the Tokyo 2000-meter track, starting on the inside means you won't bleed excess stamina fighting for the rail going into that immediate first corner."
"Even if Turbo drew Gate 18, it wouldn't matter!"
Turbo protested, waving her arms wildly in a characteristic display of childish bravado.
"Turbo will just leave them super, super far behind! No one can catch Turbo!"
It was typical Turbo logic. But it was exactly this simple-minded, reckless dedication that allowed her to deliver such thrilling runaway performances—even if they often ended in spectacular crashes on the final straight.
This time, however, Minamisaka chose to fully buy into the hype.
"Then run your Big Escape, Turbo. Do exactly what you do best. Show your talent to His Majesty the Emperor and the rest of Japan!"
His confidence wasn't entirely baseless.
In her last two outings—the Tanabata Sho and the Sankei Sho All Comers—Turbo had executed her high-risk strategy flawlessly. She had scorched the turf, setting blistering 1000-meter paces of 57.4 and 59.5 seconds, respectively, crushing the runner-up in both races by massive margins of 0.7 and 0.9 seconds. Her confidence was absolute.
Even seasoned racing analysts were beginning to sing her praises in the weekly magazines.
"A blindingly fast pace is the natural enemy of a late-closer like Mejiro Dober." one expert had noted. "If Dober wants to stay in striking distance, she'll have to subject herself to Twin Turbo's grinding pace. Whether her legs can survive that tempo until the final straight is the real question."
"Well, looks like Turbo gets to run wild again." Nice Nature sighed, spotting her own name on the board. "I'm in Gate 7."
"A solid draw. Nature, you'll run in the vanguard pack this time." Minamisaka advised. "Let Turbo stretch the field, and you focus on controlling your own pace just behind the leaders."
"Sure, whatever." Nature murmured, self-consciously adjusting her sideburns. "Having to face a monster like Mejiro Dober... I feel like just crossing the finish line in one piece is enough. The cameras will all be focused on her and Air Groove anyway. A supporting character like me probably won't even be in the frame."
"I drew Gate 16." Ikuno Dictus announced coolly, cutting through Nature's pessimism. "It appears I am relegated to running from the rear."
"Yeah, that's a brutal gate." Minamisaka conceded instantly. "But you can work with it, Ikuno. You can either try to advance gradually on the backstretch to improve your position, or save everything and wait for the final straight to detonate your acceleration. It's your call."
"Understood. I will analyze the track flow and choose between those two tactics in real-time." Ikuno nodded, her expression remaining analytical and calm.
—
Meanwhile, in the Team Spica clubroom, Mejiro McQueen was staring at her own result.
"Gate 17... the far outside." McQueen murmured. Her lips twitched slightly, though she maintained a facade of absolute regal nonchalance. "No matter. I simply need to expend a fraction more stamina at the break to secure my position."
"The far outside is a cursed draw." Gold Ship stated bluntly, leaning over the back of the sofa. "Historically speaking, Uma Musumes starting from the outermost lanes in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) have a zero percent win rate."
"Then I will simply be the first to break it." McQueen turned to her eccentric teammate, her eyes flashing with intense resolve. "Last year, this exact race left me with nothing but bitter memories. This time, I will wring every ounce of regret out of the Tokyo Racecourse."
"McQueen can pull it off." Trainer Nishizaki Ryu finally chimed in. "But do you really need to force your way to the absolute front of the pack? Twin Turbo is in Gate 3. You know what she's going to do."
"It's fine." McQueen shook her head. "I don't need to force myself to match Twin Turbo's suicidal pace. I will steadily secure the second position and control the flow of the main pack from there. Turbo cannot sustain that speed over 2000 meters; she will violently stall out on the final straight."
"Standard graded races certainly can't compare to the Tenno Sho." Nishizaki cautioned. "Just be careful, McQueen. If you slow the main pack's pace too much, Mejiro Dober is sitting in Gate 1. If she gets a clean trip, she will be an absolute nightmare to hold off."
"I am fully prepared to handle Dober." McQueen stated, placing a hand over her chest. "I will defeat her."
McQueen harbored a deep, intensely personal reason for targeting her junior.
I was the one they favored back then, she thought, her fingers curling into tight fists. I know how crucial this race is for you, Dober. But I am sorry. I must be the one to stop you.
Elsewhere, the rest of the Mejiro contingent was reviewing their own battlefield assignments.
"Gate 5. Perfect. I can comfortably tuck in right behind Twin Turbo."
Mejiro Palmer smiled, immensely satisfied with her draw.
"I'm in Gate 6. That means I have to fight Dober for positioning right out of the gate." Mejiro Ryan sighed heavily, rubbing the back of her neck. "If Grandmother hadn't personally demanded it, I really wouldn't have entered this race. Running against Dober in her current form is just too much pressure."
"I drew Gate 10." Mejiro Bright laughed softly, covering her mouth with a graceful hand. "I shall happily mark both of you from behind, Ryan-chan, Dober-chan."
"I don't really mind the mark, Bright." Ryan warned, her tone turning serious. "But if you are going to mark Dober, you have to ensure your acceleration path isn't cut off before you hit the final straight. If it turns into a pure contest of explosive sprinting power, not a single Uma Musume in our entire family can outrun Dober right now."
"I know. But I am already mentally prepared for that." Bright's serene gaze fell to the coffee table. "It is perfectly fine if I lose to Dober. After all, this will be my final race in the Twinkle Series."
"Have you absolutely decided on this?" Palmer asked, looking at her peer with a mix of surprise and sympathy. "Given your current track record, the treatment you'll receive when you transfer to the Dream Trophy Series will be pretty ordinary, won't it?"
"It will be very ordinary." Bright smiled, a look of pure, unburdened contentment on her face. "But that does not matter. Compared to the girls who never even managed to qualify, I am already incredibly lucky."