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I currently have more than 8 advance chapters backlogged, I will up the required power stone for the week from 5 to 20 power stones per user for an advance chapter, and for every 20 power stones accumulated for the week, I will also post an advance chapter corresponding to the complete amount in the week's end.
So gift more Power Stones to advance the chapter schedule. Thank you very much for your support and enjoy the chapter!
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Arima Kinen — Live Paddock
The massive screens overlooking Nakayama Racecourse flickered to life as the broadcast shifted to the live paddock.
The commentator's voice rang clear and practiced, cutting through the layered noise of the crowd.
"Welcome, everyone, to the live paddock coverage of this year's Arima Kinen—the final Grand Prix of the Twinkle Series!"
Cameras swept across the paddock, capturing the composed faces of the Umamusumes as they walked their circuits, each step carrying the weight of expectation.
"Let's begin with today's popularity rankings."
The screen shifted, names and odds appearing one by one.
"Twelfth favorite: Verxina. The Double Victoria Mile-winner seemed to be in her top condition following her recent defeat from the Queen Elizabeth II Cup."
A brief shot showed the deep blue-haired Umamusume moving with quiet focus, her expression unreadable.
"Tenth favorite: Win Variation. Following her defeats during the Kinko Sho and Takarazuka Kinen, will the Spring Tenno Sho Runner-up bring herself back to the top in this year's Arima Kinen?"
"Ninth favorite: To The World. An umamusume in her classical year being voted for this year's Arima Kinen is quite a spectacle to behold. She may not have the best results following her defeat in Kikuka Sho, but her focus, from the looks of it, is quite extraordinary today."
"Sixth favorite: Fenomeno. The double Spring Tenno Sho winner will try to win her place in the Arima Kinen after her set-back at the Autumn Tenno Sho and the Japan Cup."
Each announcement drew polite reactions from the stands, but the atmosphere remained restrained—everyone was waiting for the names that truly mattered.
Then the tone changed.
"And now, the fourth favorite umamusume to be announced—Gentildonna."
The camera found her immediately.
Gentildonna walked the paddock with her usual immaculate composure, her long strides unhurried, her posture noble and unshaken.
The murmurs from the crowd swelled into something heavier, more reverent.
"The noble lady has drawn considerable attention following her decision to retract her previous retirement schedule and designate this Arima Kinen as her final Twinkle Series race," the commentator continued. "Coupled with publicly reported improvements in her condition, analysts believe she has a legitimate chance to enter the ranks of Umamusumes with the most G1 victories."
The screen briefly displayed familiar names.
"Should she prevail today, Gentildonna would stand alongside the likes of the current JRA President, the 'Emperor' Symboli Rudolf, last year's Arima Kinen champion 'The Golden Tyrant' Orfevre and the 'Conqueror of the Century's End,' TM Opera O within the 7 G1-Winning Club."
A pause followed.
"However," the commentator added, "that would require surpassing today's top three favorites."
The paddock feed shifted once more.
"Third favorite: Just A Way—this year's Yasuda Kinen champion and the first runner-up at the Japan Cup."
A brown-haired, green-eyed umamusume passed the camera, her gaze were as carefree as a certain non-chalant umamusume from the Golden Generation.
"Second favorite: Epiphaneia." The crowd's volume rose. "Winner of this year's Japan Cup, Epiphaneia has recorded one win and two second-place finishes across the Classic Triple Crown races. With four G1 victories already to her name, a win here would firmly establish her as one of the defining Umamusume of the new generation."
Epiphaneia, the umamusume wearing a grandiose white-green paletted blazer and pants much like Cesario's, appeared calm and her movements powerful even at rest.
Then came the final name.
"And now, the first favorite to win the Arima Kinen is none other than the one who just came back from the Arc, Gold Ship!"
The screen caught the silver-haired Umamusume mid-stride… casually twisting a Rubik's cube in her hands.
Laughter rippled through the stands.
"Already a five-time G1 winner, Gold Ship enters the race today aiming for the Dual Grand Prix."
Gold Ship flashed a grin at the camera, solving one side of the cube as if today were nothing more than a game.
As the paddock coverage concluded, the runners were escorted back toward their respective break rooms.
Not far from the front-most standing area, three figures moved together through the flow of spectators.
Kitasan Black walked with her usual energetic pace, Satono Diamond beside her with composed elegance, and between them, Diamente kept her eyes forward, quietly taking in the scale of everything around her.
"Thank you for letting me accompany you today," Diamente said after a moment, her voice sincere. "And for… inconveniencing Okino-san as well. Me hitching a ride must've been troublesome for everyone."
Kitasan laughed, waving the thought away. "Don't worry about it! Dia-chan also said that last time but as long as we're here to support our friends, it's all that matters!"
Diamente nodded, the corners of her lips lifting slightly in agreement.
Satono Diamond turned her gaze toward Diamente, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"After hearing the commentator's analysis… who do you think will win, Mente-chan?"
Diamente considered the question for a moment before answering.
"They're all reasonable conclusions if we're judging purely by past results," she said calmly. "But once the race starts… honestly, anything can happen."
Her tone was light and measured.
Deep within her mind, however, Diamente already knew how this race would end.
And precisely because of that, she chose to say nothing more.
After all… What fun would it be to spoil a moment that history itself was about to deliver?
After waiting for a while, Nakayama Racecourse started to tremble beneath the winter sky, the audience piling up behind them.
Even before the runners stepped onto the track, the air itself felt heavy—charged with anticipation, layered with countless voices woven into a single restless roar. Banners fluttered above the stands, camera drones hovered, and the two large screens fixed itself on the same image.
It was then that Diamente saw Trainer Okino and the other members of Team Spica approaching them.
"Ah, Trainer-san, Teio-senpai, McQueen-senpai, everyone, over here!" Kitasan Black greeted them excitedly.
The original members of Team Spica that were there were the ones Diamente already knew.
She had already met Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet from before, as she's also well-acquainted with Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen from the accident earlier.
But it's the first time for Diamente to meet Silence Suzuka and Special Week in person and she couldn't help but be a little nervous about meeting those legends since those two didn't go to the race course stadium with Okino and others.
"Kita-chan, you've certainly grown a lot since last time~!" It was Special Week who excitedly greeted back with her hands holding onto Kitasan's.
As the two of them were deep into their talk, Diamente could see Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet arguing over something, to which she only shrugged her shoulders and smiled a little from witnessing it.
Then, Teio and McQueen approached Diamente with smiles on their faces.
"Diamente-chan, it's been a while since we've met. Looks like you've made friends with them, huh?" Teio greeted with a grin on her face.
"Indeed, all of the senpais have been quite accommodating, and I also didn't get sacked by Gold Ship-senpai during that process~" Diamente joked, which made Teio freeze in surprise, made McQueen hold her chuckle, and made others from Team Spica stopped what they were doing when they heard what she said.
Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet lightly scratched their cheeks and looked the other way to avoid themselves from the implication, though it did not actually do much since those two were in the know of this as well.
Special Week meanwhile, sighed in exasperation, knowing that she was in the know from this as well and was also a victim of such "recruitment" technique as well while Suzuka just lightly chuckled from it.
"That Gold Ship…" Trainer Okino puts one of his hands above his face and sighed in disbelief from Gold Ship's shenanigan once more.
"It's fine, Trainer Okino. I've already made some considerations since that day, and it doesn't sound too bad to join the team once I enter my Maturation phase." Diamente shook off her hand to shift everyone's mood.
"Eh?! Are you really joining us, Diamente-chan?!"
Kitasan excitedly asked while others, including Special Week and Silence Suzuka who were not in the know about it, were surprised with Diamente's decision.
"Mm. That's right, Kitasan-senpai." I replied before bowing in front of everyone and said, "Pleased to be your junior, Kitasan-senpai, everyone."
After all of the talk, everyone focused back at the turf in front of them.
From the front row, her eyes locked onto the turf ahead. The scale of the moment pressed down on her senses—the cold biting at her skin, the scent of grass and iron, the overwhelming presence of history.
Then, one by one, the Umamusumes appeared. The commentators' voices rose in unison as the broadcast transitioned from the paddock to the turf itself.
"All participating runners have now entered the track."
On the massive field of Nakayama Race Course, the Umamusume stepped onto the turf one by one, their presence commanding waves of cheers that rolled through the grandstands like a living tide.
The winter sun shone brightly overhead, reflecting off silks, accessories, and the determined gazes of racers who had gathered here for a single purpose.
From the front-standing area, Kitasan Black was already clapping her hands together energetically.
"Win...! Win...! Win...! Win...!"
Around her, Team Spica joined in without hesitation—Gold Ship's name echoing repeatedly, loud and shameless, as if their kamehameha-like gesture could have their luck be poured out of their system and onto Gold Ship as if that alone could bend fate in their favor.
Diamente turned her head slightly, blinking at the spectacle.
…So this is normal for them.
Her lips twitched as she looked away, resisting the urge to sigh out loud. Inside, she did exactly that—an exasperated breath released quietly, unseen by anyone else. Still, after a moment, she simply shrugged.
If this was part of being around Team Spica, then she supposed she'd adapt eventually.
Satono Diamond, standing beside her, remained calm and composed, hands folded neatly in front of her as she watched the track with unwavering focus. Unlike the others, she didn't chant—but her eyes never left the runners.
The commentary continued, steady and professional.
"The runners are now approaching the holding area outside the gates."
At the edge of the track, a bespectacled man dressed in a formal gray tuxedo and matching hat stepped forward, a red flag clasped firmly in his hand. He approached the lifting vehicle positioned near the starting gates and stepped onto its square platform.
Slowly, deliberately, the platform rose.
Ten meters above the ground, the man stood tall against the winter sky. The red flag was raised high.
A ripple passed through the crowd.
At that exact moment, the Nakayama Race Course Marching Band began to play its fanfare.
The Arima Kinen fanfare rang out—brass and percussion cutting cleanly through the air, triumphant and ceremonial as some of the umamusume on the field were being directed to their respective gates.
The audience clapped along instinctively, hands moving in rhythm as the music filled the entire course.
Diamente felt it then.
That familiar tightening in her chest.
This wasn't just a race. It never was.
As the fanfare came to an end, the final notes lingering for a heartbeat longer, each Umamusume stepped forward and entered her assigned gate. The crowd erupted into cheers once more, the sound crashing down like a wave.
The commentators wasted no time.
"Now confirming the gates for today's Arima Kinen."
"Gate 15: Just A Way."
"Gate 14: Gold Ship."
At the mention of her name, cheers surged anew, mixed with laughter as Gold Ship casually raised one hand, a Rubik's cube still visible in her grasp even now, as she then gave it to one of the race course handlers beside her before going inside the gate.
"Gate 13: Epiphaneia."
"Gate 10: Fenomeno."
"Gate 9: Win Variation."
"Gate 6: To The World."
"Gate 4: Gentildonna."
The moment her name was spoken, the air shifted.
Diamente's gaze sharpened as she locked onto Gate 4.
"Gate 2: Verxina."
A subtle murmur rippled through the stands at that final announcement—long memories stirred by that pairing alone. The rivalry between Gentildonna and Verxina during the Fillies' Triple Crown races was a sight to behold at that time.
Meanwhile, inside Gate 4, Gentildonna stood tall.
The confined space was so familiar to her that it's almost comforting. She rolled her shoulders once, feeling the turf beneath her boots through instinct alone, and glanced sideways—aware of the presence nearby without needing to see her.
Verxina.
Gentildonna smiled faintly.
She positioned herself carefully, posture flawless, eyes burning with quiet resolve. This was no place for doubt. Not today.
One by one, the final checks were completed.
When the last Umamusume settled into place, silence fell.
Not complete—but close enough that it felt deliberate.
The commentator's voice cut through the tension.
"The Nakayama Race Course today is sunny, with good turf conditions. Distance: 2,500 meters. This is the Arima Kinen—"
The gates flew open.
"And they're off!"
The roar of the crowd exploded outward as every Umamusume launched forward in perfect unison, clean breaks across the board.
The Arima Kinen, poised as the Noble Lady's Final Waltz, against fellow strongest umamusumes in Japan, had begun.
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