......
The long-awaited Yayoi Sho was imminent.
Even before the race began, the host had already ignited the atmosphere.
In the Jockey Club's lounge, besides the members of "Dream", Grass Wonder and Tokai Teio also came to cheer them on.
Lu Jue brought the running shoes Special Week and Seiun Sky often used to them.
"The horseshoes are well-fixed, no signs of damage... I've also checked the shoes, no degumming, put them on."
"Thank you, Trainer."
"Thank you." Seiun Sky thought how wonderful it would be if Lu Jue put them on her.
Tokai Teio, standing by, was somewhat surprised by Lu Jue's meticulous actions.
"Xiao Te and Xingyun, you both must do your best!" Uralala cheered them on.
Silent Suzuka smiled at the two, "Good luck."
"Xiao Te, once my leg gets better, I also want to compete with you." Grass Wonder, injured for some reason, spoke, her leg still wrapped in bandages.
"Alright, get ready and let's go. Both of you must do your best."
Lu Jue finished his final encouragement and watched Seiun Sky and Special Week walk into the entrance passage.
"Trainer." Uralala suddenly tugged on Lu Jue's sleeve, "If Xiao Te or Xingyun Jiang wins, are we still having a celebration party?"
Lu Jue was surprised why Uralala would ask this question, but then he thought it made some sense; Uralala was indeed thoughtful.
If they held a celebration party specifically for one, would the other feel bad?
"Let's talk after the race ends."
......
"Welcome, audience members! This Yayoi Sho is about to begin, let's take a look at the competitors."
Every time the host called out a name, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the stands.
When Special Week and others appeared, the atmosphere was pushed to its climax.
After Lu Jue and the others left the lounge, they squeezed into the spectator stands.
Just then, the Uma Musume who were competing had finished their warm-ups and entered the starting gates one after another.
Special Week and Seiun Sky were both in the middle positions, with only one space separating them.
King Halo was on the inside lane, while Nimble Beret was on the outside lane.
There was no preliminary prelude when the race started; the moment the gates opened signified the official start.
This required Uma Musume to be highly focused, otherwise, they would fall behind others at the start.
Indeed, one Uma Musume made a starting error on the track and fell to the rear of the pack.
"Currently leading is King Halo! Second is... Third is... Popularity second-ranked Special Week and popularity third-ranked Seiun Sky are in the central positions."
In this race, Seiun Sky did not immediately use the "escape" method; she maintained her own rhythm for the first thousand meters, riding in the slipstream of the Uma Musume in front.
Special Week did the same, steadily following behind Seiun Sky's left rear.
Seiun Sky noticed Special Week out of the corner of her eye, strengthening her belief in winning even more.
......
The pack entered the bend again, and the formation underwent a completely different change.
"Move aside! Move aside!"
Because Nimble Beret had strong physical prowess, the accompanying Uma Musume did not dare to collide with her, and thus intentionally avoided her.
This allowed her to stand out from the middle of the pack, following right beside Seiun Sky and blocking Special Week.
In the stands, the members of "Dream" saw this scene and thought history was about to repeat itself, worrying, "She wouldn't try that trick again, would she?"
"Probably not."
Lu Jue had not noticed Nimble Beret intentionally touching Special Week or Seiun Sky just now.
Presumably, she had listened to his words.
However, the situation on the track was also very critical now.
Because they were about to finish the last bend and enter the straight.
If Seiun Sky and Special Week could not break through due to the obstruction of the Uma Musume in front at this moment, it would be very difficult to win the championship.
"Come on, you two, you'll have to judge this timing yourselves."
......
"Entering the final straight! But what awaits them next is a 200-meter slope!"
"Seiun Sky is accelerating! She overtook Nimble Beret before entering the slope and caught up with King Halo!"
Seiun Sky, seeing the time was ripe, was the first to exert force.
She gritted her teeth, feeling the wild cries of the wind beside her, and lowered her body even more to reduce wind resistance.
"This time, I still won't be stopped by you!"
The moment Seiun Sky exerted force, Special Week also moved.
She galloped from the outside lane, overtaking Nimble Beret at a visible speed, heading straight for King Halo and Seiun Sky.
"What..." Nimble Beret didn't expect Special Week to have improved so much. She subconsciously tried her best, but could only watch Special Week's back, so close yet so out of reach.
Last time, in her debut race, the gap between her and Special Week was less than one horse length.
......
The competing Uma Musume ran off the screen, and the eyes of the entire audience were focused on the three main characters: Special Week, Seiun Sky, and King Halo.
The moment they entered the slope, all three felt as if they had hit a wall; their feet felt like they were filled with lead, every step incredibly heavy.
But even so, they still could not stop.
When physical strength is exhausted, there is still willpower to lead you through the encirclement.
The results of the special training were displayed!
On the slope section, Seiun Sky and Special Week both steadily overtook King Halo.
And King Halo, due to the risks brought by the "escape" method, was the first to run out of stamina, and her speed gradually slowed down.
With King Halo eliminated, the three-way battle turned into a two-person duel.
The "Dream" internal conflict made Lu Jue and the others in the stands feel their hearts in their throats.
With both hands being flesh, at this moment, even Uralala didn't know who to cheer for.
Lu Jue's hand unconsciously gripped the railing.
Just then, he saw that fleeting light again; although still faint and not strong, he truly saw it.
"I want to win! I want to prove it to Trainer!"
"Absolutely... absolutely... absolutely cannot lose! Cannot let down Mom and Trainer's expectations! I want to become Japanese Number One Uma Musume!"
......
The closer they got to the finish line, the stronger Seiun Sky and Special Week's beliefs became.
The finish line was in sight. Seiun Sky charged forward desperately, but Special Week's figure was like the gloom that spreads when dark clouds roll in, gradually occupying most of her vision.
"Cannot lose..."
"Cannot catch up..."
"Why can't I catch up..."
Seiun Sky watched Special Week overtake her and plunge into the finish line, shattering her beautiful dream.