Daiwa Scarlet’s sudden acceleration sent a jolt through Kitasan Black’s heart.
She realized instantly that while her senior had praised her effort, she had also started taking the race far more seriously.
Or perhaps Scarlet had never treated this as merely a training race at all, approaching it from the very start with full preparation.
Right now, the surge of speed Scarlet had shown was exactly the kind of acceleration a true front-runner would use to fend off pursuers.
Kitasan knew this style intimately; Scarlet had taught it to her personally in training, and she’d already used it in several races herself.
Yet, compared to her senior, Scarlet’s execution of this technique was clearly far more refined.
In the blink of an eye, Scarlet pulled away from their brief side-by-side competition, retaking a commanding lead.
And it wasn’t just Daiwa Scarlet—the other seniors followed suit.
Vodka and Special Week launched powerful strides behind her, perfectly timing their acceleration into the straight following the turn. Such precise pacing not only conserved their stamina but kept them in striking distance of the front.
At the very back, she could hear Gold Ship’s steady steps. The senior had maintained a consistent pace throughout, her relaxed footfalls suggesting absolute confidence and composure, as though everything remained firmly under control.
As expected of these amazing senpai… Perhaps it’s still too early for me to think about winning…
She sighed inwardly, then quickly shook off that thought, her gaze sharpening.
But that’s precisely why… I have to give it everything I’ve got and win!
Because…
My dream is to become an Uma Musume as brilliant and amazing as these seniors!
Taking a deep breath, Kitasan managed to ease some of the strain from her earlier burst. She adjusted her breathing, stride length, and pace, locking her eyes once more on Daiwa Scarlet ahead.
Positioning was no longer a problem; she was comfortable racing from just behind the leader. From now on, it was a contest of stamina, speed, and sheer determination—just like any real race.
She had trained tirelessly for these moments. Even if her rivals were powerful seniors, there was no way she’d give in easily.
From the announcer booth, Tokai Teio’s voice rang out again:
“The competition is heating up! After Kitasan Black accelerated, Daiwa Scarlet didn’t yield an inch—instantly reclaiming the lead after their brief neck-and-neck battle!”
“Kitasan Black hasn’t backed down, though; she’s still maintaining high speed, closely chasing Daiwa Scarlet!”
“Vodka and Special Week are close behind, clearly biding their time.”
“And let’s not forget Gold Ship—she’s conserved her strength perfectly, and we can only imagine how fierce her final charge will be!”
Mejiro McQueen calmly continued:
“The runners are now moving rapidly through the straightaway past the stands. Positions are stable for now, but the key to this race will undoubtedly be the final stretch.”
Standing beside the two presidents who were providing commentary, Yasui Makoto quietly nodded, his eyes flickering between the track and the drone footage.
Earlier, he’d worried that Kitasan Black might remain trapped after the rocky start. But seeing her now, he realized his Uma Musume was far more resourceful than he’d anticipated—surpassing even what he’d seen in her regular training.
Most of the competitors on the Classic Triple Crown path had debuted last year. Very few, like Kitasan Black, had stepped onto this stage immediately after their debut.
In the three upcoming races, her rivals might have slightly more race experience—but still nothing compared to seasoned competitors like Daiwa Scarlet or Vodka, who had weathered numerous graded and G1 races. For them, intense jockeying right out of the gate was nothing special; it was basic skill.
Yet, even dealing with those basics had forced Kitasan Black to exert herself to the fullest. Under those circumstances, falling behind later wasn’t surprising.
However, despite being trapped early, this black-haired girl had seized an opportunity and succeeded in breaking free once.
From Yasui’s point of view, her ability to perform so well under pressure was already more than satisfactory.
And now, he was eager to see what other dazzling moments she could bring, facing down her vastly experienced and powerful seniors.
Back on the track, sensing Kitasan Black closely tailing her, Daiwa Scarlet couldn’t help but feel surprised.
Though she’d long retired, as an Uma Musume she hadn’t slacked off at all, consistently training every day. Coupled with her extensive race experience, she’d confidently believed that—even in a training race—her current performance level wouldn’t be far off from her peak days.
She knew Vodka and the others felt the same way.
To see Kitasan Black display such fighting spirit and skill under these conditions genuinely impressed her.
If that’s how it is…
Bring it on, Kita-chan!
Show me your limits!
Her heart shouted in anticipation, eyes locked fiercely on the third corner ahead. Daiwa Scarlet suddenly surged forward, her footsteps roaring like a storm sweeping the track.
Seeing Scarlet’s acceleration, Kitasan Black’s pupils sharply constricted.
As a fellow front-runner, even without Scarlet’s depth of experience, her instincts told her how perfectly timed her senior’s acceleration had been.
She’d only realized the necessity of speeding up after hearing Scarlet’s thundering strides ahead.
If she wanted any hope at the finish, she had to start building momentum right now.
Sure enough… there’s still so much I need to learn… but…
The race isn’t over yet!
I won’t give up!
No hesitation. Her eyes glowed with determination. Her feet thundered against the ground, propelling her forward like a black whirlwind, chasing after Daiwa Scarlet’s figure.
The audience erupted instantly. Cheers, screams, and applause rang throughout the stands, everyone forgetting entirely that this was merely a training race.
“Kita-chan! Go! Catch her!” Satono Crown shouted from the stands, waving her arms wildly, her voice nearly breaking through the noise.
“You can do it, Kita-chan!” Satono Diamond’s fists clenched tight, gaze fixed on the track, as though she herself were running.
At the front of the stands, although she remained silent, Crushing Raise leaned over the railing, staring intently at that black figure running in second place, faint excitement flickering in her eyes.
But for the general spectators, attention naturally fell upon the more famous seniors, Daiwa Scarlet and the others:
“Scarlet-senpai! Don’t let her catch you!”
“Final straight is almost here—is Vodka-senpai still holding back?”
“You’ve got this, Special Week-senpai!”
“Gold Ship-senpai hasn’t made a move yet? Don’t tell me she’s going to—no, no, Gold Ship-senpai is definitely gonna win!”
Almost as if in response to their shouts, aside from Daiwa Scarlet and Kitasan Black who’d already acted, the remaining three Uma Musume started their moves as well.
—
This is a fan translation of 赛马娘：从被撞飞十米开始 by 百升飞上天 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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