"Next up at number six issss, Grass Wonder!"
Akasaka Misato had reached the halfway point of the popularity rankings.
Under her announcement, Grass Wonder, who had met Team Miracle before, and was as serene as a Yamato Nadeshiko, appeared on stage in her winning outfit.
"After being on break for several months, Grass Wonder has finally decided to participate in this century-defining race!"
"She enters the Arima Kinen with a pre-race ranking of fourteenth and an in-race ranking of sixth. Her popularity is surprisingly high."
"It's understandable. After all, although her performances before her break were rather regrettable, everyone still remembers the brilliance Grass Wonder displayed before."
Junko Hosoe then said with a smile,
"I hope Grass Wonder can bring us an exciting performance this time."
"That's right! And up next at number five and four respectively! The two Uma Musume from the Mejiro Family, Meeeejiro Ryan and Meeeejiro McQueen!"
Akasaka Misato successively announced the names of the two Uma Musume from the Mejiro Family.
"After this year's Kikuka Sho, this pair of Mejiro sisters have once again returned in the Arima Kinen and to great popularity as well."
"I believe many fans will have high hopes for them in this race."
"Ugh… I'm already getting nervous. Is Grass okay…?"
In the stands, Special Week and Silence Suzuka stood beside their Trainer, Okino.
Beside them, Hana Toujou also stood ready with all the Uma Musume from her team, attracting quite a stir for a while.
"Don't worry, Grass Wonder is in excellent condition this time. I've made sure of that before letting her even sign up for the Arima Kinen."
"Plus, she said that she simply wanted to witness this historical-defining race herself."
Hana Toujou said calmly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Okino, hearing this, couldn't help but smile, then looked at Hana Toujou and said,
"Ooo~ Hana, are you perhaps... nervous~? Your team has three Uma Musume participating this time. Are you afraid all three of them will lose?"
"...Trainer Wada and I had made a bet a long time ago, about whether he could really come before us with T.M. Opera O in tow and dethrone my proudest Uma Musume, Symboli Rudolf."
"Although we never placed anything on the line on that bet... if he manages to win it, I suppose I shall wholeheartedly support this junior of mine to the very end."
Hana Toujou not only didn't seem nervous but even showed a hint of excitement, a smile of appreciation and competitiveness on her lips as she began to say with confidence,
"But no matter the outcome, after this Arima Kinen, T.M. Opera O will undoubtedly be awarded the honor of 'Most Outstanding Classic Year Uma Musume' this year."
"As for Trainer Wada… as long as he or T.M. Opera O doesn't severely mess up this time, he will at least win three awards."
"'Best New Trainer of the Year,' 'Youngest Classic Triple Crown Trainer,' and the 'URA S-Class Trainer Certificate.'"
"See, Okino? The youngsters are getting more and more formidable these days. If you keep slacking off, you'll one day find your A+ qualification to be completely worthless."
"Hey, hey, trash talk me whenever you want, but can you not make me feel bad at such an exciting time right now?"
Okino was also choked by his old friend, and for a moment didn't know how to even respond.
Fortunately, Special Week beside him turned around and said very solemnly:
"D- don't worry, Trainer! Next year, I will enter my Classic Year and definitely win some races for you!"
"Hmmh, I have confidence in you, Special Week!"
"T.M. Opera O and the others won't clash with you since they'll be entering their Senior Year. The only one from Team Miracle that you'll have to worry about is, I believe... Orfevre, right?"
"Unless a super rookie pops out of nowhere, she'll be your main opponent in your Classic Year, got it?"
"Yes! I will absolutely not lose to Orfevre!"
Special Week nodded obediently and vigorously. She seemed quite confident about her future.
"Up next at number three—! Oh! I haven't even announced it yet, and the crowd is already going wild! I'm sure everyone knows who's next, right?"
"That's right, it's the Vice President from Tracen Academy! The Empress! AIRRRR GROOOOVEEE!!!!"
Under Akasaka Misato's impassioned voice, Air Groove, in her winning outfit, silently walked onto the stage.
She didn't speak, nor did she make any unnecessary movements.
However, just standing there was enough to make the rest of the participating Uma Musume feel pressured.
"This is… the Empress, huh?"
Below the stage, Mejiro Ryan shivered all over, then couldn't help but say excitedly,
"As expected of the Vice President, just her presence alone makes one feel her strength. I never thought someone of her caliber would just be a mere pacemaker this time."
"Pacemaker? What does that mean?"
Mejiro McQueen was clearly unsure of the meaning of this phrase, but Mejiro Ryan simply smiled and said:
"McQueen, you can't possibly be unaware, can you? This Arima Kinen... can be said to be unwinnable for the rest of us."
"Although I hate to say it, most of us are here to just participate, to experience and see first-hand the showdown between those at the top in order to make ourselves stronger."
"The only true runners this time are the Emperor and the Overlord; there is no alternative."
"Air Groove is only participating this time to make sure nothing happens. She is not aiming for first place."
"...So, Ryan-nee, what you're saying is that besides T.M. Opera O and the President, there's no possible third winner?"
McQueen quickly realized this upon hearing Ryan.
Although she had already anticipated this possibility, hearing it directly from someone else's mouth, especially her sister's, made McQueen still feel a little bit disappointed.
After all, no Uma Musume would want to hear that they'll lose a race, no matter how strong their opponents were.
"—Do you think that when the Emperor and the Overlord begin clashing with each other, anyone else still has a chance?"
However, just as McQueen was speaking, she found that Air Groove had unknowingly stepped down from the stage and come before them, saying softly:
"McQueen, your attitude is good, but you sometimes need to know when to back down. Have you ever felt the resulting Aura when two rulers, capable of dominating everyone else, clash?"
"Under that kind of Aura, an unqualified Uma Musume will simply have no chance to even continue with the race."
"Of course, you can't really feel it from my words right now, but once the race starts, you will know how terrifying the usually amiable President is when she becomes the 'Emperor' among Uma Musume."
"...If you really manage to break through your limits and become that 'impossible third winner.' — I won't object. Maybe it'll even be a good thing."
Once Air Groove said this, she slowly walked towards the backstage.
But right as Air Groove left, T.M. Opera O, in her winning outfit, brushed past Air Groove.
When the two Uma Musume exchanged glances, it was as if they had already run a race together through just their eyes.
Air Groove faintly turned her head and said with a solemn tone:
"You've gotten stronger again, T.M. Opera O, I can feel it."
"But even so, whether you can successfully overthrow the Emperor remains to be seen. You might be the last challenger, but you might also not be."
"All I can say is: this time, run with your everything on the line, challenge, and surpass. I will guarantee with the Three Goddesses as my witness— no one will interfere in your duel."
With that, Air Groove left T.M. Opera O without looking back.
After a slight pause in her steps, T.M. Opera O continued to walk forward with unwavering determination, taking her unique regal strides, head held high.
And outside, Akasaka Misato's voice finally came, accompanying T.M. Opera O's steps as she ascended the stairs. (T/N: Happy birthday Daniel!)
"NOW! The second most popular! One of our two long-awaited protagonists!"
"The one who has won all this year's Classic Triple Crowns, the one who has become the fourth Triple Crown Uma Musume, the one known as the Overlord! Let us all say her name!"
"IT. IS. T.M. OPERAAA OOOOOOOO!!!!!"
"T.M. OPERA O! T.M. OPERA O! T.M. OPERA O!!" XN
With Akasaka Misato's shout, T.M. Opera O, in her shining winning outfit of alternating gold and pink, wearing a crown polished more brilliantly than ever before, stepped onto the stage with absolute confidence.
What awaited her at the end of the steps was the familiar yet unfamiliar cheers and celebration of the entire venue at her arrival.
T.M. Opera O's gaze swept over everyone— this was her habit, checking each audience member's face.
And she could now be certain that she was the Overlord, the center of attention.
Soon, her gaze fixed on Wada, whose face was currently obscured, wearing clothing that T.M. Opera O found strangely familiar.
As their eyes locked, she saw Wada waving at her.
T.M. Opera O smiled softly in response, then, under everyone's gaze, puffed out her proud chest and raised one arm high in acknowledgment.
And in response to T.M. Opera O, the applause and cheers from the stands became even wilder, which lasted for several minutes before gradually subsiding a little.
"It is time— the main event of the Arima Kinen!"
"The Student Council President of Tracen Academy, the Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume, the one who holds seven crowns, the symbol representing the pinnacle of all Japanese Uma Musume today!"
"LET US WELCOME, THE EMPEROR HERSELF! SYMBOLI RUDOLLFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!"
"SYMBOLI RUDOLF!! SYMBOLI RUDOLF!! SYMBOLI RUDOLF!!" XN
The cheers from the audience became even more frenzied than when T.M. Opera O appeared; even those who were watching from home were going completely wild with just the mention of Symboli Rudolf's name.
"This time, as our most popular entry in the Arima Kinen, the Emperor makes her long-awaited return to the racetracks with absolute popularity and strength."
"How will she respond to the Overlord who challenges her position as the Emperor?!"
And before she was seen, she was noticed— or rather, even without her making a sound, everyone could feel Symboli Rudolf's presence as she got closer step by step towards the stage.
At this moment, T.M. Opera O uncharacteristically showed a serious expression, as if facing a truly formidable enemy.
She slowly lowered her hand and turned around, and with a series of echoing footsteps, the figure of the Emperor finally stepped onto the stage.
The zenith of Japanese Uma Musume, absolute dominator of the racetrack, the seven-crowned Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, reemerged in the racing world once more in her true, full-power state!
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THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE GLAZE!!!
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.