"Mejiro McQueen has adopted a Front Running Style! Leading the entire pack!"
"Choosing to run as a Front Runner in this 3000-meter Hanshin Daishoten is truly rare, can Mejiro McQueen lead all the way to the finish line?!"
"Leading for 3000 meters... that's not simple. Even with her stamina, this will be a huge challenge."
Imanami had a frown on his face as he saw Mejiro McQueen's choice, muttering to himself,
"The Hanshin Daishoten requires running one and a half laps around the Hanshin Racecourse."
"Due to the sheer distance, McQueen's Front Running tactic does not actually offer much of an advantage. Now, rather than receiving the full benefits of being a Front Runner, she's more like a Pace Chaser who accelerated prematurely."
"A Front Running style like this isn't suited for a race as long as the Hanshin Daishoten... McQueen seems to have gotten a bit impatient."
"She probably badly wants to win, Old Man. Don't be too harsh on her."
Although Gold Ship was equally as worried, she chose to defend McQueen instead and comforted Imanami.
"Plus, I'm sure McQueen has thought through this. She's definitely not being impulsive; she must have her own plans."
"I hope so."
Imanami nodded upon hearing this, looking at Mejiro McQueen running on the track, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"This situation is also my fault... The Mejiro Head had entrusted McQueen to me for me to bring her back full of honors and without illness or injury. These two things... I find it very difficult to achieve simultaneously..."
"Making a talented Uma Musume like her to not go beyond her limits... is my choice really correct, or am I misguiding her...?"
This was a question that Imanami had actually been grappling with for a whole year, constantly doubting whether his choice was truly the right one.
This became especially so when he saw the bond between T.M. Opera O and Wada; their mutual trust, persistence, and endless struggles allowed T.M. Opera O to break through her limits again and again, reaching a level that made everyone look at her with new eyes.
Wasn't T.M. Opera O a living example of his decision being wrong?
Her sudden increase in power in the Kikuka Sho and the Arima Kinen— weren't these the result of T.M. Opera O constantly pushing herself to her limits?
Not only did she avoid accidents and injuries, she also grew stronger each time.
In contrast, Mejiro McQueen, who had excellent lineage and talent on paper, was somewhat inferior when compared to T.M. Opera O, making Imanami always feel that he bore a great deal of the responsibility.
Failing to allow one's Uma Musume to display her true talent is undoubtedly a dereliction of his duty as a Trainer, but Imanami truly found it difficult to achieve both objectives given to him, especially in such a fiercely competitive era.
"Sigh..."
For a split second, Imanami even let out a rare sigh of worry.
Tokai Teio, noticing Imanami's rare look of melancholy, couldn't help but feel worried for him.
"Trainer, what's wrong? Are you thirsty? Do you want a sip of my honey drink?"
"...No need, thanks for asking, Teio.
Imanami ruffled Teio's little head with a gentle smile, temporarily putting those doubts for later.
These things were hard to measure. In the end, he could only watch on in silence.
...
Currently, Mejiro McQueen had already run 3/4 of a lap on the racecourse, still maintaining a lead of two lengths even from the second place Uma Musume.
'If I can keep this up, I'll win!'
Mejiro McQueen continued to run with all her might, wanting to maintain her advantage and lead to the end with a wide gap!
But just then, the Uma Musume behind McQueen seemed to have decided to make her move, and her pace started to accelerate, attempting to overtake McQueen and secure the lead after the first lap ended.
Unfortunately, her subtle movement was quickly discovered by McQueen.
"I must win this race— don't get in my way!"
BANG!
As soon as McQueen sensed that her opponents were making their move, she started to become extremely anxious.
Having such a deep obsession with victory now, she would not allow such variables to bud.
McQueen would not even allow any Uma Musume to overtake her leading position for even a moment— what she pursued was not just a simple victory, but a splendid, absolutely dominant victory!
There was no way McQueen would allow anyone to ruin a perfect ending; she would now go all out without holding anything back!
As the second place was about to attempt to overtake Mejiro McQueen, she immediately burst forth with all her might!
Quickly, her strong Aura enveloped her body and propelled Mejiro McQueen forward! Instantly widening the gap between her and the other Uma Musume!
"And Mejiro McQueen accelerates! After just passing the 2000-meter mark, she bursts forward in the final 1000 meters!"
"What incredible speed! It's extremely rare to see an Uma Musume accelerate in a race as long as the Hanshin Daishoten! Mejiro McQueen is now running towards the finish line with unstoppable momentum!"
"GOOOO!!! MEJIRO MCQUEEENNNN!!!"
"MCQUEEEN!!!! WIIIIINNNN!!!!"
"CHARGE, MCQUEEEENN!!"
Mejiro McQueen's irresistible power instantly set the audience ablaze.
Now, even Teio and Gold Ship were cheering their hearts out, joining the rest of the spectators in cheering McQueen on!
One of the few people in the stands who was relatively calm and even somewhat serious was Imanami.
McQueen accelerating this early on was a rather dangerous move.
However, whether Imanami spoke now or no had would have no effect on Mejiro McQueen, and he could only watch her charge towards the finish line.
Due to Mejiro McQueen's early acceleration, the Uma Musume behind her also had their rhythm completely disrupted; many of them all began prematurely accelerating.
With that, the outcome of this race was immediately decided, none of them possessed Mejiro McQueen's formidable stamina.
And just like that, victory was achieved.
"AND SHE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE!!! ABSOLUTE VICTORY!!!! MEJIRO MCQEEN IS THE WINNER OF THE HANSHIN DAISHOTEN BY OVER A SIX LENGTH LEAD!!!!"
"As expected of the star of the Mejiro Family, the ruler of long-distance races! Mejiro McQueen has now proven her absolute strength, responding to the expectations and enthusiasm of her fans!"
As Akasaka Misato's words fell, McQueen, realizing that she had won, excitedly jogged while waving her hand towards the stands.
The long-awaited smile of victory finally appeared on her face, responding to the expectations and support everyone had given her.
But just as Mejiro McQueen was thrilled with her victory, suddenly an abrupt red light and alarm flashed in the Hanshin Racecourse.
In the span of only two days, the red light shone once again, just after Deep Impact had anonymously participated in a race.
Now, with its bright red colour, it immediately froze everyone's joy, causing an ominous atmosphere to begin forming in the Racecourse.
Mejiro McQueen, naturally, also froze in place, looking towards the commentary booth with some bewilderment and disbelief.
Soon, a staff member bringing a familiar sheet of paper entered the commentary booth and gave Akasaka Misato the judgment from the judging panel.
And upon seeing the verdict on it, Akasaka Misato instinctively paused, her heart seemingly missing a beat.
However, Akasaka Misato still maintained her professionalism, and she said with a hint of disappointment,
"—Mejiro McQueen, during her acceleration after the first lap, resulted in a diagonal run, obstructing the path of the other Uma Musume."
"In accordance with the rules, as well as due to this violation occurring only two days after Deep Impact's violation, the judges of the Hanshin Racecourse have decided to impose a heavy penalty on the participant, Mejiro McQueen."
"Therefore, Mejiro McQueen's placement will be shifted from first place to eighteenth place— we are sorry, but please understand."
Suddenly, the excitment of the audience, whose excitement hadn't even had time to solidify, awkwardly petered out into an eerie silence.
As the silence descended, everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the center of the track, to Mejiro McQueen, who had just been joyfully celebrating her victory just seconds ago.
Mejiro McQueen, before she even had a chance to truly understand she won, had her victory taken away from her, leaving her stunned in place.
She instinctively took a few steps back, her face, covered in sweat, now completely pale.
However, perhaps because of the exhaustion from her pursuit of a perfect victory, or perhaps because of the double damage to both her physical and mental state, Mejiro McQueen found it difficult to accept this result.
The next moment, McQueen's steps stumbled a few times, and under everyone's gaze, her body unceremoniously fell backwards.
"MCQUEEN?!" X3
At this moment, Mejiro McQueen, who had just fallen on the somewhat hard turf, slowly felt her vision blacken.
As her consciousness fadded, she heard loud voices before her body was lifted away.
However, she did not have the spirit to ponder these things anymore.
She... was truly tired now... she just wanted to have a good night's rest... and wake up from this nightmare.
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Rip to the judges, off to their retirement in the bottom of Tokyo Bay.
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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.