After Canopus's match ended, another team's match was interspersed.
Then it was Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio's turn to compete.
Sakura Baimu, along with the TCB team, watched another match by the Pluto Academy Umamusumes. They noticed that even after changing teams, the American Umamusumes continued to use various underhanded tactics.
"Why are all the Pluto Academy Umamusumes like this? If they keep doing this, who will want to continue competing against them?!"
Smart Falcon grew increasingly angry, stomping her feet and shouting in frustration.
"GG, do you know why Mr. Minamisaka didn't criticize their behavior toward Tannhauser after they lost?" Sakura Baimu asked.
"Why?"
"Because in a formal competition, they definitely can't act so blatantly. All the problems stem from their own lack of skill. If their reaction speed is fast enough, they can completely dodge all those dirty tricks. That way, they become the ones disrupting their opponents' rhythm. Or, if they run fast enough, their opponents won't find an opportunity to use dirty tricks."
"But..."
Smart Falcon felt there was something wrong with Sakura Baimu's statement but couldn't find a rebuttal.
"The trainers already knew what Pluto Academy had done, but they will still accept Pluto Academy's challenge. Because this kind of situation doesn't occur in normal Japanese competitions, they will definitely gain something else after competing against Pluto Academy."
Smart Falcon, Kitasan Black, and Satono Diamond nodded, seemingly understanding.
Just then, the announcement came over the loudspeaker in the arena, informing Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen of TCB to enter the arena.
The two Umamusumes then entered the arena, while Sakura Baimu addressed the remaining three members:
"Watch closely, see if their tactics will work against Teiō and McQueen."
--
Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen had clearly become the stars of Tracen Academy, and after hearing that they were going to compete, many Umamusumes gathered around the arena to watch.
"I wonder how Miss McQueen and Miss Teiō will deal with those underhanded tricks from the American Umamusumes?"
Many Umamusumes were whispering among themselves, clearly harboring a lot of resentment toward the American Umamusumes.
"Miss Teiō! Miss McQueen! Go for it, beat them!" Many Tracen Academy Umamusumes cheered for Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
This time, the team competing against Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio in the 2v2 match was still Abyss, the team that had just competed against Canopus.
However, two members had changed. One was Bonnie, a short-haired Umamusume with tanned skin, wearing only a sports vest and shorts.
The other was Cattleya, the white-haired Umamusume who had previously come to Obey your Master to inquire about the team's strength.
Obey your Master, Berno Light, and their group, having finished their meal, also came to the track to watch the race.
Upon seeing the two Abyss members enter the arena, Berno Light exclaimed in surprise:
"Wasn't that white-haired lady here asking about the weaker team? Why is she competing herself?"
Logically, if the team leader were challenging a weaker team, shouldn't she have sent an Umamusume who is weaker to compete?
Why is it that when competing against a "weaker" team, the team leader is the one competing herself?
"Cattleya and the others love doing this kind of thing. The greater the skill gap, the better. If it's a match between evenly matched teams with little difference in skill, they don't like it," Obey your Master said with a smile.
"These people, really," Tamamo Cross muttered in a Kansai accent, a hint of anger rising at the lack of sportsmanship among these American Umamusumes. "Those two are on a completely different level from the previous two Umamusumes; they're both Umamusumes who have mastered their Zones."
If Abyss's two Zone Umamusumes really choose to challenge the weakest two Umamusumes, then someone will inevitably get injured during the match.
"Sakura's team is fine; her Umamusumes are all very strong," Oguri Cap said softly as she ate a large plate of yakisoba, having bought all the yakisoba from Gold Ship.
--
In the arena, the white-haired Cattleya, accompanied by the short-haired Umamusume Bonnie, approached Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, extending her hands with a smile.
"I hope we can have a good match."
Tokai Teio shook hands with her, while Mejiro McQueen reluctantly extended her hand as well.
Mejiro McQueen found their insincere behavior utterly disgusting.
After shaking hands with Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, Cattleya and the short-haired Umamusume exchanged smiles.
"Those two were just trying to mislead you, making you think we'd use petty tricks like bumping into people or kicking dirt to distract our opponents."
"Little do you know, that's something only an Umamusume would do before activating her Abyss."
Cattleya, as the leader of Abyss, was naturally the strongest member of the team.
Meanwhile, the short-haired Umamusume, dressed in an extremely revealing sports vest and shorts, was Abyss's second-in-command, her strength no less than Cattleya's.
"Enjoy your last moments. I wonder if you'll still be laughing at the end of the game?"
Cattleya squinted at the two Umamusumes before her, neither of whom had mastered a Zone, a slight smile playing on her lips.
After shaking hands, the four Umamusumes entered the gate before the starting line, awaiting the starting signal.
"Ready—Go!" the student council vice president shouted loudly, waving her flag.
The gate sprang open, and the four Umamusumes sprinted out.
Just then, Golden Crown Eagle, also with blond hair, arrived beside Obey your Master.
She deliberately kept a distance from Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross, asking curiously,
"Huh? How come Cattleya and the others are going up against these two strongest active duties? Aren't they picking on the weak anymore?" After saying this, Golden Crown Eagle added, "Although these two aren't that strong either."
"Cattleya and the others might not necessarily win," Obey your Master said, looking at Golden Crown Eagle with a smile.
"How could that be? Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen haven't mastered any Zones, have they?" Golden Crown Eagle didn't believe it.
"Mejiro McQueen has already proven that Zones are not unbreakable," Obey your Master spoke.
"…"
Upon hearing Obey your Master's words, Golden Crown Eagle suddenly fell silent. The image of being overtaken by that hooded Umamusume at the finish line last night resurfaced in her mind.
She clenched her fists, forcibly banishing the unpleasant memory.
Next time, she wouldn't hold back.