Astonishing adjusted her racewear, and make sure her shoes are laced tight. The day of Satsuki Sho had finally arrived, the first leg of the Triple Crown tour.
She took a deep breath and turns around. Takeda was sitting on the chair while reading a newspaper that was provided by the staff on the table.
"What are you reading, Trainer?"
Takeda folded the newspaper slightly, revealing a bold headline accompanied by a high-resolution photo of Astonishing crossing the finish line at Yayoi Sho with one and a half length.
"Just catching up with the local news" he replied, "You really pulled the string in Yayoi Sho. You have improved, Aston"
She took the newspaper and opens the next page. "It seems things goes well for Dora too"
"Her first graded win, it was a well deserved victory" he said. "She's already secured her spot in the Oka Sho for next week"
"Then I can't afford to fall behind, can I?" Astonishing said, s faint, proud smile tugged at her lips.
Takeda stood up, "The day has finally arrived, the day we have been preparing for. Let's give everything you got!"
Astonishing put up a smile, "Yeah... let's do it!"
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[And now... what we all have waiting for! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Satsuki Sho!]
As Astonishing stepped out of the tunnel, the sheer scale of the event hit her. "So this is the classic..."
"Amazing isn't it?"
End pulled up beside her, her eyes gazing at the sea of people watching from the grand stand. "From here on, the crowds will only get bigger and bigger... makes you wonder how many of them are here to support you"
She turned to face Astonishing, and spread her arms. "And from here on, our legend will be carved! Be part of my story, Astonishing. Let you be my stepping stone towards the realm of greatness!"
"Keep the honor," Astonishing countered, stepping toward the starting gate. "I'm not here to be a chapter in your biography. If you want your 'realm of greatness,' you're going to have to run through me to get there."
End's smile didn't break, but the amber in her eyes flared. "Fine, then... I'm just gonna just that, in all the three races, and put on the crown myself"
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-Satsuki Sho, 2000m, Nakayama Racecourse-
[All eyes are on the favorite in gate number 1, World's End Opening! A front runner in the inner most gate, what an overwhelming advantage for her. This race might be a hard one for the rest of the umamusume.]
The camera pointed at gate No. 1, prompting the crowd to grew louder.
"She's amazing isn't she?" said a spectator. "She's undefeated until now and she won it by leading from the very start!"
"I know, right? Man, she really reminds me of Silence Suzuka. The way they run are just the same!"
[Moving onto the second favorite in gate number 3 is Astonishing. A G3, and a G2 win, combined with a second place in Hopeful Stakes. She has good record in her sleeve]
"Man... it was close in the Hopeful Stakes. If she had a perfect start she might actually win"
"She won the Yayoi Sho, so distance is not a problem. I think you're right, if she can time it perfectly this time, she might have a chance"
Standing a few meters away is Dorazora with her trainer. "Phew... at least many of them are here to support Aston-chan"
"Hahaha, yeah... I'm glad to hear their cheer for her." Besides them, there are also Trainer Takeda.
"No matter the umamusume, dominating or not, they will always be someone cheering on them. If there aren't any, then we, as a trainer shall be the only one" said Trainer Satomi.
[All umamusume has entered the gate]
"I guess that what makes them special in any way" Takeda said.
CLANG!
[And they're off! A perfect start for the favorite! World's End Opening takes the lead. This race in heavily on her favor, how are the rest of the runners respond to this?]
[Taking the second the place is the third favorite, Max Lux. Behind her in the third place is Grand Alecto]
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"Wait for me Pokke-chan!" an umamusume can be seen having a hard time carrying a lot of foods in her arms.
"Hurry up, Dantsu! The race has already started!" Just as Jungle Pocket said that, she disappeared into the crowd. Navigating around the sea of people to get to the front.
POOF
Her head popped out of the crowd. "Excuse me, sorry, thank you!"
"Oh, Pokke. So you come after all" Already watching the race since the beginning was Fuji Kiseki.
"Of course, how can I refuse your invitation?" Jungle Pocket pulled up beside Fuji. "But it seems I was late... the crowd is so packed I can barely pass through. I should've come earlier"
POOF
Another head popped out, this time it was Dantsu Flame. "Phew, it was a struggle just to get here..."
"You're just in time, both of you," Fuji said. "The main act is just starting to heat up."
While Jungle Pocket was standing left side of Fuji, Dantsu pulled up to her right. "I guess it's just the three of us, eh?"
"I'm right here..."
"Wah!"
Standing just beside her is Manhattan Cafe. She was so blended in it's so hard to feel her presence. "Cafe-san you really surprised me. Tachyon-san isn't with you today?"
"She has something she thinks more important to do than coming here, but I'm sure she's watching from television in the lab"
"Hmph, typical of her" Pokke snorted, "Well, it's her lost. Now... let's see how the race is going to be"
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'Alright, my start is perfect this time. I shouldn't have any problem getting to the front later. I can't afford to repeat the same mistake. Both me and her had raced in Nakayama 2000m twice so there shouldn't be much gap in experience' Astonishing observed how the race unfold from the back like usual.
The ground trembled as the pack thundered through the first corner.
[We're approaching mid race as the runners entered the first corner. World's End Opening has opened a wide gap of 6 length! Truly a beast! Is there anyone who can stop her?!]
World's End Opening wasn't just leading, she was trying to turn the first Classic of the year into a solo performance.
[We're passing the 1000m mark in 58.8 seconds! World's End Opening is still leading far ahead! No.4, Leiolalilei took the second place from Max Lux! Behind her is No. 6, Grand Alecto who also joins the battle!]
By the time they arrived at the backstretch, some umamusume begins to accelerate and climbs up the board to secure a better position before the homestretch.
[Rounding the third corner! World's End Opening still in the lead, but the gap is finally shrinking wait! Who is that on the far outside?!]
Astonishing swung wide into the outside right before she enters the corner.
'This time... I will!'
[From the back is No. 3, Astonishing goes wide into the outside! This is it! It's what everyone is waiting for!]
"Gooo! Astonishing!"
"This is the time!"
Many of the spectators were excited to see her overtaking everyone from the very back. Who doesn't like that kind of show?
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"Woahh..." Pokke's jaw dropped. "Now that I see it in person, it looks so epic!"
"It's amazing, I can't imagine how hard it is to get to the front from the very back." Dantsu said, "But, World's End Opening is strong too. Two completely opposite strategy, who's going to outrun who?"
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[And now we're approaching the last corner! No. 6, Grand Alecto has climbed up to second. No. 4, Leolalilei begins to falter! Perhaps No. 11, Max Lux can use this opportunity to reclaim the place!]
[Indeed, it seems like she's ran out of steam after trying to chase the leader]
[From the back is No. 3, Astonishing! This is it! Could she pull it off today?! She has overtaken Max Lux, she passed Leolalilei, she surge past Grand Alecto! What a terrying spurt!!!]
[Here comes the straight! Astonishing is five length behind the leader now, will World's End Opening lose the lead for the first time?!]
"Now!" Astonishing gritted her teeth and surged forward.
[World's End Opening is hitting the slope first! But Astonishing is closing in! Four lengths! Three lengths! Astonishing is eating up the ground!]
"Don't you... dare!" End gritted her teeth, her amber eyes flared with a wild, competitive fire. She dug her heels into the turf, giving everything she had left.
[200 meters to go, the gap is only two lengths now! She keeps closing the distance!]
"That's it, Aston. Give me everything you have, prove to me that you are worthy to be my rival! Surpass your limit! And join me on the highest peak of Twinkle Series!" she could hear End's words from this close.
[100 meters to go! World's End Opening stills in the lead but Astonishing are coming, closer and closer. They are only one length apart!]
"RRRAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!" Astonishing lunged forwards for the last time, desperate to secure every inches of ground.
[AT THE WIRE! IT'S--!!]
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[Official Results: Satsuki Sho]
1st: No. 1 World's End Opening
2nd: No. 3 Astonishing (1/4 Length)
3rd: No. 11 Max Lux (6 Lengths)
"She... lost..." Pokke stared at the result in shock. She previously believed that Astonishing could win. Her condition were perfect, her running were excellent, and she doesn't seems to be struggling. Yet, even with such a good condition, Astonishing still lost.
Like she did.
"Pokke?" Fuji called her.
"Huh, oh. Sorry, I spaced out a bit"
"...It's a bitter pill, isn't it? Watching someone give a perfect performance and still come up short by a hair's breadth."
"Yeah..." Pokke muttered.
"But she did great isn't she?" Dantsu tried to lighten the mood, "Even if she lost, her gap to the third place is 6 lengths. Those two are really the center of attention"
Fuji Kiseki nodded, "Dantsu is right. In any other year, Astonishing's performance would have been a record-breaking landslide. It's just... she's facing a more formidable opponent. Kind of remind you to someone right, isn't it?"
"... Tachyon"
Fuji's gaze returned to the track. "Destiny has a way of grouping monsters together,"
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The steam rose from Astonishing's shoulders as she decelerated. Every muscle in her legs was screaming, vibrating from the sheer force she had applied earlier.
"Ha... ha..." Astonishing stared at the result.
Once again, she had lost.
'Why? My start was perfect, the races goes as I planned, so why...? Was it my luck? Was it because she started from the inner most gate?'
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Takeda stood by the rail, his expression unreadable, though his eyes were fixed solely on her trainee. "Sorry, I need to go somewhere"
"Huh, Trainer Take-" Satomi stopped Dora from catching him.
"It's better for us to leave them alone."
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Astonishing walks alone inside the tunnel, finding her way to her room.
"Uggh!" A pain on the left foot stopped her on her track, as she leaned against the wall for support
"Not now," she hissed through gritted teeth, clutching her ankle.
"Aston!" Astonishing looks up to see her trainer rushing towards her.
He was by her side in an instant, his hands steady as he helped her settle into a sitting position against the wall.
"Stay still," he commanded. "Where did it hurts?"
"I'm fine... it's just-- Aagh! Careful!"
"Sorry, but this is clearly not fine" he said, "Let's get you the medical room"
Takeda slid one arm behind her back and the other beneath her knees, lifting her off the ground.
"Wait, Trainer! What are you doing!?"
She never expects her trainer would carry her this way. The sudden shift from the cold, hard tunnel wall to the warmth of her trainer's arms sent a heat to her cheek.
"Sorry, but I can't let you walk in this state"
"But... people will see! This is embarrassing!" she stammered, her ears twitching wildly as she buried her face slightly into his chest to hide her deepening flush.
"Please hold on for a moment, it shouldn't be far" he assured and begin running towards the medical room.
Astonishing went quiet, her grip on his jacket tightened. The sharp, white-hot pain in her foot was still there, but being carried like this, protected, even in defeat, made the weight of the loss feel a little less crushing.