The race began.
The instant the signal flag dropped, the two figures shot forward at the same time.
But unlike Urara's earlier mock race against Smart Falcon—
this time, thanks to the skill Concentration, Urara actually gained the advantage right at the start!
Her reaction off the line was astonishingly quick, and her acceleration curve was smooth and powerful.
Urushihara Tōru even felt that, if it were the Urara of today, she might not lose to Smart Falcon in the opening start at all!
Because this time, Urara had taken a lead of a full three-quarters of a length over Narita Crown in the opening phase.
"What!?"
Narita Crown's eyes widened as she realized what had happened.
She had never imagined that this pink-haired horse girl, who looked so ordinary at first glance, would actually suppress her at the start.
How is that possible…!? How can this girl's start be that fast!?
Narita Crown clenched her teeth and drove harder with both legs, trying to catch up.
But very soon, she realized something was wrong.
The sensation underfoot was completely different from usual.
The dirt track carried an odd resistance, as though each step sank into a layer of sticky mud.
The acceleration she took the most pride in as a late-running horse girl was being cut down drastically on this kind of surface.
Damn it… so this is dirt…
Narita Crown frowned deeply.
She realized that if she forced herself to chase now, the stamina cost would be far greater than she had expected.
If this continued, her entire later pace would likely be thrown into chaos.
And besides—
I'm a closer to begin with…
Narita Crown took a deep breath, suppressed the frustration in her chest, and forced herself to stay calm in the rear.
If she was going to run as a closer, then she should make her move only in the final phase.
Falling behind now was only temporary.
As long as she waited until the last corner—
I'll show that trainer what a real finishing kick looks like!
…
Meanwhile, on the other side, Urara—who had taken the lead—was feeling just as unsettled.
She, too, was a rear-running horse girl.
Never in her life had she run in front during the first half of a race, and now she was at a complete loss.
This is weird… Urara's actually in front…
But… is this really okay? Should Urara stay in this position?
The pink-haired horse girl's ears twitched slightly as unease rose in her heart.
Instinctively, she turned to look at her trainer beside the track.
Urushihara Tōru was standing near the finish line with his arms folded, a faint smile on his face.
It was a smile full of trust.
As though it were saying—
It's fine, Urara. Believe in yourself.
Trainer…
A sudden strength welled up in Urara's heart.
At the same time, another image flashed through her mind.
It was Smart Falcon's running form from their mock race a few days ago.
That chestnut-haired twin-tailed horse girl had seized the lead right from the start and carried it all the way to the finish.
Her running posture had been so confident, so dazzling—
like the brightest idol on a stage.
If it were Falcon-chan…
If it were Falcon-chan, what would she do?
Urara's eyes lit up slightly.
Without even thinking, she began imitating Smart Falcon's running posture.
Straightening her back. Keeping her eyes forward. Making every step firm and forceful.
Her speed was still nowhere near that horse-girl idol's, but her running form became steadier.
The panic in her stride gradually settled, and somehow she really did manage to hold the rhythm of a front-runner.
"Oh?"
Standing by the finish line, Urushihara Tōru noticed this and began calculating inwardly.
Urara was actually imitating Smart Falcon's running style?
And she was doing a surprisingly decent job of it?
Could this be the future pink-haired Demon King's special trait—beating you with your own magic?
Wait a second. If that was the case…
He rubbed his chin, his gaze growing deep.
A bold idea began forming in Urushihara Tōru's mind.
…
The race entered its final phase.
The entrance to the last corner was right ahead.
Urara was still leading, but her stamina was already running dry.
Forcing herself into an unfamiliar front-running style had cost her a great deal of extra energy.
The pink eyes burned with unwillingness to lose, but her stride had started to grow heavy.
Just a little faster… just a little faster and it's the finish…
Urara can't lose… can't disappoint Trainer…
Just then, Smart Falcon's figure flashed through her mind again.
This time, it was the image of Falcon during the final corner.
The horse-girl idol had abruptly changed her posture the instant she entered the turn, her body almost pressing against the rail, then rocketed toward the finish with astonishing acceleration.
This is it… Falcon-chan's sprint…
Urara unconsciously tried to imitate that movement.
She lowered her body, trying to make her posture more aggressive.
And then—
"!?"
Urara's body lurched violently.
Her acceleration simply was not enough to support a running form like that!
That move required explosive power on a completely different level. For the current Urara, it was simply too much.
She nearly lost her balance, stumbled several steps, and her speed dropped all at once.
No… Urara can't do it…
Clenching her teeth, the pink-haired horse girl desperately tried to regain her form.
And at that exact instant—
"Now!"
Narita Crown seized the opportunity from behind.
A sharp light flashed through the blonde horse girl's eyes as she drove power into both legs and launched her final sprint.
Right now!
Her speed instantly leaped up a whole level, and the explosive power in those long legs let her close the gap in just a few seconds.
One length.
Half a length.
Overtake!
Narita Crown swept past Urara's side and surged into the lead.
Though she still was not comfortable on dirt, and though that sticky resistance clung to every footfall—
the difference in raw ability between them forcibly erased that disadvantage.
I've won!
A slight smile rose to Narita Crown's lips as she began imagining the scene after victory.
That G-rank trainer would surely show a look of regret now, right?
He would finally realize what a terrible mistake he had made, wouldn't he?
Hmph. And even if he cried and begged her to become his horse girl after this—
"—!?"
Narita Crown's pupils shrank sharply.
She heard it.
The footsteps coming from behind.
Heavy, yet unwavering footsteps.
Urara should have been left behind already. She should have had no way of catching up anymore.
And yet those footsteps were growing closer. Louder.
Narita Crown instinctively glanced back.
And what she saw was—
Urara was catching up.
At some point, that pink-haired horse girl had regained her posture and was now charging after her with everything she had.
Her expression was more serious than ever, and an incredible light burned in those pink eyes.
It was… the light of refusing to lose.
How is this possible…!?
Shock surged through Narita Crown's chest.
That girl's stamina should already have been empty, shouldn't it?
So why—
why was she still able to chase!?
The distance between them shrank visibly.
And the finish line was so close it almost seemed within reach.
How could I… how could I possibly lose to you here!!!
Narita Crown gritted her teeth and poured every last ounce of strength into her legs.
Urara was doing the same, every step crashing down with tremendous weight.
The two of them raced toward the line almost neck and neck.
Half a length.
That was the final margin between them.
The winner was…
Narita Crown.
…
The race was over.
But Narita Crown was not happy.
Standing on the far side of the finish line, she drew deep breaths, her expression incredibly complicated.
Half a length… I only won by half a length…
If the final straight had just been ten meters longer, I might have…
Narita Crown looked toward Urara, who was still trying to catch her breath, and an indescribable emotion rose within her.
Her own ability should have far exceeded Urara's.
And Urara had even made such a huge mistake in the final corner.
So why—
why had she only won by half a length in the end?
What is with this girl… she looks so weak…
Meanwhile, on the other side, Urara was not happy either.
The pink-haired horse girl hung her head, those round eyes full of regret.
If Urara hadn't forced herself to imitate Falcon-chan's sprint…
Then maybe Urara could have won…
She replayed that final-corner moment in her mind and felt deep self-reproach.
Even though she knew she could not do it, she had still stubbornly tried anyway.
Not only had she failed, she had almost fallen.
If not for that mistake…
I'm sorry… Trainer… Urara disappointed you again…
Urara's ears drooped sadly.
And then—
"Urara."
A warm hand came to rest on top of her head.
Urara looked up and saw Urushihara Tōru smiling down at her.
It was a… very happy smile?
"Trainer…?"
"You did well."
Tōru's voice carried open, unmistakable joy.
"Very well."
"But… Urara lost…"
"So what if you lost?"
Urushihara Tōru crouched down until his eyes were level with hers.
"You'd never even tried a front-running style before, and yet you still managed to hold the lead's rhythm. Even after your sprint failed in the final phase and you nearly lost your balance, you gritted your teeth and chased back up again. You even pushed a horse girl whose actual strength is far beyond yours into winning by only half a length."
His gaze was utterly serious.
"What exactly is there to be disappointed in?"
"Trainer…"
A little redness came to Urara's eyes, and then she smiled.
Trainer isn't disappointed… Trainer isn't disappointed…
"And besides—"
Urushihara Tōru stood up, the smile on his face turning even brighter.
"Watching that race just now gave me an idea. An idea that should raise your odds of winning your debut race by at least thirty percent."
"Thirty percent?"
Urara's eyes widened.
"Can… Urara really do something like that?"
"Of course you can."
Urushihara Tōru smiled.
"After all, you're my horse girl."
At the same moment, that familiar voice rang out in his mind once more.
[Through friendship training with Narita Crown, Haru Urara's attributes have increased.]
[Haru Urara's Speed has increased!]
[Haru Urara's Power has increased!]
[Haru Urara's Grit has increased!]
[Through training, Haru Urara has grasped the knack of front-running. Her aptitude for front-running has increased.]
It triggered!
Urushihara Tōru shouted inwardly.
The effects of friendship training had activated again!
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