As the mock race continued, it was finally time for Group Three.
"That's right, we're the legendary Team Pollux! If you join us, you'll be under the glorious name of Gold Ship-sama herself, so hurry up and sign up, my little minions!"
Down below the stage, Fujiwara Chiya covered his face, unable to bear watching.
The winning runner was supposed to introduce her team and help build its reputation. That had been Chiya's plan, anyway.
Instead…
"Come on, come on!"
I want to die…
Watching Gold Ship gesturing wildly in front of several thousand students, Chiya felt like his team was finished. He had asked her to promote the team, not sabotage it. After a performance like this, who would ever want to sign up?
Even Nase Fumino, beside him, wore an expression that was hard to describe.
"Trainer Fujiwara… opportunities will come."
"I just want to be alone."
After enduring three full minutes of Gold Ship's psychological assault, she finally stepped down from the stage, thoroughly satisfied. On her way off, she immediately spotted Chiya.
"Trainer! Trainer Chiya! Did you witness my magnificent form?!"
In an instant, Chiya turned and fled.
Five minutes later…
"Trainer Fujiwara, where did you go?" Nase asked, looking at the flushed and half-dazed Chiya.
"The bathroom. I splashed some water on my face." His head still felt fuzzy. He had nearly died of embarrassment in front of thousands of students.
"…Has the race started?"
"The introductions just finished."
"I see. What was Doto's popularity ranking?"
"Sixth."
Chiya stepped over to the side.
Shirayuki had already checked everything carefully before the race. Meisho Doto's horseshoes, shoelaces, even the buttons on her uniform had all been inspected. There should have been no problems at all.
As long as her gear held up, her result shouldn't be too bad. Probably.
"And now, all runners, please enter the gates!"
Standing in front of her gate, Meisho Doto nervously clasped her hands together.
"Can I really do this…? Gold Ship-san already won, so if I lose here… ugh, what do I do…"
"Doto-san, aren't you going in?"
A curly-haired girl spoke up.
"Matikane Fukukitaru-san…" Doto looked at her. "I just need a moment to calm down. I'm so nervous I can barely breathe."
"Oh, I get that too!" Fukukitaru said brightly. "That's why I ate an ice cream before the race to calm myself down."
"That works? I should've eaten ice cream too…"
"My, do you two really need food for that?" A red-brown twin-tailed girl stepped up beside them. "Not me. As long as I remind myself I'm just an ordinary person, there's no pressure at all."
"Nice Nature-san…"
Nice Nature patted her own chest and said with a bit of smug satisfaction, "Maybe if I get lucky, I'll come in first for once."
"Luck…? My luck has always been terrible…" Doto looked even more nervous.
"Haha! My destined rival, Doto! There's no need to be nervous at all! Just think of it as dancing with me! Rejoice in the honor!"
T.M. Opera O laughed loudly, looking completely at ease.
"All runners, please enter the gates!"
Maybe they had talked for too long, because from the announcer's stand, Hishi Amazon urged them again.
At last, Meisho Doto stepped into her gate.
Haa… haa…
Her chest felt tight, like she couldn't get enough air. Calm down, calm down, she kept telling herself.
"Doto-san…"
In the runners' waiting area, Rice Shower watched the track anxiously.
Since this morning, Doto had looked unwell. Rice Shower couldn't help wondering if she was sick.
"Maybe it's just the pressure," Shirayuki said, trying to reassure her. "For Uma Musume, this is something they all have to go through."
"Really…"
Even so, Rice Shower still looked worried.
If onii-sama were here, he'd know how to comfort her, she thought.
Shirayuki folded her arms and watched the track.
Harsh as it was, pressure was necessary for a Uma Musume. Especially for Doto. If she couldn't get used to the pressure of the track, she'd never be able to handle real races, much less graded ones. If even a mock race was too much, there was no point talking about anything beyond that.
So do your best, Doto!
Shirayuki cheered for her silently.
Inside the gate, Doto's breathing grew faster and louder, so loud that even Fukukitaru in the next gate turned to look.
"Doto-san, are you really okay?"
"I'm fine… I'm fine…"
As she said it, Doto forcibly turned her attention toward the track. She had to win this race.
The gate lights flashed. Then, with a sharp beep, the gates opened.
Ignoring the tightness in her chest, Doto sucked in a breath, gathered all her strength, and lunged forward.
Riiip!
A sharp tearing sound rang out as the tight fabric across Doto's chest split clean open. The two enormous curves that had long been straining against the uniform finally burst free, tearing through the ill-fitting outfit and snapping its last restraint. In an instant, a purple lace bra was exposed.
"Gah!"
"Huh?!"
On both sides of her, Nice Nature and Matikane Fukukitaru's eyes went wide. As if pulled by some mysterious force, their gazes locked completely onto those two large, round distractions. Their minds went blank. Both of them forgot they were in the middle of a race and crashed to the ground at the same time.
"Runner Number Five has suffered a wardrobe malfunction! Runners Four and Six have both fallen!"
In the stands, Fujiwara Chiya sat calmly on the floor.
So the shoes were fine, and the clothes were the problem instead?
Doto… you really are as consistently reliable as ever.
Two minutes later, clutching together the torn front of her uniform, Meisho Doto crossed the finish line.
Naturally, in last place.
"Trainer Fujiwara… you really have it rough."
"…Yeah. I'm used to it."
As soon as she crossed the line, a race official who had already been prepared for the situation rushed over and draped something over Doto's shoulders. Rice Shower and Shirayuki hurried over as well.
"Doto-san!"
"Rice Shower… Shirayuki…" Doto lowered her head miserably when she saw them. "I'm sorry. It's all because of me. Our perfect record is gone…"
"It's not your fault, Doto-san. It's just… um…" Rice Shower desperately searched for an excuse.
"It's my fault," Shirayuki cut in. "If I'd checked properly, this wouldn't have happened. This is because of my pointless shame and morals. From now on, I'm getting rid of both."
Seeing that neither of them blamed her even after her failure, Doto's eyes turned red.
"Thank you… thank you so much…"
"It's okay, Doto. You should go change first." Those two white mounds were still slipping out from under her arms, and Shirayuki had no idea where to look.
Not long after Doto left, Nice Nature and Matikane Fukukitaru came over as well. Since they had both fallen, they had naturally taken second-last and third-last from the bottom. Losing was nothing unusual for them, but right now, they looked more devastated than if they had come dead last.
"That was violence. Pure violence…"
"If I kept eating, would mine ever get that big…"
They drifted past Shirayuki like ghosts.
At last, the competition moved on to Group Four.