Chapter 69
The second Special Week spoke, Yasui Makoto's focus snapped straight to the track.
Just as the horse girl had said, on the far straight opposite the grandstands, a short-haired girl in black suddenly kicked into another gear.
At the same time, Yasui Makoto checked the distance markers and the speed gun beside the rail. One thousand two hundred meters in one minute fourteen point six seconds… and the pace had picked up by another 0.98 meters per second compared with the previous two hundred meters.
Perfect. That acceleration was spot on.
That's it, Kita-chan. Keep the pressure on.
As if she had heard his silent encouragement, Kitasan Black lowered her stance again on the track, eyes locked on the back of the horse girl ahead of her.
The one in front… is running way too easily, isn't she? At this rate my stamina isn't even taking a hit. Why didn't it feel this simple when I trained with Daiwa Scarlet-senpai… Never mind. I can think about that later.
For now…
Sorry, but with that kind of lead, you're not winning this race.
After that quick thought, Kitasan Black drove powerfully off her hind legs. The figure ahead grew steadily closer in her vision.
The live broadcast and the packed stands exploded with excitement.
"Again! Kitasan Black makes the first move, just like in her previous race!"
"It's the third turn now, and Musee Sultan's lead is shrinking fast!"
"Two lengths… one length…"
"Musee Sultan refuses to surrender the lead. She's fighting back and picking up speed!"
"But Kitasan Black is speeding up too!"
"They're neck and neck! Can Kitasan Black overtake her?!"
"She's through! Midway through the third turn, Kitasan Black has passed Musee Sultan after two decisive surges!"
"Kitasan Black takes the lead! In second place is…"
"Number ten, Danon Myoson! Danon Myoson has charged forward!"
"Musee Sultan drops to third!"
"Right behind her is Danon Platina, followed by Real Steel!"
"Are the top two favorites finally making their move?!"
The commentator's rapid-fire delivery sent the already electric crowd at Nakayama Racecourse into a roar. Cheers thundered through the stands and the atmosphere hit its highest point since the start of the race.
Yet the next piece of commentary stayed remarkably calm.
"It looks like the battle for the lead has triggered a chain reaction. The entire field has picked up the pace significantly."
"However, trying to keep up with the front-runners at this stage might not be the smartest choice. The early pace was quite slow, and the horse girl now in front, Kitasan Black, still has plenty of stamina left. She can accelerate again whenever she wants."
"Let's hope the horses behind her keep their composure and read the race correctly."
Just as the commentator suggested, Kitasan Black, running at the very front, felt full of energy. She almost had the strange feeling that she had barely run at all.
At the same time, her sharp ears and keen senses picked up three or four sets of hoofbeats closing in from behind. For a brief moment she tensed.
She had never been chased quite like this before. In her two previous races, similar pressure had only come on the final turn. But those earlier pursuers had never sounded this sharp.
To her, the hoofbeats behind felt like drumsticks hammering against her heart.
Then the very next instant, she relaxed again.
She still had more than enough stamina to keep accelerating all the way to the finish. Compared with the pressure she had felt from Vodka during their joint training sessions, those drumming sounds from behind were nothing.
They were like raindrops on water… easy to ignore.
So even if I can't beat the two seniors yet… I can still beat all of you!
A strange thrill surged through her red eyes and spread across her whole body, bringing with it a rush of power that felt magnified a hundred times.
Carrying that thrill and strength, she dipped her head for a heartbeat, then lifted it again. Her hind legs slammed into the ground and Kitasan Black let out a low growl that carried across the track.
"If you can catch up… then come and chase me!!!"
Only the closest few horse girls behind her caught the full roar. Farther back, it sounded like nothing more than a fierce "Ahhh!!!"
Outside the rail, in the stands, the commentator's booth, and in front of every screen, the crowd saw only the black-haired girl suddenly surge forward.
The live broadcast erupted again.
"The fourth turn is almost over! The fourth turn is almost over!"
"The race is heating up! It's incredibly tight!"
"Kitasan Black is still in front! But… but!"
"Musee Sultan is pressing hard on the inside! Danon Myoson is right there on the outside!"
"Kitasan Black is boxed in the middle! They're chasing her down!"
"Behind them, Danon Platina is on the outside in fourth! Real Steel is even wider in sixth!"
"They're all chasing Kitasan Black!"
"Out of the turn!"
"Kitasan Black still leads! What willpower! What incredible stamina! She's still accelerating!"
"Musee Sultan is fading! She's losing speed!"
"Kitasan Black pulls away! She's opening the gap!"
"Danon Myoson is fading too!"
"Kitasan Black is running alone!"
"One length… two lengths!"
"The gap is widening! Kitasan Black is clear!"
"Final straight, two hundred meters left! Kitasan Black is running alone!"
"But… but!"
"Danon Platina has slipped past the two tiring horses and is closing in!"
"On the outside, Real Steel has caught up as well!"
"Is the race favorite finally unleashing her famous late kick?!"
"She's flying! Manhattan Cafe is flying!"
"One hundred meters!"
"Manhattan Cafe has passed Danon Platina! She's now in second!"
"But Kitasan Black still holds a one-length lead!"
"One length! Can she hold it?! Can Kitasan Black hold on?!"
"Half a length! Half a length!"
"Only fifty meters to go!"
"Can Manhattan Cafe catch her?!"
"Can Kitasan Black hold off Manhattan Cafe?!"
The commentator's voice crackled with excitement, but Kitasan Black, only strides from the finish, heard none of it.
In her ears, in her heart, there was only one sound and one thought left.
The sound was the roaring storm of hoofbeats closing in.
The thought was…
Not enough… Not enough… It's still not enough!
This final spurt…
"…Don't think you can make me give up!!!"
The moment she roared it out, Kitasan Black suddenly felt her speed drop as if the air had been let out of a balloon. Panic and confusion washed over her. She stumbled, eyes wide, trying to look around.
At that exact moment she heard the thunderous cheers rolling down from the stands.
Just like when the results of the Hanshin Daishoten had been announced before the race, every voice was shouting the same name.
Her name.
And then came the announcer's jubilant voice.
"A quarter length!"
"Three straight wins!"
"Three straight wins!"
"Let's congratulate the winner of the Spring Stakes!"
"Congratulations… Kitasan Black!!!"