As Yasui looked toward the Paddock, another Uma Musume walked out behind Mejiro Bright on the screen facing the stands.
She had long dark brown hair and purple eyes, carrying a cooler, more aloof air than Mejiro Bright, though her features still bore a clear family resemblance.
After approaching Mejiro Bright, this Uma Musume gave her a somewhat helpless look and patted her on the shoulder. Only then did Mejiro Bright finally stop waving at the camera.
She made an apologetic gesture, whispered something with a smile, then walked toward the Paddock, leaving the stage to the newly arrived Uma Musume.
"Bright-senpai… she really does seem to have a slow temperament, ahaha…"
Watching the scene in the Paddock, Kitasan Black felt a brief flash of awkwardness before her voice quickly turned excited.
"And this one… is Mejiro Dober-senpai. McQueen-senpai's family is truly full of talent."
As if echoing her sentiment, the commentator's introduction rolled across the racecourse.
Five G1 wins. Two legs of the Fillies Triple Crown. Elected Best Older Filly Uma Musume for four consecutive years. One of the hundred greatest Uma Musume of the century…
As Mejiro Dober's honors were announced one by one, the crowd of over a hundred thousand erupted in wave after wave of cheers.
In fact, the cheering had never stopped since the Paddock parade began, and it only climbed higher with every new star that appeared.
When the waves of cheering finally reached their peak, it was the moment the Uma Musume entered the gates.
"Finally! The highly anticipated Summer Dream Cup is about to begin!"
The commentator's voice was far more excited than usual.
"Under the August sun, the long-awaited star Uma Musume are ready for an intense feast!
"Loading is complete. The competitors' expressions are quite inspiring. How will these high-spirited girls answer the expectations of their passionate fans?
"Now then, the Summer Dream Cup, Tokyo Racecourse G1 Turf 2000 meters, counter-clockwise, at this very moment…
"Start!"
The moment the declaration rang out, Yasui, like the hundreds of thousands of spectators, instinctively held his breath.
Accompanied by the auditory hallucination of metal gates snapping open, his eyes, fixed on the gates, lit up.
It was distinctly different from other Twinkle Series races. Even compared to ordinary G1s, this Break was far more pleasing to the eye.
As if they had rehearsed it countless times, as if this were a performance rather than a competition, the moment the gates opened, more than a dozen figures slotted onto the track with the precision of interlocking gears.
In another blink, with the same silent understanding, a pale green figure suddenly pulled ahead and seized the lead.
"A very beautiful Break!"
The commentator shouted excitedly.
"It's Seiun Sky! Seiun Sky has lived up to expectations and taken the lead, once again showing us her exquisite front-runner style!"
"The senpais' Break…"
Kitasan Black murmured in amazement.
"It's so beautiful! It feels completely different from our races!"
"Naturally."
Yasui did not turn his head, but he could not help agreeing.
"They have far more race experience and training than you. More importantly, they know each other too well.
"Seiun Sky is the only one in this race who truly excels at leading. She even won the Kikuka Sho by running away. Trying to snatch the rhythm from an opponent like that in the opening phase is just asking for trouble. It's better to let her lead.
"By the way, Kita-chan, regardless of the final result, you are a front-runner just like Seiun Sky. Remember to pay close attention to how this senpai handles various situations."
"Yes! I understand!"
Her body tensed instinctively, her tail perked up, and she answered loudly. Yet Kitasan Black's gaze still swept across the entire pack, unable to focus solely on the leading Seiun Sky.
In less than a blink, she suddenly frowned.
"But in a race like this… can a missed Break still happen?"
She stared at the back of the pack that had just left the gates.
As if a beat late, Mejiro Bright—the one Yasui had mentioned earlier—was running there.
At that moment, the live commentary and analysis rang out at the perfect time.
"At the back of the pack is Mejiro Bright. She seems to have started late, just like in her past races."
"For Mejiro Bright, chasing from behind is her strength. She was famous during her career for her 'unheard-of' finishing kick. Being in last place isn't really a limitation for her."
Yasui spoke at the same time.
"It can't entirely be considered a missed Break.
"I should have told you that every response in a race has individual differences.
"Take the Break, for example. From the gate opening to brain recognition, then to physical reaction—this process has a limit reaction time.
"Theoretically, your average reaction time is about 100 to 200 milliseconds. With special training, it can be stabilized around 150 milliseconds.
"But some Uma Musume are born with longer reaction times.
"I've looked at some of Mejiro Bright's data. She falls into this category. Her reaction time in gate tests during her debut was a full 310 milliseconds.
"In that case, she would naturally be a bit slower out of the gate, and the difference is even more obvious when compared to this group of rivals from the same era."
Yasui's explanation was rapid and mixed into the noisy cheering.
Even so, Kitasan Black still caught most of it. After all, the concept of "reaction time" was something she had learned in daily training and classes.
Hearing it mentioned again by Yasui and watching Mejiro Bright's race for a moment, she seemed to realize something.
"I see…"
Pointing at the very back of the pack on the track, she said tentatively.
"Bright-senpai… she must be aware of her own weakness, so her position is very close to the inner track!"
Hearing this, Yasui did not explain further. He simply nodded with clear satisfaction.
From his perspective, Mejiro Bright's plan was exactly what Kitasan Black was trying to say.
This Uma Musume certainly knew her own gate-Break situation. She also knew the running styles, techniques, and tactics her old rivals would use even better.
Therefore, she must know precisely how to play to her strengths and avoid her weaknesses.
Just as the opponents ahead did not try to snatch the lead from Seiun Sky, her current position close to the inner track was clearly a plan to save stamina.
The inner track was definitely more stamina-efficient, and no other opponent in this race was chasing from behind the way she was.
While conserving stamina, she could observe the opponents' movements from the very back, waiting for the right moment to break through and overtake, relying on her extraordinary finishing kick to cross the line first. This was absolutely the most suitable tactic for her.
Thinking of this, Yasui nodded slightly… then frowned a little.
Perhaps the rest of the race would not go as smoothly as she expected…
No. It would be more accurate to say that when everyone knows each other inside and out, no one gets to have things go their way the entire time…
Just as that thought crossed Yasui's mind, the commentator's voice calmed slightly from its initial excitement.
"After a short straight in the opening phase, the pack reaches the First Corner.
"Let's confirm the positions.
"Currently in the lead is Seiun Sky, entering the corner first with a lead of two and a half lengths.
"Following closely is Special Week, slightly to the outside, with third-place Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi on the inside just behind.
"Fourth, fifth, and sixth are Phalaenopsis, Erimo Chic, and Air Jihad.
"The middle group is also quite large.
"Leading this part of the pack are El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder.
"Behind them are Mejiro Dober and Matikanefukukitaru.
"Mejiro Bright is still at the tail end.
"The pace is very fast. The competitors are passing through most of the corner at high speed, gradually approaching the Backstretch."