Yasui had not forgotten his plan to have Kitasan Black learn from this race. He had already worked out how to break down the approaches of those three seniors for his Uma Musume.
At first glance, Seiun Sky's race strategy looked like a carbon copy of the one she used in the Kikuka Sho. The sudden acceleration she showed on the third corner, however, proved that the resemblance was nothing more than a feint.
From the opening phase all the way through the middle leg, her pace had been deliberately deceptive. Because of that, the other Uma Musume had focused almost entirely on the tactical layer and, in doing so, had overlooked the fundamentals.
Winning a 3000-meter G1 race meant Seiun Sky's stamina was beyond question. In a 2000-meter race, therefore, maintaining a high speed for the first 600 meters was effortless for her.
She had openly conserved her stamina right in front of everyone and was only now unleashing it in a single burst.
Doing so would of course invite pursuit. Special Week and Grass Wonder had already begun to surge after her in succession.
Yet because the pursuers had concentrated so heavily on tactics earlier, they were now rushing to close the gap and would inevitably interfere with one another over positioning.
Special Week and Grass Wonder, for example, were already locked behind Seiun Sky. Neither could easily pull any closer.
Unless something unexpected happened, this was the winning opportunity Seiun Sky had envisioned.
Like a deceptive pace, the tactic was simple to explain yet extremely difficult to execute in an actual race.
By comparison, Matikanefukukitaru's approach, as a fellow Kikuka Sho winner, was far more straightforward.
She did not need to concern herself with what Seiun Sky was thinking. All she had to do was maintain a good position at all times.
That way, when the critical moment arrived she could move forward while still possessing enough stamina and distance to accelerate.
What came next was even simpler.
Keep a steady rhythm and wait for the opening.
Then, just as she had done in that year's Kikuka Sho, she would seize a Front Runner.
And not even one who was running at absolute full power.
That was all.
Mejiro Bright's strategy sat somewhere between Seiun Sky's complexity and Matikanefukukitaru's simplicity.
Unlike the former's intricate scheme, she had settled on an End Closer approach from the very start. As the only true End Closer on the field, she had no need to tangle with anyone.
What made it more intricate than Matikanefukukitaru's plan was the way she deliberately yielded a portion of her resistance to centrifugal force at every corner, drifting steadily outward.
By doing so she minimized stamina consumption while securing the best possible position for each successive corner.
More importantly, by gradually shifting toward the outer lanes she avoided entanglement with other late runners and could begin the sustained acceleration unique to long-distance Uma Musume earlier than anyone else.
Even now she remained outside the entire field, yet her speed still matched the sudden bursts of King Halo, Mejiro Dober, and Seiun Sky.
Yasui understood all of this clearly.
Yet amid the rising heat of the atmosphere, he too fell into an unusual fever.
The rational analysis in his mind collided with the fierce confrontation unfolding before his eyes, and an unprecedented light flickered in his gaze.
The light was so intense it seemed ready to ignite the surrounding air. His eyes remained fixed on every figure on the track, refusing to miss a single brilliant moment.
His cheeks flushed with excitement. His breathing grew rapid, his chest rising and falling hard.
His body leaned forward slightly, as though he wanted to vault the railing and run alongside those Uma Musume.
His hands clenched without conscious thought, knuckles turning white from the force.
Only after his nails dug into the railing and a sharp pain shot through his fingers did he instinctively pull his hand back and reach for whatever stood nearest.
"Did you see that, Kita-chan? This is the charm! This is what I've always been chasing! The current level is definitely not the limit! The ultimate state of an Uma Musume… is far more extreme than I ever imagined!"
What Yasui had seized was none other than Kitasan Black's hand.
Suddenly feeling her hand taken, Kitasan Black froze for a moment. Her gaze, which had been locked on the track, snapped down to their joined hands.
Uncontrollably, a rare blush colored her usually boisterous face.
Yet because of the intense atmosphere of the race and the flush already present on her cheeks, the extra color looked completely natural, as if it were simply ordinary excitement.
She blinked, instinct telling her to pull her hand free.
But for some reason, the scorching heat radiating from his palm made her pause.
She looked up at Yasui. Those familiar eyes were not looking at her. They remained fixed on the track, burning with a fanatical light. He was still muttering under his breath—"They can still run at this level even after retirement," and "As expected, Kita-chan's true limit hasn't been reached yet."
Hearing her name spoken in that same familiar voice while the heat in her palm intensified slightly, Kitasan Black felt her heart skip a beat.
A strange feeling she had never experienced before welled up inside her, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a soft, slightly silly smile.
She stopped trying to pull away. Instead she let Yasui hold her hand tightly and quietly returned the pressure with a firm squeeze of her own.
The large hand holding hers did not squeeze back, yet the heat that passed between them clearly carried the passion and excitement he felt.
It was exactly the same heat she always felt whenever he spoke of Extreme Stunts.
Her gaze returned to the track, but her thoughts drifted for a moment.
Images of her Trainer's usual mature, steady demeanor flashed through her mind, only to be replaced an instant later by that same face alight with pure hot-blooded youth. A different kind of emotion spread quietly through her chest.
Along with it came a thought that was steadily growing clearer.
'If my limit is what the Trainer is looking forward to… then the next race, and the race after that…'
Her hand tightened again, giving his another firm squeeze.
Yasui remained completely unaware of Kitasan Black's expression or the small gesture of her returning the squeeze.
His eyes stayed fixed, unblinking, on the pack as they gradually passed the final corner. He did not even know what he was muttering, but he was absolutely certain that nothing on the track had disappointed him.
From the gate break all the way to this confrontation, the Uma Musume still had not reached their limits.
"Everyone! The final corner is about to end! The heat of this race needs no further explanation… every contestant has brought everything they have!"
The commentator's high-pitched voice rang across Tokyo Racecourse.
"The current leader is still Seiun Sky! Thanks to her acceleration on the corner she has opened up a five-length lead!
"Special Week and Grass Wonder are still in pursuit, but their entanglement is costing them speed…
"Wait! They're catching up!
"Even while tangled with each other, the two of them are chasing Seiun Sky at the same time, as if they had planned it!
"The gap is closing! Closing! Now it's only four… three lengths… two lengths!
"The gap is still shrinking… and there's another pursuer!
"El Condor Pasa!
"After being buried in the middle of the pack, El Condor Pasa has finally broken free!
"She seized the tiny opening that appeared the moment the corner opened onto the straight!
"Using her exquisite positioning, El Condor Pasa has reversed her disadvantage on the field!"
The roar of the stands rose together with the commentator's cracking voice.
On the track, veins stood out at Seiun Sky's temples. Sweat covered her cheeks. Still in the lead, she gritted her teeth and managed a bitter smile.
"Even this couldn't stop you guys… And El, couldn't you go find trouble with Special instead?"