Chapter 206: Didn't Get the Lead Position?!
A short while later, in the VIP seats of the grandstand.
"So aside from Diamond, you're all from the same generation..."
After a brief round of introductions and learning about the relationship between Satono Crown's group and Kitasan Black, Bamboo Memory nodded, her gaze turning nostalgic as she looked at Oguri Cap.
"It really brings back memories, doesn't it, Oguri-senpai?"
Oguri Cap still looked just as cool and aloof on the surface. As she nodded, her thoughts inevitably drifted back to the races of her own time.
Besides Bamboo Memory, there had been Super Creek, Tamamo Cross, Inari One, Yaeno Muteki, Mejiro Ardan…
Back then, just like the Satono Crown before her and Kitasan Black—who had already headed toward the gates through the underground passage—they had all been close friends in daily life and at school, and rivals on the racetrack.
"All of your races were incredible, senpai!"
At that moment, Satono Crown spoke up, sounding both excited and full of anticipation.
"Oh, right—Oguri Cap-senpai, my next race is the Autumn Tenno Sho."
"There's just one small favor I'd like to ask, could you possibly..."
Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly stopped, her expression turning awkward.
It wasn't just her, after a brief pause, Bamboo Memory and Satono Diamond also looked a little uncomfortable and conflicted.
Only Duramente, after freezing for a moment, continued to stand there in silence, frowning, her eyes filled with memories.
Oguri Cap, however, remained calm and composed.
"The Autumn Tenno Sho... you want advice?"
Seeing Satono Crown hesitate, then bite her lip and nod, Oguri Cap gave a quick smile.
"Then I'm afraid... I'm not the right person."
"The Autumn Tenno Sho… I ran it three times, and lost all three."
"B-But your performances were amazing, senpai...!"
Satono Crown hurried to say, while Bamboo Memory spoke up at the same time:
"How can you say that, Oguri-senpai?"
"The first two times you were up against Tamamo-senpai and Super Creek-senpai, everyone knows how strong they were, and you still finished second!"
"And the third time, if it weren't for those annoying reporters interfering, your training wouldn't have been affected. You definitely would've won!"
Oguri Cap's expression barely changed as she gave another quick smile.
"Not having won means not having won. There's no experience there, and it's all in the past now. It's nothing."
After saying that, she pondered for a moment.
"How about this, while I don't have firsthand experience, I can try asking Tama and Creek. They should be interested in helping you."
"Though they aren't in Tokyo, so they might not be able to come..."
She paused again.
"In any case, I'll ask. I can also check with Inari, it's been a long time since we last met. Getting together wouldn't be bad."
When Satono Crown made her request, she had only meant to give it a try.
Only after speaking did she realize that the senpai before her hadn't had the best results in the Autumn Tenno Sho, and she immediately felt awkward and uneasy.
Now, hearing that her request had been accepted so suddenly, she was both surprised and delighted.
"Th-Thank you so much, senpai! I'll definitely—"
The suddenly soaring voice of the race commentary cut her off.
"Ladies and gentlemen—!"
"The battle for the title of the strongest of the generation... is about to begin!"
"As if summoned by fate, eighteen Umamusume are making their way into the starting gates one by one..."
"Now then, the final chapter of the Classic Triple Crown..."
The takoyaki box in Oguri Cap's hands had long since been emptied. The empty container suddenly made a faint click-clack sound.
Bamboo Memory unconsciously tightened her grip on the railing in front of her. Crescent-shaped marks formed in Satono Crown's palm as her nails dug in. Satono Diamond and Duramente both leaned forward without realizing it, their bodies tilting toward the track.
The roar of the stands seemed to be muted, as if someone had pressed a mute button. In that instant, tens of thousands of spectators appeared to be holding their breath at the same time.
Suddenly, as if her ears were twitching on their own, Oguri Cap's lips curled upward at a wild angle completely at odds with her usual cool demeanor.
"Everyone... entered the gates beautifully. Very nice..."
She began to murmur to herself:
"...Kyoto Racecourse, turf, 3000 meters. G1, Kikuka Sho…"
"Start."
As if responding to those murmurs, the commentary echoed across the Kyoto Racecourse.
"Kyoto Racecourse, turf, 3000 meters. G1, Kikuka Sho—Start!"
This first line of live commentary was fairly calm.
The very next line suddenly shot up in intensity.
"Number 7, Strengthen Will, is slow out of the gate! She's fallen behind on her own!"
"The rest of the racer break cleanly, charging forward in perfect formation onto the track."
"They head first toward the slope—Number 6, Red Solomon, accelerates and takes the lead!"
"The top favorite, Kitasan Black, is in second. Gate 4 on the inside really is a bit disadvantageous for her."
"Beside Kitasan Black is Number 8, Ribbon Victory. After the St. Lite Kinen, will these two Umamusume clash once more for the lead position?"
"Kitasan Black moves first, charging toward Red Solomon, with Ribbon Victory right behind her—"
"Wait!"
"The uphill!"
"Number 17, Crowned Stone! Number 18, Real Will!"
"The two runners surge inward at tremendous speed, squeezing toward the rail and completing their pass right near the crest of the slope!"
"Real Will edges ahead, taking first place!"
"Crowned Stone is just a hair behind in second!"
"Third is Red Solomon, and fourth is Ribbon Victory!"
"Kitasan Black… is in fifth place at the moment!"
The stands had already erupted into an uproar.
Anyone who could make it to Kyoto Racecourse to watch the race live was, without exception, a devoted fan of racers and the Twinkle Series.
Regardless of which Umamusume they supported, most spectators were very familiar with the field in this race.
Especially during the parade ring and the introductions before loading into the gates, the commentators had repeatedly mentioned each runner's past results, preferred running styles, and tactical tendencies.
Because of that, the instant Kitasan Black's position was announced in the live commentary, the grandstand was immediately swept up in waves of shocked cries.
"Kitasan Black… didn't manage to take the lead?!"
"What's going on? Where's the Burst Front Running?! I came here just to see Kitasan Black's Burst Front Running!"
"How's a front runner supposed to win if she can't get the lead?! Where's the trainer—what kind of instructions were those?!"
"They messed up… didn't they? Well, that just gives everyone else a chance!"
"Push up! Kitasan Black!"
Amid the overlapping shouts, almost all of them centered on Kitasan Black.
Gasps of surprise also rang out from Oguri Cap's group.
"Kita-chan… what's going on?"
Satono Crown stared wide-eyed. "She's not planning to take the lead this race?"
"Kita-chan…"
Satono Diamond clenched her fists, murmuring under her breath.
Duramente didn't say anything, but as she stared at the runners on the far side of the track, her eyes were filled with worry.
Compared to the younger girls, however, Oguri Cap and Bamboo Memory were noticeably calmer.
"So this is the Kikuka Sho…" Oguri Cap said, giving a small nod.
"Yeah. The level of desperation isn't any lower than the Satsuki Sho or the Derby," Bamboo Memory replied.
She crossed her arms, her gaze heavy.
"The top two probably changed their running styles on the fly, or at the very least, they've never run Burst Front Running before."
"Using pace deception like this… doesn't seem like it'll work very well, does it?"
As she asked that last question, she tilted her head slightly toward Oguri Cap.
"Not necessarily."
Without hesitation, Oguri Cap shook her head.
"Pace deception always works, as long as the timing is right."
"Arima Kinen, the Autumn Tenno Sho, the Yasuda Kinen, the Mainichi Okan… no matter the grade or the distance, as long as the early pace and the race situation line up, it's a viable tactic."
"And besides…"
Her eyes flickered slightly.
"This is the final battle of the Classic Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho."
"They're all… nervous."