"This is incredible! Mejiro McQueen has no intention of slowing down despite the heavy conditions! She led the entire group since the start and now has a full two-length lead over second place!"
"Under such heavy rain, some Uma Musume are starting to already run out of stamina and are starting to slow down!"
The rain on the Racecourse was getting heavier and heavier, so much so that it was hard to keep one's eyes open. Every raindrop hitting the galloping Uma Musume felt like a needle piercing them, draining the Uma Musume's stamina bit by bit with each raindrop they came in contact with.
Suddenly, many things were thrown into disarray by the harsh weather. Simply just running was starting to become extremely difficult; it didn't matter if you were running as a Runaway or an End Closer, all were equal under this almost all-encompassing weather, and this stamina drain was slowly accumulating.
Under these circumstances, very few Uma Musume could maintain their speed. Besides Mejiro McQueen in the front, only Mejiro Ryan, who was maintaining a Late Surger position, could endure this turbulent weather. (T/N: Will her Let's Pump Some Iron proc?)
"The rain is so heavy, I can barely open my eyes…" Mejiro Ryan didn't have time to be bothered by her wet hair. Should she be glad she had short hair? It didn't feel like an obstruction while running. If Mejiro Bright or Ardan were running, their hair would likely block their vision and cause them more difficulties.
But at this moment, Ryan had no time to think about such things. The gap between her and McQueen was widening. If she didn't accelerate now, she might not have another chance to overtake McQueen.
Under such heavy rain, an anxious Ryan subconsciously forgot how she had previously planned to hold back against McQueen. She subconsciously realized that if she didn't go all out, she wouldn't have a chance of beating McQueen.
She could leave the explanation to Grandmother later! The immediate priority was to charge forward and win!
"Mejiro Ryan is making her move! Amazing! In such terrible weather! Mejiro Ryan is making her move!"
"Mejiro Ryan is now catching up to Mejiro McQueen! The distance between them is closing!"
"Is she accelerating now?" Mejiro McQueen knew about Mejiro Ryan closing in on her through the commentator's voice, and her steady pace at this moment showed that she had already anticipated this in her heart.
At this point, there was still one last corner before the finish line. Mejiro Ryan chose this moment to accelerate, intending to overtake Mejiro McQueen on the corner and then sprint towards the finish line using the shortest distance.
However, as Imanami said, endurance and stamina were Mejiro McQueen's greatest advantages. They had already verified this when she did simulated training with Imanami.
Rain could not be simulated, but the track condition could. Imanami had Gold Ship bring many buckets of water and poured them on the track to simulate heavy conditions.
The test results were pleasing. It proved that even under poor track conditions, if McQueen went all out from the start, her stamina would be sufficient to support her through the entire Kyoto Shimbun Hai with a Runaway tactic. However, considering the wind pressure and the impact of the rain at the time, McQueen's stamina would likely be completely drained, and the last stretch would probably have to be covered by sheer willpower.
Therefore, Imanami's suggestion was not to use the Runaway tactic, but McQueen still chose to use the tactic—because she was convinced of one thing.
Ryan's stamina was definitely not as strong as hers. Even if she accelerated near the end, it would definitely not last long.
Under such heavy conditions, with Ryan's stamina, it would probably be difficult for her to perform at her full strength in the final straight, unlike usual.
"And… I promised Trainer that I would win this victory decisively…"
"If I can't pull ahead by a significant distance and instead win by a narrow margin—Trainer probably won't get recognition from others."
At this moment, the thought suddenly sprouted in McQueen's heart. So, in the next moment, facing the Mejiro Ryan who was chasing from behind, McQueen, who had chosen the Runaway tactic and whose stamina was starting to deplete, chose to boldly accelerate!
"BANG!" Her steady footsteps suddenly became extremely forceful the moment she decided to accelerate. McQueen, contrary to her previous completely steady running style, pushed her remaining stamina to the limit in the heavy rain and burst into a sprint!
"MEJIRO MCQUEEN IS ACCELERATING! MEJIRO MCQUEEN IS ACCELERATING!!" The commentator's voice also rang out again at this moment. In the final corner, the race entered its final stage, and the commentator's voice also became more impassioned at this moment.
"She defied everyone's expectations! Mejiro McQueen still has the energy to accelerate after running as a Runaway from the very start! It's almost as if she is Oguri Cap, the 'Grey-Haired Monster' reborn! Her stamina is endless!"
"The distance Mejiro Ryan just closed has widened again! But Mejiro Ryan is still closing in! The distance between them is narrowing again! But with such a huge gap, the outcome seems to have been decided!"
Indeed, the outcome was decided. A faint smile appeared on Mejiro McQueen's rain-soaked face. She looked up at the finish line, which was only a step away, and knew that this victory was hers.
She had proven herself and the excellence of her Trainer. From the moment she crossed the finish line, all those who doubted and envied her would have to shut their mouths.
I WIN!
"And she crosses the finish line! Mejiro McQueen crosses the line! Under such heavy track conditions, she won by a distance of two lengths! A COMPLETE AND UTTER VICTORY!"
"The winner is Mejiro McQueen! She won the Kyoto Shimbun Hai, qualifying her for the Japanese Derby!"
As the commentator's words faded, Mejiro McQueen slowed her steps. She demurely waved her hand to everyone, responding to all the cheers.
But in the end, her first action was to turn and look towards the very noticeable Gold Ship and Imanami. With an Uma Musume's excellent eyesight, she could see that Imanami and Gold Ship were both clapping for her.
And after seeing this, a gentle smile finally bloomed on Mejiro McQueen's face. She bowed slightly towards Imanami, indicating that all her current achievements were due to his efforts.
"…Quite good." Meanwhile, in the stands, an old woman silently took her leave after McQueen's victory with another Uma Musume accompanying her too.
"It was indeed the right decision to entrust McQueen to Trainer Imanami. Ryan is the current rising star of our Mejiro Family. Both her debut and formal training were earlier than McQueen's, but I didn't expect her to lose this time."
"It's all thanks to your discerning eye, Grandmother." By the Mejiro Head's side, a disguised Mejiro Ardan also said with a smile, "If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have seen such great potential in Trainer Imanami, nor would they have trusted such a young Trainer."
"Really, I was just taking a gamble with him. After all, benefits often come hand in hand with risk." The Mejiro Family Head, supported by Ardan, returned to the car that had been prepared outside the Racecourse. As the car slowly started, the Mejiro Head couldn't help but ask:
"How has McQueen and Imanami-san's progress been recently? Ardan, have you heard anything?"
"I only heard that Trainer Imanami, along with Trainers Wada and Ikezoe, formed a team, and that T.M. Opera O has already won the team's first GI." Ardan replied, "Other than that, McQueen and Imanami-san have been very well-behaved and seem to have done nothing out of the ordinary."
"Grandmother, I think McQueen probably hasn't understood your intentions and merely respects Imanami-san as a Trainer."
"Hmm… Perhaps, it still lacks a catalyst."
The Mejiro Family Head nodded upon hearing this. The current situation, for her, was quite normal. McQueen was shy and reserved. Although she was at an age where she should be experiencing her first stirrings of love, due to the closed environment of the Mejiro Family, she would likely find it difficult to realize her own inner feelings.
As for the Madam's hint at the time, McQueen probably hadn't understood it, unless… she herself developed such thoughts first.
"Grandmother, if that's the case, the Gold Family's…"
"—There's nothing to worry about that girl, Ardan. The brat from the Gold Family poses absolutely zero threat to McQueen." The Mejiro Family Head said with a light smile upon hearing this, "Gold Ship is just a child, and she's only being doted on like a child. She is the least threatening presence."
"We don't need to be anxious. If this were a race, then our Mejiro Family's plan is a 3600-meter long-distance race. There's no need to rush."
"McQueen will realize it herself. When the right moment comes, she will understand…"
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Man... McQueen and Imanami just want to have a normal Trainer-trainee relationship.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.