Hearing Norn Ace's words, Oguri Cap instinctively looked toward Fujimaru Ritsuka. Her first thought was: Is there actually a carrot cake like that?
Immediately, an image flashed in her mind of Fujimaru Ritsuka engaging in a fistfight with a carrot cake, eventually tearing it into eight pieces.
At the same time, however, the sharp clack of the gates opening rang out. The sound pulled Oguri Cap's attention back, forcing her gaze back to the track.
By then, Norn Ace and the other two girls in the heat had already surged forward. She had been left in the dust, alone.
Norn Ace's start was crisp and efficient. Her pink hair traced sharp arcs in the wind as she quickly reached her top speed, streaking down the track like an arrow from a bow. She was putting the strength of a top-tier local trainee on full display.
Not far away, Mini Lady and Ludi Lemo were doubling over with laughter. "Haha! What is that mud-rabbit doing? Was she scared of the gate sound? That is hilarious!"
Oguri Cap trained every day, and whenever she appeared at the academy, she usually carried the scent of sweat and earth. They didn't like that. Seeing Oguri commit such a massive blunder brought them pure, unadulterated joy.
Were there actually Uma Musume who got scared of the gate's sound? Yes, there were. If it was their first time in a formal test or if their mind happened to be wandering, a newcomer could easily fall into a daze or freeze on the spot.
"What are you doing?!" Double Bell Light had already started her run, but seeing Oguri Cap still standing blankly in the gate, she called out out of classmate camaraderie. She maintained a high-knees jog in place as she shouted, "The test has started! Oguri-san, hurry up!"
Though Oguri Cap was an eccentric who seemed a bit difficult to approach—and had even slept through the first day of class—Double Bell Light believed that no girl who loved to run could be truly bad. Besides, Oguri had a Trainer even before she enrolled.
Unless the girl was truly incorrigible, a Trainer's guidance and care usually ensured their personality only grew better with time.
"Started..." Oguri Cap blinked, and then it finally clicked. "I see. This is the 'interference' Trainer-san mentioned."
Back when she first started her guided training, she had heard Fujimaru Ritsuka say:
Regardless of the distance, the start is vital. A good start grants a massive advantage. Because of this, many Uma Musume engage in psychological warfare before the race begins. They seize the moment the gates open to decisively interfere with their opponents. Powerful Uma Musume can even exert pressure by releasing a 'dangerous aura,' causing their rivals to leak from the gate.
Despite being tricked, Oguri Cap didn't feel angry. Instead, a thought surfaced: So, that person actually thinks quite highly of me.
If Norn Ace wasn't wary of her strength or condition, why would she bother interfering?
A sense of joy at being recognized welled up within Oguri.
"In that case..."
The silver-gray-haired girl took a deep breath. The confusion vanished from her blue eyes, replaced by a surging, soaring fighting spirit.
Ignoring Double Bell Light's frantic calls, Oguri Cap dropped into her starting stance. Her vision narrowed until only the flat track remained; it was as if she could no longer hear her well-meaning classmate.
She thought: Deep breath. Tense the muscles, but keep the body fluid. And then...
The girl's right foot slammed into the ground.
"—!"
In that instant, a sudden gale erupted on the level ground. Sand and dirt sprayed backward in a wide fan, kicking up a wall of murky dust behind her!
A powerful pressure wave rippled outward from Oguri Cap. Double Bell Light, being the closest to her, was blasted by the flying grit until she was covered in dust.
"Cough, cough...!" Double Bell Light coughed violently, her heart hammering with lingering fear. "Wh-what just happened?"
Isn't this just a Newcomer Test? Why is there a girl capable of this? Is she really a rookie?
The girl's hair whipped wildly in the wind, her face a mask of utter disbelief.
In the blink of an eye, Oguri Cap had already covered ten meters!
Those blue eyes turned as sharp as blades. The "space cadet" look was gone, replaced by a fleeting, jet-black aura that flickered like a roaring wildfire!
"Th-this is..." Double Bell Light stared blankly at the silver-gray figure that had suddenly exploded into action, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her. How could she see a roaring, black flame emanating from a person? This wasn't a manga!
At the same time, Fujimasa March—who was currently being courted by a crowd of enthusiastic Trainers—turned her gaze toward Oguri Cap.
Just moments ago, the girl known for her diligence and brilliance had looked indifferent. She hadn't seen any quality or talent in these Trainers that she deemed worthy, so she had remained bored.
But upon seeing Oguri Cap's performance, her eyes instantly sharpened, locking onto that silver-gray silhouette.
Oguri's running style was a bit wild, a bit uninhibited—not at all what a girl her age was "supposed" to look like.
More importantly, her stride was massive, and her power was immense. It looked as if every step she took was driven by a resolve to stomp right through the track itself.
Her long silver-gray hair trailed behind her in a straight, flying line, and the rising dust formed a hazy "halo" around her.
Fujimasa March unconsciously gripped her towel tight. In this moment, she was absolutely certain: Oguri Cap... that girl might be the strongest Uma Musume in all of Kasamatsu Tracen.
And the Trainer who raised such a girl must be someone incredible. If it were a Trainer like that... maybe he could take me to the Tokai Derby. Maybe he could help me climb that peak!
With that thought, the corners of Fujimasa March's mouth unconsciously quirked upward.
On the track, the silver-haired girl was oblivious to the attention.
Her focus was absolute, as if the world contained nothing but Norn Ace ahead of her and the finish line beyond.
The blunder at the gate was long forgotten. All that filled her now was the sense of euphoria surging from every fiber of her being, an intense desire for the freedom of the run, and... a tidal wave of hunger for victory!
Norn Ace hadn't thought much of it at first. But as Oguri Cap drew closer, her ears began to twitch uncontrollably, desperately trying to pinpoint the location of those rapidly approaching footsteps. She unconsciously gritted her teeth, straining her legs and her entire body to go faster.
Was it because she wanted a good time? Partly, yes. But mostly, it was fear.
Yes—fear. Even without looking back, even while focused entirely on the track ahead, the sound of those closing footsteps made every nerve in her body go taut. Her instincts were screaming at her. Something incredibly dangerous was closing in fast!
What did it feel like exactly?
It was like someone had dropped a massive boulder into a calm lake. The wind that had been whistling smoothly past her ears was suddenly thrown out of rhythm. Something behind her was literally tearing through the air, creating a low, continuous roar.
That wasn't the sound of horseshoes hitting the ground; it was the sound of the wind screaming as it was brutally rent asunder!
What made Norn Ace's hair stand on end even more was the sensation of a gaze—one as swift as the wind and as invasive as fire!
It felt like being locked in the sights of an apex predator!
Then, at the very edge of her peripheral vision, a silver-gray blur approached her at a speed visible to the naked eye.
No! It wasn't approaching—it was crushing its way forward! Like a terrifying tsunami overtaking a small boat, or a raging wildfire sweeping across the prairie! The sense of dread peaked!
Then, a powerful pressure wave brushed past her. The suffocating weight that had almost stopped Norn Ace's breath suddenly dropped away, allowing her to gasp for air.
The terrifying predator had already passed her, baring its teeth at the victory waiting at the very front!
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