The race reached its middle phase.
Twin Turbo had already opened up a full ten-length gap from second place. Shirayuki had been watching her movements the entire time, and when she realized Twin Turbo still had plenty of stamina left, she knew she could not keep waiting.
If I let her widen the gap any more, there's no way I'll catch her on the final straight!
Among all the competitors in the race, Shirayuki was the only one who possessed a trainer's knowledge and judgment, as well as a good view of the entire field.
Well, perhaps not an especially good view.
But it was enough to watch a straight-line race.
That was why Fujiwara Shirayuki understood what would happen if they simply allowed Twin Turbo to keep running.
The others had not yet realized the severity of the problem. They were still waiting for Twin Turbo to run out of stamina.
But full-throttle escape was itself a strategy.
As expected of the experienced Trainer Minamizaka. He really found a solution.
In the stands, a gentle-looking man in a gray suit watched the race with a serious expression.
He knew Twin Turbo's problem.
The moment she got close to other Uma Musume, she became anxious. She was completely unable to think calmly, and in the end she would lose control and charge straight to the front.
Whether it was Front Runner, Pace Chaser, Late Surger, or End Closer, as long as there were other Uma Musume around her, Twin Turbo became extremely nervous. One could even say she was frightened.
In front of others, she always acted fearless, but inside she was very timid.
It was no exaggeration to say that Twin Turbo was a child who used her wild outward appearance to hide her fragile heart. She could not overcome the nervousness of running together with other Uma Musume.
In that case, there was only one running style left before Twin Turbo.
Escape.
And not ordinary escape. It had to be a runaway style that allowed her to completely release all the nervousness and unease in her heart. This running style abandoned the principle of preserving stamina entirely. Its purpose was to burn the body down to the very last drop.
Using that style as the foundation, Minamizaka had arranged a series of specialized training drills for Twin Turbo.
He wanted Twin Turbo to have the capital needed to run wild.
He wanted to max out her stamina.
The results proved that this decision had been extremely successful. In the next few tests, Twin Turbo had run very impressive times.
Not only that, but this style also had a powerful deceptive quality. It made every opponent think she was simply running away without any plan, so they did not take her seriously as a true threat.
Today's race was exactly like that.
After Twin Turbo began her escape, not a single person chased after her. She very easily built up an enormous lead. None of them knew that Twin Turbo still had stamina remaining, enough to gamble everything in the final phase. By the time they noticed, it would already be too late.
Almost there. Just a little more...
Trainer Minamizaka clenched his fists.
As long as she builds another two-length advantage, this race is as good as won.
Go, Turbo!
Minamizaka shouted in his heart.
While no one has noticed yet, go even faster!
But just as that thought appeared in Minamizaka's mind, a white figure suddenly began to move.
She lowered her body, broke out from the pack, and chased toward Twin Turbo at the front.
The acceleration came without warning.
It seemed to have no reason behind it.
This was not yet the key point of the race.
What!?
Minamizaka's heart jolted.
She accelerated!? Why here!?
He gripped the railing with both hands.
There had been no movement in the pack. The only unusual factor was Twin Turbo. Clearly, Shirayuki was aiming directly for her.
Could she have seen through my strategy?
No.
That was impossible.
Even veteran trainers would have trouble reacting to his strategy immediately. Shirayuki was only a newcomer Uma Musume who had transferred not long ago. Where would she get the experience? Where would she get the judgment?
Minamizaka denied the possibility.
There was only one explanation.
The other girl had lost patience. She could not wait until Twin Turbo grew tired, and by pure coincidence, that timing happened to be the crucial point at which Twin Turbo was building her advantage.
Too coincidental.
This was far too coincidental.
It was simply the goddess of fortune watching over her. If Twin Turbo had been allowed just two more lengths of advantage, the race would have been secure.
Unfortunately, Shirayuki had not given him that chance.
"It's Snow Dancer!"
Seeing the one who had moved, the announcer shouted.
"Snow Dancer has begun accelerating! Is she preparing to settle this directly with Twin Turbo!?"
Shirayuki!?
Mejiro McQueen's heart jumped. She looked back and realized Shirayuki was already charging toward her.
Why...?
She could not understand why Shirayuki would accelerate here. The race had only just entered the latter half of the middle phase. They had not even reached the final corner yet. And yet Shirayuki was accelerating here.
Is she trying to overtake me early? To keep me pinned below her?
No.
Mejiro McQueen noticed that Shirayuki's gaze had passed over her entirely and was fixed on Twin Turbo ahead.
Could Shirayuki's target be that runaway Uma Musume?
Was that necessary?
All they had to do was wait until Twin Turbo ran out of stamina. To lose patience and accelerate now was surely a mistake.
Mejiro McQueen felt regret over Shirayuki's poor decision. If she launched too early, Shirayuki's stamina would not hold later.
But just as Mejiro McQueen was about to stay still, she suddenly sensed something was wrong.
Lose patience?
Shirayuki?
She remembered Shirayuki wearing those heavy horseshoes and enduring that difficult training day after day. She remembered how, no matter how many mistakes her classmates made, Shirayuki would patiently repeat the explanation again and again like a teacher.
In their class, no one was more patient than Shirayuki.
And yet that very same Shirayuki had chosen to accelerate at this timing.
A thought rose in Mejiro McQueen's mind.
She isn't losing patience.
If she doesn't accelerate now, it'll be too late.
Mejiro McQueen could not read the race situation.
But she could read Shirayuki.
She knew Shirayuki would never make such a reckless move for no reason.
With that thought, Mejiro McQueen's eyes sharpened.
She decided to follow Shirayuki's judgment.
But just as she made up her mind and began to move, someone had already burst out from behind at tremendous speed.
"Gyaaaahhhhh!!"
With a cry, her steps turned fierce.
It was Special Week.
The instant Fujiwara Shirayuki accelerated, Special Week also rushed out of the pack without the slightest hesitation and moved to the outside lane.
Before the race, Nishizaki Ryu had warned her that it would be best to start accelerating after clearing the corner. But the moment she saw Shirayuki start running, Special Week's body moved instinctively too.
A powerful desire burst out in her heart.
Special Week felt it clearly.
This was the key moment when she and her friend would decide victory.
"Number six, Special Week, has begun accelerating! She is chasing after Snow Dancer at the front! Wait... Mejiro McQueen in number three is also refusing to back down and has started accelerating too!"
At that moment, the race became a scene of Twin Turbo leading at the front, while Shirayuki, Special Week, and McQueen chased from behind.
Minamizaka gripped the railing tightly.
How...? How...?
The way these girls accelerated made no sense. How could his strategy have been seen through by so many of them?
At the very front, Twin Turbo's breathing had grown rough. Her chest felt as though it were about to explode, and she could barely draw breath.
She looked at the three figures chasing behind her, and with the last of her strength, she let out a broken, breathless laugh.
"Haa... ehehe... ahaha..."
Her body was almost burned out.
Her legs felt as heavy as if they carried thousands of kilograms.
Even so, her heart was soaring with joy.
"Run... run!! Ahahahaha!!"
Twin Turbo dragged her exhausted body forward at full speed.
She felt a happiness unlike anything she had ever known.