Chapter 39: Tenno Sho (Autumn)

The Autumn Tenno Sho is apparently a pretty insane race. I mean, I knew that already, but actually seeing Tokyo Racecourse jammed from the entrance is something else. Since I can go directly from the Academy, I don’t have to wade through that madness. Instead, here I am, sitting comfortably on a bench, watching the chaos with a wonderful sense of distance. It’s exactly like a NEET lounging at a café, elegantly observing office workers commuting during rush hour.

The poor spectators stuck in the tightly packed walkway wave this way, completely unaware of what I’m thinking. I wave back halfheartedly, and cheers erupt from the whole crowd. It feels like watching fish in an aquarium swimming toward your hand whenever you move it.

I arrived at the racecourse a bit too early, so I’ll just rest until it’s time to start preparing.

Leaving my busy-looking Trainer behind for the moment, I head toward the inner area of the course. There’s a napping spot here that I’ve loved ever since a certain Uma Musume recommended it to me last year.

Its name: the Fluffy Dome. Basically, it’s a big white trampoline shaped like a little hill—but lying down on it is absolutely the best. The downside is that in summer the surface gets hot, so I haven’t used it in a while. But on a day like today, it’s perfect.

However, when I tried to enter like before, for some reason the staff stopped me.

They told me, “This area is for small children,” but I am a child, and I’m pretty confident I’m on the shorter side too… I pushed a little, but they insisted that racers should stay in the waiting room area. In other words: “Go run your race and don’t come here.”

Maybe it requires adult supervision? If I’d known that, I would’ve brought my Trainer.

Come to think of it, the fact that they instantly recognized I was racing today surprised me—but then I remembered I was still wearing my racing outfit.

Since I had no choice, I just lay down on the nearby grass. That’s when King-chan, Sei-chan, and even Grass-chan and El-chan showed up. Apparently the Trainer asked them to come drag me back. And now that I check the time, it really is almost time to get ready.

I thank the four of them for their… “encouragement” (that is, “If you lose, we won’t forgive you”), and I hurry back to prepare for the race.

Even with the earlier mishap, I’m in perfect condition today. Even now, inside the gate, my focus hasn’t slipped at all. Thanks to training, my starting dash has improved, and following my Trainer’s plan, getting ahead of Suzuka-san shouldn’t be too difficult.

Come to think of it, I only have three races left. Once I finish this one, I’ll drink a bottle of— CLANG!

Ue!?

Crap—false start on my part!! I’m late!!!

A beat behind everyone else, I burst out of the gate—and what I see in front of me are the backs of countless racers already sprinting down the turf.

Suzuka-san on the innermost lane is already surging into the lead.

I’ve been told that if you push too hard right after the start, you risk running out of stamina—but staying back here won’t help either. As the others bunch up and gather toward the inside on the first turn, I swing wide and go around them in one go.

It’s a bit of a loss since I have to go dramatically wide, but thanks to that, I get a clear view of the front.

Suzuka-san is going even faster than usual today.

I push harder, forcing my way ahead, passing even Stay-senpai. Stay-senpai during a race feels even scarier than usual. Running next to her feels like she might bite me.

Even though I manage to make up the distance by the time we hit the stretch, Suzuka-san is still far ahead. I raise my speed another notch, but Suzuka-san responds instantly and accelerates too.

If that’s how it is, then I’m not backing down either.

I force my pace even higher, closing the distance little by little.

By the end of the straight, entering the curve, I can finally see her back clearly—much bigger now. I try to swing around from the outside to blow past her in one move, but of course, it’s Suzuka-san. We’re trading leads at a pace far faster than usual as we charge through the turn.

The next moment, my world is swallowed by that same state I felt during the Derby—like crossing into another realm. And the world becomes overflowing with happiness.

Fanfare echoes, and Tokyo Racecourse is, naturally, filled to capacity today.

Autumn begins here. GⅠ—Tenno Sho (Autumn). A 2000-meter turf race.

All eyes are on Witolum Pedes, who skipped the Kikuka Sho despite being undefeated and eligible for the Triple Crown in order to take this race. And last year’s champion, Silence Suzuka, here to redeem herself after the Mainichi Okan. A dream matchup—two front-runners battling it out in the race everyone dreams of winning.

Even during gate loading, the roar of the crowd already blankets the entire course.

The best stage. The best members. And likely, the best race.

Gate loading proceeds smoothly. Now, all the Uma Musume are in position.

The glorious finish lies 2000 meters ahead.
The Autumn Tenno Sho—has begun.

Ah—Witolum Pedes mistimes the break! She’s a step late out of the gate. She’ll be starting this race about five lengths behind. Can she make up the distance from here?

At the front, Silence Suzuka is already pulling away. Hugging the inside rail, she leaves the rest behind in one breath. The others scatter as the pack heads into the first two corners.

And here—Witolum Pedes suddenly makes a move forward!
She’s swinging wide, going around the entire pack from the back, trying to slip past on the outside. Instead of running from the rear, she’s chosen an aggressive, forward-pressing strategy. Perhaps she’s judged that saving everything for a late kick just won’t cut it today.

Around the second corner, Silence Suzuka leads. She’s flying—smooth, fast, unstoppable.

Trailing by about nine lengths in second is Farside Fake. On the outside, Stay Gold is pushing up; today she’s choosing to race from a forward position.

And coming up rapidly behind them—Witolum Pedes. She’s soaring along the outside, trying to take second place already. The Autumn Tenno Sho is showing unexpected developments right from the start.

In mid-pack sits Mejiro Bright, the Uma Musume aiming for a Spring–Autumn Tenno Sho double.

Just outside her, M.T. Hurricane waits for her chance.

Up front, Silence Suzuka refuses to slow. She runs. She runs. And Witolum Pedes is chasing desperately behind her. The gap between Witolum Pedes and the rest is widening rapidly.

But Silence Suzuka still holds a lead of nearly ten lengths over Witolum Pedes.

A ridiculous race is unfolding—two front-runners, both going for a massive breakaway. The stadium is electrified, a full house roaring with excitement.

Ah—Witolum Pedes digs in and drives forward, trying to reel in Silence Suzuka in one burst. Can she really sustain this pace until the end?

Suzuka flees, Witolum Pedes closes in. The gap shrinks—already down to six lengths.

It’s become a two-horse race. The rest of the pack lags so far behind they finally come back into view.

The pack is stretching out. In third now is Stay Gold. Mejiro Bright creeps forward from mid-pack.

Witolum Pedes seems absolutely determined to take the lead. She’s using tremendous power to drive forward. Silence Suzuka cannot afford to give up the Autumn Shield. And Witolum Pedes is equally determined—no, absolutely resolved—to claim it for herself.

Just before entering the third corner from the backstretch, Witolum Pedes accelerates again, drawing up alongside Silence Suzuka. But Silence Suzuka refuses to surrender the lead.

And now they pass the 1000-meter mark at 57.1 seconds.

Inside: Silence Suzuka.
Outside: Witolum Pedes.
Will Witolum Pedes finally catch her at the third corner, or will Silence Suzuka pull away?

Inside or outside—neither is yielding in this dead heat. They’ve put almost twenty lengths between themselves and the rest. At this pace, can they possibly last to the finish?

Moving from the third corner toward the fourth—

They pass the 800-meter pole.

From behind, Farside Fake tries to close in. Stay Gold is coming too. Will Mejiro Bright make it in time?

And now—
The race enters the fourth corner and charges toward the final stretch!