The way Uma Musume looks at me is so scary!

"That's perfect! Once they win the championship, I'll sponsor a few watermelons for everyone in Kasamatsu to celebrate!"

Hearing the voice behind her, Anjiang Lingyin silently curled the corners of her lips. She walked to her phone, looked at it, and paused for a moment before speaking.

"Huh? When was this filmed?"

A group photo of everyone appeared prominently on the phone screen.

The clear lake surface reflected the dappled afternoon sunlight. In front of everyone, words of blessing were written on the ground with pebbles and twigs, with the Kasamatsu Tresen family's portraits being the closest to the people.

Chizuru Haibara and Yuzuru Kitahara stood in the back row, smiling with rare ease. Principal Haibara even held up a skewer of half-cooked meat for the camera. Takeru Satoh tried to put on a serious face, but his hat was accidentally knocked askew by Kaze Kobayashi, who was being held up by Makizo Nishimoto.

Oguri Roman half-squatted down, placing his hands in a cross shape in front of his chest, while Golden Ship poked its head out from the side, deliberately making a face and sticking out its tongue, with a leaf still stuck to its horse ears.

Xiu Xingmeng was surrounded by the crowd in the center, with Nan Ye Jin and An Jiang Lingyin squeezed on either side of her, making exaggerated peace signs, their wide smiles almost overflowing the screen.

"Not bad."

Anzai Suzune looked at the photo that had been taken sometime earlier and said with some joy.

Chapter 108 Japanese Derby

Rin Akasaka paced back and forth in the commentary room with some excitement. This was her first time commentating on a G1-level match, and it was also the Japanese derby in the classic Triple Crown Tournament.

Because of the surge in popularity of Hideyuki Hoshino after the Satsuki Sho, Rin Akasaka, who had been competing alongside her since the local level, also came into the view of some people.

Recognizing her outstanding abilities and the extraordinary connection between her and Xiuxing Meng that could fill a news article, Akasaka Rin was allowed to join the commentary team for this Japanese derby as a guest.

The commentator for this event is once again Kentaro Sugiki, who previously hosted the Satsuki Sho.

While Akasaka Rin was excitedly wandering around, he just looked out the window with some worry.

The Satsuki Sho race had to be moved from Nakayama Racecourse to Tokyo Racecourse due to an earthquake, and looking at the gloomy weather covered by dark clouds outside the window, this Japanese derby might be met with a heavy rain.

In such a top-level competition, the track has a huge impact, especially in rainy weather. If the female racehorses are not careful when turning a corner, they may suffer irreparable injuries.

Golden Master was the hope for breaking the Arc de Triomphe curse in the Japanese horse racing world, while Embroidered Star Dream, who defeated her, also carried the same expectations.

If anything unexpected happens to these two future hopes in this Japanese derby...

As he thought this, a few beads of cold sweat involuntarily trickled down Kentaro Sugiki's forehead.

He couldn't imagine the upheaval that would ripple through the horse racing world.

I hope I'm just worrying unnecessarily. The racehorses that can compete in this kind of race all possess top-notch qualities and should be able to control their running rhythm well.

Kentaro Sugiki let out a long sigh and thought to himself.

At this moment, shifting our gaze from the commentary room to the audience seats, we can see that people are gradually entering and taking their seats.

Tagami Kane was among them.

Thanks to his press pass and the fact that he had waited outside for several hours, he was finally able to be among the first audience members to enter.

For Tashinkan, who had already bought his ticket, there was absolutely no need to pursue being among the first to enter.

Anyway, it's just a matter of queuing outside for a little longer. There's still some time before the players enter the competition and it starts, enough time for him to adjust the camera settings in his seat.

But this is the competition for the Star Dream team, the Japanese derby that Star Dream team is participating in. We can see our hometown stars step onto the stage of the classic triple crown competition and compete for the triple crown that only a handful of people can win.

How could Tagami not be excited, and how could he not want to be the first to enter the arena?

The photos and reports taken at the Satsuki Sho last time were very popular, and Tagami himself received praise from his superiors.

But he didn't really care about any of that. All he wanted was to be able to use his camera to capture every shining moment of Xiuxing Dream on site.

He stared expectantly at the players' tunnel. A strong wind blew across the gloomy sky, but it couldn't extinguish the flame burning in Takanashi's heart.

Not far from his seat, Kasamatsu Tresen and his group also entered the arena. After finding their seats one by one, they, like Tagami, stared intently at the players' tunnel.

They certainly knew there was still some time before the match started, but didn't Tagami also know that? They just couldn't contain their excitement.

"It's like a dream. When I brought Ah Meng into the school, I never thought this day would come."

Haibara Koutarou remarked with emotion that everything had changed since Hideyuki came to Kasamatsu Tressen. Not only had everyone at the school rekindled their fighting spirit, but they had even managed to dethrone the prestigious young lady from her champion's throne, just as Hideyuki had said.

Previously, Kotaro Haibara, who was struggling to even maintain Kasamatsu Tressen, would never have dared to have such a fantasy.

His greatest hope at that time was that Oguri Roman could go to Central Tressen, so that everyone would know the place and that Kasamatsu's name still existed.

I never imagined that I would see my own students step onto a stage like the Japanese derby.

Thinking of this, Koutarou Haibara couldn't help but shed tears.

"If you're going to cry, at least wait until Meng wins the match. What kind of dad is it to cry now?"

Sitting to the side, Chizuru Haibara handed a handkerchief to her father and said with a hint of helplessness.

"I just couldn't control myself for a moment. After all, we've watched Meng grow from her debut to where she is today."

Upon hearing what Haibara Koutarou said, the others sitting next to him, including Kasamatsu, nodded in agreement.

Even Haibara Chizuru, who had just been somewhat disdainful of her father, was now filled with emotion. It was true that they had started from Kasamatsu Racecourse, where there were only a handful of spectators, and watched Hideki Yume come to this stage.

Thinking of this, Haibara Chizuru felt a little sorry for Minamino Sumire. She and Xiuxing Meng had such a good relationship, but she missed such an important match. She must be very unwilling.

However, she quickly smiled and shook her head, rejecting the idea. It was no coincidence that Minamino Sumire would choose to participate in the Haneda Cup, which was on the same day as the Japanese derby.

Perhaps she has already made some kind of agreement with Xiu Xingmeng.

At the same time, Minamino Sumire, who had already entered the Oi Racecourse, silently clenched her fists.

The Haneda Cup was established when the local regions, during their heyday, wanted to challenge the central government. Its date was also set on the same day as the Japanese Derby, symbolizing a fierce competition.

However, with the decline of the region, the importance of the Haneda Cup has naturally plummeted.

However, it remains a G3-level high-reward race and is the most important step for local horse racing girls to move towards the central stage. Even the race venue is set up at the Oi Racecourse in Tokyo.

Minamino Sumire subconsciously looked towards the Tokyo Racecourse.

At this very moment, she and Xiu Xingmeng are at different racetracks in the same city, participating in two completely different races.

This is a promise we made to each other last year.

The victory of the Embroidered Star Dream Club in the Japanese derby once again made Kasamatsu's name resound throughout the central region, leaving even the most prestigious families in awe.

Meanwhile, Minamino Sumire will win the Haneda Cup, letting the local horse racing girls know that even if their talent cannot compare to that of geniuses, they still have their own goals on the track.

Minamino Sumire let out a long sigh of relief. For her, the Haneda Cup was like the Japanese derby to Xiuxingmeng.

They also have formidable opponents, and they also have reasons why they cannot afford to lose.

I will win.

So you are the same.

Minamino Sumire thought to herself, and at that moment the commentator's voice rang out as well.

"Contestant number five—"

"Minamino Sumire, a racehorse girl from Kasamatsu!"

Chapter 109 The Chief and the Stage

"Next up is the racehorse girl—"

"Bearing the glory of the Golden Family and carrying the hopes of the Japanese horse racing world, can this golden tyrant wash away the shame of the Satsuki Sho with victory and glory on the track today?!"

"Number one in popularity! Contestant number five, the Golden Master!"

Commentator Kentaro Sugiki's voice resonated throughout the Tokyo Racecourse through its loudspeaker system, and as he delivered his enthusiastic commentary, the audience's emotions grew increasingly high.

As soon as that golden figure walked out of the players' tunnel, their cheers erupted like a volcano, and they waved enthusiastically in the stands.

The gold, black, and red decorations on the Golden Master's decisive outfit shone even brighter in the rain, and the six-pointed star crown on his head reflected a dazzling light.

Even in the shadow of his narrow defeat at the Satsuki Sho, this tyrant still maintained a suffocating sense of oppression.

Many people felt that the gap between her and Xiu Xingmeng in that race was actually very small. If it weren't for that strange loss of speed at the end, the outcome of the Satsuki Sho would still be uncertain.

Now, on the stage of the Japanese derby, the Golden Master, when she gets serious, will use her unparalleled finishing touch to seize the glory of victory.

Just as people were cheering, another female horse on the track also turned her attention to the Golden Master.

At that moment, a racehorse girl with long red hair, her hair tied into two sections with a bow at the back of her head, was staring intently at the back of the Gold Master with her emerald green eyes.

Unconsciously, she gripped the ballet-skirt-like final outfit tightly with both hands.

As one of the rising stars of Central Treisen's class, Triumph Ballet has been seen from the moment she enrolled as a hope to break the monopoly of prestigious clubs on G1 events.

She had always demanded the same of herself, but ever since the Golden Master's power became increasingly terrifying, few people had mentioned it anymore.

Gazing at that radiant figure that shone even in the heavy rain, Triumph Ballet unconsciously pursed her lips.

All brilliance melts into the sun's radiance, and the Master of Gold shines like the sun through generations.

Golden Master is hailed as the future of Japanese racehorse girls, carrying expectations she can't even imagine.

"It's truly dazzling..."

Just as she was speaking, she suddenly heard the narrator's introduction.

"It's almost like fate that the horse girl who appeared right after the Golden Master was—"

The horse's ears twitched. Unlike the previous introduction, this time the voice coming from outside the arena was a woman's voice.

"Like a crimson, ominous star tearing through the night sky under the rule of noble families, you brave warrior who went against the current from Kasamatsu, you have shown us that this generation is not ruled by only one king!"

"Second most popular! Contestant number six, Xiu Xingmeng!"

Let us witness your brilliance once again!

As her impassioned words fell, another thunderous cheer erupted from the audience, its power and momentum no less than that of the Golden Tyrant, the Golden Master.

Upon hearing this name, a figure immediately came to mind for Triumph Ballet.

That female racehorse who came from the local area to the central region almost single-handedly completed the long-standing tracing of Central Treisen, and even pulled the highly anticipated Golden Tyrant off the champion's throne.

Triumphant Ballet turned her head to look at the contestants' passage, and a deep, blood-red color appeared in her vision as if tearing through the rain curtain.

Triumphant Ballet seemed to have been stung by the sharp red, and instinctively turned her eyes away.

My heart started pounding inexplicably, and I felt a constant, dangerous sensation, like being pricked by needles.

Red Radiance... an ominous star?

Now she finally understood why the name "Embroidered Star Dream" was considered an ominous sign.

Even a fleeting glimpse was enough for Triumph Ballet to deeply imprint the image of Xiu Xingmeng in her mind.

The sailor uniform, as black as an abyss, seemed to be made of dried blood, giving off an icy chill, while the crimson cloak above it was like hot blood constantly flowing out.

New blood covered the old blood, making it seem like a never-ending battlefield, exuding a chilling bloody aura. The sounds of killing and fighting seemed to echo across the arena like the hum of swords.

Triumphant Ballet looked down at her red and white finale costume. She chose red because she liked apples, and even the costume seemed to have a sweet, fruity quality.

Although both are red, the red of Embroidered Star Dream is different.

She experienced a story that Triumph Ballet had never experienced before, and the will she honed on the field was unmatched. Embroidered Star Dream, carrying the blood of her enemies and herself, must have carried a burden that ordinary people could not imagine.

"What exactly did she go through..."

Raindrops fell on Triumph Ballet's eyelashes, somehow reminding her of something her father had once said.

The top performer on stage will attract the attention of all the audience, and the one who shines the brightest will be called TOP STAR.

For this beautiful and dazzling position, one person's strength is not enough; there must also be a nemesis. Only through repeated extreme clashes between the two can the most dazzling light be born.

She looked up, and the arena in the rain seemed to be split in two, one half a golden tyrant shining with dazzling brilliance, and the other half a crimson ominous star exuding a terrifying and ferocious aura.

Under the torrential rain, it seemed as if the entire arena was trembling because of the two people's terrifying aura. Triumph Ballet looked around and found that all the racehorse girls except herself had a distraught expression.

Listening to the enthusiastic cheers of the audience, the two commentators engaged in a fierce debate over who would win the championship between the Golden Master and the Embroidered Star Dream. All these complicated sounds from outside the arena made Triumph Ballet somewhat distracted.

People outside the arena cannot understand what is happening inside, but even they can sense that the arena is now under the control of the two players.

Triumphant Ballet lowered her head and looked at her palm.

Why can't I have that kind of aura? Why can't I have that kind of power?

Is it that my competitive spirit for the competition and for the championship is not strong enough? Or is it that my fighting spirit against my opponents is not intense enough?

Confused, Triumph Ballet shook her head. She could vaguely sense that she must have come into contact with the thing that made Embroidered Star Dream and the Golden Master so powerful.

But why does it feel like I've lost it?

"Eclipse first, the rest nowhere."

In the rain, Triumph Ballet unconsciously recited Tresson's motto, and at that moment, she vaguely sensed something from those words.