At this moment, Kitasan Black had never been more grateful that, during her preparations, she had been able to fight side by side with Yasui Makoto.
Because of that, from the very start of this Arima Kinen... no, from even earlier than that, she had already realized that the race as she saw it now was completely different from before.
Even more than that, she was grateful that the two of them had gone through this entire year together, that she could tell Yasui Makoto anything, and that he would always answer her with endless patience.
She felt that if not for that, there was no way she could have stayed this calm in this Arima Kinen.
She was not especially good at raw speed, but she possessed an extraordinary burst of explosive acceleration.
That ability could only be used a limited number of times in a race. Over 2500 meters, at most, she could use it four times.
But if the timing was right, it could become the key to securing victory—or even turning the whole race around.
The first time had been in the opening stretch. The moment she recognized the timing they had rehearsed beforehand, she unleashed her power with perfect precision, shot straight into first, successfully seized the front-running position, and established an early advantage in a single stroke, laying a solid foundation for everything that followed.
The second time had been when they passed the third corner again.
The rivals behind her were all searching for a chance to overtake, and Gold Ship-senpai had been pressing closer with every step. All she could feel at her back was tension and fierce pressure.
But as she burst forward again, she relied on the skill she had built up day after day, cleverly using the curve of the turn and the pull of centrifugal force to slip perfectly clear of her opponents' attack and keep control of the race's rhythm.
The third time had been when she came charging out of the fourth corner again.
It had been almost the same as the last burst. By then, her stamina had already been heavily drained by the intensity of the race, but her mind was still clear enough.
She knew that moment was the decisive phase on the road to victory. She could not afford even the slightest lapse.
Even though the muscles in her legs were starting to ache and her breathing was growing ragged, she still gritted her teeth and held on, continuing to fly forward in first place.
And the last time—the one that would decide victory or defeat...
"Right... now!!"
With her eyes locked on the finish line—already blurred, yet unquestionably close enough to touch—Kitasan Black let out a roar from the depths of her heart.
At this moment, Kitasan Black had never been more grateful that, during her preparations, she had been able to fight side by side with Yasui Makoto.
Because of that, from the very start of this Arima Kinen... no, from even earlier than that, she had already realized that the race as she saw it now was completely different from before.
Even more than that, she was grateful that the two of them had gone through this entire year together, that she could tell Yasui Makoto anything, and that he would always answer her with endless patience.
She felt that if not for that, there was no way she could have stayed this calm in this Arima Kinen.
She was not especially good at raw speed, but she possessed an extraordinary burst of explosive acceleration.
That ability could only be used a limited number of times in a race. Over 2500 meters, at most, she could use it four times.
But if the timing was right, it could become the key to securing victory—or even turning the whole race around.
The first time had been in the opening stretch. The moment she recognized the timing they had rehearsed beforehand, she unleashed her power with perfect precision, shot straight into first, successfully seized the front-running position, and established an early advantage in a single stroke, laying a solid foundation for everything that followed.
The second time had been when they passed the third corner again.
The rivals behind her were all searching for a chance to overtake, and Gold Ship-senpai had been pressing closer with every step. All she could feel at her back was tension and fierce pressure.
But as she burst forward again, she relied on the skill she had built up day after day, cleverly using the curve of the turn and the pull of centrifugal force to slip perfectly clear of her opponents' attack and keep control of the race's rhythm.
The third time had been when she came charging out of the fourth corner again.
It had been almost the same as the last burst. By then, her stamina had already been heavily drained by the intensity of the race, but her mind was still clear enough.
She knew that moment was the decisive phase on the road to victory. She could not afford even the slightest lapse.
Even though the muscles in her legs were starting to ache and her breathing was growing ragged, she still gritted her teeth and held on, continuing to fly forward in first place.
And the last time—the one that would decide victory or defeat...
"Right... now!!"
With her eyes locked on the finish line—already blurred, yet unquestionably close enough to touch—Kitasan Black let out a roar from the depths of her heart.
In that instant, over the final few dozen meters of track, time itself seemed to stretch into eternity.
A black-and-gold figure shot forward like a razor-edged bolt of lightning tearing through the night sky, carrying with it a vast, resolute, fearless force as it launched an all-or-nothing charge at the finish line.
Every step she took landed with power and weight, and everything kicked up beneath her feet looked as though it were bursting into searing, blinding sparks—the astonishing strength born from an overwhelming hunger for victory.
At the same time, a vivid, dazzling flash of color clung close behind her like a stream of drifting light, impossibly swift.
That streak was light and agile, leaving behind a chain of faint, blurry afterimages in the air as it raced forward.
It was like a nimble spirit leaping through empty space, giving everyone the intense feeling that it might overtake the lightning ahead at any moment.
On the other side, another force came crashing in—vast and mighty, like a surging tide rolling forward with enough momentum to topple mountains and swallow rivers whole.
Where that tide passed, it was as if the air itself had been violently churned by invisible giant hands, letting out a deep, thunderous roar that made the entire space tremble.
That wave carried endless power within it, like some ancient beast newly awakened, baring its fangs and claws as it desperately chased the shining target ahead.
There were also other lights, a little worn now, but still shining with stubborn, unyielding tenacity.
Like flames on the verge of burning out, they still struggled with all their might, pouring every last ounce of strength into one final blaze, trying to carve their own dazzling brilliance into this crucial, fate-deciding last sprint.
Several figures crossed the finish line almost at the same time.
It was as if time froze in that moment, and the entire racecourse fell into a brief silence.
A few seconds late, the commentator's voice came over the broadcast, halting and hoarse:
"T-they've... crossed the line..."
A moment later, the broadcast nearly screamed, filled with confusion and panic:
"The board, the board! The placings are...?!"
Time began to move again, and more than a hundred thousand pairs of eyes turned in unison toward the far side of the course.
5th, Gold Ship, 2:33.1.
4th, Lovely Day, 2:33.1.
3rd, Sounds of Earth, 2:33.0.
2nd, Gold Actor, 2:33.0.
1st, Kitasan Black, 2:33.0.
In an instant, the stands erupted like an ignited volcano.
More than a hundred thousand spectators broke into deafening cheers all at once, wave after wave of sound crashing upward as though they might flip the whole sky.
Countless arms shot into the air, waving wildly, while flags of every color whipped in the wind, turning the grandstands into an ocean of celebration.
Standing there in a daze, Yasui Makoto's eyes were full of disbelief and confusion.
His lips trembled slightly as he muttered, "We... we won...?"
His voice was swallowed at once by the roaring tide of sound, so small it was barely there at all.
Then, all of a sudden, several shrieks of shock and joy rang out beside him. Before he could react, several figures pounced on him like bolts of lightning and wrapped him in a tight embrace.
The sheer force of the impact made Yasui Makoto stumble, nearly sending him to the ground.
At the same time, a burst of sharp pain shot through his left arm.
---
T/N: heres ur updates :3 meeting the 4 chaps a week quota :3 posting earlier so bonus chaps will be a longer waitttt >:)
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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