While everyone's attention was drawn to the showdown between T.M. Opera O and Narita Top Road, the competition between the others did not diminish in the slightest.
Just as T.M. Opera O and Narita Top Road broke through with Admire Vega's help, Mejiro McQueen also wanted to seize this opportunity to break out of the encirclement.
Unfortunately, she was just a beat too slow.
The next moment, beside Mejiro McQueen, two other Uma Musume from Shadai, who had been shadowing her, immediately pulled in front of her, taking the place of the Uma Musume that Admire Vega had just pulled away.
"..." McQueen's gaze naturally noticed this as she wordlessly looked at them.
As the two Uma Musume started blocking her, McQueen became alerted of just what was happening around her.
There was one Uma Musume that disregarded her stamina and rushed out, blocking the outer lane.
Quickly after, another Uma Musume took the place of the two who just rushed out to block her in the front, seemingly also ready to rush out to the front.
At this moment, McQueen belatedly remembered that in this race, T.M. Opera O wasn't the only one being targeted by Shadai.
Mejiro McQueen was the most noteworthy Uma Musume in this Kikuka Sho and also a part of Team Miracle.
And unlike T.M. Opera O and Wada who hadn't really personally antagonized Shadai, Imanami indeed caused personal resentment to brew between them after their conversation. Her situation was clearly no better than T.M. Opera O.
However, as a result of her focusing on T.M. Opera O's problems, she subconsciously neglected herself.
Only now that she was on the Racecourse, that she realized that her own situation was not good either.
"This is bad... McQueen is getting boxed in."
In the stands, the Uma Musume from the Mejiro Family also noticed this. Mejiro Palmer was the first to comment, gritting her teeth and saying:
"If this continues, at the next corner, that Uma Musume will be able to move to the front from the inner lane and completely block McQueen's path—McQueen needs to break through now."
"But McQueen's final spurt is no match for T.M. Opera O's. Accelerating here is really a bit too early... Otherwise, by the time they reach the final straight, she won't have any stamina left to sprint and will be caught by T.M. Opera O."
"The only hope is that T.M. Opera O and Narita Top Road will exhaust themselves in their showdown, leaving them no strength to fight against McQueen."
Palmer's judgment at this moment was indeed accurate. However, in reality, everyone knew that this situation would almost never happen.
Because although T.M. Opera O was having a showdown with Narita Top Road, T.M. Opera O was completely dominating that showdown, meaning, unless Narita Top Road pulls off a miracle, T.M. Opera O will still have strength to spare to unleash her two stage final spurt.
McQueen had personally experienced T.M. Opera O's final spurt many times, so she knew better than anyone how terrifying that final spurt was.
Therefore, she also knew that accelerating at this moment would be unwise.
But if she didn't accelerate now, she would get completely boxed in. At that point, even if she had the stamina to fight against T.M. Opera O, she wouldn't even be able break out anyways.
McQueen didn't hesitate for long and immediately made her choice.
"No choice... I'll just have to accelerate first and then figure things out later!"
McQueen gritted her teeth, just about to accelerate out the small gap in the front at the corner, when suddenly, a figure burst out from among the Late Surger pack!
McQueen's peripheral vision caught sight of the other party, and upon seeing her figure, she instinctively narrowed her eyes and exclaimed:
"Ryan-nee?! You—"
"Save your breath, McQueen. Conserve your stamina, pay attention at the next corner!"
Mejiro Ryan didn't give McQueen much time to react. Mejiro Ryan's sudden premature acceleration was something no one had expected.
However, in an instant, Mejiro Ryan, relying on her strong physique and exceptional leg strength, caught up to the two Uma Musume at the corner.
"Sorry, I'm taking this spot!"
Mejiro Ryan's gaze swept over the two Uma Musume. Although she still maintained her optimism and kindness, a clear hint of mockery was present in her words.
The next moment, Ryan was seen actively taking the position in front of McQueen.
With Ryan's help, McQueen suddenly felt the wind pressure in front of her lessen significantly, and she began to feel much more relaxed while running.
"Ryan-nee... Why?"
"—McQueen, you are stronger than me! I realized it back at the Kyoto Shimbun Hai. The current you is way stronger than me!"
Mejiro Ryan, who had stole the last position needed to completely block McQueen, spoke against the strong wind pressure:
"You can definitely achieve the Mejiro Family's goal! This Kikuka Sho—you absolutely can win it!"
"—Besides, if an older sister sees her younger sister being bullied by others and doesn't protect them, would I still qualify as your big sis?!"
As she spoke, Mejiro Ryan unconsciously glared at the two Shadai Uma Musume beside her.
As her gaze pierced them, whether it was because of her muscular body, or because of her rare anger frightening them, both Uma Musume shivered in unison.
However, it was only for an instant. Soon, the pack started to approach the third corner, and Ryan proactively spoke:
"McQueen, this is as far as I can go. The rest... is up to you!"
As Ryan spoke, her speed slowly decreased. Clearly, her earlier actions led to her stamina exhausting faster than usual.
"T.M. Opera O and Narita Top Road are fighting each other now, right? Then it's your perfect opportunity."
"Let me be your stepping stone! So—go win! MCQUEEEENNNN!!!!"
Ryan let out a roar as she forcefully pushed her body to its limits, accelerating once more and started to move sideways towards one of the two Uma Musume, forcing them to also move away in response.
For the first time in the race after being encircled, McQueen saw the completely uninhibited view of the front.
And without another word, her long-accumulated strength was finally unleashed!
McQueen's legs noticeably became more and more blurred as she accelerated, leaving behind deep imprint on the turf as she bursted towards T.M. Opera O and Narita Top Road!
"MEJIRO MCQUEEN IS MAKING HER MOVE! MEJIRO MCQUEEN IN MAKING HER MOVE!!!"
"While Narita Top Road and T.M. Opera O were dueling each other, Mejiro McQueen has seized the opportunity to break out!"
Akasaka Misato's voice spread throughout the entire Racecourse, instantly igniting a wave of cheers throughout the venue.
Yet, Akasaka Misato did not stop, her impassioned voice continued:
"Mejiro McQueen is unstoppable! She has already surpassed the Front Runne—no! She has directly caught up to T.M. Opera O and Narita Top Road! Is she going to directly overtake the entire race?!"
"OH! Wait! It seems the showdown between Narita Top Road and T.M. Opera O has been decided! Narita Top Road is starting to fall behind!"
"Has the long-awaited moment arrived? The final showdown between Mejiro McQueen and the Overlord, T.M. Opera O?!"
"Damn it—I really can't compare to you monsters..."
The exhausted Narita Top Road had managed to contend with T.M. Opera O for quite a while. However, in the end, she was still suppressed by T.M. Opera O, forced to slow down.
She knew she had given her all. And now, even with her full effort, she had failed to beat T.M. Opera O, which was enough to prove to her that she still had a long way to go to reach the current T.M. Opera O.
But, she had strived, she had fought, and now, she could leave without regret.
"Whelp... it seems it's time for me to retreat... Well then, the rest is down to you two."
Narita Top Road unwillingly slowed down, and T.M. Opera O glanced at her from the corner of her eye, smiling faintly:
"Not bad, Narita Top Road... You Three Musketeers have shown me, the Overlord, a brilliance that even I envy."
Because all of you have a true goal, a true object you strive surpass with everything you have.
And I... who do I wish to surpass? Perhaps... still far ahead.
"Come on, now's not the time to chatter away, my other self."
"Mejiro McQueen is getting reaalllll close to you. Do you think you can still surpass me?"
The voice of another "T.M. Opera O" slowly sounded. One could already see that Mejiro McQueen was going to overtake T.M. Opera O, as well as "T.M. Opera O," leading the pack.
But T.M. Opera O knew very well that she still had her trump card; her two stage final spurt could allow her to accelerate one more time. She can still defeat Mejiro McQueen.
Yet... just as her other self said, now, what T.M. Opera O was thinking about most was this very question.
Could she surpass her?
"T.M. Opera O" could undoubtedly dominantly win this race, but could she... do it?
"Are you still lost, 'me'? Have you still not found the reason why you run?"
"Do you still think you can't beat your peak self?"
The voice of "T.M. Opera O" echoed in her mind, and facing her other self's silence, "T.M. Opera O" seemed to smile slightly, saying faintly:
"Have you never wondered why I appearred in your mind?"
"...Isn't it because you are my original self?"
T.M. Opera O couldn't help but reply in her mind.
"Heh, if I really were your original self, shouldn't you have wondered why every time you were about to reach my level, I would suddenly break through again, always winning by a small margin?"
"Have you never doubted? If I really was holding back, why would I always choose to win by a nose, instead of directly crushing you with overwhelming strength? Not even once?"
"T.M. Opera O's" series of questions made T.M. Opera O fall silent. The next moment, she only heard "T.M. Opera O" say with a playful tone, smiling widely:
"It seems... you've been completely unaware, my other self. You're dumber than I thought."
"I am not the embodiment of 'your original's peak,' but rather 'your original's regrets.'"
"The wounds, pain, regrets, and sorrow that have not yet appeared in your heart but have long been experienced, have transformed into me. I am the scar in your soul that you can never overcome."
"You are already stronger than you think, my other self. It's just that you've forgotten your goal, forgotten your confidence."
"Everytime you race against me, do you still remember your former self, the 'Overlord' you were, T.M. Opera O?"
"The current you doesn't resemble the 'Overlord of the Century's End' at all."
"!"
"T.M. Opera O's" words kept echoing in T.M. Opera O's mind. In a trance, she suddenly felt a sense of clarity she had never felt before, and also suddenly... thought of something.
No, it was memories. She recalled many things she had never experienced.
In that moment, on this Racecourse, she remembered many things about her- no, himself...
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Reject Musume, return to Uma.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.