The Takarazuka Kinen, like the Arima Kinen, is a race where participants are chosen by fan votes.

In this race, Silence Suzuka was not the most popular.

This was normal, as before this, Silence Suzuka had never won a G1-level race.

Another Uma Musume from "Rigil," Air Groove, also competed alongside Silence Suzuka.

"Damn it... I can't catch up."

Air Groove sprinted in the final three waves, managing to close the distance with Silence Suzuka, but she was powerless to catch her.

Silence Suzuka didn't race them in the beginning, nor in the end, but throughout the entire race.

Therefore, the Uma Musume in the same race had to pay attention to Silence Suzuka's position while also maintaining their own rhythm to avoid being thrown off.

Several Uma Musume couldn't hold on before the finish line and completely lost their speed.

The outcome was no surprise: Silence Suzuka won the Takarazuka Kinen by a lead of five lengths over the second-place finisher.

......

"Boom—"

Brilliant fireworks shot into the sky with a dull thud, then rained down, showering over Silence Suzuka.

"This time, I prepared fireworks for you. Congratulations on winning your first G1 major race of your career."

He made up for the fireworks he owed her from their first meeting.

"Thank you." Silence Suzuka was very pleased with the little surprise Lu Jue had prepared. She covered her mouth and smiled, looking at Special Week, "Xiao Te, why don't you give up? Don't move it."

"No way." Special Week was also holding a firework tube. She was bending down, struggling to adjust the launch end, her expression strained with effort.

Special Week aimed the firework tube at Silence Suzuka, who fearfully took a step back.

"Boom—"

There was another sound, but the fireworks didn't fall from the sky; instead, they hit Special Week's own abdomen.

"Xiao Te!?" Silence Suzuka exclaimed, worried.

"Eh, you held it backward." Lu Jue quickly reached out to steady Special Week, "Xiao Te, are you okay?"

"Trainer-san... I'm fine." Special Week was extremely embarrassed.

Uralala, carefree, clutched her stomach and burst out laughing, "Hahahahaha, Xiao Te is so clumsy!"

"Uralala, stop laughing!" Special Week's face turned red.

Seiun Sky took out another firework tube, "Xiao Te, I have another one here. Do you want to spray Uralala?"

"Xingyun Jiang, you're so mean!" Uralala quickly hid behind Lu Jue, revealing half of her face.

"Stop messing around. Silence Suzuka still has to participate in the Winning Live. Silence Suzuka, what kind of meme do you want me to make of you this time?"

Lu Jue stopped their antics, then started his own.

Silence Suzuka's pretty face fell, "Lu Jue-jun, I'm not really recommending that."

"So there's still room for negotiation?"

"Of course not~ I'm going to the lounge first."

......

The enthusiastic atmosphere of the Winning Live was no less than that of the race itself.

Lu Jue, below the stage, still took out his phone to record. He held it for so long that his hand was incredibly steady.

"Trainer, Trainer." The sound on site was noisy, so Uralala had to shout loudly to Lu Jue to get his attention.

"What's wrong?" Lu Jue bent his knees, inclining his ear.

"Is the stage for the Autumn Festival even bigger than this?"

"It should be." Lu Jue recalled the stage snippets from his previous life, "There might be dozens of Uma Musume on stage. Is Uralala scared?"

"Just a little bit..." Uralala held out her finger to show, "But, only this much."

"I also train regularly, and if I win the Kochi debut race, I'll have another chance for a formal performance."

Lu Jue knew Uralala was getting nervous in advance; otherwise, why would she suddenly talk to herself like that?

He gently stroked her head, "Mm, I'm really looking forward to Uralala's dance."

"Hehe~"

Uralala continued to watch the performance, and Lu Jue also refocused his attention on the stage.

......

After a while, he suddenly felt his hand being gently squeezed.

In his peripheral vision, Seiun Sky was standing beside him, mischievously poking his hand, then pinching him.

"You're messing around again?"

"No, I'm not. I didn't." Seiun Sky said with a smiling face, but her actions below didn't stop at all.

There were many people on site, and the lighting off stage wasn't very bright.

With such opportune timing and location, Seiun Sky naturally had some ideas.

She wanted to hold Lu Jue's hand, but she felt that their relationship hadn't reached that point, so she hesitated for a long time, only daring to touch him.

"Trainer." Seiun Sky suddenly leaned close to Lu Jue, her warm breath circling his ear, "The condition you promised me... what if it's here?"

"This..." Lu Jue slowly put down his phone.

It wasn't that he was being coy, but there were a lot of people here.

And their position was in the front row; he felt as if Silence Suzuka's gaze on stage was intentionally or unintentionally looking their way.

Moreover, Uralala and Special Week were next to them... any slight movement here would likely be noticed.

Lu Jue didn't refuse either; his accelerating heartbeat told him it was a bit exciting.

"Does it have to be here?"

"Mm..." Seiun Sky seemed calm and composed, but one of her shoulders unconsciously shrugged, and her arm was held very straight.

Lu Jue turned his head with difficulty, making up his mind.

Just a light touch, and it would be over immediately, right?

But Seiun Sky, feeling his breath, became the first to retreat.

"Wait, wait... there are so many people here, let's just forget it. I was just joking."

Lu Jue gave her a speechless look, but also breathed a sigh of relief, "Then this counts, I don't owe you anymore."

"Of course it doesn't count, you... didn't even touch me." Seiun Sky protested in a low voice. She admitted she had been a bit impulsive just now, not having made any preparations.

After she spoke, as if sensing something, she looked up at the stage.

It seemed... Silence Suzuka's gaze was on her.

Or maybe not.

But regardless, Seiun Sky maintained an indifferent expression, raising her hand to wave her glow stick. Her other hand continued to bother Lu Jue.