Episode 7

**Promise** (約束 *Yakusoku*) is the seventh episode of the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby anime.

## Summary

Suzuka welcome back Special who is morose for losing her last race. Special laments by binge eating Yatsuhashi and recalling how Seiun beat her in the last race and offers some of her food to Suzuka, who politely declines. She's preparing for the Tennoushou race that's next week, wanting to race Suzuka for once, Special asks when the next time Suzuka will race and notices on her calendar it's the Japan Cup. Stating her desire to participate in it, Suzuka states that Special will have to talk with Trainer about it and states her interest in racing Special before she leaves for America. Hearing this news shocks Special.

By the academy gates, Trainer in a van gives his team a obscure drawing of a map that leads to an inn they'll be staying at. Stating that the time is currently 3 P.M., Trainer warns that if those who don't make it to the inn by 6 P.M. will get no dinner. Trainer then drives off and after a brief lament over their predicament, Suzuka snatches the map from Gold and runs off with her teammates close on her tail.

Elsewhere, Hana watches as Opera practices on the race track while the rest of Team Rigil do stretches on the sidelines. Grass approaches Maruzensky and requests that they do a training race together and Maruzensky accepts the request. Doing some stretches together, Air talks with El Condor who states how Air beat Suzuka in the Tennoushou race last year. Air admits that's true but is saddened by losing her last race against Suzuka noting how better her rival has become since then. Hishi states that she'll beat Suzuka hands down, Hana also chimes in stating to not under estimate Suzuka since she's joined Team Spica. Hana elaborates how Suzuka now doesn't hold back in her races giving it her all as if she's racing in a timed trial and advises that Hishi follow Suzuka's example by giving it her all in her next race. This advice fires up Hishi who goes to do some practice laps and is then joined by El Condor who doesn't want to besmirch her team's pride with more losses.

Meanwhile, at nightfall, the exhausted Team Spica make it to the inn where they meet up with Trainer who greets the group outside the inn's entrance. Trainer then tells the group to take a bath to wash off the sweat they're drowning in, but before that, Mejiro apprehensively reprimands Trainer for the tormenting exercise. After the team take their baths, Suzuka formally announces that she'll be leaving for America after the Japan Cup. Each teammate states how they'll miss Suzuka, aside from Special who listens to it all in the sidelines. During their dinner, Special requests Trainer that she be added to the Japan Cup Roster. Although stating his disapproval from having one person from his team lose in the race, Trainer allows Special's request so long as Suzuka wins her next upcoming race. This news sparks the rest of the team's interest to race against Suzuka and sparks a big debate on who'll race against Suzuka. Driving the girls home, Trainer scornfully states how he lost 2 months worth of salary to Suzuka who chuckles and notes how great a team Spica is. The rest of the team sleep peacefully in the back noting they can't eat any more.

The day of the Tennoushou race has arrived and Suzuka is a fan favorite with all of her merchandise being sold out. While walking down the tunnel way that leads into the raceway, one of Suzuka's shoe straps become snap off and as she fixes it, her competitors pass by her. Before the races start, Suzuka talks with her teammates and Special gives her the same 4-leaf clover charm she received in her Japanese Derby race. At the starting line, El Condor approaches Suzuka who states her determination to win against her and her plans to partake in the Prix de l'Arc Triomphe thereafter. The race then begins and during it, Suzuka sustains an injury during it and in the end El Condor wins the race, however, her crestfallen attitude denotes she considers her victory a phyrric one.

Because of the injury that she sustained during the race, Suzuka is hospitalized and when she finally wakes up, Special who sat by her bed side informs Trainer and the team. When Trainer arrives with the team waiting outside the door, it's learned that Suzuka sustained a fracture. Although she'll heal from her injury, it's unknown whether or not she'll be able to run as fast as before. Hearing this disheartens Suzuka, but Special is adamant that she'll be able to run as fast as she did when she fully recovers. It's then that the rest of the team enter the room and talk with Suzuka and Teio reveals that Special stayed with Suzuka the entire time she was unconscious which embarrasses Special. A flashback also reveals that when Suzuka was in peril on the race tracks, Special along with Trainer following close behind, ran over to Suzuka to try and help her.

## Characters

* Silence Suzuka
* Special Week
* Seiun Sky
* Trainer
* Vodka
* Gold Ship
* Mejiro McQueen
* Tokai Teio
* Daiwa Scarlet
* Grass Wonder
* Maruzensky
* Air Groove
* El Condor Pasa
* Hishi Amazon
* Mejiro Ryan
* Nice Nature
* Winning Ticket
* Misato Akasaka
* Junko Hosoe
* Symboli Rudolf