The voice was so sudden that Kousei instinctively looked around, unsure of its source.
"A voice?"
It was the rhythmic clatter of horseshoes on the track, a steady gait that could only belong to an Umamusume with formidable leg strength.
"The oppressive presence behind us has vanished. Are you already exhausted?"
The voice was utterly unfamiliar, one Kousei had never heard before, yet it stirred a faint sense of recognition within her.
A flash of lightning illuminated a pair of beautiful, obsidian-like eyes beside her. No wonder Kousei felt a vague sense of familiarity; before entering the Gate, she had sensed another gaze upon her. This was the source!
Kousei hadn't been able to spot her earlier because the Umamusume's coat was as black as the storm-ridden night, making her indistinguishable in the tempest. Now, those eyes blazed with murderous intent, transforming their beauty into a deadly allure.
"Withdraw from the race. I will be the one to defeat Mejiro McQueen!"
Without a glance at Kousei, the black Umamusume lowered into a crouch and surged forward.
"Wait! That's not the right way?!"
The black Umamusume charged straight toward the section of the track churned into mud by Mejiro McQueen. Kousei stared in disbelief as the newcomer plunged into the mire. But the expected catastrophe never materialized. The black Umamusume's hooves struck the ground with tremendous force, her claw-like grip maintaining unwavering stability despite the treacherous terrain. Despite the treacherous mud, her stride never faltered.
"As expected of McQueen! She's managing despite the dire circumstances!"
A dark horse emerges, breaking through the forbidden zone!
"Incredible! Black Bullet is charging from behind, surging past Kousei in a single burst! It seems she intends to challenge McQueen head-to-head!"
"Look! She's following in McQueen's footsteps!"
"Could someone actually defeat the demon lurking in the rain?"
Black Bullet's dynamic performance electrifies the crowd. Her audacious sprint through "Hell" draws all eyes.
"The Derby truly is a showcase of talent."
"Each generation produces its own heroes, dominating the era for centuries."
Sirius glances at Rudolf in surprise. "Where did you learn that phrase?"
"I read a lot."
The duo stares at each other, eyes wide.
"But Kousei isn't doing well," Sirius says, her voice tinged with concern. "She can't keep up like this."
Rudolf remains silent, casting a quiet glance at Sirius.
"In all my years, this is the first time she's worried about someone else. Why Kousei?"
Kousei trails behind the pair.
The buildup to the Spring Tenno Sho managed to divert some of the public's attention. Finally, there was something to talk about besides the Takarazuka Kinen.
Moreover, none of the main contenders from the Takarazuka Kinen had made public appearances since the race. As months passed, the incident's notoriety gradually faded.
"Hey! Who are you betting on for the Spring Tenno Sho?"
"McQueen! Is there even another choice?"
"Right? When it comes to long-distance races, no one can touch McQueen!"
The streets buzzed with talk of Mejiro McQueen and the upcoming Spring Tenno Sho. The accident at Takarazuka felt like a common nightmare—vivid at the time, but vanishing without a trace upon waking.
The world's focus always shifts to the present. Only those who truly suffered could never forget.
In the immediate aftermath, T had borne the full brunt of the other Trainers' fury. As both a Trainer and a father figure, he accepted all responsibility for the harm Kousei's swerve had caused their dedicated Umamusume.
Fortunately, the other Umamusume had escaped serious injury. Once their initial rage subsided, the Trainers began to calm down.
After all, they were experienced Trainers. Having poured their passion into Umamusume, they understood them better than anyone. Kousei's swerve at the finish line had been strange, her movements subtly unnatural. At the time, they'd been blinded by rage, but now, looking back, the Takarazuka incident seemed odd.
Naturally, their suspicions turned to Kashimoto Riko, but they quickly dismissed the idea. Sabotage ran completely counter to Kashimoto Riko's principles.
If anyone could pull off such a scheme right under Kashimoto Riko's nose, it would have to be the Central Committee.
The Central Committee was the other major power bloc within Central, alongside the current Acting Chairman, Kashimoto Riko. The key difference was that one was an individual, the other a collective.
The Central Committee controlled the registration of all Umamusume competitors. In other words, only Umamusume recognized by the Central Committee were eligible to participate in the Twinkle Series.
Kashimoto Riko, on the other hand, oversaw all Academy-related matters. Any policy implemented at the Academy required her approval.
In short, one controlled the races, the other the Academy.
Suddenly, the more experienced Trainers recalled something. They all remembered that years ago, another Umamusume remarkably similar to Kousei had also appeared.
T, too, had emerged from nowhere. From a certain point onward, things had become bizarrely strange.
However, due to some unspoken agreement, they didn't investigate further. Though they harbored suspicions, they decided to remain observers for the time being.
-
Mejiro Estate
"The Spring Tenno Sho is about to begin. I've finally made it this far. Grandmother, I swear to you: as long as I am here, glory will forever belong to the Mejiro family."
Since that day, McQueen had taken to sitting quietly in the Clan Head's chair. Outside of training, she spent all her time there. Both her Trainer and the Mejiro family doctor assessed her mental state as "extremely stable." McQueen showed no signs of any abnormality.
Despite this, the other Mejiros were deeply worried about her.
McQueen seemed to have forgotten her grandmother's final whisper. Had the mission she'd carried since birth become a shackle at some point?
Tiny cracks had begun to appear among the Mejiros. Perhaps this was a necessary period of growth for the family.
-
On the rooftop of Tracen Academy, Tokai Teio sat facing the wind in the spot Kousei loved to frequent when she was taking a break. She sipped her special honey drink, gazing absently at the Academy grounds.
"The view is amazing. No wonder she liked it up here."
"Using your Student Council privileges for this, are you?"
Teio didn't immediately look down. Only after snapping out of her daze did she glance below to see Sirius standing there, watching her.
"Long time no see, Sirius."
"Yeah, long time no see. You're becoming more and more like Luna these days."
Teio smiled knowingly. "You're probably the only one in this Academy who still calls the President by that name."
Sirius just pursed her lips without arguing, then asked, "You know about Kousei, right?"
"At this point, who doesn't?"
"Then... do you also know about Mejiro McQueen's situation?" Sirius stared intently at Teio.
"I do."
After her brief reply, Teio continued sipping her honey drink.
"Why did you join the Student Council?" Sirius asked after a moment.
Slurp~
Teio drained the entire cup of honey drink, a blissful smile spreading across her face. She then leaped down, landing steadily on her feet.
"I once asked the President a similar question. Do you know what she told me?"
"What?"
Teio stepped right up to Sirius, creating a subtle upward angle as she looked up at her.
"'Go find it, Teio. The day you find your answer, I will accept your challenge.'"
The smile playing on Teio's lips was inscrutable to Sirius. Teio didn't press the matter further and slowly turned to leave.
"So, have you found your answer?"
With their backs to each other, Tokai Teio simply smiled without a word and walked away. Sirius remained where she was, gazing up at the sky before letting out a long sigh.
-
Time passed, and the day of the Spring Tenno Sho finally arrived.
"Just as I thought! Kousei isn't on the entry list!" Fukukitaru cried out, staring at the race roster.
Rice Shower and the others had already anticipated it, but seeing it confirmed on the list still brought a wave of disappointment.
Only reality can shatter illusions.
Due to Kousei's unexpected withdrawal, the entry list shifted, allowing a second Mejiro to enter the race.
Mejiro Palmer—a name that shouldn't have been here.
"So many people..."
The Kyoto Racecourse was packed to the brim, a bustling sea of spectators. The unprecedented crowd had gathered for one reason: the overwhelming favorite of this race, the super Umamusume—Mejiro McQueen.
This wasn't just a G1 race; it was potentially the moment the "Strongest in History" would be crowned.
The last time excitement had reached such a fever pitch was for the Umamusume known as the "Emperor." No one wanted to miss this historic moment.
"Look!" someone shouted excitedly.
Rudolf led the Student Council through the main gate. The Emperor's presence always caused a stir, her radiant aura still vivid in everyone's memory.
"Tokai Teio is here too!"
Usually, Rudolf's Student Council entourage consisted only of herself, Air Groove, and Narita Brian. But today, not only were Air Groove and Narita Brian present, but CB, Maruzensky, and Tokai Teio followed closely behind.
As the academy's most powerful collective, second only to the Chairman, the Student Council was unquestionably the strongest in both ability and popularity.
Their mere presence was enough to inspire awe.
"Slow down! Slow down! I can't keep up!"
A little horse girl with black earmuffs and a badge earring on her left ear struggled to catch up to another little horse girl wearing goggles.
The latter, using her small frame to weave through the crowd, seemed to be searching for something with a desperate look in her eyes.
In a secluded corner far from the racetrack's front lines, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows. Black Bullet had appeared, but she seemed to have no intention of moving closer.
She had apparently decided to watch the race from here. Suddenly, Black Bullet glanced to her left, where Leo Durban had also emerged from the shadows.
Leo Durban's attention was entirely fixed on the racetrack, so she didn't notice Black Bullet. In response, Black Bullet's lips curled into a smirk as she, too, turned her gaze toward the track.
"That's Mejiro McQueen!"
All eyes were on McQueen, but she showed no particular emotion, simply waiting with focused concentration.
Palmer's gaze toward McQueen was complex, and she ultimately turned her face away.
"It's finally starting!"
"Yeah! I'm so excited!"
"What a shame. Kousei was supposed to run in this race. I was hoping to see another clash of the grays."
"What are you talking about? Isn't it better that Kousei isn't participating? I wouldn't want an Umamusume like her to compete—it would be irresponsible to the other racers!"
"Ha... I guess you're right... Haha..."
The fanfare blared, its rousing notes echoing through the air. Mejiro McQueen slowly opened her eyes, her gaze as still and deep as a stagnant pool.
She walked toward the starting gate, step by step, without a word.
Come at me, all of you. Mejiro McQueen will be your opponent.
This was the ultimate long-distance race. The Tenno Sho trophy was the ultimate proof of glory.
The entire crowd roared:
"Three—"
"Two—"
"One!"
BOOM!
A piercing alarm blared across the Kyoto Racecourse. The crimson emergency lights flashed across the faces of the crowd, illuminating their panic. At the same moment, an ominous presence crashed into the arena, as if an invisible hand were pressing everyone to the ground.
"She's here! She's here!"
McQueen's heart jolted. Everyone turned toward the entrance tunnel. Though their expressions varied, they all knew the answer.
"She's here!"
Scorching crimson flames. A flicker of electricity in her eyes. An irrepressible smile. Her body trembled with excitement.
Ignoring all rules, the nineteenth contestant stormed the racetrack
's sudden intrusion has added a new variable to the race. If she can navigate Mejiro's "Hell," she must possess the strength to contend with McQueen.
McQueen naturally sensed the surging hostility behind her. "Hmm? Not Kousei."
This was an unfamiliar presence, the pursuer hailing from uncharted territory.
Black Bullet closed in relentlessly, her dark form cutting through the thunder with unwavering force.
"She's fast, that Elite!"
The black figure plunged into the heart of the thunderstorm, utterly unfazed by the might of the lightning.
McQueen glanced back indifferently. "A new opponent? Fine. Mejiro shows no mercy to anyone."
Crush them, then triumph.
Just another medal for Mejiro Glory.
The thunder gathered momentum with blinding speed, orchestrating a celestial symphony. Hooves pounded the earth, shattering mountains and rivers, as the world celebrated Mejiro's triumph. Lightning flashed, thunder raged, leaving scars that bore witness to the devastation, marking the path with the tombstones of the fallen.
Amid the howling wind and torrential rain, a ring of crimson fire ignited in the eyes of the pitch-black specter. Undeterred, she charged alone into the forbidden zone, refusing to yield an inch even against the full fury of the storm. Forged in the heart of the tempest, she sought to sever the very lightning itself.
Black and white clashed at the forefront, their relentless duel shaping the race. Black Bullet's dark will pressed relentlessly onward, but Mejiro's reputation was no empty boast. Thunderous harbingers echoed as the White Chariot surged anew, once more transforming into a streak of living lightning. She proclaimed to the world that turns held no terror for Mejiro.
Each strike was decisive; the Elite's mane fluttered in the wind.
"Damn! She's strong!"
Black Bullet witnessed McQueen's cornering technique for the first time. It was a thunderous, relentless sprint, a feat only one horse could accomplish.
Anyone who saw it would marvel, "Truly worthy of the title 'Heavenly Horse!'"
The Twins command all—heaven and earth.
Trailing behind, Kousei watched the clash unfold as McQueen once again left her opponent in the dust.
Perhaps you've heard of the Twins' reputation, but until you witness them in action, you can never truly grasp their overwhelming power.
Kousei gazed ahead, her eyes filled with envy. "If only I had such talent..."
At times like these, she couldn't help but imagine:
If I were there, I'd box McQueen in. Using the momentum from breaking out of the restricted zone, I'd feint an attack to draw her defense. Then, I'd switch to the opposite side and strike. But McQueen would surely see through such a simple feint.
Still, she's already been led here. Her goal from the start was the turn. Relying on her zone-breaking power, she's hugging the inner rail, racing through the curve. This turn is where she can catch up to Thunder. As long as she stays within the restricted zone... as long as she stays within the restricted zone...
Kousei's figure shimmered into clarity, her imagined self locked in a strategic battle with McQueen. Side by side, they raced at the forefront of their generation.
-
"Are you sure you want to keep running?" the Umamusume physician asked, glancing thoughtfully at the report in her hand.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
After a moment of hesitation, the physician spoke. "Based on your test results, we've determined that your potential as an Umamusume is limited. Even with rigorous training, you likely won't reach top-tier levels.
"You probably suspected this yourself. Your background isn't exceptional, and your innate talent and potential were largely predetermined from birth. I'm sorry to have to tell you this.
"It's harsh, but as a professional physician and former trainer, I have a responsibility to be honest with you. This is my final assessment.
"Do you still want to continue running as an Umamusume?"
-
"Kousei lost again... She works so hard."
"It's kind of sad. Why doesn't she choose an easier path?"
"Yeah, if Kousei took another path, she'd definitely have an easier time."
"If it were Kousei..."
If it were Kousei...
"I know my own limitations better than anyone. That's why I work twice as hard, train diligently, never complain, day after day.
What others consider grueling training has long since become routine for me. Everything I do is for the sake of stepping onto this racetrack.
I understand that the world is never short of geniuses.
I don't resent them. I just occasionally wonder why I'm so ordinary. Sometimes, when I see those prodigies, I can't help but think, 'If only I had that kind of talent.'
But reality won't change. I will always be me.
And that's fine. I understand and accept every part of myself.
I... I won't run away."
A muffled growl, like the distant breath of an ancient god, echoed from the silent rear. The two leaders spun around, sensing a presence both alien and hauntingly familiar.
Footsteps as light as falling raindrops.
She's here. "She" has arrived.
Emerging from the rain-soaked mist—
Who is this newcomer?