"After that, I became quiet and withdrawn. As we grew older, my sister prepared for her debut race. We had once promised to debut and compete together, but I broke that promise. I hid silently in my room. After knocking softly on the door a few times, my sister stopped making any sound.
I wasn't sure if she was still there, so I didn't dare leave my room.
It wasn't until I saw my sister's successful debut on television that I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
See? My sister is thriving without me. Her life is even more vibrant without me.
Ever since enrolling at Tracen Academy, my sister rarely came home. I could only learn about her through television or newspapers.
In BNW, my sister found both a Dearest Friend and a rival. Though I felt a pang of loneliness, I was glad she was happy.
I was different from my sister. She was intelligent, strong, and kind, while I only knew how to destroy.
Someone like me had no right to stand on the racetrack.
"Miss Biwa Hayahide, congratulations on your Spring Tenno Sho victory. Is there any particular opponent you're eager to face next?"
Without hesitation, my sister answered immediately, "Yes, there is someone I've always dreamed of racing against. She's my younger sister, Narita Brian. I may not be a genius, but my sister is the real deal—a genuine prodigy."
Stronger than anyone else, with a greater hunger to run than anyone else. Everything I've trained for has been to overcome my sister's overwhelming talent.
My sister looked directly into the camera, as if standing before me through the screen. "Brian, how much longer must your onee-san wait?"
Ghost Hand Chains, Mist-Veiled Crimson Flames.
Kousei poured all her strength into restraining Narita Brian, but the shadowy monster showed no fear, growing only more frenzied, its shadow raging like a wild horse breaking free from its reins.
"Narita Brian! Has the Shadow Veil concealed even you?!"
"I yearned to run, following in my sister's footsteps to Tracen. But I wasn't the only thing that followed her footsteps; there was also that shadow.
For the first and only time in my life, I felt fear. I was terrified of that shadow, and those humiliating memories flooded my mind once more, becoming a recurring nightmare that crippled my performance.
People were bitterly disappointed. 'Is this the prodigy Biwa Hayahide spoke of?' I couldn't argue—my failure was undeniable.
In my despair, I received a gift from my sister: a Shadow Veil. When I tried it on, its slightly rough texture brought me a sense of calm. The monster vanished from my sight, allowing me to reclaim my true self.
Victory followed victory, culminating in the Triple Crown."
People began to shower me with praise: "If your younger sister is this strong, you must be even stronger, Onee-san!"
Yet a persistent feeling lingered, haunting me since the moment I entered Tracen Academy. Even after winning the Triple Crown, the gnawing emptiness remained undiminished. What exactly did I crave?
Why had I been so restless and impatient from the moment I set foot in Tracen?
Why did I yearn to chase, yet my body refused to respond?
Who am I?
The shadow monster roared with laughter, impervious to both chains and flames. The shadow would dominate this racetrack, utterly unchecked.
"Weak! Pathetically weak! You're too weak to be Narita Brian!"
The crimson runner glared fiercely, standing amidst a landscape of bleached bones, cursing the impostor's inadequacy.
"I know your true purpose! I know your desire!"
A ravenous stomach, forever seeking the most exquisite sustenance. Feet that crush all before them, a monstrous physique—can even the strongest of generations sate your insatiable hunger?
"Not enough! Still not enough to be Narita Brian! More evil than evil! More yearning than yearning! Stronger than the strongest!
In the name of the Void—return everything to nothingness!"
Get out of my way, you coward!
Crimson shook the heavens and the earth as dark clouds gathered overhead. The sky was stained blood-red, and one who invoked the Law of All Things summoned a primordial being.
With endless blood tears that blanketed the heavens, she cried out incessantly beneath the solemn Void. Hidden in the shadows lurked the true monster, a primal hunger beyond human comprehension!
Red eyes opened, calling forth the Name!
The name recorded here... the one who makes all tremble and reduces all to nothingness!
"NARITA BRIAN—!!!"
ROAR!!!
A long howl shook the heavens and the earth. The Flame Wheel blazed fiercely, scorching body and soul with infernal flames.
Burn! Be reborn from the flames and ashes!
A harrowing scream pierced the air as she broke free from her shadowy cocoon, reborn like a beast awakened from the Primordial Era.
Golden eyes gleamed in the darkness like the radiant Halo of the sun.
"Kousei!!!"
With the Shadow Veil gone, the monster finally descended.
A spectral Blue Wolf materialized above the track, its golden eyes burning with primal wildness, resembling the mythical Fenrir, whose earth-shattering roar replaced the horns of Ragnarok, heralding the twilight of the gods!
Narita Brian tensed every muscle, crouching so low she could barely lower herself any further, a coiled beast poised to strike.
Her muscles bulged, tearing through her black tights. The horseshoes replacing her leg rings snapped one by one like shackles, joints creaking ominously as the hooves dug viciously into the turf, using the earth as a springboard to shatter every remaining restraint!
Transforming into a rampaging Blue Wolf, she surged across the racetrack with lightning speed and unstoppable force, leaving all others in her wake, her form vanishing beyond their reach!
This was the true Narita Brian! No mockery, no ridicule—she would relentlessly crush anyone who stood in her way, then devour them whole!
Her entire being spoke through her silhouette! This was the true Narita Brian!
"Not enough! Still not enough! Not enough!"
Narita Brian would never be satisfied, responding to the primal hunt that had seized her.
"Come on! Come on!"
The Red Serpent coiled and surged, two savage beasts from the Primordial Era locked in mortal combat. As far as the eye could see, the landscape was scarred and ravaged.
Pace yourself, conserve your strength—the true essence of the race.
But if you viewed these two through the lens of conventional wisdom, you would be gravely mistaken. From this moment on, give it your all! Until you reach the finish line, fight to the death!
Cast aside the rules of the City of Right and Wrong, and let your emotions charge forth unchecked.
Red and black intertwined, galloping recklessly across the track. Fangs bared their ferocity, and the flames mirrored their savage ambition.
"Faster! Faster! Still not enough!"
Yearning for a worthy opponent, craving the thrill of the chase, and longing for tomorrow.
Yes! This is not where Narita Brian will meet her end!
Golden eyes reflected an unknown landscape ahead. For a fleeting moment, everything seemed to vanish. Narita Brian surged forward, her shadow stretching further and further behind her.
Everything must come to an end—even the things I once feared so deeply.
Here, I surpass my younger self.
No need for hesitation, no need for guilt—this is Narita Brian's true form.
"I! Was always meant to be like this!"
Time resumed its flow.
Narita Brian unleashed her unparalleled acceleration once more, her ferocious leg power transforming into razor-sharp claws and teeth. She lunged at every living thing in her path!
"Don't even think about escaping!"
Her astonishing speed had never reached such heights before; she was faster than ever before.
Three lengths, two lengths, one length! The gap was closing relentlessly!
You're not the only one who's hungry!
Simultaneously, both Umamusume dug their hooves into the turf, sending clods of earth flying amidst a shower of silver sparks.
Their horseshoes came loose!
"No! Immediately halt the race!" Kashimoto Riko ordered decisively.
As a staff member reached for the microphone, Rudolf's hand clamped over it.
"Even the Student Council President has no authority to interfere with the Chairman's decisions!" Kashimoto Riko retorted, her expression urgent and her eyes blazing.
"Of course, I can't interfere with the Chairman's decisions," Rudolf countered, "but after witnessing this, would the Chairman still want to halt the race?"
Kashimoto Riko froze, glancing back at the racetrack.
Neither Umamusume showed any sign of slowing down, their laughter ringing out with unrestrained joy.
"Running feels so exhilarating!"
No one knew their bodies better than they did, yet their souls urged them on, again and again.
Keep running!
The Gates of the Underworld stood wide open, but the Hundred Demons couldn't stop to admire the twilight parade. Desire overflowed, a poisoned brew.
They disregarded the consequences, interpreting the carnage with abandon. The cheers, the thunder of hooves, the pounding of hearts—all faded into the distance.
Only their souls roared fiercely, devouring everything in their path.
Anything!
Dazed, Kousei didn't even realize the Umamusume had already crossed the finish line.
Was it a tie?
Her brilliant vision blurred. The Flame Wheel that had burned throughout the race had placed an unimaginable strain on her eyes. The moment she stopped running, the accumulated agony would surge back in a tidal wave, no less agonizing than a thousand cuts.
Kousei assessed Narita Brian, who seemed to be in slightly better condition, or at least appeared so.
She stood calmly, awaiting the results displayed on the announcement board.
The phantom of a Little Horse Girl darted past Brian, calling out, "Onee-san, wait for me!"
Brian couldn't help but smile.
A neck's difference. Kousei by a hair. The outcome was clear.
"I lost," Brian murmured, tilting her head with a faint smile as she adjusted the Shadow Veil on her nose.
"What an enjoyable hunt this was."
The desire remained far from satisfied. Let's meet again at the next Twinkle Series.
A gentle breeze brushed past as sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating Narita Brian's face. The shadows receded into the horizon.