Vivlos called Song-sama…because of me?
Verxina sank into deep thought. She genuinely hadn't expected such a response. Earlier this morning, she'd thought Vivlos had gotten up unusually early for some other reason—but after all that fuss, it turned out she was secretly looking out for her big sister?
Ah, Vivlos… What a sweet little sister.
Yet this realization did bring her joy. After all, Vivlos reaching out to Gotham Song meant she'd noticed her elder sister's distress. Having a sister like that really was something to be grateful for.
Then, Song-sama, can you free me from these awful feelings?
Verxina looked up at Gotham Song hopefully, and in those wide, pleading eyes, Gotham Song clearly saw a struggle tangled with pain.
Such expressive eyes… They truly belonged to an Umamusume.
So, Verxina, what exactly do you want to say?
"I feel… like I should be hurting more."
Verxina lost herself in the confession, no longer conscious of Gotham Song hovering close above her. Instead, she calmly opened up about the turmoil she'd kept hidden deep inside.
"I mean, it should hurt terribly, right? To be called a genius, to carry everyone's hopes, yet lose repeatedly to the same two rivals across different races—anyone would find it difficult to swallow."
"At first, I was convinced I was miserable. Or rather, I thought I should feel miserable. But soon I realized something was wrong."
Verxina's voice wavered uncertainly. Despite her successes, she was still an inexperienced filly, not yet mature enough—in life or on the track—to handle this tangled mix of emotions. At this stage, such feelings were perfectly understandable.
"The strange thing is… I no longer have any desire for revenge against Almond Eye or Donna-san. Isn't that odd? They defeated me over and over, they stood ahead of me again and again, yet I… somehow lost the urge to surpass them."
"Instead, the only thing I crave—even in my dreams—is to take first place just once. I don't even know how to describe these feelings…"
Ah, so it's that, is it?
By the time Verxina was halfway through her explanation, Gotham Song had already guessed exactly what was troubling this unfortunate kouhai.
The phenomenon was well-documented in her "Front Runner Fanclub & Strategy Forum." Only a small handful of Front Runners who repeatedly tasted defeat would eventually confess similar struggles. Initially, these Umamusume aimed fiercely at surpassing their rivals—but after repeated setbacks, that goal shifted to merely longing for one singular victory.
Gotham Song herself—under an alternate username—had summarized this condition for struggling Front Runners online: losing the courage to openly declare revenge, yet never fully giving up on first place.
As for the reason…
After repeated losses, they'd unknowingly branded themselves as perpetual runners-up. The first loss was shrugged off as coincidence, but repeated failures shattered their pride, leaving scars deeper than they could admit.
Yet their desire to win never vanished completely. Trapped between fear and longing, they became hesitant to declare vengeance openly, clinging instead only to that faint hope for victory.
Gotham Song had dubbed it the "Front Runner Syndrome."
Sadly, it struck most often in fillies who'd experienced nothing but success before their streak of crushing defeats. It was a harsh reality—one that painfully highlighted how brutal the Umamusume world was. After all, there could only ever be one first place, and someone always had to lose.
So, how could she comfort Verxina?
Gotham Song carefully considered her approach. She might've struggled under different circumstances—but as the trusted "big sister" figure to countless troubled Front Runners on the forum, she actually had considerable experience dealing with this exact issue.
Front Runners with this syndrome yearned deeply for victory—more so than ever before. They wanted to free themselves from the label of repeated defeat and reclaim their past selves. The simplest, most straightforward cure was to give them a thrilling, decisive win.
But besides that… there was one other method.
"I think I understand your situation now, Verxina. But before anything else, I have a question for you."
First, divert her attention. Bring her into my pace, Gotham Song thought, guiding her out of this mental trap step by step.
Verxina blinked, then nodded earnestly, awaiting the question.
"Verxina, do you love the racetrack?"
"Huh? Of course I do…"
Hmm—so she loves the track…
"Then, do you love the feeling of winning, the feeling of crossing the finish line first?"
That feeling…
Verxina hesitated, then firmly nodded. No matter her confusion and struggles, this alone she knew with absolute certainty: she craved victory desperately, more fiercely now than ever.
As expected. Gotham Song smiled knowingly. She'd pinpointed the key to breaking through.
"In that case, Verxina, why not ignore Gentildonna and Almond Eye entirely next race?"
"Ignore them…? But why?"
Because their presence has marked your heart—though Gotham Song would never say that directly. Instead, she playfully blinked and gently cupped Verxina's cheeks.
"Tell me, Verxina-chan, what exactly is an Umamusume?"
"What exactly…? I don't really know…"
The conversation shifted rapidly, but Verxina answered honestly, caught off guard. Only now did she realize she'd never seriously considered that question.
"Umamusume are fairies who run upon the racetrack. Beings who chase victory more fiercely than anyone, who strive relentlessly to reach honors no one else can achieve, becoming faster, stronger, and more unbeatable."
"They're creatures of emotion—and their deepest, fiercest feeling is their love for racing and desire for first place."
Indeed, chasing rivals was central to their identity. Gotham Song vividly remembered the piercing gazes of Umamusume who'd rather die than lose, like Oguri Cap's fierce stare when she'd desperately wanted to race alongside her.
Umamusume were precisely that passionate, obsessive species. Therefore…
"That's the truth of an Umamusume. So, Verxina, what matters most for an Umamusume on the racetrack?"
"It's…"
Verxina sank into thought. She hadn't yet grasped Gotham Song's point. After a long silence, she finally shook her head.
"I… don't know, Song-sama. Could you tell me?"
"Ultimately, the most important thing for an Umamusume is winning. The rivalry and companionship that come later—leave them for afterward. Right now, your only concern should be how to secure first place. You don't have to obsess over Donna-chan or Almond Eye."
"Just run fast enough that they can't catch you, strong enough to cross the finish line first. That's all that matters."
"As for fear and hesitation… Leave them to your burning passion and ironclad determination. Understand this, Verxina—your goal isn't to surpass them at a single moment; your true goal is to be strong enough that no matter what they do, victory belongs to you."
That was the most important truth for a filly like her.
Perhaps it was somewhat biased—but wasn't that the fundamental nature of an Umamusume? Even as creatures driven by emotion, how often did those emotions manifest outside racing itself?
Almost never!
Gotham Song's words, therefore, held undeniable power—a potent remedy to help Verxina rise again.
Verxina fell silent, clearly stunned. Comfort usually involved clichéd encouragement: "Overcome Gentildonna! Defeat Almond Eye!" Anyone else might've doubted Gotham Song's sincerity, suspecting ulterior motives from their trainer.
Yet Verxina never doubted her idol. Hearing these words, she finally understood clearly. Obsessing over completely dominating Gentildonna and Almond Eye at every stage was impossible right now.
But if she aimed solely for victory, solely for that singular first place… wasn't that enough?
Indeed, wasn't first place precisely the best proof of her worth, the best repayment for everyone's expectations?
She should've realized sooner! Had Gotham Song given a more cliché encouragement, Verxina might've sunk deeper into depression.
Amazing, Song-sama. You truly understand my heart perfectly…
Slowly, confidence rekindled within her. Truthfully, she still felt uneasy about achieving victory—but if Song-sama, her beloved idol, said she could do it…
Then she had no choice but to believe wholeheartedly.
As Verxina blushed faintly from the closeness between them, Gotham Song finally stood, breaking the tender tension with a grin.
"Hey, Verxina—it's getting late. Shall we grab lunch? Vivlos-chan and Halwa Sweet-san must be worried sick."
Verxina exhaled deeply, a fresh determination settling within her.
"I understand, Song-sama." She smiled warmly. "Let's go!"