When Yasui Makoto had first heard Gold Ship announce her retirement during a televised press conference alongside Kitasan Black, he'd been completely blindsided.
The test results had shown only a minor dip in Gold Ship's mental sharpness, and physically she remained in peak condition—a point he and Kitasan had thoroughly discussed.
Yet, out of nowhere, she declared this Arima Kinen would be her farewell race. After almost a full year of friendship, with all the guidance and support she'd offered, Yasui's emotions had turned complex.
He now understood more deeply the special significance behind the Arima Kinen.
If an Umamusume could choose just one race to end her career, the Arima Kinen would almost always be her pick.
This sentiment didn't originate from any official tradition but rather emerged from legendary moments. It began when Oguri Cap concluded her glorious career with a fairy-tale victory in this very race, cementing the Arima Kinen as the ultimate farewell. Then Tokai Teio returned after 364 days away, running her miracle final race in the Arima Kinen, further solidifying this belief among runners.
Of course, not every Umamusume could experience such a perfect finale; after all, this prestigious year-end G1 could crown only one champion. Precisely because of its difficulty, achieving a triumphant farewell here was seen as even more precious, something chased fervently by every runner.
Yasui knew Kitasan Black had visited Gold Ship privately after the announcement.
He never asked what they discussed or whether they'd made any promises. Kitasan hadn't mentioned it either.
Even Yasui himself was filled with an uneasy mixture of melancholy and anxiety, realizing a familiar Umamusume was leaving the Twinkle Series. For Kitasan—who wore her heart on her sleeve, always cheerful and deeply caring—her feelings had to be even more complicated.
Yet after a year of intense racing, she'd undeniably grown more mature. Although she'd still come to Yasui for advice eventually, she now preferred handling things herself first, confiding in him only when absolutely necessary.
Since she hadn't spoken up yet, perhaps it meant she was managing her tangled emotions well enough. Maybe she'd even channel them positively into her performance today.
At some point, Yasui realized he'd reached the outer edge of the track. Lost in thought, he stared silently at the seemingly endless expanse of grass.
Despite winter's arrival, meticulous care had kept the course vibrant green. Under the soft afternoon sunlight, the grass shimmered with a faint golden glow, cloaking the track in an almost sacred atmosphere.
But even this calming beauty couldn't quell Yasui's nerves. His hands clenched unconsciously, fingernails pressing into his palms, leaving faint, crescent-shaped marks.
Images of Kitasan training relentlessly flashed vividly through his mind—her determined gaze, her unwavering effort, the glistening sweat she'd shed daily.
This was Gold Ship's final race, and he'd witnessed firsthand how fiercely all the other competitors had trained, pushing themselves to the limit.
Yet, he also saw clearly how his own black-haired runner had trained day after grueling day—her meticulous preparations, her mental and physical growth. She'd never once faltered.
She should have no problems at all…
But just as that confidence rose, memories of countless races he'd studied flooded back uncontrollably.
He'd seen runners overtaken in the final stretch, narrowly missing victory. He'd seen some lose all strength before even reaching the home straight, helplessly watching rivals fly by. And he'd seen others commit critical errors right out of the gate, sidelining themselves from the start.
Normally calm, Yasui felt each scenario stab at him sharply, deepening his anxiety. He inhaled deeply, attempting to steady himself, yet the shakiness of his breath only amplified the panic within.
"She'll definitely—"
Just as he murmured softly to reassure himself, a voice—both authoritative and playful—rang out from nearby:
"You know, if you stay this tense, you'll pass all that anxiety onto Kita-chan."
Startled, Yasui raised his head. A petite yet commanding Umamusume stood before him, smiling brightly.
"Teio…kaichou?"
Yasui stared blankly as Tokai Teio waved cheerfully from a short distance away. Glancing past the student council president, he froze again.
"Even…Deep Impact-fukukaichou? And President Orfevre-fukukaichou?"
Indeed, standing slightly behind Tokai Teio were the student council's two vice presidents. But even more surprising was the fourth figure beside them.
With chestnut-red hair and eyes glittering like cherry-red jewels, the Umamusume's striking looks were matched by an unmistakable aura of elegance and confidence. A whimsical heart-shaped decoration adorned her left ear, accentuating her playful charm.
Her posture was casual yet effortlessly graceful, exuding a blend of relaxed confidence as if everything in the world lay comfortably within her grasp.
"Gentildonna…?"
Now thoroughly dumbstruck, Yasui stood rooted in place, mind blank with confusion.
He could somewhat understand why the three student council members had arrived together—it was reasonable for them to check the track conditions personally, given the Arima Kinen's importance.
But what about Gentildonna…?
Before he could sort through his confusion, Tokai Teio glanced back toward her companions.
"You three head to the stands first and grab a spot near the front, close to the finish line if possible. Thanks!"
Deep Impact silently regarded Yasui for a moment, nodded once without a word, then quietly walked toward the grandstands.
Orfevre, meanwhile, lingered slightly behind, arms crossed, tail swishing idly, ears flicking curiously toward Gentildonna. Gentildonna herself observed Yasui with mild interest, smiling gently and giving a small wave—clearly meant as a greeting—before exchanging a look with Orfevre and following after Deep Impact.
Only then did Orfevre move, trailing Gentildonna at a subtle yet constant distance.
"Anyway… forget about them for a second. Let's talk about you."
As Yasui watched the trio leave in bewilderment, Tokai Teio approached casually, her relaxed stance betraying little of her dignified student council status.
"So? You've already gone through plenty of races before this. But now, with the Arima Kinen just moments away…you're nervous, huh?"
"Yeah…but, Teio-kaichou, how did you—"
He was about to ask how she'd noticed, but stopped short, shaking his head with a rueful laugh.
If even he could sense how tense he was, it would obviously be glaringly obvious to someone like Tokai Teio, who'd interacted with countless trainers before.