Upon entering Tokyo Racecourse, Kuroha glanced around at the massive venue.
Beside him, Fujimasa March tugged at his sleeve.
"Trainer…"
The girl pointed toward a direction.
Following her finger, Kuroha saw a few familiar figures.
A silver-gray long-haired Uma Musume with a diamond-shaped crown on her head—
and her small companion beside her.
Oguri Cap, and Kizuna Bright.
"Oguri… so in the end, you really couldn't make it into the Japan Derby…"
Kizuna Bright looked around at the sea of people in Tokyo Racecourse, her face full of disappointment.
At that moment, Oguri Cap puffed her cheeks, chewing something, both hands full of skewers.
She held out one giant fried shrimp skewer toward Kizuna Bright while mumbling through her mouthful:
"Wanna eat?"
"…."
Kizuna Bright's expression went flat.
She was long accustomed to Oguri Cap's natural airheadedness and merely sighed.
She accepted the shrimp skewer, then, watching Oguri go back to tackling her own food, couldn't help asking:
"Oguri, don't you feel regret…?"
"Regret…"
Oguri Cap's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to Kizuna Bright's ears.
"I once set the Tokai Derby as my goal, but couldn't run it…
And now… I can't run the Japan Derby either."
Her expression was calm, but in those deep eyes there was a trace of confusion and sadness.
"I really… really wanted to run the Derby.
But… I've already done everything I could…"
The Classic Triple Crown—
a once-in-a-lifetime honor.
Even a natural airhead like Oguri Cap could faintly sense that she had missed something truly important.
She fell silent.
"Oguri…"
Kizuna Bright looked at her with concern.
Just then, a crisp voice drifted in with the wind:
"Oguri, that's not like you at all."
The sudden voice made Kizuna Bright's ears twitch upright in alarm.
Oguri Cap, on the other hand, seemed to recognize it—her eyes widened slightly as she turned toward the source.
Standing beside them was a silver-haired girl, smiling lightly in greeting.
"Yo, Oguri. Long time no see."
"March?!"
The gloom on Oguri Cap's face vanished in an instant.
Fujimasa March walked up, her crimson eyes carrying a trace of concern—but more than that, the familiar firmness of an old rival.
"Spotted you from a distance just now, so I came over."
Only then did Kizuna Bright notice that beside Fujimasa March stood the trainer she'd seen at the Pegasus Special—Kuroha—
along with three other Uma Musume she didn't know:
A brown-haired twin-tailed Uma Musume — Inari One.
Two curious little ones — Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
Other than March and Kuroha, they were all new faces.
Once Kuroha and his four Uma Musume found seats, Fujimasa March turned her gaze back to Oguri Cap.
"What's wrong? Got the blues?"
Her tone was teasing, yet just enough to ease the heaviness from before.
Oguri Cap swallowed her mouthful, shook her head, her voice clearer now—
as if the momentary confusion had been swept away by the appearance of a worthy rival.
"No… just feel it's a pity not to run here."
She paused, then met March's eyes, the familiar hunter's focus returning:
"But… you've gotten stronger."
She could sense it—
the aura radiating from her opponent was heavier, sharper than the last time they'd met on the local circuit.
It wasn't just physical growth—there was an inner transformation as well.
March met her gaze calmly, a faint glint flashing in those red pupils before fading.
"To catch my goal, getting stronger is only natural."
"Oguri, don't let your sight linger only on regrets."
It was both encouragement—and a declaration.
Oguri was silent for a few seconds, then her voice took on the pure resolve of a top Uma Musume:
"Mm… I understand! Next time, we'll face each other on the track again!"
"Of course."
March's lips curved into a fighting smile. "I'll be waiting."
The invisible current between the two powerful rivals finally made Kizuna Bright ease her worry.
Kuroha quietly watched the exchange between these two former gray-haired rivals without interrupting.
In the original timeline, Oguri Cap had been lost in confusion over missing the Japan Derby—
while March herself had been crushed in the Tokai Derby.
As a fellow loser, the only way March could console Oguri back then was to help her find a new goal—
to defeat Tamamo Cross and become Japan's number one.
But now, March had returned to Oguri not as a comforter, but as a rival—
and the goal she set for her was simpler, clearer—
Defeat me, Oguri Cap!
Compared to the vague "become number one in Japan,"
"defeat Fujimasa March" was far more tangible—
and far more likely to ignite Oguri's fighting spirit.
At that moment, the stadium broadcast roared over the sea of voices:
"Fans of the Central Shining Series—welcome to Tokyo Racecourse!
The moment has finally arrived!
Today's main event!
The festival of the Uma Musume!"
The voice was like drops of water hitting boiling oil—
instantly setting the entire racecourse ablaze!
"G1 — Japan Derby!"
A tidal wave of sound rose to the sky, as if to blow the roof off the venue!
"OHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!!"
The stands turned into a boiling sea—cheers, screams, and shouts merging into a deafening roar that made the air tremble.
"The runners are making their entrance!
This is the once-in-a-lifetime stage for every Uma Musume!
Let's introduce the competitors!"
The massive central screen lit up, showing the paddock entrance behind the gates.
From the shadows of the tunnel, silhouettes emerged one after another,
stepping out in steady, powerful strides into the blazing sunlight and countless fixed gazes.
Every appearance was met with a surge of cheers from the stands.
One by one, they entered, until the announcer reached the final four favorites:
"Since her debut, three races, two wins!
The shining new star of the Mejiro family—once again showing her class and ambition!
Fourth favorite—Mejiro Ardan!"
A beauty with flowing lapis-blue hair stepped forward in a black-and-white dress, lace hems and golden trim adding a gorgeous touch to her noble aura.
"Even a third-place finish in the Satsuki Sho couldn't quench her fighting spirit!
On this grand stage—will the cherry blossoms that bloomed at the Asahi Hai bloom again today?!
Third favorite—Sakura Chiyono O!!!"
When that familiar sakura-colored figure emerged at the tunnel's end, Tokai Teio by Kuroha's side was already bouncing in excitement.
She waved a fan she had somehow acquired:
"Chiyono O-senpai! Go for it!"
Chiyono O narrowed her eyes slightly against the glare, taking in the roaring Tokyo Racecourse in its entirety.
Her gaze swept over the flags and the screaming faces—
then locked, with pinpoint precision despite the distance, on where Kuroha was seated.
She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and the last trace of haze in her eyes was replaced by pure, absolute focus.
She didn't wave or call out as usual—
instead, she gave a single, solemn nod in that direction.
(End of Chapter)
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