"In the Satsuki Sho, she claimed the first jewel! Heir to the Kongō Yae-ryū!"
"Now is the time for her invincible name to echo through the ages!"
"Second favorite—Yae Muteiki!"
A martial-artist-like Uma Musume strode out with steady steps, her gaze unwavering.
Her red-white-black victory outfit was cut with crisp precision, faintly outlining the flowing yet powerful muscle lines beneath.
"And lastly—!"
"The one who broke the Hanshin JF record with a stunning finishing burst!"
"In this Japan Derby, let her blow away all foes like a bullet from the chamber!"
"First favorite—Dido Shooter!!!"
The Uma Musume in a yellow hood walked in with unshakable confidence—
her entrance brimming with swagger and dominance, her eyes sweeping over the venue and the other runners.
"This year's Japan Derby runners are once again a dazzling field of heroes!"
"This is the race to decide the strongest of this year's Classic season! Which Uma Musume will seize the once-in-a-lifetime crown?!"
Highest tier of the stands
Two tall figures stood overlooking the Tokyo Racecourse.
One, arms folded, her crescent-shaped bangs marking her identity—Rudolf Symbol, much like Tokai Teio.
The other, hand on hip in a relaxed stance, a small hat atop her head marked with "CB"—Mejiro Ryan's senior, the legendary Triple Crown mare Chiharu Representative.
Both were Triple Crown champions of the previous generation.
Rudolf's gaze was lowered, her expression unreadable, as the announcer's words—"the strongest of the Classic season"—rang in her ears.
The words of that infuriating reporter from not long ago, and the "provocation" splashed across the headlines, still lingered in her mind:
"Isn't the Derby supposed to decide the strongest?
Most of these girls are just Oguri Cap's beaten opponents!
If Oguri Cap isn't running, what meaning does this Triple Crown have? Won't it just be boring?!"
No meaning?
Rudolf silently questioned herself, slowly closing her eyes.
The surface of her mind rippled—
and she was back in her own past.
She remembered running with everything she had on this very turf.
As "the Emperor," it was her first time being pushed to the brink—
Stamina exhausted! Power fading!
The road ahead stripped of every clear path forward!
She had the physical gifts to dominate her generation,
more talent than even the era's "geniuses."
But in that moment, she had been one step from falling into the abyss of defeat.
The Japan Derby…
A once-in-a-lifetime honor for any Uma Musume.
Could it truly be defined by surface strength alone?
Rudolf opened her eyes, her gaze falling on the fierce mares gathered below—
and a small smile touched her lips.
The Derby crown was never a fruit to be plucked by talent alone.
It was a forge—
one that took the body, spirit, will, and even the soul of its runners and cast them into its hottest flames.
Only in that ultimate heat could the pure light worthy of the name "Derby" be tempered.
No matter who emerged victorious today—
in that instant, they would be worthy of the honor!
Beside her, Chiharu Representative looked on, puzzled.
"What's with Rudolf?"
"And… wasn't Maruzensky supposed to be up here with us? Where'd she run off to…?"
She let the thought drift away.
"Well, seems like a lot's going on… but I don't really get it."
Her face settled into her usual "nothing really matters" smile.
"Let's just watch quietly."
"Ahhh—"
Elsewhere in the stands
The brown-haired senior she'd just mentioned sneezed.
"Ugh… is someone talking about me?"
Maruzensky frowned, thought for a moment—
then her eyes lit up, as if she'd spotted what she'd been looking for.
She jogged over and, to the mild surprise of the young man there, dropped into the seat beside him.
"Kuroha, long time no see!"
"Long time, Maruzensky."
Kuroha gave the glamorous lady a curious look.
"You're not watching the race with Rudolf? What are you doing here?"
She waved a hand and smiled brightly.
"It's fine, Rudolf's got company."
"Besides—this is the moment to see the results of our little agreement, remember?"
"Agreement?"
Both Fujimasa March and Inari One's ears twitched—they turned their heads involuntarily.
"…Let's just watch the race first," Kuroha replied with mild exasperation.
Down on the turf
The runners were warming up, stretching their bodies.
"Your leg—is it okay?"
Mejiro Ardan had walked up beside Dido Shooter.
She knew her friend's injury was the reason she'd been out—
and the Satsuki Sho hadn't been long ago. By rights, her leg shouldn't have recovered this quickly.
Dido Shooter glanced down at her leg, then smirked, winking one eye.
"This little thing's nothing. I can push through with spirit alone!"
"I already missed the Satsuki Sho. If I let the Derby slip too, that'd be unforgivable!"
Ardan listened silently, then gave a small nod and left her be.
Left alone, Dido Shooter's lively smile faded into a heavy, carved-in calm.
Her left foot pressed into the turf as she stood, silent.
Sakura Chiyono O exhaled slowly, her right hand over her heart.
Her body… felt light.
Something in her chest was burning fiercely…
She looked ahead, to where the turf seemed to meet the horizon—
where something was shining, calling her forward.
Before entering the gates, she stepped up beside Yae Muteiki.
"Yae Muteiki."
The martial artist girl glanced over.
"The debt from the Satsuki Sho—I'll repay it, right here in the Derby."
Her voice was calm, but the strength beneath it was unmistakable.
Muteiki's lips curved into a grin.
"Wouldn't have it any other way!"
"The moment of destiny has arrived!
At Tokyo Racecourse, the Japan Derby entrance march is playing!"
"With their ambitions in their hearts, the Uma Musume enter the gates!"
As the triumphant music swelled, Sakura Chiyono O reached her stall.
She took her place, inhaled deeply one last time, and slowly exhaled.
The roar of the crowd seemed to fade away—
the world narrowing to the straight, sunlit track before her.
She bent her knees slightly, adjusting her posture with machine-like precision into the perfect starting stance.
Every muscle fiber stood out with the tension of stored power—
like a bowstring drawn to its limit, like an arrow ready to be loosed,
all her energy compressed to the utmost, awaiting the signal.
The air inside and outside the gates felt frozen.
"All runners in position!"
The announcer's voice carried a tremor of excitement across the course.
"Then…
The Japan Derby—!"
A breathless pause.
The lights changed—
"GO!!!"
The voices of tens of thousands erupted into a tsunami of sound—
Bang!
The gates flew open!
"The race begins!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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