The fanfare echoes, signaling all Uma Musume are in the gates. The Japan Derby, the race to crown the generation's best, is moments away. No matter how dominant, upsets abound in this world. Every Uma Musume has a chance—and a pitfall. Fate's whims decide victory, and the luckiest will claim the Derby's crown.
"Here we go! All Uma Musume set for 2400m of glory! The chosen elite start now!! A clean break, led by Ines Fujin, blazing ahead!!"
Ines, true to her escape vow, seizes the lead with her relentless pace. Others try to follow, but one Uma Musume stands out, hot on her heels.
"Ines Fujin leads, followed by Kokutai You, Handsome Girl, and—look! Mejiro Ryan breaks from the pack, trailing Ines's blistering pace!!"
"I won't let you escape today!" Ryan declares.
"Catch me if you can!!" Ines retorts.
With Ryan on her tail, Ines accelerates freely, weaving inside, daring others to keep up or overtake her with a masterful run.
"Ines-senpai's escape is unreal… but Ryan-senpai's right there!" Rice gasps.
"Of course! Turbo and Ran trained her for this—she won't lose to an escape!!" Turbo cheers.
"Big sis helped too," Rice adds.
"Guess I'm the perfect sparring partner," Rampage smirks.
Few match Rampage as an escape rival, her tall stride fueling ferocious leads. Keeping up with her preps you for most escape artists—but Ines is no ordinary one. Less reckless than Rampage or Turbo, her pace lures rivals into overexertion, draining their stamina.
"Approaching the backstretch, Ines Fujin holds the lead, Mejiro Ryan glued to her! Kokutai You trails by four lengths, with Black Jewel pacing behind. How will this race unfold!?"
("She's sticking to my pace… Ryan's incredible, but I'm winning today!!")
Ines trained beyond practice, weaving newspaper delivery into her regimen to aid her family and hone her Derby-ready burst speed. That stop-and-go built her confidence for the fourth corner and final straight.
"I won't lose!!"
"Ines Fujin accelerates, shaking Mejiro Ryan!! The pack closes in as we hit the straight—Tokyo's decisive stretch! Under 400m, up the hill!!"
"Here's the real test…!!" Ryan grits.
Ines's high-pace attrition wears down the field. Rivals thought they could keep up, but their stamina fades. Ryan chases her back, determined to claim the Derby, yet her body falters.
"Ugh… can't close the gap…" Ryan gasps.
"Feels like Ran's style," Nature observes.
"Mine's worse—I'd widen the gap more," Rampage quips.
Then, a shadowed Uma Musume strikes.
"Here's my move!!"
"Mejiro Ryan surges!! Lurking behind Ines Fujin, she finally breaks free! Can she catch her!?"
Thanks to Rampage and Turbo, Ryan's used to escape artists. Ines's pace was easier to track than theirs. With gratitude, Ryan powers forward, catching Ines and drawing even.
"This is it!!"
"I won't lose!!"
"Ryan overtakes—no, Ines fights back!! They're neck and neck with 200m left!! Who'll claim the 57th Japan Derby!?"
"I won't lose!! I trained for this!!" Ines cries.
"I know!! But I'm fighting too!!" Ryan roars.
Ryan knows Ines's hustle—newspaper delivery, just like Rampage. Their shared grit, their strength, she understands. That's why—
"RYAAAAAN!! Go!!!" Rampage bellows.
Ryan hears, sees her friend's cheer, and feels a surge. Rampage knows her strength, just as she knows Rampage's. They set this goal to prove it. So she runs.
"With you, RAAAAAN!!"
She stomps, kicks, kicks, kicks. Time slows, the world blurs, but Ryan charges forward, blasting past the finish line.
"Ines Fujin and Mejiro Ryan in a dead heat!! Who'll take the Derby!? A photo finish—too close to call! Both ran a race worthy of a Derby Uma Musume!!"
"Hah…!!" Ryan pants.
"Ugh…!!" Ines coughs.
Both collapse, gasping, wordless. As breathing steadies, they glance at the board, bracing for the result. The "photo" text vanishes. The Derby Uma Musume is—
"Mejiro Ryan!! A nose, a 4cm victory!! Mejiro Ryan conquers the Derby, following Mejiro Rampage's Oaks for another Mejiro Classic Double Crown!!!"
"I… did it…?" Ryan whispers.
"Amazing!!" Ines tackles her, beaming as if she'd won.
"Total defeat!! I gave everything, but you won, Ryan!! Congrats!!"
"I won… I'm a Derby Uma Musume… YEAHHH!!"
Ryan, reality sinking in, hugs Ines back. Ines returns it, startled but joyful.
"You were incredible, Ines!! I didn't think I'd win!!"
"I never thought I'd lose!! But no regrets, no shame—I gave it all, and I'm satisfied!!"
"Yeah, yeah!! Thanks, Ines!!"
"Thank you, Ryan!!"
The crowd's applause shakes Tokyo Racecourse. Rampage roars.
"RY-AN!! RY-AN!! IN-ES!! IN-ES!!"
"RY-AN!! RY-AN!!"
"IN-ES!! IN-ES!!"
The chant spreads from Canopus to the stands, engulfing the racecourse in a roaring call for Ryan and Ines.
"It's a chant!! Tokyo trembles with Ryan and Ines calls!! This is the Derby!! Two champions today, undeniable in this roar!! Mejiro Ryan, Ines Fujin—these are 2025's Derby Uma Musume!!"
"Haha, Ines… you're a Derby Uma Musume too!!"
"So happy… everyone loves my run!! Thank you all!!" Ines cries.
"Thank you!!" Ryan echoes.
1st: Mejiro Ryan. 2nd: Ines Fujin. Undeniable. Beyond a Double Crown moment, this is a celebration of two Derby Uma Musume.
The chant… had to stay.
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