Just what had Dream Weaver given up for today's championship...
Not knowing the victory ceremony stage, not knowing how to dance—these were likely just the tip of the iceberg. Narita Top Road pressed her lips together, her gaze complicated as she stared at Dream Weaver's utterly blank expression.
How could someone like her even choose a song? Did she even have a song she truly liked?
In Dream Weaver's life up till now, what had there been besides racing?
For some reason, Narita Top Road suddenly felt a pang of sadness. Almost instinctively, she reached out and grabbed Dream Weaver's hand.
"There's still some time before the Victory Stage begins."
"So… so…"
Narita Top Road looked at Dream Weaver's slightly lost face, her grip growing tighter and more nervous.
"Let's go practice together! Let everyone know, let everyone see! Dream-chan's presence!"
"Ohh."
Watching Narita Top Road's tearful eyes, Dream Weaver instinctively murmured in agreement.
Once Dream Weaver nodded, Narita Top Road grabbed her hand and rushed out of the competitors' room, sprinting toward the dance studio.
Uma Musume are born to run—but if there's nothing in life besides racing, then isn't that just…
Too pitiful?!
Gritting her teeth, Narita Top Road silently made a resolution in her heart: she had to make sure Dream Weaver stepped onto that stage perfectly.
Soon, Narita Top Road pulled Dream Weaver through the doors of the dance studio.
Admire Vega, who had already been waiting inside, opened her mouth to say something but was immediately cut off by Narita Top Road.
"Vega! Do you have any song recommendations?"
"Hah?"
Before she could ask more, Narita Top Road had already pulled out her phone, swiped a few times, and handed it to Dream Weaver.
"Here are a few songs I recommend, Dream-Chan! Listen to them for reference!"
Dream Weaver obediently took the phone and started listening.
Meanwhile, Narita Top Road immediately rushed over to Admire Vega's side.
Watching Narita Top Road's completely changed demeanor, Admire Vega frowned. She really couldn't figure out what was going on.
Dream Weaver was the one who took first place—shouldn't she be the one choosing the song?
As if sensing her confusion, Narita Top Road pulled her into a corner and quietly explained everything.
A few minutes later, having heard the whole story, Admire Vega let out a soft sigh.
Unconsciously, she recalled what she had witnessed on the track earlier that day.
Admire Vega felt a twinge of envy toward King Halo, who had been cheering for her little sister from the stands. She turned her gaze toward Dream Weaver, who was listening to music in the corner, and thought to herself:
Dream Weaver, huh? If it were my little sister—
She shook her head, setting aside her swirling emotions, and walked straight over to Dream Weaver.
"Prepare yourself."
"Huh?"
Dream Weaver looked up blankly, only to see Admire Vega already taking off her jacket, revealing her training clothes underneath. She flexed her wrists, her eyes as sharp as if she were heading onto the track.
"We only have an hour left before the performance."
"Let's begin!"
Narita Top Road had somehow changed into practice clothes as well. She clapped her hands, her warm smile back on her face, though her eyes remained determined.
During the practice session that followed, Narita Top Road took charge of teaching the basic moves. Her instructions were meticulous, breaking down every turn and every lift of the hand into the most fundamental motions.
Admire Vega was responsible for correcting the details. Her eyes were sharp, instantly pinpointing any lack of coordination in Dream Weaver's movements.
"Relax your shoulders a bit more."
"This turn needs to be smoother."
"Your eyes, pay attention to your eyes! You're not on the track now—soften your gaze."
Dream Weaver, who had never done anything like this before, was a bit clumsy at first. But her years of training hadn't been for nothing—thanks to her excellent control over her body, her dance moves quickly became more fluid.
When you pour yourself into something, time flies.
Admire Vega, who had been keeping an eye on the clock, watched as Dream Weaver became drenched in sweat and gave a slight nod of approval.
She walked to the corner of the dance studio, picked up a towel and a bottle of water, and tossed them both to Dream Weaver.
"Time's almost up. This level is good enough."
Dream Weaver, who had been absorbed in thinking about the moves, twitched her horse ears slightly and instinctively reached out with her right hand to catch the items Admire Vega had thrown.
She wiped her flushed face with the towel, then downed more than half the bottle of water in one go.
After catching her breath for a moment, Dream Weaver finally found the chance to voice the question that had been weighing on her mind.
"Why are you helping me like this?"
Narita Top Road, who had also accepted a towel and water from Admire Vega, wiped her sweat and smiled.
"Because this is your first time… and your only debut stage!"
Admire Vega walked over as well, picking up where Narita Top Road left off.
"The stage is an important part of being an Uma Musume."
For Dream Weaver, who had poured all her focus into the track and was fixated on victory, she couldn't understand why Narita Top Road and Admire Vega placed so much importance on the stage.
Unlike other Uma Musume, Dream Weaver's reason for stepping onto the track had never been out of love for running.
There was only one reason she fought so desperately for the championship: to wake her mother from her sickbed.
In Dream Weaver's eyes, everyone who stepped onto the track was an enemy, someone she had to surpass.
That was also why her demeanor changed so drastically the moment she officially entered a race.
In Dream Weaver's world, every Uma Musume on the track was a finely honed blade. Only the one who fought to the very end could shine with the most brilliant light.
She, too, had to wield the resolve to cut down everyone else to earn the right to victory.
This was the racetrack—this was a dueling ground. One horse leads, ten thousand fade away. To forge the sharpest blade, you had to cut down all your enemies.
There could be only one winner.
This was why she couldn't understand Narita Top Road and Admire Vega.
Narita Top Road was easier to explain—after all, Dream Weaver had gotten along well with her before the race, and they'd been on good terms after the match, too.
In Dream Weaver's heart, they could already be considered friends. Off the track, she could still treat Narita Top Road as a friend.
But Admire Vega was different. Dream Weaver had never spoken to her.
To Dream Weaver, her impression of Admire Vega was still stuck on the track—
Someone she had to cut down, someone she had to surpass.
Dream Weaver couldn't understand the importance of the stage to Uma Musume, nor could she understand why Admire Vega was helping her.
Seeing the stubborn look in Dream Weaver's eyes, Narita Top Road seemed to understand something and hesitantly said:
"Dream-chan, horse girls are born to run… but…"
Before Narita Top Road could finish, Admire Vega cut her off with a look.
Admire Vega turned to Dream Weaver, looking her straight in the eye.
"Just think of it as the winner's trophy."
"Next time, I'll win it back."
Dream Weaver looked into Admire Vega's purple eyes and saw something familiar reflected in them. Almost instinctively, she murmured:
"We really are a bit alike, aren't we."
Both had reasons they couldn't afford to lose.
For some reason, Admire Vega visibly stiffened upon hearing this and turned her head away somewhat awkwardly.
Narita Top Road glanced between the two of them, blinking, and suddenly felt as if she'd been left out. She joked in a mock-complaining tone:
"Sorry that I'm not like you, huh—"
To her surprise, Dream Weaver actually laughed and nodded. But before Narita Top Road could react, Dream Weaver continued:
"Because Road-chan is just Road-chan."
"Road-chan is a very kind person."
Hearing this, Narita Top Road also turned her head away somewhat awkwardly and muttered under her breath:
"What's with that…"
Watching the two of them turn away for some reason, Dream Weaver felt a little confused.
Just then, a staff member pushed the door open and entered the dance room.
"Ladies, please make your way to the preparation area immediately… Huh?"
Of course, the staff member was momentarily stunned by the rare scene. After a moment of observation, she reminded them once more in a hushed tone before slowly closing the door.
Five minutes later, the eagerly waiting audience waved their glow sticks in front of the victory stage, cutting brilliant trails of light through the darkness.
As the dazzling lights swept through the dark, one stage light after another flickered on. Three figures suddenly appeared on the previously empty stage.
The three of them, now changed into their stage outfits, shone brilliantly under the lights. Everyone's attention was guided by the spotlights toward Dream Weaver.
Standing at the center of the stage, Dream Weaver nervously gripped her microphone. Even though she'd practiced, facing so many people still made her anxious.
"You ought to be this nervous when you're being blunt, too," a mutter came from beside her.
Dream Weaver instinctively turned to look and saw Narita Top Road sticking her tongue out at her.
Admire Vega, standing on the other side, gave a silent nod.
Though she didn't quite understand what Narita Top Road meant, Dream Weaver felt her nervousness ease somewhat inexplicably.
She placed a hand over her chest and spoke to the audience, whose energy seemed capable of lighting up the night:
"I am Dream Weaver."
The lights in the darkness cheered in response, as if answering her.
"The song I'll be performing for everyone is—"
"Neo-Aspect!"
As Dream Weaver's words fell, the spotlights cut out abruptly before reigniting one by one. Brilliant blue-purple halos shot up like pillars of light, illuminating the entire Tokyo Racecourse before converging back on the stage, once again highlighting the three figures.
Dream Weaver stood at the center of the stage, her red-ribboned high ponytail swaying gently to the beat, her skirt flaring with each step.
Though her movements still carried a hint of hesitation, the light reflected in her eyes no longer held any trace of confusion.
The electronic intro sliced through the night air like a shooting star. She took a deep breath and brought the microphone to her lips.
"Utsukushiki inochi no enrei (The beautiful brilliance of life),"
"Tsumugareta shirabe umare yuku michi (A woven melody, a path being born),"
"Believe me this is the right way,"
—Her voice came out clearer and brighter than she'd expected.
Her initially tense shoulders gradually relaxed under Narita Top Road's encouraging gaze. Dream Weaver stepped sideways into the dance routine, catching a glimpse of fans in the front rows waving glow signs wildly.
Dream Weaver reached out toward the supporters.
"Nobasu te wa nanimo tsukamenai mama (My outstretched hands grasp at nothing),"
"Ikitsugi mo umaku dekizu (I can't even catch my breath properly),"
"Hieta kuchibiru damarikomu (My cold lips fall silent),"
In that fleeting moment, Dream Weaver remembered how hearing this song for the first time in the dance studio had felt like a strike to her heart. The pressure and anxiety she'd accumulated over the years poured out through the lyrics leaving her lips.
"Into darkness…darkness…"
Narita Top Road and Admire Vega, standing beside her, seamlessly joined in with harmony.
"I feel loneliness…loneliness…"
"Your voice… kokoro no uragawa ni fureta setsuna (The instant your voice touched the depths of my heart),"
"Find a way find a way,"
The reason she had struggled until now, the love her mother had given her—all of it poured out from Dream Weaver's heart into her song.
"I know loved one loved one,"
"Mou ichido tsunagou te wo (Let our hands join once more),"
Just then, stage effects exploded around them. Holographic stars swirled at her feet. Dream Weaver sharply pulled the red ribbon from her ponytail and clutched it in her hand.
"I hold you,"
"Beautiful prouder,"
"So beautiful braver,"
"So beautiful brighter,"
"Hokori takaku kanadetai (I want to play proudly),"
"Ah on stage,"
"Sing away sing away,"
The drumbeats rose to a crescendo. Dream Weaver poured her voice into the microphone, the ribbon in her hand streaking like flame across the cameras, setting the entire victory stage ablaze. The lights, as if ignited, shifted instantly from blue-purple to fiery orange-red.
"Miseyou arata na sugata wo (I'll show you this new form)"
Narita Top Road and Admire Vega exchanged a glance before moving to Dream Weaver's side.
"Wo wo wow…"
They joined in for the final harmony, each taking one of Dream Weaver's hands.
As the final note faded, a wave of applause and cheers surged from the audience.
Under the restored spotlights, Dream Weaver spotted King Halo' blue ribbon ear cover swaying vigorously in the crowd.
She was about to wave in that direction when she suddenly felt a touch against her palm. Dream Weaver instinctively turned to look.
"Perfect," she saw Narita Top Road mouthing silently beside her.
Narita Top Road then pointed subtly toward Admire Vega, signaling Dream Weaver to look.
Noticing Narita Top Road's gesture, Admire Vega immediately schooled her expression back to neutrality, but Dream Weaver could still see the faint upturn of her lips.
"So this is what it feels like… to stand here."
A feeling that something was about to begin filled Dream Weaver's heart, leaving her slightly dazed.
Through their joined hands, Dream Weaver felt she was beginning to understand what the victory stage represented for Uma Musume.
It wasn't until Narita Top Road lifted their clasped hands to acknowledge the audience that Dream Weaver snapped out of her reverie.
--+--
T/N: The song's from BanG Dream!
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.