November 6th, drizzling rain, Kyoto Racecourse.
The lingering drizzle of late autumn was carried by the breeze onto people's faces. Even through long-sleeved coats, a faint chill could be felt. But at this moment, no one in the stands of Kyoto Racecourse cared about the cold. They stood crowded together, their expectant eyes fixed on the track.
In the world of horse racing, there's a saying about the Classic Triple Crown: the fastest Uma Musume wins the Satsuki Sho, the luckiest wins the Japanese Derby, and the strongest will take the Kikuka Sho.
Today was the moment to decide the strongest Uma Musume.
And this year's Triple Crown was special. One Uma Musume had already won both the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby, and without any setbacks, she had stepped onto the stage of the Kikuka Sho.
From leading by three and a half lengths in the Satsuki Sho to five lengths in the Japanese Derby, for Narita Brian, hailed as the strongest of her generation, winning the Kikuka Sho and becoming yet another Triple Crown winner seemed an indisputable fact.
People gathered here, in the curtain of late autumn rain, to witness this very moment.
They would become witnesses to history, seeing with their own eyes the birth of another Triple Crown winner.
In the crowd, an Uma Musume with long, straight black hair dodged the rain with distaste, seemingly not wanting the drizzle to dampen her bangs.
Her roommate, who'd been pushed ahead, quickly sprouted a few vein marks on her forehead once she realized what was happening.
"Didn't you say you were going to challenge Narita Brian? What are you doing here in the stands? Hurry up and get down there to run in the rain!"
As she spoke, she grabbed Fujino Makken O's sleeve, trying to haul her onto the track.
"It's precisely because I want to beat Narita Brian that I need to observe her properly from the stands! And aren't you scared too? If you're so tough, why don't you go down first!"
Fujino Makken O refused to back down, tugging at Merci Stage's clothes as the two began wrestling right there in the stands.
Just as neither would yield in their little dragon-fight-tiger-struggle, the announcer's voice suddenly reached them from above.
"Now entering is number one, Star Man! Having just faced Narita Brian in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai, can she seize her own moment to shine on the stage of the Kikuka Sho?"
Hearing the familiar name, their movements halted. They turned simultaneously, their eyes fixed on the short-haired Uma Musume emerging from the competitor's tunnel.
"She's out."
"That stubborn one."
As Uma Musume who had shared the track with both Narita Brian and Dream Weaver, they knew exactly what kind of resolve had brought Star Man to the Kikuka Sho.
Fujino Makken O and Merci Stage had chosen to hold back for the Kikuka Sho, partly because the 3000-meter distance truly didn't suit them, but wasn't another part of it a desire to take a break?
But Star Man had actually run in both the Kobe Shimbun Hai and the Kyoto Shimbun Hai. After facing Dream Weaver and Narita Brian back-to-back, she hadn't lost heart. Instead, she'd mustered her courage once more to come to the stage of the Kikuka Sho.
Though they wouldn't say it aloud, in their hearts, they held a certain admiration for her.
Their coming to the Kikuka Sho today was, in part, to cheer on this Uma Musume who shared the same goal.
As they watched Star Man, she seemed to notice them too. Standing in the curtain of rain, she waved exuberantly at the two in the stands.
Watching her exaggerated gestures, Fujino Makken O felt she could almost picture Star Man's bright, radiant smile through the rain.
'What an idiot…'
Fujino Makken O instinctively turned her head away, but Merci Stage—having anticipated this—grabbed her head and forced her hand up, making her wave back at Star Man on the track.
"What are you doing?" Fujino Makken O frowned. Even so, her struggling was feeble.
"You came to the stands, and now you're pretending not to know her?"
Knowing her roommate's contrary nature all too well, Merci Stage sighed helplessly, using one hand to wave Fujino Makken O's arm while waving enthusiastically herself with the other.
Even through the gloomy veil of rain, Star Man could see her companions cheering her on. Seeing the two in the stands, her smile grew even brighter.
To Star Man, the luckiest thing these past few months had been getting to know Fujino Makken O and Merci Stage.
Without their encouragement, both open and subtle, she might never have made it to the stage of the Kikuka Sho.
Though their personalities differed, all three shared the same obsession with victory. Even after losing to Narita Brian, they still refused to accept defeat, yearning to challenge the strongest of their generation once more.
Perhaps it was this very stubbornness that had bound the three of them together.
Just as Star Man was feeling encouraged by her friends' support, the announcer had already introduced several other competitors. As he was about to announce the next Uma Musume, he suddenly paused, then coughed once as if clearing his throat.
This slightly deliberate gesture made everyone present realize something. Their eyes unconsciously turned toward the competitor's tunnel—even Star Man and her two friends, who had just been cheering each other on.
"The strongest of her generation? Or the monster who blindsides us? Powerful Uma Musume always gather many titles that speak of their glory. Today, this Uma Musume may receive a new one!"
"Two of the three Crown races are already hers. Here, at the final Kikuka Sho, will we witness the birth of yet another Triple Crown winner?!"
With the announcer's passionate commentary, the crowd's anticipation was stirred to its peak. No further words were needed; everyone knew which Uma Musume would appear next.
"Now entering the track is—!"
"The first favorite! Number four, Narita Brian!"
As his voice rang out, a figure slowly emerged from the competitor's tunnel onto the track. Her purple coat swayed gently in the breeze, and her long black hair, dampened by the rain, bled through the air like ink. The gaze of the entire Kyoto Racecourse converged upon her.
Facing this torrent of fervent attention, this Uma Musume with a white bandage on the bridge of her nose simply gave a slight nod toward the stands.
"Let's go."
So she said, and then she stepped onto the final leg of her quest for the Triple Crown.
Amidst the spectators' thunderous cheers, Narita Brian officially set foot on the stage of the Kikuka Sho. She had only one goal: to become a true Triple Crown Uma Musume.
And at this moment, within the competitor's tunnel behind Narita Brian, in the darkness unnoticed by anyone, another dark-haired Uma Musume slowly opened her eyes.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! 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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.