In the homestretch,
Cheers flared for Murashi, gushing her by name, calming her as a victor already.
Murashi, too, was already thinking she had been declared triumphant as she was given a wonderful headstart compared to Mary and Rush.
But then—
A silhouette slowly but surely faded into view.
A silhouette of a so-called nobody...
The one and only, Rushing Sky.
Rush surged up toward Murashi. Her eyes locked with concentration.
Her speed was sublime, and the pace was meticulous. Probably superior to most on the field.
With a few more treads...
In mere seconds, she pulled up beside Murashi, breath pounding, running shoulder to shoulder.
Upon realizing it, Murashi was startled, but she smirked.
Now.... the real race began!
As the two began to fight for their own reputation, for their own ambitions.
Murashi glanced at Rush beside her, grinning. "Like hell you would!" she spat, forcing even more speed from her legs.
Instantly, she revved a few steps ahead.
Rush, too, didn't hesitate. She pushed herself forward, matching Murashi stride for stride.
Both locked their eyes on the finish line.
Their lungs burned, their legs screamed, and so did their throat.
They both let out their roars as they ran, pouring everything into those final minutes.
"I must win this", Rush told herself. "I must win this. I MUST."
With those words stuck in her mind, Rush clenched her teeth, sweat spun off her cheeks, and then a loud guttural roar.
Immediately... She propelled forward—just enough to edge past Murashi by a neck.
Murashi's eyes widened in shock.
"No way—!" she choked.
But she refused to yield, "It was yet over, Rushing!" forcing her body beyond its limit, clawing for victory one last time.
There, the finish line was looming.
The victory was just a few more feet away.
Just as Rush felt she might break through, she might finally win this, she might—!
The crowd gasped.
"Oh my god… what is happening…?" someone whispered.
"Did that random Umamusume almost win…?"
"How can someone like her win? It makes no sense…"
"If she wins, doesn't that mean we could beat Murashi too…?"
"No way. It's rigged!"
Unfortunately, Rush heard it.
Not only did no one cheer for her, but she was also labeled something else— a cheat, an odd that shouldn't exist.
The murmurs bled together.
And Rush's steps began to falter.
Her pace slowed.
Suddenly—
She heard it again, except this time it was clear and sharp within the noise of the crowds. It was so much lucider than most.
"You're just an ordinary Umamusume," said the voice.
The same words again.
She then turned toward the voice.
There she was—herself—staring back with disgust.
"You don't deserve to win," the silhouette said.
"Victory belongs to someone with greatness. And you have none."
Her eyes widened in shock, her breath ragged further.
Rush slowed even more.
"Rushing Sky, you will never amount to anything!" the silhouette concluded, sending Rush's pace slowing down even further.
Murashi noticed instantly.
"What are you doing, Rushing?!" Murashi hissed through clenched teeth. "Why are you slowing down—damn it!"
The finish line was right there.
Murashi surged ahead, now a full length in front, while Rush's legs hesitated as if bound.
"Rushing! RUSHING!" Murashi shouted under her breath.
"Don't you dare—DON'T YOU DARE SLIP UP ON ME!!!"
Her voice cracked, furious and desperate.
"WAKE UP, RUSHING SKY!"
But Rushing Sky was already too far into her own mind game again. Leaving her completely falling behind Murashi.
"RUSHING SKY!!!"
Then—just before Murashi reached the finish line—
A blur cut through the air.
So fast it barely existed.
Murashi only felt it pass.
Only saw it when it was already ahead.
Her eyes widened.
Mary.
Despite the slower start, despite everything, Mary surged past them like a force of nature.
She crossed the finish line first—cleanly, decisively, by a neck.
The race ended in an instant.
Second came Murashi.
Third—Rush.
Then the runner from the fourth team.
Cheers and celebration break through the tracks. Each name was called Mary's.
Meanwhile, Rushing Sky and Murashi stood at the finish line, each catching their breath. Looking at the flawless Mary, who was barely making a sound from her breath.
A true monster of her own.
Then, suddenly—
Murashi clenched her fists.
She turned.
Her glare locked onto Rush.
And with fury burning across her face, Murashi strode toward her menacingly.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" Murashi shouted, clutching against Rush's shirt, and pulled her toward her.
Rush gasped as she looked up weakly. "What... what do you want... from me? I mean… You weren't wrong… You were too fast for me…"
"BULLSHIT!" Murashi snapped. "YOU SLOWED DOWN!"
"HOW DARE YOU PULL THAT TRICK ON ME!"
Before she could say more, their teacher quickly swooped in between them, forcing Murashi and Rush apart. "Settle down, you two!" her teacher demanded.
"What got into both of you! This wasn't meant to be personal!"
Suddenly, Rush laughed through her breaths, intruding, "Y— yo— you won… so why are you… so angry…?"
"I WON BECAUSE YOU LET ME!" Murashi yelled back. "WHERE ARE YOUR GUTS?!"
Rush smiled—then her eyes trembled.
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"I— I— I'm sorry…"
With that, she turned and ran.
"Rushing Sky!" the teacher called, but Rush was already gone.
Meanwhile, Murashi was startled by the tears, words trapped in her mouth.
Moments later, Urara and the rest of the team rushed over, scanning the track.
"Rush-chan…?" Urara muttered. But she was nowhere to be found.
In the absence of Rush, the relay race had ended.
The students came celebrate with the victor, Mary.
As for Murashi, students came for her too, encouraging her, thinking she was disappointed by her loss. But she paid no heed.
And for Rush, left only Urara, who was still looking for her, wanting to celebrate with her despite their loss.