"Teaching? You'll get it faster by feeling it out yourself."
Sunday Serenity suddenly sounded like some ancient sage who'd spent centuries cultivating in the wilderness.
No matter how hard Sunday Serenity tried, her running form always seemed flawed in Sunday Silence's eyes, as if something vague was holding her back—all form, no spirit.
Of course, it was also possible that Sunday Silence's descriptions were just too abstract, making them hard for Sunday Serenity to grasp, and naturally, even harder to replicate.
"That feeling... it's like your whole body is inlaid with the gems of a whale."
Teacher Silence, your words are a bit too difficult, aren't they?
Clearly, Sunday Serenity was still far from being able to tune into that particular wavelength. This was why her imitation of Sunday Silence always felt like an unfinished product.
However, when it came to learning from others, Sunday Serenity showed astonishing talent.
After just watching a few race recordings, she could mimic Narita Brian's running style and even achieved decent results in a practice race against Rudolf.
But later...
Sunday Serenity narrowed her eyes.
As Rudolf caught up, Sunday Serenity's mind grew hazy. The presence of Sunday Silence, who had been running beside her, suddenly vanished.
Not only that, but her field of vision also began to stretch and lengthen as her speed increased—
Until she was viewing the race from a third-person perspective.
In human terms, it was like an out-of-body experience, a separation of consciousness and physical form. Or rather, she had become Sunday Silence in her usual state.
The one galloping on the track was no longer her.
Sunday Silence had temporarily taken control of the body.
Even she herself didn't understand how it happened. Perhaps she was stimulated by the aura of a strong rival, igniting the fighting spirit flowing in her soul. Or maybe the desire for greater speed simply surpassed Sunday Serenity's own consciousness...
By the time she regained her senses, Sunday Silence was already ahead of Rudolf, executing flawless movements to push her speed to the absolute limit.
That innate, perfectly natural feeling captivated Sunday Serenity.
Yet, even after witnessing it twice, etching the scene into her mind and replaying it on a loop, she still couldn't mimic it.
What was she missing?
'It can't be some kind of exclusive skill, can it?' Sunday Serenity couldn't help but wonder.
"Take it slow. We have plenty of time, after all."
In the end, Sunday Silence sounded like an elder comforting some poor soul down on their luck in both career and love: 'Don't rush. You're still young, you have your whole life ahead of you...'
It carried a faint whiff of giving up, she felt.
"I think I can still be saved..."
"What you lack now isn't technique. The fact that you can quickly pick up others' styles shows your learning ability is strong—you're already very impressive. What you're missing now is something else..."
Sunday Silence pondered.
As Sunday Serenity's other half, she wanted to impart her philosophy, to nurture her into a worthy successor.
But just talking about it wasn't enough.
She needed Sunday Serenity to experience it for herself.
That unyielding spirit, a quality where the gap between innate and acquired could be vast—she needed to engrave it firmly onto Sunday Serenity's soul.
"Until you find what you're lacking, just run at your own pace."
Sunday Silence said, "As for other Uma Musume, learn their movements, gradually refine them, and eventually blend them into something of your own."
"Learn their movements?"
"That's right," Sunday Silence replied. "Use their movements, keep breaking through, keep evolving. Only then will you finally discover—"
The barrier holding you back will disappear.
"The race date is approaching, and this time, the stage is set under the sunlight."
"Doesn't sound easy."
"Not necessarily," she said with a laugh. "The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow."
In this world, who can truly outrun their own shadow?
So there's no need to rush.
Sunday Silence told herself.
The soul can grow, too.
Thought, consciousness, the point where the manifest world and the other world converge—their souls were bound tightly together.
For now, she just needed to look ahead.
On that track leading to the far shore of speed, the race that held the attention of countless people: the [Japanese Derby].
--+--
[Time: May 29th]
[Location: Tokyo Racecourse]
The sun blazed in a cloudless sky—a truly splendid day.
Eager to watch this immensely important race, the spectators had entered the racecourse early, crowding the stands and gazing out at the dew-kissed, glistening turf.
The one they all wanted to see was naturally the winner of the last [Satsuki Sho], Narita Brian.
If she won this race, she would become the renowned 'Twin Crown' Uma Musume, putting the eventual 'Triple Crown' within her grasp.
How could they not be excited by such a historic moment? Their fervor burned even hotter than the sun hanging high in the sky.
"If nothing unexpected happens, Narita Brian should be the undisputed winner."
"Why do you say that?"
"During the [Satsuki Sho], Narita Brian held back in the final sprint. That means what we saw then wasn't her full power. Meanwhile, the other Uma Musume from her generation were clearly hitting their limits."
"You mean..."
"Exactly. Narita Brian's ability far surpasses her contemporaries. Rumor has it she's posted even better times in training than she did in the [Satsuki Sho]. Not only that, she undergoes daily training that far exceeds the average intensity."
"Wouldn't that cause problems?"
"It might for others, but Narita Brian... her natural talent is just terrifying. Especially that unmatched raw power—it's like the fangs of a beast, truly awe-inspiring."
"That's true."
"Other Uma Musume need hundreds of meters to reach their top speed, and the key factor affecting that acceleration is power. Narita Brian can minimize that distance," the spectator explained.
"She can go from average speed to top speed in just over ten meters. That explosive acceleration is something other Uma Musume can't hope to match. And by maintaining a mid-pack position during the race, she can also conserve her stamina."
"So that means—"
"Her true, yet-unleashed power, a running style that suits her perfectly, and that fearsome acceleration make her practically invincible in the final stretch," the spectator concluded, crossing his arms. "None of the others in this generation seem capable of challenging her."
"Looks like the outcome of this race is a foregone conclusion, then."
"Yeah. The next 'Triple Crown' Uma Musume is about to be born."
Then, the two turned their attention to the track.
So noisy...
On the dew-covered, silvery-gray grass, the black-haired girl stretched her shoulders and pressed down on her legs.
Her gaze swept over the other competitors.
Not her. Not her. Not her either...
After looking at every face, Narita Brian shook her head.
Not a single one here could stir her fighting spirit. The way their faces paled with fear just at the sight of her—their very presence on the track was irritating.
They were defeated before the race even began.
Calling them 'opponents' would be giving them too much credit!
It looked like this would be another utterly disappointing race.
Narita Brian's interest was low. That black-haired Uma Musume who had caught her attention wasn't among the entrants.
'But if I keep fighting on the track, I'll meet her someday.'
Until then, she'd just crush these contenders' pitiful hopes of victory to sate the hunger inside.
As the announcer's voice rang out, the Uma Musume entered the starting gates one by one.
Narita Brian gradually lowered her stance into a starting position.
The announcer's voice droned on like an annoying buzz.
'Grrrr—'
Faintly, she heard the snarl of a beast, a threat whispered in her ear.
Her heart clenched as if squeezed by an invisible hand. Narita Brian's pupils contracted sharply.
She felt it—someone was watching her intently.
With a loud 'Clang!', the gates flew open. Under the gaze of tens of thousands of spectators at the Tokyo Racecourse, a black Uma Musume, like a phantom from the shadows, appeared on the track.
The [Japanese Derby] had begun—
--+--
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.