When the commentator announced "Kitasan Black," a deafening wave of cheers erupted, roaring like a tidal surge that completely submerged the entire racecourse.
Amid the thunderous noise, Kitasan Black desperately gasped for air, hands braced against her knees.
Her mind was in chaos, her consciousness drifting like a small boat tossed helplessly upon a stormy sea.
It took her a long moment before her breathing steadied enough to let her straighten up, her awareness gradually rising out of the murky depths of exhaustion.
Her thoughts lingered on the intense battle she'd just endured—a race that had nearly drained every ounce of her strength.
Physical exhaustion dulled her senses; everything before her eyes appeared hazy, as if viewed through a thin veil.
At that moment, her eyes inadvertently swept across to the far side of the track.
On the huge scoreboard, right at the very top, the name "Kitasan Black" shone brilliantly.
Her gaze froze, eyes snapping suddenly into sharp focus.
She stared intently at that name, as though engraving it deep into her soul.
"That's… my name?"
Her lips parted slightly, her voice filled with disbelief.
An instant later, her heartbeat quickened, and her heavy body seemed to regain some strength.
Eyes locked onto the scoreboard, she unconsciously took a few shaky steps forward.
Then stumbled back, only to move forward again.
Her name was still firmly fixed at the top position, unwavering.
In that instant, joy burst forth like a flood breaking through a dam, completely overwhelming her heart.
Her eyes widened further, sparkling brilliantly, and two spots of color flushed her pale cheeks.
"I… did it?"
Her voice trembled with excitement, noticeably louder than before.
Immediately afterward, ecstasy blazed within her like an intense fire, igniting every fiber of her being.
She threw her head back, fists clenched tightly, and shouted with joyous pride:
"I WON—!!"
The cry contained all her emotions, breaking free from her throat and echoing endlessly across the track.
"Yeah, you won, Kitasan!"
Real Steel approached, eyes sparkling brightly, clapping enthusiastically as she called out loudly.
There wasn't the slightest trace of disappointment in her gaze, only genuine appreciation for the thrilling contest they'd shared, along with heartfelt congratulations:
"I lost to you again, but…"
"Well, at least I got to have one hell of a run."
"Real Steel-san…"
Hearing those words, Kitasan Black quickly shook her head.
Before she could finish her reply, two cheerful voices rapidly approached:
"Congratulations, Kita-chan!"
"That was incredible, Kitasan!"
Musee Alien and Jun Tsubasa dashed over with excited expressions.
Both moved so quickly it was as if they hadn't just run the same grueling race.
Before Kitasan Black could even react, they embraced her tightly.
Caught off guard by the sudden hug, a flash of surprise crossed Kitasan Black's face.
But she quickly recovered, her lips curling into a warm smile.
Seeing this, Real Steel's grin widened even further.
She stepped forward and joined in, smiling as she hugged Kitasan Black too.
The other Umamusume watching were astonished.
After all, they'd just completed the 3000-meter Kikuka Sho, and Kitasan Black had clearly appeared exhausted moments ago.
Musee Alien and Real Steel standing firm was understandable.
But Jun Tsubasa, in her excitement, was practically hanging onto Kitasan Black.
Yet even with exhaustion evident on her face, Kitasan Black stood perfectly steady, as though Jun Tsubasa weighed nothing at all.
Is this girl… really an Umamusume like us?
That thought surfaced simultaneously in their minds, leaving them wide-eyed, mouths slightly agape in disbelief.
After a moment of stunned silence, applause began, heartfelt and sincere.
Quickly, the clapping grew louder, accompanied by voices cheering and congratulating her, resonating throughout the entire venue.
Standing quietly at a distance, Satono Rasen observed the scene.
Her eyes briefly flickered with disappointment, swiftly replaced by determination, and finally admiration.
Looking at Kitasan Black surrounded by everyone, she smiled gently and joined in the applause.
Amid the warmth and enthusiasm surrounding her, Kitasan Black felt her excitement and joy grow stronger and stronger.
She kept thanking those around her, unable to stop herself from looking toward the stands.
Grandpa… Senpais… Crown-chan, Dia-chan, and Dura-chan… everyone…
And Trainer…
Look—I did it!
...
Yasui Makoto felt like the past seconds or minutes had sent him on an emotional rollercoaster.
From the nerve-wracking tension during the race to the euphoric moment when Kitasan Black crossed the finish line, his heart had pounded wildly, leaving his mind utterly blank afterward. He had no idea what he'd been doing during that time.
Only after a long moment did he realize that, at some point, he'd ended up tightly embracing the elderly Kitajima Saburō.
The old man didn't seem aware of his own posture either, eyes rimmed red, wiping away tears as he gazed at the track with a wide, joyful grin.
Realizing his lapse in composure, Yasui quickly released Kitajima Saburō and apologized awkwardly:
"I'm so sorry, Kitajima-san, I… got a bit carried away just now. My apologies."
As he spoke, he adjusted his slightly disheveled clothing, trying to regain his usual calm demeanor.
Kitajima Saburō didn't mind in the slightest.
His wrinkled face still wore a radiant smile, tears glistening with excitement.
Grabbing Yasui's hand firmly, he shook it vigorously, his words tumbling out incoherently in his excitement:
"Yasui-san, what are you even apologizing for? I should be the one apologizing… No, there's nothing to apologize for!"
"If it weren't for you, our Kita-chan would never have achieved such incredible success!"
"You mustn't speak like that—I can't thank you enough!"
Yasui smiled softly, bowed slightly, and shook his head gently.
"Kitajima-sensei, Kita-chan's victory was more due to her own hard work and natural talent.
"You know yourself, from the training camp—no, from her debut, even before her debut—she's put in endless sweat and effort.
"All the way until now…"
Looking toward Kitasan Black, still surrounded by her fellow Umamusume, scenes from their journey together flashed through his mind.
"She really worked unbelievably hard."
Kitajima Saburō nodded repeatedly, deeply moved:
"You're absolutely right. Even at home, all she thinks about is training."
"If you hadn't told her to hold back on self-training, she'd probably be out running even on weekends."
"For this race, she truly gave everything she had."
His eyes misted over again.
"Yes," Yasui echoed softly, still gazing at the track, "she really gave it her all…"
Smiling unconsciously, he joined the chorus of cheers echoing across the racecourse.
And inwardly, he quietly decided:
After this… let's let her rest, and thoroughly enjoy this moment.
She's earned every bit of this happiness.
---
T/N: THE STRONGEST UMAMUSUME OF HER GENERATION... KITASAN BLACK!!!!!!
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