Though two halves of a whole, they weren't chained together at every moment.
This time, they had gone their separate ways. The young girl had come to the racetrack to watch the Uma Musume compete.
Her eyes reflected the figures vying for victory.
Her brow furrowed slightly.
Impure…
Their eyes were far too impure.
To give meaning to this life, to carry the expectations of family and friends.
For family, for honor.
These Uma Musume ran upon the track.
It seemed each one had a mission they felt compelled to fulfill.
Of course, among them were those who, as Uma Musume, believed they were born for the racetrack.
But they were so few…
It was as if everyone saw the race as just a necessary step on the path to glory.
Rather than truly racing, it felt more like they were comparing whose burden of purpose was heavier.
This feeling was truly… unpleasant.
The more one carried, the farther one drifted from their original wish.
The voices, opinions, and attitudes of others—things external—piled upon them with each step forward.
Do you still remember why you first stood upon this field?!
Maybe it was just for a word of praise, for the sheer joy of running itself.
But now?
The spectators in the stands, the expectations of others, media reports—an increasingly complex environment was warping their initial goals.
Gradually, their desire to run had twisted into a compulsion to win.
It was really… too impure.
One shouldn't need to shoulder some grand burden just to be here.
To cast away the winner's glory without a second thought, to casually obscure the brilliant radiance.
None of it was needed. All of it was unnecessary.
From the moment she decided her purpose, the path forward had been laid out.
"That's a good expression. Did something good happen?"
In the glass window, the girl's reflection moved, speaking up.
"Nothing much, just passing the time," she shook her head.
Before leaving, she took one last look at the fiercely contested track.
"...Do you remember your reason for running in the beginning?" the girl asked.
The unseen presence was silent for a moment before replying, "Of course."
She had never strayed from it, not for a single moment.
Victory was merely a process; glory was not the end result.
Even if you stripped all of that away, it wouldn't affect her in the slightest.
"Is that so?"
Her mood instantly brightened.
This was why the girl found her so dazzling.
From start to finish, her goal had always been to stand atop that breathtaking summit.
And for that, she would spare no effort!
Finally, at this very moment, it was no longer an act.
She could, from the bottom of her heart, allow that wild, unbridled smile to surface.
--+--
How… is this possible…
Her blood raced, her body operating at its peak. Oguri Cap's mind burned like a raging fire.
Her condition was perfect; her speed hadn't nearly reached its limit.
With this momentum, she had more than enough power to overtake the pack and surge to the front.
But as she passed the Black Uma Musume, Oguri Cap's body froze.
Ever since Oguri Cap had come to the center, there had been various tactical plans.
But for her, overtaking had always been done from the outside.
At its core, her strategy relied on her overwhelming physical prowess to crush all technical skill.
Even so, she had the ability to achieve consecutive wins here.
A 'Monster', from her muscles to her heart, perfectly crafted for the title.
Over ten victories had honed this monster's powerful confidence.
Her formidable body and resilient spirit combined to create this nearly perfect creature.
Yet, even so, as she passed that Black Uma Musume, Oguri Cap's body trembled uncontrollably.
Her instincts screamed, her consciousness wailed.
Constantly telling her, run, run!
That unstoppable beast was finally, at this moment, getting serious without holding anything back.
Oguri Cap's eyes widened. The muscles in her arms and legs felt like they were burning, melting.
An intense fire filled her lungs, swelling and bursting.
Yet, in stark contrast to her physical state, Oguri Cap's senses were cold, colder than ever before.
'I…'
I think I'm starting to understand.
This feeling of becoming running itself.
Clop, clop, clop, clop—
The sound of hoofbeats was so clear.
So clear it was terrifying.
Amidst the chaotic noise of the track, they reached every spectator's ears, even from a distance.
So heavy, so fast!
Iron hooves trampled the turf, leaving deep impressions.
The 1400-meter race faced its final challenge.
The homestretch: a 400-meter straight with a two-meter rise.
On this final, grueling incline, only those who had conserved ample stamina had the strength to conquer it!
Hey, hey, hey… You've got to be kidding me…
Hearing this sound, Sirius Symboli, leading the pack, felt her cheek twitch uncontrollably.
Her brute-force method of breaking free placed an immense strain on her body.
How could she still produce such a terrifying sound?
It was just like a beast ready to pounce, constantly scraping its hooves!
You really never fail to be interesting!
The track's reigning queen, at the very front, felt her teeth chatter.
She was being targeted…
Standing in the beast's path, she was the one being targeted!
The beast was about to lunge right at her!
"Final stretch! 400 meters remaining! All Uma Musume are entering their final sprint!"
Pour it all out! Use every last bit of strength you have left!
"Oguri Cap!! Oguri Cap—!!"
"Sirius!! Go—!! Sirius!!"
The crowd's roar grew increasingly fervent.
But in complete opposition to the passionate cheers, the temperature on the track seemed to plummet, as if every exhaled breath froze into ice chips.
Oguri Cap stared with disbelief at the black-clad girl now beside her.
The girl's grin was widening.
'I will aim for that dazzling summit.'
'I will keep climbing—'
This was her unwavering, purest purpose!
The black-clad girl slowly opened her mouth, as if to draw all the air in the entire racetrack into her lungs.
And then…
Thump!
Her mind snapped taut.
The roar of the crowd vanished.
The commentator's voice disappeared.
The sound of the wind, the hoofbeats, her breathing, her heartbeat…
Every single sound was gone.
Surrounding her was utter silence.
Everyone within this silent domain seemed to be moving in slow motion.
A black figure was running ahead of her.
She glanced back, her golden eyes locking onto herself.
No sound came out, but the girl heard the words clearly.
'I've been waiting for you, my other half—'
--+--
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.