"And the winner crosses the finish line—!"
As the announcer's voice faded, the Tokyo Racecourse fell into a dead silence.
A few seconds later, sparse, hesitant applause broke out.
Then, the clapping grew louder and louder, until finally, like a sudden storm, the entire racecourse erupted in thunderous noise.
Only then did the crowd snap out of their shock.
Was that even a race? They couldn't help but doubt.
It felt more like they had witnessed a life-or-death struggle.
A dazzling new star had fallen amidst a beastly tide, the grey monster had her chest pierced, bleeding right there on the field.
A fierce black torrent had swallowed everything around it, charging relentlessly past the finish line.
In this war without gun smoke, only one figure stood tall upon a mountain of countless fallen.
That Jet Black Uma Musume, whose true identity remained a mystery to this day.
"Ah… ah… AHHHH—!!!"
His lips trembling uncontrollably, Reporter Fujii stood frozen on the spot.
He was supposed to be taking photos of the race, but from the moment those three Uma Musumes broke away in their fierce struggle, his mind had become completely trapped by the events on the track, unable to think of anything else.
Even seconds after the Black Uma Musume crossed the line, his thoughts remained utterly consumed by the overwhelming shock.
Could someone like this truly exist?
He began to wonder if this was some hallucination, born from his desperate desire to see an Uma Musume who defied all convention.
Maybe he wasn't even at the racecourse, but in a hospital room.
A doctor feeding him medication for his mental state.
Because right now, he truly needed a sedative to calm himself down.
"Gah… OOOOHHHHH—!!!"
A cry burst forth from between his chattering teeth, as if he was trying to expel this feeling of excitement that was too immense for words.
And that emotion found its echo. The crowd's applause gradually morphed into cheers.
They vied to vent their feelings, and the Tokyo Racecourse became deafening.
"Senpai!! Did you see that—! That's my senpai!!"
As if she wanted to leap right onto the track, Vodka strained forward, waving her arms wildly towards that shadowy figure, shouting at the top of her lungs.
Behind her, Special Week and Daiwa Scarlet struggled to hold onto her, preventing her from tumbling off the high platform.
Not far away, Narita Brian, who had just left the racecourse, heard the commotion behind her and showed an expression that said she'd expected nothing less.
In contrast, Hishi Amazon was quite startled by the wave of explosive, thunderous noise.
"Did… that Black Uma Musume win again?" Hishi Amazon asked Narita Brian uncertainly.
The answer was obvious.
Oguri Cap was strong, incredibly strong. But right now, she could only approach her limit at best.
To surpass that Black Uma Musume, one thing was necessary.
"Transcendance."
If you couldn't surpass your own limits, you stood no chance against her. Narita Brian knew this from deep experience.
That black figure, always just out of reach.
But… it was close.
Her heart held that potential, completely.
--+--
"Green Grass."
Maruzensky, who had watched the entire race from start to finish, addressed the girl with the grass-shaped hairclip beside her.
From the very beginning, Green Grass hadn't been quite right.
Her knees kept shaking, her body leaning forward constantly, as if she was about to charge onto the track herself.
"What are you doing, Green Grass?"
Hearing the voice, the girl's body twitched nervously.
"Huh? What! What do you mean, what am I doing? I'm not doing anything!? I don't know that child—"
Her reply was a jumbled, incoherent mess.
Placing her hands on Green Grass's shoulders, Maruzensky could feel her body trembling incessantly.
Clearly, Green Grass was in an unusual state.
"Deep breaths. Relax."
Maruzensky tried to soothe her.
Listening to the gentle voice, Green Grass swallowed hard, then tried to steady her ragged breathing.
After a few exhales, her heart finally felt a little better.
"Were you affected by that person?" Ten Point asked, having noticed Green Grass's strange behavior.
The moment that person unleashed her domain, Ten Point had heard the piercing shrieks of the beastly horde, making her own heart clench painfully.
It wasn't just her; even Tosho Boy beside her had furrowed his brow, affected as well.
Green Grass was likely the same.
After all, all three of them had experienced a domain before, making them more sensitive to its aura.
And the truth was, that was part of the reason for Green Grass's state, but not all of it.
From the moment that figure appeared on the track, Green Grass had recognized it—that relentless, advancing form was achingly familiar.
The cold, predatory aura hidden beneath the surface, the speed of an unsheathed blade.
She's my… 'kouhai'.
Although the feeling was utterly different from the atmosphere during their training session that night.
This 'kouhai' here was like a beast fully unleashed, completely unrestrained.
But Green Grass's intuition couldn't be wrong!
The moment the blade was poised at the other's throat, Green Grass had sensed it.
Within that black form hid a terrifying monster, forcibly restrained.
You've changed.
After her training, that monster's claws had become even sharper.
Just…
So my 'kouhai' is that Uma Musume the Central authorities are after.
An indescribable feeling welled up in Green Grass's heart.
'Manhattan Cafe'… No, that's not right, you're not 'Manhattan Cafe', are you? What is your real name?
Just as Green Grass was lost in her confusion, not far away, near the track stands, three young girls clenched their fists.
"She… she tried hard enough, didn't she…"
Watching the grey figure who crossed the finish line right after the Black Uma Musume, Norn Ace's teeth ground together.
She saw it all—Oguri Cap's powerlessness and bitter frustration.
She knew, she knew very well!
Oguri Cap was strong enough, she had given it her all!
Even treated like that, she still managed to break away from the pack.
She's strong! Incredibly strong! Stronger than anyone!
But that heart-wrenching feeling of watching someone else break the finish line right before your eyes… it pierced Norn Ace's own heart.
She lost…
It wasn't just Norn Ace; even Rudy Lemono and Mini the Lady next to her had furrowed brows and clenched jaws.
Clearly, they too struggled to accept this outcome.
"Oguri…"
Overlooking the track, Fujimasa March, hugging her own shoulders, dug her fingers deep into her own skin.
She lost…
On the track, Oguri Cap, hands on her knees, gasped for air, her vision too blurry to even see the ground clearly.
Under the immense mental pressure, her breathing rhythm had been completely disrupted, her stamina draining rapidly.
In the final moments before the line, relying on sheer will alone, she had managed to pass Sirius Symboli.
Yet, even so, that Jet Black Phantom remained a full length ahead.
Her first loss since coming to the Central district…
And it was… so absolute…
She panted heavily, sweat stinging her eyes.
What was that?
That utterly despairing scene she witnessed at the end.
There was something—
Something on her opponent that she couldn't see, something she herself lacked.
What was it?
Oguri Cap didn't understand. That will, deeper than mere obsession. That pure, straight line pointing only to the finish.
She couldn't comprehend it.
Gritting her teeth, Oguri Cap wiped the sweat from her eyes and lifted her head.
The entire stands were roaring with applause.
But this applause wasn't for the loser.
Just as Oguri Cap found her path blocked by that distant, insurmountable black mountain, the announcer's voice rang out again.
"Inquiry! After a Central inquiry! The Black Uma Musume has been demoted to 8th place due to maliciously veering and obstructing opponents! The winner of this [Mainichi Okan] is… Oguri Cap!!"
The sound froze instantaneously.
The spectators' applause cut off abruptly.
The grey-haired girl's eyes widened in disbelief.
Her heart filled with incredulity.
What… what nonsense are you people spouting!?
--+--
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.