Top floor of Kyoto Racecourse.
In the grandstand.
For this race, Symboli Rudolf and the others did not come.
As the Student Council President, she did not have time for every single event.
Kuroha stood by the floor-to-ceiling window with his hands in his pockets, casual and composed.
Beside him, Naise Fumino gripped the railing tightly, her expression visibly uneasy.
"Haa…"
Fumino took a deep breath. Even though she had mentally prepared herself for this moment, her palms were still drenched in sweat when it truly arrived.
Even if they still hadn't publicly announced it to the outside world, this kind of lineup—this openly, brazenly—
Yes. This was Super Creek's retirement race.
"Don't be nervous."
Kuroha spoke flatly, his gaze calm as still water, as if the roaring stadium below had nothing to do with him. "Just watch."
"Watch them, and at any moment, strike that undefeated string… let it burn to the very end."
"…Easy for you to say."
Fumino turned her head and shot him an irritated look. "In Central, which trainer wouldn't get nervous when they run into you?"
"Is that really my fault?" Kuroha looked genuinely speechless.
What kind of world was it where the bad students blamed the top scorer for doing too well, and then called it "unfair"?
Click.
At that moment, the grandstand door quietly opened, drawing both Kuroha and Fumino's attention.
A beauty in a black formal dress stepped in with unhurried elegance.
Her long black hair was pinned up like cascading tassels, with a single white forelock slipping softly down over her forehead. Her long, graceful Uma Musume ears trembled faintly, and an alluring teardrop mole decorated the corner of her eye.
When she saw Kuroha and the others, she paused for a beat, the iceberg-cold aura around her momentarily breaking.
"Good afternoon, Trainer Kuroha, and Trainer Naise."
She gave a refined bow, wearing a gentle, understated smile.
Kuroha reacted as well, returning the bow with a light smile. "Long time no see, Mejiro Ramonu."
The visitor was the holder of the Triple Crown, the legendary Uma Musume of the Mejiro family—Mejiro Ramonu.
The first time they met went all the way back to two years ago.
When Mejiro Ardan was injured, Kuroha had gone to the Mejiro main residence to see Ardan's mother.
After that, whenever Ardan had the chance to go home, she would often drag Kuroha along to "meet the family."
Over time, Kuroha and Ramonu could not exactly be called close, but they were certainly acquainted.
Ramonu walked to his side. "Yes. It really has been a long time."
"Ardan asked you to come?"
Kuroha asked.
"…Yes." Ramonu fell silent for a moment, her gaze drifting downward as she spoke softly. "Ardan… wants me to bear witness properly…"
Witness to what, she did not say out loud.
But everyone present understood exactly what those unspoken words meant.
Kuroha turned his head as well, looking down toward the track, and chuckled lightly. "Then stand there and witness it properly."
"No matter whose victory it is, this race is destined to be written into history."
…
Down in the stadium.
One Uma Musume had already stepped onto the track to the announcer's voice.
Then the announcer's tone suddenly jumped an octave, electrified with excitement:
"Next to enter—!"
"Though she has recently been plagued by rumors of 'declining form' and 'injury,' she answered everything with that same gentle smile as always!"
"Now, can she defend the glory of a Kikuka Sho Uma Musume, and restore the majesty of the very best long-distance runners?"
"Second favorite—Super Creek!!"
Boom—!
"OHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!!!"
The moment that tall, slender figure emerged from the shadows and stepped into the sunlight—
The grandstands fell into a split-second hush, before erupting into an even fiercer roar.
At this moment, Super Creek seemed to be wrapped in an invisible force field.
She smiled and waved to the crowd, every movement brimming with a veteran's effortless confidence.
Those eyes that had once been gentle as water now looked like a bottomless ocean—calm on the surface, yet hiding a deadly undercurrent powerful enough to swallow anything whole.
"Is that… Creek?"
In the audience, more than a few seasoned paparazzi rubbed their eyes, incredulous.
When they had snuck into Central Tracen Academy some time ago, the Super Creek they saw was nothing like this.
"Didn't they say her body was in trouble?"
"That presence… how does it look like she's in trouble? It's more terrifying than last year at her peak!"
"Which idiot fed us fake intel? No professional ethics at all!"
"After the race, I'm going to make that bastard experience what 'my strength' really means!"
Before the crowd could fully settle into that suffocating, deep-sea pressure—
The announcer's impassioned roar rang out again, hurling the atmosphere to its absolute peak:
"Next! The focus of all eyes! The unquestioned, absolute protagonist of today's race!"
"She is the monarch who just won the Osaka Hai with overwhelming dominance! The empress who has descended upon this place to chase the 'Spring Triple Crown'!"
"She has completely shattered the shackles of 'weak constitution' from her Classic Year. Now, she stands at the summit—unstoppable—"
"First favorite—Mejiro Ardan!!!"
As the words fell—
From the competitor tunnel, a wholly different presence burst forth, equally impossible to ignore.
If Super Creek was the deep ocean—vast, embracing, with murderous currents beneath—
Then this one was a lapis flower blooming proudly atop a sheer, sky-high cliff.
Mejiro Ardan stepped out with an elegant, measured stride.
She did not look at the crowd. She did not look at the announcer.
Even the sea of cheers could not stir the slightest ripple in her eyes.
That deep, unwavering gaze cut through the people, crossed the noise, and locked dead onto the deep-blue figure ahead.
That was—her only opponent today.
As if sensing that needle-prick stare on her back, Super Creek stopped and slowly turned around.
One was the challenger, determined to return to her peak.
One was the unstoppable favorite, determined to be crowned.
Their gazes collided violently in midair!
Even separated by dozens of meters, sparks seemed to burst into existence, and the temperature around them felt as if it dropped a few degrees.
It was the final declaration of war—two souls equally hungry for victory, equally carrying their trainers' expectations.
"…"
Super Creek stared at the Mejiro Ardan before her, radiant with momentum, and the smile at her lips deepened.
…What an incredible presence, Ardan-san.
It felt like that day last year, when she faced Inari One head-on.
But since I am standing here—
That place… is not guaranteed to be yours.
Ardan seemed to read the meaning in her eyes.
She gave a slight nod and smiled with perfect propriety, the poise of the Mejiro family on full display.
As you wish, Creek-san.
In this race, I will show you everything that belongs to me…
—I will dedicate this brilliant victory to the Mejiro family, and to my trainer!
"…"
Off to the side, the other Uma Musume exchanged glances.
"Do these two not even see us as people?"
One Uma Musume's mouth twitched.
"Of course not. The schedule of the last year and a half already proved it. In front of monsters like them… do we even count as anything?" another Uma Musume said, spreading her hands with a self-mocking shrug.
And yet, even so, these prize-winning Uma Musume quietly clenched their fists—resentment and unwillingness spreading like a slow-burning flame.
"All Uma Musume, prepare to enter the gates!"
The voice from the broadcast system cut ruthlessly through the silent standoff.
The Uma Musume filed into the starting gates.
Inside the gates, the narrow space shut off the world.
All the noise faded away at once.
Only the violent pounding of a heart in the chest remained—along with that scalding blood, waiting to explode.
Click.
The sound of the gates locking rang out.
The Tenno Sho (Spring) was about to begin!!
(End of Chapter)
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