"So what should I do?" Oguri Cap asked herself.
Her legs continued to drive her forward, but her thoughts were already drifting away from the track. Tamamo Cross, running closest to her, was the first to sense something was wrong.
"Oguri—is she slipping into that state again? The same one she entered in the final stretch of the Autumn Tenno Sho?" The "White Lightning" narrowed her eyes. "I have to make the difference before she finds her key. If she awakens too early, I mightn't have any chance at all!"
Tamamo immediately squeezed out every bit of stamina she had held in reserve, trying to pull ahead before Oguri Cap could stabilize herself. Behind them, Super Creek was fully occupied resisting Dicta Striker's relentless pressure, leaving her no room to notice the upheaval happening in front.
Meanwhile, in the VIP box, Shuta An bit down on his lip, frustration clouding his expression. "What is Oguri facing right now—?"
Even with all his experience, he was still not a Uma Musume. Understanding the concept of the "Zone" was already the limit of what he could grasp. Anything beyond that—anything deeper—was something he could not reach. But Berno Light had her own insight.
"Oguri's current feeling—it's very similar to her run on the final straight of the Autumn Tenno Sho."
"Autumn Tenno Sho—the final straight?" The moment she said it, something in Shuta An clicked.
"I see—" He exhaled sharply. "So Oguri is trying to reach a new 'Zone'? The one she had before it's no longer enough to match Tamamo Cross's current 'Zone.' So now, right here, she's trying to become stronger"
And Shuta An's guess proved more accurate than Tamamo Cross's.
At the moment, Oguri Cap's drifting thoughts slipped back to her distant childhood. She remembered how she had struggled even to walk properly. Her legs had been stiff, refusing to move as they should. Every day, her mother spent long hours massaging them, coaxing flexibility back into limbs that refused to cooperate. As an Uma Musume, the longing to run was carved into her very bones. But back then, all she could do was stumble and watch the Uma Musume on TV race freely, feeling only envy in her heart.
She remembered once asking her mother: "Mom… can I run like them too?"
With a gentle smile and the soft voice only a mother could have, Mrs. White Narubi told her: "Don't worry. Oguri will definitely be able to. You're my child. Right now, Oguri is just preparing to run even faster in the future. And one day, you will become an excellent Uma Musume."
Thanks to her mother's love—and perhaps a bit of luck—her legs gradually grew more flexible. She finally gained the right to run outside. And yet she understood she was far from the level of an "excellent Uma Musume" She was not even good enough to enter Mombetsu Tracen Academy.
"So I went to Kasamatsu instead—" Oguri's awareness flickered, but she forced herself to stop.
"No— I can't continue thinking about that." She steadied her heart. "The 'Zone' I once formed with Ann—it's not enough to match Tamamo now. I need a stronger resolve."
The thoughts flowed on:
"My mother massaged my stiff legs so that I could one day run freely like other Uma Musume."
"Berno prepared everything for my races and analyzed my opponents so I'd have a better chance."
"Everyone in Kasamatsu supported me, making me feel like I had a second home."
"And Ann…Ann helped me grow. From a girl who couldn't even get into Monbetsu Tracen Academy to the Uma Musume I am now."
"I'm grateful for all of it. Truly. But right now—"
Her heart finally stilled.
"Now—I have my answer."
Oguri calmly adjusted her stride, preparing not just to go all out—but to go beyond all out.
"Why do I run? Why do I want to win? Why did I come here, to Arima Kinen, to face Tamamo again after beating her once?"
"To feel the joy of running. To fulfill my desires. To answer Berno's hopes. To repay Ann's trust."
"But most importantly—"
"I want to defeat myself. I want to surpass myself!"
Tamamo Cross felt the shift instantly. A crushing force surged from Oguri Cap—no weaker than her own, perhaps even greater. Her gaze sharpened.
"As expected of Oguri—you've stepped into your own Zone!"
Oguri's steps deepened, leaving vivid imprints in the turf of Nakayama.
"Tamamo's wish is to defeat me and prove she's the strongest in Japan at long-distance" Oguri could see her rival's heart as if it were transparent.
"And my wish—" Her answer came without hesitation.
"There's only one! I must win this Arima Kinen!"
Her feelings, overflowing with resolve, reached Tamamo Cross in full.
The "White Lightning" couldn't help turning her head. "Indeed—Oguri—you're the best rival"
In the commentary booth, the announcer's voice cracked as he screamed:
"Oguri Cap! Tamamo Cross! Oguri Cap! Tamamo Cross! Tamamo Cross had a half-length lead, but Oguri Cap has eaten it up again! And now Oguri is even faster! She's pulling ahead!"
In the VIP box, Symboli Rudolf watched the two Gray Uma Musume battling for supremacy, saying nothing.
Maruzensky spoke softly beside her. "It seems—the door to a new era is opening."
"Indeed," Rudolf murmured, her eyes steady. "A new wind is blowing across Nakayama Racecourse."
"It's a pity that one of the ones opening this new era will retire from the Twinkle Series after this race" Maruzensky sighed.
"But that's her choice," Rudolf replied. "We have no grounds to interfere."
And the moment her words faded—
The commentator's roar exploded through the air:
"GOAL INNN!"
The live commentator's roar shook the entire racecourse. "She did it! Even the 2500-meter long-distance turf race—one she has never challenged before—poses no obstacle for her! What does it matter that she's never run at Nakayama Racecourse?! The French Two Crowns Uma Musume shows us with her results why the strong remain strong!"
"Second place goes to the 'White Lightning,' Tamamo Cross! She falls short by half a length and won't end her career with a perfect send-off, but I doubt anyone will deny her strength! The undefeated 'White Lightning' of spring remains a powerhouse whose name will echo through the history of the Twinkle Series!"
"Third place, Super Creek. Fourth, Dicta Striker. In the end, the Kikuka Sho Uma Musume blocked Dicta Striker's last bullet—wait!" The commentator's voice wavered. "The blue light for a deliberation result has lit up! Did someone in the top five commit a foul?! It shouldn't be Oguri Cap or Tamamo Cross, who were locked in a duel on the final straight, right?"
Just then, as Shuta An stepped out of the VIP box with Berno Light's hand in his, the broadcast rang out, answering the commentator's question:
"Miss Super Creek, please come to the deliberation room."
"Indeed." Shuta An, seeing the deliberation light, barely reacted. Instead, he held Berno Light's hand tighter. The chestnut-haired girl was anxious, fearing something had happened to Oguri Cap. But Shuta An immediately dismissed her concern.
"So why is Ann so certain?" Berno Light asked, eyes full of worry.
"Because during the final straight's acceleration, when Super Creek found an opening, she drifted diagonally without realizing it. At the same moment, Miss Mejiro Durren was also accelerating. Super Creek's diagonal shift forced Durren outward, breaking her rhythm." Shuta An shook his head. "With current rules, that kind of interference is guaranteed to be penalized."
He sighed. "But still—that deliberation light startled me. It means the judges were really unhappy with her movement. If nothing goes wrong, the penalty will be harsh."
As he predicted, by the time they reached the empty spectator area, the result had already been announced—
Super Creek's result was voided. Every Uma Musume behind her moved up one position.
The greatest beneficiary was Mejiro Durren, who now entered the top five and earned substantial prize money. The young lady of the Mejiro Family couldn't help feeling delighted. The last time she had made the top five was in April's Spring Tenno Sho.
"Everyone is talking about Tamamo Cross, but who remembers that this Arima Kinen is also my retirement race?" The thought brought a faint sadness to her heart.
On the turf past the finish line, Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross shook hands.
"Honestly, Oguri—your growth far surpasses anything I imagined," Tamamo Cross admitted first.
Oguri flashed a gentle smile. "Because I wanted to give Tamamo the most unforgettable retirement race."
"It really is unforgettable," Tamamo sighed, lips twitching. "Now it's 2–0. I failed to beat you in the end."
"But Tamamo will always be my rival," Oguri said softly, voice unusually eloquent. "A goal I once chased. An opponent I will always respect. In the Dream Trophy Series later—let's race again, properly."
"Of course." Tamamo tightened her grip on Oguri's hand. "I'll be even stronger then."
"I'll look forward to it," Oguri replied.
"Come on, let's head back to the lounge to prepare for the winning live," Tamamo said. Then her gaze shifted. "But wait. Why is Dicta Striker's face covered in blood?"
"I'm not sure…did she hit something?" Oguri asked, puzzled.
"She probably hit the gate," Tamamo muttered. "Her start was even worse than mine. Something must've gone wrong when she left the gate."
"That makes sense," Oguri nodded.
Meanwhile, inside the deliberation room, Super Creek stood with her shoulders slumped. As she watched the replay, she fully realized the mistake she had made. Just as she tried to speak, the door opened. Nase Fumino hurried in from the private box, stepped beside her Uma Musume, and bowed deeply to the judges.
"I sincerely apologize. This was our mistake. Our team accepts the ruling."
With that, Fumino gently pulled Super Creek out of the room. Having received her statement, the judges no longer had any reason to keep Super Creek there. Once they were farther away—well out of others' sight—Super Creek slipped out of her Trainer's hand. The young Trainer turned back; eyebrow raised.
"I'm so sorry!" Super Creek cried, lips trembling. "Not only did I fail to win the Arima Kinen, I interfered with another competitor and lost my result. I've disappointed my Trainer!"
"No, this isn't your fault," Nase Fumino said quietly after a moment's silence. "This time—it's mine."
Super Creek froze.
"I acted too hastily," Fumino continued. "I shouldn't have let you challenge Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross at this timing. Those two could've competed against the 'Emperor' in her prime. And tactically—I overestimated myself. My inexperience held you back."
"That's not true!" Super Creek's reaction burst out instantly. "Trainer, you've helped me so much! You never held me back! It was me! I'm the one at fault! Please don't blame yourself!"
Fumino lifted a hand, placing it gently on Super Creek's shoulder.
"Enough. There's no point debating who's right or wrong now. What matters is that we grow from this together." Her voice softened. "We still have a future."
"Mm!" Super Creek nodded—perhaps the strongest nod she had ever given in her life.