Chapter 65: URA Finals – Championship

The URA Finals—the race to crown the undisputed champion of this distance—was about to begin.

"Favorite to win, King Halo! After displaying overwhelming strength in the preliminaries and shutting out all competition, will she claim the throne in the short-distance division?"

"Expectations from the fans are sky-high. Let’s hope she delivers a spectacular run."

King’s expression was more serious than ever.
Over the past few races, she had adopted an entirely different running style—though only a handful of people had noticed.

Relentless interference against her rivals. Full control over the race’s tempo. Running exactly as she intended.
It was nothing short of the regal, imperious stride befitting a true King.

"All Uma Musume are now in the gates. At last, the peak of short-distance racing will be decided."

And with that, King’s final race of the Twinkle Series began.

"The gates burst open and the Uma Musume take off all at once! Taking the lead is Bridge Comp! As expected of a short-distance G1 Uma Musume!"

Waiting to challenge her was my roommate, Bridge Comp.
In the previous Mile Championship, she’d proven her tenacity by dueling Mihono Bourbon all through the middle phase.
Now, she claimed the lead with a light, effortless stride.

Her expression said it all: If it’s not Bourbon, it’s no competition at all.

"Bridge Comp is dominating the front! The other front-runners can’t even get close! Is this the power of a G1 winner—the Uma Musume who took the Sprinters Stakes? But the rest are increasing their speed, refusing to fall behind!"

"Lured by her pace, the entire field is running faster than usual. This could make things favorable for late chargers."

The URA Finals’ short-distance championship was held on a special course created exclusively for this event. Its defining feature: a slope just before the finish line—nearly three meters high, the final obstacle every runner had to conquer.

"Bridge Comp hits the final corner! But the hill is waiting just ahead! Get over that, and the finish line is right there!"

The high-paced race was finally reaching its climax.

Charging from behind with explosive momentum—refusing to allow Comp an uncontested victory—was King Halo.

Step by step, powerful and brilliant, she accelerated toward the front.
The overwhelming pressure radiating from her made the runners ahead of her instinctively pull back.

A path opened—one carved for a true sovereign.

"King Halo is advancing! She’s charging up the slope to catch Bridge Comp!"

"This looks like it’ll come down to a duel between these two. Both are G1 Uma Musume—this will be a flawless, high-level showdown."

"King Halo is strong—unbelievably strong! She’s conquering the slope like it’s nothing and closing in on Bridge Comp!"

Pressed by King’s fierce approach, Bridge Comp ran desperately, her face twisted with effort.

The goal was just ahead. This is the end, King Halo seemed to declare, taking an even more powerful stride forward.

In that instant, her body surged ahead.
It took only a fraction of a moment. The margin was barely the length of a nose—but it was enough.

"They’re in! King Halo may have had the advantage at the line!"

"It certainly looked like she overtook her at the end. Ah—the results are in. First place: King Halo. Second place: Bridge Comp."

"URA Finals, short-distance division! The one who shines at the top is King Halo! With the stride of a true monarch, she swept aside all others and stood unrivaled among the Uma Musume!"

"Being able to accelerate at that point is one of King Halo’s strengths. Her grit is what brought her victory today."

King Halo gazed up at the display board, still a little dazed. But soon she turned toward the crowd, lifted her skirt lightly, and offered a graceful bow.

Whoa… genuinely classy.

"King won, huh. Comp was real close, though."

"Yeah… Bridge Comp is clearly stronger than before. Plenty of Uma Musume stagnate when entering senior class, but showing this level of growth is nothing short of astonishing."

"For real. When she fought toe-to-toe with Bourbon in the Mile Championship, I nearly fell out of my chair."

With the winner decided, the next event was the Winning Live.

The URA Finals Championship’s live performance featured that infamous brain-melting song—one every Uma Musume fan had heard at least once. And this time, we were going to see it performed live.

…Well, it is a good song. The choreography is cute, too. But the lyrics make absolutely no sense. Individually, the phrases are fine, but together they scramble your brain.

Thank god they only perform the first verse… the second one is even more nonsensical and way harder to sing.

"Hey, Trainer… why does that song have a part where they throw a kiss toward the audience…?"

"No idea…"

Yeah, seriously, what is up with that? In the app I thought, Aw, that’s cute, but thinking about it now, it’s weird as hell.

…Surely it’s not connected to the fact that some Uma Musume end up getting together with their trainer at the end of their Twinkle Series, right?

Wait—if I won the URA Finals, would I be allowed to blow a kiss toward my Trainer…?

"Anyway, I’m gonna go check on Comp and King."

"Alright. Come back when you’re done."

"Yeah, yeah."

Starting with Comp. I knocked on the waiting room door, and after a brief pause, a voice answered from inside.

"J-just wait a sec, okay? Really, just give me a little moment…"

Hearing her muffled, strained voice—like she was trying to hold something back—I ignored her plea and opened the door.

Inside was Bridge Comp, desperately trying to hold back tears, her face twisted with frustration.

"Sorry, Rue-chan… it’s just… you know…?"

"Haah… hey, Comp? Sometimes it’s okay to just cry. You’re frustrated, right? Here—lean on me, I’ll give you my shoulder."

"U-uhhh… uuhhh…"

Bridge Comp buried her face in my chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

I stroked her head and gently patted her back to soothe her.
Comp… you really gave it your all. Getting that close to King Halo is no small feat. At this rate, you could absolutely take a win next time.

"Ugh… hic…"

"There, there. You did great, Comp. You were holding it in for the fans, weren’t you?"

"But… I messed up…"

"You came so close. You’ll shine in the Dream Trophy, I’m sure of it."

Ah… my clothes are all wet now. But it’s fine. After everything she’s done for me, this is nothing.

"Uu… I’m calming down now… Thanks, Rue-chan Mama…"

"Who’s Mama now, huh?"

Seeing her joke like that, it was clear her usual mood had returned. Good, good.

I helped Comp sit down in a chair and brewed some tea with the pot in the room.
Nothing calms the mind like a warm cup of tea.

I poured it into a cup and set it in front of her.

"Ah… thanks, Rue-chan."

"Well, I suppose I should say congratulations? Second place in the URA Finals, short-distance division. Congrats."

"Hehe…"

She seemed more at ease now, accepting my praise with a shy, soft smile.

Yeah… Comp looks best when she’s smiling.

"But man… it was close. I guess that just shows how strong King was."

"Yeah… she was incredible… when she was chasing from behind, I swear I almost couldn’t breathe…"

Yeah, that makes sense. I’m weak when someone chases me from behind too, but even ignoring that, King Halo’s surge is brutal on the heart.

Well, apparently I’m in the same category. I looked it up recently, and apparently we’re called the “Crash Sisters.” What the heck is that supposed to mean?

"But now I’ve made up my mind. I was nervous about whether I even deserve to run in the Dream Trophy Series."

"No one’s going to complain about you running, Comp. Especially after that race—anyone who does would be crazy."

"Ahaha… hearing you say that gives me confidence."

We talked casually for a while, letting the heat from the race and the live performance settle.

Once Comp had fully calmed down, I said:

"Alright… I’ve got to go see one more person now."

"Yeah. Oh, and… can you tell them ‘next time I’ll win’? I’ll definitely get my revenge at the Dream Trophy."

"Yeah, I’ll tell them."

"Thanks!"

After saying goodbye to Comp, I headed to another waiting room and stopped in front of the door.

Just as I raised my hand to knock, a voice called out from inside:

"You can come in. You’re here, aren’t you?"

I expected that—of course King would know I was coming. Her senses were still sharp after the race.

When I opened the door, I was greeted by the "Queen of Short Distances."

"I’ve been waiting. I knew you’d come."

"Ahaha… you really see right through everything, huh."

Two cups of tea were already set on the desk, steam drifting faintly upward.

I sat down and took a sip… a little lukewarm.

"Uh… King-senpai? Were you… waiting for me for a while?"

"...! That’s not true at all!"

"Ah, okay. I’ll take your word for it."

She was waiting. Sorry, King…

"Haah… honestly, you are something else…"

King Halo pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed. Sorry again, King.

I took another sip just as she did. Yep… still lukewarm.

Well, that’s just very King Halo.

"First of all… congratulations on winning the URA Finals short-distance division, King."

"Hohoho! Finally, this King has claimed the throne of short-distance racing! …Though once I enter the Dream Trophy Series, Bakushin O will be waiting."

Stop talking about that. I still have absolutely no idea how to beat her.

"So… you were waiting for me, huh?"

"Something like that. You could even call it a declaration of sorts. I told you before… I’ll be waiting for you in the Dream Trophy Series."

"…Ugh…"

I couldn’t nod. I couldn’t even respond.

I only have about a year left. That’s why I can’t let myself be careless.

Seeing my reaction, King let out another sigh.

"You really do have something weighing on you, don’t you?"

"Th-That is…"

"It’s okay. You don’t have to say it. I’ve carried plenty myself, so I understand. As a racing Uma Musume, this series might be the end for you, right?"

"…"

"Silence means I’m right."

King tapped my forehead with a finger.

"Listen. The most important thing is what you want. Take a moment to face your own feelings. Think it through. You seem smart, but you leave a lot unfinished…"

"Ugh… um, King, about that—"

"I’ve had my own issues with family, so I sort of get it. You must have a place to return to, right? And you’re conflicted about whether to keep running as an Uma Musume."

"…"

"You’re probably thinking you have to go back. That if you don’t return, people will be disappointed. But think again—will anyone really be happy if you throw away your own happiness just to go back?"

I remembered the faces of my parents, friends, colleagues, and superiors.

…What do I want? I’ve been vaguely aware of my own shifting feelings lately. But I don’t know if I’m allowed to accept them. If I do… what happens to me?

If I break down the walls I built to ignore these feelings, what will become of me?

"You’re still a child, aren’t you? But you’ve been growing, race after race. There’s no need to rush. The answer will come in time."

A child… right. Inside, I’m an adult man. But as an Uma Musume… I’m basically a two-year-old infant.

"Making choices is terrifying. But you’ll be okay."

With that, King’s words came to an end.

I left her waiting room and slowly walked down the hallway.

I still couldn’t put my swirling emotions into words. Maybe it was because I was still so inexperienced as an Uma Musume.

Maybe if I learned to harness the Uma Soul better—if I became truly complete as an Uma Musume—things would change.

A short-distance runner who charges from behind. An Uma Soul as sharp as a holy sword. The original racehorse was probably ■yura■dal—

"Lux? Are you okay?"

The Trainer’s voice made me realize he was right beside me.

Maybe King’s words had left me feeling uneasy. Seeking warmth, seeking connection, I took the Trainer’s hand.

"Mmm… I’m fine. Shall we head back, to the academy?"

"…Yeah."

The Trainer held my hand without a word.

That simple gesture made me a little happy, and I couldn’t help but smile.

And I stepped closer to him.
A moment of awareness. A moment of resolve—