Chapter 29 Japan Derby

Witolum Pedes has continued a shocking streak of victories. How will her 2400-meter showdown against the seventeen rivals aiming to overthrow the reigning queen unfold? The climax is drawing near.

The Japan Derby, rich with history. Turf, 2400 meters. This year, the track is slightly soft.

The Uma Musume have already gathered in front of the starting gate, waiting for the moment to load in.

Witolum Pedes looks remarkably calm. It’s the Derby—there’s no way she’s actually at peace inside—but she keeps that fire sealed within, releasing it only during the race. You could say that’s exactly what makes her a champion.

Special Week, who showed her strength in the Satsuki Sho but finished second, seeks redemption here in the Derby. She draws Gate 5 in Slot 3.

The loading proceeds smoothly. Even the outside runner, Witolum Pedes, is now in position.

The Japan Derby—where the pride of a generation collides—has just begun!

The one who bursts out with an especially sharp start is Witolum Pedes.

As expected, she takes the lead today as well. Launching from the far outside, she rockets forward and cuts inward to secure her position.

Seiun Sky seems more restrained than usual, slipping inside from behind and following Witolum Pedes’s line.

From her inside draw, King Halo moves up front. What will Special Week do?

Light Refresh is also choosing a forward strategy today.

A thunderous roar of cheers rises. Driven by that roar, Witolum Pedes leads the pack as she charges toward the first corner. They’re letting this Uma Musume run freely.

Will those same cheers be directed toward her again one lap later?

Seiun Sky sits in second, chasing from two lengths behind.

Next is King Halo on the inside, using her draw to stay within striking distance.

And here comes Special Week from the outside! She pushes forward decisively to claim her spot.

In fifth is Light Refresh in her yellow-green racing outfit, watching the major contenders carefully.

From the outside comes Shinsei Light. The pack tightens up behind them and fans out wide as they flow through the curve.

At the front, Witolum Pedes enters the second corner with a five-length lead. Seiun Sky does not give chase; the gap continues to widen.

The pace is average—not fast by any means. Is she attempting a clean runaway?

The field stretches slightly from front to back.

The leader remains Witolum Pedes—now widening her lead to seven lengths.

Seiun Sky stalks from second, biding her time. Right behind, Special Week has climbed all the way up and now looks ready to pull alongside from the outside.

They enter the backstretch. King Halo holds the inside, taking the economical route.

Running on the outside is Empasio; half a length behind on the inside is Light Refresh.

In the rear group, Shinsei Light paces the followers.

At the very back is Yamato Infeller. Can she really launch a challenge from there?

Up front, Witolum Pedes glances behind and maintains her lead, flying smoothly with a ten-length advantage as she passes the 1000-meter mark.

The race reaches the third corner, passing behind the great zelkova tree.

Seiun Sky and Special Week run side by side, waiting for their moment. Seiun Sky holds the inside, Special Week the outside. When will these two make their move?

Oh—King Halo is going!

From this position, just as they approach the midpoint between the third and fourth corners, King Halo makes her play!

In a flash, she pulls up alongside Special Week—and from the outside, she surges past in one breathtaking sweep!

And now, having been overtaken, Special Week and Seiun Sky both shift up a gear, chasing after King Halo.

The major contenders all surge at once, aiming to bring down Witolum Pedes.

But Witolum Pedes is already approaching the stretch. The outcome now depends on Tokyo’s long, unforgiving final straight!

Pushed forward by the deafening roar of the crowd, what kind of race will Witolum Pedes display from here?

—But wait! What’s happening to Witolum Pedes? She can’t unleash her final burst—her speed is dropping!

Is something happening along the inside rail?

King Halo closes the gap in an instant.

From the inner path, Seiun Sky is also extending.

And Special Week—Special Week bursts through the gap!

Four lengths… three lengths… is this the end for Witolum Pedes?

King Halo’s hand is nearly on Witolum Pedes’s back. And Special Week—she’s exploding forward from the inside!

Four hundred meters remaining. She’s caught up!

King Halo takes the lead, and Special Week moves to overtake her! Seiun Sky stretches out as well.

Is this where Witolum Pedes falls?

—However! However!!

Witolum Pedes rallies once more from the inside! She reels in the surging Seiun Sky in the blink of an eye!

Special Week now takes the lead after overtaking King Halo—but Witolum Pedes is charging from the inside! Seiun Sky struggles to keep up.

Two hundred meters left.

And Witolum Pedes, revived and roaring back, rises to second place. King Halo can no longer maintain her speed.

A head-to-head showdown.

Special Week. Witolum Pedes.

Half a length—now they’re neck and neck! Has Special Week reached her limit?

Witolum Pedes edges ahead—but Special Week refuses to give in!

However… however—she was stronger.

Witolum Pedes claims her second crown!!!

A grueling race, but she seizes the second jewel of the Triple Crown with sheer spirit. Special Week finishes second.

At last, she completes thirteen consecutive victories—an undefeated dual-crown Uma Musume.

And toward the great stage of autumn, Witolum Pedes’s reign continues.

Witolum Pedes — POV

For the Derby, my trainer’s instructions were the same as always: run a leading strategy.
But the race distance was a full 2400 meters—a distance I had never run before.

If I blasted off at a reckless pace in such a long race, I’d burn out before the end. So the plan was to open a reasonable gap from the Uma Musume behind me and maintain it steadily.

After a clean start, I immediately took the lead and cut inside.

It seemed Sei-chan and the others weren’t planning to contest the lead. With no one challenging the front, I settled into first easily and gradually increased my speed, just as instructed.

I think… my pacing has gotten pretty good, if I do say so myself.

Once I had opened a comfortable distance from the girls behind me, I eased my speed a little.
I felt a few glances on my back here and there, but the race continued smoothly—as if I were running alone.

Come to think of it, isn’t my “Domain” supposed to activate? Every Uma Musume has her own kind of winning pattern, and in my case, it should probably be a frontrunner’s one.

I pondered this while taking the corner.
Seriously… this corner is long. Are we still in the corner?

If I remember correctly, a Domain manifests from an Uma Musume’s wish.
My wish is…

Right as I reached that thought, I realized I was already entering the final stretch.

And before my eyes, an unbelievable sight unfolded—something that shouldn’t exist in this world.

A fluffy, luxurious sofa.
On the table, a full assortment of snacks and sodas, with charging cables neatly arranged beneath.

A shelf lined with game cases and manga volumes, and below that, consoles and controllers stacked shoulder to shoulder.
In the center of it all, I was lying there, indulging in blissful laziness.

But the vision vanished in an instant, and I was snapped back into the race.

Before I knew it, the scenery around me was flowing more slowly.

Panic hit as I pushed off again—only to find Sei-chan and Supe-chan already right beside me, with King-chan looming behind.

If I blasted past all of them in one go here…
That would feel really good, wouldn’t it?

A fluffy, mischievous thought drifted through the back of my mind.

Down the final straight, I slammed my hooves into the ground with everything I had.