Chapter 13: When You Run with Scarlet, You Burn Hotter

Tokai Teio.
A powerhouse of a dreamer—a girl who could have become the undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume if not for that injury in the Japanese Derby. The strongest of them all.
Broken again and again by repeated fractures, nearly crushed under the weight of her own fate, yet supported by countless people, she rose back up and achieved a miracle no one believed possible. She was the protagonist of her own legend.

And I loved her.

I’d been an otaku who consumed endless stories for as long as I could remember. I’d seen countless power-fantasy protagonists who crushed everything without rhyme or reason. Not that I wanted to condemn those stories—they were normal entertainment in my old world.

…But, you know, those kinds of stories don’t have drama. Being the strongest isn’t inherently good. A victory without effort or suffering doesn’t create real catharsis. It’s fine if you just want to kill time, but it’s not enough to become a true fan. It’s hard to love a flawless superhuman.

…Well, okay. I guess I’m technically in that position now. I do put in effort and suffer in my own ways, so just let that slide.

What I mean is: Teio-chan was the perfect example of a gifted protagonist who still worked desperately hard. She didn’t lose because someone beat her—her own body couldn’t withstand her power and broke under the strain.
That shattered the confidence and goals she had built up, leaving her unable to see a path forward.
And yet, with the help of so many people, she stood up again, fighting through the pain and pushing toward the goal she found for herself.

Overflowing with effort and suffering—that’s what makes a true protagonist.

I’m not here to lecture about conflict arcs or narrative theory or anything complicated, but… anyway.

Tokai Teio was the kind of character who moved even the cynical version of me back then—someone so earnest and cool that she made me cry and cheer for her.

So when I reincarnated, I arrogantly decided I’d avenge her regrets.
I would fulfill the dream Teio-chan was meant to accomplish.

…Looking back now, what a foolish thought that was. I was busy at the time, sure, with no mental space to think clearly, but still…
At the very least, I should have checked if Teio-chan even existed in this world before making that declaration.

"You probably already know this, but Tokai Teio will be running in the Satsuki Sho. She will likely be your greatest rival. Stealing the Satsuki crown from her will be the first step toward your undefeated Triple Crown."

…Seriously, this is the worst.

One day—with no warning at all—she appeared.

I was practicing cornering nonstop when I heard a voice behind me, one that sounded strangely familiar.

"Hey, hey, come on! Let’s do a mock race! You’re entering the Satsuki Sho too, right? Think of it as a test run! It’s not every day you get to do a mock race with the great Teio-sama!"

A slightly childish, addictive voice—the kind you’d instinctively write in half-width katakana.

There was no way it could be anyone other than my absolute favorite.

But… what?

"You’re entering the Satsuki Sho too"?
Did she mean her junior was running?
Teio-chan should be one year above me… right?
I mean, she’s the same generation as McQueen… isn’t she?

…Wait. Hold on.

In the anime from my previous life, didn’t Nature-chan shout during the Kikuka Sho, "Don’t you dare say ‘if Tokai Teio were here’!"?

Only Classic-grade Uma Musume can run in the Kikuka Sho.
Meaning that when Nature-chan was Classic-grade, Teio-chan was also Classic-grade. Doesn’t that make them classmates?

Then… Nature-chan is in the same generation as me…

………Which means I’m in the same generation as Teio-chan.

………And if I win, Teio-chan’s dream of becoming an undefeated Triple Crown… breaks?

Before I knew it, my legs had stopped moving.
The only thing I understood was that I would be fighting Teio-chan in the Satsuki Sho.

What am I going to do?

I can’t hold back in a race.
The moment that icy, instinctive feeling hits me, I go all in.
If I run in the Satsuki Sho… I might actually beat Teio-chan.

I—Hoshino Wilm—am strong. I’m a reincarnated, cheat-tier Uma Musume; of course I’m strong.

I’ve never talked with her before, so I don’t actually know if I can beat Teio-chan, but…

…No.

Hoshino Wilm can’t afford to lose.
If I run in the Satsuki Sho, then I will beat Teio-chan.

But if I win… Teio-chan’s dream ends right there.

Trying to fulfill the dream she could never reach, talking big about becoming an undefeated Triple Crown…
And now, with my own hands, I’m going to crush Teio-chan’s dream?

If it ends up like that… I’d be the biggest idiot alive.
What have I been running for up to this point?

What do I do?
What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?

What am I supposed to do?

Should I withdraw from the race? But if I did, what would happen?
Horino Trainer would be crushed by horrible rumors. I can’t let that happen.

I’ve already caused him so much trouble, and he’s helped me endlessly. I can’t add even more to that.

…Should I break my own bone?
If I break my leg myself, I definitely won’t be able to run. If it’s written off as an accident, maybe the damage to his reputation will be minimal.

…But he would be devastated, wouldn’t he?

I still remember Suzuka-san’s and Teio-chan’s injuries. I remember Trainer Okino’s panic back then.
I never want to make my trainer wear that expression again.
It is absolutely unacceptable to let my own decision be the reason he’s hurt.

…But then—so instead, I’m supposed to break Teio-chan’s dream?
That’s…

What do I do?

Dad… Trainer…

What am I supposed to do?

"You likely already know this, but Tokai Teio will be running in the Satsuki Sho. She will almost certainly be your greatest opponent. Taking the Satsuki crown from her will be the first step toward your undefeated Triple Crown. In addition, a mock race with Tokai Teio has been scheduled for two days from now. Be prepared."

"Um… Trainer."

"What is it, Hoshino Wilm?"

"…No. Sorry. It’s nothing."

I can’t say anything.
There is nothing I can say.

Back out of the Satsuki Sho now?
If I said something like that, Trainer’s reputation would absolutely suffer.

Despite being so capable, so skilled, and honestly good-looking—the ideal trainer in every way—Horino Trainer already suffers from bizarre, groundless rumors.
There is no way I can let another rumor spread like, “He pushed his trainee so hard she had to withdraw from the Satsuki Sho.”
That would be unforgivable.

So then what? Is there any other way to avoid facing Teio-chan?

A way to skip the Satsuki Sho without damaging his name, without hurting him?

…No matter how long I think about it, nothing comes to mind.

"Hoshino Wilm. You may rest for today. …Actually, I’ll allow you to go out. Spend time somewhere you enjoy."

"…Yes. Thank you."

For two days straight, I lay in bed trying to figure out what to do…

But no answer ever came.

At last, the day of the mock race arrived.

And my mental state was still a complete mess.

I couldn’t focus on anything in front of me. My thoughts kept freezing and circling back to the same question—what should I do?

It was, without exaggeration, the worst possible condition to be in before a race.

Managing your own condition is part of being an athlete. As a competitive Uma Musume, this is embarrassing.
And on top of that, I have a personal trainer. It should be much easier to manage myself than the average athlete.

…Uuugh, seriously, I used to be a university student!
Why am I getting depressed like a middle-schooler!?

"…Suu… haaa…"
Deep breath in, deep breath out.

Reset. Worry later.

Right now… think about winning.
I can’t afford to lose.

"Oh? Wilm-chan, what’s wrong? Your face looks kinda pale."

"Nature-chan… no, please don’t worry about it."

The one who spoke to me while I was trying to breathe was my friend, Nice Nature-chan.

Thanks to her trainer’s arrangement, she would also be participating in today’s mock race.

"Mm… alright, if you say so. Anyway, looking forward to today. I’ll do my best in my own way."

In her eyes—there was a dull, sharp gleam.

Directed at me… unmistakably hostility, the kind that instantly brought back the sensation of being in an actual race.

…Ahh, my spine just froze.

Just a little—just a hint of that cold feeling.
Nothing compared to what I feel during a real race, but enough to freeze my thoughts.

Right. What was I thinking?

Hoshino Wilm is not allowed to lose.
Standing before me is a rival—an opponent.

Don’t relax. Don’t let your thoughts wander.

I closed my eyes, waited a moment, then opened them again.

My scattered thoughts finally settled. All the excess noise faded away.

It was only a temporary sense of calm, but right now, I was grateful for it.

"Yes, thank you. I'll give it everything I have."

"Yup, let’s both do our best. ………Guess not, huh."

After our handshake, Nature-chan mumbled something under her breath. I couldn’t quite catch it.

Thank you, Nature-chan.

Thanks to that intimidating aura of yours, I can face my race with Teio-chan in perfect condition.

…If I’m being blunt, Nature-chan is a little outmatched for this race.

Compared to me and Teio-chan, she isn’t as polished, nor does she have any particular standout specialty.

Her chances of winning are… practically nonexistent. I’m not going to lose, and even if I somehow did, Teio-chan would take the win.

For Nature-chan’s trainer, her entry today is probably a test—seeing how far she can push herself against two of the strongest in our generation.

Depending on how she runs, they’ll adjust her rotation going forward.

From what I’ve seen, Nature-chan has more than enough ability to enter a G1.
But whether she can win a G1 is another matter entirely.

She’s a G1-class Uma Musume, but whether she can become a true G1 winner… that part is questionable.

…Well, we haven’t had any mock races since then, so this is based on how she looked during training. In that sense, I don’t actually know her current true ability.

"Still, I can’t believe your mock race with Teio is finally happening, Will-chan. Look at all the spectators—this is nerve-wracking. Not like I can talk, though."

"…Is it really attracting that much attention?"

"Huh? …Uh, Will-chan, are you actually seeing your surroundings?"

My surroundings?

I shifted my gaze slightly…

People. Uma Musume. People, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, people.

Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, people-people-people, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, people-people, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, people, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, Uma Musume, people.

We were completely surrounded by a crowd of people and Uma Musume along the course we’d be running.

…Huh? What is all this?

"…Um."

"Ahh, yeah, I figured you weren’t noticing. You looked like your mind was totally somewhere else."

"Did it look that way?"

"Mm-hm. Like you were zoning out. Or thinking hard about something."

…That’s not good.

Did something slip past the mask I’ve worked so hard to maintain?

To think my poker face—cultivated with so much effort—wasn’t holding… how careless can I be?

I really, really hope nothing about the whole reincarnation thing leaked out.

Ughhh, this is so embarrassing. How could I let myself…?

"Anyway, those are spectators. They all came to watch you and Teio. You’re the top two of your generation going head-to-head under conditions close to the Satsuki Sho. Sure, it’s still two months away, but this is basically like getting an early look at the results."

"Ah, I see…"

Spectators. That made sense.

Mock race announcements usually spread as rumors, and depending on the popularity of the participants, curious onlookers—well, “spectators”—gather to watch.

And naturally, a race between me and Teio-chan would attract plenty of attention.

…Ahh, but still.

Even though I got used to it a little after the year-end G1, I’m just not built for being stared at. As a former shut-in otaku, having this many people watching me is honestly scary.

If it weren’t for that “cold” feeling that helps me focus, I might have panicked and fallen apart by now.

"It’s no problem. No matter who’s watching, I’ll simply run with everything I have."

"…Hmm. Yeah. True."

…? Nature-chan seems oddly slow to respond today.

As we chatted a bit more, someone approached us.

"Morning! Great weather today. Looks perfect for running!"

"—! G-good morning. Nice to meet you, Tokai Teio-chan."

"Good morning, Teio. Still as energetic as ever, huh."

Standing there when we turned around was a petite, bay-colored Uma Musume—Tokai Teio.

My absolute, number-one favorite girl.

My words caught in my throat before I could stop them.

Having your oshi suddenly greet you is terrible for your heart. And on top of that, she’s—

…No. Stop thinking about unnecessary things.

Today, she’s my racing opponent.

Nothing more, nothing less.

"Thank you for racing with me today, Teio-chan."

"Yup yup, very polite, very good! Let’s do our best, Snake-chan!"

"Snake-chan…"

I mean, I knew people called me “Snake,” but I didn’t think even Teio-chan would call me that.

Snake, huh. It’s not like I hate it, but it’s not exactly a flattering nickname.

Well, if that’s what people call me, there’s no overturning it now. I just have to accept it.

While I quietly sulked for a moment, Teio-chan and Nature-chan started chatting.

"By the way, Nature, you’re actually joining in today? Think you can keep up with me and Snake-chan?"

"Well, I’ll do my best in my own way. You sure you can keep up with Will-chan’s pace? Fall behind and you won’t catch up, y’know?"

"Heh-heh! There’s no such thing as impossible for the invincible Teio-sama!"

…Looks like the two of them already knew each other. Teio-chan’s words were provocative, but held a tone of friendly familiarity.

Nature-chan, on the other hand, responded with her usual breezy calm.

…Hmm. But something about her today feels slightly off.

How do I put this… Nature-chan is usually warm and steady, but today her surface feels cold.

Maybe she really is nervous, like she said. I’m not sure.

Soon after, our trainers called us over.

It seemed the preliminary meeting had wrapped up, and now each team was moving on to strategy discussions.

My trainer and I huddled together at the edge of the grounds, quietly discussing the course, our opponents, what to watch out for, and finally, our plan.

And then—

"Hoshino Wilm. This may sound obvious, but watch out for Tokai Teio. And for Nice Nature, who stands beyond Teio."

"…? Yes, understood."

I didn’t really get what he meant.

But then he finished with:

"Go win, Hoshino Wilm."

Go win, huh.

Win. Sorry, Teio-chan, but I am going to win.

…At least, today—right here, right now.

"Yes. I will."

Two Uma Musume were already lined up at the starting line.

"Humph! I’m totally winning again today!"

"Since it’s come to this, I just have to give it everything…!"

Both of them were already burning with fighting spirit. Teio-chan in particular wore a relaxed confidence—very different from Nature-chan, whose bottled-up nerves were clearly about to burst.

For Teio-chan, this was probably just another mock race. Whether her opponent was me or any other Uma Musume didn’t matter. She always ran full throttle because she believed she’d win anyway. That arrogant confidence leaked from her in little flashes.

Amazing, really. With confidence like that, it’s no wonder she would’ve been an unbelievable Uma Musume—if only she hadn’t gotten injured.

Even so, I’m going to win.

As I stepped up to the starting line, a cold shiver ran through me.

…Ah. It’s starting. The race.

"…It’s cold."

Cold. Freezing. My heart feels like it’s turning to ice. Every frivolous thought slips away, and my focus narrows—sharp, thin—onto the lane before me.

I can’t lose. Hoshino Wilm must not lose. That’s why…

"I’ll win."

While we waited, Teio-chan’s trainer—acting as starter—raised the flag.

…

………

It swings down—now!

I burst forward ahead of everyone. My start dash was flawless, at least by my current standards. Riding that momentum, I accelerated—not quite at full power, but at a decidedly high pace.

First, I need to shake off Teio-chan right from the start.

Tokai Teio-chan is strong. If I ran like before and tried to escape at my usual pace, she’d keep enough stamina to chase me down in the final stretch… maybe not pass me, but it could turn into a close fight.

So I start with a high pace from the beginning. A super all-out escape—fast enough that even I’ll be scraping the bottom of my stamina by the end.

That way, fiery Teio-chan will be forced to raise her pace as well. And if the entire race gets faster, everyone’s stamina will be shaved down, making it impossible for anyone to launch a final sprint.

…And as a result, I can crush Teio-chan’s finishing kick.

Between Hoshino Wilm and Tokai Teio, the one overwhelming advantage I have is stamina. So I speed the race up and deny Teio-chan her final burst. Exhaust her completely. That was the trainer’s meticulously calculated, “guaranteed winning strategy.”

"This should be about right."

At the first corner, before I could fully pull away, I listened for the footsteps behind me.

Actually, this might be another reincarnation perk, but apparently my hearing is unusually sharp—even among Uma Musume. Or more accurately, during a race, I can pick up distant sounds with clarity. I don’t know the mechanism behind it; it’s just like the cold sensation I feel before running—simply “how it is.” Thinking too hard about it won’t give me answers.

It may seem like a small ability, but in races it’s incredibly useful. Even while running at an almost full-out pace, I can hear hoofbeats up to ten lengths behind me. From the rhythm, tempo, and impact, I can even tell who they belong to.

…Though it’s only precise within about five lengths. Beyond that, it can be off by a length or two, and if the group is clustered, it becomes messy. Still, being able to grasp the situation behind me without turning around is extremely convenient.

"Now then…"

The current positions are—

About five lengths back… Teio-chan. Her hoofbeats are crisp and perfectly controlled.

And… huh?

Right behind Teio-chan’s hoofbeats is another set. Rougher, like someone pushing themselves too hard.

Six lengths back—or more accurately, sticking right behind Teio-chan—is Nature-chan?

Strange. Teio-chan is normally a frontrunner, while Nature-chan is a closer. Being this far forward is far too aggressive for her. If she were simply overextending, she wouldn’t be able to stay glued to Teio-chan like this. Is she marking her on purpose?

…Well, whatever. It doesn’t really matter. Either way, the faster their pace becomes, the more the advantage shifts to me. If they burn themselves out early, that’s ideal.

As for me, I’ve shifted my stamina distribution toward the first half—in other words, I’m running more like a typical all-out escape-type Uma Musume today. If I can keep running freely like this, I should reach the finish without slowing down.

Those two won’t be able to sprint properly at the end, so if everything goes according to plan, this should be a straightforward victory.

Soon, I can no longer hear the hoofbeats behind me. My own pounding footfalls drown everything out once they fall beyond ten lengths.

Which also means: no competitors within ten lengths. I allow myself a small breath of relief.

The race progresses smoothly. No issues. No approaching hoofbeats. Just a steady solo run.

My lungs ache. My legs grow heavy. I keep pushing them forward, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Six hundred. Eight hundred. One thousand meters.

…The change comes at the twelve-hundred-meter mark.

It’s coming. …It’s coming?

A pressure slams against my back—an intent, a hostile surge, like someone is about to leap at me.

But it’s too early.

There are still eight hundred meters left. Is she seriously starting a long-range sprint now? Or is she running out of control?

Her footsteps are heavier than before, but even so, they skim across the ground with an unmistakably smooth rhythm.

There’s no doubt. This cadence belongs to Teio-chan.

"What…?"

This is wrong. Everything about it feels off.

According to my trainer, Teio-chan’s stamina isn’t anything impressive at the moment. If anything, Nature-chan should have had the larger stamina pool.

Running at a high pace burns stamina quickly. In our race plan, Tokai Teio was expected to manage a sprint of about a hundred meters in this mock race.

Even if she went all out, like in an official event, three hundred meters was supposed to be her absolute limit. That’s what my trainer said.

And yet… an eight-hundred-meter long-range sprint?

What is happening?

The remaining distance—and the distance between me and Teio-chan—shrinks.

Seven hundred. Six hundred… at five hundred left, she’s only four lengths behind me.

Not good. What now? Should I begin my sprint before things get worse?

If I maintain this distance—match Teio-chan’s pace—then five hundred meters should be…

…No. I don’t have time to think.

Start the sprint.

"…Kh!"

Teio-chan’s voice comes from behind me.

She must have realized it—our gap isn’t widening or shrinking. I’m matching her stride for stride.

Three hundred meters left. Good. At this rate, I can outrun—wait…?

"Footsteps?"

I hear it. Someone approaching from ten lengths behind—Nature-chan’s hoofbeats.

No way. Why?!

Why is Nature-chan running faster than this pace—faster than even Teio-chan can close?!

Nine lengths. Eight. The distance collapses rapidly.

But with two hundred fifty meters left, I should still have the advantage—!?

"Lose? Like heck I will!!"

Teio-chan accelerates again.

A desperate, gut-driven burst. It doesn’t increase her speed by much… but it’s enough to tighten the gap further.

This is bad. I can’t let her get within two lengths of me.

That would break the minimum condition for victory…!

Think. Think, think.

The distance to the goal, the speed at which Teio-chan is closing in, the state of my legs…

Is there any other way out?

…No. There isn’t.

…There’s nothing I can do.

Before this race began, my trainer gave me three sure-win strategies.

"Crush Teio. Run at a high pace from the start to drain her stamina completely."

"If things get dicey, start your sprint before she closes to within two lengths. Don’t try to widen the gap—just maintain it."

And the last one—

"If it truly becomes hopeless, if you think she’s going to reach within two lengths, then… I permit you to use it."

…And now, it really is hopeless. Exactly as he predicted.

I don’t know what happened behind me during this race. But my trainer had anticipated this scenario.

In other words… this was within expectations.

And knowing that, he told me:

"As long as you follow what I told you, you will definitely win. Run believing in me, Hoshino Wilm."

Of course I will.

He’s the one I entrusted my life to.

I listen again.

Teio-chan is three lengths behind now. Still closing in. She intends to reach the goal fueled entirely by sheer determination.

And Nature-chan… six lengths. Still gaining. Faster than Teio-chan. Closing in on me with unstoppable momentum.

There’s nothing more I can do.

If I try to conserve stamina now, I’ll lose.

So I’ll use everything.

I push strength into the tiny reserve left in my legs.

It’s one of the hidden cards I wasn’t supposed to reveal in a mock race.

But if I want to win here—this is the only option!

I plant my hooves against the ground and—

Kick off with everything I have!!

"No way!?"

"...Kh."

I widen the gap in one explosive burst.

Sorry, but with this… it’s over!

"—!!"

I cross the finish line in first place.

Somehow… really somehow… I managed to win.

I immediately slow down and come to a stop before even reaching fifty meters past the line. Bracing my hands on my knees, I wait for the heat inside my body to settle, struggling to steady my breath.

"Haa— haa— kh… cough…"

It hurts. I’m exhausted. My vision wavers. My chest throbs painfully, and my legs feel gross—pulsing with an unpleasant, mushy rhythm.

It’s not as bad as during the mock race with Nature-chan, but I still used every last shred of myself.

…No, that time I went past 130% and collapsed afterward, so today—this—this is probably the real limit of Hoshino Wilm.

"Haa— haa— damn it… ugh, seriously! Me, losing, like thiiis…!"

"Khah… ugh…"

Footsteps approach from behind. Teio-chan and Nature-chan must have crossed the finish line and are now catching their breath as well.

…Even if it was a mock race, we all ran at full throttle. It’s no surprise everyone is completely worn out.

"Hoshino Wilm, here’s a towel."

"Thank you…"

My trainer runs over and hands me a cold towel. I press it against my overheated face, letting it leech away the heat.

Moments like this… I’m really grateful for how attentive he is.

The cool sensation on my burning skin feels so good I can’t stop myself from letting out a relieved sigh.

"It really… turned out exactly like you said. I didn’t think… they’d get that close…"

"In the worst possible way. Honestly, Uma Musume always go beyond expectations."

…That was the toughest race I’ve ever run.

I expected Teio-chan to push up behind me.

But I never—never—thought Nature-chan would come that far.

I’m glad I relaxed a little at the first corner. If I hadn’t saved even that tiny bit of stamina, I wouldn’t have been able to sprint at the end.

A month ago, when he told me to practice easing up in the corners, I’d honestly doubted the trainer’s judgment.

The Yayoi Sho, the Satsuki Sho—same two thousand meters, same course as the previous G1.

So why practice relaxing in the corners?

But in the end, he was right. Without that, I might’ve lost this race.

…If he even accounted for this mock race happening, that’s some next-level foresight.

As always—my trainer is a terrifying cheat of a human being.

"How were the results?"

"Judging from the moment right before you reached the finish, both of them hit their limits. They were fading fast. Teio came in second, eight lengths behind. Nice Nature was third by a head. They finally pushed past the margin of a ‘huge gap.’ That’s the level of this year’s Classic."

"Haa… that’s fine. As long as I didn’t lose."

Yes. I didn’t lose this time either. So it’s fine.

It should be fine.

…So why won’t my heartbeat calm down?

"Changing the subject, Hoshino Wilm."

"…Yes?"

I lift my gaze—and on my trainer’s face, beneath his usual neutral expression, something complicated flickers, hard to decipher.

"…Did you enjoy this race?"

"Enjoy… it?"

I didn’t enjoy it.

Maybe I pushed myself too close to the edge… but even now, my heartbeat won’t settle.

My heart keeps pounding and pounding, refusing to calm.

"It wasn’t… enjoyable."

"I see."

He seems about to say something else when—

"Again… again! I couldn’t win…!"

A voice bursts out—someone who always acted so casual, so detached, so self-deprecating.

"I should’ve won…! My trainer, everyone… they all believed in me so much…! If my legs… if my legs had just moved more…! In the end, I— I still… couldn’t beat even a single—!!"

Nature-chan is screaming.

No dry jokes, no weary resignation—just raw, unfiltered anguish. Her fists are clenched so tightly they could draw blood.

She’s grieving her own weakness. The strength she didn’t have. Mourning from the very bottom of her heart.

"Nat—"

"Hoshino Wilm."

I start to call out to her, but the trainer raises a hand to stop me.

"She came in third. And yet she still fought you two evenly—no… she pushed even harder than that, and still lost. Leave her be for now."

"More… than us?"

Nature-chan really did surge harder than anyone expected. In the end, she even closed in on Teio-chan by a head. You could call it a remarkable performance.

…But even so—does that mean she was above us?

Both Teio-chan and I ran ourselves right to the brink. By the time we crossed the finish line, we could barely move from exhaustion.

And Nature-chan was beyond that?

"…So even you don’t see everything, do you? While she’s calming down, let’s talk for a bit… about the terrifying race-maker who controlled this entire match."

According to Trainer…

Nice Nature probably understood the difference in strength better than anyone—especially the difference between herself and me, Hoshino Wilm.

My greatest strength is my overwhelming stamina.
Because I have so much of it, I can take a massive lead right from the start. And because of that, I can run safely without getting overexcited or losing control.

On top of that, all my other abilities are high as well. My top speed is slightly higher than Tokai Teio’s and considerably higher than Nice Nature’s.

Which means that if it simply comes down to a final sprint, neither of them can close the gap.

So how do you beat someone like that?

There’s only one answer.

…You make her unstable.

A bad start. Getting pulled into a fast pace. Losing control. Or even… an accident.
Unless Hoshino Wilm is forced into a state where she can’t run normally, Nice Nature has no chance of winning—and she understood that perfectly.

So she created that kind of race.

Before the start, she tried to intimidate me, force my attention onto the crowd, chip away even a little of my composure.
She riled up Tokai Teio and pretended to be nervous herself—psychological warfare outside the race, all calculated.

Once the race began, she reacted calmly, as if she had predicted my high pace.
She stuck right behind the flustered Tokai Teio, who tried to close the gap on me, and kept applying relentless pressure.

Then, the moment Teio could no longer bear that pressure and launched a long-distance sprint mid-race, Nice Nature eased off and caught her breath.

Nice Nature knows my weakness—
that the moment someone closes in, I tend to panic and surge too hard.

But with her own stats, she couldn’t force me into that panic and still overtake me.

So she used Tokai Teio.

She manipulated Teio like a chess piece, pushing her forward—forcing her right up behind me. She engineered that exact situation.

…All of it to wear down my stamina and prevent me from unleashing my final sprint.

And then, in the final stretch—

Realizing Tokai Teio alone couldn’t push me into the red, Nice Nature launched her own sprint to drive Teio even further.

Teio, who was already completely drained, still felt Nature-chan coming up behind her and, through sheer willpower, forced herself forward.

But when Teio finally hit her absolute limit, her speed dropped sharply.
And if Teio had gotten just a little closer—close enough to make me panic—I could have burned myself out and slowed down in the last fifty meters.

Meanwhile, Nice Nature, having conserved stamina mid-race, would’ve been in perfect condition to unleash her finishing kick…

This race—every part of it—was under Nice Nature’s control.
Every situation she could create, she did.

…and even then, there were three unexpected factors.

The first: I managed to stabilize my condition.
I had clearly been in bad shape, but I didn’t crumble under Nature-chan’s pressure, and by the time the race began, I had fully recovered.

The second: I unknowingly eased up and caught my breath slightly at the first corner.
If I hadn’t done that, I absolutely would have panicked and burned out—in the worst case, I might have collapsed before the finish.

The last: even with all her planning, Nice Nature’s raw ability simply wasn’t enough.
Pushing herself to match Tokai Teio’s high pace in the first half drained her too much, and she didn’t have the strength left to maintain her sprint to the very end.

Those three gaps proved fatal—and that’s why Nice Nature lost.

…That, Trainer told me, was everything that happened in today’s race.

"All of it… was in the palm of her hand?"

"Yes. She was completely in control of the race. To develop that level of instinct, sense, and judgment before the Classic season even reaches February… just how much training has she gone through? It’s frightening. I can’t imagine what she’ll be like by the time we reach the Kikka stage."

Horino Trainer frowned as he looked toward Nice Nature-chan.

He had never shown that expression toward any Uma Musume other than me.
Not even when looking at Teio-chan had he ever made a face like that.

It was the look one gives someone who has surpassed every expectation—
a blend of fear and respect.

So that’s how far Nature-chan exceeded what we imagined?

…No. Not “exceeded.”

It was everything: the fact that no one paid attention to her.
The universal belief that she lacked power.
The size of the crowd.
Teio-chan’s confidence.
My carelessness.
All her past experiences.
All her talent.

She used everything available on this field to try to devour me.

And the truth is, her fangs really did reach the edge of my throat.

She showed incredible capacity—putting her whole heart and soul into it.

…A terrifying potential, one that could very well bring me down.

"Even so, some things just can’t be measured by numbers. It’s unsettling.
But even with her intelligence, could she really execute everything that perfectly…? Did someone advise her, or did she suddenly awaken to something…?"

…I could no longer hear Trainer’s voice.

Before I knew it, my legs were moving.

What is this feeling? What am I doing? What am I trying to do?
I couldn’t understand myself. I couldn’t control myself.

The sensation was the complete opposite of how I felt during the race—
feverish, ungrounded, floating somewhere above reality.

I ran straight up to Nature-chan, who was just about to collapse.

Without even knowing what this boiling feeling in my chest was, I found myself speaking.

"Nature-chan, Nature-chan."

In my vision, I no longer saw Teio-chan at all—only her.
Still breathing raggedly, still spitting out her frustration, and yet… she drew my eyes more strongly than anyone ever had.

Until now, I had been seeing two images overlapped on top of each other:

The character Nice Nature-chan I once watched on a monitor in my previous life.

And the Uma Musume Nice Nature-chan who was alive right now, right in front of me.

But now, I finally understood.

She is alive here, in this moment.
Reaching for my life, fighting desperately to survive.

She’s not some favorite character anymore.

She’s my close friend, a rival I must be wary of, an enemy I must defeat—
and an Uma Musume I love.

She is Nice Nature.

"Nature-chan… no, Nature."

I grabbed her shoulders. She sluggishly lifted her head, and our eyes met.

And I let my overflowing heart spill out as it was.

"Nature, please. Let’s run together again. …I want to run with you again."

I want to win. I want to defeat Nature.

After all her plotting, after weaving threads of strategy like a web and baring her fangs at my throat…
I want to beat her again.

I don’t know what this impulse is.
It feels slightly different from my usual fixation on victory… maybe.
But that doesn’t matter.

I just want to run with the girl in front of me—
and win.

Nature’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then filled with heat.

"Of course… next time, I’m beating you, Wilm!"

…Ah, it’s hot.

The heat inside my chest just won’t cool down at all.