Chapter 179: Shinsei, Two

After the race ended, I closed my eyes and tilted my face upward, trying to cool the heat coursing through my entire body.

Just like a machine overheating, a racing Uma Musume’s body traps heat after running at full power. Of course, part of it is simple physiology—exercise makes the muscles’ metabolism surge. But more than that… we heat up from inside our very shells.

What would be the right way to describe it?

Should I call it the soul?

The heart?

Or, to be more realistic… instinct?

In any case, racing fills that part of an Uma Musume strongly and overwhelmingly. From deep within our bodies, we are tormented by a searing heat—like being burned by flames.

…And that, surely, is the greatest pleasure in the life of any racing Uma Musume. It is the moment when you truly feel that you are fulfilling your purpose as an Uma Musume.

Whether the race is overseas or the greatest race in the world makes no difference.

"Haa, haa, haa… whew."

I raised and lowered my shoulders a few times, calming my ragged breathing.

It was incredible.

An incredibly fun race.

Not a single thing was lacking. Each of us clashed with everything we possessed in that moment—our bodies, our techniques, our worlds, our obsessions, and our will.

And as a result, I managed to claim victory—barely.

This time was different from the Prix Foy. Back then, Witch-chan, Nedirika-chan, and the other rivals didn’t feel overwhelmingly formidable yet…

But today, there was a clear rival in Understandible—and on top of that, there was a wonderful Uma Musume trying to crush me along with her.

The heat burning in my heart was no less intense than the dead heat I once had with Teio in the Tenno Sho.

For several seconds, I basked in that bliss.

Only then did I notice the rain falling against my closed eyelids.

…Ah, right.

It was raining.

Normally, I’d just find it sticky and unpleasant. But right now, the rain cooling my flushed body felt wonderful.

It’s a bit shameless, maybe… or perhaps not.

With my heart pounding like this, I feel like even the smallest sensation would feel good.

The next thing I became aware of, after the rain… was the roar of voices.

Shouts. Cheers. Countless voices.

We Uma Musume weren’t the only ones who enjoyed that race.

When I opened my eyes and looked to the left…

There were more spectators than I could possibly count.

Their faces were a mix of emotions. Some simply looked thrilled. Some were happy for my victory. Others mourned the defeat of their favorite runners. Some simply stood there in stunned silence.

But if there was one thing they all had in common…

It was that every one of them had been captivated by the race.

We Uma Musume often draw strength from our fans.

And I’m the perfect example of that.

I probably wouldn’t have even opened the First Domain if I hadn’t felt the heat of everyone’s passion.

So… if the fans enjoyed it, that makes me happy too.

With the joy of racing, the joy of victory, and the joy that echoed back from the audience filling my chest, I thrust my clenched fist into the air—

"WAAAAAAAH!"

The loudest cheer of the day erupted, filling the entire racecourse.

---

And so, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe came to an end.

For us racing Uma Musume, the only task remaining afterward was the Winning Live.

Well, since I won, I also had things like the winner’s interview and promotional photoshoots later on… but for the other girls, that was all.

And the Winning Live, despite appearances, actually uses a fair bit of stamina.

It’s obviously nothing compared to a race, but performing while your body is still weighed down with fatigue can be risky—you might accidentally mess something up.

So after finishing their races, the Uma Musume each return from the track to the waiting room at their own pace, rest for a while, and then the live performance begins.

…Which means that if you want to talk to another runner after the race, you have to hurry.

So after finishing my appeal to the fans, I decided to talk to the girl who had pushed me the hardest—and entertained me the most—today.

That person wasn’t Understandible.

"Hey, Nedirika!"

The Uma Musume sitting collapsed on the ground with both hands and knees braced against it—the girl who had taken second place in today’s Arc—Nedirika.

To be honest, the strongest competitor in this race was undoubtedly Understandible.

…Well, if you include Hoshino Wilm, maybe the conversation changes. But at least as my rival in this race, she was probably the strongest.

She had physical abilities rivaling my own. A blank Domain brimming with growth potential. A huge number of techniques she had learned in a short time—and mastered to a high level. And a vessel capable of absorbing the running of others like a sponge.

Everything about her was extraordinarily well-developed, without a single opening… the kind of prodigy who might one day even surpass me.

…But.

If the “strongest” always won, races wouldn’t be this exciting.

It was the same back in Japan.

I raced against my “strongest” rival, Teio, over and over again.

But the one who truly lit the fire in me wasn’t her…

It was my “most terrifying” rival—someone whose specs and technique inevitably fell short in comparison.

Nice Nature.

My one and only best friend.

And in this race, the most terrifying Uma Musume was… most likely her. Nedirika.

I knelt down beside her as she slumped on the ground.

My knee sank with a squelch into the muddy track. Normally I might have found the sensation unpleasant, but…

The swirling heat inside me was so strong that such trivial things didn’t matter.

Riding that heat, I pushed past my usual awkwardness and tendency to clam up around strangers and called out to her.

…But well, the thing is.

Passion alone can’t overcome the language barrier.

"Uh… are you okay?"

That was the English I managed to squeeze out—my attempt at asking if she was alright.

But apparently it didn’t get through.

Nedirika, still breathing heavily, glanced at me. But the only thing in her eyes was confusion. She didn’t respond.

…Yeah, that didn’t work. What do I do?

Come to think of it, Nedirika is a French Uma Musume, right?

Do they use English in France? Maybe she simply doesn’t understand it.

Or… maybe the problem is on my side.

As I stood there awkwardly wondering what to do—

"…Your phrasing isn’t quite right."

"Compared to Japanese, English… um… relies more on emphasis, I think."

A helping hand appeared.

The one who had walked up to Nedirika and me at some point was—

"Understandible."

The central figure of this race. Understandible.

The heroic princess expected to slay the dragon.

She looked at us with a somewhat absent-minded expression, as if she were still dazed by the heat of the race.

"…Shall I translate? Nedirika should understand English, so I can talk to her."

"Mm… could you? I’m afraid I don’t have anything to offer in return."

"No. I also have something I’d like to ask Hoshino Wilm."

Honestly, I wanted to thank Nedirika in my own words.

If I’d known this would happen, I should have studied foreign languages more seriously.

…Ah, now I understand.

I used to hear adults say, “I wish I’d studied harder when I was a student.” Now I get what they meant.

Luckily, I am still a student. Maybe when I get back to Japan, I’ll try taking English a bit more seriously.

Anyway, now we had a translator.

Through Understandible, I spoke to Nedirika.

"Are you okay, Nedirika?"

Understandible translated it into fluent English—well, English is her native language, so that’s hardly surprising.

Finally, understanding dawned in Nedirika’s eyes, and she replied.

"…She says, ‘Please wait a moment.’ Her breathing is still rough, and her heart is pounding."

"It was an amazing run, so that’s understandable. …Alright then, I’ll keep talking like this."

I withdrew the hand I had extended and turned my gaze toward Nedirika again.

She was still swaying slightly as she struggled to breathe… but she was looking at me.

And deep in those eyes…

Even after the race ended, even while standing in the cold rain, a ferocious heat still burned.

Just as I had felt during the race.

Just as I had hoped.

Seeing it, I could barely suppress the trembling excitement inside me.

So I spoke honestly, letting my true feelings spill out.

"…Nedirika."

"In this race, you were the one I found the most terrifying."

At those words, I felt the girl standing beside me twitch slightly.

But she quickly translated them into English and conveyed them to Nedirika.

Hearing it, Nedirika’s eyes widened in shock.

Her reply came back cautiously, and Understandible relayed it to me.

"…She says, ‘Understandible should have been far more of a threat than I was.’"

That was Nedirika’s confusion.

And perhaps it was also Understandible’s question.

So I formed a small smile and answered her.

"You're right. If we’re talking about pure ability, then the strongest runner in this race was definitely Understandible."

"…But the one who studied both me and Understandible closely, prepared the perfect countermeasures, and pushed me the furthest… that was undoubtedly you, Nedirika."

---

When preparing to challenge the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, my trainer—Ayumu—made a proposal.

He said, "I’m thinking of releasing some of the data on you and Understandible, along with information about your Domains."

…To be honest, when I first heard that, my immediate thought was, "Huh? Have you lost your mind?"

Information only creates an advantage when it’s kept secret. The greatest advantage held by our Horino Ayumu team was undoubtedly the data Ayumu had gathered through his incredible powers of observation.

That data was precise to an absurd degree, examining even the smallest details. An enormous amount of information.

If we released it publicly, it would effectively expose the strategies we might use and the specifics of my running style.

I couldn’t quite understand what he was aiming for—or what he expected it would lead to.

But the words that followed made my eyes widen.

"This race, as things currently stand, will turn into a match race between you and Understandible."

"And right now, neither of you possesses techniques that interfere directly with the other. So the outcome will likely come down to a straightforward clash of ability and technique."

"A battle of Domains. A duel of finishing speed. A collision of everything you have."

"…You’re getting tired of this pattern by now, aren’t you?"

"So… let’s help the other Uma Musume grow as well. That should give the race a new color."

"Besides, you’d rather have a more exciting race, wouldn’t you?"

…Hold on, are you serious?

This guy is trying to stir up the entire race just to make it more fun for me!!

This is the Arc, you know!?

Japan’s long-cherished dream!

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to raise your name as a trainer!

And yet you’re willing to throw the whole race into chaos just for my sake…!!

…Isn’t that amazing!?

Caring this much about making sure I enjoy myself!

This goes beyond a “perfect guy”—he’s practically the ultimate super-trainer!!

"…Besides making it more fun for you, there’s another reason."

Saying that, Ayumu pulled up Understandible’s data again.

Her abilities were incredibly well-balanced—slightly below mine now, perhaps, but potentially equal by race day.

…Except for one thing.

The Domain field was blank.

"The biggest unpredictable element in this race is Understandible’s Domain."

"She’s that so-called Hero Princess. There’s no telling what kind of extraordinary Domain she might awaken."

"And if we don’t know, we can’t prepare for it. There’s a real possibility we could be driven to a one-sided defeat."

"I acknowledge the mysterious power that Uma Musume possess."

“An awakening that can’t be measured by numbers… something almost fateful in nature. Precisely because it’s immeasurable, I accept it.”

“I’m sure that when the time comes, Understandible will reveal a power beyond anything we imagined.”

I nodded.

What convinced me wasn’t the logic itself, but the process behind Ayumu’s thinking.

This man had been tormented again and again by last-minute awakenings, sudden Domain breakthroughs, and strategies that simply couldn’t be predicted.

Teio’s Domain awakening in the Derby. Her leap forward in the Tenno Sho. Sky-senpai in the Takarazuka Kinen. Nature in the Kikuka Sho.

Those were prime examples.

Ayumu’s observational ability is incredible—but when it comes to the parts that numbers alone can’t predict, his confidence has been shaken more than once.

I’ve lost track of how many times he has apologized to me over it.

…Well, actually, it’s probably only been a handful.

From my perspective, the fact that he almost never misreads anything else just makes it feel like his standards are ridiculously high.

But putting that aside for now—

Because of those experiences, Ayumu feared Understandible’s unknown Domain… and decided to eliminate that unpredictable element at its root.

Of course, doing that wouldn’t be possible through ordinary means.

If I faced Understandible head-on, she would surely overcome it.

So instead of relying on straightforward strength, we had to oppose it with something equally unpredictable.

In other words… with the very possibility Ayumu feared the most.

“Therefore, we’ll have the other Uma Musume crush her Domain.”

“If we release information about Domains… yes, I’m sure someone will appear who can suppress her explosive awakening from above.”

“Without a doubt.”

As he muttered that, Ayumu’s expression was rather bitter.

And seeing that, I couldn’t help letting out a small laugh.

Because while Ayumu fears the potential of Uma Musume more than anyone…

He also believes in it more than anyone.

Honestly… maybe this is another form of love for Uma Musume.

---

And sure enough, an Uma Musume appeared who answered Ayumu’s strategy.

She had a physique slightly larger than either me or Understandible. Short chestnut hair with a beautiful white blaze running through it. And she wore a stunning racing outfit colored in black and blue.

Nedirika.

She fulfilled our expectations perfectly.

And magnificently shattered Understandible’s Domain.

I had experienced something like it once before in Japan during a practice race with Rudolf-san: a Domain capable of destroying other Domains.

A terrifying power that forcibly shuts down an opponent’s Domain and disrupts an Uma Musume’s condition by collapsing the unnatural world it creates.

Nedirika used that ability to dull Understandible’s legs.

…Well, my Domain got crushed too, though.

But thanks to my earlier experience with Rudolf-san in Japan, I was able to deal with it calmly.

In other words, I immediately activated "Anime Reincarnation," allowing me to overcome the resulting debuff.

“That was close. I thought you’d just target someone for weakening or confusion, but I never imagined you’d destroy everyone’s Domain around you. I definitely didn’t expect that.”

“If I had opened both of my Domains… then you probably would’ve been the one who won this race, Nedirika.”

Back then—near the end of the race, just before I was about to activate my Domain—

My experience racing against the genuine genius Teio warned me: At this rate, you’ll lose.

So I instinctively held back from deploying my first Domain.

…And that decision had absolutely been correct.

Not just against Understandible.

But against Nedirika as well.

Unlike Rudolf-san’s ability, my double-Domain deployment requires the accelerated thinking granted by "Anime Reincarnation."

Which means that the moment I deploy both Domains, "Anime Reincarnation" is already in use.

So what would happen if Nedirika’s Domain-destruction struck at that point?

The answer is simple.

Both of my Domains would be shut down, leaving me with a debuff twice as severe as normal.

And the "Anime Reincarnation" needed to cancel that debuff…

Most likely, I wouldn’t have been able to switch fast enough to block it.

In fact, since we’ve never thoroughly tested it, I can’t say for sure what would happen—but there’s even a chance that "Anime Reincarnation" itself might have been rendered unusable at that point.

But my instincts twisted that future.

By limiting my Domain deployment to just one, I was able to hold back from activating "Anime Reincarnation."

And because of that, when the Domain was forcibly closed, I could flip that switch and repel the debuff. Afterward, I was also able to escape Nedirika’s pursuit by using the Heavenly Star Spurt.

…Meanwhile, things must have turned out pretty disastrously for Understandible.

I know because I experienced it myself during the Takarazuka Kinen.

The first time you open a Domain, you’re flooded with an overwhelming sense of omnipotence.

That experience is incredibly important for us…

But it can also become a weakness.

Because when you’re soaring that high, what happens if your Domain is suddenly shut down?

It’s like being thrown underwater without warning—your chest tightens, discomfort floods your body, and it feels like your arms and legs won’t move the way you want.

Your condition plummets far worse than that of other Uma Musume… no, not just a slump. It might even plunge you into utter ruin.

In the end—

The reason Nedirika was able to defeat Understandible was because she managed to destroy her Domain.

And at the same time, the reason I was able to defeat Nedirika was because my Heavenly Star Spurt allowed me to counter her Domain.

The one who pushed me closest to defeat—who cornered me to the very brink—

No… more than that.

The one who decided the outcome of this race…

Was none other than Nedirika.

“Destroying Domains with your own Domain… and honing it to that extent in just two weeks through sheer, desperate effort.”

“Nedirika, you’re an incredible Uma Musume.”

“You were the most terrifying one in this race. You pushed me further than anyone.”

Before I realized it, my voice had filled with heat.

But that’s only natural.

Because right now… I’m having the time of my life.

I thought Understandible would be the only one in France who could truly excite me.

After the Prix Foy, I had started to think that maybe there wasn’t anyone else in Western Europe who could push me to the brink.

…But that was a huge mistake.

She even used that race as a testing ground—gathering information, forming a strategy that could defeat both me and Understandible, and then putting it into action…

If my instincts had reacted just a moment later, she might have actually pulled it off.

A terrifying Uma Musume like that…

Was right here.

Finding a new formidable opponent. A new rival.

That alone makes me happier than I can put into words.

And if possible, there’s one more thing I want.

I want to run with her again.

I want to feel that burning heat from her once more.

“So… I have a request.”

“Would you become my friend—and my rival, Nedirika?”

“I want to run with you again. I want to compete with you in another race.”

I looked straight into her eyes as I said it.

At my words, Nedirika’s eyes widened for a moment as she froze.

Then she closed her eyes—and began to chuckle quietly.

The laughter built and built until she could no longer contain it, bursting out into a hearty roar.

"What did she say?"

"Um… she says, ‘I never expected to hear something like that from you.’"

Then Nedirika fixed her gaze on me again.

Her eyes burned with a heat that refused to fade.

"‘…Since I failed to defeat you this time, it means I still haven’t reached you.’"

"‘But I will never give up.’"

"‘If you are willing to watch me… then I will live up to those expectations.’"

"…‘As your rival, I will chase your back forever.’"

Now her eyes overflowed with such intense heat that it overshadowed even her exhaustion.

A blazing flame.

Heat, heat, heat.

The same stellar blaze I had once felt from her before—burning like a star.

…Ahh, terrifying.

And at the same time, more than anything else—

It makes me happy.

I’ll get to run with this Uma Musume again.

"Yeah, let’s run again."

"Let that heat in your heart blaze freely."

And so, on that day, something new was added to my world.

One more star that shines down on me and warms me.

One more friend who will run beside me as a rival.

---

Nedirika finally managed to catch her breath and started walking toward the underground passage.

Standing out here on the rain-soaked track wouldn’t help her recover her stamina.

She was probably planning to properly rest in the waiting room with her trainer before the Winning Live.

I haven’t known her long, but she seems like a really good kid.

She gives everything her all—both in races and in the Winning Live.

No matter how frustrated or upset she might be, she doesn’t show it. She simply faces what needs to be done head-on.

She’s that kind of bright, straightforward girl.

So that’s my new rival.

…Yeah. I’m already looking forward to the next race.

And then, after Nedirika’s figure disappeared into the underground passage—

I spoke to the Uma Musume beside me.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Understandible."

"No… it’s alright. …I was a little confused myself, but I think I’ve managed to gather my thoughts somewhat."

She was also looking toward the direction Nedirika had gone.

Her expression was more composed than before, though confusion still lingered in her eyes as she watched the place where Nedirika had disappeared.

And then—

As if speaking to herself… as if confessing—

She began to talk.

About something she had never told me much about before, even during the times we had spoken.

About herself.

About Understandible.

"…Up until now, whenever I entered a race, I understood everything."

"I knew who would win, who would lose, what I needed to do to defeat this runner or that one… and that if I got serious, no one could beat me."

"That was what made it boring."

"A race where you already know you’ll win is dull. It feels like nothing more than routine work."

"So… it wasn’t fun."

I could understand that feeling.

…No, maybe I couldn’t fully understand it, but I could at least sympathize with it.

Because I had been the same.

Back in my hometown, there was no one who could challenge me.

Even after coming here, if Ayumu taught me the correct way to run, winning by a huge margin was the norm.

There’s nothing fun about an easy victory. Nothing fun about a race where you can’t truly compete with anyone.

…But that didn’t last long.

Because Nice Nature appeared before me.

"Then one day, I saw you run, and everything changed."

"I knew at a glance that you were the one person who could defeat me. …No, more than that—I realized I couldn’t defeat you."

"And after that, everything became fun. Training, races, work… all of it was fun."

I could relate to that too.

When I met Nature, I felt the same thing.

Maybe this girl could truly compete with me.

Maybe this girl could even surpass me.

That feeling—that hope—was what lit the fire within me… within all of us.

"…But."

"The one I lost to wasn’t just you… it was Nedirika as well."

"Today’s me was the strongest version of myself I’ve ever been."

"Nedirika is strong, yes—but I never once thought I would lose to her."

"And yet… I did."

For the first time, she said, she didn’t know.

That was what Understandible confessed.

For someone like me, who isn’t a true genius, it’s a bit difficult to fully grasp that sensation.

But Understandible is probably the same type as Tokai Teio.

A genius who instinctively understands the optimal answer in a race.

And because of that, when her instincts failed her, the shock must have been immense.

"…I think I wasn’t really able to see the others properly."

"I was blinded by the brilliance of a star, and the other Uma Musume disappeared from view."

"In a sense… ‘love is blind,’ perhaps. Other runners besides you never even entered my thoughts."

"So that’s why I lost."

"But… ah, I think I’ve learned something new."

Saying that, Understandible fixed her gaze on me.

…Ah, how beautiful.

In those wheat-field golden eyes, a new spark was beginning to ignite.

"Hey, Hoshino Wilm…"

"That’s what an Uma Musume is."

"That’s what our battles are."

"That’s the joy of racing."

"And the possibility of defeating me… exists within anyone."

"That’s right, isn’t it?"

I smiled.

Ah, today really is a good day.

Not one new rival—but two.

How lucky I am.

"That’s right. We’re nothing special."

"We’re just ordinary Uma Musume in this world."

That answer was enough.

Because it was the whole truth.

"Ah… yes. Yes, that’s right."

She placed a hand over her chest.

As if trying desperately to calm the pounding heartbeat inside.

Or perhaps as if she could feel an unbearable heat burning there.

"Uma Musume are… amazing. Truly amazing."

"Surely I’ll surpass this too."

"This heat—this scorching flame… I’ll keep experiencing it from now on."

"And that is… how…"

She clasped both hands together before her chest.

Like a whisper.

Like a prayer.

Her words melted away into the pounding rain striking the ground.

"   "

It was likely an English word—her native language.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite catch it.

…But surely that word was the birth of a new star.

The guiding word for Understandible from this moment onward.

Back at the Takarazuka Kinen…

Instead of merely longing for Nature…

Instead of merely admiring Teio…

Instead of clinging to the memories of Uma Musume—the anime from my previous life—

I began running on my own two legs.

And now, in this moment—

Understandible had begun running as an Uma Musume as well.

"…Hehe. That’s great, Understandible."

"I’d like to run with you again too."

"Next time, as another rival of mine who gives everything to the race."

At those words, her eyes widened in surprise before a bright smile spread across her face.

"!! …Yes! Me too!"

"I’ll challenge you again soon… so absolutely—absolutely let’s race again!"

That smile—

It was innocent and adorable, almost like that of a young girl.