Chapter 195: I’ll crush you underfoot…!

Mejiro.

That name carries immense weight in the racing world of Uma Musume, including the Twinkle Series.

The Mejiro family stands alongside the Symboli family as one of the five great houses of Japan.

A lineage renowned for its long history, prestige, and a legacy built on both bloodline and achievement… or so it is said.

But naturally, we have not prospered by blood alone.

In a world where an Uma Musume’s true potential is said to bloom only after reaching her peak, we nevertheless begin training from early childhood.

Based primarily on our lineage and physical condition, our aptitudes are assessed, our future races determined, and we spend our youth preparing for competitions that lie a decade ahead.

Of course, the physical growth achieved during that time is negligible compared to what we gain at our peak.

It is not uncommon for a single day of effort at our peak to surpass an entire month of training in our youth.

And yet—even if the improvement is slight… if there is even the smallest chance to better ourselves, there is no reason not to pursue it.

Those who inherit strong and noble blood must never neglect effort. That is only natural—it is our duty.

A noble house is not defined by inherited blood alone.

It is through relentless effort—through becoming a worthy fragment of its honored history—that one refines that blood and earns the right to pass it on to the next era.

I, Mejiro McQueen, am no exception.

From childhood, I have taken pride in this name and this blood, devoting myself earnestly to training.

Recognized for my aptitude in long-distance races—the battlefield of the Mejiro—I ran alongside that girl and Ryan, striving to claim supremacy in the Classic circuit.

That said, in my younger years, I was not highly regarded and often trailed behind Ryan and the others…

And precisely because of that—

After enduring countless hardships, I finally reached a G1 race…

The Kikuka Sho.

With that victory, I attained a true sense of accomplishment… and pride in being “Mejiro.”

Mejiro McQueen.

A name that suits me—and one that defines me better than any other.

…And yet.

Since then, have I truly lived up to that name?

For a Mejiro Uma Musume, the ultimate goal—the place we must reach—is the glory of the Shield: the Tenno Sho.

With my aptitude for long distances, it was only natural that I would challenge the Spring edition—the longest G1 race in the country.

…However.

In my first year, my path was blocked by a trickster who painted the sky blue.

In my second year, I was defeated head-on by a dragon that soared through the heavens and an emperor who ruled the earth.

I did win the Autumn Tenno Sho.

Two thousand meters—the shortest distance in the middle-distance category.

And yet, it was a decisive victory.

The Shield was certainly in my hands. My grandmother was pleased, and perhaps my name has been etched into Mejiro’s history.

Perhaps it is wrong to desire anything more…

…No. I should stop pretending.

I am simply frustrated.

As a Mejiro Uma Musume—as a stayer who aspires to long distances—the fact that I cannot win the Spring Tenno Sho…

The fact that I cannot defeat them…

It frustrates me to my very core.

Can I abandon my name—and my blood?

This is the wall all those born into noble houses must face.

But that is not what drives me now.

The future does not matter.

Right now, in this very moment—I am unsatisfied.

A child born into a noble house does not need personal will.

We exist only to prove our purpose and pass on our blood. Personal desires are unnecessary.

…That is what I understand in my mind.

And yet, there are things that cannot be suppressed.

Many things.

I want to win.

At the Tenno Sho.

Against my rivals.

Against those powerful Uma Musume.

That is why—I cannot lose this race.

My second year in the senior class.

My second Autumn Tenno Sho.

Last year, I conquered it…

And this year, it will be a battle against the schemer of the new generation—the race-maker.

…Since losing to Seiun Sky in last year’s Spring Tenno Sho, I have relentlessly trained my legs.

So that no matter the opponent, no matter the strategy, I will never lose.

To crush every scheme beneath my stride and seize victory through pure physical ability.

I cannot yet say I have perfected that.

As if inheriting Sky’s mantle, another appeared—Nice Nature, the rival of Hoshino Will, the third star of that generation.

Once, I fell to her strategy.

In last year’s fiercely contested Arima Kinen, against race control that surpassed even Meek’s, I allowed her to overtake me by a nose.

The generation of stars.

A fleeting brilliance, dazzling like a night sky adorned with radiant champions.

I lost to Hoshino Will in the Japan Cup.

I lost to Nice Nature in the Arima Kinen.

And I lost to Tokai Teio in the Spring Tenno Sho.

As a senior from the generation above… my pride is in shambles. How shameful.

…All the more reason.

I must win this Tenno Sho.

This is not a battlefield like last year’s Arima Kinen, where countless champions tangled their schemes into something akin to chaos.

My opponent is a schemer I have prepared for time and time again.

The third star of the generation.

Of course, she is not my only opponent.

All seventeen runners are my rivals.

…But Nice Nature will manipulate those sixteen—no, all seventeen of us—and seize victory.

In that sense, this is a battle against her alone.

To claim the glory of the Shield.

To carry forward the blood of Mejiro McQueen.

I cannot afford to lose.

I will win… Nice Nature.

---

"Under a beautiful autumn sky on November 1st—a day where three ones align—eighteen champions have gathered at Tokyo Racecourse.

The battle for the Shield, held twice a year—the Tenno Sho.

Its Autumn edition is about to begin.

The track condition is firm. With a race-maker to shape the narrative and master performers to dance upon the stage, what unfolds will be a one-of-a-kind drama. Spectators, do not blink—you won’t want to miss a single moment."

As I made a light circuit of the turf, the announcer’s voice reached me.

Heh… calling it a drama.

But at the same time, it is not an inaccurate comparison.

Nature’s movements as a race-maker, controlling the flow through careful preparation.

And my nickname—the “leading actress”—earned for carrying races as they should be run.

This time, it is a battle between scriptwriter and actor.

The prewritten scenario… versus the performance within it.

Which will shine brighter?

Which will be more beautiful?

That may well be the essence of this race.

…Of course, I have no intention of losing in brilliance on this turf.

One year has passed since reaching my peak.

Though I can no longer dramatically improve my raw ability…

I have refined my technique.

Amid the ever-shifting flow of a race, I have learned to maintain my form and run in the most ideal way possible.

Even beyond the script, my running will shine.

I will captivate the audience.

Behold—the running of a Mejiro Uma Musume.

"Now, arriving late onto the turf—the other star of today!

Her first race in roughly a year since the Arima Kinen—Nice Nature, the race-maker and third star of the generation!

Will her sharp race planning ensnare even the leading actress of the turf? Are her schemes and finishing kick as formidable as ever? Will her run create the spotlight—or claim it for herself!?"

A figure entered my field of vision.

It was her.

Nice Nature.

Stepping onto the lush green turf of Tokyo Racecourse…

"…To show no fear or hesitation after a year away.

Honestly… I’m a little envious."

With composure, yet carefully observing her surroundings, she advanced step by step.

A G1 race—the highest stage in our world.

No matter how many times one challenges it, its pressure is immense.

After all, it determines the strongest in the country. Every Uma Musume steels herself with resolve, and every spectator comes to witness the very best.

The weight on our hearts—and on our backs—is extraordinary…

And yet, despite returning after such a long absence, she showed no sign of wavering.

Perhaps…

It is because she already carries something heavier than that pressure.

"McQueen-senpai."

"What is it, Nature?"

Without averting her sharp, unwavering gaze, she declared boldly—

"I’m winning this race.

…Teio is catching up to Wilm, and new rivals are emerging. If I don’t win at least one G1 soon, I won’t be able to hold my head high as her best friend."

Within those words lay absolute confidence.

Even if she doubted her own talent, the sheer weight of her training more than made up for it.

…Ah.

How truly enviable.

When we first met, about a year and a half ago, she lacked confidence.

She spoke as though resigned to her own limits, claiming she would only try in moderation—yet beneath it all, she burned with a fierce fighting spirit.

And now… she has cast aside all shame and pretense, laying that fighting spirit bare.

Nice Nature—no, Nice Nature as well—has changed.

Perhaps she realized she could not win while keeping everything bottled inside. Or perhaps something drew it out of her. Or perhaps even this is part of her misdirection.

Whichever it may be… the figure she presents now is, as a warrior, nothing short of ideal.

She must have found herself in a truly wonderful environment.

Uma Musume sometimes draw strength from the backs of those running ahead of them.

Just as I, who began running later than the others, chased after Ines-san and Ryan—and claimed victory in the Kikuka Sho…

She reached out toward a star far too dazzling—and continued chasing it without pause.

As an Uma Musume, one could call that a dreamlike environment.

The feelings I only managed to grasp during last year’s Takarazuka Kinen… she has carried them from the very beginning.

Her effort itself is not something to envy.

It is a history of hardship—a testament to her discipline. It deserves respect, not the selfish wish to have lived the same path.

And yet… having someone like that so close to her… Hoshino Will.

That environment…

Yes… that is what I truly envy.

…In a sense, one could say this:

Nice Nature is the Uma Musume who has received the most from the singularity that is Hoshino Will.

As she herself sometimes says with self-deprecation, her “talent”—what she was born with—may indeed be difficult to affirm with confidence.

Personally, I believe she possesses something truly remarkable…

But the truth is, she does not have the monstrous physical abilities or unique traits of Hoshino Will, nor does she possess Tokai Teio’s genius-level racing sense or adaptability.

Without a naturally gifted “ultimate spear,” it is not difficult to understand why she might feel unsatisfied.

And yet, from such an overwhelmingly disadvantaged position, she rose—and ran.

To defeat Hoshino Will—her rival and her dearest friend—she devised strategies, honed her thinking, and above all, forged herself through relentless, overwhelming effort.

Certainly, there must be some degree of innate “talent” involved…

But among all Uma Musume, there is likely no one who has cultivated such “refinement” during their peak as she has.

…And yet, even so—

"No. Just like last year, I will win this race.

In spring, I was defeated by two from your generation. But this autumn Shield… it will be claimed by me—Mejiro McQueen."

To a dear friend, affection.

To a worthy rival, admiration.

Holding both within my words… I declared my intent to win.

Just as she possesses unparalleled “refinement”…

I, too, possess “talent” shaped by a long and storied history.

Just as she possesses undeniable innate “talent”…

I, too, have “refinement” built through years of effort since childhood.

The blood of Mejiro—etched with history and victory.

And the many duties and pride I have accumulated myself.

Because of these, I can always stand tall—before anyone.

We share the same truth: neither of us can afford to lose.

No matter the scale of the dreams we carry, their weight is surely equal.

There are eighteen hopes placed upon this race.

And only one will be fulfilled.

All that remains… is to decide the victor on the track.

"Show me, if you will—that you still shine no less brightly than those two… that you are still a race-maker."

"I’ll win… in my own way."

---

"What the Uma Musume pursue is a single Shield—the road to glory carved by their trained legs: the Tenno Sho (Autumn)!

If spring was claimed by the living legend and the emperor who challenged it—then who will claim autumn?!"

Inside the gate.

Standing firm, I once again review the conditions of today’s race.

Tokyo Racecourse. Turf. Left-handed track. 2000 meters.

Clear skies. Good track conditions.

Under these conditions, the most critical factor is, without question, the distance.

For Mejiro McQueen, a natural stayer, this distance is not particularly favorable.

I won this race last year.

That was because I forced a high pace that fully exploited my stamina, exhausting the other runners.

However…

To repeat that this year would be difficult.

"Third most popular: the king of runaway mile races, Daitaku Helios in gate 6! Alongside fourth favorite Mejiro Palmer, the explosive runaway duo is here!"

"One half of the runaway duo that drives the pace ever higher through sheer competition! Her victory in the recent G2 Mainichi Okan over Ikuno Dictus and Panpa Grande is still fresh in memory!

At 2000 meters, this distance stretches a bit long for a miler like her—but will her smile last all the way to the finish?!"

There are two runaway-type Uma Musume in this race.

Daitaku Helios—and Mejiro Palmer, a fellow member of the Mejiro family.

Those two have no concern for the runners behind them.

As the saying goes, “run, run, and run away explosively”—they care only about how far ahead they are, and how long they can maintain it.

In a sense, they represent the archetypal runaway style—

…unlike that girl, who measures the distance behind her even while leading. She is an exception in every regard.

And that is precisely what makes this difficult.

In this race, I cannot take on the role of pace-maker.

Everyone’s attention will be drawn—not to me—but to those two as they blaze across the track…

And more importantly—

Even that, no doubt, is already within her calculations.

"Second most popular: the third star of the generation—Nice Nature in gate 11!"

"After a brilliant performance at the Arima Kinen, where she defeated numerous senior champions, she entered treatment for periostitis—but now, after a year of silence, she returns to the turf!

Her condition surpasses that of a year ago—truly worthy of standing among the very peak of the Twinkle Series!

Will we once again witness her astonishing race control?!"

…Nice Nature.

From the very beginning, she was never a runner defined by overwhelming physical ability.

She is an Uma Musume who seeks victory by skillfully manipulating the flow of the race and the movements of others to create favorable conditions.

She had been absent from the spotlight for some time…

But over these past few months, she has completely transformed.

Perhaps her junior, Rice Shower, influenced her.

In that time… she has trained her body to a shocking degree.

A level of physical refinement that seems to contradict her image as a schemer.

Even her absence from the public eye… must have been part of her strategy.

Perhaps it was even meant to catch Hoshino Will off guard.

The thought brought a faint smile to my lips.

Honestly… a strategist who is also a warrior.

How terrifying.

In this race, she will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent—

No…

She will be my natural enemy.

…However.

"First favorite: the reigning Autumn Tenno Sho champion—Mejiro McQueen in gate 15! After once again winning the Kyoto Daishoten, can she achieve the unprecedented feat of back-to-back Tenno Sho victories?!"

"A pure stayer who overwhelms others with her enduring stride—though 2000 meters may seem slightly short for her, how will it play out?

Bearing the pride of Mejiro and the chance to make history, this is a race she cannot afford to lose!"

I am a Mejiro Uma Musume…

And at the same time, I am the one upon whom the fans place the greatest expectations.

No matter how ill-suited the conditions, no matter how difficult the race, no matter how formidable the opponent—

To face it head-on and break through—that is what it means to be Mejiro.

And that duty… I shall fulfill.

『Now then, number 18, Destinate, has entered the gate. All runners are set.

With the glory of the Shield in their sights—now… they’re off!!』

"—!"

At the sharp clatter of the gates, I launch myself forward with all my strength.

The defining feature of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) is… this start.

On this oval-shaped course, the starting point lies deep within the first corner—what is known as the “pocket.”

From that pocket to the second corner is a distance of just over 120 meters.

Once inside the turn, centrifugal force pushes us outward, preventing us from reaching top speed.

Of course, with refined cornering technique, one can approach top speed—but even so, achieving ideal velocity freely is impossible.

That being the case, there is no time to jockey for position through gradual acceleration and deceleration. The battle for position must be decided before entering the first corner.

…However, in this race, that window is only 120 meters.

At our speed, that amounts to a mere eight seconds.

If I fail to secure my ideal position immediately, I will be forced wide on the corner—incurring a massive loss.

A fleeting battle—deciding how to move while reading the field in an instant.

—Which is precisely where I, once called a leading actress, must demonstrate my skill.

『All eighteen Uma Musume burst forward! Mejiro McQueen gets a strong start! Number 14, Elegant General, is slightly slow—no time to recover as they head into the second corner!』

『Nice Nature is watching from around sixth position, slightly wide—was this all according to plan, or not!?』

The one who seized the lead and surged ahead was Palmer.

And following her—no, truly chasing her—was Helios.

Watching them, I slipped to the inside and settled into third position as we rounded the corner.

At this distance, I need not worry about running out of stamina.

As long as I maintain a proper pace, my legs will not fail me.

If anything, trying to conserve too much and being swallowed by the pack is far more dangerous.

This race is 2000 meters. No matter how long the final straight is, if my path is blocked, it becomes a decisive disadvantage.

Therefore, even if it requires some force, I must secure a position at the front of the leading group—close enough to catch the frontrunners.

In any case, those two ahead are not the type to hold back.

They will, without a doubt, surge forward with all their might.

All I need to do is stay in position to overtake them—and maintain it until the final corner—

…Or so I thought.

But of course… it would not be that simple.

『The pack moves down the backstretch! Leading is Daitaku Helios, alongside Mejiro Palmer. Just under a length behind is Mejiro McQueen, followed by Ikuno Dictus. Then a length and a half back is Destinate, and on the inside, Nice Nature!

The runaway duo appears to be setting a slower pace than usual—the gap to the field isn’t widening! The leading group remains tight as they charge down the backstretch!』

…I see.

A remarkably solid plan.

The method to defeat me—or rather, to defeat a stayer—is obvious.

Prevent us from utilizing our greatest strength: stamina. Force us to finish the race with energy left unused, and we cannot display our true power.

To achieve that… the best approach is to slow the pace and bring the race into a sprint finish.

Which is why they have had Helios and Palmer abandon their all-out escape, using them instead as a lid on me.

However… to make those two abandon their natural runaway style—

It sounds simple when put into words, but their commitment to that strategy is incredibly strong. It cannot have been easy.

What exactly was said to them… I can hardly imagine.

…Now then, what should I do?

I am a front-runner—but not one who can win a G1 through pure escape alone.

It is because I can see those ahead of me that I can maintain my pace. Because I feel the presence of others, I can continue running without slack.

To ignore that… is only possible in the final stretch, when the spurt begins—after the last corner.

Until then… yes, I have no choice but to follow this flow.

You could say I have fallen perfectly into their scheme.

And yet—

For me, this is nothing unusual.

No script, no plan—whatever it may be, I will crush it beneath these legs.

That is why I am Mejiro McQueen.

"…From here on, then."

Nice Nature.

The third star of the generation. The race-maker who governs the race.

Let me see it—

Just how you intend to challenge me.