Chapter 50: The End of Childhood

October 27th.

It really had been a long road.

I broke my bone at the beginning of June, and nearly five months had passed since then.

At last… this day had come.
At last… I had made it here.

As cheers echoed around me, I stepped calmly onto the turf.

“Now then, arriving slightly behind the others, today’s star finally takes the stage!
A brand-new legend who casts aside all of the past!
Among eighteen shining stars, will this first-magnitude brilliance once again shatter the impossible today?!”

“There’s no doubt about it—she’s the overwhelming favorite!
The undefeated, two-crown champion Uma Musume: Hoshino Wilm!”

Hearing the announcer’s voice carry across the stadium, I almost let out a wry smile.

Haha… honestly, they really talk you up.

But I’ll accept that expectation.
This race—I will win it.

For everyone who came to see me run, for everyone watching this race, and for everyone who believes in me… I’ll answer them all with the result.

Now then.

I shift my gaze slightly—and immediately find her eyes.

That piercing, scorching stare boring straight into me.

My one and only friend—Nice Nature.

I can tell at a glance.

She’s perfected herself.

Her body, her presence, her fighting spirit, her mental state—everything is honed toward this race, and toward me as her rival.

I can’t help but smile.

Ah… you’re incredible, Nature. You’ve really brought yourself to peak form.

Now I can truly enjoy this Kikuka Sho to the fullest.

“Will… I’ve been waiting for you.”

As I walk toward her, Nature speaks.

Her words carry that familiar hint of playfulness, as if daring me not to be overwhelmed by her presence—but her tone is different.

Tense. Sharp. Wound tight to the breaking point, like a spark could ignite her at any moment.

“Sorry I kept you waiting, Nature.”

I return her gaze with a smile of my own, feeling a fierce heat rise from deep within me as I face the fighting spirit of the friend I’m about to crush.

Now then—

Our final showdown begins.

Today’s race is the G1, the Kikuka Sho.

The final Classic race that will determine the strongest of our generation.

---

Inside the gate, I steady my breathing and organize my thoughts.

According to my trainer, my overall specs right now are just slightly better than they were at the time of the Takarazuka Kinen.

But that doesn’t mean I’m a straight upgrade.

My tactical awareness has improved thanks to studying during recovery.
My top speed and stamina have returned, and even grown a bit further.

But my acceleration and mental resilience have slightly declined.

Add everything together, and I only barely surpass my past self.

And honestly, I’m not as “perfectly tuned” as I was back then.

That time… it went beyond being in good form. I was performing at a level that exceeded perfection itself.

This time, I’m in great shape—but only great. Nothing more.

If I had to compare, maybe I’m just a bit stronger than I was at the Japan Derby.

And beyond that… I don’t even know if my race instincts have fully returned yet.

I’ve done some practice races and full 3000-meter runs, but this is still a G1 without a warm-up race beforehand. How much of my ability I can truly draw out is uncertain.

…Though honestly, that part should be fine.

This time, I have a clear strategy from my trainer. All I need to do is trust it and execute until the final stretch.

And then there’s the final—and greatest—obstacle.

I glance to my left.

Beyond several other runners, I catch sight of red and green headgear.

Nice Nature is here, in absolutely peak condition.

If I don’t go all out, I’ll lose.

I’ll have to use it—
my domain.
Hoshino Wilm’s true territory.

I close my eyes.

I remember Bourbon-chan’s encouragement.
I remember my friends cheering me on.
I remember the wishes of my juniors.
I remember the prayers of countless fans.

…and I remember the star that guides me.

It’s still there, just as it always was, shining behind my eyelids.

A sky filled with stars.

“Cold… yeah. A good kind of cold.”

“All gates are set. Preparations complete.”

Everything’s ready.

Let’s go, Nature.

To outrun you—I’ll use everything I have.

“…And they’re off!”

As the gates burst open, I drive my foot into the ground with all my strength.

My vision surges forward. No one can keep up with this acceleration.

Just like always—a flawless start.

I’ll leave everyone behind!

“Here they go! All the runners break cleanly! Charging up the slope, it’s the first-magnitude star Hoshino Wilm taking the lead, opening a gap at a blistering pace!
Chasing her are the front-runners—Against Gale, Byproduction, Holiday Hike! Can they keep up with this almost reckless escape?!”

“And watch out for the third-ranked star, Nice Nature—she’s positioned further forward today! Third-place finisher of the Japan Derby, Lionatal, sits just ahead in sixth. The third favorite, Heart Blow Up, is hanging back as usual, waiting for her moment!”

They’re watching me.

Every single runner in this race has their eyes on me.

They’re all thinking the same thing.

How do we get past her?
When do we make our move?

…Or should we follow Nice Nature’s plan instead?

One of the front-runners’ footsteps draws closer, pounding desperately.

Oh? You’re trying to keep up with me?

…No, that’s not it.

You’re trying to force me into a pace battle.

The pounding footsteps surge forward, almost like a final sprint.

That kind of momentum isn’t bad in itself.

…But.

Sorry—I’m not interested in engaging in a pointless battle.

I ignore her presence and maintain my own pace.

The idea that Hoshino Wilm is weak against pressure from behind—that’s ancient history.

The me of now has no such weakness.

…She’ll realize soon enough that she can’t catch up, and fall back.

『They enter the first corner and head downhill! Hoshino Wilm holds the lead with brilliant cornering, no loss of speed at all, stretching the gap at a blistering pace!』

『At the Takarazuka Kinen she abandoned the runaway strategy, but today she’s back to her classic wide-margin escape! Ordinarily you’d worry about stamina, but no one doubts her unconventional style anymore!』

Before this race, I’d shared information with my trainer.

Specifically, about my domain—and its unique characteristics.

The strategy we arrived at was incredibly simple.

Maintain a high pace from start to finish.

The Kikuka Sho is a grueling 3000-meter long-distance race, with Yodo’s slope standing in the way and draining stamina.

Among the G1s in the Twinkle Series, it’s second only to the Tenno Sho (Spring) in distance.

Normally, a reckless early breakaway would be suicide.

…But.

What if you don’t need to save stamina for the end?

“Hold a high pace until 2400 meters. …By then, Nature will definitely make her move.”

In other words, I only need stamina for 2400 meters.

I can spend everything I have up to that point.

That’s no different from the Japan Derby.

And unlike back then, today the track isn’t wet. It’s not heavy.

Maintaining a high-speed runaway isn’t impossible.

『The leader passes the 1000-meter mark! The time is… 59.8 seconds! Just shy of Seiun Sky’s 59.6—this is an extremely fast pace! Is she planning to ease up in the middle?!』

『But the front-runners are still clinging on, and the chasing pack is keeping up as well! Is there really room to catch a breath here?!』

Every horse running this race is among the very best of the generation.

Naturally, they haven’t just trained their legs—they’ve studied this course, this race, the escape runners, and me.

Which is exactly why, not knowing about my domain and its special nature, they’d think this:

She’ll pull away early, then ease up in the middle.

Just like Seiun Sky.

That assumption—built on common sense and overanalysis—is the deception.

Because everyone expects that pattern, no one sees our true intent.

“…Hah…”

All other footsteps fade away.

Only my breathing and my own strides remain.

The deception is working.

Everyone thinks I’m about to slow down.

They’re carefully judging their distance, making sure not to lose sight of my pace…

Desperately trying not to let me rest.

If the trainer’s calculations are right, then about now—

『On the backstretch, Lionatal makes her move! Nice Nature follows, pushing through the pack and closing the gap fast! An early attack—is this too soon?!』

『Trying to close the distance before Yodo’s slope, perhaps—but the gap to the leader is still large! Sweet Cabin and Pampa Grande are also increasing their pace!』

…There it is.

Those footsteps—Nature’s, and probably another girl I’ve run with before.

What was her name again… something starting with “L”…? Sorry, it’s hard to recall mid-race. Honestly, she just feels like Nature’s shield right now…

Anyway, she’s one of the stronger closers I’ve run with before—either in practice or the Derby.

I unfold the plan my trainer drilled into me.

This is… Pattern One. The most likely scenario.

If Nature advances using someone else as cover on the backstretch, then the response is—

Nothing.

Hold the current pace.

That’s all.

Now we approach the second uphill stretch.

Once we crest this slope at this speed, the question becomes how much stamina Nature will have left.

That will decide everything.

『Lionatal surges forward! She closes to within five lengths of Hoshino Wilm as they climb the slope!』

『Nice Nature follows right behind! Is she aiming to overtake in the final stretch?!』

『There’s still more than 800 meters to go! Has she gone too early? Will her stamina hold out?!』

Normally, launching a move this early would burn too much energy.

But for Nature… it’s probably still within her limits.

She’s tucked in behind the other girl, shielded from the wind.

Her footfalls are steady—no sign of strain.

She still has room to spare.

And me?

My limit is still far away.

Far, far away.

“…Heh.”

As I crest the slope and look ahead toward the curve—

The descent after Yodo’s hill begins inside the third corner.

If you push too hard here, you’ll drift wide and lose your line.

I can handle it—but Nature…

No.

There’s no hesitation in those footsteps.

She’s not slowing down.

If anything—

『Hoshino Wilm clears the climb and starts descending! This is where the real battle should begin—wait!!』

The world is repainted.

Into a place of pitch-dark obscurity—where only a single, dull gray star remains to guide me.

…So this is where you make your move, Nature.

『It’s Nice Nature! Nice Nature makes her move! She’s closing the gap, defying the taboo of the Kikuka Sho!!
But she doesn’t drift—perfect cornering, hugging the inside line with absolute precision!!』

『She’s leaning at a terrifying angle—one mistake and she’d tumble! Is she planning to catch the first star on the downhill?!』

She’s even better than I imagined.
To think she could corner better than me.

During these five months—while I was resting, rebuilding—she’d been growing even more.

…As expected.

That’s exactly why you’re my rival, Nice Nature.

That’s why you’re the shining protagonist.

Thank you, Nature, for making it this far.

…For fulfilling the condition of my victory.

“I knew you’d come, Nature.”

From the depths of my cooled heart, a flame erupts.

And with that heat—

I open it.

My domain.

A phenomenon unique to Uma Musume.

By projecting one’s inner world onto reality, one can run beyond normal limits.

It was something Nature and Teio had wielded before—something that once forced me into constant defeat.

And now… I can use it too.

The world fractures, as though revealing its true form beneath the surface.

That familiar sight scorches itself into my vision once more.

In the darkness, countless stars ignite.

Fans. Juniors. Friends. Acquaintances. My trainer.

Their light warms me, melts me, remakes me.

And then—click.

My awareness shifts.

My running changes.

Hoshino Wilm has three modes.

The calm, analytical “Cold.”
The natural, flowing “Warm.”

…And then—

“…Hot.”

A whisper no one else can hear.

From deep within my chest, heat surges—heat upon heat.

Racing with Nature at my back like this… it’s unbearable.

Unbearably thrilling.

That heat ignites my mind.

『Hoshino Wilm and Nice Nature accelerate even further! Lionatal in third gives chase, but can’t quite close the gap!
Are these two simply on a different level—the first star and the third?!』

『About 500 meters remaining! We’re nearing the final stretch! Others try to advance, but they can’t match this pace! Has the brutal early tempo taken its toll?!』

…Now then.

Let’s think.

How do I win this race?

How do I beat Nice Nature?

First—information.

The feel of the turf beneath my feet.
The slope ahead.
The subtle shifts of the wind.
The distance to the rail.
Her stride, her rhythm, her center of balance.
My remaining stamina. My fatigue.

Sight, sound, touch—even the sensations carried through my soles.

I take in everything.

Then I calculate.

Where to place my next step.
At what angle.
How to lift and rotate my legs.

Things I usually do by instinct—I now re-evaluate and recompute them all.

The result is the optimal solution.

That is my Celestial Sprint.

Leaning forward at the limit, cutting through the wind with minimal loss, surging ahead with perfect efficiency—my unique way of running.

…Alright. Next.

Strategy.

Nature’s speed. The distance between us. Track conditions. The remaining meters. Her domain.

I factor it all in—

And then—

…Wait.

Something’s off.

Nature’s domain… yes, it’s a domain.

But it’s… wrong.

This isn’t her.

No—this isn’t “Uma Musume-like” at all.

It’s too much like my old self.

So desperate for victory that her vision has narrowed.

She’s lost sight of what truly supports her.

Now that my mind is clear, I can see it—
the distortion in her state of mind.

Right now… Nature sees nothing but me.

That’s not good.

That’s not right.

She won’t be able to draw out her true strength like this.

When purpose and method become reversed, it happens easily.

I used to be the same—chasing victory just because I wanted my father to praise me… until that became everything.

Maybe Nature is slipping into the same trap.

That won’t do.

It can’t be like that.

“No, Nature.”

The words slip out before I realize it.

“That’s not right, Nature.”

…And yet.

I never expected her to answer.

“What… is this?”

Her voice reaches me.

Did we… overlap?

---

Domains are strange things.

When two expanding domains collide, they grind against each other—and from those fragments, one can glimpse the other’s heart.

Just like at the Takarazuka Kinen, when I brushed against the hearts of McQueen and Ryan, if only for a moment.

And then… though I don’t fully understand the conditions, it seems that when domains collide, something called “overlapping” or “connecting” can occur.

Instead of clashing, the domains merge. Parts of each link together, allowing the hearts within them to understand one another—without time, without words.

According to my trainer, even across Horino’s long history, there have only been ten or twenty recorded cases. An incredibly rare and mysterious phenomenon.

"Honestly, I don’t even know if this really exists. It might just be an illusion.
But it’d be bad if you were caught off guard when it happens, so I’m telling you just in case."

…Trainer, it looks like that thing you weren’t sure about actually exists.

My domain and Nature’s are connected right now.

In a way, being able to communicate during a race makes this overlapping phenomenon fascinating.

…That said, even for me, communicating through thoughts like this is a bit much. I’m not exactly used to fantasy-style telepathy.

Nature, maybe because she’s exhausted, is being extremely straightforward with her thoughts… but I, on the other hand, have things I need to hide. Like the fact that I’m a reincarnator. Or, well… certain feelings.

So I can’t just let my thoughts spill out. I have to carefully shape my words inside my head.

I try to stay calm and mold my thoughts, choosing what to convey.

This version of Nature isn’t right. She’s only looking at me.

She needs to see the people who are supporting her.

Even I, a reincarnator, used to be able to enjoy racing at first.

The reason Nature first started running—surely that was…

…No.

It’s not just Nature.

All Uma Musume are like this.

They carry someone’s dream on their backs as they run.

They’re pushed forward by those dreams, drawing strength from them.

They may lose their way sometimes, but their essence is the same.

Me, Nature, every Uma Musume in this race—we’re all running while carrying someone’s dreams.

So… listen.

Listen to the voices of the people who entrusted their dreams to you.

…Ah.

I might’ve let half my thoughts leak out again.

Yeah, mental communication is hard. Those fantasy manga where people fight while telepathically chatting—man, that’s some serious multitasking.

…Though wait, if I was able to think faster during my reincarnation phase, shouldn’t I be able to handle this?

Or maybe this kind of thing doesn’t work inside a domain? Because it’s not “real”?

Ah, whatever. That’s not important right now.

When I turn my attention back toward Nature’s domain…

I can already see the change.

It seems she saw it too.

A glimmer—

The ash-colored star that had been lighting Nature’s world begins to shine brighter, like a waxing moon.

What fills it now is a golden light.

Her dream—brighter than anything else.

The guiding star that belongs to Nice Nature alone.

…Just like the distant star that guides me.

It seems she’s finally found what truly guides her.

“…So this is… Nature’s true…”

I murmur without thinking.

And Nature, half-joking—no, half-serious—answers me.

“Will… are you sure?
You really want to tell me something like that?

…I might actually win, you know?”

A shiver runs down my spine.

That Nature—casting aside all humility and self-deprecation—coming straight at me.

It’s incredible.

This is going to be an amazing race.

“…Heh. That’s fine.

I learned this too—from someone else. This heat, this shining star.

Kindness you receive from others… you’re supposed to pass it on.”

“Hey, that’s not it, is it?

We’re Uma Musume, you know?

We’re racers who crush other people’s dreams to achieve our own.

It’s not about doing things for someone else.”

Haha… she’s right.

We’re all egoists.

We chase what we want, and in doing so, we trample countless dreams, wishes, and prayers.

It’s not for someone else.

Well… not entirely, anyway.

“Oh? You caught me.
Yes, I do have a reason I want you to be stronger.”

“A reason?

Why would you want your rival to get stronger?”

“It’s simple.

I want to have a thrilling, exhilarating race.

I want you to grow stronger and come at me with everything you’ve got.

…Beating someone like that is more fun, isn’t it?”

That was the very reason I was in this race.

I lost my bet with my trainer—whether I’d enjoy racing before achieving an undefeated Triple Crown—and as punishment, I had to enjoy this race.

That was my penalty…

And also the greatest blessing my trainer ever gave me.

And the meaning of Hoshino Wilm’s future.

So I meant every word.

But for some reason, Nature’s expression sharpened.

“Hah… what a ridiculous reason.

So you’re saying you’re that confident?”

“…? No, I want you to get stronger because I don’t want to be confident.”

“Ah… yeah. Right. That does sound like you.

Fine. I get it.

Then I’ll crush you so hard you won’t have the luxury of enjoying anything!”

I’m not entirely sure why that made her angry…

But as that fury flared, the overlapping of our domains unraveled.

---

And then—

“I’m going to win!!”

As Nature surged forward with her finishing kick, I continued ahead of her, choosing the optimal path at every moment, ready for anything.

Even as she exceeded my expectations, I felt exhilarated, calculating and running all the while.

And then—

『They cross the finish line!!
Accelerating in the final moments, it’s Hoshino Wilm who takes it! She wins the Kikuka Sho by a full length!!
Following the crimson bloom, a gray great flower blossoms! The second undefeated Triple Crown winner is born—and the first-ever runaway-style Triple Crown champion writes her name into history!!』

『There’s no debate about it anymore!
She is the brightest star of her generation!
The one who proved her strength on the Chrysanthemum stage is—Hoshino Wilm!!!』

…On that day, the winner was me.

---

After finishing the race safely, enduring a long interview, taking commemorative photos…

And after dancing the final live performance—“Winning the Soul”—to thunderous applause—

And so, Hoshino Wilm’s Classic Road came to an end with the achievement of the Triple Crown.

The legendary St. Lite, the warrior Shinzan, the rule-breaking Mr. C.B., and the eternal emperor, Chairman Symboli Rudolf.

And now, my name—Hoshino Wilm—would be lined up alongside those legends.

When it comes to an undefeated Triple Crown, that makes it just me and Chairman Symboli Rudolf.

…Somehow.

Now that I think about it…

Did I really do something this incredible?

At first, it was just, “I don’t want to lose,” and “If I can, I want to fulfill Teio-chan’s dream in her place.”

Then, as I spent more time with my trainer, it became, “I want to have fun racing,” and “I want to repay him.”

And as I kept running, and running, and running…

Before I knew it, I’d come all this way.

As I changed from my racing outfit back into my casual clothes, I couldn’t help thinking how far I’d come.

This place—this is one of the highest peaks a horse girl can ever reach.

…Mom. Dad. Are you watching?

Your daughter’s become a pretty amazing horse girl.

“Well, then it was like—whoosh! Nature came charging in, and I went whoooosh! with my legs, and then bam! I shot forward! And the more I went, the more it was like boom! so I was all waaah!”

“Yeah… as long as you had fun, that’s what matters.”

“…Wilm-senpai, here’s some water.”

“Thanks, Bourbon-chan. And then Nature went bam! like—seriously, bam! That was totally that domain thing, right? I mean, of course it was—she actually pulled it off!”

“…Have you always been this bad with words?”

“What exactly was that code supposed to mean…?”

In the car on the way to the hotel, I chatted with my trainer and Bourbon-chan, who had watched today’s race.

Today really was fun.

In terms of sheer enjoyment, it rivaled—no, surpassed—the Takarazuka Kinen.

But when I try to put it into words, it’s hard. No matter how I say it, it feels like I’m dulling the feeling itself.

Still, I want to share it with someone. I want to enjoy it together.

So I do my best to talk about it… but my trainer just keeps smiling, and Bourbon-chan looks completely blank.

They don’t get it at all—neither of them!

“Mmm… it was so fun though!”

“I can tell. I really can.”

“I agree. I’ve never seen you like this before, Wilm-senpai.”

“Well, of course! It’s been ages since I had this much fun! And I’m sure you’d get it too if you ran a Classic race, Bourbon-chan!”

“…Is that so?”

The overwhelming sense of fulfillment—the lingering echoes of victory and cheering—still buzzed in my head.

I ran the best race of my life. And I won.

If this isn’t happiness, then what is? What more could a horse girl ask for?

As I gestured wildly, trying to convey it all, I caught the trainer glancing at me through the rearview mirror…

“…I’m glad. I’m really glad you were able to enjoy the race.”

He muttered it softly.

Bourbon-chan tilted her head at his serious tone, but…

I understood what he meant.

For nearly two years, he’d supported me the whole way.

All so I could enjoy racing. So I could enjoy this life.

…Yes.

This second life I was given.

The reason I can live as “Hoshino Wilm” now—

That’s because of him.

So…

This time, I’ll say it properly.

“I’m home, Horino Ayumu.”

“! …Ah. Welcome back, Hoshino Wilm.”

And so, the story known as Hoshino Wilm’s Classic Road came to a close.

But of course, my story with him isn’t over yet.

Now then…

Next up—the Japan Cup!