Chapter 74: As Myself, at Full Scale

“At last, the day has come. The grand finale of the year—the climactic year-end showdown, the G1 Arima Kinen.
This year’s field is nothing short of extraordinary—an absolutely unbelievable lineup.”

“The runaway from another dimension, who has overwhelmed us all with her sheer dominance: Silence Suzuka.
The very embodiment of the royal road, the queen among queens—winner of the Derby, the Tenno Sho, and the Japan Cup: Special Week.
A trickster who reveals her true worth precisely in long-distance races, normally considered unfavorable for front-runners: Seiun Sky.
An all-rounder who has claimed one G1 victory each across turf sprint, mile, middle-distance, and long-distance races: Happy Meek.
The turf’s legendary actor, whose Japan Cup match race still lingers vividly in memory: Mejiro McQueen.
Fresh off defeating her two rivals, Daiichi Ruby and KS Miracle, to claim the Mile Championship: Daitaku Helios.
And the strongest of the new generation—the Ashen Dragon who overturns the impossible, the undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume: Hoshino Wilm.

Seven G1-winning Uma Musume—and even counting only domestic victories, their combined total reaches an astounding twenty-one! This is truly a race worthy of being called the showdown of the century!”

Even down here in the underground paddock where I’m waiting, I can hear the commentator’s voice echoing through.

…Just as they said, today’s Arima Kinen is going to be a race unlike almost anything we’ve ever seen.

Suzuka-san, Spe-senpai, Sky-senpai, Meek-senpai, McQueen-san, Daitaku Helios-san, and me. Even counting only the Uma Musume with G1 wins, there are this many.

And on top of that, there’s Ryan-senpai, known as an unfinished prodigy; Turbo-shishō, who turns races into utter chaos; Nature, who seizes control of the race through tactics; and Teio, the revived super-genius.

No matter how you categorize them, it’s a mess—an absolute one.

Three extreme front-runners who can throw a race into turmoil just by being there.
And two race-makers who can manipulate the flow at will.

To be honest, this Arima Kinen is going to be a race no one can truly predict.

…Or maybe Ayumu-san could have, if she were awake.

“Today’s top favorite is the runaway from another dimension, carrying the dreams of all fans: Silence Suzuka!
This marks her first appearance in the Twinkle Series in three full years, since that Tenno Sho. Until now, we could only watch her overseas races through monitors—but today, at last, we get to see her run with our own eyes.”

“For Silence Suzuka, Special Week, and Seiun Sky, this will also be their final run.
Suzuka’s first—and last—race since her return. You won’t want to take your eyes off her for even a second.”

Today’s favorite is Suzuka-san.

In fact, there are probably plenty of people who can’t even imagine her losing.

Once Silence Suzuka starts her great escape, she has never lost to another—overseas races included—not even once. No matter the track, no matter the weather or ground conditions, she has claimed victory every single time.

Even if it isn’t a flawless record, being undefeated still carries tremendous weight.

That’s why so many people believe in her victory and pray for it… probably even more fervently than I do.

That said, Suzuka-san isn’t without her concerns.

Ayumu-san speculated right after the Japan Cup that this race’s distance might be just a bit too long for her to fully show her strengths.

Silence Suzuka’s primary battlefield is middle distance—between 1,800 and 2,200 meters. At 2,500 meters, this long-distance race is a first-time challenge even for her.

According to our trainer, Suzuka-san’s long-distance aptitude is a B—one rank below my S, and Spe-senpai’s and McQueen-senpai’s A.

In terms of advantage and disadvantage, she’s slightly on the unfavorable side.

And while not as precise as our trainer’s analysis, that’s something many people are aware of.

The media has dissected Silence Suzuka’s strength from every angle.

Which also means her weaknesses have been thoroughly analyzed.

Most people believe that her “otherworldly” dominance only truly holds up to middle distance—at most, 2,400 meters.

…And yet.

Even so, there’s something that makes people want to believe.

That the legend of invincibility will end without ever being broken.

That she will sweep aside every obstacle and stand at the pinnacle of strength—something everyone who was captivated by her great escape that day dreams of.

Ah… I see.

If you think about it, the first half of this Arima Kinen is essentially a clash between the undefeated.

Silence Suzuka, fully matured and complete—though not absolutely flawless.
Hoshino Wilm—also undefeated, but still in the process of maturing, not yet complete.

Which of us will be faster? Which will surge ahead?

That duel alone is probably drawing the attention of countless spectators.

And if Suzuka-san is the one drawing eyes in the first half of the race…

Then the one commanding attention in the latter half will undoubtedly be her.

“And the second favorite is Special Week! The girl who once bore the pride of Japan charges into the Grand Prix once more!
Her rival, the immortal phoenix she battled time and again, is absent from this dream stage—will she finally claim the glorious center spot this time!? Anticipation is high for the clash between old and new commanders of Japan: Special Week versus Hoshino Wilm!”

“Special Week boasts both tremendous stamina and a terrifying finishing kick. Considering the 2,500-meter distance, she likely has an edge over Silence Suzuka in terms of aptitude. How much havoc will her orthodox running style wreak in this wildly turbulent race?”

Spe-senpai is the second favorite, right behind Suzuka-san.

Despite competing in countless G1 races, she maintained an overwhelming rate of top-two finishes, demonstrating both the strength of the orthodox approach and her own outstanding ability.

She’s only won four G1 titles, but… if she’d been born in a different generation, I’m sure that number would be much higher. She’s that powerful.

In past Grand Prix races, she was apparently blocked by Grass-chan, her rival from the Golden Generation—but Grass isn’t here today.

El Condor Pasa-chan, Grass Wonder-chan, King Halo-chan, and Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi-chan—rivals I often saw alongside Spe-senpai in my past-life anime days. …Well, I didn’t know Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi-chan back then.

They’ve already retired from the Twinkle Series and moved on to the Dream Trophy League.

The formidable rivals who once halted her rise are gone. And unlike Suzuka-san, she has no aptitude-related concerns.

So if Silence Suzuka-san is the Uma Musume from whom people most expect an “overwhelming victory” after her miraculous return…

Then the Uma Musume most widely “predicted to win” this Arima Kinen is probably Special Week-senpai.

…Yes.

People expect her to win even more than they expect me to.

“And the third favorite is Hoshino Wilm! The undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume is also one of the central figures of this race!
However, the very fact that she’s ranked third highlights just how unusual this race is. To think that the day would come when the girl who has consistently dazzled Japan with overwhelming strength would fall outside the top favorite…”

“Her trainer is currently hospitalized following a traffic accident, and a sub-trainer has stepped in as a temporary replacement. That situation may well explain why she ceded the top spot in popularity.
She may not be in perfect condition—but even so, she is the Ashen Dragon. No matter the disadvantage, no matter the opponent, you feel like she might still pull out the win. She has that kind of presence.”

As expected, my popularity has dropped.

This may sound self-indulgent, but I’m still an undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume.

When that Uma Musume’s trainer falls into a coma after a traffic accident—and the Uma Musume herself shows signs of being out of form—that’s more than enough to fuel rumors.

We didn’t have the leeway to keep things quiet, neither Masa-san nor I, and the rumors spread frighteningly fast.

There are two main reasons why Hoshino Wilm managed to stay undefeated up to now.

One is, of course, my own talent—my high potential as a reincarnated Uma Musume.

The other is my trainer’s flawless management system. A training philosophy that tolerated not even minor injuries, yet pushed my body to the absolute limit—and the supervisory skill to make that work.

The idea that “Hoshino Wilm’s strength is heavily tied to her trainer” was never some obscure rumor.

…If anything, I myself had loudly proclaimed things like “I’ve come this far thanks to my trainer” and “her management is the best.”

On top of that, my trainer reciprocated by openly explaining her training philosophy and methods in detail through numerous interviews.

As a result, at least in terms of her ability as a trainer, her reputation soared to unbelievable heights.

Losing her now is like tearing off one of Hoshino Wilm’s wings.

Without the trainer who walked this path with me, how far can Hoshino Wilm go?

That’s what many people are worried about—or at least questioning.

To be fair, it’s not like I’m especially dissatisfied with Masa-san’s work… but there were a few accidents, mistakes, and miscommunications.

There’s no denying that our training efficiency over these past two weeks has dropped compared to when Ayumu-san was around.

…Even so, I don’t intend to lose.

My coordination with Masa-san is imperfect, and there were failures in training.

But at the core of it all was Ayumu-san’s schedule—and Masa-san and I did everything we possibly could.

I have no intention of handing victory over so easily.

Masa-san, too… there may have been areas where she couldn’t quite match Ayumu-san, but she worked incredibly hard.

From researching our rivals and fine-tuning my condition, to shopping for necessities, organizing paperwork, and applying for facility usage permits—she handled all the fundamentals.

She even cut back on interviews and media obligations as much as possible, so long as it didn’t cause issues, all to create an environment where I could focus on training.

She sacrificed her sleep and personal time entirely—just like Ayumu-san did right after we won the Triple Crown—working tirelessly to fill the void left by her absence.

I truly can’t thank her enough.

And if we’re talking about people who gave it their all, then Bourbon-chan did too.

She even went so far as to partially put her own training on hold to support me.

Saying, “You’ve supported me so much too, senpai,” she ran as my simulated opponent, took care of all kinds of odd jobs, and helped wherever she could.

“Inhale… exhale.”

I draw in the cold air, then let it out.

So… I will.

Carrying Masa-san’s efforts, and Bourbon-chan’s expectations.

I’ll run the Arima Kinen.

…and I’ll believe in her.

I’ll do what I can, in my own way—as myself, as a reincarnated Uma Musume.

---

“Wilm.”

A familiar voice reaches me from behind, light and slightly playful.

I don’t even need to turn around to know who it is.

“Nature.”

“Yo.”

When I finally look back, the one casually raising a hand is my rival—someone it feels like I haven’t seen in a while.

Nice Nature, dressed in a simple, chic racing outfit.

She swings her arm lazily as she walks over to me.

“What’re you doing stopping here in the underground passage? Getting nervous? That’s not like you.”

“Mm… is it wrong to be nervous?”

“Not wrong, exactly. But it doesn’t feel like you.
The Hoshino Wilm I know always looks like she’s thinking, ‘I’m the one who’s going to win.’”

“If someone wore that face before this Arima Kinen, they’d have to be incredibly carefree.”

Nature’s teasing makes me smile wryly.

Have I really looked like that all this time?

Maybe back when I was brimming with reckless confidence—but ever since around the Takarazuka Kinen, I’ve been approaching each race seriously, one by one.

Nature, having said something a little unfair, lets her horseshoes click softly as she starts walking toward the turf…

Then she stops beside me.

“…Aren’t you going?”

“If you’re nervous about this race, there’s no way I wouldn’t be.”

“And yet, you’re not shaking or anything.”

“I’ve worked for this moment, you know. No way I’m going to start shaking now.”

“That sounds contradictory… or maybe like you’ve steeled your resolve. A complicated state.”

“Maybe this is the first time you’ve noticed, Wilm, but that’s how most Uma Musume are before a race.
We’re super nervous—but even so, we believe in the effort we’ve put in, and force ourselves to stand tall.”

Nature shrugs.

…So that’s how it is.

Everyone feels like this.

That’s… honestly kind of amazing.

Up until now, I’ve always raced with confidence.

Early on, embarrassingly enough, I was a frog in a well—I assumed I’d win every race.

And once I outgrew that mindset, I had a trainer I trusted. I believed that as long as I ran while trusting her, things would work out.

But maybe because of that…

Now that she’s gone, the anxiety hits me all at once.

Will today’s race be okay?
Is the strategy right? Are my legs in good condition? Did we overlook anything?
Can I even win?

Those thoughts loop again and again in my head.

If I had to summarize that state roughly…

Yeah. I guess you’d call it “nervous.”

…Still.

This doesn’t feel so bad.

“Nervousness isn’t such a bad thing. This pounding heart—it might even become addictive.”

“Ugh… wow. I figured you’d be a bit shaken, given everything, so I came to check on you… but you’re fired up instead?”

“Thank you for worrying. But I’m fine. I’m properly focused right now.”

“…Honestly. Teio, you, everyone just keeps standing back up on their own. Guess protagonists really are different.”

“Teio?”

“Something happened the other day. Don’t worry—she’s focused too.”

“Well then…”

Nature steps forward, just ahead of me.

“…Let’s go, Wilm.
To a race where maybe we can’t win. Maybe we won’t prevail.
A race no one can predict—our race.”

“Yes. …Though, I’ll be the one who wins.”

“Hah! This time, I’m taking it!”

Trading jabs like that, we finally—

Step onto the turf.

---

“The Uma Musume competing today are now emerging onto the turf one after another!
One of the Three Stars, runner-up in the Kikuka Sho: Nice Nature! And the undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume: Hoshino Wilm!

Both look positively brimming with fighting spirit!”

“We confirmed it in the paddock as well—both appear to be in peak condition.
Will the Star Generation be able to prove its strength here?”

I can’t help but smile wryly at what I hear.

…Who knows.

Given the circumstances, neither Nature nor I may be able to fully perform to our true potential this time.

For me, having two extreme front-runners among my rivals is a huge factor.

Leaving my mentor aside, I simply can’t match Suzuka-san in raw specs.

As long as she’s in the lead, her stamina feels endless—and once she opens her domain in the final stretch, she becomes completely untouchable.

Overcoming Suzuka-san would take an absurd amount of effort.

Honestly, I almost want to treat that part as a race of its own.

Though if the distance were shortened, that would just favor Suzuka-san even more…

Against Suzuka-san alone, a long distance like this is indeed advantageous. But when you consider that I’d still have to escape the pursuing pack afterward… this distance starts to feel like a liability.

And for Nature as well, this Arima Kinen is likely to be a brutal race—

That was the conclusion Masa-san and I reached together.

Nature, a consummate race-maker, had always kept the flow of races firmly in her grasp.

Through meticulous prediction of her rivals’ movements, careful strategy-building, and the groundwork and psychological nudges laid out before the race itself, she had shaped races into whatever form she pleased.

…But this time, there was no guarantee things would go the same way.

After all, Sky-senpai—a race-maker herself—was here too. With superior race sense and experience, and likely higher innate talent and ability as well, Sky-senpai’s presence alone would make things considerably harder for Nature.

That said, even Sky-senpai couldn’t fully bring out her true strength this time. With Suzuka-san and me in the race, Sky-senpai’s usual domain was effectively sealed off.

In that case, it might honestly be best to deliberately ignore her and proceed anyway… or so I thought.

But even if we put Sky-senpai aside, there were simply too many Uma Musume in this race who could smash straight through her strategies head-on.

How Nature would respond to Spe-senpai or McQueen-senpai was something I was personally very curious about. It would probably be a battle of wits I’d never even hear about, though.

All things considered, this race—the Arima Kinen—was on a completely different level from anything before.

Just how far my and Nature’s plans—and our running—would hold up…

That was something we wouldn’t know until we actually ran.

Once we stepped onto the turf, I parted ways with Nature and began a light lap and some stretching.

Of course, my body had already been properly loosened up by this point, and I was more than ready to run.

Still, circling the turf like this lets you feel its condition in the moment, and it also helps focus your mind on the race ahead.

…More than anything, there’s no such thing as over-preparing.

I had to make sure my body was in perfect condition so nothing unexpected would happen during the race.

“Today’s race, the Arima Kinen. Nakayama Racecourse is bathed in flawless sunshine, not a cloud in the sky.

The track condition is good, the turf is in excellent shape. The stage for a legendary showdown is set, and the cast is complete!”

The turf condition wasn’t bad at all. If anything… it was the best it had ever been.

When I set my foot down, the feedback came back clean and firm. Not too light, not too heavy—just the right, satisfying rebound.

Yeah. You couldn’t ask for a better surface to run on.

As for my legs… I think they’re in good shape too.

I can’t say for certain without Masa being here, but even if they’re not perfect, they should be in excellent condition.

Then again, perfection isn’t something that happens easily in the first place.

That kind of state only existed because Masa’s management skills were exceptional. Normally, this “probably fine” feeling is what being fully prepared really means.

That’s right. Right now, I’m in peak condition.

The only problem is…

Even at my best, I can’t say for sure I can win this race.

“Now then, today’s star makes her entrance!

Japan’s strongest, as many call her, returns to Nakayama Racecourse for the first time in two years, carrying countless dreams on her back!

Overcoming that heartbreaking defeat of the past—this time for sure! Today’s second favorite, Special Week!”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Stepping out from the underground passage, bathed in that thunderous applause, was—

An Uma Musume I knew very well.

“Special Week-senpai…”

The Uma Musume currently drawing the most expectations—the one most people believed would win.

She stepped onto the turf with confidence, yet without tension, carrying the unmistakable presence of a true contender.

Then she spotted me.

Her sharp expression instantly melted away, and she began waving energetically.

She broke into a jog toward me—

“Wilm-cha—whoa—gah!”

And promptly wiped out.

Hard.

“…Huh?”

Sliding across the turf like something straight out of a gag manga, she finally came to a stop right in front of me—then popped her head up as if nothing had happened.

“Hello, Wilm-chan!”

“Ah—yes. Um… are you okay, senpai?”

“Yep, I’m fine! Hehe, I’m used to it!”

“Used to it… Well, at least it’s not a bad track today.”

“Yeah! Hehe…”

Smiling a little bashfully, Spe-senpai got back to her feet.

…It’s true that in her past-life anime, Special Week had a bit of a clumsy side.

Mistaking the finish line, tripping at critical moments—there was that wholesome, slightly awkward charm to her.

But to think she’d show it even now…

Should I be surprised, or should I just say “of course”?

In the end, Spe-senpai really is the same “Spe-chan” I once watched through a screen, carried over into this world.

That realization made me smile wryly—and in response, she gave me a relieved smile.

“…Yeah. That’s a good expression. You look like you’re okay now.”

“Yes. Um… thank you for that day.”

“I didn’t do anything. Wilm-chan, you’re way stronger than me.”

“That’s not true. …The reason I’m calm right now is because of you, Spe-senpai, the sub-trainer, my junior, and my rival Uma Musume. I’m being supported by everyone.”

“I see.”

Spe-senpai smiled gently.

“I’m glad. Now we can both run without regrets. You—and me.”

That’s what she said.

Looking back on the anime, it’s pretty clear…

Spe-senpai is an Uma Musume who embodies what it truly means to be an Uma Musume.

She enjoys running, enjoys competing, enjoys racing itself.

For the sake of her own wish, she steps over the wishes of others and aims for a single summit.

An extremely egoistic—or perhaps, as an athlete, profoundly honest—state of mind.

That is the essence of Uma Musume in this world.

And it’s the foundation of Special Week.

At the same time, she’s also a kind-hearted girl.

That’s why, if she’s going to run, she wants both sides to be in top condition, to give everything they have—and then win.

That’s what she hopes for.

That’s why she tried to encourage me that day…

And why she’s always been looking out for me.

A feeling too selfish to be called mercy, yet too passionate to be called pity.

Right now, that feeling was something I was deeply grateful for.

“I went through a lot. There were times when it felt like the world—like fate itself—had betrayed me. I was in pain, I struggled, I worried… and I even fell into self-loathing. …But in the end, you were right, senpai. What we Uma Musume can do is carry our burdens, run, and believe. And before waiting on fate, I realized we have to do what we can first.”

I let my feelings spill out to her.

“Instead of agonizing over what I can’t do, I should just deal with what I can, one step at a time.”

It took me an unbelievably long time to reach such a simple conclusion.

But… looking back now, I think it wasn’t a bad experience.

I thought about many things, worried about many things—and as a result, I learned many things.

I’m sure I was able to grow in ways I never could have if I’d just kept relying on my trainer.

So…

“That’s why I’ll give it everything I’ve got, senpai. Let’s make today a great race.”

“!”

I’ll give it my all—and let that be my answer.

With the best race possible. With a full-force clash.

That’s how I’ll repay Spe-senpai for everything she’s taught me.

“Yeah! Let’s both do our best!”

With those words, Spe-senpai broke into a radiant smile and held out her hand. We shook.

After that, when Suzuka-san appeared on the turf, Spe-senpai immediately ran over to her.

Just like she’d said, it seems those two really are close in this world as well.

…This Arima Kinen is their last run.

It’s also the first—and last—race where they can clash in the Twinkle Series.

The one and only special chance to fulfill their promise of “running the same race together.”

That’s why, right now… the two of them firmly clasped hands, pledging to give it their all.

…No, maybe what makes this Arima Kinen special isn’t just about those two.

Looking around, I can see countless stories unfolding everywhere.

Nature boldly declaring to Teio, “I lost at the Wakakoma Stakes, but this time I’m winning!”

Turbo-shishō barging in with, “Turbo’s not losing either!”

McQueen-senpai coolly telling Sky-senpai, “I shall repay my debt from the Tenno Sho.”

Meek-senpai, as expressionless as ever, telling Spe-senpai and Sky-senpai, “I’m the one who’s winning today. V.”

Every Uma Musume I’ve crossed paths with is writing her own story.

…In a way, maybe there’s no such thing as a “special race” for Uma Musume.

Because for them—
No, for us—

Every race we run from here on out is a once-in-a-lifetime, irreplaceable race.

“…Guess I should go too.”

First, I’ll go declare my intent to win in front of Nature and Teio.

After all, I’m an Uma Musume living in this world too.

I should enjoy the race right in front of me.

---

“Now then, the Uma Musume are steadily entering the gates. The Arima Kinen is often said to favor the inner posts—how will today’s draw play out?”

“The heavy favorite, Silence Suzuka, is in post 15 of gate 8. Second favorite, Special Week, draws post 2 in gate 1. And third favorite, Hoshino Wilm, is in post 7 of gate 4. From a simple starting-position standpoint, Silence Suzuka may be at a disadvantage. However, she is the otherworldly frontrunner Silence Suzuka. Will conventional wisdom even apply to her?”

Inside the gate, I close my eyes and organize my thoughts.

…The post position isn’t bad.

Statistically, gate 4 has the highest win rate. Even looking at the horse number, it’s not the absolute best, but it’s still a very strong position.

On the other hand, Spe-senpai’s and Suzuka-san’s positions are… questionable.

Especially for Suzuka-san—a runaway frontrunner who needs to seize the lead early—being stuck in the far outside post is a serious burden.

This is the Arima Kinen—we head straight into a corner right from the start. The faster she goes, the more centrifugal force will push her wide.

“…Alright.”

Luck is on my side.

All that’s left is for me to win—
With my own strength.

“All Uma Musume are now in their gates. Preparations are complete.”

I inhale, exhale… and focus.

As the race approaches, my thoughts freeze into clarity.

The plan is solid.
The preparation is perfect.
The countermeasures are… incomplete—but I’ll have to make do.

“Let’s go.”

…Now.

The first—and last—Arima Kinen begins.

“…And they’re off!”