Chapter 101: Fierce Battle! The Tenno Sho (Spring) – Part 1

—May, 1st Week: The Tenno Sho (Spring).

Held at Kyoto Racecourse over 3,200 meters on turf, this is the traditional championship to determine the strongest senior stayer. Among the G1 races in Japan's Twinkle Series, it boasts particularly long-standing history and prestige. Along with prize money, the winner receives a shield bestowed by the Imperial Family—hence why the Tenno Sho (Spring) is often called The Spring Shield.

This is the grand stage I’ve been striving for. Yet, currently, only five countries host G1 races at 3,000 meters or longer: Japan (Tenno Sho Spring, Kikuka Sho), Britain (Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, St. Leger), France (Prix Royal-Oak, Prix du Cadran, Prix de Royallieu), Ireland (Irish St. Leger), and Australia (Melbourne Cup, Sydney Cup).

But just because long-distance races are rare doesn’t mean stayers are weak. If I can’t win here, how could I ever prove myself in Europe?

On the day of the Tenno Sho, I arrived at the venue early in the morning. After a light jog to warm up, a small lunch, and repeated stretches, I steadied my breathing, ready for the race to begin at any moment.

I glared at the race program on my device. The words "1st Favorite: Apollo Rainbow" gleamed back at me. Below was the full lineup:

Gate 1-1: #6 Machikane Fukukitaru
Gate 1-2: #7 Ribbon Finale
Gate 2-3: #2 Special Week
Gate 2-4: #13 Little Flower
Gate 3-5: #1 Apollo Rainbow
Gate 3-6: #14 Jewel Zircon
Gate 4-7: #15 Illapa
Gate 4-8: #3 Seiun Sky
Gate 5-9: #18 Reverent
Gate 5-10: #4 Mejiro Bright
Gate 6-11: #12 Duo Target
Gate 6-12: #8 Rapid Builder
Gate 7-13: #16 Yam Yam Parfait
Gate 7-14: #11 Jewel Amethyst
Gate 7-15: #17 Stay Shine
Gate 8-16: #5 Jara Jara
Gate 8-17: #10 Distinate
Gate 8-18: #9 Joyeux

Among them, the three I’ve faced most are Special Week, Seiun Sky, and Distinate—all from the same generation. Their form hasn’t changed since interviews, and even in the waiting room, whispers about Special Week’s sharp condition reach my ears.

As for me, Tomio’s flawless adjustments have left me in perfect shape. Standing before the mirror, I see my hair and tail gleaming with luster, my coat in superb condition. Mentally, I’m tightly controlled—so much so that I’m itching to run, restless from being barred from full sprints days before the race.

"Apollo, you look sharp."

"I guess."

"Sorry, maybe I pushed the conditioning too hard."

"...A bit late for that."

I suppress my explosive fighting spirit with restless pacing, circling the room. My legs burn with impatience, my gut churning like boiling water. The sensation of perpetual fury makes me resent him. I’m in too perfect a condition—it’s maddening.

"Just hold on a little longer."

"…………"

With that, Tomio leaves the waiting room. I’d hoped he’d stroke my flattened ears, but… he must’ve decided coddling would dull my edge. A light snub. It stings a little. If I thought whining to him on race day would guarantee victory, I’d be underestimating the Tenno Sho. My only focus is crushing the competition.

My pacing halts when staff enter, sensing the pressure radiating off me. They help me change with stiff movements. A touch of makeup, and I’m ready—set to head to the paddock anytime.

Tomio returns, leaving us alone. "Yeah, looking gorgeous as ever," he says with a cringe-worthy line, standing before me as I breathe heavily.

"Apollo, our goal is the Stayers’ Million sweep. But that’s no excuse to lose the Tenno Sho Spring. You get that, right?"

"Obviously."

"...By the way, what do you want if you win?"

"?"

"I mean, I never really gave you rewards for winning G1s before. People say our training’s harsher than most, and with results this good, I feel bad not doing more for you."

"...I’ll think about it. But when I ask, you’re doing it. No excuses."

"Sure thing."

"…………"

I’ve got his promise. Keeping a poker face, I leave the waiting room and stride down the tunnel. The echo of footsteps against concrete walls sharpens my focus.

The Tenno Sho Spring. Winning this race is the absolute benchmark for joining the ranks of legendary stayers. Images of Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, and Symboli Rudolf flash in my mind as I step into Kyoto’s paddock, the weight of tradition and history lending a faint tension to my steps.

But—this tension is good. Perfect for peak performance.

When I appear in Kyoto’s circular paddock, cheers erupt from fans who spot me.

"Under skies hinting at early summer heat, a historic lineup of champions has gathered! Over 150,000 fans flood Kyoto, drawn by these elite competitors!!"

"Attendance has been high since last year—truly heartening!"

"Under flawless blue skies, we anticipate a race for the ages!!"

The crowd roars at the commentators’ hype. Right on cue, Gate 1-1, Machikane Fukukitaru, appears—wait, her racing silks changed?!—and takes the stage, tossing aside her jacket to reveal a bizarre new outfit.

Applause concentrates on her as the paddock introductions begin.

"—Gate 1-1, Machikane Fukukitaru. 6th favorite."

"Superb condition… though she’s swapped silks for the Tenno Sho. Will it pay off? Stay tuned."

—The lucky charm herself, "Full Armor Fukukitaru." In pre-race interviews, she wore sailor-style silks, but now? A surprise reveal. Though it seems her beckoning cat motif got cut—shame, I liked that.

Shaking it off, I study her. Despite the outfit change, her sharpness remains. Her eyes shine brighter than ever.

After Fukukitaru leaves the stage, Ribbon Finale follows, then Special Week’s turn arrives—and the air distorts as if a magnetic field engulfs the space. Rubbing my eyes changes nothing: her aura of black intensity lingers.

Only we racers seem to see it. Just watching makes my ribs tighten.

"—Gate 2-3, Special Week. 2nd favorite."

"Fresh off a dominant G1 Osaka Hai win, she’s among Japan’s elite. A Tenno Sho Spring field with this many Derby-winning fillies may never be seen again… her run demands attention."

The Derby champion’s arrival sends ripples through the crowd. Flicking her jacket aside, she reveals idol-style silks, exposing toned arms and legs—every inch of her sculpted physique visible beneath thin skin. Even slight movements showcase her honed muscles.

Her presence sends tension through all 17 of us. Of course, we keep our focus, refusing to let her break our fighting spirit—but internally, everyone gulps. The air is electric.

"Tomio, think Spe-chan will come from behind?"

“Hard to say. She’s drawn the perfect inside slot, so the outcome could go either way. But… looks like things are playing out just like we talked about.”

When Tomio looked into past data on racing styles and lane advantages for the Tenno Sho (Spring), the trend was clear: front-running or early-speed strategies performed best, and horses starting in the innermost lane had the highest win rate.

On the other hand, the success rate for closers was extremely low—unless they surged ahead from mid-race and secured a middle-pack position, they had no real shot.

Based on our prediction, Special Week would go for a front-runner strategy. Statistically speaking, and considering her racing strengths, it was the most logical choice.

After Special Week stepped off the presentation stage, I realized my turn would come after the next one. With a little nudge from Tomio, I stepped up onto the temporary stage.

I clicked my heels to announce my arrival, then casually grabbed my jacket. With a sharp flourish, I flung it high into the sky, and threw my arms out wide to show off both my presence and my readiness.

“—Gate 3, number 5, Apollo Rainbow. She’s the crowd favorite.”

“She’s on fire. She represented Japan with pride in Dubai, proving her strength. If she can win here at the Tenno Sho (Spring), it could be her ticket to Europe. And if she wins today, she’ll have claimed the Kikuka Sho, Arima Kinen, and Tenno Sho (Spring)—a complete sweep of Japan’s long-distance races. She’s my top pick for sure.”

Wearing my now-familiar racing outfit, I crossed my arms with a flair. The white dress swayed gracefully, its cute skirt fluttering lightly. White gloves, white tights, white-and-black high heels—and dreams, so many dreams, were draped over my shoulders as I stood there.

Both mentally and physically, I was in peak condition—no less than Special Week. All the emotion and fire I’d kept bottled up were ready to explode. And of course, I was more than prepared to burn through the endless stamina needed to sprint 10,000 meters.

Let me run. Let me win. I want victory on this grand stage. With the best lane, top form, and ideal track conditions all in place, there’s no way I’m losing to the other 17 today.

I spun, letting my skirt flare out dramatically, drawing a huge cheer from the crowd.

Fall even more in love with me. Pour your passion into me like a raging torrent. The more I soak in the energy of the crowd, the stronger I’ll become.

During the showcase, I spotted familiar faces far off in the audience.

Glico, Maruzensky-san, Palmer-san, Helios-san, Bakushin O-san, McQueen-san, President Rudolf, and Takion-san. When our eyes met, Maruzensky and the others squinted warmly and waved. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it felt like they were sending me off with their blessings.

Hidden within my public performance, I gave them a small wink of gratitude. I’m sure they got it. And even if they didn’t, that’s fine too. As long as I believe it, that’s enough.

“I think Apollo Rainbow’s gonna break the record and win the Tenno Sho.”

“Whoa, where’d that come from?”

“Sure, there’s her record-setting Kikuka Sho win. But don’t forget how she crushed Double Trigger in the Stayers Stakes, and she came second in the Dubai Gold Cup—also with a record time. She basically always sets records in races over 3000 meters. Even if she loses, she’s bound to finish on the board.”

“That’s true, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone finally steps up to stop her this time. No way they’ll just let her run wild out front again.”

“No, listen… In a pre-race interview, she said she’s learned a new running style. Uma Musume are always evolving. Her chances of winning are infinite.”

“Well, as long as all 18 girls make it to the finish line safely, that’s all I care about!”

“Yeah! It’s a G1 race after all—everyone deserves a shot to shine!”

I turned on my heel and stepped down from the presentation stage. Cheers and calls of admiration followed me as I made way for the next Uma Musume.

Seiun Sky looked decent—hiding her fighting spirit behind a relaxed, breezy smile as she responded to the crowd. Classic her.

Mejiro Bright and JaraJara were absolutely in top form. I briefly locked eyes with JaraJara. We exchanged smiles without saying a word as we passed each other.

With the paddock show over, the sea of people began flowing toward the stands—toward the racecourse. But Kyoto Racecourse has a maximum capacity of 120,000. With 150,000 fans present today, some would have to watch the race from the paddock area, unable to move.

Even so, just like people queuing for a roller coaster, the fans eagerly waited for the less-than-five-minute-long Tenno Sho (Spring) to begin. Everyone held onto their hopes: “I just want my favorite to run safely,” “I hope she gets a great result,” “Maybe a dark horse will shake up the whole race”—fifteen thousand dreams swelling as the crowd surged toward the grandstands.

As I moved through the underground tunnel, ready to bolt onto the turf, a gray-haired Uma Musume passed by me and my trainer. It was Seiun Sky.

Gray hair. Frontrunner. Easygoing on the surface. A bit of a temperament issue. In fact, Seiun Sky and I have a lot in common. Deep down, “I” always wanted to be someone like her. Not just the look—though that too—but that fierce, relentless hunger for victory under a carefree exterior. That was exactly what I aspired to.

We’re alike. So alike, in fact, that I absolutely can’t afford to lose to her. Let’s settle it here and now—once and for all—who’s the better of the two.

Just before stepping onto the turf, I called out to Seiun Sky as a casual greeting. It was right before the race, so I wouldn’t have blamed her for ignoring me. But she turned to look surprisingly easily.

Eyes as clear as the blue sky. Skin as white as snow. Hair like silk, flowing with the wind. Her raised eyebrows tilted with a questioning look—it was so cute, so perfectly calculated, that it sent a shiver down my spine.

That’s the Seiun Sky I saw that day. She disappeared in a flash, but for just a second, our eyes met—and I swear I felt a piece of that murky, ominous “Domain Zone” radiating off her.

The fourth corner of the Satsuki Sho, the final straight—her back and side profile from that day flashed through my mind. My legs were like sticks, my throat parched raw, and still, I clenched my teeth, desperate to win—and lost. That face from that day overlapped with the Seiun Sky standing before me now.

Now that I see her up close, it’s obvious. She’s in amazing shape. Why didn’t I notice before? Or maybe she’s just gotten better at hiding it.

“Apollo-chan, it’s a big race, you know~? You look all serious—don’t tell me you’re about to confess your love to Sei-chan? Nya-ha, just kidding!”

Her fighting spirit’s no secret anymore—it’s practically common knowledge. The fact that she still tries to hide it even now makes me feel this weird mix of anxiety and frustration. But that’s exactly why—because we’re both going all out for the one and only crown—the victory will be worth even more. I couldn’t stop my lips from curling into a grin.

“Let’s both give it everything we’ve got, okay?”

I want to see deep inside you. I want to devour your bare, unguarded heart. I want us to fight with everything we’ve got, until there’s nothing left. I even wanted to feel the same kind of fear I tasted back in the Satsuki Sho.

Seiun Sky gave me a puzzled look. No, that’s not it. This smile comes from genuinely wanting to do my best. You understand, don’t you? That the value of a race only truly shines when you beat your greatest rival.

She shrugged at my unsettling grin and turned away, as if to say “give me a break.” The sheen of her tail caught my eye—there was no doubt now, Seiun Sky was in peak condition.

As she stepped into the light, she threw these words over her shoulder before dashing off:

“Y’know, Sei-chan’s still kinda bummed she couldn’t win the Kikuka Sho~. Sooo… I might just get a little serious this time~.”

Seiun Sky disappeared into the grass at Kyoto ahead of me.

“…You’re always serious.”

The stronger my rival, the stronger I become—who said that again? I can’t remember, but the feeling was swirling in my chest. My heart trembled with excitement at Seiun Sky’s perfect form. Was it my instinct as a Uma Musume? A wave of joy surged through me at how flawless she was.

Special Week, Machikane Fukukitaru, Jarajara—they were all baring their fighting spirits, ready to face me. And yet, I felt that even the fear they instilled wasn’t enough.

To truly break through my shell, I need something raw and vivid—like the Satsuki Sho. A stinging, unforgettable surge of emotion. Crushing humiliation. A loss that brings tears. Frustration, anger, shame—etch it all into me again.

Fuel my soul. Burn it to ash. Give me the fire I need to evolve. If you can bring me to the peak of liberation and awakening, I don’t mind if I burn out right here—

“Apollo, you’re getting too fired up.”

“…!?”

Just as I was about to throw myself into that ferocious mindset and run, a gentle voice descended on me from above. A soft hand ruffled my hair, calming the overheated emotions just a bit.

Tomio, always able to control things like this, withdrew his hand at the perfect moment—just before I hit my emotional boiling point. I’d cooled down somewhat, but I was still on the edge, ready to explode with just a nudge.

“…Thanks. I’ll cool down a little.”

“Please do. Though… I might’ve messed up managing your condition. Sorry if I made things harder.”

“You can apologize later. Don’t worry about it.”

Tomio glanced at his watch. There was no time left. I lifted my knee to chase after Seiun Sky and dash out of the tunnel into the light—but then I remembered something I’d forgotten to say.

“There was one last thing I wanted to tell you.”

“Hmm?”

“Hey, Tomio.”

“What is it?”

“When I come back… will you hold me really tight—and praise me a lot?”

I looked up at him and gently tugged his sleeve.

“Ah… I see. That’s your reward, huh?”

“…Yeah.”

“Of course. …Feel better now?”

“Mm-hm. That was a verbal contract, by the way.”

“Haha, now you’ve got me in a bind.”

“…Okay, I’m off!”

“Go enjoy yourself.”

With my trainer’s voice behind me, I kicked off the concrete and ran into the light.

Love and racing—I’ll take first place in both.

That’s Apollo Rainbow.

“—Alright! Let’s do this!”

—6th most popular, Machikane Fukukitaru.
Take her down.

—5th most popular, Jarajara.
Take her down.

—4th most popular, Mejiro Bright.
Take her down.

—3rd most popular, Seiun Sky.
Take her down.

—2nd most popular, Special Week.
Take her down.

I’ll show them all my back.

I’ll run, run, and run some more—on pure guts—and I will win.

Now begins the Tenno Sho (Spring)—a race I absolutely cannot afford to lose.