Chapter 123: The Birth of the The Explosive Front-Running Stayers…?

――Can you believe this sight before me? At Royal Ascot, once called the greatest social event in Britain, 120,000 spectators clung to the fences, completely absorbed in our race. Not even bothering with umbrellas, not caring if they ruined their dress code.

And I—under the gaze of all 120,000 spectators—was the furthest thing from elegance or grace. Caked in mud, ragged, drenched in sweat and tears, on the verge of collapse.

"Zehh—haaah—…"

Mouth agape, I clung to the fence with both hands, my twitching legs collapsed beneath me as I sank to the ground. My muscles, slack and unresponsive, wouldn’t even allow me to sit properly, so I sprawled flat on the turf, arms and legs spread wide.

The rain had stopped. The wind had gone. Nothing remained to block the blue sky above Ascot—except a massive rainbow arcing overhead.

『Apollo Rainbow has crossed the winning post and collapsed to the ground! One by one, the other Uma Musume who finished are also crumpling to their knees!』

『All fifteen have been pushed to their limits… the sheer intensity of this battle is beyond comprehension.』

I had poured out everything I had, roaring until my throat nearly tore. We fought with everything on the line. And now, there was nothing left in my body. The same went for the other fourteen—each of them collapsed one after the other after crossing the finish line. The only one still standing was Kayf Tara-san, but even she was leaning heavily against the fence, barely maintaining her composure.

As I lay there with my sweat-soaked back against the cold earth, my eyes caught the time display near the finish line: 『3:59.90』. Proof that the wild plan I’d discussed with my trainer—what felt like a complete fantasy—had actually succeeded. I must have really run all 4000 meters… but it still didn’t feel real.

『The results are in! In first place, the crowd favorite—Apollo Rainbow! Second place goes to Kayf Tara, six lengths behind! Third place by a wide margin is Angely! And—Apollo Rainbow has just set a new world record for 4000 meters!! The time is an astonishing 3 minutes 59.90 seconds!! She’s conquered the long-distance battle of the Big Three, and proven herself the ultimate stayer!!』

"—Ha… a…tta…"

I tried to say “I did it,” but all that came out was some incoherent sound. I raised a fist to acknowledge the crowd, but could only manage to lift my arm skyward before gravity pulled it back down to the ground. My eyelids felt heavy, and my breathing was shallow.

Let’s skip the victory lap… but I’ll still need to manage the winner’s circle interview and the podium ceremony… especially since members of the royal family are here at the track. As I crawled along the ground with that in mind, someone suddenly placed a hand on my back to help me up. The one who supported me to my feet was none other than my trainer himself.

"Th-thank y—…sor—…can’t…breathe…"

"Apollo, truly, congratulations… Are you okay?"

"…Haha. Just tired… might need a bit longer…"

"Want me to carry you?"

"…Nah, as long as you support me, hic… I’ll… manage…"

"Got it. Let’s walk slowly then."

Tomio supported me around the shoulder and waist, matching his pace to my unsteady steps. Unbothered by getting his formal clothes dirty, he supported my mud-covered self with all his strength. As the two of us made our way, a chorus of cheers and celebratory shouts—some of them rather high-pitched—rained down on us. I had a strong feeling there were a lot of misunderstandings going on, but at this point, whatever… let them think what they want.

Now able to move just a little, I waved a (completely exhausted) smile toward the stands and the cameras along the homestretch as we headed to the waiting room. Apparently, the staff had kindly delayed the start of the winner’s interview to give me some time.

"Apollooo… really, congratulations…"

"Your face is covered in mud. Oh, even your ears… To think you powered through such harsh conditions. Congratulations, Apollo."

Waiting for me in the waiting room were Lumos-san, face soaked with tears, and a concerned-looking Double Trigger-san. Both of their dresses were soaked with rain—I figured they’d tossed their umbrellas aside while watching. Tomio’s clothes were pretty wet too, so it was safe to assume no spectator at Ascot had escaped the same fate.

With Lumos-san’s help, I headed to the showers to wash the dirt off my racing outfit. Just a light rinse and the mud came off instantly. As expected of a one-of-a-kind, specially made outfit.

There was only a little mud inside my ears. Normally, Uma Musume pull their ears back when they run. What surprised me more was that mud had splashed even onto my ears, folded back as they were.

While Lumos-san gently wiped the mud from my ears with a towel, Double Trigger-san and the staff worked on fixing my hair and reapplying makeup. Meanwhile, Tomio massaged my legs until I was recovered enough to walk with some assistance.

I sipped a bit of sports drink to regain my strength and checked the feel of my now-fluffy bob cut. Right after the race, my hair had been plastered all over my face thanks to the rain, mud, and wind, but now it looked just like it had before the race started.

The magic of makeup and hairstyling is really something, I thought absently as Tomio supported me toward the paddock behind the stands. Apparently, they’d moved the winner’s interview to take place before the awards ceremony. The flexible adjustment to the schedule was very much appreciated.

The skies above Ascot had completely cleared. As soon as Tomio and I appeared from behind the stands, the crowd erupted in applause. Just a while ago, the end-of-June chill had been blowing through the racecourse, but now the towering cumulonimbus clouds had vanished, and early summer warmth had returned. It was almost hot enough to feel muggy.

『The Gold Cup champion, Apollo Rainbow, has just appeared! Supported by her trainer, she’s making her way back out!』

『It’s been several minutes since the end of the race, but her legs are still trembling… Though her complexion is better than before, her response to the cheers still seems a bit weak. It’s a bit early to say, but we hope she gets a proper rest afterward.』

Waving at the voices calling my name, I entered the winner’s circle at the center of the paddock. Apparently, it was rare for trainers to enter with the Uma Musume for interviews, but this sort of thing wasn’t unheard of when the racer had pushed themselves this far.

Tomio, getting into the spirit of it, waved here and there too, smiling at the rising cheer—though the tone of some of those cheers felt… different. It kind of sounded like people were catcalling Tomio for being with me… but whatever, I decided to just let it slide.

『We’re joined by Apollo Rainbow, winner of the Gold Cup, and her trainer, Momozawa. Congratulations to you both.』

"Ah, thank you so much… Sorry, I’m so tired my tongue isn’t working properly…"

『No worries at all, take your time. …This Gold Cup—won with the fastest time in history! A brilliant run from start to finish—was that the plan all along?』

"…Tomio and I talked about it before. That this was the only way we could beat everyone. The race went according to plan, but… I didn’t think we’d actually break the record. We were confident, but… it was still a gamble."

With the announcer’s voice echoing through Ascot via the mic, I answered the questions without issue. The interview only lasted two or three minutes, but to be honest, I was already more nervous thinking about the awards ceremony to follow. After all, a member of the British royal family would be handing me the trophy directly… It was honestly overwhelming.

『Heavy rain, strong winds, a poor track, an outermost starting gate… These seem like serious disadvantages for a front-running strategy—』

"That’s true… But the outside gate didn’t really matter. The opening straight was long, and with all the bad conditions, any early loss didn’t make much of a difference. Of course, the inner gate would’ve been best, though."

『Thank you very much. Now, if we may ask—was there anything your trainer Momozawa said to you before the race that stuck with you?』

"Something he said… huh…"

That's a rather unusual question. I remembered most of my conversations with Tomio quite clearly, so putting them into words wasn’t difficult—but broadcasting them to the entire world? That gave me pause. I could think of plenty of lines that made my heart flutter, but sharing something that came off as a full-blown love confession with the whole world seemed… dangerous.

I’d heard somewhere that long silences could be considered a broadcast accident. So I reached for a memory that happened to rise to the surface, and spoke into the mic.

"I’m not sure if this really answers the question, but… before every race, Tomio always tells me『Have a good run』. …Races for us Umamusume are always filled with danger, and my long-lead sprints in particular seem to put a lot of strain on my body… I think it’s his way of showing that my safety is what matters most to him. If I had to pick a memorable conversation… that would be it."

『I see, well then, thank you ve――』

"Oh, Tomio. I just realized—I never said it yet, did I?"

"Hm?"

"――I'm back, Tomio!"

I locked eyes with Tomio and smiled softly from up close. That was all it took for him to break into a wide grin and pull me into a tight hug. His body was trembling like a child’s, and rather than gentle, it was a forceful embrace. In a voice only I could hear, he said, "Welcome back, Apollo." Then he squeezed me even tighter.

That strategy was the only way to win. Even so, I must’ve made him worry a lot. That’s why this moment was necessary for us. Because we trust each other as partners, we had to take a moment to truly feel the weight of the outcome.

――Naturally, a chorus of whistles and wild cheers erupted from the crowd around us. The volume was so intense it startled me, making my tail flick and my ears fold down.

"…We both really went and did it, huh?"

"…Sure looks like it."

"Well, looks like the interview’s over anyway… Shall we head to the podium?"

The announcer who’d watched our whole interaction from the front lines gave us a goofy smile, sending us a warm and knowing gaze as we made our way to the podium. Then, while accepting the trophy during the awards ceremony, a member of the British Royal Family leaned in and whispered, "What a beautiful relationship you have."

Honestly, I think Tomio and I are pretty close. I could say with confidence that we might’ve reached the level of someone like McQueen-san and her trainer… or something like that. That aside, though, it was incredibly embarrassing to put our bond on display for someone in such a prestigious position.

"Ugh… I shouldn’t have said『I’m back』right then… But it was something we needed to do… It’s that announcer’s fault…"

After the commemorative photo session, I returned to the waiting room with the trophy in hand, only to find it packed and lively. Double Trigger-san, Lumos-san, and Yates-chan were there, of course, and even Kayf Tara-san and Angely-chan—who had recovered somewhat—were present. In other words, the two Umamusume who would be performing at the Winning Live had also shown up.

"Yo, Apollo. That was one hell of a showy interview, wasn’t it?"

"So you and Momozawa Trainer were that far along already…? I’m shocked, Apollo-chan…"

"Huh? Huh—huh!? W-Wait, what do you mean ‘that far along’!? N-No way! We’re still totally normal! We haven’t done anything yet!"

"……Yet?"

"…You’re the type to totally give yourself away, huh. It’s obvious. Just give up."

"C-Can I put the trophy down already!? It’s heavy!"

"…You carried it here yourself instead of handing it off to staff? Well, I guess it's fine… Some like to take photos, admire it up close, touch it all over… Every Umamusume has their way of handling trophies, after all…"

Still flustered from the interview moment with my trainer, I placed the Gold Cup victory trophy on the table. Its rich golden finish carried an overwhelming sense of history. I’d heard that you couldn’t even put a price on trophies and victory leis like this. Being allowed to touch something so extraordinarily rare—or take pictures with it—well, it’s no wonder it made me giddy.

While we were snapping photos around the trophy and casually lifting it up, Lumos-san cleared her throat with an emphatic ahem. Tension visibly prickled at Double Trigger-san’s horse ears. Watching them, a certain thought floated into my mind.

――“Explosive Long-Distance Stayers☆.” A unit Lumos-san was trying to form to bring even more life to the Twinkle Series. It was apparently an Umadol group akin to Japan’s “Breakaway Sisters,” this time focused on the top three long-distance racers of the season.

"…Kayf Tara, Angely. I’ve already talked to Apollo about this, but I’d like the three of you to form an Umadol unit starting with the Winning Live that’s about to begin…"

"Huh?"

"Yes?"

Lumos-san looked noticeably tense as she brought up the idea. Kayf Tara-san’s words came out sharp and barbed, while Angely-chan’s reply was offbeat and high-pitched.

"…T-This time, you don’t have to worry about that. Just treat it like a normal live performance. But moving forward… I want you to regularly perform as the Umadol unit『Explosive Long-Distance Stayers』…"

"I refuse. Why the hell should we have to form some idol unit? Right, Angely?"

"Eh, I actually think it sounds kinda fun."

"…Hah?"

"Well, the off-season’s pretty long, right? If we don’t take the initiative to stir up some buzz, this whole racing boom might fizzle out, y’know?"

Europe’s Twinkle Series off-season generally runs from November through March. While G1 races and major graded stakes take place in Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai, the U.S., and even Australia during that time, Umamusume-related buzz in Europe tends to dry up. Especially for long-distance races, which are few and far between globally. That’s why Lumos-san was planning regular live shows focused on that stretch of the year.

"Gh… Losing popularity would be――…unacceptable."

Kayf Tara-san clenched her fist with a look of pained frustration. For someone with her pride, the thought of dancing as part of an Umadol unit was clearly humiliating. I can’t say I really understood it emotionally, but maybe she struggles with smiling in front of others.

…To shift the topic a bit, in Japan, even Umamusume like senior Bria, Chairwoman Rudolf, or senior Air Groove—who give off the impression of being far removed from smiles—are all known for performing live with big, happy grins. That’s largely because the Japanese Tracen Academy puts serious effort into Winning Live events.

That said, it’s not unreasonable for someone like Kayf Tara-san to prioritize racing over performing. Especially overseas, where live performances don’t seem to be emphasized nearly as much. On the flip side, that likely means more energy goes into racing and training.

"…So, what do you think, Kayf Tara? Of course, we’ll make sure the live performance doesn’t interfere with the race. Please, think of it as a way to maintain your popularity, and just this once!"

"Tch… Looks like I can’t win against you… Lumos-san."

"Eh, really?!"

"Yeah… I’m not thrilled about it, but if it’s for putting on the best race possible, I guess it’s a necessary sacrifice."

"S-Sacrifice…? You didn’t have to put it like that…"

Lumos-san looked dejected. Still, with that, we got Kayf Tara’s verbal agreement for forming Baku-Nige Stayers. Next, Double Trigger-san gave us instructions to engage with the fans and put on a show during the live. Angely-chan and I replied with excitement, but… Kayf Tara-san just stuck out her tongue with a "Ughh" kind of look. Just how much does she hate doing lives? I mean, we have singing and dancing classes here at Tracen too…

With that vibe, we began preparing for the live and, a few hours after the race, found ourselves backstage for the Winning Live. As Double Trigger-san and Lumos-san barked out instructions, the stage steadily came together. The song was one made especially for Europe, so everything was different from Japan. That made it a bit nerve-wracking, but compared to racing, the tension was worlds apart.

Before long, the stage was fully prepared, and laser beams shot through the area surrounding Ascot. Night had fallen completely, and the extravagant lighting lit up the sky beautifully.

Hand in hand with Kayf Tara-san and Angely-chan, we waited for the intro of the live track. In the pitch-black stage, we could hear the murmurs of the crowd from the other side of the wall.

As the intro played, the platform would shoot up and we’d land right into our song and dance. Just before the live began, Kayf Tara-san let out a deflated-sounding voice.

"…This sucks."

"You hate it that much?"

"This just isn’t my character. You get that, don’t you?"

"Ehh~ But I know Kayf Tara-san has a cute side too~"

"Shut it. The live’s about to start."

"But you’re the one who started talking…"

"…………"

"…………"

"…………"

From the distant darkness, a voice called out, "We’re about to start~!" Without thinking, I gripped their hands a little tighter and licked my lips. The murmuring of the crowd sounded unusually close.

In that darkness, Kayf Tara-san’s small voice rang out.

『…Apollo, Angely. Ever since you two showed up, everything has changed. So I guess… I need to change too…』

Before we could respond, the platform rose. We burst into the illuminated stage, suspended in the air. Landing straight into our positions—the Winning Live began.

And so, on the day of the Ascot Gold Cup, The Explosive Front-Running Stayers was born in spectacular fashion. Angely-chan, as expected, was totally into fan service—but surprisingly, Kayf Tara-san got into it too. She even threw a reverse peace sign that practically killed the fans on the spot—she really knew how to put on a damn good show.

Not one of the 120,000 attendees had left the venue, and we delivered a performance that left every single one of them completely satisfied.