Chapter 67: Another Ending

『Apollo Rainbow takes first place and gooooooal!! Second place goes to Seiun Sky, third to Special Week! Incredible—Apollo Rainbow has led from start to finish in the 3000-meter Kikuka Sho!! Shattering all concerns about tackling such a long distance without even running a trial race!! A flawless display of sheer dominance!!』

The curtain slowly falls on the Kikuka Sho, the climax now behind us. The crowd roars with unending applause and thunderous cheers, as if overturning all my preconceptions about racing.

"Apollo-chaaaan!! Congraaats!!"

"I've been cheering for you all this way just to see this moment!! Congrats, Apollo Rainbow!!"

"Aahhh—! Aaahhh—! Aooohhh—!!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!"

"Congratulations, Apollo Rainbow!!"

"You did amazing, Apollo-chan! Great job!!"

Slowing down gradually, I raise both arms high, answering their calls. As I pass the packed stands, I wave at each and every one of them with a beaming smile, murmuring "thank you" over and over.

"Thank you—everyone, thank you!!"

Stopping in my tracks, I thrust a fist into the air, and the crowd erupts in deafening cheers. The noise is almost overwhelming for an Uma Musume, but right now, this relentless excitement feels exhilarating. The Kyoto Racecourse has become a crucible of pure adrenaline, and only by standing at the center of it all do I finally feel reality sink in.

I won. My legs still feel unsteady, like I'm floating, but my thoughts are finally settling, beginning to grasp the result.

I don’t know the exact margin—but it was a crushing 25-length victory. (Secretariat won the dirt 2400m by 31 lengths, so what does that make this?) But anyway, I won. A gap this huge in the Kikuka Sho? Even looking back through past records, it’s hard to find anything comparable.

I turn toward the tote board, waiting for the official results. The word "Final" hasn’t lit up yet, but since there’s no inquiry lamp, my first place should be secure—

『Breaking news just in!! Unbelievable—the time is 2:58.5!! 2 minutes and 58.5 seconds!!』

『That’s over 5 seconds faster than the world record… And you’re telling me she ran 3000 meters in under 3 minutes? I don’t even know what to say…』

The tote board confirms it: Apollo Rainbow in first by a landslide. The word "Record" shines boldly beside the indisputable time—2:58.5.

A wave of stunned murmurs spreads through the crowd, the atmosphere shifting into something entirely different from before. I can’t believe it either. Sure, I knew I won by a huge margin, but running Kyoto’s 3000-meter course in under 3 minutes?

As I stand there dumbfounded, Seiun Sky, Special Week, and King Halo rush over to me.

"Congrats, Apollo-chan. You were so fast, Sei-chan couldn’t even keep up~"

"Even third-place Special Week set a record… I don’t get it at all."

"Next time, I’ll beat you for sure!!"

"Everyone…"

The three of them look genuinely impressed. In fact, even the other 14 racers are wearing wry smiles, as if to say, "Well, that was something." Some pat my shoulder in congratulations, others ask if my legs are okay after a run like that. As I respond to each of them, they quietly leave the turf.

"…………"

Left alone, I glance around—every face in the crowd is clear. The cheers rumble like thunder, the very air of Kyoto Racecourse swirling upward in excitement.

I tilt my head up toward the sky. Then, driven by pure emotion, I bow deeply toward the stands. With the clamor still rising behind me, I make my way back to the waiting room.

My hooves tap lightly against the concrete of the underground passage, the dry clack of horseshoes marking a steady rhythm. Clack, clack—after a few dozen meters, I spot him. Arms crossed, checking his watch.

"Trainer! I’m back!"

Calling out in the dim hallway, my trainer lifts his head. The moment he sees me, his usual composure vanishes as he rushes over.

"Apollo! Welcome back!"

Tomio spread his arms wide and pulled me into a crushing embrace. The full weight of a grown man’s body pressed against me, making it hard to breathe. My back arched uncomfortably under the strain.

"W-wait… can’t… breathe…!"

"Apollo… I was so worried on that second slope…"

His grip tightened even more, straining my posture further. But feeling his body trembling like a child’s against mine, I stopped resisting. I let myself settle into his arms, staying still and letting him have his way.

It was the opposite of the Japan Derby. The fact that Tomio was the one clinging to me meant he must’ve been pushed to his mental limit. If anything, he’d probably been bottling up even more stress than I had.

Cradled against his chest, I hesitantly reached up to pat his back. Locked together like two sturdy trees, we stayed like that for a while, just soaking in each other’s warmth.

"Were you watching me?"

"Yeah."

"That was a world record, y’know."

"I know."

"It’s all thanks to you, you get that? Instead of just worrying, you could at least act a little happier… or something…?"

"W-well, I am happy!"

"Hmph… eh, whatever."

Still wrapped in his arms, I tilted my head up to talk, our faces so close that if I just puckered my lips a little—well, we’d basically be kissing. Not that I wasn’t tempted to "trip" and let momentum do the rest… but maybe I should hold back.

"…What makes me happiest is seeing you come back safe, Apollo. Winning’s important, but you’ve got your whole future ahead of you. …Anyway, congrats on the Kikuka Sho. All your hard work paid off."

"…Mhm. I worked really hard."

"Yeah. I know better than anyone. I’ve been watching you the whole time."

"…"

His gentle words tugged at my tear ducts, but I held it in and squirmed free.

"…Jeez. Idiot."

"Wait, why?!"

"Just c’mon, let’s go to the waiting room. Gotta get ready for the Winning Live."

"Oh, right. Looking forward to your performance."

"Better keep your eyes on cute little Apollo-chan the whole time, got it?"

"Don’t say that about yourself."

"What’s the harm? It’s not like it’ll run out…"

Sniffling and laughing, we fell into step together as we headed for the waiting room.

---

One week after Apollo Rainbow's victory in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), Silence Suzuka walked alongside her trainer on the path leading to the turf at Tokyo Racecourse for the G1 Autumn Tenno Sho.

"Suzuka... Like I've told you over and over—just run like you always do. Just run the full 2000 meters at your best. That's all you need to do. If you do that, we can put these worries behind us."

"Yes..."

Silence Suzuka nodded in response to her trainer's words. Or rather, nodding was all she could do. She wasn't well-versed in things like uncharted territory or Fukukitaru's fortune-telling—anything spiritual, really. You could even say it just didn't click with her.

All she vaguely understood was that she was in some kind of danger, but she couldn't grasp why her trainer and those around her were so worried. If her trainer or Apollo Rainbow heard her thoughts, they'd be shocked.

Of course, that didn’t mean she hadn’t prepared at all. She had followed her trainer’s instructions to the letter and intended to keep doing so. All she had to do was run to the finish line without breaking form, without slamming on the brakes, and without getting into a duel with anyone.

Silence Suzuka carried herself with a composure that betrayed no sign of being on the verge of a major race. ...Or perhaps it was just her natural airheadedness, completely untouched by pressure. Naturally, seeing Suzuka act way too much like her usual self only made her trainer even more uneasy.

Inside, Trainer Okino was nearly crushed by tension and anxiety. He recalled Apollo Rainbow’s performance in last week’s Kikuka Sho—how she had hit the same wall as Suzuka, overcome it, and set an astonishing record. Later, he had a chance to speak with Momozawa, Apollo’s trainer, who admitted, "I didn’t feel alive the entire time during the Kikuka Sho."

Watching Silence Suzuka’s bold front-running had always filled Trainer Okino with happiness. It was the very embodiment of how a horse girl should run. To him, it was the greatest, most singular way of running—something he could watch forever.

But this Autumn Tenno Sho was different. For some reason, he had to watch her run with a sense of dread. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in her, but an overwhelming fear squirmed in the depths of his heart.

What if Silence Suzuka gets injured? What if she never reaches that uncharted territory and fractures a bone from the amplified output? Trainer Okino couldn’t shake off his unease.

Silence Suzuka was special to him. Though he treated all the horse girls under his care with equal strictness and kindness, allowing them a degree of freedom... there was just something different about Suzuka.

It wasn’t about favoritism. There was just something about her fleeting figure—something that made him feel like if he took his eyes off her, she might run off and never return.

"Suzuka."

"Yes?"

"...No, just calling your name."

"What was that about?"

The paddock session for the Autumn Tenno Sho ended, and it was finally time to enter the main track. The horse girls ahead of her were already energetically stepping onto the turf, and Suzuka’s turn would be coming soon.

This would be their last exchange before the race. Trainer Okino hesitated for a moment, then removed the lollipop from his mouth and turned to face her.

"Suzuka. I want to see the 'view' we promised."

"...!"

"We’ve prepared. Just like Apollo Rainbow and her trainer did, we’ve done everything we could. ...All that’s left for me is to give you a push."

With that preface, Trainer Okino took a deep breath. Meeting Silence Suzuka’s gentle gaze, he clenched his fist and shouted with all his might, as if his throat might tear apart.

"—RUN WITH EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT!!"

Those final words were his encouragement for Silence Suzuka. They carried his trust and affection. On this grand stage for his beloved pupil, all he could do as her trainer was believe in her and watch.

He had already steeled himself. And perhaps sensing that resolve—something in Silence Suzuka’s eyes changed. Her gently open gaze sharpened, her brows tensing with determination.

"—Understood. I’ll run with everything I have."

Because I believe in you too, Trainer. Leaving those words unspoken, Silence Suzuka turned to dash onto the Tokyo Racecourse turf—only to be stopped by Trainer Okino grabbing her tail. "Wait, I forgot to say something!" he called out.

With a wry smile, she turned back to face him. Trainer Okino clasped his hands together apologetically.

"Sorry. This might ruin the mood, but... promise me one more thing. Promise you’ll come back to me."

"...Of course. I’ve received your 'feelings,' Trainer. I’ll definitely return to you in first place—"

"I’ll be waiting."

"Then, I’m off."

"...Go get ’em."

With one last glance at her trainer, Silence Suzuka’s chestnut hair swayed as she broke into her usual running form, disappearing into the light. Left behind, Trainer Okino put the lollipop back in his mouth and smiled.

"...I’ll be waiting."

And so, the Autumn Tenno Sho began. Silence Suzuka, in Gate 1, Post Position 1, and the overwhelming favorite, had already created an air of dominance before the race even started. Under the watchful eyes of Air Groove, Matikanefukukitaru, Apollo Rainbow, and Special Week, Silence Suzuka launched into her signature bold front-running the moment the race began.

"Wow~! Suzaka’s amazing as always!"

"Apollo’s run was pretty crazy too, though."

"Enough chatter—Tomio, you focus on sending Suzaka your energy! Hurry up!"

"Ugh..."

Silence Suzuka’s front-running captivated the fans packed into Tokyo Racecourse. By the time she passed the 1000-meter mark, she had already built an overwhelming lead. And when her time showed a blistering 57.4 seconds—the crowd’s excitement exploded even further.

Silence Suzuka’s pace didn’t slow. And once she cleared the final corner, she was set to unleash a second acceleration. This was the ultimate form of running away from the field—a race strategy in its purest form.

Everyone was thinking the same thing: 『Silence Suzuka has won.』 The only question was by how many lengths, and with what time. The cheers for Silence Suzuka grew louder and more frenzied, like the roar of a monster.

『Silence Suzuka, still leading, now approaches the Great Keyaki tree!!』

Bearing the hopes of everyone at Tokyo Racecourse, Silence Suzuka charged forward at the front. But the moment she stepped into the Great Keyaki’s domain—a sharp, intense discomfort shot through her left foreleg.

"!?"

The next instant, she was plunged into darkness. Her form hadn’t broken. She hadn’t slammed on the brakes. What was happening? Silence Suzuka looked around in the void.

In this darkness, she couldn’t see the view she had promised her trainer. A sudden flash of light caught her attention, but her left leg—bound tightly to fate—refused to move, locking her in place.

"Wh—!?"

Back in the real world, something was wrong too. The charm bracelet Matikanefukukitaru had tied around Silence Suzuka’s left leg snapped apart.

A memory flashed through her mind—something Apollo Rainbow, her oddly clingy junior, had once told her:

"During the Kikuka Sho’s third corner, I almost lost my balance... and then, I don’t know how to describe it, but... it was like the scenery inside my mind went wild? My left leg just stopped moving. But then, I heard everyone’s voices, and suddenly—BWOOM!—I could move again! Somehow, it all worked out!"
"O-Oh..."

At the time, Suzuka hadn’t really understood. But now, facing this—she realized it was frighteningly similar. Her mind wavered, and in response, the darkness behind her swelled, surging forward.

"...!"

Just as the darkness was about to consume her, Silence Suzuka heard her trainer's voice. His face—the face of the man who had told her "Come back to me no matter what"—flashed in her mind. Memories of their time together surfaced, and those feelings became a light that pulled her free from the abyss.

But it wasn’t just Trainer Okino’s feelings. Air Groove, Matikanefukukitaru, Special Week, Mejiro McQueen, Tokai Teio, Apollo Rainbow, Agnes Tachyon, and the voices of countless fans—their collective light surged forth, shattering the curse coiled around Silence Suzuka’s left leg.

"————"

Suzuka herself didn’t fully understand it. But she felt it—the warmth of their emotions, rising within her. Shaking off the darkness, she charged toward the light.

"I have to see it."

Beyond the Silent Sunday, beyond everything—she kept running.

"The view that Trainer... that everyone is waiting for!"

Breaking through the darkness, surpassing the light, and leaving the Great Keyaki behind, Silence Suzuka raced toward the finish line.

『Silence Suzuka clears the Great Keyaki, rounds the final corner, and charges into the homestretch!!』

—The view from the front... is mine to keep!

Silence Suzuka ran away from them all.

As she entered the final stretch, not a single rival threatened her lead. Her overwhelming run, so dominant it didn’t even let shadows touch her, transformed Tokyo Racecourse into a stage of dreams. Excitement coiled through the air, every eye locked onto the chestnut horse girl.

There was a concept people considered the absolute ideal of racing.

A horse who could set a blistering pace, then accelerate again in the final stretch—true front-running dominance.

If such a horse girl existed, she would surely be invincible. Unbreakable. So flawless that no one could even conceive of beating her. It was a strategy so revered that it occasionally sparked debates—how could anyone possibly defeat it?

And there was a dream that everyone secretly yearned for.

The dream that such a horse girl might one day appear—shining brilliantly upon the world.

And here, today, that dream took the form of a single horse girl:

Silence Suzuka.

Silence Suzuka ran away from them all.

She painted the ultimate racing dream across the green canvas of the turf—a continuation of the fantasy she had shown them in that spring’s Takarazuka Kinen.

『Silence Suzuka leads!! Silence Suzuka leads!! This is true front-running dominance!! The greatest race we’ve all been waiting for!!』

And in that moment, Silence Suzuka herself began to dream.

A dream of candy-floss clouds and an endless blue sky—of running across vast, sunlit fields where snow had melted and green flourished.

A memory from childhood, when she had run across meadows just for the joy of it, until she collapsed from exhaustion. The scenery before her eyes was boundless, exhilarating—eternal.

(...Ah.)

This... was their "view"—

Silence Suzuka had entered the [Uncharted Territory Zone].

It was the landscape of her heart—the dreamlike vista everyone had wished to see.

『Silence Suzuka still leads!! Nothing comes from behind!! Silence Suzuka!! It’s Silence Suzuka!! Carrying the dreams and hopes of so many, Silence Suzuka crosses the line in first plaaace!!』

The air trembled, split apart by the roaring cheers of the crowd. Everyone celebrated Silence Suzuka.

As she gradually slowed, Suzuka trembled—overwhelmed by a joy she had never known before.

『The star of this glorious Sunday is Silence Suzuka!! From beyond the fourth corner, she has claimed the shield of honor in stunning fashion!!』

In the end, it was a dominant victory for Silence Suzuka. The otherworldly front-runner had finally reached the [Uncharted Territory Zone], overcoming the trial that had struck her in the third corner—just as it had Apollo Rainbow—and claiming the Autumn Tenno Sho (2000m) in a breathtaking display.

Through this race, Silence Suzuka not only felt her own growth—but also realized just how precious her fans, her trainer, and her friends and juniors were to her.

A horse girl runs carrying the emotions of others on her back.

This victory... was undoubtedly one she had achieved together with everyone. Tears welled in Silence Suzuka’s eyes as she understood.

"The view... that I—that we dreamed of—"

Thank you—