May 26th. Tokyo Racecourse. Weather: Clear. Track Condition: Firm.
A record-breaking tide of humanity surged through the gates, packing every available inch of the stands.
Strangers pressed against one another in the sweltering heat; toes brushed against heels, and jacket backs rubbed against the backpacks of those behind them.
In this suffocating crush, where only the air had room to move, the collective breath of the crowd rose in a haze that felt even hotter than the sun itself.
At the Satsuki Sho, Dream Weaver had displayed a talent so peerless it bordered on the divine, leaving the other Uma Musume in a wake of sheer despair.
Now, not a soul doubted that she would seize the Japanese Derby, sweep the Kikuka Sho, and etch her name into history as yet another Undefeated Triple Crown winner.
In truth, the spectators flooding the Tokyo Racecourse weren't there for a contest—a contest, after all, requires a hint of suspense.
They were there to bear witness.
They came to see a future legend claim her crown.
Standing by the window of the VIP lounge, Symboli Rudolf gazed out at the turf, quietly waiting for the moment to arrive.
Only yesterday, a realization had struck her.
As a friend, the "empty" Dream Weaver—a girl without a self to call her own—was someone to be pitied.
But as an opponent? She was the most ruthless personification of despair on the track.
"I still hope she finds something that belongs solely to her out there," Rudolf murmured.
"Otherwise, it will be a tragedy—both for her and for those she faces."
Northern Starlight, invited to the lounge as one of the only two people who understood the truth behind Dream Weaver's mask, let out a weary, fretful sigh.
"But can the track really do that? She's run three or four races by now, hasn't she? And yet, I don't see a single trace of 'her' in any of them."
Perhaps more than just three or four, Rudolf thought to herself, though she maintained her faith in the sport.
"She is an Uma Musume, after all. The track is always a special place for us."
Furthermore, Rudolf had discovered a singular "special" thing in Dream Weaver's room—an object from another world.
Rudolf sensed that such a connection wasn't just about friendship; it had to hold some fragment of emotion toward those races as well.
She wanted to believe that the girl had already found something, but was simply too consumed by the desire to meet the expectations of others to realize what was in her own heart.
"I hope so..." Northern Starlight replied listlessly. She wasn't standing there as an Uma Musume; she was simply a mother.
Whether her daughter won the Triple Crown or found meaning on the turf didn't truly matter to her—she just wanted Dream Weaver to find something worth chasing.
"Dreams of the past have faded, and the genius who once held the world's gaze has lost her luster. The one hailed as the Emperor's successor may never again replicate those legendary feats. And yet—"
"She will not back down!"
"As long as the instinct of an Uma Musume pulses in her heart, even a lost dream can be traded for new hope! This is her first battle since that defeat. Victory or loss—only she gets to decide!"
"Entry Number One, second in popularity: Tokai Teio!"
Watching the figure emerge from the tunnel, Symboli Rudolf exhaled a sigh of regret.
She had seen Teio's efforts firsthand. In any other era, Rudolf was certain the girl would have achieved the glory of an Undefeated Triple Crown.
Unfortunately, she had simply been born at the wrong time.
Rudolf wasn't alone in that sentiment.
Facing a girl who was undeniably a genius yet had been crushed time and again by a literal monster, the crowd could offer nothing but cheers steeped in pity and well-wishes.
But Tokai Teio didn't care for their sympathy. There was only one person on this entire field worth her attention.
She didn't wave to the fans, nor did she head to the starting gates. Instead, she stood right at the threshold of the track and the tunnel, waiting for her under the gaze of thousands.
One by one, the other runners were introduced. They filed out of the tunnel, instinctively ducking their heads to avoid Teio's piercing eyes as they hurried past her toward the stands.
Teio ignored them.
She ignored the rising roar of the crowd behind her.
Her eyes, now tinged with a faint, burning red, remained fixed on the tunnel.
Finally, after the announcer Rin Akasaka finished yet another introduction and flipped the page of her notes, the name Teio had been waiting for echoed through the Tokyo Racecourse.
"She needs no introduction. She needs no flowery prose. You all know her, and you all wait for her! She is the brightest star of Tokyo Racecourse and the strongest Uma Musume of this generation!"
"Create your legend! Write your name in the history books! One day, when we look back on this era, the first name we remember will be hers—"
"Entry Number Twenty, first in popularity: Dream Weaver!"
As Akasaka's voice fell, the entire stadium seemed to tremble. Fans poured out their passion, heedless of the shoulders they bumped or the sweat they shed, chanting her name over and over.
A black boot stepped onto the turf amidst the thunderous applause.
The crimson cape fluttering behind her looked like a red carpet, transforming the racecourse into a stage built for her alone.
She was the brightest star, the strongest girl carrying the weight of a thousand dreams.
"You finally showed up," Tokai Teio said under her breath, staring at a Dream Weaver who looked exactly as she had at the Satsuki Sho.
Dream Weaver was still smiling, waving gracefully to the fans. The soul-searching question Teio had posed to her previously didn't seem to have caused even a moment's hesitation.
In truth, Dream Weaver still couldn't answer that question.
But what did it matter? It wouldn't stop her from taking the win.
Whether she had an answer for Teio or if the track held personal meaning for her didn't change the fact that she would use this victory to bring hope to everyone who loved her.
That was the one thing that remained constant.
"This past month... did you even set foot on the track?" Teio asked in a low voice.
She knew Dream Weaver had taken a leave of absence, though, like everyone else, she didn't know where the girl had gone.
"I went yesterday to get a feel for the turf. It felt the same as always."
"Only yesterday?"
"Only yesterday."
Teio gritted her teeth, her gaze practically tearing at Dream Weaver with the sheer force of her frustration. She let out a low, ragged growl.
"You're as arrogant as ever."
"Perhaps."
Realizing that her relationship with Tokai Teio might be beyond repair, Dream Weaver gave up on being delicate.
She didn't believe she could save everyone, so she stopped weighing her words so carefully.
"Whether I visit the track or not, one thing remains certain."
"I will outrun everyone here. And then, I will take the win."
She no longer bothered to hide the arrogance Teio saw in her.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.