At this moment, on this final straight, only two Uma Musume remained.
El Condor Pasa and Special Week were locked in a duel. There was a gap of only half a length between them.
Staring at El Condor Pasa's back, Special Week's expression was fierce, her eyes radiating a brilliant purple light.
'I won't accept defeat... and my friends won't accept it either. They spent so much time training with me! I won't let them down!'
"Ahhh!!"
With a great shout, Special Week accelerated, using everything she had for her last spurt.
Her speed began to climb as if she had truly broken through her limits.
"Special Week is still accelerating! The gap between her and El Condor Pasa is actually narrowing bit by bit!" Akasaka-san stood up and spoke excitedly.
Tojo Hana's smile froze. Her eyes widened slightly as she watched the two figures on the track.
Ryo Nishizaki was the same, except his mouth was hanging wide open, causing his lollipop to fall right out.
"How is she—?!"
El Condor Pasa also hadn't expected that Special Week still had the energy to increase her speed.
She also let out a shout, entering her own last spurt.
And so, both Uma Musume charged toward the finish line with everything they had.
It was only after crossing the line that Spe-chan, unable to hold on any longer, collapsed directly onto the ground.
Seeing this, Silence Suzuka immediately hopped over the fence and ran onto the track to pull Special Week into her arms.
"Spe-chan, you did wonderful..."
Starlight stood on the high stands. Seeing this scene, she felt a wave of regret.
"Ah, if I'd known, I would have gone down there to watch too..."
Suddenly, a very gentle voice came from behind her. "Hmm? Is there something different about being down there?"
Starlight turned her head to see Grass Wonder looking at her with a puzzled gaze.
"Oh, it's Grass-chan~ It's just that you can feel the intense atmosphere between Spe-chan and El more clearly down there!"
"I see. I thought Starlight-chan just wanted to be the one to hug Spe-chan after she fell..."
"Th-that... ahem, I know you were thinking that, Grass, and actually, so was I."
"After all, it's only natural for us as friends to be worried when Spe-chan falls."
Hearing Starlight's response, Grass Wonder was visibly stunned. She waved her hands in a panic.
"No, I actually..."
"What? Does Grass not worry about Spe-chan?"
"Of course I worry, Starlight-chan..."
"Then that's that! Alright, let's hurry down and check on them!"
Without giving Grass Wonder any chance to respond, Starlight grabbed her hand and ran toward the field.
By the time Starlight pulled Grass Wonder onto the track, the stands were erupting with thunderous cheers.
Arriving at Team Spica's area, Starlight asked curiously:
"What happened? What happened? I was busy rushing down here, did I miss something?"
"Starlight-senpai! Grass! Look at the big screen— they crossed the line at the exact same time!!" Tokai Teio pointed excitedly at the distant screen.
"It's just like that time with Starlight-senpai and Rice Shower-senpai," Daiwa Scarlet remarked, her tone full of wonder.
"It is indeed rare for this to happen... Wait, why are you two holding hands?"
Mejiro McQueen, with her sharp eyes, looked at Starlight and Grass Wonder's still-intertwined hands and questioned them with a frown.
With a blush, Grass Wonder quickly let go and waved her hands.
"Because there were so many spectators, Starlight-chan and I had to hold hands, otherwise it wouldn't be good if we got separated."
"Yeah, exactly..."
"It's great... sniff, Starlight-senpai! Everyone! I won!"
Suddenly, a "large dumpling" dove straight into Starlight's embrace.
"Oof!"
The force was so great that Starlight had to take several steps back before she could stabilize herself.
Watching Special Week sobbing in her arms, Starlight helplessly stroked her head.
"There, there... Special Week is so amazing~ You won—"
"That's quite enough. You still have the Winning Live to prepare for, and you have to go to the award ceremony. A huge crowd of reporters is waiting for you too, so get moving."
Pulling Special Week out of Starlight's embrace, Mejiro McQueen nudged her along, her tone serious.
"I know, I know! But I finally won after so much effort! Let me hug Starlight-chan a bit longer..."
With a quick spin, Special Week bypassed McQueen and dove right back into Starlight's arms.
"Starlight-chan... training with you was so exhausting! I hope you'll be a bit gentler when you wake me up next time..."
Hearing Special Week start to air her grievances, Starlight didn't know whether to laugh or cry
. "Alright, alright. I'll make you some sweets later, how about that?"
"Mmm. Hehe, delicious sweets..."
"Y-You two...!!" Mejiro McQueen's brow furrowed as she watched the scene, her whole body beginning to tremble.
Though the process had been a bit winding, the Derby was a success.
That afternoon, in the Team Spica clubroom.
Starlight placed a giant homemade cake on the table. Wiping the sweat from her face, Starlight spoke to the surprised group nearby.
"As promised, a big cake. Eat your fill, Special Week!"
With stars in her eyes, Special Week said excitedly: "Ehehe... cough, well, Senpai, I think we should all share it."
"After all, I wouldn't have achieved this without everyone training alongside me."
Gold Ship, who was nearly crying from craving the cake, immediately threw an arm around Special Week's shoulder upon hearing this.
"Great! As expected of lil' Spicca! I won't be polite then~"
Seeing Gold Ship's hand about to touch the cake, McQueen immediately pulled her back.
"I say, this is Special Week's victory celebration, and the cake was made by Starlight-chan. They should be the ones to distribute it!"
"Exactly, McQueen-chan is right. Special Week and Starlight-senpai, you two should be the ones to slice the cake!"
"Eh... Um, Senpai?"
"It's fine, Special Week, you go ahead."
And so, a slightly shy Special Week cut the cake into many small pieces.
While everyone was savoring the flavor, our Gold Ship was about to cause trouble again. Her eyes locked onto McQueen, who was tasting her cake elegantly not far away.
With a wicked grin curling on her lips, Gold Ship took the plate in her hand and threw it directly at McQueen's face.
However, as if she had anticipated it, McQueen calmly bent down and dodged it— but that meant trouble for Starlight, who was standing behind her.
Starlight took the hit squarely, catching the cake with her face.
"Starlight-chan!"
"Starlight-senpai—"
Sliiiide— splat!
The plate fell from her face, revealing Starlight covered in a cream mask.
Slowly opening her golden eyes, Starlight frowned at a sheepish-looking Gold Ship.
"It's better... not to let things go to waste, Golshi."
"Aha, sorry Starlight-chan! I-I didn't mean it!" Seeing this, McQueen hurriedly set her own cake aside and rushed to Starlight's side.
While wiping her face with a tissue, she scolded Gold Ship: "You jerk, look at what you've done..."
"It's okay, it's okay, McQueen-chan— hey, what are you doing? It's dirty, don't eat that~"
Watching McQueen wipe a bit of cream off with her finger and pop it into her mouth, Starlight froze and hurriedly tried to stop her.