[A/N: I am going on hiatus for a long time, so no more new chapters after this.
This was due to two reasons: one is moving abroad to live near my university, and another is that I want to write other fanfics without solely focusing on this one.
I will continue writing and fleshing out the story, but I won't post it.
By the time I return, this Umamusume fanfic should be almost finished, and I would've finished the FNAF, Genshin, and Hunter x Hunter fanfics (since I'm a veteran in the lore of those games/manga). I might post them too, maybe.
So, I might not post until next year, depends on the difficulty of the coursework and homework I'll be given in university.
But when I return, I promise to release mass chapters per day, like 5 a day to make up for the hiatus.
Until then, enjoy this last chapter, and see you later in the future.]
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"Ladies and gents! Welcome to the Lord Derby Challenge Trophy!" a newcomer rookie commentator excitedly started off the event, using too much energy.
This is the first G3 race he was able to commentate on!
Even though some of the seats at the spectator stand are empty, most are full because one runner made a full recovery and will return to racing.
"At Nakayama Racecourse, 16 runners will be competing with each other for the title. The weather is cloudy, and the track is 1600m long."
The 2nd commentator took over as the first one was panting from using too much energy.
While in the running tunnel, Bizen Nishiki was changing into her silk.
Her heart was pumping with adrenaline, her calves burning with the desire to run. She walked out of the changing stall and glanced at her trainer and her girlfriend.
"Hm, did you grow taller since before?" Gold Way asked as her grey hair shifted from leaning forward.
The cuffs of Nishiki's silk seemed to be higher on the arm than before.
Bizen Nishiki looked at herself before shrugging, "Maybe? I hadn't realised it before."
She turned to her trainer, who gave her an A-OK hand gesture.
Today's mark: Bizen Nishiki returns.
"Got to go now, later!" Nishiki said hurriedly, not because she was late or anything. She simply wanted to get back on track once again.
Before leaving, her peck a kiss on Gold Way's lips before running away.
The trainer gave Gold Way a smug smirk, "So when is the wedding?"
"Never."
.
.
.
"Today's race is a special one, as most of you are aware. Today is the first race Symboli Rudolf's rival will run in after her unfortunate injury." Nishiki heard the commentary and scowled.
"Whose rival? Call me by my damn name, tsk." She clicked her tongue as she stepped out of the running tunnel.
"Speaking of which, Number 1 favourite Bizen Nishiki is exiting the running tunnel." The cheers roared out of the spectating stands, even with her series of losses.
There are still her loyal supporters.
After introducing everyone to the paddock, one by one, they step off to the gates.
Nishiki felt itchy on the soles of her feet; she was impatiently waiting for the gate to open.
She wanted everyone to know her not as Symboli Rudolf's rival. 'I am Bizen Nishiki, just me. Don't latch any other damn title onto me!'
She huffed, and then the gate opened simultaneously.
"Oraaaaaaaa!" she let out her war cry, her itchiness being satisfied by each stride she made. She raced against two monsters before. She wouldn't back down so easily.
The other runners were surprised as the pace was forcefully increased, while Bizen Nishiki continued pacing behind the front runner.
Her eyes were entirely focused on the back of that runner, unnerving them.
She wasn't anybody special, just one of the runners who raced against the Emperor.
And she was left alone during her recovery. Often, she thought.
What is the life of Bizen Nishiki?
If you had asked this to others, they would only remember her as a rival of Symboli Rudolf who had an unfortunate incident and then faded away into the darkness.
Just a footnote in history.
That is not what she wanted.
She deluded herself that perhaps she was the only rival who could contend against the Emperor, but no. She wasn't even in the same field as her!
Only a monster could be a rival to another monster, but she wasn't born a monster.
Ever since meeting Echo Eclipse, ever since becoming friends with Symboli Rudolf. She often asked herself.
"What's so different am I from others?"
Nothing much, just one of the background characters of the total scene. Everybody was focused on Echo Eclipse and Symboli Rudolf.
But what about her?
She refused to fade into the darkness.
She refused to only be a footnote in history.
If nobody will shine a light on her, then she will make herself shine!
Her legs pumped against the ground as she narrowed her arms, swinging slowly, approaching the front.
'Who cared about her old self? Bizen Nishiki, as everyone knows, is gone. Only this new her is here.'
No matter if her career wasn't perfect, no matter if she continued taking losses after losses.
She won't give up.
She overtook the front at 800m, the halfway point of the race.
This action caused everyone to be confused: those who supported her, those who commented on the race, and those who had known her were all surprised.
The old Bizen Nishiki wouldn't have done this risky play.
Only Rudolf and Mr C.B. smirked in the spectator stand; Echo Eclipse was bobbing her head while watching the race, humming happily.
To become somebody significant, they first must throw their old self away.
Throw away their habits, their thought processes, their strategies. Everything that made their old selves, and rebuilt themselves on the track.
Bizen Nishiki would've won if she went with her old strategy as a pace chaser, but that is not what she wanted.
She roared while spurting; her speed increased drastically ahead, causing others to do the same to catch up.
Almost like she was saying, 'Look at me. I am not Symboli Rudolf's rival. I am Bizen Nishiki. Look at me!'
She will never be the best; she will never make the nation proud of her running. She may only be able to run in sprint and mile-length races, but who cares.
If that was only her limit, then she will dominate every sprint and mile race there is.
Isn't that what it means to be a runner?
To reach their fullest potential on the field.
Her breathing rhythm became disrupted as she felt her limbs heavy, only at the 1400m mark, and she was losing speed.
But she continued running with a determined gaze.
She didn't freak out when someone overtook her, or when she fell back to 3rd place.
Her eyes were focused only on the finish line.
Crossing the finish line in 3rd place, but she wasn't frustrated like her old self. She felt relieved and glad.
'I can still make it to the top 3.'
She grinned and gave her fans a thumbs-up, almost as if she had won the race instead.
Eventually, in the far future. Bizen Nishiki will be known as the Unbroken Velocity.
And even though her career wasn't glorious, with more losses than wins, anybody who has seen her run will be inspired to never give up on running, even if they feel defeated by geniuses who are better than them.
Slowly becoming a symbol of perseverance for both Umas and humans.
"Unbroken resolve and relentless will." That is the core of the Unbroken Velocity: to create a world where no Uma Musume has to stop running just because they fell behind.