Only a few days remained before the Japan Cup.
More precisely, there were only two or three days left to familiarize themselves with the track. In this intense atmosphere, even Gotham Song had to spend extra effort each day to adjust her mindset.
Yet, to her astonishment…
Mejiro McQueen, her rival in the upcoming race, carried on with her rigorous daily training routine as if nothing had changed at all.
Gotham Song had no choice but to admire her resolve. She'd personally experienced McQueen's relentless regimen, how she pushed herself to the absolute brink without seriously damaging her body.
Seeing this, Gotham Song couldn't help but privately approach Mejiro Ardan, asking if they should intervene to stop McQueen.
But the response she received was surprisingly straightforward:
That girl's daily dedication is precisely because she's determined to beat you.
Therefore, Gotham Song… you're the one person least qualified to tell Mejiro McQueen to stop.
Realizing this, Gotham Song ceased her futile efforts. Instead, she increased her own training intensity, surpassing even what she'd previously considered impossible.
Truthfully, Gotham Song didn't hold a great passion for running itself; previously, she had maintained daily training merely due to competitions she absolutely had to win.
But now, in these final moments before the Japan Cup, Mejiro Ardan felt as though she was once again seeing the younger sister she'd lost.
The Gotham Song who'd tempered herself to steel before the Arc; the Gotham Song whose very soul seemed forged in fire, resilient, ready to destroy any opponent at the cost of her own life.
Indeed, she was still that fool who didn't truly enjoy running—but for Mejiro McQueen, or rather, to honor McQueen's unwavering courage and passionate determination, Gotham Song…
Unleashed an aura as if she were chasing down a devil in hell itself.
And then, the day before they were to leave Mejiro Manor for the Japan Cup finally arrived.
Even Mejiro Ramonu had returned, declaring she'd depart with them tomorrow and only decide her next steps after the Japan Cup concluded.
However, on this day of reunion, Gotham Song lingered longer than usual on the training field.
She watched Mejiro McQueen, who stood at the starting line looking as if she were about to run another lap. Finally, Gotham Song approached her.
"Take care of yourself. Skipping one lap won't hurt—or we can run it together if you insist."
Evening had already set in, the fading sunlight replaced by artificial illumination. McQueen didn't immediately respond. She stood silently for a long moment before turning around, as if snapping out of a trance.
"No need. If she were here, she wouldn't want me pushing myself so hard right before a race."
Ruka-nee would never train excessively. She always stuck exactly to her plans, carrying out only what she'd originally intended.
Even with mere basic training, Ruka-nee had reached the peak of the world, even when she was unwell…
But Mejiro McQueen couldn't do that.
No matter what, she simply wasn't as strong as Ruka-nee.
In fact, every single time she ran—every single race—McQueen felt as if she'd already lost. Because, unseen by everyone else, unnoticed even by the Phantom Ruka…
Visible only to Mejiro McQueen herself—
She always saw that distant, unattainable figure leading far ahead, impossible to catch.
That silver-white legend who would smile gently and wrap her in a warm embrace.
McQueen had often wondered what Ruka-nee would say if she saw her now. She'd probably sigh helplessly, scold her softly, and hug her without letting go until McQueen promised not to push herself too hard.
Yes, before McQueen would yield, Ruka-nee would wear exactly the expression of the girl standing before her now—this girl who looked identical to Ruka-nee.
But she wasn't her. She could never be her.
Mejiro McQueen refused to deceive herself.
"Don't look at me with that expression. We're rivals, aren't we?"
"Yeah, rivals… Then, Miss McQueen, would you satisfy my curiosity? There's something I desperately want to know your thoughts on."
Desperately wants to know my thoughts? How strange.
Despite her confusion, after slight hesitation, McQueen nodded. Even she herself wasn't quite sure why she couldn't refuse.
Maybe it was because, other than hair color, the girl before her was simply too much like Ruka-nee.
Well… fine. It was just a small question. Answering wouldn't hurt.
"For you, as an Uma Musume, what exactly does running mean? Why do you run?"
Why do I run…?
McQueen tilted her head. Without even a second's hesitation, the words spilled forth:
"My running…is to chase that unreachable silhouette. Even if it's just for a single moment, I want to surpass that person in my memories. I want to run beside her."
"To run shoulder-to-shoulder on the track."
Who could the person in her memories be? It's impossible to guess…or rather, impossible not to guess.
A bitter pain filled Gotham Song's heart. She didn't realize how troubled her expression looked, only glad that in the dim evening light, it might remain unnoticed.
"Then, what did running originally mean to you? And why did you end up with such a desire?"
"Please tell me. This is very important to me. Really, really important."
Please…this is my sincerest request.
She's acting strange… McQueen frowned, unable to comprehend why the girl would show such self-blame, even guilt, when asking about McQueen's reasons for running.
How could my running have anything to do with you?
But since she'd already answered, perhaps going further wouldn't matter. After all, McQueen, how did you become this stubborn, obsessive girl you are now?
"I suppose…it began when I was very little. At that time, the only Uma Musume I saw were Ramonu-nee and Ardan-nee, who'd just debuted. Back then, I thought they were the strongest Uma Musume in the entire world."
"Running on the racetrack seemed wonderful—fans cheering, rivals giving their all, and thrilling victories."
McQueen's expression grew distant. Only now, she vaguely realized something important:
Was I originally inspired to become an Uma Musume by admiration? By wanting fans' approval, the cheers, by chasing smiles around me?
Then how did I end up like this?
"Back then, I believed the honor of the Mejiro family, the legacy established by my two sisters, would eventually fall to me. And I had to work hard enough to match their accomplishments, worthy of the Mejiro name."
"To uphold the Mejiro legacy. To ensure the honors of my sisters weren't tarnished."
But…
"And then, right before I was set to debut, I discovered that I had a distant older cousin."
What had Ruka-nee looked like when she first arrived at Mejiro Manor?
Honestly, McQueen barely remembered—only recalling that she'd been utterly different from later. Perhaps Ruka-nee had actually been shy?
At least, that's what little McQueen had thought, holding firmly to that belief until their first real conversation—
When Ramonu-nee asked her to share cake with Ruka-nee. It was then McQueen realized something clearly:
Ruka-nee was actually incredibly gentle, or rather, extremely fond of her. After all, when she wouldn't speak to anyone else, she'd put aside her stubbornness to ease McQueen's nervousness.
But why had Ruka-nee avoided interactions initially?
Now McQueen understood—because she'd seen the bloody conclusion and burning resolve at the Arc.
Was it due to shyness? No, quite the opposite. To McQueen, it was the gentlest yet harshest form of protection toward others.
What had Ruka-nee felt then? Why initially reject all interactions?
Because, if no bonds were formed, if nobody was too close, even death on the racetrack wouldn't sadden anyone?
But ironically, that was also her harshest cruelty—towards herself.
If she refused interactions, stayed alone, she'd suffer alone, unsupported, no matter the pain.
What had Ruka-nee felt when making that decision?
McQueen would never know. But she understood something else clearly:
After their familial warmth broke Ruka-nee's isolation, she must've lived with the torment of desperately wanting to survive yet seeing her inevitable death approaching.
And where had that unspoken anguish ended up?
In overwhelming victories.
What, finally, had running come to mean for McQueen?
Running…turned out to be something so heavy, so precious, worth staking one's very life on to refuse defeat.
Since that day, Mejiro McQueen had transformed. She couldn't grasp Twilight Song's feelings entirely, but she chased the honor no one else could inherit—which was why she'd run the Ruka Stakes.
Only she—only she—could be the final winner of the Japan Cup.
She would be Augustus after Caesar!
"Anyway, finally I understood: I must win at all costs. Running is worth staking one's life. So even if it's just to chase that silhouette I long to match, Gotham Song…"
"At the Japan Cup, I will crush you. I'll show everyone…"
The figure running ahead of her—
Would always be Mejiro Ruka!
A heavy silence fell. After speaking, McQueen turned and left decisively.
But Gotham Song remained standing there, head bowed, deeply lost in thought.
[So, how do you feel now, culprit who changed her sister's entire perspective on running?]
Sunday Silence.
[Well? You clearly want to ask something. It's rare for you to be this serious.]
Tell me… if I ran like at the Arc, risking death, would Ardan-nee and the others worry?
[Isn't that obvious, silly?]
But Gotham Song had already made her choice.
"Right. Even if it costs me everything, I want to show McQueen…"
"…The true strength of Twilight Song."
That's how I'll answer her devotion and determination.