"Mejiro McQueen is falling far behind!"
Unwilling. Completely unwilling. How could I possibly accept this?
Phantom Twilight Song felt her own body trembling. Mejiro McQueen's physique wasn't suitable for a runaway style at all. But the simplest way to defeat Twilight Song was clear.
Chase her down. Match her runaway style!
But…but that's impossible. Completely impossible…
That being was a monster. An invincible monster. A monster about to leave yesterday, pain, and even death itself in the dust.
Phantom Twilight Song held no doubts that Gotham Song would effortlessly charge to the finish line and claim victory. If anything, she fully expected exactly that outcome.
She was about to taste defeat completely for the first time—together with Mejiro McQueen.
Yet…I'm unwilling. Absolutely unwilling. How could I ever accept this?
Phantom Twilight Song understood everything clearly. She knew exactly what level of power she was capable of. She was the Twilight Song whose appearance at the Arc had shocked the entire world—how could she lose so easily now?
Why did it feel like the person running ahead had merely exerted a small fraction of her strength, and yet she'd already utterly failed to keep up?
For the first time ever, Phantom Twilight Song experienced the urge to weep. But amid the drizzling rain, even if tears spilled down her face, no one would notice.
Perhaps that's for the best. If someone were to see me crying, that would be too shameful. But in this situation…
Even if tears poured down like a fierce storm, she couldn't stop running.
Even if there was absolutely no hope of victory—could Phantom Twilight Song admit defeat right now?
Never!
Absolutely not! This one person—this single being who should've defined her entire existence yet whose shadow she could never truly grasp—had to be caught at all costs. Whatever method she had to use, no matter what it took!
Phantom Twilight Song roared furiously, hysterically—even Mejiro McQueen's usually graceful and elegant face twisted under her control, veins throbbing fiercely. Then, that darkness surged and gathered completely, forming—
—A second Twilight Song, pitch-black, appearing clearly before everyone's eyes.
"Incredible! Does Mejiro McQueen still have strength left?! Her state right now is terrifying. But even so, does she really have the courage to challenge Twilight—to challenge Gotham Song herself?!"
The commentator couldn't help but call out the name instinctively. After all, looking at that shining silver figure leading the pack—who could deny that this was the legendary, meteor-like Uma Musume they'd all longed to see once more? The Twilight Song who shouldn't even exist in this world anymore?
Twilight Song was nearly unbeatable—unless one of history's other legendary monsters appeared.
World Horse Girls were merely the entry requirement to challenge Twilight Song. Those truly worthy were legends whose names echoed throughout Uma Musume history.
She was a myth. She was a miracle. She was the Uma Musume who had claimed a glorious victory at the Arc. She was the very goddess of runaway racing incarnate on earth.
Yet now, from behind, a junior using the same runaway tactic pursued her!
Even so, Phantom Twilight Song's pursuit was equally dazzling. Facing such an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, facing an opponent she was doomed to lose to, she didn't show even a hint of surrender. She exerted every ounce of her strength, even surpassing her own limits!
The audience watching clearly saw how desperately Mejiro McQueen fought. Responding to their beloved Uma Musume's efforts, the roaring cheers drowned out everything else at this instant.
Even the distant rumble of thunder was drowned beneath their cries.
"Don't lose, McQueen! Catch up! Catch your sister!"
"Go, Mejiro McQueen! Seize victory in the Japan Cup!"
"Don't lose! You absolutely must win, especially after trying so hard!"
Often, one's limits were predetermined. But for emotional creatures like Uma Musume, countless methods existed to push beyond their supposed limits.
Phantom Twilight Song was still completely immersed in her own solitary world. She'd always been alone—always. Even Mejiro McQueen, her companion in this body… Honestly, Phantom had always felt that faint sense of wariness from her host.
But now…perhaps that's no longer the case.
She now openly controlled this body, racing on this earth, and received thunderous cheers. Even though the audience shouted someone else's name, Phantom Twilight Song felt justified in basking in it.
Because right now, she desperately needed this strength from others, needed it to ignite the final, desperate charge.
Let me willingly indulge in this warmth and vulnerability for a moment. After all, after this…
Even if I burn away every last trace of my existence, I'll still attempt to chase after—
That warmth from the sun, which I've never once known.
Phantom Twilight Song gritted her teeth, frantically squeezing out every last drop of strength within this body, even calling forth the miraculous vision born from her own Zone.
She had to… catch Gotham Song—catch Twilight Song!
Even if she could only achieve it for the briefest instant, she had to fulfill this wish. Afterward, perhaps she'd willingly fade away, allowing fate to do as it pleased.
After all, it was this obsession that had sustained her very existence.
"Mejiro McQueen is still accelerating! She hasn't given up yet! How will the one she's chasing respond? Can you feel it? Those blazing footsteps and burning emotions!"
Can I feel it? Ah, perhaps I can.
Gotham Song could certainly hear the commentator's voice, at least.
The Japan Cup course wasn't particularly long—just 2,400 meters—and Gotham Song had already rounded the final turn, entering the last straight.
Though she couldn't directly sense Phantom Twilight Song and Mejiro McQueen's feelings now, she'd had a fairly good guess before the race even began.
Those two children truly carry heavy burdens…
If they couldn't fulfill their obsessions, who knew what foolish things they might do?
But…!
Running purely on obsession was dangerous in the long run. Gotham Song would rather crush their strange wishes right here and now. Yes.
Victory won't come so easily to you two. If you wish to catch me, then do it in future races. Today, the lesson you'll learn…
…Is how to stand up again after defeat.
It's time to end this. The long-running entanglement between Gotham Song and URA—let it be decisively severed in these final, fateful moments of the Japan Cup!
Gotham Song didn't look back. She could feel the unwillingness and desperation of her pursuers clearly behind her, but that was precisely why she couldn't look.
Not even for a single second!
Even in this impossible situation, even facing such a staggering gap, neither her little sister nor her "daughter" begged or pleaded; neither showed signs of surrender. They still fought desperately, hoping to close that impossible gap.
Since they'd given it their all, there was only one proper response from Gotham Song—
Accelerate one more time!
Astonishingly, Gotham Song's speed surged again, rising to an eye-popping pace.
This was the very end of the race! A runaway-type Uma Musume was actually unleashing such an unbelievable finishing spurt?!
Wasn't that too outrageous?
Yet, this was Gotham Song's true trump card—one she'd never had a chance to fully unleash until now.
Twilight Song was the kind of Uma Musume who practically never used her true top speed during races. In other words…
Her runaway was always a steady cruising speed, and within races shorter than three kilometers...
Gotham Song truly possessed the stamina and speed to accelerate once again during the final stage!
Let this secret finally become known. Let this moment be eternalized, crowned by a glorious, undisputable victory!
Gotham Song… surged ahead!
The track erupted in a surreal, silver brilliance. Gotham Song's sprint tore through the rain, lines of crystalline droplets illuminated with flames and silver light, shattering on impact. Some clung to her racing outfit, flung behind; others flew gracefully into the distance.
Yet, to the creator herself, this dazzling, artistic spectacle held no significance. She simply accelerated harder—faster, ever faster!
Charging into tomorrow, rushing toward the finish line, toward the far end of time, toward the spot Mejiro McQueen could never reach.
"This is terrifying—utterly beyond world-class. It's among the greatest speeds and performances we've ever witnessed! At this level, surely victory is entirely impossible for Mejiro McQueen? Will she choose to surrender? Will she abandon her pursuit of such a frighteningly fierce goal and secure second place instead?"
"No, she definitely won't! For an Uma Musume, she must chase it—the brightest star in her eyes, forever shining ahead!"
Of course!
Mejiro McQueen gazed ahead, vision blurring with raindrops clinging to her lashes. Beyond the end of the curve, along the final straight, Gotham Song's figure flashed brilliantly, growing ever more distant.
She's dazzling, but…
It seems I truly can't catch up.
"Gotham Song crosses the finish line first! Unbelievable—she displayed unmatched dominance throughout the race! Honestly, what I'm about to say next might be inappropriate, but… seeing the Japan Cup utterly destroyed by such a formidable contender, I'm wholeheartedly willing, or perhaps—"
"If it's a legend like Twilight Song, if it's a monster of her caliber, if it's the one who charged through that unforgettable rainy night at the Arc…"
"Then indeed, winning against her would feel like disgraceful luck. That's exactly how I feel now."
"We should… gracefully accept our defeat."
Gracefully accept defeat? What a joke!
Phantom Twilight Song—or perhaps Mejiro McQueen herself—could no longer clearly see the finish line ahead. Her entire body trembled dangerously from overexertion, yet she refused to surrender. She continued racing forward.
Onward—onward!
Even if she'd lost, she'd keep running.
Defeat? Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous!
Her consciousness blurred, thoughts barely coherent. Phantom Twilight Song couldn't even distinguish clearly whether it was herself or Mejiro McQueen running. She hardly remembered how she reached the area just before the finish line.
Is it over now, coming in second place?
I'm unwilling, unwilling, unwilling!
But my challenge failed, didn't it? Perhaps I overestimated myself. Should I just disappear like this…?
"Shh, give me your hand. Yes, just like that—place it around my shoulder."
Eh…? Whose voice is this? A slightly hoarse… Twilight Song's voice?
Her exhausted body couldn't actively respond. As Phantom Twilight Song dazedly felt herself floating, her darkening vision barely registered the scene unfolding before the finish line.
Gotham Song's hand had just released hers, guiding Mejiro McQueen's arm to wrap gently around Gotham Song's shoulder.
The other hand, originally free, had softly encircled Mejiro McQueen's slender waist.
Under the drizzling rain, the two stood in an intimate embrace before all the spectators.
"The Japan Cup has concluded, McQueen, and you too, Little Phantom."
"But if you think I'll forgive you for giving up chasing after me just because of this—well, I'd get pretty angry, you know?"
Gotham Song's cheek pressed gently against Mejiro McQueen's, clearly conveying warmth and reassurance.
"There'll be many more opportunities, won't there? If you give up after just one defeat, even I'll be upset."
"From now on, each day, in every moment—whether one year or ten—keep challenging me. I'll always accept your pursuit, waiting until the day you finally catch me."
Rain continued falling, yet Gotham Song's words were crystal clear. Both Mejiro McQueen and Phantom Twilight Song felt her tenderness, the gentle embrace of an older sister—or perhaps a "mother."
How unfair—how utterly cunning of her…!
But…
"So, don't lower your heads now. Didn't you promise me you'd show me how strong you are?"
"Right?"
Since you've said it yourself, don't regret it later!
The rain kept falling, turning the Japan Cup's track into mud.
Yet two figures supported each other closely, walking together past the cheering stands—
In truth, three figures basked together in the glory of victory.
And both Mejiro McQueen and Phantom Twilight Song realized…
No matter how things might change, beyond just achieving victory by catching up, what they desired was also exactly this irresistible tenderness—so gentle that they longed to drown in it.
If they kept chasing without ever winning, perhaps this tenderness would remain theirs forever?
This was surely their own sly counterattack against Twilight Song herself, wasn't it?!