Just how strong must a legendary figure truly be?
Before facing one directly, perhaps nobody could give a precise answer. Even Donna, who had grown up with the best resources imaginable, had never genuinely experienced a proper simulated race against an active legend since entering her classic year.
Of course, her own Trainer definitely possessed such strength—but Donna clearly understood that she was nowhere close to Gotham Song's level. Never mind going all-out—even if her Trainer only unleashed a fraction of her true strength, Donna might still crumble beneath it!
Yet, even knowing she had absolutely no chance of victory, Donna's heart was still full of hope.
She hoped to face Gotham Song on the racetrack someday. Even if such a day would eventually come with time—still…!
Even so, Donna deeply wished that day would arrive sooner—just a bit sooner.
An opportunity to challenge the absolute strongest of their era—wouldn't any Uma Musume feel a wild surge of excitement at that prospect? Anyone who wouldn't be excited about that should resign from being an Uma Musume immediately!
Donna had always been this kind of personality.
But just how terrifying is a legend, truly? What kind of experience is it to face one at their absolute full strength?
Today, at least, Donna fully experienced genuine despair firsthand, right here on Mejiro Manor's training grounds.
I can't catch up. I absolutely can't catch up—it's utterly impossible!
No matter how I push myself, closing this kind of gap is just unthinkable, right?
At this moment, there were actually only four Uma Musume present on the vast training ground. After hearing about Donna's training match today, Flightline initially thought about stirring up trouble—but upon learning the front-runner opponent was Gotham Song herself, she wisely abandoned that disastrous idea.
If Gotham Song… um, if Trainer's here, wouldn't I—Flightline, a proud front-runner—turn into a chaser instead?! Flightline didn't consider herself stupid, and she definitely cared about saving face. She absolutely couldn't afford that kind of humiliation!
Thus, she never stepped onto Mejiro Manor's training ground at all, swiftly slipping away to roam freely outside, running wild in this foreign country where turf felt constricting at every step.
As for everyone else from Mejiro Manor, they didn't even consider coming to spectate. After all, this was Gotham Song's work—wouldn't it just create a disturbance if they crowded around to watch?
They weren't so insensitive. Hence, at this moment, the only figures on the field were three Uma Musume running, and one spectator—Dancing Brave, who stood to the side, constantly jotting something down.
Among the running Uma Musume, naturally Gotham Song was in the lead. Her stride was savage, like some invisible phantom violently bulldozing forward with unstoppable momentum. Simply put…
Her speed was savage enough to drive someone into despair!
Donna silently calculated the gap between herself and the figure ahead. The Oka Sho was 1,600 meters—meaning, at this rate, judging by how far they'd already run and their distance from the finish…
Donna was already trailing by nearly a quarter of the entire race?!
Guh… Although I knew there would be a gap, this difference is just… too painful, unbearably humiliating…
It felt like being openly humiliated. But even then, Donna gritted her teeth, increasing her speed almost desperately—just to reduce the gap even by a little, just by a fraction…!
I don't want to lose this badly… Even if my opponent is possibly the strongest Uma Musume alive. Even so…
I don't want to lose!
But though Donna's heart burned fiercely, even at this level of intensity, there remained not a single glimmer of hope for victory.
Zone—shouldn't a miracle like that appear for me right now?
Donna was genuinely perplexed. She couldn't understand why. Was her willpower to win still insufficient?
She wanted desperately—wanted so, so badly—to defeat every powerful opponent! Especially every morning, when waking up her Trainer and seeing that adorable face—Donna couldn't help but imagine, what would it feel like to look down upon that adorable face not as a follower, but as a conqueror?
Was it curiosity, determination, longing—or simply a wish she desperately wanted fulfilled? Donna had completely lost track of such distinctions. She simply wanted to see it, imagined it every single morning, and now, that desire had reached its absolute peak!
So, logically speaking, shouldn't the Zone have activated for me by now?
Zone, I command you to appear already—!
But even if I entered the Zone, would I really be able to defeat my Trainer? Donna knew it was impossible. Even with a Zone, at most she'd just lose less embarrassingly. Defeat was inevitable; even if a miracle occurred, failure was certain, right?
But then why... why wouldn't the Zone appear for me—and instead appeared for her…
Catching up was already impossible. Far ahead, Gotham Song had already crossed the finish line. Her 1,600 meters had ended!
Under such circumstances, Donna, convinced victory was utterly unreachable, naturally began losing a little of her focus.
But exactly at that distracted moment, she witnessed a scene that left her completely dumbfounded—
Next to her, that little filly playing Almond Eye's chasing role, actually the youngest and most inexperienced member of Eternal Beat—at this moment, that child's body was already radiating a cherry-blossom-pink glow?!
How? How could this little one ignite her Zone so easily…?
Donna was thoroughly lost.
A mere 1600 meters was hardly taxing for these three Uma Musume. Although Gotham Song had finished far ahead, Donna and Vernal Equinox crossed the finish line soon afterward, concluding this first simulated run.
Though Vernal-chan had exploded with strength beyond her usual performance in the latter half of the race, lighting that pinkish Zone effortlessly like breathing and triggering a miracle of her own wish, Donna had still secured second place—albeit by only a slight margin.
The reason was simple. Donna herself was already strong enough; Vernal-chan, despite her astonishing burst, still lacked in basic physical condition. Once warmed up over sufficient distance, Donna was simply faster.
But Donna felt an unsettling chill. Had the track been even a bit shorter, she would have undoubtedly finished last.
Such a reality is simply unacceptable… but how could this happen?
Donna fell into deep contemplation, unconsciously performing her habitual post-race reflection, until suddenly two ice-cold hands pressed against her cheeks, and a soft body clung to hers.
Eh…?
Donna's first reaction was confusion. But the familiar, sunlit, dry scent quickly made her realize exactly who had tackled her.
Though something in the air felt unusually rosy—well, never mind that—Donna finally understood clearly what had happened:
Her own Trainer, whose face was still glistening with sweat, had taken a running leap onto her, firmly locking her legs behind Donna's back and grabbing hold of her cheeks.
The icy chill, perhaps from recently touching cold water, felt unexpectedly comfortable beneath the gradually intensifying sunlight.
Still, Donna was confused. She twitched her ears, looking at Gotham Song and waiting for an explanation.
But Gotham Song only revealed an extremely mischievous grin, vigorously kneading Donna's cheeks.
"Though Donna hasn't said anything, I know exactly what you're thinking~ You're probably wondering something like, 'Trainer-sama, did you need something?'—right?"
What could Donna possibly say? She couldn't speak clearly with her cheeks being squeezed, and stammering would ruin her dignified image. She could only nod silently to confirm.
"And then! Little Donna was spacing out so deeply just now, you didn't even notice me circling around you and getting ready to pounce—definitely busy doing your little reflection again, weren't you?!"
Trainer-sama… your guess is dead-on, as always… but just what kind of matter would require you to wake me up this way?
"Ehehe~ Actually, there's no special reason at all! I just felt like startling Donna a bit, nothing more—absolutely nothing!"
Huh…?! What kind of reason is that? Wait, just what kind of situation is this, anyway? Donna felt utterly bewildered. Although her Trainer often acted quite childishly, even knowing that, the current situation far exceeded Donna's usual comprehension.
"It's just that I think little Donna demands too much from herself. Or rather, always having such strict expectations isn't really a good thing, you know? Hmm… let me think how to phrase this."
Gotham Song showed an expression as if unsure exactly how to say it. Donna could clearly tell—it wasn't from embarrassment or hesitation, but purely because she hadn't quite figured out how to explain herself.
Ah, Trainer-sama is always acting on these sudden whims, isn't she? Sometimes spontaneously childish, sometimes abruptly turning serious, reminding you that standing before you is indeed a genuine legend.
"Donna, aren't you curious why Vernal-chan could so effortlessly ignite that cherry-blossom-colored Zone just now?"
Zone—surely this was precisely what Donna cared about most right now. Since it mattered that much, Gotham Song figured it was finally time to tell Donna clearly what exactly triggered the Zone.
Though honestly, that child Vernal-chan igniting a miracle of wish fulfillment so casually really was frightening in many senses.
Right at this moment, Gotham Song finally released Donna's cheeks—but her legs remained locked around Donna's waist, arms wrapping around her neck, leaning even closer and tighter against her shoulders.
Though the position felt somewhat strange, Donna no longer minded it. She simply nodded earnestly.
"Please tell me clearly, Trainer-sama. This is incredibly important to me."
Indeed—Donna cared deeply about this. Gotham Song even saw, for the first time, an expression akin to vulnerability upon Donna's usually composed face.
Adorable. Well, since it's you, Trainer-sama would of course teach you clearly—everything you desire to know.
"The so-called Zone—many people think it's simply a miracle triggered whenever an Uma Musume's wish is strong enough. Lots of books even explain it like that, right?"
"But that's actually not entirely correct, you know?"
Gotham Song seemed exceptionally confident on this subject. After all, wasn't she herself the one who had displayed the strongest Zone in this entire world?
"Actually, while it's true that Zone comes from an Uma Musume's heart, this miracle isn't merely something that appears just because you think, 'I definitely want to win,' Donna. It's not simply about being determined you'll win before the race even starts."
Rather, wasn't that pre-race conviction just a trigger at best? Then, what exactly was it that truly ignited the Uma Musume's burning wish?
"It's not enough just to be convinced you'll win before starting and stubbornly cling to that thought until miracles appear. The key is, first of all, you must run purely for victory itself. Do you understand, Donna?"
"Even facing an opponent who's absolutely impossible to defeat, still—"
Gotham Song recalled Twin Turbo, recalled Festival Glory, recalled every powerful rival she had faced, each one with monstrous, unwavering determination.
Perhaps only a legendary Uma Musume could truly possess this sort of mindset. Donna, after all, was still young.
"But that heart which never gives up pursuing victory—that is the true key to opening the door of miracles. Even when defeat is guaranteed, you still firmly believe in your victory, never giving up, leaving behind all pain, injuries, dislikes, and possible failures, simply running purely to pursue victory itself. Only then can you trigger a true miracle like the Zone, Donna."
Gotham Song's voice was very soft, but by the time Donna heard this much, she already understood everything clearly.
Only when you refuse to perceive yourself as falling behind due to an absolute gap—only when you continue eternally chasing victory, no matter if it's a hundred meters, ten thousand meters, or a hundred thousand meters ahead—only then would the true miracle called the Zone appear…
So that's how it really is?!
"So, Donna, do you finally understand the true miracle of Zone?"
"I…understand now, Trainer-sama. Could I trouble you to run one more lap with me?"
"I'll show you clearly…"
"Donna's very own miracle."
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