December 27th
It was the end of the year. In Japan, the Christmas mood usually evaporates the moment the 25th ends, replaced immediately by the rush toward New Year's Eve. But this year, a different kind of fever was gripping the nation—no, the entire world.
The URA Grand Prix: The Arima Kinen.
Renowned as the nation's greatest G1 race, this massive event at Nakayama Racecourse always drew the eyes of Japan. But this year, the gaze of the globe was fixed upon it. The reason was simple.
The World's Fastest and Strongest. Mejiro Rampage's Retirement Race.
Undefeated. The Strongest. The Fastest. A Myth.
In this, her 30th race, Rampage would step down from the glorious path of legend she had built with her own hands. She had chosen to retire from active duty without advancing to the Dream Trophy League—a decision no one could stop now.
And so, people flocked from every corner of Japan to Nakayama Racecourse, driven by the desperate need to burn this final sight into their memories. The capacity had long since been exceeded; the crowd surpassed the 200,000 who had witnessed Ryan's Japan Derby victory. Those who couldn't fit inside gathered before massive monitors hastily erected outside the stadium.
Those who couldn't even make it there were glued to televisions at home, smartphones, street screens, and public gathering halls. Despite a crowd size that could easily be described as a riot, Nakayama Racecourse operated with eerie smoothness. The URA officials and the police, who had been bracing for chaos, looked at each other in surprise.
The reason was simple... No one wanted to tarnish the Tyrant's final race. That was all.
"So, this is the last time I'll see these, huh?"
Alone in the waiting room, a single Uma Musume sat on a bench, staring at a horseshoe. Rampage. Today, her racing life would end. Chewing on that thought, she began to nail the iron into her shoe. It wasn't the standard racing iron used in Japan, but the "Rampage Iron"—the heavy-duty gear she had used overseas.
"..."
Common sense dictated that lighter was better. But this weight fired her up. It was the only gear capable of handling her leg strength, which had been tempered by the grueling overseas circuits. She had obtained special permission, of course. Officials had asked if she really intended to run with such heavy iron, but she had set a World Record in them, so they couldn't complain.
She laced up the shoes. The weight dragging on her legs became fuel for her race.
"——Fuuuu..."
She took a drag from a herb cigar. Not because she needed to calm down, but simply because she felt like it. There was no meaning to it, which is exactly why it had meaning.
"Thanks for everything."
——Mejiro Rampage-san, please prepare to enter the paddock.
"Yeah. Understood."
She took one last deep breath, extinguished the herb cigar, and tossed it into the bin. That final puff tasted truly excellent. Thanks to that, her focus was razor-sharp. She was ready to enjoy this final race with everything she had.
"Alright then... preparations are complete. Let's go."
"The time has finally come. Every year we wait anxiously for this moment, though I suspect many of you found yourselves wishing this year that it would never arrive. But time is cruel and precise, and the day is here. The year-end at Nakayama Racecourse—the G1 Arima Kinen is about to begin! There is no mistake that we are about to witness a fierce battle worthy of concluding this year!"
"I confess, part of me wanted to reject the arrival of this day. I suffered, torn between the excitement of the race and the sorrow of the end. But I have steeled my resolve. After all, we cannot watch the future of Uma Musume racing if we do not witness today!!"
The announcer and commentator spoke with feverish intensity. They vented their excitement through words as if unable to contain the heat, yet it wasn't enough. Their pride as broadcasters kept them grounded, knowing that sitting in this booth today was the greatest honor of their lives.
"This Arima Kinen is destined to become history—nay, legend!! The Pride of Japan, the World's Tyrant, the Fastest and Strongest: Mejiro Rampage's Last Run! Everyone wished to see her run on Japanese soil again, but that wish has been granted in the form of her final race. That is precisely why the Uma Musume facing her today intend to win with everything they have! We want to see it too! will the Tyrant depart as an undefeated legend? Or will a new legend seize that glory and blast their name across the world!!?"
Yes. There was no room for sadness. No one was allowed to let tears blur their vision; to blink and miss a decisive moment would be a sin worthy of death. Witnessing this race live would be a treasure for a lifetime.
The field entering the paddock was worthy of such declarations. Any one of them was in peak condition. Any one of them could win.
"Gate 1, Number 1: Nice Nature!! The Derby Uma Musume and Canopus teammate is the first to arrive! As one of Tokai Teio's greatest rivals, and as Rampage's teammate, she comes to challenge the throne! Next, Gate 2, Number 2: Mejiro McQueen!! One of the Mejiro Four Kings, the 'Great Actor' has arrived! What kind of performance will she show us against the Tyrant?"
"Good grief, listen to them hyping it up... Well, I suppose I am the sort of person who intends to live up to those expectations."
"I agree. At the same time, I feel a certain ambition sprouting—to deliver a performance that steals the title of 'Head of the Four Kings' for myself."
"Wow, scary."
"Gate 3, Number 3 declares a Great Escape! One of the Mejiro Four Kings, the well-known runaway stayer, Mejiro Palmer!! She has vowed to finally take a G1 today and become a Great Escape Uma Musume who surpasses even the Tyrant! We can expect a clash of escape strategies! And in Gate 3, Number 4: The 'Great Flower' who fought on the front lines alongside the Tyrant and the Iron Lady, winner of the Japan Cup, Agnes Flora!!"
"I'm gonna run explosively again today!!!"
"Suuuuuu... Today is the day I WIIIIIIIIIN!!!!"
"Whoa, you scared me!! Fine then, I'm gonna run explosively tooooo!!!!"
"Oh! Agnes Flora is fully fired up! A roar that shakes the stadium! Mejiro Palmer shouts back not to be outdone! This promises to be an incredible race! And here they come!! The final battle with the Tyrant is a revenge match! Can she paint over the defeat of one year ago with a legendary victory?! Gate 4, Number 5: Tokai Teio!! And following her, the 'Child of the Slopes' who chased the Triple Crown in her wake, the Cyborg who carves out time with unrivaled precision: Gate 4, Number 6, Mihono Bourbon!!"
"Tokai Teio-san. I will not lose. I could not follow in your footsteps, but as a fellow Derby Uma Musume, I challenge you as well."
"Bring it on! I'll take on anyone's challenge, and I absolutely won't lose!!"
"Neither will I."
"Continuing in Gate 5, Number 7——Triple Crowns appearing one after another!! The record she carved in last year's race was a World Record!! The Mejiro Triple Crown Uma Musume, Mejiro Ryan!! Will she show us that running again!!? And in Gate 5, Number 8, Mejiro Palmer's sworn ally, the full-throttle runner with a smile like the sun, Daitaku Helios!! The Great Escape Uma Musume are assembling in force this year!!"
"Helios, let's give it our best today. Let's enjoy it with everything we've got."
"Mochi-mochi!♪ Come on, come on, let's laugh our way through this, We~i!!"
"Eh, together!?"
"Yup, yup! Ready... set!!"
"We~i!!"
"U-Uh... We~i!! ...That was a little embarrassing..."
"The wave of Great Escapes isn't stopping yet!! From Gate 6, Number 9: The 3rd Generation Triple Tiara winner! Her dual-stage acceleration captivates all, sending them straight into speed madness!! The astonishing super-turbo power, Twin Turbo!! And though she finished a regretful 3rd in the Kikuka Sho, her ability is undeniably G1 class! A full moon smile that holds its own even among this lineup: Gate 6, Number 10, Machikane Tannhauser!!"
"Turbo is here~!! Whoa~ look at all the people!! Ah, it's Akiyama-niichan and Kazumi-neechan!!"
"Oh, you know them? Hey there~! Thanks for taking care of Turbo~!!"
"Look, Aniki! Turbo-san is waving at us!!"
"Seriously, she's a big shot now. We're rooting for you~!!"
"Who can speak of the Tyrant without speaking of this Uma Musume? Before Agnes Flora, she was there. Constantly fighting on the front lines with Mejiro Rampage, competing against her more than anyone else. The Iron Lady who survived the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and the Japan Cup—conquering the 'Rampage Rotation' to stand here today!! Gate 7, Number 11: Ikuno Dictus!! And in Gate 7, Number 12, the Wind God who fought the Japan Derby against Mejiro Ryan has arrived!! Will she show us that escape speed? Ines Fujin!!"
"So many people!! I'm getting so excited just thinking about racing in the middle of this. Right, Ikuno!!"
"Yes, truly... The sense of elation is unstoppable."
Twelve thoroughbreds had appeared. But that Uma Musume had yet to show herself. Everyone waited. Was she next? Or would she be last? As if answering the crowd's anticipation, figures emerged from the underground tunnel.
Walking in tandem. Like bearers of crimson eyes carrying blue flames...
"Here they come. It seems the final entrants are arriving together. They emerged almost simultaneously, but let us introduce her first. The jet-black stayer who defeated Mihono Bourbon to seize the Kikuka Sho! Will her talent bloom on this 2500-meter stage? Gate 8, Number 14: Rice Shower!!!"
Rice walked with blue flames burning in her aura. Her expression was not that of a little sister adoring her older sister. It was the face of a warrior overflowing with fighting spirit, declaring she would win head-on. Being from the Classic Class didn't matter. In this race, anyone could win.
And then——finally, she arrived.
"29 Races. 29 Wins. Three World Records to match the Three Tiaras she wears—medals of her own making. A living myth who created a literal trajectory of legends: the Legend Record. Today, the curtain falls. Will she lower the curtain with her own hands? Or will another pull it down for her? The honor of deciding that belongs to those gathered on this turf!! The World's Fastest! The World's Strongest!! The Head of the Mejiro Four Kings and the Tyrant of the World!!! Gate 8, Number 13: Mejiro Rampaaaaage!!!"
Everyone looked at Rampage with a bittersweet gaze, waiting for her catchphrase, silently begging, Don't say it.
But she answered with a movement so fluid it seemed merciless.
"——Kept you waiting."
Ah... We waited. We were waiting for you...
As if answering those words, a cheer like an explosion erupted from Nakayama Racecourse, spilling out into the streets beyond.
1-1 Nice Nature
2-2 Mejiro McQueen
3-3 Mejiro Palmer
3-4 Agnes Flora
4-5 Tokai Teio
4-6 Mihono Bourbon
5-7 Mejiro Ryan
5-8 Daitaku Helios
6-9 Twin Turbo
6-10 Machikane Tannhauser
7-11 Ikuno Dictus
7-12 Ines Fujin
8-13 Mejiro Rampage
8-14 Rice Shower
This was the genuine article. The final race. The final greeting.
The undisputed favorite stood tall, as if to say she would permit no complaints. The race everyone came to see—the Arima Kinen—was beginning.
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