With the sprint king crowned, the stage was set for the fierce Mile Division. Among Umamusume, the mile and medium-distance categories boast the largest pool of runners. Sprints feature few candidates able—or willing—to adapt, while long distances are notoriously scarce in capable contenders. Unsurprisingly, the qualifying rounds for the mile and medium distances saw the highest number of entrants. Coming off a fiercely competitive year, expectations were high for what kind of showdown this mile race would bring.
"Toa-chaaaan! I came to cheer for youuu~!!"
As the runners emerged one after another from the underground paddock, one of the competitors—Rocket Arrow—turned toward the voice. Standing there, wearing a warm coat draped over a stationmaster's uniform and topped with a matching hat, was her mother.
"Mom?! What about work?!"
"I finished up and rushed straight over~! I'm here to cheer, so you better win!!"
"Heh, leave it to me!!"
As Rocket Arrow struck a confident victory pose, her mother smiled warmly. But nearby, Okino—who had come to watch—tilted his head in confusion. Wait... Rocket Arrow's mom... haven't I seen her somewhere before?
"Wait! Aren't you Gustav Max, the one they called the 'Dictator of the Central Tracen'?!"
"Gah!!? Why are you bringing up my dark history?!"
"Is it just me, or is it getting kinda noisy in the stands?"
"Did something happen...?"
"...Aah, jeez. Looks like Mom's past got exposed."
Waiting in front of the gates, Rocket Arrow sighed as she overheard the commotion. When nearby runners Dancing Blade and Sakura Kogare-O asked what was wrong, she reluctantly explained. Rocket Arrow's mother, Gustav Max, was once a racehorse Umamusume herself, and Rocket's father had been her trainer back then. Normally, that would be something to be proud of, except...
"I am the absolute dictator of the Central Tracen Academy, Supreme Leader Gustav Max!!"
With a German-style battle outfit, an eyepatch, and a temper as notoriously stubborn as Stay Gold's, she had been dubbed the "Dictator." Fans from back then still called her "Leader Gustav," but to her now, it was nothing more than an agonizing, cringeworthy memory.
"Please, spare me... that's my dark past... I was young and foolish...!"
"Hey, you were an impressive Umamusume..."
"I'm begging you, just forget it already...!"
"O-Oh... sorry..."
'The stands seem quite lively! Perhaps a mother has come to cheer on her daughter?'
'It certainly looks that way! Ah, information just came in. Rocket Arrow's mother was an active runner at Central Tracen in her day. That might be why the veteran fans are making noise.'
'That certainly explains Rocket Arrow's incredible runaway speed! Now then, how will this year's race unfold?'
'Let's find out! It looks like all runners are loaded into the gates. The URA Finals Mile Race... is UNDERWAY! And exploding out of the gates is none other than Rocket Arrow, the subject of our recent chat! Once again, she executes a jaw-dropping start dash and immediately takes the lead, leading, LEADING! She's pulling away from the pack at blistering speed!'
'Taking full advantage of the innermost lane, what incredible momentum! Front-runners truly bring the spectacle! Behind her, Depressing, Feel The D, and Sakura Kogare-O are in pursuit. Hold on tight!'
"I lost last time, but I won't lose today! Take a good, hard look at my upgraded speed!!"
It wasn't that Rocket Arrow had never enjoyed running before. But ever since that agonizing defeat, a true passion for racing had been ignited within her. Her acceleration had been honed to a razor's edge—she was already charging ahead with an eight-length lead over the pack. Making friends with Dancing Blade, Sakura Kogare-O, Shadow Ace, and Veltro had only fueled the fire.
(Seriously, what stupidly absurd speed... But she can hold it. I won't lose this time!)
'Sakura Kogare-O holds a favorable position while biding her time, likely waiting for Rocket Arrow to settle down. But ahead of her, Depressing and Feel The D are desperately chasing Rocket Arrow!'
'They're rattled by that unbelievable pace! They're over-racing a bit—that could prove dangerous.'
'Veltro slips neatly behind Kogare-O. Behind them are Ribbon Carlo and Blanc Grimoire, grouped closely together. And trailing slightly behind is last year's champion, Dancing Blade! We can't wait to see when her signature explosive late surge will ignite! Following her are Shadow Ace and AA-Zeus.'
Rocket Arrow remained at the front, but the gap was shrinking. The front-runners who had foolishly given chase without a plan had already faded. Rocket Arrow couldn't be caught by reckless sprinting alone—it required calculated timing.
"Shall we begin the real duel, then? Let us see who is truly the fastest... and bring an end to it all! Destruction! DESTRUCTION!"
'AA-Zeus makes her move! Approaching the fourth corner, AA-Zeus goes on the attack! She's surging forward, but Rocket Arrow is still ahead! Will she be the first to break past the final turn?!'
"Here comes the Runaway Express! Try and stop me if you can!!"
"Then stop you I shall. It is time for my coronation."
'Rocket Arrow launches into a fierce final spurt, but Veltro is closing in from behind! No, here come Sakura Kogare-O, Dancing Blade, and Shadow Ace! The champions who fought for glory in the last tournament are ALL unleashing their final surges at once!!! A desperate battle unfolds with only yards remaining! Who will claim the crown of this fiercely contested Mile Division?!'
"THIS TIME, THE VICTORY IS MINEEEE!!"
"LIKE I'D LET YOU WINNNN!!"
"UWWAAAAAAHHH!!"
"I'M THE ONE WHO TAKES THISSS!!!"
Shouting at the top of their lungs, stripped of grace and beauty, these girls showed only raw, unadulterated fighting spirit—and the crowd was utterly mesmerized. The duality of Umamusume: charming idol-like sweetness on one hand, and relentless, fiercely competitive athleticism on the other. That contradiction was precisely what drew fans in.
"THE ACE... IS ME!!!"
"NOT CHANCE IN HELL!!"
"I'M NOT HANDING IT OVERRRR!!"
The battle raged. Rocket Arrow, who had maintained the lead from the start. Shadow Ace, who sliced through the pack and accelerated rapidly. Dancing Blade, whose unbelievable stretch-run speed defied gravity on the uphill incline. Who would take it? Who would cross the finish line first? As the cheers thundered like explosions, the moment of truth arrived.
'In the URA Finals Mile Race... FIRST PLACE GOES TO—ROCKET ARROW! Rocket Arrow wins it! Dancing Blade showed a phenomenal late surge but comes up just short in second! Shadow Ace takes third by a mere neck!!! Fourth place goes to Veltro, and fifth to Sakura Kogare-O! Conquering the legendary Mile Division, the champion of the URA Finals Mile Race is the Runaway Express, Rocket Arrow!! The runaway runner stands victorious at the top of the Finals stage!!!'
"ALRIGHTTTT!! I WONNNN!!"
"So close, but I couldn't reach her...! Couldn't get the back-to-back title, huh..."
"Gahh! I broke out of the pack a second too late!!"
"Failed to stop her, after all... Well, no regrets."
"Honestly, what was with that final surge of yours at the end...?"
Victory belonged to Rocket Arrow, but her friends praised her triumph without a trace of bitterness. And in the stands, her mother was cheering through tears of joy. Rocket Arrow raised her voice and laughed out loud, answering her mother's pride.
"Did you see my run?! THAT is Rocket Arrow!!"
Watching Rocket Arrow puff out her chest with pride from afar, AA-Zeus thought to herself that victory wasn't so easily claimed. Yet, simply standing on this stage brought a surprising sense of fulfillment. She had entered this race solely out of her connection with Rampage from the same school. Others had urged her to follow in Rampage's footsteps or bring her along, but AA-Zeus hadn't cared for any of that. She had simply enjoyed the race itself. And—she was satisfied.
"Rocket Arrow-san, it was a complete defeat. You really are remarkably strong."
"Heh! Of course! After all, I'm my mom's daughter!!"
2nd URA Finals Mile Division Champion: Rocket Arrow
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