[Narumiya Akimitsu]:Kagura-san! I got in touch with Nishiki-san's parents! They want to come to Tracen today—are you free today, Kagura-san?!
The next morning, Kagura was still in the dorm, combing Mejiro Ardan's hair, when she suddenly felt her phone buzz a few times. She unlocked it—Narumiya Akimitsu had sent her a message.
"Kagura-san hasn't been resting lately? What are you busy with now?"
Ardan knew Kagura was on break recently, but just looking at her like this, she could tell Kagura had gone and picked up some kind of job again.
"I just ran into a classmate. Her family's forcing her to enter a race. I'm trying to help—talk her family into giving up."
"Ehh~ Kagura-san, you're as warmhearted as ever…"
Just hearing it made Ardan frown. It wasn't like she'd never heard of this sort of thing, but after Kagura briefly described Bizen Nishiki's situation, a nameless anger rose in her chest anyway. Still, there was nothing she could do—this was someone else's family matter. And she wasn't close with Bizen Nishiki either, so she couldn't really say much.
"Her parents are coming today, so… probably this afternoon. I'm going to borrow Tracen's track and have a friendly match with Bizen Nishiki."
"I see… Can I come watch your race this afternoon, Kagura-san?"
Back when she'd watched Kagura's School Selection Race, Ardan could only describe it as blood-boiling. Even though, among the Mejiro seats, she'd been one of the quieter ones—Mejiro Palmer's screaming had been on another level. The moment she saw Kagura go runaway, it was like some strange switch had flipped in her.
"Of course. If you want to watch, just stand to the side. It's basically like normal training—just with Narumiya Akimitsu acting as the referee today."
"Okay! I'll definitely be there this afternoon!"
Ardan nodded, then happily ruffled Kagura's hair a few times.
Wanting to watch Kagura race was one thing. But after hearing about Bizen Nishiki's situation, Ardan was also a little uneasy. She was worried Bizen Nishiki's parents might do something to Kagura, so she decided to follow along—if anything really happened, the Mejiro name would still carry weight.
...
This time, the distance Narumiya Akimitsu chose matched Bizen Nishiki's best distance aptitude: Turf, 2000m. Back at the Yayoi Sho, people had once believed she could use that advantage to at least close the gap a little with Rudolf—only for Rudolf's terrifying finishing kick to shatter the last scraps of fantasy in everyone's hearts.
"Good afternoon~ Kagura-san."
Maybe because her parents were here, the normally easygoing Bizen Nishiki looked a lot more restrained today, greeting Kagura with polite, elegant formality.
"Good afternoon, Nishiki-san. Your parents…"
"Mm. Over there."
Bizen Nishiki pointed toward a man and a woman outside the bend. Kagura followed her finger—and met the gaze of the two parents staring straight at her.
Ah… they look like the kind who aren't easy to talk to…
After years out in the world, Kagura could usually get a read in the first glance: who was easy, who wasn't. Not perfectly, but seven or eight times out of ten. Those stern faces, those sharp eyes—more like hard-driving corporate types. Managers, maybe.
Ardan was seated not far from the two parents. When she noticed Kagura looking over, she simply smiled and lifted a hand in greeting. And maybe because there were outsiders present, Ardan looked nothing like her usual relaxed, lazy dorm self—today she was pure ojou-sama elegance from head to toe.
And beside Ardan—looking closer—Kagura also spotted Gold Ship in the back row, fiddling with a Rubik's cube, and Rudolf in sunglasses and a mask, trying to disguise herself. Nice Nature sat beside Rudolf. Up front, Kagura could also see a few other classmates from the Support Uma department.
What are these people even doing…
She knew they'd come to watch, but it was just a race. Rudolf's disguise was honestly a bit much—gave the whole group the vibe of some yakuza crew sitting there to "hold the scene."
Narumiya Akimitsu stepped onto the track. Seeing both Uma Musume still warming up, she introduced the day's match to the spectators—though most students already knew. The explanation was mainly for Bizen Nishiki's parents.
"Alright—are you two ready?"
After reading out the track conditions, Narumiya Akimitsu turned to the starting line, where the two Uma Musume had already set themselves into their starting stances. Both nodded—ready.
Bizen Nishiki looked brimming with fighting spirit, but that fierce will couldn't hide the exhaustion on her face. Battle fatigue didn't just vanish overnight. Beside her, Kagura—well-rested, calm, expression steady—looked like someone already holding the winning hand.
"Nishiki-san, you don't need to hold back for my sake. Support Uma aren't as frail as you think."
Before the start, Kagura reminded her—so nothing would look off later.
"I understand. My trainer told me about your… shining feat from not long ago…"
To be honest, last night when Bizen Nishiki heard about that legendary 100-meter mid-pack closing Kagura had pulled off, she'd been completely dumbstruck.
One: Shock that Inari Kagura, a Support Uma, could have that kind of power.
Two: After watching the recording, she honestly didn't think she could open a fifty-length gap like that herself. Twenty… maybe thirty at her absolute limit.
This isn't a Support Uma at all!! Even domestic G1 pros would avoid her!!
That was how Bizen Nishiki had felt. She was a G1 racer second only to Rudolf in this era, and that footage still made cold sweat crawl over her skin. She didn't dare relax around Kagura anymore.
As for Kagura, her goal in this match was to let Bizen Nishiki's parents see how bad her condition was—and realize the danger of pushing her through battle after battle. If Kagura went runaway from start to finish, it might not "show" as well. After thinking it over, she set her tactic for today—
End Closer.
"Then—ready! Go!!"
At Narumiya Akimitsu's start command, Kagura and Bizen Nishiki burst off the line almost at the same time—yet to everyone's surprise, Inari Kagura, who had recently created a legendary gap with a runaway in the School Selection Race, actually started late this time!
"N-no… not late—Kagura switched to an end closer style this race!"
Rudolf had thought Kagura stumbled at the start too, but Kagura's steps were steady and controlled, and there wasn't a trace of that runaway-style explosive acceleration. Rudolf immediately realized it wasn't a mistake at all—Kagura had done it on purpose. Not a late start. Just a deliberate back-chasing plan.
"Ardan-oneesan! Adjust the camera a little! I can't see Kagura-oneesan anymore!"
"Okay~ okay~ Eh? Kagura-san isn't going runaway this time?"
Ardan had her phone up, livestreaming today's friendly match to the little ones at home. Honestly, it was mostly because Mejiro Palmer kept making a fuss about wanting to watch. The other girls heard Kagura was racing and came over too, so now the Mejiro five sisters were all crowded around Palmer's phone, watching Ardan's feed.
"Isn't it possible Kagura never used front-running at all—she's just so fast at pace-chasing it looks like she's leading? A runaway's final spurt sounds like fantasy, right? But a pace-chaser's final spurt doesn't sound weird at all."
Behind them, Gold Ship glanced at the track, then at the two parents by the side, and muttered to herself while twisting her cube.
After the start, Kagura stayed in a holding position in the back, biting tightly onto Bizen Nishiki's tail. Bizen Nishiki ran with the speed and form she'd used in the Yayoi Sho—but she could clearly feel the exhaustion in her body. Each step was heavy, like her hooves were filled with lead. And unlike the Yayoi Sho, the pressure from behind was overwhelming. No matter if she slowed or sped up, the distance never changed—Kagura stayed steady at two lengths back the entire time, proof of terrifyingly precise control.
I… I've lost…
The race wasn't even past halfway, and Bizen Nishiki already understood. Kagura passing her was only a matter of time. She wanted to accelerate—wanted to go all-out and charge forward. The humiliation of losing to Rudolf made her crave that burst, that escape—
But her body was already warning her. She knew she couldn't fight anymore.
Ardan watched Bizen Nishiki's parents: their brows stayed tightly furrowed, eyes locked on Kagura. The reason wasn't hard to guess—Kagura's composure was too steady, too professional. Like a G1 racer. But officially, she was a Support Uma. Most people hearing that for the first time had the same reaction—
There's something wrong with this "Support Uma."
The parents' exact words weren't that, but Ardan heard something close enough.
"Sorry, Nishiki-san—!!"
After clearing the third turn, Bizen Nishiki heard Kagura's voice from behind—like she was apologizing quietly.
Then Kagura's speed surged.
Like a black shadow, she flashed to Bizen Nishiki's right-front. Bizen Nishiki's eyes flew wide—because Kagura had lowered her posture into a full sprinting stance!!
"Wha—!? She's sprinting here!?"
It was unimaginable. There was still a long stretch before the finish line. If any other Uma Musume did that, they'd burn out and drop speed—nothing to worry about. But Kagura was different. Bizen Nishiki knew Kagura probably wouldn't drop at all.
She had to follow—right now.
"Ooh!! Kagura-san dropped her posture and started accelerating!! Is she… sprinting already!? There's still so much distance left!?"
"Kagura-san's stamina is terrifying—did you watch that School Selection Race? She charged like that the whole way and still had a finishing kick left!"
The Support Uma watching burst out in shocked voices. Some "know-it-alls" even started narrating. Nobody bothered lowering their volume—Bizen Nishiki's parents could hear every word clearly.
Just hearing it was enough to make cold sweat pour down their backs.
They could see it now: Bizen Nishiki was already giving everything—no holding back. But her condition was truly terrible. This Support Uma under Rudolf was obviously weaker than Rudolf herself—
And yet Bizen Nishiki looked completely helpless in front of her. If she went into the Japanese Derby like this, it would only be worse.
"Haaahh—!!!"
Bizen Nishiki let out a hoarse scream. She was already bursting at full power, squeezing every last cell in her body—
And her body answered back, unmistakably:
Not enough left. No more juice.
Watching the distance between them grow wider and wider, Bizen Nishiki felt a helplessness and despair she'd never known before. The scene of Rudolf passing her without mercy flashed in her mind again. Even though she knew this was just a friendly match, she was treating Kagura like Rudolf—because what Kagura wanted to show her parents, and what she was thinking deep down, were the same—
If I lose to Kagura-san… what right do I have to talk about revenge on Rudolf…
But no matter how fierce her desire was, her body could no longer answer her will. Despair and powerlessness flooded her chest. The sharp bitterness and humiliation forced tears from her eyes.
"I don't want to… I don't want to lose to Kagura-san—AAAAAH!!"
Nearly everyone watching could hear that sobbing howl. Anyone could see she was struggling with everything she had—
But once Kagura passed her, she showed no intention of holding back at all. Some in the crowd even found themselves hoping Kagura would show a little mercy to the Bizen Nishiki who was already running in tears.
Kagura didn't slow.
At a terrifying speed, she carved through the final turn—then swept down the home straight like a wind, and in Bizen Nishiki's despairing gaze, she crossed the finish line—
"Inari Kagura!! First across the line!"
Standing at the finish, Narumiya Akimitsu announced Kagura's win. Several seconds passed before Bizen Nishiki finally crossed.
It was a victory too wide to display. By Narumiya Akimitsu's visual estimate, Inari Kagura had led by nearly twenty lengths. He looked at Bizen Nishiki's parents, now near the finish—saw the wavering on their faces—then looked at Kagura, who'd already run past the line.
Kagura didn't turn around. She just quietly lifted her left hand and made an OK sign—handing the persuasion work over to him.
"Sorry… Nishiki-san."
With her back to Bizen Nishiki, Kagura didn't look back—afraid she'd give something away. She just pretended to catch her breath, murmuring softly to the Bizen Nishiki behind her, who was braced on her knees, truly panting hard as she tried to recover.
"Kagura-san… why are you apologizing to me… You're clearly… helping me…"
Bizen Nishiki's exhausted voice held a trace of relief, and a helplessness that sounded almost like release.
"Thank you…"
Thank you… for cutting off my lingering hope, completely.
---
T/N: OOOOF
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