Before she knew it, Narita Brian tightened her arms around her shoulders, her yellow eyes darting back and forth among the four of them.
Each possessed considerable strength and had demonstrated extraordinary skill.
But among them, Narita Brian faintly perceived something different—a certain 'anomaly' displayed by that red figure galloping on the track, something distinctly apart from the others.
A harsh, grating sound erupted, like the scream of tires against asphalt as a sports car accelerates, piercing the sky.
"What—what is this!?"
Hishi Amazon gripped her microphone, leaned on the table, and rose from her seat.
Not only her, but even Fuji Kiseki beside her widened her eyes, an expression of disbelief on her face as cold sweat trickled down.
You've got to be kidding me… Why is there a sports car on a Uma Musume track?
"Maruzen-senpai!? After Tosho-senpai accelerated, Maruzen-senpai has increased her speed yet again—!!"
At two thousand meters, in the final stretch, when all physical strength should be spent on the sprint, Maruzensky initiated a second acceleration.
Tosho Boy, who had been closing in, now found himself unable to narrow the gap any further, stuck a mere length behind.
As expected, you're even stronger than I imagined, Maruzensky!
Behind them, Ten Point and Green Grass wore grave expressions as they watched Maruzensky pick up speed once more.
Her running pace was nearing their limits. Even if they could push with their remaining stamina, on this final hundred-meter stretch, could they close the five-length gap and still overtake her?
The equation led to a dead end.
Ten Point couldn't find a logical solution.
But there was no need to hesitate. In the final phase, with no room for second thoughts, all they could do was run with everything they had!
Right beside Ten Point, Green Grass finally caught up, her sharp gaze fixed firmly on Maruzensky ahead.
Green Grass likely had more stamina left than she did. From the start, she had tucked in behind, conserving energy even during the most intense part of the race.
That meant, with the stamina Green Grass had saved up, she might just have a chance to overtake Maruzensky!
Whoosh—!
A gleaming blade of white light finally unsheathed itself. With steps like a fleeting ghost, she overtook Ten Point and charged toward the figures ahead.
"Green Grass-senpai! She's passed Ten Point-senpai and is now chasing down Tosho-senpai and Maruzen-senpai! With this unstoppable momentum, could Green Grass-senpai be the ultimate winner—!?"
But before Hishi Amazon could finish, a sound like something tearing through the air rang out.
A fierce wind howled, and within that biting gale, the brown-haired girl racing against the current broke free in an instant from the assassin's lock-on.
So fast!
At this speed, I won't catch her.
But if I accelerate further…
Green Grass gritted her teeth, watching helplessly as the figure ahead pulled farther and farther away.
Her attack couldn't reach its mark.
Like a steel engine burning with intense fervor, it surpassed mere flesh and blood.
In that moment, Maruzensky displayed a speed that defied all norms.
"She isn't catching up!? Maruzen-senpai remains in the lead, Maruzen-senpai! Maruzen-senpai!! She crosses the finish line—!!! The winner of this spectacular exhibition race is! Maruzen-senpai—!!!"
Deafening cheers erupted throughout the training ground.
--+--
"Final margin… one length."
Gazing out at the track, the girl murmured to herself.
By Maruzensky's average standards, this was her poorest performance since she began racing.
"Well, did you gain anything from it?" Sunday Silence asked from beside her.
"A great deal," the girl replied.
She had caught a slight glimpse of that transcendent speed.
And why only a glimpse?
Because whether it was Maruzensky, or Tosho Boy and the others, none of them had shown their true capabilities.
It was clear—Tosho Boy still had reserves to accelerate further at the end, and Ten Point had chosen not to settle things with Green Grass mid-race to achieve a more optimal outcome.
Even Green Grass, in the final moments, wore a conflicted expression, her raised foot stomping down heavily as she aborted the killing move she intended to unleash.
This wasn't an all-out race.
The most obvious point was that everyone present was a powerhouse who had stepped into the realm, yet from start to finish, none of them used that breathtaking zone ability.
But that was only to be expected.
Even though this race held special meaning for them, as retired athletes, they understood that beyond winning or losing, this was more of a commemoration.
Soon, Maruzensky would compete in the [Tenno Sho]. Before that, she needed to settle things with her past.
Whether that settlement was a fierce, genuine contest or an elegant, dazzling performance like a stage play, all of them could accept it.
To ensure she was ready for the upcoming race, Tosho Boy and the others resolutely chose the latter.
Let their era draw to a close. As friends from the same generation, this was their final, firm push for Maruzen.
Our story is over.
But yours is just beginning.
This was their way of saying goodbye.
And Maruzensky wholeheartedly accepted their blessing.
After crossing the finish line, she embraced her longtime friends tightly.
"Thank you, everyone…" Maruzensky said.
Her heart felt more at peace than ever before.
"Heh, who would've thought our rivalry would end like this," Tosho Boy said with a smile. "Maruzen, you're even stronger than I thought."
"To see it through from start to finish—this kind of ending feels rather fitting for us, doesn't it?"
As if a long-cherished wish had been fulfilled, Ten Point wore a relieved, gentle expression.
"Damn it, I can't accept this, I just can't… That Maruzen…" Green Grass pouted slightly, clearly displeased, but then she turned her head and said to Maruzensky:
"Congrats, you old fossil. Still got it, I see."
"Green Grass, can't you be honest for once?"
But everyone knew—she, too, was glad the race had reached a satisfying conclusion.
"Maruzen, soon you'll be heading to the stage you've always dreamed of."
"We'll be here, watching as you carve out your own story."
It's never too late to strive for your dreams.
"Go forth and meet the new you, and walk proudly ahead."
With those words, each of them gave Maruzensky a firm, heartfelt embrace.
The entire venue erupted into roaring cheers, even louder than at the race's end.
Watching the students, flushed and pouring out all their excitement, Symboli Rudolf on the spectator seats felt her eyebrow twitch rapidly.
--+--
To draw a close to the person she once was.
To turn the page and begin a new script.
The Autumn [Tenno Sho]…
For them, it wasn't a bad ending at all.
Turning around, as the closing ceremony of the race unfolded, the girl in black slowly faded into the mirror.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.