The final day… had arrived at last.
The day of Garden Gale's debut race against Narita Top Road was finally here.
…
No matter how grandly one imagines a day—
When it finally came, all there was was gentle drizzle, a sparsely populated racetrack, and not many spectators. It was just a debut race, after all. Unlike Tokai Teio, there wasn't any widely celebrated, campus-famous Umamusume racing today—though Garden Gale herself was certainly famous, it was strictly limited to within Tracen Academy.
Many in attendance wore Tracen Academy uniforms.
Their hushed whispers floated quietly in the wind.
"It really... isn't very popular, is it?"
Symboli Rudolf glanced around, carefully choosing her words. She originally wanted to be more direct but softened her phrasing slightly. Indeed, from her memory, races involving the Emperor herself had always been packed—audiences overflowing, seats filled beyond capacity, with people even crowded outside, eagerly discussing race outcomes.
Then again if word got out that the Emperor, Symboli Rudolf herself—the Umamusume standing at the absolute pinnacle—had come to watch a mere debut race, it would probably shock quite a few people.
Tokai Teio nodded thoughtfully. "That's true… Although GG-san is extremely strong, she really keeps a low profile. Even you, President, only remembered her because I brought her up."
"A wise person keeps their strengths hidden—that's a good thing," Symboli Rudolf replied calmly.
She shifted her gaze to the racetrack.
…It was raining.
Though not heavily, the track had become slick and muddy. Anyone who'd ever run knew mud like this increased resistance significantly, gripping shoes like suction cups, turning clear speed into something fuzzy and indistinct—never mind the constant drizzle falling on top of it all.
A rainy debut race...
Was this good luck or bad?
Symboli Rudolf pondered briefly.
Then let her mind drift away quietly.
...
Backstage, in the preparation room.
This was her very first race in her entire life!
Garden Gale sat alone, repeatedly breathing deeply in a futile attempt to calm herself down and clear her mind.
Reflected clearly in the mirror were her uncontrollably trembling hands.
Ah… if anyone saw this, they'd definitely laugh at me. Truly, I somehow ended up here before I even realized it. The final day felt unreal, until suddenly here I am at the track.
But now the negative emotions threatened to overflow her mind. Again and again, deep breathing barely suppressed them. Yet sadness steadily built up, soon becoming impossible to push back even with deep breaths.
The race is starting soon.
The race was just about to begin.
She nervously rubbed the number she'd drawn: 7.
She hadn't yet stepped out onto the track. The race hadn't even started—
Yet…
Her eyes involuntarily drifted towards the exit door, a sliver of an urge to escape quietly surfacing.
Garden Gale bit down firmly on her lower lip.
…No.
I've worked so hard until this very moment.
Why run away at the final step? Wouldn't all her hard work be wasted, washing away like water? Even if she lost to Narita Top Road, she could still comfort herself by saying she'd done her best.
But an ill-timed thought invaded her mind—
And then what?
Is telling yourself you tried your best really enough?
How would others see you?
As someone who wasn't serious enough in training? As someone who talked tough but ended up losing—someone who'd be humiliated? Wouldn't it be laughable? Have you considered what your life would become if you actually lost?
…Had she?
What if she lost?
What then?
These three words consumed her thoughts: What then?
If I lose…what then?
Maybe her initial idea—to fake an injury and quit the life of an Umamusume forever—was the right choice. Perhaps she'd even gain a tragic reputation as a genius who was forced to retire early. But now… even if she managed to stand on that track, how could she possibly win with this mindset?
You say you don't dare train in front of others because you're afraid your clumsiness will show. But what about racing in front of an audience? Won't the pressure be even greater? You fainted the last time Curren Chan merely introduced you to her fans.
She had no idea what to think anymore.
Withou realizing Garden Gale had stood up and begun walking towards the door.
Only when her hand touched the cold doorknob did she snap back to consciousness.
Ah… What am I even doing!?
Garden Gale—you truly disappoint me.
Clenching her fists tightly, she glanced back at the omamori placed on the table. That charm had been carefully prayed for by Curren Chan. Though they'd only been roommates for a few days, and barely even talked, the moment Curren Chan found out about Garden Gale's debut race, she'd visited a shrine specifically to request a victory omamori for her.
And she'd promised she'd be watching her race today.
Her voice still rang vividly in Garden Gale's mind:
"Good luck, Garden-san!"
Come to think of it… Teio-san would probably be watching too, wouldn't she? She'd promised she would come to support her. Looking at it like that, she really did have friends now.
People were cheering for her.
…Phew.
Letting out a slow breath, Garden Gale forcibly steadied her nerves.
That's right—if she couldn't allow herself to disappoint those who supported her, how could she let her friends down? Could she really disappoint Tokai Teio and Curren Chan?
Stop overthinking everything.
She thought of Curren Chan earnestly praying for that omamori. She thought of Tokai Teio smiling confidently, believing wholeheartedly she could win. She remembered all the hardship, every drop of sweat she'd poured into training, just like a lonely guitarist stepping onto the stage for the first time, earnestly strumming her guitar, longing for popularity, desperate to become a beloved star.
Garden Gale pressed down firmly on the door handle.
But now she was heading towards the proper exit.
Because the call for starting gates was already echoing loudly throughout the track.
As she walked forward Garden Gale bumped directly into Narita Top Road.
Both Umamusume paused, briefly frozen, silently looking at each other, before continuing on their own paths.
Yet, at the very last moment...
"I'll win. I'll beat you—I'll win this race."
Narita Top Road suddenly stopped. Without turning around, she left those confident, unshakable words hanging in the air behind her.
Garden Gale didn't feel angry or belittled at all. She simply smiled gently and replied:
"All right."
"Then let's see what you got."
With that, she stepped out toward the exit.
Instantly greeted by a blinding sea of white light, and thunderous applause.
---
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