My life isn't particularly interesting.
Fujimasa March often thought to herself.
When other kids were playing, exploring mountains and rivers with friends, all I had was running practice.
When classmates started talking about fashion and games in school, I was still just running.
I was always alone, always training my running—nothing else.
But even someone like me, who knew nothing but running, gradually gathered so many precious treasures.
My trainer, a bunch of unreliable classmates, many race victories, and Oguri Cap.
It's wonderful, truly something my past self could never have imagined. And precisely because of that…
"That's exactly why I have to give it my all! If I don't even put my heart into the things that connect us, what else can I hold onto?"
The finish line was faintly visible now, so there was no reason to hold back.
Sprint! Sprint! Sprint! Pour every last bit of strength into this.
"What incredible speed—Fujimasa March has broken out! She's accelerating nonstop and has already created a gap between herself and the runners behind!"
"Whoa! That March girl!"
Caught completely off guard by her sudden burst, the four Uma Musume behind instinctively surged forward, shattering the calm they had maintained.
"Oh! The others are accelerating too! Are they planning to show their true potential on this final stretch?"
"Go! Go! Go!"
Cheers rose continuously from the stands.
Though most had come today to witness Nearl's running form once more, who could stay cold-hearted seeing these girls giving their all?
"Ugh, damn it!"
Norn Ace pushed hard while keeping an eye on those around her. She was now second to last; ahead, Nearl was little more than a blurry outline.
"At least don't let me be dead last!"
Digging deep into her stamina, Norn Ace watched the two just ahead, ready to overtake at any moment.
'But why does my body feel so light today? Almost like I can run freely without holding back… What's going on?'
The thought crossed her mind briefly before she brushed it aside.
'Must be my imagination.'
Like Norn Ace, the other Uma Musume also overlooked this slight oddity. They simply felt unusually good, faster than usual.
But Fujimasa March wasn't like them. Never mind the skill gap—one thing alone made her understand why she felt so incredibly free.
She'd experienced this before, during that trip to the central tracks a month or two ago.
'No mistake. This warmth… it's unmistakable. It's Nearl's Domain.'
March gazed ahead at that brilliant figure, golden light trailing under her hooves, as if they were all racing over a path plated in gold.
'So this feeling of liberation… it's thanks to Nearl. Her thoughtfulness… I don't even know what to say.'
"I can't let this kindness go to waste."
She cast aside her reservations, lengthened her stride, leaned further forward.
No need to worry about muscle strain, joints, or fractures.
"What better conditions could I ask for? Is stamina the only thing holding me back now?"
Clods of dirt flew as she pushed off with immense force. March easily surpassed her previous speeds, accelerating dramatically as she chased after Nearl's fading figure.
She still couldn't close the gap, but at least it wasn't widening anymore.
"Oh! My goodness! Fujimasa March is accelerating again! I've rarely seen such an outstanding performance here in the regional circuits—this is truly impressive!"
'I can do this!'
Feeling as if she were flying, a thrilled smile spread across Fujimasa March's face. Beads of sweat trickled down her cheeks, but she paid them no mind.
'This feels amazing, absolutely amazing! If I can just keep this up, if I can keep running like this, then I can…'
Her thought was cut short as the commentator's excited cry shattered her fleeting sense of invincibility.
"Look up ahead! That golden figure! Nearl is just one step from the finish! What an enormous lead—Fujimasa March in second only began her final sprint moments ago!"
"What?!"
"No way!"
"I can't keep up!"
Awakened to reality by the commentator's voice, the Uma Musume realized Nearl was about to cross the finish line while they were still struggling behind.
"Hah… Still couldn't catch up. Even though I let myself dream a little just now, reality is just…"
Fujimasa March stared helplessly at Nearl's increasingly distant back, the last flicker of hope in her heart finally dying out.
"I've won."
Nearl's voice was calm. The moment she spoke, she broke the finish line, once again securing victory with an overwhelming lead.
"Nearl~~ takes first place! The winner of this year's Kasamatsu Year-End Prize has been decided! As expected by all, she claims her third victory by a large margin!"
"Well, everyone, though I'm sorry to say it, the other Uma Musume still have some distance to cover. Let's give some of our attention to these girls who are still running with all their hearts."
Hearing this, the roaring crowd actually quieted down gradually.
"Really now… It seems the spectators today truly cherish Uma Musume."
Kitahara Jo glanced around at the self-restrained audience, speaking with both emotion and relief.
In that hushed atmosphere, the competitors left far behind by Nearl finally crossed the finish line, one after another.
"It's over! Fujimasa March takes second place in the Kasamatsu Year-End Prize, four lengths ahead of third place! Though she didn't win, I'm sure her fans understand completely."
"Third place goes to…"
"Norn Ace finishes in fifth, barely placing."
The commentator continued sharing post-race reflections, but it had little to do with the Uma Musume who had already finished.
"What a huge gap. The board just says 'large margin,' but the actual distance… I wouldn't even dare estimate it."
One of the participating Uma Musume muttered, yet she wore a look of pure delight.
"But still, I'm glad I joined. This race was totally worth it. So many spectators cheering for us—I'd never dare dream of that normally."
"And placing felt a bit easier too, probably 'cause there were fewer runners."
Another Uma Musume chimed in upon hearing this, both radiating a sense of shared understanding.
But when their eyes fell on Nearl, their expressions turned deeply respectful.
"But you know, Nearl really isn't what the reports made her out to be. There's no way someone like her would be 'too scared' to race in the central tracks."
"Right. Just look at her result today. I mean, that time is…"
"The new Japan record for 1800 meters on dirt!"
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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.