"Two champions, huh…"
Tamamo Cross murmured, gazing up at the record board.
"Really… a situation I never imagined."
Just then, the soft swish-swish of footsteps on grass sounded from behind her.
It was a familiar weight and rhythm.
"What's this? Moping here all alone because you couldn't beat me?"
Oguri Cap sidled up next to Tamamo Cross and looked up at the notice board with her.
"That's my line!"
Shooting a mock glare at the smiling Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross broke into a hearty laugh.
"But to think my graded stakes career would end like this… tangled up with you right to the very end, even finishing in a tie."
As she spoke, she playfully punched Oguri Cap in the chest.
The soft, squishy feeling irked her somewhat, but in the end, her heart was filled with a sense of deep emotion.
"But it's not a bad thing. I'm glad I had you by my side for this final journey."
"In this Arima Kinen, I fought with all my heart and soul, holding nothing back. I'm sure you did the same. This race… I bet they'll talk about it for generations to come."
"Couldn't have asked for a better farewell. Don't you agree, Oguri Cap?"
Tamamo Cross extended her small right fist, holding it out straight in front of Oguri Cap.
"Yeah. It's truly a race I'll remember for the rest of my life, Tama. You'll always be my goal and my rival."
"Don't use a nickname at a time like this, you dummy!"
Their fists met gently, an unspoken understanding budding between them. Both wore knowing smiles.
"Let's go. I'm sure everyone's waiting."
"Yeah, let's go."
--+--
Meanwhile, Super Creek and Nase Fumino had just emerged from the stewards' room. The atmosphere between them was as heavy and cold as a deep winter.
Tap… tap… tap…
The sound of Trainer Nase's usual dress shoes echoed crisply on the smooth tiled floor.
'…'
Behind her, Super Creek trailed mechanically, her spirit utterly broken, her mind still trapped, unable to escape the conversation from moments before.
'After review, we have unanimously determined that your lane change affected Road Royal. Therefore, Super Creek is disqualified from the race.'
Clutching the fabric over her chest tightly, Super Creek's heart felt like it was frying in a pan of oil.
"…"
The footsteps ahead of her stopped, but Creek, lost in her guilt, didn't notice at all.
She continued shuffling forward until she bumped headlong into a soft embrace.
"Creek."
Nase Fumino gently hugged her charge, her tone even softer than usual.
But hearing this gentle call was the final straw for Creek's heart. Sobs of grief erupted from within the embrace, clear and unmistakable.
"Trainer… It's my fault… this race… waah…"
"No, it's my fault. I put too much pressure on you. That expectation made you anxious, led you to make a misjudgment."
Rubbing the long hair of the girl in her arms, Trainer Nase felt even more tender at this moment.
"But… but I've stained your career! I'm your first charge… and I went and broke the rules in such an important race!"
"From now on, whenever people talk about you, they'll remember this Arima Kinen! It was me! I'm the one who…"
Creek's arms tightened around Trainer Nase's back, locking firmly.
Even through their clothes, Nase Fumino could feel the scalding tears.
"You fool."
The hand that had been gently stroking Super Creek's head now gave it a firm pat. A serious expression came over her face.
"The only true stain for me is just one thing: letting my charge get hurt. Anything else doesn't count."
"So don't worry about it. Take it as a lesson and keep striving. I'll be right there with you on this journey."
"Trainer…"
Super Creek looked up, her face a picture of gratitude.
She fought to hold the tears in her eyes, refusing to let them fall, forcing the corners of her mouth upward into a smile.
It wasn't as beautiful or natural as her usual smile, but that only made it more endearing.
"Please… stay with me. I'll deliver better results for you."
"What silly things you say. Of course I will. I'm your trainer, after all."
Nase Fumino smiled and gently pinched her cheek.
--+--
BANG! BANG!
"Congratulations, Oguri Cap!"
"Congrats!"
The moment Oguri Cap stepped back into the waiting area, a storm of confetti and streamers descended upon her, instantly transforming the grey rabbit into a colorful one.
"!"
Unfamiliar with such scenes, Oguri Cap immediately stiffened, arms pressed to her sides, feet snapped together, standing as straight as a rod, her face frozen solid.
"Eh? Oguri Cap, what's wrong?"
Norn Ace, still holding the spent party popper, looked curiously at the motionless figure and approached.
"Ah… I thought I was going to die…"
Seeing a familiar face, Oguri Cap finally relaxed. Waving her limbs about, covered in cold sweat, she looked thoroughly spooked.
"That noise was so scary… felt like I'd been hit by a cannonball."
"Hahaha, you're so dramatic! You'll never escape party poppers from now on, you know."
Norn Ace showed the spent popper to Oguri Cap, grinning as she patted her shoulder.
"Mmm… I still feel like it might explode."
Taking the popper—now just a cardboard tube—with both hands, Oguri Cap still kept it at arm's length, inspecting it warily.
Nearl, standing nearby, smiled and stepped forward to help brush the confetti off Oguri Cap. She then smoothed and tidied the long hair that had come loose during the race.
"Anyway, congratulations on your first major stakes victory, Oguri. The Arima Kinen… even among G1 races, this sits at the very top."
"You can now proudly call yourself Japan's number one Uma Musume."
"That's right! This is huge! We absolutely have to throw a party!"
Berno Light buzzed around excitedly. As the support staff who had followed Oguri Cap all the way from Kasamatsu to the pinnacle of the central racing world, she shared in this glory.
"Trainer, what do you say?"
Finally, she turned her gaze to Musaka Ginjirou, the one who had the final say.
"Hmph, why're you looking at me? If you're expecting me to foot the bill…"
He deliberately drew out the pause, lifting everyone's hopes.
"Well, you guessed right. This party is on me. Full reimbursement."
"Yay!!"
All the Uma Musume present cheered. Watching them hug each other, Nearl smiled warmly.
"Then please allow me to lend a hand with the food. I'm confident I won't disappoint you."
"Yay!!"
Another round of cheers erupted.
--+--
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.