"Ladies and Gentlemen,"
"It is time for the [Arima Kinen]!"
…
"We'll probably be called up first, right?" Sakura Chiyono O said, smiling wryly as she stood just next to the door heading out of the locker room.
"We definitely will." Yaeno Muteki agreed, her expression solemn as she ensured her glove was fully fitted onto her hand. A small grin made it onto her lips as her eyes met hers. "But I'm sure I shall be the one called after you."
Chiyono giggled. "Nope, I'll be the one after you!"
Muteki chuckled softly.
Perhaps it was a little daft of them to speak so low of themselves. After all, no umamusume wanted to lose, much less to be the least favorite of a race.
But both of them had long understood the reality of their abilities. They might be grouped together with the Generation of Miracles, but only barely. Perhaps they could eclipse other 'normal' umamusume—whatever that meant—but against their peers, they were certainly the weakest amongst them all.
No matter how much they ran, no matter how much they fought, it was almost certain that either she or Chiyono O would end up last.
Yet neither of them felt saddened by any means. If anything, Muteki felt proud that she'd even gotten this far. It was a miracle that had brought her to this moment, to still be able to race together with her idol for the last time.
"Yaeno-san, what do you want to do once you retire?"
Muteki stared. "Why the curiosity?"
Chiyono O smiled. "I wanna become a baker!" She continued, her smile bright. "The cafeteria's snacks are always super tasty! I want to learn to make those too!"
Muteki was quiet for a moment, before she spoke. "I'll likely join my grandfather and continue being a martial artist." She said, humming slightly as she considered the offer he presented a few months back. "Perhaps I could partake in future competitions as well." She smiled. "I'm certain that those matches had become much more exciting, considering the changes sweeping across the Earth at this very moment."
She held her hand forward, and her eyes narrowed slightly as she felt the simmering strength in her arms. She felt like she could likely punch through several inches of concrete if she wanted to.
"Ooh! And maybe you could play a part in movies too!" Chiyono O added.
Muteki blinked, before she chuckled. "That sounds quite interesting." She smiled. "Perhaps that is another avenue I can consider."
But those were thoughts for the future.
Right now,
…
"2500 meters upon the Nakayama Racecourse! Snow is falling today, but courtesy of Director Akikawa's efforts, the Turf remains Firm and suitable for the race!"
…
The cheers of the crowd sounded distant here—no more than a distant echo. It was ghostly in a way, but also undeniably soothing.
Tamamo Cross quietly closed her eyes.
This was it. The very last race of her career. Sure, there was that whole thing about the Dream Series and stuff, but it wouldn't be the same. She would become just like her Seniors, the ups and downs of her career forever etched into history. All while everyone else moved on towards newer horizons, running further while their body still could.
This would be the final race for the Generation of Miracles. The final nail in the coffin for three years that seemed so miraculous that it almost felt like a dream that couldn't have ever ended.
This was the end. This race would be a funeral for the living.
But, if this was to be their slated end, if this was where the final lines of her career would be etched into the annals of history–
Then let's fight to the very end.
"After all," She whispered, her eyes turning silver as the lightning that cackled around her finally morphed into a pure, divine white. "There's nothing brighter than the final gasp of a dying star, right?"
And in the back of her mind, a booming trombone echoed, accompanied by the roar of thunder.
It sounded almost like the cry of a beast at the throes of death.
…
"Today will be a celebration! For the 11 members of the generation that have defined this era! To they who have paved the way forward for millions in the future!"
…
"I'm hungry." Oguri Cap whispered, her ears drooped flat on her head as she patted her stomach.
I chuckled wryly. "We can eat after this race's done." I grinned. "I mean, Kitahara's treating us to a buffet, after all. Just hold on a little longer, yeah?"
"Hungry…" Oguri drawled out, curling her knees close to her chest and pressing herself close to the corner.
Belno Light giggled as she placed her cap onto her head. "Well, we did have a lighter breakfast than usual."
I gave her an unimpressed stare. I suppose she wasn't really wrong. We did eat 'less' food this morning to make sure we didn't mess up during the race. But this was Oguri we were talking about here; the girl still went all Kirby and devoured over a dozen plates of food for breakfast.
Or…maybe she was 'hungry' in a different sense?
My cheeks went slightly red at the thought, and I quickly shook my head to dispel the idea. But the idea stuck, and I unconsciously gulped as I found my eyes wandering towards Oguri's lips.
So I sucked in a deep breath, and with as much confidence as I could muster, I walked to Oguri and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. I squirmed slightly in both discomfort and arousal, and I gasped as I pulled away.
Or at least I tried to, because Oguri's hand had a death's grip on my arm, and before I realized it, she suddenly pulled me back into another kiss.
The second kiss lasted for much longer, and it felt like minutes went by until Oguri let me escape. She licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. "Delicious."
My face had gone completely red at this point. "I-, uh," I gulped, unconsciously clenching my thighs as my eyes wandered back to her lips. "W-Wanna go aga–?" I didn't even get to finish my sentence before she roughly pulled me down, pinning me onto the floor before she kissed me.
Belno rolled her eyes as she turned away.
Whatever tension she felt was gone by this point—completely obliterated to pieces after she watched their team's titular Hero be reduced to a red puddle by a ravenous Beast. She couldn't help but wonder what all the fans would think if they saw this–
Wait, no. That's a bad idea.
…Argh, whatever. She'll just spend the last minutes she had planning on what to do for the homestretch.
…
"Now, it's time to call forth the Generation of Miracles-!"