[This is what you asked for]
[You are your destiny!]
[Heavy is the—]
[The weight of the crown!]
[Heavy is the crown]
[You must bear it!!!]
…
Tokyo Racecourse — Winner's Stage.
What rang out from the stage was Fuka Shirayuki's hoarse, screaming voice!
Below the stage, thousands of spectators had gathered, all craning their necks to watch.
Some of Tokai Teio's fans had already left early, but the remaining crowd was still a pretty solid number.
Some had been completely conquered by Fuka Shirayuki and became her fans…
I've been a ten-year Fuka Shirayuki stan already!
Others simply wanted to see this Winner's Stage performance.
In the Uma Musume world, the Winner's Stage is a necessary part of the whole experience!
But whether they belonged to the first group or the second, Fuka Shirayuki could hand in an almost perfect answer.
"The Weight of the Crown" was the theme song for the League of Legends S14 World Championship…
Quality-wise, there was absolutely nothing to worry about.
And besides, the system ultimately agreed to Fuka Shirayuki's request.
Under the girl's threats and sweet-talking—coaxing and tricking all at once—the system suddenly decided it wasn't that big a deal, so it agreed to help… patch up that last tiny flaw, and deliver a flawless debut race.
After the chapter was posted, Fuka Shirayuki now had the ability to sing the Winner's Stage properly.
To be honest…
Fuka Shirayuki couldn't tell if it was her imagination, but…
this system kind of felt… dumb?
So could she find a way to fleece the system a little?
No matter what she asked for, it would agree!
Good grief—this was practically a C108 plotline!
Now, back to the present.
The Winner's Stage was an important way for an Uma Musume to convert spectators into fans after a race…
There was only one question:
How many fans could Fuka Shirayuki convert!?
And Fuka Shirayuki knew—
the moment she stepped onto the Winner's Stage was when she bared her fangs.
One! Two! Three! Oh? Oh!?
No problem—she could catch every last one of these spectators!
This performance was absurdly invincible!
Without a doubt, it was a Winner's Stage overflowing with infectious energy!
The performance on stage was blazing hot!
Smoke and lights set everything alight!
Surrounded by piercing high notes and an arrangement bursting with charisma—
the crowd was utterly mesmerized, falling head over heels.
Some spectators looked on with starry-eyed admiration, murmuring to themselves:
"Now that… is a great Winner's Stage!"
And it was a song they'd never heard before—totally different from earlier stage styles!
But…
had this song existed before?
The audience didn't know.
Whatever—there were countless songs in the world. They just assumed Fuka Shirayuki had dug it out of some forgotten corner.
Besides…
had there ever been an Uma Musume called Fuka Shirayuki before this?
She'd also appeared out of nowhere, hadn't she?
They had no idea that even this song was something Fuka Shirayuki herself "made up"!
Just like the mysterious fog surrounding the girl, fans desperately wanted to know—
where did she come from?
What kind of person was she? What had she done?
That idol-fan fluttering feeling was going doki-doki, sparkling and bright.
Among the audience stood two Uma Musume mixed into the back row, whispering loudly as they plotted.
It was Symboli Rudolf and the Lady.
The Emperor said bluntly, "Later… when the Winner's Stage ends, we'll corner Fuka Shirayuki."
"Got it?"
She asked.
By now, Symboli Rudolf could almost confirm it—
Fuka Shirayuki was the Uma Musume who'd previously come to her seeking help for her debut race!
But back then the Emperor was too busy and didn't agree, so this girl turned to the green demon instead…
Well, the Emperor and Teio could only swallow the bitter fruit themselves.
But now Rudolf had a different thought:
Someone with this much potential—she absolutely had to become 'Reudolf Symbol'!
Looking at Fuka Shirayuki's white hair, Symboli Rudolf nodded in satisfaction—
Even if you're not a grey-coated Uma Musume, white hair doesn't necessarily mean grey coat, but…
if I say you're a grey-coat, then you're a grey-coat!
And… there were things Rudolf wanted to ask Fuka Shirayuki too.
She wanted to ask: who wrote that novel?
It had predicted every result and every process of this debut race with frightening precision.
Even the song prediction hit.
That wasn't within normal human territory!
Either the author was Fuka Shirayuki herself—
or someone close to her…
What?
You want to defend Fuka Shirayuki?
Why don't you just say the author was one of the Three Goddess with divine powers!
Gods having a bit of future-sight would be normal, right?
Cover-blown crisis!!!
Symboli Rudolf thought, and looked at the Lady beside her.
"Got it!" The Lady nodded like she was hammering nails, then said, "I've got questions too… I want to ask Fuka Shirayuki." She looked up at the girl on stage, thinking hard—where had she seen her before?
And… Symboli Rudolf asked, puzzled, "Why do you also have questions for Fuka Shirayuki?"
The Lady shot her head up. "Don't tell me you too?"
Symboli Rudolf slowly nodded.
"…" The Lady fell silent.
This Fuka Shirayuki really is a temptress, she thought.
How could she be this mysterious and still toy with so many people's hearts?
She was a bad woman!
But…
what the two of them didn't know—
was that their conversation had been overheard by the girl beside them, who wore an obedient expression like a junior-high student.
It was Fuka Chiori—
Fuka Shirayuki's little sister.
She pretended to be well-behaved… but inside she was already terrified, terrified that the rumors were true, terrified that "dark Uma Musume" really existed—
like those races where an Uma Musume with championship strength gets threatened and then doesn't dare run at full power, handing the title to someone else.
In the Uma Musume world, families are the biggest yakuza!
She was afraid her sister would be threatened by these people!
Oh no!
Fuka Chiori had to warn her sister!
While wracking her brain, she started thinking at high speed!
Symboli Rudolf didn't notice the girl's oddness.
She only stared up at the stage with worried eyes.
It was humiliating, but by the rules of the race, Tokai Teio had to serve as a backup dancer for Fuka Shirayuki…
So Rudolf watched Teio up there, singing and dancing.
Like an incompetent husband.
Robbed of his love by someone else, yet still forced to play the flute for entertainment…
The Emperor was deeply worried Tokai Teio wouldn't be able to endure that emotion—
or that the feeling of defeat would destroy her completely.
…
…
On stage.
The incompetent husband looked at the newlywed bride.
Tokai Teio looked at Fuka Shirayuki.
Teio didn't want to admit defeat… but objectively speaking, Teio's condition today was good. It was simply that she was outmatched in strength and technique, so she lost. There was nothing to argue.
She couldn't turn the feeling of defeat into anger aimed at Fuka Shirayuki.
Besides…
Fuka Shirayuki's Winner's Stage was actually pretty good.
Teio couldn't help glancing at her a few extra times.
"…?"
A strange sense of surprise rose in Teio's heart.
Was it an illusion?
Tokai Teio felt like she could sense something off about Fuka Shirayuki's state…?
It was so… calm.
Or rather, serene—that was the only word that fit.
Her face had no expression at all.
Always like a block of ice—like a poker face.
But in the eyes Teio could see… there was something hidden—
"Sadness?"
Teio thought.
Honestly…
Teio's guess wasn't wrong.
Even Fuka Shirayuki herself could sense something was off.
How to describe it…?
Like oxygen drunkenness, like dissociation—
a fog suddenly covered her mind, as if a layer of glass had formed between soul and body.
The girl calmly sang and danced, but her soul had already left its sheath.
From a god's-eye view, emotionless, she watched her own performance—brilliant beyond words—watched the fans cheering below, yet felt no reality in it at all.
Like a dream…
Was she happy?
Fuka Shirayuki wondered.
For the first time, she'd conquered the crowd with pure strength.
Of course she should feel happy.
But when the final drumbeat fell—
the Winner's Stage ended.
The three Uma Musume on stage were about to exit in sequence…
Fuka Shirayuki stood there dazed, as if entranced…
The lights had already gone out. The stage had dimmed. The brilliance was gone.
Tokai Teio had already turned to leave—
but she suddenly noticed Fuka Shirayuki was still standing there, so she decided to remind her:
"Hey."
"The Winner's Stage is already over, you know?"
Fuka Shirayuki glanced at her with a confused expression, like she didn't understand what Teio was talking about.
She just stood there stupidly, unmoving.
Even as Tokai Teio walked farther and farther away…
Teio still couldn't just abandon this girl—this girl who had stolen her dream.
In the end, she stomped her foot, puffed up in frustration, stormed back, grabbed Fuka Shirayuki's hand, and dragged her off the stage.
So cold.
Tokai Teio thought.
How could she be this icy…?
She also thought—
What is wrong with this girl?
Does she have no ability to take care of herself?
But she clearly wasn't like this before!
From every angle she looked normal—she beat Teio, and she could even say weird things no one understood.
Tokai Teio held Fuka Shirayuki's hand and slowly walked down the stairs…
Fuka Shirayuki didn't notice the curve of the steps and nearly stumbled and fell.
Tokai Teio looked at her and thought—
If Fuka Shirayuki were medically confirmed to have an intellectual problem…
Holy crap!
Wouldn't that mean Teio got destroyed by an idiot!?
This could be made into an inspirational movie!
Like that senior Sea Biscuit back in the day…
Please don't have anything wrong with you!
The girl prayed.
Just then—
As the Winner's Stage crowd dispersed,
Symboli Rudolf, with a terrifying scowl, and the Lady, determined to get answers at any cost, approached together like a pair of "noble brothers"!
Tokai Teio felt instantly uneasy!
What are you trying to do!?
The two of them blocked the route Fuka Shirayuki had to take.
Symboli Rudolf asked smoothly, "Fuka Shirayuki… is it?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Fuka Shirayuki looked up at her—but didn't speak.
To be honest, she still hadn't recovered.
What she did was basically a Pavlovian reflex like a dog's.
"I'm the Student Council President of Tracen Academy—Symboli Rudolf. I have a few things I want to ask you. Is that okay?"
The Emperor continued.
The Lady beside her looked eager, like her turn would be next.
Fuka Shirayuki: "…Hm?"
She let out an unconscious sound, lowered her head, and tears began to gather in her eyes despite herself.
To be frank—
running toward backstage right now wasn't just those two.
There was also Fuka Chiori, and Hayakawa Tazuna.
From far away, Hayakawa Tazuna immediately saw something off…
She froze in place, thinking—
Hadn't she seen this scene before!?
Not "like" she had.
She had.
Tazuna suddenly understood.
She couldn't help grinning wide, teeth showing.
She didn't even walk up to warn the Emperor—
she just stood far away and watched.
The pain and guilt Tazuna felt back then—
she absolutely had to make the Emperor feel it once too!
Who says true empathy doesn't exist?
Hayakawa Tazuna — watching the drama.JPG
Tokai Teio noticed something off about Fuka Shirayuki—
because she was right beside her, so she could clearly see the tears in Shirayuki's eyes…!
"What are you doing!?" Tokai Teio stepped in front of Fuka Shirayuki.
The Lady couldn't help glancing at the Emperor.
The Lady thought—
Emperor.
Be honest. Haven't you had a moment where you wondered…
aren't we kind of the villains in that novel?
Why is Tokai Teio always standing on Fuka Shirayuki's side?
We're friends!
And right in front of you is a senior you admire most!
Is Fuka Shirayuki some kind of succubus!?
Symboli Rudolf was even more confused.
What is going on?
Why did she suddenly start crying?
She could understand Teio crying…
but why was Fuka Shirayuki crying?
Because she was too excited from winning?
It was obvious:
right now, Fuka Shirayuki wasn't capable of normal conversation.
Not only could Tokai Teio tell—
Symboli Rudolf could tell too.
She was thinking:
What on earth has this Uma Musume been through?
At the same time—
"Sis! Sis!"
A junior-high girl, calling out with an affectionate title, barged in in a rush.
Behind her were staff members shouting that entry was forbidden, trying to intercept her.
Fuka Chiori insisted the person inside was her sister—
but she couldn't provide enough proof.
The staff didn't want her entering a private backstage area…
but she forced her way in anyway.
Fuka Chiori immediately spotted her sister being blocked—
and she could see the tears in her sister's eyes…
She bared her teeth like a little wolf:
"What do you want to do to my sister!?"
"???" Symboli Rudolf: "What did I do!?"
Fuka Chiori dashed to her sister's side and started huffing:
"Hah!"
Entering her spinosaurus full-power stance!
Fuka Shirayuki suddenly noticed her little sister running over.
It was as if her soul snapped back into her body—
a smile bloomed on her face.
"Hu…"
The girl murmured a broken syllable and opened her arms.
Fuka Chiori hugged her sister fiercely, slowly—holding on for a long, long time without letting go.
Her fluffy hair smelled like lemon shampoo.
The sun-baked asphalt and the salty-sweet sea breeze drifted over—an oddly comforting scent.
The last strip of sunlight sank beyond the horizon.
In this world, only the two of them could truly trust each other, rely on each other.
This was what was called family—love poured out, without holding back.
Fuka Chiori bared her teeth at the people in front of them and said, very fierce, very fierce:
"We're going home."
No normal person would try to stop them at that point…
Clearly—
something was wrong with Fuka Shirayuki.
Symboli Rudolf stood there, lost in thought.
She couldn't help looking to Teio and asking:
"What's wrong with Fuka Shirayuki?"
Tokai Teio was equally baffled.
"…I don't know."
She stared at Fuka Shirayuki's strange, departing back and froze too.
But then Hayakawa Tazuna suddenly popped out, wearing a gleeful, malicious grin, walked up to the Emperor, and patted her shoulder.
"It's fine. After a while, you'll understand."
She was determined to make the Emperor feel the same guilt she'd felt that day!
And…
in her heart, Hayakawa Tazuna sighed as if moved—
The bond between those two sisters…
really is nice.
…
After leaving Tokyo Racecourse, a bleak autumn wind slipped into the sisters' sleeves.
Now that she'd finally calmed down, Fuka Chiori's heart was pounding.
She couldn't even imagine she'd dared to do something that risky—defying legendary figures of the Uma Musume world, defying those families—just to protect her sister…
But that was normal.
If even she didn't love her sister, who else would?
Because of family… because of her schooling—
her sister had already given up everything in life.
Leaving the runway she once took pride in—
seven years and eleven months.
Fuka Chiori didn't know what feelings her sister had carried all that time while she worked.
Could she endure the ugliness of life?
Could she endure this cold world?
The sun rose and set, and the time refracted by it was even longer than words could describe.
Some people were born into peace.
Others had to lower their heads and trade themselves for it.
Fuka Shirayuki had completely sacrificed herself to support the family.
Fuka Chiori sometimes imagined her sister still standing on that proud racetrack…
And now…
Fuka Shirayuki had finally found herself again.
Blood-red maple leaves bloomed in October.
The girl stood beneath a streetlamp, looking at this beautiful world—everything as it had always been.
Pouring love into a cold world.
Fuka Chiori looked at her sister's face, feelings tangled.
So—
she said:
"Sis, I love you."
Fuka Shirayuki finally stopped, turned her head, looked at her little sister, and replied seriously:
"I love you too."
Fuka Chiori thought—
Keep running, sis.
Keep running—
until you find yourself again.
…
Next time: Preview.
Fuka Shirayuki listened to the voice in her head.
[My superpower refreshes weekly—]
[Warning: virus intrusion detected. Automatic disinfection has begun!]
The bored girl froze. "What's going on?"
Don't you go breaking my system-girl!
[Disinfection complete.]
[System upgrade complete.]
["Divine Pen Uma Musume" 1.0 system loaded successfully! Great ambitions ahead!]
[New functions updated. Host, please explore their effects.]
-------
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