In her distant hometown, Kousei's brilliant performance left everyone dumbfounded.
"I knew she was strong, but I never imagined she'd be this strong," Black Bullet couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Leo Durban agreed. "Her final leg was truly outstanding. Her technique in the Spring Tenno Sho has become even more refined. She's found her Weapon."
The moment Kousei won, Tokai Teio's expression relaxed. Deep down, she had always believed in Kousei, but worry was inevitable.
Leo Durban and Black Bullet both turned their gazes to Teio, who rose with a leisurely, confident air.
"Let's go," she said. "It's time we rode the hurricane of this era too."
The tide of history was unstoppable. With Tokai Teio at the helm, a storm was quietly brewing, poised to sweep through all of Tracen Academy.
At the Mejiro Estate, the Legendary Strongest awaited her rival at their promised place, waiting for the day she would return, renowned throughout the world, victorious.
As for Kousei, she had her own epiphany on her journey to claim the title of Peak. Only now did she truly understand what she had seen in Symboli Rudolf all those years ago. Was the Emperor's greatness defined by her Seven Crowns? No. Symboli Rudolf's greatness lay in being hope itself—in bringing light to the people of Central during that dark era.
It wasn't just about fame and fortune; it was about bringing hope to the world.
The Umamusume drawn to Kousei's spirit would come to understand the meaning she conveyed with her back as she forged ahead.
"Kousei... I wish I could be like her..." Rice Shower murmured, her voice laced with frustration and despair.
They were friends, so Rice Shower knew Kousei's situation better than anyone. She had even been the one to introduce Kousei to gate techniques. The journey Kousei had taken to reach this point was incredibly arduous. Rice Shower had cried uncontrollably the day Kousei's registration was revoked; it felt like her world was collapsing.
Yet, even after enduring so many setbacks, Kousei never gave up. Starting from the most obscure races, she captured the world's attention. After defeating Morgan, no one dared question Kousei's strength.
Rice Shower was certain that Kousei would one day reach the Peak.
If only... if only I were as brave as Kousei.
That was why her sense of loss felt so overwhelming. Rice Shower lacked courage. The weight of public opinion crushed her, leaving her breathless. She hadn't been banned from racing or had her registration stripped away.
Rice Shower was physically unharmed, yet she couldn't bring herself to lift her legs to run.
Kousei would be heartbroken if she were here. The young girl who had smiled and told her, "I'll never give up running, no matter what," was now hiding in the shadows, living each day in fear.
Rice Shower gazed at Kousei's retreating figure. For a fleeting moment, she seemed to hear Kousei's voice urging her: "Run!"
But the moment passed, and Rice Shower was plunged back into cold reality.
"It's no use... Rice Shower has already..."
Just as Rice Shower was wallowing in self-pity, the door opened again.
"Ah, it's Little Rice!"
"It really is!"
It was Twin Turbo and Urara. They always managed to find Rice Shower during their "Haunted House Explorations."
"Eh?!" Rice Shower wasn't startled; she was just baffled. How did they always find her?
"I heard you haven't been coming to school lately. Are you okay? Are you feeling sick?" Twin Turbo asked.
"Ah! Being sick is no good! Urara hates being sick the most. When you're sick, even carrots taste bad," Urara said, her face scrunching up in distaste.
The two little ones were oblivious to Rice Shower's inner turmoil. Rice Shower had planned to brush them off with a vague excuse, but she couldn't resist Urara and Twin Turbo's persistence. Half-heartedly, she let them drag her away.
"Ugh, why did I let Urara and Twin Turbo drag me out here?"
The moment she stepped outside, Rice Shower regretted it. Urara and Twin Turbo had practically dragged her out of the academy. After the Kikuka Sho incident, Rice Shower had isolated herself from the world, terrified of public opinion. Now, the thought of being exposed to everyone's gaze, of facing a torrent of accusations, filled her with such dread that tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to overflow at any moment.
"Rice! This is for you!"
Urara's cheerful voice broke through Rice Shower's despair. Peeking through one eye, she saw a double-scoop ice cream cone held right in front of her.
"Hehe! KING-chan says that when you're sad, eating something helps. And in summer, you've gotta have ice cream!"
"And Turbo's too!" Twin Turbo added, scooping a flavor Rice Shower didn't have. In no time, thanks to Urara and Twin Turbo's efforts, Rice Shower's ice cream cone was five scoops high.
"That's enough! Enough!" Rice Shower cried out in alarm, finally stopping the two little whirlwinds.
Rice Shower was naturally a deeply pessimistic child, but thankfully, Urara and Twin Turbo were eternal optimists. Thanks to them, she temporarily forgot her troubles, and the three of them were soon lost in laughter.
By chance, Rice Shower spotted Kyoei Bowgun again.
Kyoei Bowgun had long since retired from the Twinkle Series. Rice Shower's hard-won good mood instantly plummeted. But when she focused her gaze, she froze.
Kyoei Bowgun was surrounded by a few friends, laughing and talking as they freely enjoyed the beauty of their youth. Though she had retired early, it seemed to be a blessing in disguise. She hadn't suffered any career-ending injuries and was perfectly healthy in her retirement.
You can still be happy even if you're not a racing Umamusume, just a normal girl.
Rice Shower stared, lost in thought. No one could guess what was running through her mind.
A young man approached, and Rice Shower recognized him—Kyoei Bowgun's Trainer. But both had left the world of Umamusume racing. Kyoei Bowgun was now just an ordinary girl with a tail, and her Trainer was a regular office worker, saving up to open his own shop someday.
The moment Kyoei Bowgun saw her Trainer, her entire face lit up. She ran to meet him, and they walked away side by side.
She never noticed Rice Shower. But even if she had, there would likely have been nothing left to say. She had already said everything she needed to last time.
Rice Shower watched Kyoei Bowgun's retreating figure, deep in thought.
"Observing Rice Shower. Status: Pondering."
"!!!"
Rice Shower's ears and tail shot straight up in surprise. She whipped her head around and saw someone she never expected.
"Bourbon..."
Rice Shower wondered if she had been so lost in thought that she hadn't even noticed Urara and Twin Turbo disappearing. Now, this encounter with Bourbon felt incredibly awkward.
They had been the closest of friends, yet overnight, they had grown so distant.
"Urara... Turbo... Where are you?!" Rice Shower wailed inwardly, on the verge of tears.
-
Meanwhile, with Twin Turbo and Urara:
"KING-chan! Hehe!"
"No way, Urara. It's almost curfew. We have to get back to the dorms right now."
"Let go of Turbo! Turbo still wants to run!"
"No running! Back to the dorms!"
"No!"
"If you go back now, I'll make you your favorite bento."
"Yay!"
And so, each went their separate ways, escorted back to their dorms under the watchful eyes of King Halo and Hishi Amazon.
As for Rice Shower and Bourbon... could this reunion between dearest friends restore what they had lost?