"Sigh, Miss Everlamp is closely chasing the dazzling golden light ahead, but the distance! The gap isn't closing! And behind Everlamp, the remaining six Uma Musume are pursuing this grey-haired racer's figure."
"A peculiar scene has unfolded on the track: the golden Nearl is far ahead, racing in a league of her own. Trailing behind her by over a dozen lengths is the grey-haired Everlamp, and behind Everlamp, the main pack follows, already eight or nine lengths back!"
"Incredible, utterly incredible! Margaret Nearl is showing us with her sheer power that she has absolute confidence—even treating this official race as her debut, she can dominate effortlessly, leaving all her rivals far behind!"
The commentators and spectators off-track were cheering excitedly for this rare, once-in-a-decade spectacle, but on the track, it was a different story.
"Haah... haah... haah..."
Everlamp was gasping for breath. Her vision had started to blur, but the figure ahead remained as distant and dazzling as ever.
'I can't catch up!' she screamed inwardly.
'Since I was little, no one has ever been able to keep up with me. If I wanted to, I could overtake anyone. I thought... I really thought...'
Her body grew heavier and heavier. They had only covered 700 meters of the 1400-meter race, yet Everlamp felt as exhausted as if she had already run 2000 meters.
'...Is this what it feels like to be left far behind? The frustration, the ache, the bitterness... I'm experiencing these emotions for the very first time.'
Her feet continued pushing forward, feeling the wind whip across her face. Everlamp picked up her pace once again.
"Nearl... Margaret Nearl. Such a lovely name. I'd really like to be friends with her..."
"Everlamp! Everlamp is accelerating! It's only the mid-stage of the race—is it wise for her to push now?!"
"Everlamp won all three of her previous races by leading from start to finish. She must be feeling terribly frustrated now—after all, she's a three-time winner, and those victories came so easily to her."
"According to post-race analyses, Everlamp didn't even give her all in those three races. She just ran, and victory followed."
"Looking at how things stand now, if not for Nearl's stunning emergence, this race would likely have been Everlamp's for the taking. What a shame—her winning streak is about to be broken."
'No.'
Everlamp silently refuted the commentators. She wasn't here for the sake of a winning streak.
The reason she ran on the track was simply because she loved to run.
She loved the feeling of freedom, the solid comfort of her feet against the earth, the sensation of flight when she pushed her limits—she adored everything about running.
Everyone on the track striving toward a goal, conveying their feelings through the race itself, the clash of souls and auras—that was why she competed.
But before this...
"Three consecutive wins! Everlamp is unstoppable! Is she the next grey-haired star? Let's look forward to her future performances!"
The commentator's words from her past victories still echoed in her ears.
No.
This wasn't right.
This wasn't the kind of race she wanted. This wasn't the running she yearned for.
'They're all so weak,' Everlamp had thought back then. 'I can win just by running like this. It's nothing like what I imagined...'
And after winning, she found it harder to make friends. No one was as warm or kind as the characters in the stories she'd read.
Gradually, even running ceased to bring her joy. Winning without effort made it feel like a chore—just another task to complete.
Until today.
'Today, I met someone good—someone who quietly helped me by stepping on that nail to conceal it, then acted as though it were nothing and asked for no thanks.'
'Right then, I became interested in her, so I stuck close.'
'Just as I thought, she's a kind person—patiently talking with me, warm and polite in her words and actions, just like a knight from a storybook!'
The urge to befriend her surged within, but soon anxiety crept in.
What if she won again this time? What if this person distanced herself like the other Uma Musume did?
Worries swirled in Everlamp's mind. She didn't want to miss this chance to make a friend.
And then the commentator's words made her hesitate even more.
'Her debut race! What do I do? This is Miss Nearl's debut. If I win, there's no way we can become friends. Even if Miss Nearl doesn't mind, I'd never forgive myself.'
Burdened by these thoughts, she stepped onto the track—only to have them utterly shattered the moment that figure began to run.
Now it wasn't about whether she might hurt Miss Nearl's feelings—it was about whether she was even worthy of being Miss Nearl's friend!
"But even telling myself that... I still can't catch up!"
Everlamp felt like crying. She was already at her limit, yet the gap continued to widen.
That figure grew increasingly distant, yet strangely, alongside her frustration and anxiety, Everlamp also felt a flicker of joy.
"This is it—this is the kind of race I've always dreamed of! Giving it your all, clashing souls, forging friendships through competition! This is the kind of race I wanted to be a part of!"
"Margaret Nearl!"
Everlamp shouted, her face a mix of delight and bitterness, complicating her otherwise cute features.
Off the track, Fujimasa and the others were watching this already-decided race.
"Even though we've seen Nearl race against you before, Fujimasa, it's still breathtaking to watch now," Rudy Lemono remarked with emotion.
"Yeah, on the track, all I felt was sheer frustration, but from the stands, I can see a different perspective," Fujimasa March said, her tone layered with complexity.
"Nearl's talent is easily on par with Oguri Cap's. Her runaway racing style captivates the entire audience. What glorious achievements will she reach in the future?"
As for Norn Ace nearby? Her eyes were already sparkling with admiration.
"Ahh... this is trouble," Kitahara Jo groaned, covering his face in distress.
"A result this outrageous will definitely catch the attention of the central association. Maybe even the Emperor herself will come again."
The thought alone made cold sweat break out on his back.
"Please, anyone but the Emperor... I can't handle another visit from her..."
Amid the roaring cheers filling the stadium, Kitahara's voice was completely drowned out—especially with the commentators exclaiming in amazement.
"Here it comes! The final 300 meters! Nearl is still leading. No—wait! At this point, Nearl might as well be in a race of her own! She's running as if she's all alone out there!"
"Astounding, utterly astounding! Nearl is still accelerating—she's got another gear! I think there's no need to say more!"
"Though she hasn't crossed the finish line yet, I'm calling it now: the winner is none other than the golden flash—Margaret Nearl!"
"This is the most exhilarating race I've ever commentated on—and also the most unbelievable one in my entire career!"
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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.