"Here she is, the crowd's second favorite, the tenacious contender who never gives up despite repeated defeats—the powerful Uma Musume who's taken second place in over eight races featuring Nearl! Fujimasa March!"
"Ooooh!!!"
"March! March! March!"
The stands erupted in rhythmic chanting.
The audience still held immense enthusiasm for this Uma Musume, even though she hadn't secured a single victory all year.
"What? Why are they so excited?"
Kawamura Hiyori seemed startled, completely baffled by the situation.
"See, Hiyori, you're still green."
Shibasaki Koichi, feeling the praise directed at his charge, wore a happy smile on his typically stoic face.
"No one ever said winners are everything. The charm of competition goes far beyond that. It's precisely because the path to first place is so arduous that the unwavering determination to never give up shines even brighter."
"Of course, she herself would never accept that."
--+--
"Here she comes, here she comes! The much anticipated sun, the flawless hard worker! She's built a new chasm of strength, looking back from far ahead at everyone behind her—the Uma Musume!"
"Margaret Nearl!"
"~~~~~~~~"
No words were needed, no descriptions necessary. The roaring cheers said it all.
From past to present, no local Uma Musume had ever received so much support, so much expectation.
Only she had achieved it.
"No matter how many times I see this, it always amazes me. Nearl-nee, you're truly incredible."
Everlamp, walking alongside Nearl in the tunnel, couldn't help but voice her thoughts.
They hadn't even left the passage yet, but the cheers from outside were already palpable.
"I'm unworthy. I can only hope my performance lives up to such affection."
Nearl was, as always, humble—so much so that it almost felt absurd to Everlamp.
"I'll never understand why you sell yourself short like this, Nearl-nee, but I think you should take more pride. You're the eternal goal for every local Uma Musume now."
"Lamp-chan, you don't understand. Humility is a form of self-discipline and reflection. It doesn't mean I think less of myself. On the contrary, it's because I hold myself to the highest standards that I remain humble."
Nearl defended her life philosophy, while Everlamp waved her hands, wearing an expression that said, "Yeah, yeah, sure."
"Alright, I get it. Nearl-nee, it's time for you to go on."
The tunnel exit was right ahead. Everlamp stopped there.
"I'm off, Lamp-chan."
"Go! Just like all those times before, win beautifully!"
With a firm push on Nearl's back, sending her jogging out of the tunnel, Everlamp smiled as she watched her retreating figure.
"...You know, when I first became a support Uma Musume, I had all sorts of ulterior motives. But being with you, Nearl-nee, slowly changed me. Your kindness, your integrity, your care for others—it all deeply influenced me."
She stretched a hand forward, feeling the surge of emotion within her.
For some reason, Everlamp felt she had indeed gained a certain power that could drive her forward on the track.
"It's a shame, really. In the past, I might have happily used it to gallop across the track."
Her heart filled with the desire to run, but Everlamp withdrew her hand and pressed it firmly over her chest.
"But now, there's someone I can't bear to leave behind. This power will probably never be seen by anyone again. But that's alright too."
Recalling the past year spent together, Everlamp smiled, content.
--+--
"Here she is! Our undisputed, unrivaled number one! She's arrived on the stage! How far will she push the record this time?"
"Let the cheers roar!"
Stepping onto the all-too-familiar stage, greeting the same passionate crowd, Nearl remained unshaken.
With her left hand, she swept off her jacket; her right hand rested over her heart. Nearl performed that familiar, unforgettable salute to the audience.
"Oh, that salute again! Nearl's signature move!"
"Ah, honestly, other Uma Musume have tried to imitate that sharp, handsome salute, but no one does it like Nearl."
"Of course! Remember that 'Track Side' magazine feature? The audience gave her the nickname 'Knight' because of her demeanor."
("Track Side"—that's Symboli Rudolf's magazine.)
"But if you ask me, I prefer the nickname Nearl's rivals gave her."
"Oh, I know! You mean 'The Radiant Knight,' right? Yeah, that one suits her temperament perfectly."
The commentators chatted casually while Nearl descended the stage and stepped onto the sand, beginning her warm-up.
Stretching her limbs, loosening up.
And, most importantly, getting a feel for the track.
But as Nearl stepped onto the sand, she noticed something different.
'The ground... feels hard. Unusually hard. Only slightly better than concrete.'
After walking around a bit, she confirmed it—and quickly realized what had happened.
"The heavy rain yesterday oversaturated the ground. With this winter chill, the sand has partially frozen, hasn't it?"
"Looks like everyone's speed will increase today. But we might all need a good rest after the race to stay healthy."
Nearl worried inwardly.
"All entrants, to the gates!"
As she pondered, a melodious tune played, and the commentator's voice echoed through the venue.
"Gate one, group one—Margaret Nearl!"
"Gate two, group two—…"
"Now, all sixteen Uma Musume have entered the starting gates! Let's await the start of the race!"
Inside the gate, Nearl took deep breaths.
That sense of isolation again. Her vision compressed to a minimum, seeing only the small space before her.
But her heart already saw the distant scene.
The tense breaths of her opponents, the cold, hard texture of the track, the waving arms of the crowd, and Everlamp's trusting gaze.
"Time to run again."
Her slightly closed eyes snapped open just as the indicator lights above the gates all changed.
With a loud clang, the iron gates swung open. All Uma Musume burst out within a second.
The Kasamatsu Kinen had officially begun.
"They're off! A perfect start! No one missed the gate today!"
"And as expected, our Radiant Knight takes the lead immediately!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! 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.