Chapter 132: The Cadran Prize in a Dream (Part 2)

Right-handed turf, 4000 meters. Clear skies. The ground is heavy going, leaning slightly towards very soft. It's nowhere near the nightmare footing of the Gold Cup, but it's still more than enough to sap stamina and spirit alike. Some parts have also been torn up by earlier races.

With the additional condition of a naturally formed course, simply choosing the shortest path could lead to excessive stamina loss. You had to read the terrain, find the parts easiest to run on. It was the kind of marathon race that demanded a sense for correct positioning—something cultivated in Europe, not Japan—and the experience to judge turf conditions precisely.

『And bursting out from the inner gate is Apollo Rainbow! Once again going for a bold, runaway lead that’s got the whole venue buzzing!』

I launched with a rocket start, nearly losing my balance as I surged to the front. As I expected, the past year has worn me down. Even things that used to come easy feel a little clunky now.

Still, it’s enough to handle the Cadran Prize—and the Arima. And if it gets dicey, I’ll just grit my teeth and hold out through sheer willpower.

No one tries to stop me after my explosive start. Everyone else hangs back, waiting and watching. If they tried to take me on now, they'd only end up destroying themselves. —Besides, there’s no designated pacemaker in this race. So it’s only natural for them to hesitate.

Looks like they finally get it. That when I pull off a perfect runaway lead, there’s no stopping me—only inevitable defeat awaits. A one-sided imposition of absurdity that ends in escape. That’s what a runaway strategy is. The sheer explosive power of an extreme racing style—never to be underestimated when it clicks.

『Second favorite Kayf Tara is holding to the rear. Third favorite Angely is leading the mid-pack, following closely behind Apollo Rainbow. Oh! The other horse girls are following Angely and Kayf Tara’s lead, allowing Apollo Rainbow almost complete freedom at the front! Is this really okay!?』

『At the Gold Cup, despite the awful going, they kept rotating marks on her... but she still won with a record-breaking runaway. That traumatic memory must be hard to shake. Most likely, they’ll all launch a long spurt together once Kayf Tara—who got the closest to Apollo Rainbow—makes her move.』

Behind me, the other horse girls battle for position. But their moves aren’t aimed at me. They're trying to outmaneuver mid-pack rivals to gain better positioning for their final sprint.

Should I say they've improved a bit in how they deal with me? Or maybe their strategy is still half-formed? Either way, just saving their final kick for later isn’t going to cut it against me. Unless they have a truly extreme move—like Kayf Tara’s explosive force—there’s no way they’ll catch me. I was sure of that.

Of course, I still have my doubts. Everything I just said is based on the assumption of regular races—ones where competitors are pacing themselves to preserve career longevity. But if everyone throws everything they have into this one race, whose burst will prevail—I honestly can’t say.

It’s precisely because the future is uncertain that I go all in. I force the others to respond to my strategy. I keep my thoughts spinning at max speed to move with no regrets.

The current turf—heavy going—is Kayf Tara’s specialty. She burst out from the gate just outside mine and is now holding back calmly, waiting for her moment.

Rather than using a surprise early move like before, she’s going all-out in a head-to-head showdown. For our second match to determine who’s the strongest, she’s going to use every ounce of power she has.

The words I swore that night come flooding back. Burn my life for glory and victory. Anything less than winning is worthless. If you want to reach the pinnacle of strength, you need the resolve to throw everything away—even your own end.

When I felt Kayf Tara’s resolve, and that of the other horse girls, I could swear the air around us turned cold. Was it a northern wind? Or maybe just the chilling effect of cold sweat?

It felt like something invisible was rising. Drawing on the passion of the horse girls, it had begun to affect reality. A nameless premonition whispered it in my ear.

And just as I approached the first false straight, a random memory flickered in my mind.

It was something that felt like it shouldn’t come to mind in a race to determine the strongest. Just an ordinary moment from some long-forgotten day.

---

"Wa—wait! Will you sign a contract with me!?"

"Huh? You don’t have a trainer?"

"No, I don’t! I’ve put all of them on hold for now!"

"…You’re asking me to be your trainer?"

"That’s what I meant when I said it. Is that a problem?"

"…Are you sure?"

"I am! Please! Make me the strongest stayer!!"

"Of course! Of course I will!! I’d be honored to help you!!"

---

That random memory only sharpened my resolve.

Those words I swore that day were way too light. Something like, “Hey, this trainer looks kinda promising, let’s make a bold move.” Totally spontaneous and utterly unplanned—that was me.

And yet, Tomio Momozawa responded to those words with sparkling eyes. Even if part of it was personal for him, ever since then, I’ve been enchanted by his gaze.

This guy really is serious. He’s seriously trying to win a 4000-meter G1. Realizing that filled me with such joy. Sure, I was also kind of terrified—“This trainer’s intense”—but in the midst of confusion and expectation, I was able to keep going with my training.

The reason I was able to dream at all was thanks to the horse girls I saw on TV. But the mental strength I needed to realize that dream—he gave me nearly all of it. Because the closest adult in my life came at me with genuine, unshakable resolve, I was able to respond in kind.

Some trainers don’t get serious. Some even shrink their horse girls’ dreams. So meeting someone like him... it made me truly happy.

I want to pour all that gratitude, all that passion, into this sprint. I want to deliver a race that goes beyond even his words—words like, “If you wanna be the strongest stayer, you gotta sprint at full speed for all 4000 meters,” said with a straight face. I want to leave him unable to ever be satisfied watching another horse girl again. Look only at me. At the me who's becoming the strongest stayer. With that thought, I shift my runaway gear up another notch.

『Whoa!? Apollo Rainbow, who was around the midpoint of the false straight, is already adopting a sprinting posture! Has she read the mix of soft and heavy going just like in the Gold Cup? Is she aiming to replicate that victory!?』

They say that in European turf, if you don’t read the ground right, your acceleration will suffer――apparently.

I don’t know why. But it felt like I was being guided by something transcendent, and frost had settled on the path I was meant to follow.

Crunching softly underfoot, I ran along the road that was now painted white.

――I’m pulling ahead. My speed is completely different from the others. Even if I’m drifting slightly outward, I’m still running way faster.

Could this be the power of the 『Unknown Domain Zone』?

A snowy path carved out by extreme concentration…

No, it doesn’t matter right now. My legs are light. Like I’ve grown wings. The exhaustion built up in my core—it’s gone. Blown away, or maybe just vanished.

There’s no ruin there. And it seems that all the other horse girls are being affected too.

Amplified by passion, the power of the 『Unknown Domain Zone』 swallowed the impending ruin creeping toward the horse girls, thanks to their tremendous resolve. The emotional surge, searing itself into the brain, finally began to affect their physical bodies. The domain of passion spreading from me erased even the ruin gnawing at their forms, giving everyone new wings.

In other words――everyone was now sprinting with all their might, on a once-in-a-lifetime level so extreme, that even self-destruction wouldn’t be surprising—and yet, they wouldn’t break down.

Refined by passion and evolved through resolve, the 『Unknown Domain Zone』――had chosen to draw out the full power of my rivals, and then crush them utterly.

To become the strongest stayer of all—by running beyond even the strongest runs of the strongest rivals.

What lay ahead was hell.

A once-in-a-lifetime clash of total commitment and full power—a never-before-seen battle of attrition.

In other words, paradise for stayers.

The most brutal race designed to obliterate the cardiopulmonary systems of all contenders.

The most grueling war of endurance in the world was about to begin at the ParisLongchamp Racecourse.

『We've just passed the 800-meter mark from the start——wait, what the——!? For some reason, the Uma Musume in the back have started charging forward!! The ones who were supposed to be holding back are now sprinting straight toward Apollo Rainbow!!』

『Huh!? Have they never heard of pacing strategy!?』

The moment the Uma Musume in the back sensed what was happening, they acted fast. The ones who had been waiting to make their move suddenly shifted gears, mercilessly closing in on me just as I launched into my final sprint.

The first to arrive was Angely. Her escape strategy was trickier than mine, but for her, a bold runner like me must’ve been a serious thorn in her side. She came straight at me to take me down.

(“Apollo-chan! I don’t really get what’s going on, but——I’m taking you down!!”)

(“Bring it on! If you think you can do it, then try!!”)

Angely, who I had put a wide gap on, had already caught up diagonally behind me. She followed the same efficient course I had taken, slipped into my slipstream, and then unleashed a devastating finishing kick.

That’s the explosive power that comes from putting everything into a race. A massive wall I have to overcome, led by the domain of my soul. Even while suffering at the hands of the best rivals, I must still crush my enemies—my heart was shouting that to me.

And when a bold runner and a tricky escape artist clash——that’s when I remember.

A race I could never forget, and a precious, gray-haired rival.

---

"A big one. A really big catch, huh... Sei-chan kinda wants to land something that’ll make everyone’s jaws drop too! Kyaha☆"

"...Then I’ll catch one even bigger—so big it won’t lose to yours, Sei-chan."

"Apollo-chan, you’re not bad yourself."

"...Same to you. I guess this makes it a declaration of war between us."

"I’m not really that kind of person, but...I’m getting pretty fired up now."

"I’m totally burning right now."

"The Classics—the Satsuki Sho is MINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

『It’s Seiun Sky by a mere 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) in first place!! Apollo Rainbow just barely misses out in second!!』

"...Congrats, Sei-chan."

"Apollo-chan...thank you..."

---

——As if I could forget.

The Satsuki Sho. That race where Seiun Sky read everything and beat me. The day I cried over those 9 centimeters.

The boiling frustration, the shame. Even now, when I recall all the mistakes I made during that once-in-a-lifetime classic road, my whole body burns up.

For just a second, the image of Seiun Sky overlapped with Angely in my mind. But they’re completely different Uma Musume. Their racing styles couldn’t be more unlike. The only vague similarity is that they both use group-control escape styles that throw the clock into chaos.

But for me to ignite again, that was all the spark I needed. Surrendering to rage, I pushed my legs through steps so intense they'd destroy themselves without the protection of the『Unknown Territory Zone』, diving headfirst into a dead heat with Angely.

The first lap, right in front of the stands. We had both gone beyond the speed limits of any Uma Musume. With output levels that would shatter what they call “glass legs,” we slashed across the turf with reckless abandon.

(“Angely...GET OUT OF MY WAY!!”)

(“Ahaha! You’re amazing, Apollo-chan!! I’ve always wanted this—just this!! A fight where we slam everything into each other without a care in the world!!”)

My breathing was half gone. Even inside the protected realm of the『Unknown Territory Zone』, the words “life limit” and “slow down” were flashing red.

Angely’s face was pale. Probably mine was too. No—it's not just us. Everyone was fighting like their life depended on it. As our limits were pushed higher, we, the stayers, just kept trying to run beyond our bodies.

We were absolute fools. “If our legs are protected, then maybe we can push ju-u-ust a little more!?” “Even if I stop breathing for a bit...maybe no one’ll notice!” That’s the kind of dumb logic we were running on. Stayers really are the best. They're all outdated idiots. If you don’t have a brain stuffed full of STAMINA, you'd never even consider resurrecting long-distance racing in this era.

Right now, this very moment—we’re in heaven. Let’s run more. Let’s fight more. As long as we’re in this world, we can chase our dreams again and again.

(“Hey! Let us in on this too!!”)

(“Don’t go flirting just the two of you!!”)

『Down the long home stretch, Jet Bicycle and the others are closing in on Apollo Rainbow and Angely at the front!! What on earth is happening here!? Everyone’s throwing race theory out the window!!』

They passed the 1400-meter mark, and pressure came crashing down from all sides. Even with the limiter shattered, pain was still pain. If anything, the suffering had multiplied beyond reason due to the overwhelming speed and pressure.

Kayf Tara alone stayed at the very back. The other Uma Musume, who were supposed to hold back with her, couldn’t resist any longer and left her behind. What kind of closing run would she show now that her limiter was gone? It was eerie… and unbearably thrilling.

"Hah… ha, ha, kuh… hahaha—"

If I grind down every last one of you here, then without a doubt, I’ll become the strongest stayer alive. If I throw away my worries about a long racing career and crush the invincible Uma Musume, who now run with immortal backing—then I will become an absolutely unbeatable champion.

Dodging pursuers at high speed while nearly stopping my breath felt exhilarating. This pain—it felt like the very thing pulling my dream closer.

My jet-black racing uniform fluttered as mud-covered shoes tore into the turf. A monster race unfolded, approaching speeds of 70, 80—almost 90 kilometers per hour. The world howled in delirium.

Perhaps it was the speed, which brushed the limits of living beings, but something deep in my abdomen began convulsing unnaturally. However, the protection of the 『Unknown Territory Zone』 forcibly dragged me back to normality. Even when some Uma Musume seemed about to collapse mid-chase, they corrected their posture with movements beyond reason.

—My burning heart is screaming. To surpass who I was at the Gold Cup, both I and my rivals must awaken. And above that, an even greater version of me is essential. Show me your strongest run—for me!

Such arrogant emotions were what drew out the peak from my rivals.

Whenever they pushed too far and their bodies seemed on the verge of breaking, the 『Unknown Territory Zone』’s wild protection would kick in. Realizing they wouldn’t break even under that strain, the Uma Musume instinctively pushed their top speed even higher.

A loop of madness. An infinite hell, just for this race.

A terrifying race everyone dreams of… and everyone instinctively rejects.

This insane sprint that turned every previous race into ancient history transmitted an abnormal wave of excitement to the crowd gathered at ParisLongchamp.

And just as that excitement threatened to hit its peak—I remembered the face of a certain Uma Musume.

The face of the once strongest European stayer, worn down by reality and frayed at the edges.

---

"Apolo. Do you have a dream? I had a dream I could never give up."

"...What do you mean, 'had'?"

"The revival of long-distance racing—a genre that once flourished. Until three years ago, I clung to that dream. But it was futile."

"When I achieved the British Long-Distance Triple Crown, no one even looked my way. Everyone’s eyes were on the King George, the Arc, the Champion Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes..."

"No one even knew the long-distance races. They’d forgotten the Triple Crown existed. The Goodwood, the Doncaster—no one cared about the long-distance crown I won."

"Double Trigger!! Thank you for coming to Japan!!"

"You were amazing!!"

"Thank you for six incredible years!! I’ll never forget your racing!!"

"…………"

---

Green eyes wavered with sorrow. Double Trigger’s dream flashed through my mind. Her dream was to restore long-distance racing. To bring back its former glory.

...She never said it outright, but she must have also wanted to race on that restored long-distance stage—to reclaim that brilliance.

She couldn’t achieve her dream during her active years in Europe. But in the very end, she was saved. By me, who ran aiming to be like her. By her own pride and her racing.

Her dream must have come full circle and returned. That dream she carried had been passed to me—and now, it’s what created this moment.

I want to go around telling everyone—Racing is this fun! This free! It’s painful, frustrating, never goes as planned—but when it does, it’s overwhelmingly joyful.

I want to become a bridge of dreams for everyone who watches me. You could say I run just to let that feeling be known.

Somewhere in the distance, proud green eyes welled with tears. They said: Keep going. Don’t give up.

Beside her, another Triple Crown long-distance Uma Musume watched me. A former long-distance champion who gave everything for the genre’s revival. The two champions looked down upon the turf with eyes full of blessing and envy.

This 『Unknown Territory Zone』 is also my way of repaying the dreams I once had in Europe. Thank you for meeting my full strength. Thank you for creating a battlefield where I can go all out. That gratitude was part of the fire in my heart.

And this 『Unknown Territory Zone』 is also a sendoff for the next generation of Uma Musume—like dear little Yates, standing stunned beside them. Dream of me. Admire me. Be captivated by brilliance, just like I once was.

『While Apolo Rainbow pulls more than ten Uma Musume behind her—suddenly, the temperature is dropping rapidly! Thick clouds cover the skies, and thunder is already rumbling! It’s as if nature itself is responding to the intensity of the race!』

As madness erupted and the density of the race grew, the northern wind roared stronger. Perhaps the snowstorm raging within our mindscapes was starting to bleed into reality.

In a daze of euphoria and oxygen deprivation, I must’ve reached the limit of my mental circuits—because I hallucinated a monstrous single cherry tree blooming in full in the center of my vision. I gasped and widened my eyes—only to see all the other Uma Musume reacting the same. It seemed to be a hallucination only visible to those fighting on the turf.

(I don’t really get it, but—I’m getting pumped!)

(Hahaha! I feel amazing!!)

(Faster, faster! I’ll crush every last one of you!!)

ParisLongchamp was hell, after all. On the turf, not a single Uma Musume backed down. Faced with this madness, they were all trying to go even faster.

Maybe that’s exactly why they were here. Grinning with bared canines, I shattered the horseshoes underfoot at a pace that easily surpassed the Gold Cup’s.

No matter how much strength I poured in, the end never came. Infinite pain without end. This was the path of carnage I had chosen. But to keep up a last-spurt pace without even breathing properly—it was simply too painful.

Protected and still running by the 『Unknown Territory Zone』, my body held out—but it felt like my mind, wracked by unbearable pain, would reach its limit first.

2000 meters remaining. Finally reaching the halfway point. With foamy saliva at the corner of my lips, I dug in at the brink of collapse, keeping back the fierce chase behind me.

Angely’s relentless pressure. Other Uma Musume surging up to overtake. Some stuck close to Kayf Tara, trying to obstruct her—but ten or so were coming right at me—holding them all back on my own was a monumental task.

Honestly, I felt like I might black out and let go of this title of “strongest.” The ultimate title, right within reach. These champions capturing the strongest moment and throwing it right back at me. These two elements twisted together, threatening to fry my thoughts.

My vision and mind spun wildly, then scattered like mist. I’d reached my limit. Even with the power of resolve, I couldn’t endure any longer—and just as I was about to collapse to my knees—

(I… I…!)

My brain recalled the countless words I’d exchanged with my rivals.

---

"…Apollo, how can you keep going like that? Doesn’t it hurt? Don’t you ever feel like giving up? Even though there’s no guarantee you’ll get results?"

"…They say a top-class Uma Musume is someone who never gives up until the very end."

"Everyone has their own reasons to try. Maybe I won’t get the results I want. But if that’s the case, I’ll grit my teeth and push even harder. What really matters… is whether you give up or not, I think."

---

"Ugh—"

Don’t forget that vow and responsibility you made that day. You go around preaching to others, but when it’s your turn, you’re going to collapse and say,
“I couldn’t do it,”
“I couldn’t win”?

You don’t get to say that. Not for the rivals running in Japan. Not for the best friend who cares more than anyone about being top-class.

---

"Apollo-chan. Do you have a moment?"

"Grass-chan, what’s up?"

"Apollo-chan, please mark me. From start to finish, I want to clash with you at full strength."

"…H-Huh!?"

"Grass-chan, thank you… for giving it your all against me."

"…No. I may have lost, but I truly enjoyed myself."

---

I want to clash head-on from beginning to end. A race is a brawl between time spent training and natural talent. There’s nothing quite like winning after a dead heat.

That thrill is irreplaceable. No matter how many times you feel it, it never fades. If I could raise my victory cry on this ultimate stage—what kind of ecstasy would await me then?

---

"A-Apollo-chan! It’s a tie! A tie!!"

"We did it, we did it…! The Derby!! I became a Derby Uma Musume!! We did it, Mom!!"

"U—UWAAAHH! Spe-chan! I—I really did it—I became a Derby Uma Musume!!"

"Yeah—yeah!! We’re the Derby Uma Musume!!"

---

I want to feel that joy again. No, even greater joy than that.

With my reignited fighting spirit, I shake off the pursuing Angely and the others.

Everyone, follow me. Go beyond your limits. And become my nourishment.

Surpassing the long, frustrating path to the strongest—

The monstrous single sakura tree finally reaches full bloom.

――Uma Musume are beings who run carrying countless “feelings.” The stronger the feelings, the more likely miracles will happen that defy impossibility.

That miracle began with an unseasonal snowfall.

『The Uma Musume head into the third corner! Apollo Rainbow still leads the pack—…Snow…? S-Snow! Snow is falling on ParisLongchamp!!』

1,000 meters remaining. To make my dream come true, an unseasonal blizzard appears on the racetrack. It felt like a miracle had just been born into this world. The world responded to my feelings and is trying to change the race into an even harsher battlefield.

The worst and cruelest endurance race doesn’t just depend on the strength of its participants. Harsh race conditions are just as essential like heaven itself was telling us that.

That’s right. Mud-covered, snow-drenched, an absolute mess that’s the ideal endurance race. A championship for stamina doesn’t need gentle weather. The peak of staying power lies beyond the most brutal path.

The gale shifts into a precise headwind, and snow like cotton slams into my face. It’s nothing like getting drenched in rain. Snow melts slowly against the membranes of my eyes. And as it does, more falls to blind me elsewhere. I can only see the tiniest sliver ahead.

You’d have to be insane to keep running in this. But every Uma Musume who entered the Prix du Cadran had to know this could happen. They knew that by challenging my massive lead, they were jumping into a matching hell.

In other words, everyone was thrilled. Every single stayer here somehow all got a second wind and began the final sprint.

The audience, caught off guard by the sudden snow, finally falls silent.

Wondering if this is even real.

"――It’s like the realm of gods."

Someone murmured in the slightly quieted stadium.

Surely, the ‘realm of gods’ can’t be created alone. It was woven together by all 15 of us here.

The 14 others who answered my desperate yearning for the strongest have accelerated my feelings, and then, with just a tiny bit of miracle it happened ParisLongchamp became a hellish race.

Pain, desire, desperation passions burning hot enough to consume one’s very self all combined to create this miraculous domain. A miracle race unlike any other. A miracle born from consuming reality itself. Faced with such a Prix du Cadran, there’s no way we purebred stayers wouldn’t give it our all.

800 meters to go. Turning the long corner toward the false straight. Physically speaking, we were holding on, but mentally, the Uma Musume should’ve been exhausted—and yet, they began to revive.

Their protected bodies came alive, running as they were, unguarded and free. No tactics, no strategy. Just a world ruled by willpower and stamina.

Instead of exhaling, it felt like we were coughing up blood with every stride squeezing out everything as we burst into the false straight.

Even before the final stretch, my heart was pounding like it was going to explode. Or rather than pounding, it was thrashing, twisting. It hurt beneath my ribs. The raging blizzard made it impossible to hear anything. The freezing pain heightened every sensation and pushed us to the edge.

And still—our bodies rejoiced. Our hearts rejoiced. Kayf Tara, Angely—everyone was smiling.

All 18 of us had wished for this.

A battle where even our futures would be consumed as we clashed.

I love stayers. I love long-distance.

I, I want to fight on the greatest stage against the greatest rivals. That’s why I’ve been running all this time to become the strongest stayer by surviving such fierce battles.

Even through the screen, the crowd’s excitement, the fun, the fire of the race my younger self wanted it all. I wanted to create it with my own hands.

Those sparkling dream fragments, like snow crystals. I wanted to create those mesmerizing flakes myself. To become an Uma Musume who would captivate everyone and make hearts dance.

『――They round the fourth corner from the false straight and charge into the final stretch!! The hellish Prix du Cadran has less than 600 meters to go!!』

Final corner. 600 meters remaining.

『Apollo Rainbow still leads!! Angely and Kayf Tara are accelerating, closing in fast!! The other Uma Musume are pushing even harder, spreading out wide!!』

――And then.

The ten Uma Musume chasing me—

『—Eh?』

Smiled as they collapsed.

『J-Jet Bicycle slows down—no, See You Later, Snow Love, Silent Joker, Golden Nedawi—…most of the Uma Musume are lifting their heads and drastically slowing down!? They’re collapsing into the snowy scene as if they’ve used up all their strength!! Only Apollo Rainbow, Angely, and Kayf Tara remain!!』

Even if their future racing longevity was protected by their 『Domains』—many of the Uma Musume couldn’t withstand the explosive moment that was the Cadouran Prize.

There were limits, even to a once-in-a-lifetime surge. As long as Uma Musume are living beings, there are walls that simply cannot be surpassed.

And yet, there were three Uma Musume who did surpass that wall.

Apollo Rainbow, Angely, Kayf Tara—the three bound by fate.

『It’s a final stretch showdown between the Big Three!! As expected, it all comes down to these three!!』

(I'm not gonna lose, Apollo Rainbow!!)

(I'm gonna win!! Win, win, wiiin!!)

(My lead is unshakable!! Fall before me!!)

"――The title of strongest stayer is mineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"

In the final sprint, as I ran through a blinding white world, the hearts of El Condor Pasa and Green Titan were right beside me.

"Apollo-chan, goooo for ittttttt!!"

"Just a bit more!! The finish line’s almost there!!"

And it wasn’t just them.

I saw the clear eyes of Seiun Sky.

――[Angling x Scheming]

『Apollo Rainbow accelerates even more!!?』

Special Week’s profile was right nearby.

I could feel the electrifying aura of Grass Wonder.

I saw King Halo, covered in grit and determination.

My heart was filled with that jangling mess of emotions.

――[No Name]

The fleeting silhouette of Silence Suzuka flashed through my mind.

I remembered the gentle gaze of Maruzensky.

The radiant smiles of Mejiro Palmer and Daitaku Helios shone bright.

The dreams of Lumos and Double Trigger pushed at my back.

The countless wishes written on the banners of support were watching over me.

――[WE NEVER GIVE UP!!]

The words I vowed with Chiefs Glider and Blushing Charm came back to me.

Yeats’ admiration gave me strength.

And lastly—memories of my everyday life with Tomio Momozawa lit up the inside of my eyelids.

---

"Apollo really suits the snow."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I mean, your pink hair against the snow really stands out—it kinda looks delicious, in a way."

"Heh, what’s that supposed to mean?"

"Apollo. You know, cherry blossoms—they don’t bloom until it gets cold enough."

"Life’s a strange thing. For cherry blossoms to bloom beautifully, they have to endure a really long period of cold… they need to store up energy."

"――Eternity, huh."

"…Did you say something?"

"Nah, just wondering… if something like eternity really exists in this world."

"Whoa, getting all philosophical on me out of nowhere..."

"People talk about infinity and eternity, but I wonder if those things actually exist. Even the snowman we built—it’ll probably melt before long."

"…You’re right. Maybe infinity or eternity don’t actually exist. But still, even if they don’t… I don’t think that makes it all meaningless."

"Even if something disappears someday, if it can live on in someone’s heart… maybe that can be called eternal and indestructible."

"If you become someone’s inspiration, or if you leave an impact—that’s how people become eternal. Eternity definitely exists… and hey, maybe we can become eternal too."

---

――This is a sprint toward the ultimate strength and eternity.

It's the cry of my soul, carrying every ounce of feeling and power I have.

――【To the Edge of the Silver Snow, Where the Moonbow Shines】

400 meters remaining. We entered the final straight, and the top three were lined up almost side by side.

Angely and Kayf Tara were pushing with their last strength and their 『Domains』. Kayf Tara’s domain had become a golden paradise, and Angely’s domain formed a ladder of angels stretching into the sky. And standing against them was a single, otherworldly cherry tree, rooted in a snowy landscape.

We clashed, we endured, no room for words or glances, just our lives being burned away in pursuit of that eternal, strongest brilliance.

『400 meters to go and all three top contenders are accelerating!! Apollo Rainbow has slightly pulled ahead, but the other two aren’t giving an inch!! They pass and get passed, not backing down even a step!!』

A world of pure white. No words existed there.

Only the clash of bodies and minds honed to their absolute limits.

If there were words to exchange—

—I want to win.

That’s all there was.

『The three Uma Musume are pumping their arms, racing with everything they have to be the strongest!! Apollo Rainbow takes the lead in the neck-and-neck battle!! Is Angely struggling now!? She’s being suppressed by Kayf Tara and drops back to third!!』

In the extreme agony and euphoria, everything in sight shone brilliantly. Every snowflake in the storm turned into cherry blossom petals, dancing through the air of ParisLongchamp.

Holding Kayf Tara at bay after she shoved Angely aside to push forward, I stretched my legs with all my might to become the strongest stayer. I had already passed my limits, gone beyond everything, entering a state of pure instinct.

And then, at last, Angely dropped out. She faded from view in an instant as she began to fall behind.

『200 meters left! It’s down to the fated two!!』

(I swore with that person... that I would become the strongest! That I would become eternal!! I won’t lose, no matter what!!)

The final contest of strength.

Our passion shook the turf.

Hearts and dreams trembled together.

The spectators, witnessing the race firsthand, were in a frenzy as they watched the Uma Musume fighting for their dreams.

A storm of cherry blossoms soaring high into the sky.

200 meters remaining.

Kayf Tara closing in. I was trying to break away.

In a roar that could blow away this distorted world, I was the first to see the finish post.

That’s the goal. The long-dreamed, undeniable winning post that proves I’m the strongest.

With the motion I’d repeated thousands, tens of thousands of times, I thrust my legs forward, struggling. Reflexively arching my chest, I mustered every ounce of strength to push ahead in the instant of crossing the finish line.

Just a few steps from glory. The goal was only moments away.

No shadows looming. In that extreme sprint, Kayf Tara finally collapsed and vanished into the cherry blossom storm.

No one could stop me now. No one could catch me. Faster than anyone, faster than even the record I once set—I surged ahead in a final, decisive burst of speed. Then even faster, faster still, accelerating as if I were flying through the sky—

『Are we dreaming!? In snow-filled ParisLongchamp—a gray-haired fairy coated in mud and snow has now—crossed the finish line!!』

――And just like that, I was the first to dash past the finish post. Thus concluded the Autumn’s strongest stayer showdown, the Prix du Cadran. The tension snapped into overwhelming joy, and the racecourse erupted in applause and cheers celebrating my victory.

At some point, the sky had cleared completely, and both the blizzard and the cherry blossoms had vanished. My body suddenly went limp, and with my mouth wide open, I collapsed onto the ground, completely spent.

『The results are in! First place goes to number 1, Apollo Rainbow! And the winning time is—an unbelievable 3 minutes 57.0 seconds, breaking her own record!! In second place is number 5, Kayf Tara! And in third, number 3, Angely!!』

“Hah—huff, fuh... ku, ha, ha, haha... ahaha!”

How about that, satisfied now? Don’t even try to complain. I’m the strongest stayer in history—Apollo Rainbow.

With a feeble arm I raised my fist to the sky, but only held it there for a few seconds before my limbs collapsed back onto the ground. Probably the most uncool victory cry I’ve ever made.

As the audience grasped what had just happened, a mighty roar surged through the stadium. Louder even than the previous applause, the shouts and sobs overwhelmed everything, telling of just how dramatic this race had been.

In my fading consciousness, someone hugged me tightly. I lifted my face just slightly and smiled, resting my worn-out body against his chest.

“…I’m back, Tomio.”

“Welcome home… Apollo.”

There was so much I wanted to say. The unmistakable joy of a dream fulfilled, the promise we once made—the vow to become eternal together. And the selfish little hope that he’d praise me for setting an unbeatable new record. So many things.

But right after a race, there’s no strength left for such a conversation. Held tightly in his arms, I simply basked in the exhaustion.

“…………”

In the corner of my vision, I saw Kayf Tara and Angely telling me congratulations. The other racers, just barely able to walk, were also offering their blessings.

It didn’t feel real. Everything was fuzzy and uncertain. Is this how it feels the moment you achieve your dream? The exhaustion felt far heavier than the joy—it must’ve been some kind of mistake.

And yet, there was a warmth overflowing in my chest.

…Ah. I’m alive. That’s what I thought.

“…Apollo. Truly, congratulations… thank you… so much.”

The trainer, his voice trembling with tears, and the spectators calling out my name.

…Will everyone remember?

That there was once an Uma Musume named Apollo Rainbow?

They’ll probably forget. The memory will fade.

Decades, centuries—when no one remains who saw my racing days, that’s only natural.

No matter how brightly I may have shone, just as light is eventually swallowed by darkness—my name will likely vanish into history.

Even so—

Maybe, someday—far into the future.

Someone might recall me, just at the edge of their thoughts.

――The strongest Uma Musume?

――You can’t leave out Symboli Rudolf.

――Narita Brian was a beast.

――T.M. Opera O, and Silence Suzuka too…

――Apollo Rainbow.

…Like that, even vaguely, even just in idle conversation, maybe they’ll remember.

That there once was an Uma Musume who kept running through dreams.

That a girl once chased eternity, inspired by the Uma Musume shining on a TV screen.

Living things have a beginning, and they have an end.

But if everyone remembers, then in their memories, I can be eternal.

If I became a bridge to someone’s dream, then within the dreamers I inspired, I can shine forever.

I can carry dreams forward.

Betting on dreams.

Running on dreams.

Carrying dreams.

Please, don’t forget.

This greatest race.

The moment the strongest stayer was born.

And that there was an Uma Musume named Apollo Rainbow in this world…

The joy overflowing through ParisLongchamp would not be silenced.

The surrounding cheers kept celebrating, forever and ever, the world itself.