Chapter 47: Death Match! The Japan Derby! Part 2

Under the overcast skies of Tokyo Racecourse’s turf, we began our warm-up gallop, the grass beneath our hooves firm yet oddly heavy despite the officially declared "good" footing.

Tokyo Racecourse’s 2400-meter race is a grueling test of dominance, its layout a relentless series of undulations. From the starting gate, a long straight awaits, followed by the first and second corners before a prolonged downhill stretch midway down the backstretch—a 1.9-meter drop in elevation.

Immediately after, a 1.5-meter uphill climb looms before the third corner. Once scaled, a brief flat section transitions into another descent. Then, from the approach to the fourth corner, a long uphill grind begins, culminating in a final slope between the 460- and 300-meter marks of the homestretch.

Though gentler than Nakayama’s steep grades or Hanshin’s sharp climbs, Tokyo’s slopes span a staggering 2-meter elevation change. After conquering them, only a flat 300-meter sprint remains. The course’s twin-hill layout mirrors Fukushima’s, but on an incomparable scale.

Tokyo’s sweeping, wide-radius corners also minimize positional skirmishes. Its broad track disperses wear across four lanes, reducing turf damage. At least today’s Derby shows no signs of a "green belt" like the Satsuki Sho’s—this is a course where a horsegirl’s prowess speaks plainly.

『Despite this being just the warm-up, Tokyo Racecourse roars with thunderous cheers! The cradle of dreams trembles!』

『Apollo Rainbow, ever the live wire—she might just redefine warm-up conventions!』

Cutting past the packed stands, I pushed my warm-up to the limit. The impeccably maintained turf stretched before me, a 2400-meter canvas just shy of my peak distance—but enough to unleash nearly everything I had. My gratitude goes to the groundskeepers.

As the warm-up concluded, the skies darkened ominously. Distant thunder rumbled like grinding millstones, and the fanfare blared as if hastened by the looming rain.

When the fanfare faded, an earthshaking ovation—no, a roar—erupted across Tokyo Racecourse, its sheer volume threatening to shred the oppressive gloom.

『Beneath brooding gray skies, Tokyo Racecourse stands ready—the battle for generational supremacy begins now!』

『Let’s hope the weather holds…』

Many horsegirls seemed startled by the uproar, but they steadied themselves and filed into the gates. As the #1 pick, I entered first, drawing a deep breath.

『Gate 1, Position 1—the top favorite, Apollo Rainbow, is now locked in!』

『She’s brimming with focus! That’s the face of a contender!』

The steel gate narrowed my world. Raindrops pattered against me, but my searing intensity repelled them like steam. My pulse crescendoed—a cocoon of razor focus and euphoria. Thankfully, the rain’s chill tempered my near-combustible nerves.

I want to run—now. The urge surged, my muscles twitching against the gate’s confines as others loaded in.

『The second favorite, Special Week, enters the gate with eerie calm.』

『An illusion, perhaps—but the rain seems to part around her…』

Special Week.

『King Halo steps in, poised and unshaken.』

『Regal as ever. Expect a measured, authoritative race from her.』

King Halo.

『El Condor Pasa now eases into her gate.』

『She exudes majesty. Will we see a repeat of her NHK Mile Cup domination?』

El Condor Pasa.

『Grass Wonder, victor of the Aoba Sho, is loaded.』

『Cooler-headed than any here.』

Grass Wonder.

『One of the "Big Six," Seiun Sky, enters the gate.』

『And with that, all six elites are locked in. Their aura is so formidable, they could pass for senior-tier racers!』

Finally, Seiun Sky joined—the "Big Six" assembled, each facing forward, poised for battle.

『All Uma Musume are loaded! The rain falls harder—the Japan Derby begins at last!』

The track clung to "good" footing by a thread. I tested the turf with my hooves, then settled into starting stance.

—Back in Uma Musume Pretty Derby, victory was my birthright. Defeat? Unthinkable. With the right distance, an undefeated Classic Triple Crown was routine. If schedules aligned, a senior-grade Grand Slam followed. Hell, I’d even force inherited traits to stretch a horsegirl’s range, conquering dirt sprints to turf marathons alike.

Whether those stories were right? I can’t say. But one thing’s certain—back then, I was a trainer who couldn’t abide a single loss.

——Ah, how sterile those crafted stories had been. I inhaled the scent of rain until my lungs burned, holding that breath as the starting gate loomed before me. Every fiber of my being ached for the moment the gates would fly open.

——The me of now is a laughably flawed horsegirl. Losing again and again, riddled with weaknesses, crushed by gaps in strength, thwarted by fate’s whims—only to scrape together victories and claw my way to this Derby stage. That I still lack a single graded stakes win proves how far I am from being the strongest.

Yet even so. I adore this version of myself—the one who fought alongside my Trainer. Even if an invincible, flawless me existed somewhere, I’d still choose this bloodied, crawling mess of a self without hesitation. That’s how fiercely I believe in us now.

What’s wrong with aiming for the top from the bottom? Smashing the "guaranteed glory" of elite horsegirls—watching an unremarkable dark horse seize a heart-stopping upset? Nothing could be more thrilling. And for the Trainer who carried me through defeat, there’s no greater gift.

——I’ll carve my life into this victory. This is the rebellion of a horsegirl history forgot. A once-in-a-lifetime counterattack, where my last shred of pride clashes with legendary champions.

The racecourse fell deathly silent—a tension so thick it felt like a pinprick might shatter the world. Then, as fate’s gates burst open, I kicked the earth with everything I had.

『—Now! The Japan Derby is underway! All horsegirls launch beautifully! Seiun Sky stumbles slightly!?』

『No, she recovers instantly! Apollo Rainbow rockets ahead, but Seiun Sky accelerates—they’re neck-and-neck for the lead!』

Propelled by the crowd’s eruption, I executed a rocket start, seizing the front—the very position I’d failed to hold in the Satsuki Sho—and immediately set a murderous pace.

——Satsuki Sho… you’ll pay for that. I gritted my teeth as Seiun Sky angled inward from the outside, matching my top speed stride-for-stride. She clung to my flank, me leading by a head on the rail, her pressing from the outside.

This was the Satsuki Sho in reverse. But with starting positions flipped and no "green belt" to exploit… the odds of Seiun Sky’s tricks working here were near zero. The "Big Six" wouldn’t fall for the same pace traps that worked last time.

(Seiun Sky—I won’t let you take the lead! Not ever!)
(Gh—…!)
(Move. Over.)
(…!)

Whether intimidated by my fury or unwilling to burn out early, Seiun Sky relented with a glare, dropping to second before the first corner. By the 400-meter mark, I’d broken free—claiming the lead outright.

Tokyo’s 2400-meter Derby begins with an unusually long straight. Conventional wisdom says no one goes all-out from the start at this distance—position battles should erupt in the packed mid-pack, grinding down stamina. But when I glanced back before the first corner, that logic shattered.

Five others had defied it. The "Golden Generation’s" Big Six—Special Week, Seiun Sky, El Condor Pasa, King Halo, Grass Wonder—had all abandoned their usual running styles to hunt me down. No distinctions between front-runners or closers—just six elites charging as one.

『Wh—What’s this!? All six favorites surge forward together around the first corner! What madness is this!?』

『I—I don’t know! Unless… they’ve all decided Apollo Rainbow must be stopped at any cost! This is unprecedented!』

The projected pace map—one front-runner, six stalkers, seven mid-pack closers—had warped into one runaway and five pursuers, with the rest left scrambling. Even the other elites seemed startled by their own unity, yet their eyes burned with the same message: You won’t escape.

Was this fate’s interference? Or the inevitable outcome of standing out too brightly? Somewhere along the way, "Apollo Rainbow the Speed Demon" had become public enemy number one. The curse of being Gate 1’s top pick…!

I shot a furious glare at my hunters—only to meet five pairs of eyes blazing with equal fury. Unbelievably, they’d turned this into a 1-vs-5 deathmatch.

This was beyond anything I’d prepared for. I’d braced for Seiun Sky’s pressure, but five elites’ combined onslaught? No amount of training could’ve readied me. My composure cracked.

『Into the backstretch after the second corner! The pace is suicidal! Apollo Rainbow’s face twists—and not just from the lashing rain!』

The positions crystallized:
1st: Apollo Rainbow (me).
2nd: Special Week, glued to my heels.
3rd: El Condor Pasa, shadowing Special Week.
4th: Seiun Sky.
5th/6th: King Halo and Grass Wonder, flanking like wolves.

A six-horse death ball, while the rest gaped helplessly far behind. No time to process it—not when five predators’ pressure bore down on me.

Is this what herbivore-blooded girls look like? They might as well be lions circling prey. Their collective aura rivaled the terror of "Zone"—and I’d been drowning in it since the start. Just 1000 meters in, and my stamina already teetered on the brink.

『They pass the 1000-meter mark—WHAAAT!? 57.9 seconds!? All six elites clock sub-58! The trailing pack is already 8—no, 10 lengths behind!!』

The straightaway ends, and the curve arrives. But I'm already exhausted. Forcing myself to maintain full speed after enduring nearly a minute of overwhelming pressure is impossible. Yet, pushing past the impossible—making the unthinkable happen—is the only way to win a G1 race.

"Guh... AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

The moment I enter the third turn, I shift into an even higher gear, kicking into a speed beyond full throttle. The five behind me widen their eyes in shock, but they cling on relentlessly.

These damn, unstoppable horse girls. They’re infuriating. Their brilliance stokes a boundless rage in me. Yet, Grass Wonder and King Halo, forced slightly wide, are starting to show strain.

And who could blame them? At this blistering pace, running on the outside means covering more distance at the same speed. A simple calculation: on Tokyo Racecourse’s 2400-meter track, being just three meters wider adds up to a 20-meter difference per lap. For racing horse girls, it’s only a few strides—but I know better than anyone how crushing that gap can be. I cling to this faint glimmer of hope. In pure stamina, I still have the edge. All I can do is grit my teeth and push through...!

『Around the third turn and into the final stretch!! The seven trailing horse girls are completely out of contention!! Ten—no, fifteen lengths ahead!! Apollo Rainbow, still holding the lead!! Special Week and El Condor Pasa are pressing hard, but she refuses to fold!! Her dream isn’t over yet!!』

I lean forward sharply, hugging the inside rail, nearly drifting as I carve through Tokyo Racecourse’s shortest path. The fourth turn’s end is near—but the six elites at my back are closing in. How much fighting spirit do they have? Already, all of them are positioning to overtake me.

『Final turn—500 meters to the finish line!! Grass Wonder, forced wide, struggles but starts her charge!! El Condor Pasa swings out, ready to strike!!』

Then, the moment we round the final turn and hit the homestretch—a fury-like flame erupts from Grass Wonder, suffering on the far outside. We all recognize it: Grass Wonder’s "Zone." Almost simultaneously, El Condor Pasa, light on her feet in the outer path, unleashes a deep crimson "Zone."

The searing heat of their passion scorches me to the tip of my tail. My back is swallowed by their pitch-black hunger for victory, my heart seized in a crushing grip.

The despair is suffocating—enough to make me feel death itself. They show me. They mesmerize me. The frustration of injury, the impatience of watching rivals clash while sidelined. Or perhaps, the overwhelming heat forged from pure longing for the world.

Transforming strength into a blade, resolve into pro-wrestling’s physicality—Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa explode in their final sprint. 400 meters left. Just as we hit the homestretch’s slope—I’m ruthlessly overtaken by both. Then, without even needing their "Zones," Seiun Sky and King Halo blaze past me. Special Week follows, dropping me to sixth.

On this Derby stage, everyone has broken past their limits. Special Week. King Halo. El Condor Pasa. Seiun Sky. Grass Wonder. Each of them shattered some great inner wall.

Did my murderous pace teach them how to surpass their limits? Damn it—this can’t be happening. It’s not fair. After all this effort, am I losing again?

『300 meters left—El Condor Pasa takes the lead!! Grass Wonder, King Halo, and Seiun Sky close behind!! Special Week and Apollo Rainbow trail slightly!! Is this a two-way fight between El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder!?』

Ahead of me, drowning in despair—the space around Special Week shimmers and distorts. The timing is merciless. Hopeless. Tears spill from my eyes as my spirit breaks. There’s no mistaking it—that’s Special Week’s Zone. No. I can’t lose again. I refuse to lose. So why... why is this... happening...?

Before my anguished eyes, a darkness unlike anything from El Condor Pasa or Grass Wonder’s Zones erupts. It swallows not just me but the other elites, devouring everything. A Zone of terrifying density—an indomitable mass of power, the absolute final sprint that proves a champion.

An unimaginable strength—a fiercely burning resolve sears into my limbs, my brain. For an instant, my vision blacks out—then, from the darkness, a dazzling light pierces through. It shows me. It enchants me. Special Week’s inner world.

—A rural landscape under a sky full of stars. Special Week gazes upward, spotting a shooting star, and leaps to her feet, her heart swelling. The figures rooted deep in her soul—her birth mother and the one who raised her. Carrying the love of her two moms and everyone else, she runs toward her dream: becoming Japan’s greatest Uma musume.

At Special Week’s core is an absolute refusal to give up. Tears still streaming, I snap back to reality. That’s right—why was I ready to quit before the race was over? And to think—being inspired by a rival mid-race...

As the vision from her momentary Zone fades, Special Week detonates her final sprint, surging to the lead in an instant. Her back grows distant. 200 meters left—four lengths ahead. For a front-runner like me, it’s a hopeless gap.

But.

I have to keep fighting. No matter what.

For the fans who believe in me.

For Maruzensky, Mejiro Palmer, and Daitaku Helios—who pushed me forward but never got to taste Classic G1 glory themselves.

For Silence Suzuka, who urged me to defy fate.

And for—my trainer. The one who’s suffered and struggled beside me all this time.

Back to the absolute basics—swinging my arms hard, kicking into the turf like I’m clawing through it. Leaning my wavering body to the limit, crushing the agony of my bursting lungs and heart between my teeth.

Through tears, I scream.

Not a cry of pain.

This is a roar torn straight from my soul.

"I’ll NEVER—EVER LOSE AGAIIIIIIIN!!!"

—And in that instant—

As I shatter something beyond my limits, my vision floods with blinding light.

☆

Under a sky of endless stars, bathed in moonlight, across a boundless snowfield—I run alone.

I don’t know since when. But I’ve never stopped.

This fleeting eternity, where no one can interfere—the view from the front.

Only pure white snow, the moon’s beauty, and the starry sky fill my sight.

The sharp, icy wind slicing my cheeks.

The crisp scent of snow stinging my nose.

The soft crunch underfoot.

My limbs are freezing—

Yet my boiling blood sets them ablaze.

In this blissful sprint, I think:

"—Ah, I want to see this forever—"

This feeling. This view.

All of it—everything—is mine alone.

But soon, dark clouds swallow the sky, and a blizzard rages in. My strides falter.

The stars vanish. The moon disappears. The world bleeds into white.

Winter grips my heart, freezing me to the core.

A fate too cruel, too ruthless, too relentless.

The storm batters my legs, and my strength begins to fade.

"—Someone—help me—"

My body grinds to a halt.

Exhausted, drained, at my absolute limit—I collapse into the snow.

But then—

From beyond the horizon, I hear voices.

Hands pushing me forward.

Strangers cheering for me.

Rivals who pushed me to my peak.

Legends I’ve idolized.

And—your voice.

"—Don’t give up, Apollo Rainbow—"

Ah—I have to keep going.

Those words ignite my soul. My blood burns.

I tear through the snow, charging into the blizzard—

Toward the moonbow lighting the path ahead.

[To the end of the silver snow, where the moonbow shines.]

Never surrender—

NEVER STOP FIGHTING!!

Because the view I—no, WE—want to see…

Lies beyond the limits.

☆

As the vision of light faded, my world fractured into stark black and white. Ahead of me, Seiun Sky's tail flicked upward - our eyes met for a brief moment, but her reaction meant nothing now.

An overwhelming force propelled me forward. My limbs, which had felt like they were dragging through wet cotton, now felt light as feathers - reborn with the same explosive energy as the starting gates. I tore through raindrops, ripped apart the resisting air before me. With one final, desperate kick into the turf, I gave everything to end this race.

『A-APOLLO RAINBOW?! APOLLO RAINBOW IS FIGHTING BACK!! The gray mare who was shaken off and swallowed by the six elites has returned!! She's coming head-to-head with Special Week again!!』

The dappled horse girl who should have been defeated came surging through the pack, overtaking Seiun Sky, King Halo, Grass Wonder, El Condor Pasa - the entire Tokyo Racecourse shook with deafening cheers as 170,000 voices roared as one.

I drew even with Special Week. 100 meters remained. We clashed violently, locking eyes, each stride shaving fractions from the other's lead. Yet in this mortal struggle, our souls collided - playful, almost laughing in our mutual desperation.

『Through the final 100 meters! Will Apollo Rainbow split the storm clouds and paint a rainbow across Tokyo's sky?! Or will Special Week's meteoric brilliance prevail?! Neither is yielding! Not an inch! Not a millimeter! Who will take it?! WHO WILL PUSH AHEAD?!』

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!"

—It's me. Look at me. Let the whole world burn the name Apollo Rainbow into their eyes. This is me. No matter what, this is me. Even when awkward, even when uncool - always moving forward. THIS is the horse girl called Apollo Rainbow!!

A final sprint with all my body, all my soul.
Pushing until nothing remained, ready to end here if I must.
Would this moment never end? No—I wished this fierce, exhilarating feeling could last forever.

Special Week and I crossed the finish line in perfect, absolute unison.

『GOOOOOOOOOALLLL!! Apollo Rainbow and Special Week have finished in a dead heat!! This will go to photo finish!!』