The day had finally arrived. The Tenno Sho (Autumn)—the crown jewel of the senior G1 circuit. While the occasional Classic-class contender might pivot here depending on distance, the turf was traditionally a battlefield for the seasoned seniors. The consensus among the fans was clear: the race would likely be a clash between the "BNW" trio, Nice Nature, and Machikane Tannhauser.
Among them, the spotlight shone brightest on Biwa Hayahide. As the top favorite, she was coming off a dominant five-length victory in the Takarazuka Kinen—a performance that had felt more like an exhibition than a race.
"Being the favorite isn't a burden to me," Hayahide stated firmly during her pre-race interview. "The expectations of those who support me are the very foundation of my confidence."
Her poised, regal demeanor left no room for doubt. She was the elder sister of the invincible Triple Crown winner, Narita Brian. Many believed that, excluding those currently competing overseas, she was the strongest Uma Musume in Japan. As the public clamored for an eventual "Greatest Sister" showdown, Hayahide's confidence stood as a fortress. Yet, lurking in her shadow, her rivals—Winning Ticket and Narita Taishin—were sharpening their blades, desperate to topple the queen.
"Confidence, huh...?" someone muttered from the sidelines. "It's a fine thing to have. But I wonder... how long will it last?"
"And they're off! A clean start for the Tenno Sho (Autumn)!"
"Royce and Royce tries for the lead, but wait—Biwa Hayahide has surged forward! With an explosive start, the top favorite takes the front, leaving Royce and Royce in her wake! It's Biwa Hayahide in the lead, followed by Royce and Royce, Toro Caesar, and Fugaku Hariyama. Tucked behind them are Nice Nature and Winning Ticket!"
Hayahide holding the lead was a calculated move. With the stamina to front-run the grueling Kikuka Sho, a 2000-meter sprint was well within her comfort zone. She maintained a blistering pace, yet her stride remained rhythmic and effortless—a terrifying display of power that mirrored her sister's.
"She's fast... but I won't lose in a battle of late-stretch speed!" Winning Ticket gritted her teeth.
"So she's going for the lead..." Taishin noted, her eyes narrowed. "She's clearly been putting in the miles with Rampage-senpai."
The two rivals kept their cool, sticking to their pre-planned pace. They knew Hayahide had been training relentlessly with Rampage, honing a stride that defied fatigue. To beat the rival who had been shaking off challengers one by one, they had to trust their own legs and wait for the perfect moment.
"We're passing the second corner, and Biwa Hayahide shows no sign of slowing! Sekitei Ryu O moves into second, with Royce and Royce falling to third. But wait—look at the back! Someone is making a move! It's the Canopus pair—Nice Nature and Machikane Tannhauser! They're launching an all-out assault! Nature begins a massive long spurt, and Tannhauser is glued to her shadow!"
"Now?! You're accelerating now, Nature-senpai?!" Ticket gasped.
Everyone knew Nature was famous for her long spurt, but to trigger it before even reaching the halfway point was madness. Was Tannhauser just following suit, or was this a coordinated strike? Ticket hesitated—if she didn't follow, she might get left behind, but if she went too early, she'd burn out. Patience, she told herself. Hold it together.
"You think a move like that will break me?" Hayahide thought, her gaze fixed forward. "I won't let you dictate my race."
A long spurt wasn't just physical; it was psychological. It tempted others to ruin their own pacing out of panic. Hayahide remained steadfast, confident in her internal clock... but she hadn't accounted for the ripple effect.
"Nice Nature's spurt is dragging the whole field with her! The pace is skyrocketing! Sekitei Ryu O is struggling to keep up in second, with Nature and Tannhauser breathing down his neck. The rest of the pack is being sucked into the vortex!"
Nature's acceleration was relentless, an undulating wave of speed that seemed to have no ceiling. Unconsciously, the other girls began to press harder, their legs moving faster than their brains intended. It was a trap. Nature and Tannhauser were turning the race into a war of attrition that would swallow everyone in the mid-pack.
Ticket and Taishin realized it just in time, cold sweat running down their necks. Because they were teammates with the attackers, they managed to restrain themselves, watching as the wall of bodies ahead of them began to crumble.
"Rounding the third corner! Sekitei Ryu O is fading! Nice Nature moves into second, Tannhauser into third! Winning Ticket and Narita Taishin are starting to make their move from the outside! We're coming into the final straight—who will have the strength to finish?!"
Ticket went to kick into high gear, but her heart was hammering against her ribs with a strange, frantic rhythm. Taishin felt it too—an inexplicable sense of urgency that had bypassed their logic.
"Dammit! We're too late!"
"She played us! We have to go now!"
"Winning Ticket and Narita Taishin unleash their spurts! They're swinging wide to avoid the traffic of the exhausted pack! Here they come, turning into the home straight! Biwa Hayahide is still in the lead, but Nature and Tannhauser are right there!"
"Hmph... impressive, Senpai," Hayahide muttered, her muscles screaming as she hit the straight. "But I will not be overtaken!"
This was her territory. The straight was where she reached 100%. She pushed, expecting to drop the Canopus duo instantly, but...
"I'm not letting go!" Nature roared.
"Machitan Rising Form... GOOOO!" Tannhauser screamed.
"They're... still there?!" Hayahide's eyes widened.
"Hayahide leads! But Nature and Tannhauser are gaining inch by inch! Winning Ticket is flying on the outside! Taishin is closing in! Hayahide is giving it everything, but the Canopus pair is relentless!"
Everything should have been perfect. Hayahide's pacing was flawless. Her form was peak. And yet, the two girls were looming larger and larger in her peripherals.
"I can do this... I can do this!"
In that split second, Hayahide saw Nature's face. Her eyes weren't those of a "perpetual third-place" finisher. They were filled with a blinding, terrifying light—a light Hayahide recognized. It was the light of a protagonist.
"Rampage spent so much time on me... I am NOT going home with a 'sorry, I lost'!" Nature bellowed, her voice cracking with raw emotion.
"For everything Rampage-san taught me... HAAAAA!" Tannhauser echoed.
"They're neck and neck! They've pulled level! Three across the track! Nature, Tannhauser, and Hayahide! Less than 100 meters to go! Who wants it more?! Will it be Tannhauser's first G1?! Can Hayahide maintain her reign?! Or will the Derby winner claim the crown?! It's a dead heat!"
Nature's mind went blank. She didn't know how many thousands of miles she'd run to get here. She had the title of "Derby Girl," but she hated resting on it. She wanted more. She wanted to be the center of the world, just like her rival.
"TEIOOOOOO!"
With a blood-curdling scream of her rival's name, Nature found a gear that shouldn't have existed. Whether it was sheer stubbornness, the result of agonizing training, or a genuine miracle, she surged. A single, decisive step ahead of the others. She eclipsed Hayahide. She shattered the line.
"The winner is... NICE NATURE! The Derby winner reigns supreme once more! Nice Nature has conquered the Tenno Sho! Biwa Hayahide takes second, with Machikane Tannhauser a hair's breadth behind for third! Narita Taishin fourth, Winning Ticket fifth! The Derby Girl's strength was undeniable—today, this stage belonged to Nice Nature!"
"Damn it..." Ticket slumped over her horse's neck, gasping for air. "I realized what was happening too late..."
"That long spurt..." Taishin muttered, her legs trembling. "To use it as a tactical screen... I never expected that."
By the time the duo had realized Nature's spurt was meant to clog the inner lanes with fading runners, they were forced to take the long way around. Those extra meters had cost them the win.
"So close..." Tannhauser wheezed nearby. "I guess my 'Machitan Form' still needs more work, huh?"
As Hayahide stood on the track, her chest heaving, she felt a strange sensation. Despite the loss, a sense of fulfillment washed over her. She smiled. She had found a new ceiling to break. Dragging her heavy limbs, she approached Nature, who was staring at the scoreboard with a look of pure disbelief.
Hayahide extended a hand. "You had me, Nature-senpai. I was confident after training with Rampage-san, but you were better."
Nature looked up, a mischievous, slightly weary grin playing on her lips. "You were training with Ran, too? I figured as much. But listen, when it comes to training under that woman's shadow, I've got a head start. You were running like a perfect copy of her, Hayahide. That's why I could beat you."
"...I see." Hayahide took the hand and shook it firmly. "I was so focused on her path that I stopped carving my own. I suppose it's back to the basics for me."
"Haha... please don't. If you get any better, I'll never win again," Nature joked.
"We'll see about that."
Hayahide looked up at the VIP box. There, she spotted the small figure of Rampage sitting with a young Uma Musume. When the trainer noticed her looking and offered a small wave, Hayahide returned it with a brilliant smile.
"My race with Brian is coming up soon," Hayahide whispered to the autumn wind. "I have to work even harder."
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