Leaning against the wall of the tunnel, Liberty Island stared down at the two hair ribbons in her hands.
She had a habit of choosing her ribbons based on the race of the day: pink for the Oka Sho, red for the Japanese Oaks, and a golden orange for the Shuka Sho. But right now, she was torn.
"How about the red one?"
"After all, isn't that why you dyed the tips of your hair red? Because you love the color?"
Perhaps she had been too lost in thought, but Liberty Island hadn't noticed the approaching footsteps until that familiar voice reached her ears, snapping her out of her trance.
She turned her head, and the person standing there was exactly who she expected.
It was Equinox.
Equinox was clad in her racing silks, the most striking feature being the blue, white, and red happi coat draped over her shoulders.
It was the kind of garment usually reserved for festivals—a natural symbol of celebration. And on the turf, there was only ever one thing worth celebrating.
Victory.
By making the happi a key element of her silks, Equinox looked as though she were wearing victory itself. And indeed, with a five-race winning streak in G1 events, she had tied her very identity to the word.
Liberty Island pursed her lips. Abandoning her indecision, she briskly pinned the red ribbon to her bangs. She lifted a lock of her red-tipped hair toward Equinox.
"You know why I like red, don't you?"
"Because of Dream Weaver, of course."
As if recollecting a distant memory, a look of nostalgia drifted into Equinox's eyes.
"I remember back when we were training at Northern Farm. We'd finish for the day, head back to the dorms, have dinner, and then huddle around the TV in the lounge to watch the races, just like always."
"One day, after watching one of Dream Weaver's races, you shouted that you were going to be an Uma Musume just like her and bolted outside. By the time you came back, you already had a red flower pinned to your head."
Equinox was only a year older than Liberty Island. They had been in the same training group at Northern Farm, so she didn't just know why Liberty Island liked red; she knew the exact moment it started.
The memory softened Liberty Island's expression.
Stroking the ends of her hair, she murmured, "I couldn't exactly go out and buy a red silk ribbon right then and there, so I figured a red flower would do."
"I just didn't realize how pitch-black the pastures got after dark. It took me forever just to find one."
A small, involuntary smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Equinox looked genuinely surprised. "Wait, it took you that long just because you were looking for a flower?!"
"When you came back all covered in dirt and grime, we all thought you'd gone out for some secret extra training!"
"Was I really that much of a mess...?"
"Well, use some common sense. If someone says they're going to become a legendary racer, you'd assume they went out to run laps, not go on a florist's mission."
"I just... I wanted a bit of red on me, that's all."
Liberty Island looked away awkwardly, her fingers fidgeting with her hair.
Equinox fell silent for a moment, simply watching her with a gentle smile. After a while, she spoke softly. "It's been a long time since we've talked like this."
Liberty Island stiffened, a wave of complicated emotions washing over her. "It has been a long time. Ever since I realized the gap between us... I haven't been able to face you like this."
Equinox mimicked her pose, leaning against the wall so they stood shoulder to shoulder.
"You've been avoiding me for ages. Every time I tried to strike up a conversation, you'd bolt. For a long while, I actually thought you hated me."
"It was the inferiority complex... We both said we wanted to be like Master, yet we were always pulled aside during training to be compared."
"And I never won. Not once."
"Honestly, I think that trainer was just too blunt," Equinox countered. "The growth gap for a kid in just one year is massive. Constantly pitting us against each other was never fair."
"And now? The gap from having an extra year since debut is even bigger than back then, isn't it?"
"Maybe. But I don't see that self-doubt in your eyes anymore."
Equinox turned her head, her deep crimson eyes locking onto Liberty Island. This time, Liberty Island didn't flinch. She met the gaze with calm resolve.
"What? Are you seeing a lion in my eyes too?"
"Has someone else seen a lion in there?"
"Not personally. It was a comment my senior heard from a rival during the Kikuka Sho. She thought it was funny and told me about it when she got back."
Equinox's crimson eyes were naturally intimidating, especially since she had a habit of squinting, which often made people shiver under her gaze. But Liberty Island stood her ground as if the pressure didn't exist.
"My senior is actually a very timid Uma Musume," Liberty Island continued.
"She always felt she was too ordinary—that no matter how hard she worked, she could never beat a 'genius.' She'd almost given up on herself. No matter how much Master prodded her, she'd just drag her feet."
"I knew what she was thinking. She figured if she was destined to fail anyway, why not give herself an excuse? If she stayed lazy, she could comfort herself later by saying she just didn't try hard enough."
"But you still call her 'Senior.'"
Liberty Island nodded, her voice tinged with admiration. "Because when she actually puts her life on the line, she's blinding. To win the Kikuka Sho, she cast aside everything she used to be. During that time, I never saw her step out of 'the Zone.'"
"The eyes of a lion... she definitely had them then. Because a lion is an animal that bares its claws the moment its territory is invaded, fighting until its last drop of blood to drive the intruder out, right?"
"My senior's territory is tiny. It's just me, Master, Ms. Tachyon, and Dr. Lights. But when it comes time to show her fangs for us, she wouldn't hesitate to fight to the death."
"Though, the moment the intruder is gone, she retreats right back into her little bubble to eat sweets. I heard that on the night she won the Kikuka Sho, she cleared out every single dessert in the hotel buffet."
Watching Liberty Island chuckle at the thought, Equinox said softly, "You all get along so well."
Liberty Island hadn't mentioned her senior by name, but Equinox knew she was talking about Hishi Miracle.
Seeing how naturally Liberty Island included herself in Hishi Miracle's "territory," Equinox could see the warmth of their team.
"My senior is giving it her all. Ms. Tachyon and Dr. Lights are working hard. And Master... well, Master is Master. What excuse do I have to let my insecurity hold me back?"
"I'm not afraid of you anymore, Equinox."
"The thought of everyone standing behind me, watching over me... it means I won't run away when I see you anymore."
Equinox pulled her gaze away, staring up at the harsh white glow of the tunnel's fluorescent lights. "Is that so... that's good, then."
In truth, it wasn't just Liberty Island who struggled. Equinox often wondered: why did she have to be born a year earlier?
If they were the same age, would their competition at Northern Farm have been purer?
Without the age advantage, perhaps Liberty Island wouldn't have grown so fearful, and they wouldn't have spent so long in silence.
If she had been born a year later, maybe she could have arrived just as Dream Weaver became a trainer. She could have been her trainee, standing on equal footing within the same team.
But she was the genius of a prestigious family. Her path was laid out for her.
Waiting around at Tracen Academy for a trainer to notice her wasn't an option. As soon as her talent bloomed at the farm, her family organized a professional team for her.
The "bonds" between trainer and student, or among teammates, were like legends to Equinox. She had heard they existed, but she had never felt them.
A coach was just a coach—she had different professionals for every specific training regimen. Staff were just staff. Whether it was logistics or medical care, Equinox didn't have much of a personal life with them.
They were a team for one reason: to polish Equinox's talent until she became the world-class Uma Musume she was meant to be.
They chased glory and fame through her, and her only way to answer them was to deliver that glory.
If she had been born a year later, would she have been part of a team like the one Liberty Island described? Would their rivalry have been healthier?
As it stood, Liberty Island had to conquer a literal demon in her heart just to challenge her. Equinox didn't want a relationship where everything was built solely on who crossed the line first.
"I hope you can still talk to me like this after the race is over."
Because if Liberty Island only found her equality through the pursuit of victory, then defeat might drag her right back into the abyss of self-doubt.
Equinox cared about their bond. Their time at Northern Farm made Liberty Island one of the few people Equinox could talk to without pretension. She didn't want her victory to scare her friend away again.
And Equinox didn't doubt her victory for a single second.
She would win the Japan Cup.
It wasn't a shouted boast or a hesitant question.
It was a cold, hard fact—a period at the end of a sentence.
"I know you've been hiding your true strength, but I won't lose."
Liberty Island understood the unspoken meaning behind Equinox's words, but she didn't flinch.
After all these years, she had been holding her breath, the weight of her inferiority finally ready to be exhaled. She had found the courage to challenge her rival; she wasn't about to let it go.
"My, my! You two certainly had a lot to talk about while I was gone."
"But the Japan Cup isn't just a match between the two of you, is it?"
A third voice echoed through the tunnel. Liberty Island and Equinox turned to see an Uma Musume wearing a red and white headband, looking rather boisterous.
"If you want that trophy, you'll have to get through Yuan Shao first!"
The girl puffed out her chest with pride, laughing and showing off a slightly sharp tooth.
"Yuan Shao...?"
"Is there a runner named Yuan Shao today?"
"It's Panthalassa!"
Just as Panthalassa looked like she was about to blow a fuse, another Uma Musume stepped out from the tunnel.
She wore silks that resembled a police uniform, complete with a dark blue cap. Her gaze was sharp, looking as though she might arrest someone at any moment.
"Because she raced in Hong Kong, she got stuck with the nickname Yuan Shao."
"The logic was that the historical Yuan Shao's courtesy name was Benchu... so Panthalassa, 'the Sea of Benchu,' became Yuan Shao."
"What's wrong with Yuan Shao?! Coming from a family of high officials for four generations is cool! I'm the world's Panthalassa—it's a good thing if every corner of the globe has a nickname for me!"
(T/N: I lowkey have no idea what they are talking about and the wikipedia article says nothing, but there wasn't an equivalent i could think of either cause of how Chinese works)
Ignoring the noisy Panthalassa, the sharp-eyed girl nodded to the two rivals. "I am Titleholder."
Liberty Island waited for more, but after a few seconds, she realized that was the entire introduction.
"No other intro? Like... 'King of Hanshin' or something?"
"You already know. There's no need to repeat what's already known."
"Me! Me! I have an intro!" Panthalassa shouted, waving her hand.
She cleared her throat, put her hands on her hips, and barked, "Equinox! Don't think you're the only one who can win the Japan Cup! My 'Great Escape' is nothing to sneeze at!"
"Are you saying that specifically to me?" Equinox asked, pointing at herself. Before Panthalassa could answer, another figure emerged, speaking as she walked.
"You call that an introduction?"
She brushed past the rowdy Panthalassa and placed a hand over the star-patterned bodice of her dress, facing Liberty Island directly.
"I am Stars on Earth, winner of last year's double crown."
"You're Liberty Island, aren't you? I've been itching to see exactly where the gap lies between myself and a true Triple Tiara winner!"
Before Liberty Island could figure out how to respond to Stars on Earth, several more Uma Musume filed into the tunnel.
"Quite a crowd. Is this a pre-race tea party?"
Liberty Island scanned the four newcomers. They were the final G1 winners in the Japan Cup lineup.
Without realizing it, the tunnel had filled with G1 champions.
The sheer aura they radiated was so stifling that the remaining contestants didn't even dare to step out yet.
This was the stage for the truly powerful—the place where the storm was about to break.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.