"Legend, ready?"
Inside the dorm, McQueen's impatient voice prodded Gold Legend.
"The race isn't till afternoon—no rush."
Gold Legend leisurely adjusted her reflection.
"Spica's only waiting on you!"
"...Seriously? Gold Ship's already there?"
Startled, Gold Legend spun around.
"Why else would I come fetch you?" McQueen sighed.
"Thanks, McQueen." Gold Legend smiled.
"Hmph, as you should." McQueen turned away with a proud sniff.
"Didn't expect Trainer to agree so fast—I was ready to bribe him with bar coupons." Gold Legend arched a brow.
"It's the Arima Kinen, the year's finale. Even if we're just watching, Trainer wouldn't say no—especially for Oguri Cap's retirement race." McQueen folded her arms.
"Right... Oguri Cap's retirement race," Gold Legend murmured.
"...By the way, is what the papers said true?" McQueen asked, suddenly shy.
"What?" Gold Legend hadn't processed it.
"The newspaper thing—Oguri Cap said she'll marry you after she retires!" McQueen snapped.
"Oh, that. Just Oguri joking around. She did say it, but what's the fuss?" Gold Legend was bewildered.
"So how did you answer?"
"How else? I turned her down. We're both Uma Musume—how could we marry? Besides, she's retiring and I'm not."
"…The enemy's stronger than I thought. Thank heavens Legend's a block of wood." McQueen lowered her head and muttered.
"You okay, McQueen?"
You're never like this.
Gold Legend asked, worried.
"…Nothing! Right, ready? Let's head out." McQueen lifted her chin, back to her usual self.
"Ready!" Legend saw McQueen was fine and left the dorm with her.
After locking the door, Gold Legend checked her belongings and chatted casually.
"By the way, you qualified for this year's Arima Kinen, right?"
"Yeah, but I'm sitting out for health reasons." McQueen coughed lightly, voice uneasy.
"Thought you were dodging—Ryan and Ardan are both running." Legend's tone was teasing.
"…Some things are better left unsaid." McQueen was losing her composure.
"Big families are tough." Gold Legend chuckled.
"I wanted to run—facing Ryan and Ardan-sis is rare!" McQueen sighed, rattling on, "The elders spout stuff like 'McQueen isn't ready for the Arima,' 'Let Ryan shine,' 'This is Ardan's stage,' 'No more than three Mejiro at once'—and stripped my entry!"
"Yet you agreed."
If you'd refused, no one could force you.
"The elders mean well, and as a Mejiro, obeying is duty. Can't sweep all the placings."
That would look hideously greedy.
"Confident, huh." Seeing McQueen's pride, Gold Legend teased, "It's a field of monsters, and Oguri Cap's in too."
"We're Mejiro Uma Musume—pride is default." McQueen puffed her chest. "As for Oguri Cap—sorry—but no one thinks she can win, after all…"
Her form's too poor.
"True."
Oguri Cap's recent runs had worsened each time; anyone could see she was off.
"Still, I'm cheering for her—though it feels like betraying Ryan and Ardan."
"Oh?" McQueen's eyes sharpened.
A voice suddenly rang from Legend's pocket.
"Sorry, call coming."
Gold Legend pulled out her phone, apologized to McQueen, and answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, junior, is Oguri with you?"
Tamamo Cross's thick Osaka accent burst through.
"…Nope. What's up, Tama-senpai?"
"She's vanished! Race day's almost here and she disappears! What if she gets lost? Does she even know she's racing?" Tamamo Cross was frantic.
"If you hear anything, let me know. I'll pack. Honestly, such a handful at her age…"
Tamamo Cross rattled off and hung up. Gold Legend stared at the dead line, thoughtful.
"What's wrong?" McQueen peeked over.
"…Nothing, small matter." Gold Legend shook her head and pocketed the phone. "Actually, I just remembered something. You all go ahead; I'll catch up. See you at Nakayama Racecourse."
Without waiting, she dashed off.
"Hey—wait, where are you—" McQueen stood frozen, hand out, watching Legend's back fade… "Knew I'd find you here."
The same quiet grove. Gold Legend pushed aside branches and spotted the grey figure gazing at the sky.
"…Legend? Why are you here?"
Oguri Cap turned, puzzled.
"Tama-senpai's hunting for you. We're about to leave and you're gone—she's panicking."
Gold Legend shrugged helplessly.
"Is it that late? Sorry for the trouble."
Oguri Cap looked surprised, then apologetic.
"Tell that to Tama-senpai… What were you staring at?"
Gold Legend stepped behind her, scanning the sky for whatever had held Oguri's gaze.
"Nothing, just zoning out."
Oguri Cap closed her eyes and shook her head.
"…Nervous?"
You once said this spot calms you.
"A little. After all, this is my last Flash Race."
"So even you can feel sentimental?" Gold Legend teased, watching Oguri Cap look so different from usual.
"Of course I can—after all, I'm just an ordinary Horse Girl." Oguri Cap smiled.
"...Act normal, you're scaring me."
"You don't have to go that far." Seeing Gold Legend take half a step back, Oguri Cap gave a helpless look.
"Because right now you really aren't yourself."
"The little dope I know never gives off a vibe like this."
Though her expression stayed cool, Gold Legend could feel the sharp aura radiating from Oguri Cap—utterly unlike the everyday air she wore.
"What did you do?" Gold Legend asked, hesitant.
"I just thought back over the past and got a bit nostalgic. Before I knew it, all this time had passed." Oguri Cap turned her gaze skyward again.
Gold Legend listened quietly.
"Looking back now, everything feels like yesterday—whether it was the days in Kasamatsu before I came here, or the time I've spent in Central since arriving—every scene is crystal clear."
Oguri Cap reached toward the sky, then closed her fist as though trying to grasp something.
"I met precious friends, worthy rivals, people who cared for and looked after me. Without noticing, I gained so many treasures to hold dear."
"But the more treasures you clutch, the more timid you become. Without realizing it, I turned into a child who refuses to let go. It wasn't until Inari and Super Creek retired one after another that I understood: maybe it's time to release them."
"...So you chose to retire?"
Gold Legend's tone was unreadable.
Oguri Cap only smiled and gave no answer.
"Two years ago, before the Arima Kinen, Tama told me that on Japan's biggest stage, she'd face the strongest rivals one last time to prove Tamamo Cross was the best, giving her career a beautiful finale. That would be the perfect closing performance."
"..."
"Now I finally understand how Tama felt back then."
Gold Legend stayed silent.
"I'll prove it."
"Prove what?"
Still no answer. Oguri Cap stretched languidly and walked past Gold Legend.
"All right, everyone must be getting impatient—let's head out."
"..."
"Oh, one more thing—thank you."
She stopped, standing back-to-back with Gold Legend.
"Thank me for what?"
"For appearing when I was at my most timid."
With a soft laugh Oguri Cap left the grove without looking back, heading toward the promised place.
Gold Legend turned to watch her go.
The figure moved so slowly, as though every ounce of strength had been spent.
Yet Gold Legend could hear thunderous heartbeats, proclaiming the final outcome and celebrating the coming victory.
"Prove it, huh?"
Gold Legend murmured.
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