"Try not to lose too badly?"
It was meant as playful teasing.
Garden Gale forced out a gentle smile, softening her voice—but she overdid it, resulting in a weird, squeaky tone.
Her first attempt at comforting someone else was painfully awkward, yet she didn't retreat or pull away. Instead, she replayed every memory of comfort she'd ever received, determined to replicate them perfectly.
—I'm a monster at copying things, after all.
"Yeah." Air Shakur exhaled slowly, adopting an indifferent, resigned expression. With deliberate nonchalance, she sighed, "I'm gonna lose anyway."
"Not necessarily."
Garden Gale shook her head again, still gentle.
Even the setting sun outside painted a golden, gentle edge along the horizon.
"Look, Shakur." Garden stood, still holding Shakur's hand, and pointed at the sinking sun. The city below edged slowly into darkness. "The sun is setting."
"Mhm." Air Shakur nodded vaguely, acknowledging she was listening but not particularly engaged.
"But tomorrow at noon, it'll rise again as always, shining brighter than all the stars." Garden withdrew her hand, smiling radiantly.
Air Shakur responded with gentle sarcasm, "So, you're trying to say no matter what happens, the sun always rises? That I shouldn't give up and should do my best at the Takarazuka Kinen, because eventually the sun will come out again?"
Sorry.
I can't.
—I've tried already. No amount of effort can overcome certain despair.
"That's way too cliche!"
Garden's eyes widened, feigning shock and displeasure, almost pouting. Quickly, she clarified her point: "People don't get to decide what they're given."
"They can't control the track of their fate, whether Hamlet or Othello—even the sun itself repeats the same cycle endlessly, rising, setting, shining."
"Maybe you'll still lose the Takarazuka Kinen, no matter how hard you fight."
"But..."
"People aren't born to live for others. We live only for ourselves. All you have to do is tell yourself that you gave it everything you had, that you did your absolute best—isn't that enough? Even after you leave the track, life will be full of countless other challenges. Don't let one thing seem so important."
"Stop always wearing that sad expression like you can't accomplish anything."
"And besides…"
"I believe in you."
"I believe, Air Shakur, that you can win the Takarazuka Kinen."
"..."
Air Shakur bit her lip.
She hesitated.
Then, maintaining her carefully casual tone, replied, "Isn't that still just motivational fluff?"
"Yeah!" Garden retorted nonchalantly. "This is the motivational fluff I'm feeding you! You don't get to choose what you're given—so I'm going to pinch your cheeks open and pour it down your throat, got it?"
"And by the way!"
"I meant it earlier."
"At the Takarazuka Kinen…"
"You're gonna see some lunatic holding up a giant red flag, your name written on it in huge letters, standing right beside the track screaming, 'Air Shakur, you have to win! If you don't, I'll jump off a building tomorrow!'"
"Pfft, stop!"
Air Shakur's voice quivered, half-laughing. "Forget whether that'd distract the crowd—what's this nonsense about jumping off buildings? If I cause the Umamusume world's brightest rising star to actually die…"
"…Your fans will tear me to shreds on the spot."
Garden Gale shrugged exaggeratedly.
With a mischievous grin, she teased further: "Well, if you ever want to see me again, you'd better win that Takarazuka Kinen. Don't let me die for real!"
"I—"
This time, Air Shakur barely got out a single syllable.
Garden Gale took a sudden step forward, wrapping her arms around Air Shakur on the very edge of Skytree, at the center of the LED-lit city skyline, and pulled her tight into an embrace, as if holding Shakur's entire world close.
Holding tightly.
Gentle, yet firm.
Then, breathing softly into Shakur's ear, her voice a faint whisper, she pleaded:
"Shakur, please… win."
"I know you won't just stop here. You're an amazing Umamusume—prove them wrong. Tell the whole world you're not the weakest Double Crown."
Once again—
"I—I really… I can't…"
Air Shakur's voice trembled uncontrollably, her deepest emotions finally laid bare. Within her world of darkness, someone had appeared, dusting away the ashes on her shoulders, standing silhouetted against the light, reaching out a hand to lead her forward, guiding her out of the dark.
Then...
Garden Gale pressed her lips directly against Air Shakur's.
Silencing any further words.
Air Shakur's eyes widened in shock, confusion and surprise flooding her expression.
After that momentary surprise faded, she surrendered completely, abandoning any thought of pushing Garden away.
Bystanders nearby immediately erupted: "Woooooo!"
The curious, teasing sounds were accompanied by camera flashes, capturing the two in their sudden embrace.
Their intertwined figures were silhouetted dramatically against the backdrop of the now fully darkened sky, illuminated sharply by spotlights. It was a scene straight out of art.
"Don't say another word unless it's to tell me you'll win," Garden gasped softly—obviously less composed than she pretended, but still issuing a fierce threat in her cutest voice:
"If you don't say it, I'll keep kissing you until you do! The crowd will just keep getting bigger, the scene will escalate, and eventually the Emperor herself will have to come pick us both up."
Air Shakur's eyes were clearer than ever before. Her voice steady, she replied:
"I'll say it—"
"I will win."
"Takarazuka Kinen, or any other race—I'll win them all. A single glance from you is stronger than twenty swords. As long as you're watching me, nobody can hurt me."
"Now… It's your turn. Say it—say you'll win the Japan Derby. If you don't, I'll do exactly the same thing back to you, right here, until the Emperor herself has to drag us home!"
Now it was Garden Gale's turn to panic.
"Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait!" she hurriedly stammered, "Japan Derby, Tokyo Yushun—whatever it's called—I'll definitely win! I'll run with your spirit, becoming the Triple Crown champion you always dreamed of!!!"
...
I'll win the Takarazuka Kinen.
Yes.
...
And the Japan Derby…
I'll win that, too.
…
At this moment, their fates intertwined. They had pulled each other out from their own darkest corners, and together—side by side—they raced toward the brightly shining new world ahead.
---
T/N: O M G!!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ITS HAPPENING ITS HAPPENING OMGGG I THOUGH SHAKUR WOULD BE THE ONE TO KISS BUT GG ITS YOU?????!!!!!!!!!! OMGGGGG CUCKAI TEIO LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! ALSO AIR SHAKUR IS BEST GIRL AND OMGGGGG I DONT KNOW WHAT TO SAY BUT DID YOU KNOW AIR SHAKUR IS 5'6 AND GARDEN GALE IS 5'2 YEAH OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG HEIGHT DIFFERENCE WAIT DOES AIR SHAKUR HAVE A BIG HORSE COC- WAIT WHERES THE PHEROMONES???