Grass Wonder had no idea what Special Week was thinking beside her. If she did, she would have been greatly surprised... and in complete agreement.
Because if she was a shadow, then Special Week was an unquenchable flame in her eyes.
From before her debut through her Classic Year, physical injuries had been like heavy shackles, binding her every movement.
Even heavier was her status as a foreign-bred Uma Musume and the URA regulations of the time. Because of them, she had been unable to participate in the Classic Triple Crown that countless Uma Musume dreamed of.
Yet at some unknown point, Special Week's cheerful and optimistic nature had unconsciously dispelled the various hazes in her heart, leaving a deep imprint on her soul.
Every time she stepped onto the racetrack and saw Special Week, she couldn't help but want to be like her—to emit light and heat like a lit torch.
At this moment, the track beneath her feet seemed to transform into a corridor of time, with scenes of past races surfacing one by one.
It was true that she gave her all time and again for the sake of victory.
But more than that, she wanted to use these intense races to convey the fighting spirit she had kindled from being inspired by her.
She didn't know if their clashes from the past to the present had allowed Special Week to feel this.
But as long as they could still compete together and run together, she would never give up on this resolve.
Coincidentally, having gradually caught up to Seiun Sky, El Condor Pasa in front also unconsciously looked back at Special Week, who was positioned between her and Grass Wonder.
To become the world's strongest Uma Musume, soaring through the sky—that was her dream.
With a brilliant record of 8 wins and 3 second-place finishes in 11 starts during her career, she seemed very close to that dream.
Like Grass Wonder, she was unable to participate in the Classic Triple Crown due to her status as a foreign-bred Uma Musume. Yet she had defeated Special Week in the Japan Cup.
The moment she lifted the Japan Cup trophy, the glory was like brilliant starlight, illuminating her lightning-fast journey.
The world was clearly right before her eyes.
However, the moment she lost the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to Montjeu, she felt as if the shadows of the entire world were closing in on her.
Later, it was again the Japan Cup and again Special Week. After this friend and rival, who had once lost to her, defeated the Montjeu who had beaten her, she suddenly felt the former gloom instantly brighten.
The wind whistled past her ears, sounding like the cheers and shouts from past races.
Looking back at Special Week, who was keeping a close eye on her from behind, El Condor Pasa felt for a moment as if she were looking in a mirror.
In that special mirror, her own desire for victory was reflected, along with every race of glory or gloom she had ever run.
As I thought, you really are a special Uma Musume... Spe.
That's exactly why I absolutely cannot lose, because...
This is my highest respect for you, for all of us, and for all of our past!
As if ignited, El Condor Pasa's entire body erupted with power.
The wind made a sharp sound in her ears, like the cry of an eagle circling high above, or perhaps cheering for her burst of speed.
Her vision was as keen as a hawk's. It definitely wasn't an illusion—Seiun Sky's pace ahead had absolutely shown a hint of disorder.
Perhaps it was a loss of speed, or perhaps she was affected by the pressure from the many opponents behind her.
But regardless, this was the chance!
Suddenly accelerating again with a flash of movement, in the blink of an eye, she had overtaken Seiun Sky.
Almost simultaneously, Special Week and Grass Wonder both noticed Seiun Sky's abnormality.
Without the slightest hesitation, the two who had been locked in a struggle since entering the third corner split with perfect tacit understanding, bypassing Seiun Sky on the left and right.
Special Week grit her teeth, a determined light flashing in her eyes as she sprinted forward with all her might.
Grass Wonder's gaze was like a torch. Every step snapped the grass beneath her, sending large clumps of dirt flying behind her.
And the goal of both was identical—El Condor Pasa, who was already less than a hundred meters from the finish line!
The boiling waves of sound from the stands seemed ready to flip the entire stadium over, and the commentator's voice trembled with excitement.
"The critical moment! The critical moment! El Condor Pasa is the first to exert power and overtake Seiun Sky! Special Week and Grass Wonder are right on her heels!"
"They are sprinting with everything they have! The race has reached its climax!"
"King Halo is still behind! And on the far outside are Matikanefukukitaru and Mejiro Bright!"
"But! 50 meters! El Condor Pasa is still in the lead!"
"The last chance! The final chance for Special Week and Grass Wonder!"
"At this very moment..."
"Crossing the line!!"
The first to stop was El Condor Pasa.
Instinctively, after realizing she had crossed the line, she jogged to slow down for a good while. Sweat slid from her forehead and temples to her chin, gathering and falling in large drops. She tilted her head back high, hands on her waist, panting desperately.
In the next second, to her ears, the spectator stands fell into a faint silence for a moment.
Then, cheers, applause, and screams, interspersed with her name, instantly resounded through the clouds.
"Soaring over the green turf once again! The champion of this Summer Dream Cup is... El Condor Pasa!!"
"Grass Wonder crossed the line just ahead of Special Week at the final moment!"
"Following them, Seiun Sky, Matikanefukukitaru, and Mejiro Bright crossed the line almost simultaneously. Please wait for the photo finish determination!"
After a moment of daze, the summer sun and warm wind, along with the waves of sound, beat against her body. El Condor Pasa gradually came to her senses and snapped her gaze toward the Scoreboard.
Seeing her own name at the very top, her mouth, already wide from panting, opened bit by bit to an exaggerated width. In an instant, she turned and rushed toward the back.
"Hey—hey—I... I won! As expected of me! I won!"
After a moment of incoherent excitement, she was soon taken aback, then found it funny.
"Hey, Spe, why did you fall flat on the ground again? Honestly, you were like this when we first met..."
Lying spread-eagled on the ground, Special Week wobbled as she climbed up after El Condor Pasa spoke. Her face covered in sweat, she scratched her head and gave a silly smile.
Her mouth moved as if she wanted to say something, but she only moved her lips and spat out a few blades of grass with a "pffft."
El Condor Pasa was stunned for a second before she couldn't help but laugh.
Grass Wonder and Seiun Sky, who had approached from the side, also dropped their concerned expressions and began to chuckle.
"Well, still as airheaded as ever, so I can rest easy..."
As if she hadn't even run a race, Seiun Sky put her hands behind her head and wore a lazy expression.
"Sigh, there's still the Winning Live stage later, what a pain... I really want to go back and fish."
Crossing her arms, King Halo looked back at the finish line and pouted.
"I didn't expect that even with this running style, I still couldn't beat you guys..."
"Nothing to do with me," Seiun Sky said, waving her hands dismissively. "I was just here to make up the numbers. You should say that to those three instead."
Having spat out the grass and wiped her mouth, Special Week suddenly looked at El Condor Pasa and gave a thumbs up.
"La victoire est à moi! El Condor Pasa!"
In an instant, El Condor Pasa's smile froze.
Grass Wonder blinked in surprise, then covered her mouth and let out a low giggle.
"...Um, Spe, you still remember that..."
Scratching her head as awkwardly as Special Week had earlier, El Condor Pasa's lips twitched.
"The meaning of that sentence is actually..."
"I know, it means 'Just you watch me,' right?"
A hint of mischief flashed in the eyes of her usually dim-witted face. Special Week also scratched her head and said, "Hehe, Montjeu explained it to me later. I knew you were teasing me."
"I guess I held a bit of a grudge. Anyway..."
"I've been looking for a chance to say that back to you."
"Alright, the race is over! Let's go eat together!"