Six girls stood aligned at the starting line—three in the usual Northern academy's colors, three visitors beneath unfamiliar silks.
Principal Sato stood with his hands folded neatly behind his back. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was anything but, resting on the line of runners. His expression was unreadable, quietly observing the sight.
Suddenly, footsteps approached as a soft voice slipped beside him like a shadow. "You haven't changed at all, have you, Trainer?"
Tazuna stood at his side, right hand grabbing her left arm in search of a sense of comfort. Her footsteps had always been silent. Thirty years ago, she could win a whole race without a sound.Thirty years later, nothing had changed
Principal Sato glanced toward her.
For a brief moment, his eyes didn't see the composed woman she had become, instead, they saw the filly who used to glare at the sky as though it owed her something.
Then the present returned, and he shifted his gaze back to the track. "And you…" he replied, "have changed plenty, Tokino."
A faint crease formed between her brows. "I go by Tazuna now," she corrected gently. "And you did not answer my question, Trainer."
Her gaze did not waver from the starting line. "Why you approve of this race.."
A pause. "It's that, isn't it?"
He said nothing, simply waiting for Tazuna to answer it herself.
Tazuna's gaze shifted slowly—settling on the snow-white filly in the outermost lane. Sodashi rolled her shoulders once, lazily, blue eyes half-lidded as though this were nothing more than another routine exercise.
"That girl," Tazuna said quietly, "you want to stop her from flying too high and bring her back down to earth, don't you?"
For a moment, only the wind answered.
Then Principal Sato smiled—slowly. "You were always close, Toki—" He stopped himself. "…Tazuna."
Her lashes lifted slightly at the near-slip.
"But never close enough," he finished.
A flicker of confusion passed through her expression.
He exhaled through his nose, eyes never leaving Sodashi. "I am not trying to cut her wings," he said calmly. "Nor am I trying to drag her back down."
"I am trying to make her realize that she is digging herself deeper and deeper—enclosing herself within a space so small she mistakes it for the sky."
The breeze tugged at his coat. "She thinks the world ends at the edge of her own confidence. She has not yet seen how wide the sky truly is."
His eyes softened. "And how cruel it is, "in its own beautiful way."
Tazuna lowered her gaze slightly, those words stabbed a little too deep. Because she understood it well.
Too well.
Her fingers tightened faintly against her sleeve. "You're going to make her realize her own arrogance," she said, voice quieter now. "So she won't end up like the young me… is that it?"
There was bitterness there. Not toward him, but towards herself.
Principal Sato turned to her fully this time. "Tazuna," he said softly, "yours was my failure and mine alone."
She stiffened.
"One that I regret deeply." He shook his head faintly, still dissatisfied with an outcome three decades past. "Yes, your superiority and arrogance were problems, ones you and I could have corrected—had we done so sooner."
A faint, almost melancholy smile touched his lips.
"But at the very least… they were real."
His voice remained regretful."You were strong. Truly strong. To the point that if not for your injuries, no one would have dared question the legitimacy of your pride. Would they?"
"...." Silence lingered between them. Because they both knew the answer.
Principal Sato gaze slowly looked back to the track. The white filly stood tall at the line, eyes closed, body relaxed, utterly convinced of her triumph.
"But that child's problem…"
His voice lowered in concern.
"Is the opposite."
A little farther from the track, the rest of the group had taken seats along the grandstands overlooking the dirt course. It was close enough to see every shift of motion at the starting line but far enough not to interfere.
The students of the academy had filled in the surrounding rows, buzzing with anticipation.
"WOOOO LUNAAAAR—PERSIIII—GET THEM!!"
Namawa's voice exploded across the stands before anyone else could claim the honor. She cupped her hands around her mouth dramatically.
"OH! AND BIG SIS INVI!! DON'T TRIP OVER YOUR OWN EGO!!" she added helpfully.
Saiya bounced beside her, pink eyes sparkling with excitement as she waved both arms. "Everyone! Do your best!!!"
From the far end of the highest row, More Than Ready lifted a phone high into the air with zero shame.
"I'm recording this entire thing, Invi~!!" she called out in a voice far too sweet to be trusted. "So you better not lose! Otherwise I'll be sending edited slow-mo clips of you getting beaten every single weekend to the family group chat as a loving reminder!!"
A scandalized "Ohooo~!" rippled through the surrounding students.
On the track, Invi's head snapped toward the stands so fast it was a miracle she didn't sprain something. "—I'M NOT LOSING, YA OLD HAG!!" she fired back instantly. "JUST WATCH ME!!"
A few academy girls choked on their own laughter.
Autumn Sun slowly turned her head. Beside her, I Am Invincible pressed her fingers to her temple, muttering darkly to herself. "How else can I teach that young lady proper manners…"
Autumn Sun offered her a sympathetic glance.
"…Maybe duct tape?" she suggested mildly.
I Am Invincible did not laugh at that.
Further down the stand, Black Caviar sat leaning forward, elbows resting on her knees, fingers loosely interlocked, sapphire eyes locked onto her daughters.
Without looking away, she spoke. "Your thoughts?"
Beside her, Written Tycoon fixed the bangs in the way of her glasses, eyes squinting as she considered the question. She took a few long seconds before answering.
"I have no data on the fillies from this academy," Written Tycoon began calmly. "And this track is effectively their home ground. That alone provides a measurable advantage."
Her gaze moved across the dirt surface below, studying its texture, the looseness of the top layer, the subtle unevenness near the outer lanes.
"Additionally, barring Lunar, neither Invi nor Persian has any real experience racing on dirt. The footing is different, the kickback is harsher, not to mention how traction shifts with every stride. Even pacing requires minor adjustment depending on how the race goes."
Her eyebrows creased slightly. "It could pose a problem."
Black Caviar hummed faintly.
"But," Written Tycoon continued, "if we take into consideration the average competitive level of Japan's regional uma musumes…"
"They should not pose any threat whatsoever to Invi or Lunar's raw racing prowess."
Black Caviar's lips curved faintly. "However…?" she prompted.
"…However," Written Tycoon echoed, "I will keep my eyes on that Sodashi girl."
Her gaze fixed on the eye-catching filly. "She possesses a more refined physique compared to the others, one that is honed by running on dirt."
A small pause. "Not to mention, she seems to be treated as the strongest among them. And she certainly carries herself as such."
Black Caviar followed her line of sight.
"If there is any genuine threat to victory," Written Tycoon concluded, "it will be her."
Black Caviar nodded thoughtfully. Then, after a moment— "So who do you think would win between Lunar and Invi?"
A rare, subtle smile curved Written Tycoon's lips. "Persian, of course."
Black Caviar blinked once, and then smiled back just as faintly. She turned her gaze back to the track, shoulders relaxing. "What a doting mother."
Written Tycoon did not respond, her eyes never once left Persian at the starting line.
Down on the track, the six runners stood in position.
Closest to the rail was Persian, calm and composed as ever, fingertips brushing lightly against her thigh as she adjusted her stance, feeling herself on the unfamiliar track.
Beside her stood two academy fillies.
The first was tall, with rich brunette hair tied neatly into a high ponytail by a red ribbon—June Take. Her long legs were coiled with visible tension, powerful and ready to spring.
Next to her was the grey-haired girl from earlier—Mitono Universe. She rocked once on her heels, trying to dispel her nerves, before leaning toward the filly at her side.
"Good luck, Lunar-chan~!" she chimed brightly, waving both hands.
Lunar blinked at the sudden cheer, then quickly straightened and dipped into a small, earnest bow. "Y-You too, Mitono-oneesan! Good luck!"
Mitono beamed as if she'd just been handed a medal already.
On Lunar's other side stood Invi. She wasn't smiling her usual confident smile. Her crimson eyes were locked on the outermost lane.
Sodashi.
The snow-white filly stood tall at the far edge of the track, the wind brushing faintly through her long, pristine hair. Only a single painted lane line separated them, yet the distance felt far greater than that.
Invi's jaw tightened.
Sodashi didn't even spare her a glance.
Instead, she simply closed her eyes in wait. As if none of this concerned her. As if the outcome had already been decided.
A student stepped forward near the infield, raising a small starting flag.
"Runners—get in position!"
The six girls shifted at once. Feet slid into position and cleats pressed into the firm dirt.
"It's starting, it's starting!!" Saiya grabbed Namawa's hands, bouncing wildly. Namawa bounced with her.
Back on the line—
Invi cast one more glance sideways.
"Hey."
This time, Sodashi turned her head. Clear blue eyes opened, cold and clear as ice.The air felt sharper between them.
Invi's lips curled into a grin—in pure provocation.
"When I win," she said, voice carrying her confidence, "make sure to say sorry to my moms and my aunts."
For a second, Sodashi simply stared at her.
Then—
She scoffed, soft yet blatantly dismissive.
"Since I've already won," she replied coolly, "be a good girl and watch my back for me, loser."
Invi's eye twitched. A vein pulsed faintly at her temple.
She inhaled, ready to fire something back, but before a single word could leave her mouth—
The starting flag rose high.
"Ready!"
Every runner snapped into position.
Weight forward. Hands low. Breath held.
"Set!"
Silence swallowed the track.
And then—
"Go!"
They detonated off the line. Dirt burst skyward in a violent spray as six pairs of feet tore into the ground.
Invi shot off the line like a bullet, acceleration instant and aggressive. But she wasn't alone—
Sodashi matched her stride for stride, launching cleanly from the outside lane and cutting inward with flawless precision.
Within seconds, the two were neck and neck at the front, neither yielding their place to the other.
From the sidelines, Principal Sato's brow lifted faintly. "Both front runners aye…" he murmured under his breath.
A faint, amused exhale followed. "What a fun turn of events."
Right behind the dueling pair, June lengthened her stride, tall frame eating up ground as she positioned herself just off their shoulders—close enough to strike if either faltered.
Lunar and Mitono followed tightly behind June, neither overcommitting, both keeping a careful rhythm as dirt kicked back against their legs.
And at the very back was Persian.
She hugged the innermost rail with surgical precision, minimizing distance with perfect alignment. But she wasn't pushing at all, seemingly conserving her energy.
"Eh?!" Namawa leaned so far forward she nearly toppled over the railing. "Why is Persi going so slow?!"
Saiya blinked rapidly. "Can she keep up at this point—?"
Written Tycoon, however, did not react. Hazel eyes silently tracked her daughter, assessing the situation.
Black Caviar crossed her arms loosely. "…This is the first time I've seen her run as a closer," she muttered.
"She usually prefers stalking…. staying within striking distance. Watching the leader up close, reading the flow of the race—so she can make the correct decision in a split second."
Persian's expression remained serene, no signs of panic anywhere.
Black Caviar's lips curved faintly. "…I wonder what that smart little cookie is thinking."
Up front, the duel intensified as they approached the first corner. The dirt track curved ahead—tight and demanding. Invi and Sodashi entered side by side.
Both leaned in and lowered their centers of gravity. But the difference lay in their lanes.
Sodashi, positioned slightly farther outside, carved a wider arc. The curve was gentler for her—less abrupt, less demanding on her stride. Her form remained clean as she flowed through the bend with minimal disruption.
Invi, having surged hard on the straight, found herself hugging tighter to the inside than ideal. The angle forced her to compress her stride more sharply. Her earlier acceleration had bought her position—but at a cost.
By the midpoint of the turn, the difference showed.
Sodashi retained more speed.
And by the exit—
She slipped ahead.
Invi's teeth clicked together. "Tch."
The moment her cleats struck the straight, she adjusted— shoulders squaring as she regained balance and pushed.
Her acceleration hit like a second engine.Dirt exploded behind her as she unleashed another burst, raw force tearing into the ground, chasing the white-haired mare down.
Stride after stride, she reeled Sodashi back in.
The gap shrank.
Half a length.
A shoulder.
And then—
Neck and neck once more.
Sodashi's brow twitched faintly, annoyance flickered through her otherwise composed expression.
From the sidelines, Principal Sato watched without blinking. "That one is certainly a little reckless…" he remarked, eyes fixed on the red-eyed filly who had just brute-forced her way back into contention.
"…but at least she has the power to back it up."
Beside him, Tazuna nodded thoughtfully. "Out of everyone on the track," she said, green eyes focused slightly in thought, "Invincible probably—No, definitely has the greatest physical advantage."
Her mind followed the sheer force of Invi's acceleration. "To generate that amount of power in such a short window is extremely difficult. Most would lose form attempting it."
Principal Sato hummed in agreement. "Hmm, yes."
His eyes shifted briefly to the pristine white figure maintaining flawless rhythm at Invi's side.
"She has the power."
A pause lingered.
"But let's see if she has the stamina."
They watched as the two front-runners continued their duel.
"If she repeats that burst after every corner," he explained. "it will cost her far more energy than executing the turn cleanly in the first place."
And speaking of clean turns—
The runners behind the leading pair emerged from the first corner in an entirely different order.
Lunar moved through the bend like water.
Where others tightened and braced, she flowed. Her body leaned at just the right angle, feet striking in seamless rhythm as she used the curve not just to maintain her speed—but to accelerate.
By the time they straightened out, she had surged past the rest of the chasing pack.
June, with her long stride, had been forced to compress too abruptly to navigate the bend. The sudden shortening of her gait cost her precious momentum.
Mitono Universe, determined not to fall behind, had pushed a little too optimistically and misjudged her footing. She had to ease off slightly to avoid stumbling.
Both of them lost momentum. And in racing—momentum was everything.
From the innermost rail, Persian slipped through.
She had not been pushing, which meant she did not need to brake.
Her speed was moderate—controlled—precisely calculated. While the others fought the turn, she simply traced it. She went in, leaned, and out. There was no wasted motion, no needed adjustment.
By the time they re-entered the straight, Persian had bypassed both June and Mitono without fanfare—still hugging the rail, still able to conserve energy.
"Ah," Anonym muttered quietly from beside Autumn Sun. "…That's why."
Black Caviar found herself satisfied as she watched Persian's unhurried stride. She planned this, didn't she?
A faint smirk tugged at her lips.
Beside her, Written Tycoon offered no additional commentary, but the pride in her gaze was transparent.
Along the fence line, a ripple of disbelief spread through the academy students. Two of their three representatives—June and Mitono—had fallen to the back of the pack.
Being outran, by two younger fillies who have not even gone through maturization yet.
Up front, the duel only intensified down the straight.
Stride for stride. Breath for breath.
Sodashi and Invi ran as if tethered by an invisible string—neither breaking, neither fading. Every time Sodashi edged half a step ahead with technical precision, Invi responded with raw, unrelenting acceleration. Every time Invi surged, Sodashi smoothed the rhythm back into equilibrium.
The students along the rail were on their feet now.
"I've never seen Soda-chan pushed like this—!"
"She's actually going all out—!"
It was true.
For the first time since enrolling, Sodashi wasn't running comfortably ahead. She was working for it, and everyone could see it.
What is up with this girl?! Sodashi's thoughts shouted as dirt sprayed beneath her feet.
Technically, she was far superior.
She knew this track like she knew her own heartbeat. The timing of every bend. The precise force required to exit a curve without bleeding speed. The cadence to maintain optimal velocity on the straights without overextending.
She had run here countless times, mastered it.
Then why? How is this foreign uma musume who is running in such a way that offends her sensibilities keeping up?
Her dirt handling was crude, Her stride slightly misaligned, clearly unused to this surface. Hell, even her corner entries were imperfect.
On paper, it made more sense for her to be trailing at the back.
And yet—
She kept accelerating.
Matching her. Forcing her. Keeping pace through sheer physical power alone.
It was crude, it was inefficient.
Yet it was terrifyingly effective.
For the first time in a long while, doubt flickered across Sodashi's mind.
If this were turf… If this were a surface where the other girl is more suitable for…. Would she be able to keep up?
Her jaw tightened.
No.
That didn't matter, this was the race in front of her— and she would not lose.
Not here, never on her own ground.
Ahead of them, the final corner loomed—a bend that would decide everything.
"This is it," Principal Sato voiced out. "Whoever emerges from this corner ahead between those two will take the victory."
Beside him, Tazuna tilted her head slightly. "Are you sure, Trainer?"
He glanced at her, faintly puzzled. "What do you mean?"
A small, knowing smile tugged at her lips. "You're losing your edge," she said lightly. "Though I can't blame you for not noticing."
Her eyes flicked back to the track. "It's never been something a human could properly understand anyway."
Principal Sato's brows drew together—And then his eyes widened. "Wait a minute— you don't mean—"
He swung his gaze back to the track, expecting to see Sodashi and Invi still locked in their fierce duel, vying for the decisive exit.
Instead—
A tiny figure shot forward from behind them.
It happened so seamlessly, so perfectly timed, that a single blink would have erased it from memory entirely.
From behind.
Through the middle.
And then ahead.
Like moonlight slipping through a closed window curtain.
Gasps rippled across the stands. All eyes were drawn to a single, extraordinary sight.
Lunar.
Her eyes were glowing gold, each stride leaving a silver afterimage shimmering in the dirt, a fleeting trace of light marking her passage.
The dirt did not resist her. The corner did not hinder her. She cut through it as though the track itself bent itself for her instead of the other way around.
Sodashi's breath hitched.
What… am I looking at?
The world around her seemed to blur for half a second. The sight in front of her did not feel real, it felt like something out of a silly dream.
Beside her, Invi's eyes flared. Recognition struck instantly.
That glow—
Her heart slammed once in her chest. It was Lunar's [Zone].
The memory of her previous defeat surfaced—humbling, unforgettable—but instead of discouraging her, it ignited a fire.
A fierce grin tugged at her lips. "So that's how it is."
Her gaze locked entirely onto Lunar's shimmering back, the silver trail widening with every stride. Sodashi? Forget her. This was a new race, an entirely different battlefield.
Invi leaned forward, ready to unleash another surge of power—but then a presence slid up alongside her, along the inner rail.
It was Persian.
She looked scarily calm, pristine in form. No strain in her breathing, no tension in her shoulders. While Invi had been battling and chasing Sodashi, Persian had conserved every ounce of energy, flowing through the inner rail and covering the least distance possible. Now, she was ready.
As Invi gathered herself to chase Lunar, Persian's stride lengthened, and the stored power in her legs began to unfurl.
"PERSI'S CATCHING UP TO BIG SIS INVI—!!"
Namawa's scream nearly cracked the air in half. She was practically jumping now, gripping Saiya's hands as they both bounced wildly, unable to contain their excitement.
Down the final stretch, the dirt thundered.
Invi drove forward, muscles coiling and releasing, chasing the silver figure ahead with everything she had.
But on the inner rail—Persian surged.
Her careful conservation paid off perfectly. Her Legs fired like pistons as she pulled even with the more powerful Invi, her still fresh condition leveling up the physical disparity between them to an even state.
Invi's eyes flicked sideways, astonished. "You—?!"
Before she could react further—Sodashi shook herself free of that lingering daze.
Her blue eyes sharpened.
This isn't over.
She accelerated and within seconds, she drew level with them both.
The final stretch became a three-way war.
From the benches, More Than Ready let out a long, appreciative whistle, phone still raised high. "What a fun race~" she sang, the words trailing with pure delight.
Black Caviar's gaze never wavered from the track. "It really was," she murmured softly. "But…"
"It's over." Written Tycoon finished calmly, eyes still fixed on the course.
On the track, Persian's jaw clenched. Her vision narrowed into a tunnel.
I CAN DO IT. I CAN DO IT. I CAN DO IT.
She pushed every muscle, every fiber, every ounce of stored energy, and for a fleeting moment—just a breath—she edged ahead. Half a stride, then nearly a full one.
Sodashi's breath caught as Persian slipped past her shoulder. Invi roared, desperately trying to match the sudden surge.
But Persian's focus didn't waver sideways—only forward.
And there it was, the silver light ahead.
Lunar looked untouchable. Her golden eyes burned softly as she moved, the silver trail behind her shimmering in the sunlight like a ribbon of light. It stretched endlessly, a constant reminder of the gap, a visual taunt of her dominance.
The finish line rushed rapidly, and Lunar crossed it with relative ease—Three lengths clear of everyone else.
The cheers erupted instantly, but the pack behind barreled through with relentless force.
Persian leaned at the final moment, her calculated timing perfect, claiming second place by the narrowest margin—a nose length.
Behind her—Invi and Sodashi hit the line so close it was indistinguishable, resulting in a two-way tie for third.
Several seconds later, June Take crossed, chest rising and falling heavily, every step screaming exhaustion. Mitono Universe followed not long after, shoulders heaving, disbelief etched across her face.
The dust settled slowly over the track. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to pause. Then—
The student holding the flag finally snapped out of their daze, raising it high. "Winner—Lunar Light!"
"And with that, the Visitor Team wins!"
The stands erupted into chaos, cheers spilling across every row.
Saiya practically leapt from her seat. "LUNAR WON—!!"
Namawa threw both fists into the air, grinning from ear to ear. "FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD! LET'S GOOO—!!"
Even Anonym allowed herself a small cheer in happiness. "yosh."
Among the academy students, awe replaced disbelief.
"Soda-chan lost..?"
"The two youngest fillies placed first and second…"
"They haven't even gone through maturization yet, right??"
Yet, instead of discouragement, a spark of motivation ignited in their eyes. They had just witnessed something far beyond their usual training, a display of raw talent and determination that thrilled them to their core.
Black Caviar clapped slowly, a satisfied smile settling across her face. Her children had shown exactly what they were capable of—a memorable, undeniable proof of their skill.
She glanced sideways at Written Tycoon. "You were almost correct this time."
Written Tycoon adjusted her glasses, exhaling softly. "That [Zone] is really absurd," she said, a little exasperated. "Does she just activate it unconsciously every time?"
Black Caviar shrugged lightly. "Guair's genes, I suppose," she said with a faint smile.
Meanwhile, Principal Sato remained frozen, mouth slightly ajar. He had anticipated countless outcomes—For the duel, for the lessons, for the victories, for the defeats….
But that—
That had slipped beyond calculation.
A gentle palm pressed under his chin. Tazuna's fingers lifted slightly, closing his mouth with quiet dignity.
She didn't glance at him. Her gaze was fixed on the track—on Lunar, who laughed breathlessly as Invi draped an arm over her shoulders, loudly protesting her loss, and Persian, smiling faintly at both of them.
"It seems like you weren't close this time, Trainer."