Only One Year Left—I'll Become a Legendary Uma Musume!

Twilight Song's face was ashen.

Um…how should she put this?

She really had kept her mouth shut to the very end, refusing to say a single word. And Mejiro Ardan had been equally unwavering in her gentle determination—

So gently determined, in fact, that she'd stuffed Twilight Song into the backseat of the car without discussion, and remained silently firm all the way to the hospital doors.

As the automatic doors opened, four sturdy medical staff appeared before Twilight Song. Before she could say a word, Ardan firmly pressed her onto the bed, sending the little filly straight into "hell."

How to describe Twilight Song's current mood in a single sentence?

Ugh… is it too late to apologize?

Haha… now she was really doomed.

Twilight Song's sky had collapsed once again.

By the time the series of examinations finally concluded, it was already late at night. In her past life, Twilight Song never had the time or money for such a comprehensive physical. Now that she'd finally experienced it, she firmly decided:

Let's never, ever do this again.

She lay there staring blankly at the ceiling, eyes unfocused, remaining absolutely silent. Beside her, Ardan listened carefully to the doctor's summary of the results.

Twilight Song didn't know how long she'd spaced out before Ardan finally approached her bedside. The older Uma Musume reached out, gently pinching the little filly's cheek, gazing down with concern.

She probably knows everything already, doesn't she?

"Um, um… is it too late to confess now?"

But there was nothing she could do, was there? She'd always known this day would come. Now that she'd been discovered, all she could do was spill the truth and—

Beg Ardan not to tell Mejiro Ramonu.

Twilight Song still needed the racecourse. She needed to leave her mark on this world. Honestly speaking…

This had become an obsession for her, the only reason she could still put on a brave face.

Deep down, the little filly had always been terrified of death.

"Anyway, before going to Japan, I already knew I didn't have much time left. Not much time to live in this world, I mean."

Twilight Song hesitated over what exactly she should say. But after thinking it over, she abandoned her carefully rehearsed speech and simply confessed the truth, plainly and openly.

"That's why I was in such a hurry to debut, why I wanted to win as many championships as possible. I wanted to keep living—but since that's impossible, I at least wanted more glory…"

"I wanted to live on in everyone's memories. It's the only thought that keeps my fear of dying at bay. So please, Ardan-nee…"

"Please don't tell Ramonu-nee about this."

Because if Ramonu knew, she'd insist Twilight Song rest quietly, fighting desperately against death for even the slightest chance of survival.

Racing? Why would someone with poor health risk stepping onto a racetrack?

That was exactly the sort of thing Ramonu would say, wasn't it?

Mejiro Ardan remained silently attentive throughout. Honestly, she understood Twilight Song's feelings all too well.

Because Ardan herself had once been that Uma Musume whom everyone said shouldn't step onto the racetrack.

But compared to Ruka's condition, her own fragility had been minor—and she'd eventually achieved her dream.

But what if it was Twilight Song?

She'd be confined to a hospital room, forever tormented by frustration and regret.

Gently, Ardan embraced the fragile little filly.

Uma Musume were born yearning for the track—slaves and fanatics to victory. For a racing girl who'd tasted the freedom of speed, preventing her from running would be nothing short of torture.

And for Twilight Song right now, running, winning, and being embraced by cheers was the only way to escape reality.

Mejiro Ardan hesitated for a long moment before finally closing her eyes. If allowing this was the only way her little sister could feel even slightly at peace, how could she possibly refuse?

Still, that meant keeping it from Ramonu-nee… She'd have to deal with the doctors first, then figure out how to handle Ramonu.

And what would happen if Ramonu discovered they'd teamed up to deceive her?

"Do you know what Ramonu-nee might say, in the end?"

Ardan felt the filly trembling in her arms. Did Twilight Song understand? Of course she did—this little dummy understood the hearts of everyone in the Mejiro family all too clearly.

"But even so, I'm agreeing to your plan."

"Eh?"

Mejiro Ardan's lips curled into an unexpected smile. Honestly, deceiving Ramonu like this filled her with a curious sense of guilt—

Especially since…

"You haven't told anyone else about this, have you, Ruka?"

"Huh? Oh… No, only you, Ardan-nee."

Then this will be a secret shared exclusively between us two.

"Then you'll have to run even harder for me, okay?"

Even if only to ease the scolding and fury Ardan herself would inevitably face from Ramonu when everything was revealed. Twilight Song would surely realize this sooner or later—

If she passed away, it would trigger chaos and painful confrontation within the Mejiro household.

By mentioning this, Ardan was sparing Twilight Song from bearing that guilt alone.

This, too, was her gentleness as an older sister.

"Is…is it really alright? Doing something so selfish?"

Twilight Song hugged Ardan tightly, fully aware of these implications. It was precisely because she understood this that she'd resisted all along.

She only had one short year left. But if her fleeting existence shattered the peace of their family…

Even buried beneath the earth, Twilight Song would surely rise from anger.

Wait, was this actually Ardan-nee's goal all along?

"It's alright. Go ahead, do as you wish—I'll allow it. After all, if deception is truly betrayal, a sin…"

Ardan pressed her cheek gently against Twilight Song's, whispering softly into her ear:

"Then, doesn't sharing such a terrible secret make us accomplices?"

Twilight Song remained frozen in Ardan's embrace, stunned. Having given her approval, Ardan slowly stood up.

The little filly needed rest, and Ardan had plenty to handle herself. First things first: taking care of the medical team and ensuring a falsified but plausible health report was prepared.

Ardan was swift and decisive, but when she tried to leave, she encountered a small hindrance.

Twilight Song clutched tightly at her sleeve, eyes glistening with tears.

"Thank you…really. I just wish I had more time."

Ardan's heart skipped a beat.

Yes, it would be wonderful if there was more time—enough to surpass a year, enough that their sisters wouldn't grow distant because of something like this.

Enough time…

For her and Twilight Song to remain accomplices for life.