Umamusume: Beyond Peak

"McQueen! McQueen! McQueen!"

A dazzling display of brilliance, utterly deserving of the thunderous applause. An undeniable G1 victory, a spectacular opening act. Teio smiled faintly, unnoticed amidst the jubilant throng at Nakayama Racecourse.

This moment belonged to Mejiro McQueen, and to her eternal rival.

Tokai Teio quietly slipped away through the fervent crowd. As her dearest friend, witnessing their historic battle firsthand was enough.

At the exit, Teio encountered Rudolf.

"What a deafening roar! You can feel the energy even from here," Symboli Rudolf remarked.

"President, ditching student council duties to watch the race?" Teio teased.

"Heh~ Even the President needs a break. Besides, I have a capable assistant like Air Groove to keep things running smoothly," Rudolf replied with a chuckle.

"So, you're invested in their rivalry too. Using your precious downtime to see their match," Teio observed.

Rudolf shook her head. "Actually, I just arrived. I didn't come for the race itself."

"Not for the race? Then what brought you here?"

Rudolf's expression turned grave. "I can see your legs aren't in good condition, are they? Forget about the Kikuka Sho for now; even daily training is a major problem. Legs that could fracture at any moment are like a sword hanging over your head."

Teio didn't seem surprised. She glanced casually at her legs. "So, I couldn't hide it after all?"

"You claimed to be secluding yourself to prepare for the Kikuka Sho, but the truth is you're treating your legs. Trying to push yourself like this is reckless," Rudolf said, her tone tinged with anger, clearly disapproving of Teio's self-imposed limitations.

"President, what do you want me to do?" Teio asked.

"Withdraw from the Kikuka Sho. You have extraordinary talent—in fact, no Umamusume possesses more innate potential. You have the ability to achieve anything. It would be a tragedy if something happened to you here."

Teio smiled faintly, having anticipated every word Rudolf would say. "Just as I expected from you, President."

She raised her eyes to meet Rudolf's gaze directly. "I gladly accept what fate bestows upon me, but I refuse to give up. I know you, President, inside and out. That's why your words don't surprise me at all."

Teio's smile vanished completely, her petite figure straightening with pride. "President, you seem to underestimate me. I will definitely participate in the Kikuka Sho, and through this race, I will show you exactly what kind of Umamusume Tokai Teio truly is."

Rudolf hadn't noticed that the little Umamusume who once trailed behind her had long since blossomed into a formidable presence.

-

In the Infirmary

Kousei awoke utterly exhausted, everything feeling different from her dream.

She opened her eyes in the infirmary, finding herself completely alone in the unusually quiet room. Glancing out the window, she saw a waning moon and sparse stars, suggesting the day's events had long since settled.

"Did I lose?" Kousei murmured to herself, sitting up dazedly. The intense battle had ended in Mejiro McQueen's victory, and McQueen's triumphant declaration still echoed in Kousei's mind. Compared to McQueen's fervent energy, Kousei felt a pang of loneliness.

At this hour, no one was likely to disturb her, meaning she would be alone until dawn.

Kousei had, in a way, achieved her wish. She had given her all in the battle against McQueen, ensuring McQueen's victory was beyond reproach. Having accomplished her goal, she should be rejoicing.

Ding-ding-ding!

Kousei was lost in thought when the sudden ringtone startled her. She scrambled around and found her phone hidden under her pillow.

She answered immediately.

"Hello?"

"Good evening, Kousei. How are you feeling?" It was her mother on the other end of the line.

"Ah... I'm fine, just exhausted," Kousei replied. Her parents should have been asleep by now, considering they had to open their shop early tomorrow.

"That's good to hear. Mom was a little worried about you, Kousei, but I'll leave the rest to Dad."

The voice on the phone changed.

"Good evening, Kousei."

Her father's voice, usually warm and cheerful, was now deep and steady, possessing a calming magic that seemed to settle her racing thoughts.

"Good evening, Father. I... I'm so sorry I lost the race."

Her parents must have watched her race on TV, her first G1, only to see her lose.

"Heh~ Don't worry about it. I have a gift for you, Kousei. Did you see it?"

A gift? Kousei hadn't noticed anything else in the infirmary.

"I believe it should be lying quietly on the bedside table."

Kousei looked over. A newspaper lay there undisturbed.

Is this Father's gift?

She picked it up and began reading under the bedside lamp.

The headlines blazed: "Shining Supernova," "Undisputed Elite," and similar phrases. Below them was a photo of Mejiro McQueen roaring triumphantly at the finish line.

Kousei smiled softly. "It suits you perfectly, McQueen."

Even though she was feeling down, Kousei was genuinely happy for McQueen.

"What's this?"

Kousei suddenly noticed something different amidst the overwhelming coverage of McQueen.

[The Dreamer from Shopping Street]

[The Fearless Challenger]

[The Elite's Rival]

Publisher: Etsuko Otonashi

Beneath these words, a striking image of Kousei in full stride stood out vividly.

Kousei stared for a long, long time. When she finally confirmed it was indeed her own image and not McQueen's, she froze, stunned.

Her father didn't rush her, allowing her to slowly process her emotions.

After a long, long while...

"Actually, I could have won, right?" Kousei suddenly said.

"You could have won?" Her loving father was a warm harbor.

"On the turn, I was already ahead. McQueen missed her chance to break away; she hesitated at that moment. I know McQueen is strong, but at top speed, I'm faster than her. There wasn't much distance left! I still had stamina then—I could have kept running! If I had just started sprinting, I could have won! But! But! But I didn't!"

Kousei couldn't suppress her regret. "I was mesmerized by McQueen. Her image filled my mind. A voice kept telling me to stop Mejiro McQueen. I lost... crushed beneath Mejiro's iron hooves."

Kousei looked utterly devastated, convinced that her misjudgment had cost her the race and her first G1 victory.

She had believed that even in defeat, helping McQueen would be enough. But the reality of failure stung far more than she had imagined.

"It wasn't so bad, was it?" her father said softly, a hint of relief in his gentle laughter.

"Huh?"

"Actually, I heard you during the final sprint. I heard you shout, 'I'm going to win!'"

He sighed deeply, as if a long-held burden had finally been lifted.

"I finally saw your resolve, my daughter. Just like your mother, you're truly extraordinary. Never giving up, holding your head high, and facing the world with dignity.

You didn't make the wrong choice. Remember this feeling. Only an Umamusume who has truly experienced such emotions can shine.

Even in defeat, life goes on. So cry now, and then rise again."

Her eyes burned, overwhelmed by emotions she couldn't suppress. She tried to hold back, but tears spilled forth uncontrollably.

One drop.

Two drops.

Then a steady rain.

"Damn it! I wanted to win so badly!"

Finally, she broke down completely, sobbing loudly into the night. The silence remained unbroken, yet her anguished cries kindled a fierce flame of hope.