Twin Shine looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka, her expression gradually hardening into one of resolve. Her gaze slowly shifted to the application form in his hand—a piece of paper that felt as heavy as a mountain—and she gave her certain answer.
With this, her goal of becoming a Horse Girl was no longer a distant, unreachable dream; it was a cruel, tangible "invitation" within her grasp.
No talent? A massive gap in ability? Exhaustion of body and soul?
So what? She wanted to run. She wanted the audience to cheer for her. That was all!
Her hand trembled as she reached out. Her fingertips paused for a second at the edge of the paper, and then, with firm strength, she gripped the application form Fujimaru Ritsuka had held out.
The next morning, Twin Shine realized she wasn't nearly as confident as she had imagined. She had hardly slept the night before, not out of excitement, but because of nerves. She was worried she wouldn't win. Oguri Cap and Ardnane were strong—incredibly strong—and Norn Ace wasn't bad either. Even the other two, though average, could easily beat her.
Could someone like her really win a debut race?
Twin Shine was consumed by worry.
The young girl headed to the cafeteria with a heart full of anxiety, only to be intercepted by Oguri Cap.
"Shine, I heard you're participating in a debut race. Good luck. I believe you can do it. Here—remember to stay in top condition. Hunger is the greatest enemy." Oguri Cap stuffed a carrot into Twin Shine's hands, hoping the girl would build up the strength needed to take the win.
It wasn't just Oguri Cap. Soon, Twin Shine was "greeted" by the trio. Mini Lady spat out some discouraging remarks, while the other two "disciplined" her on Shine's behalf. Amidst the bickering and noise, the three of them offered their blessings.
Ardnane didn't miss out either, though her contribution was pointing out Twin Shine's weaknesses during training—arguably the most practical of the three waves of encouragement.
Twin Shine was deeply moved. She wanted to perform well in her debut race and make her friends proud.
Soon, the day of the debut race arrived.
Twin Shine changed into a simple, plain tracksuit. Her chest heaved as her heartbeat grew increasingly frantic.
Fujimaru Ritsuka's final instructions echoed repeatedly in her mind: "Run your own race. Grit your teeth and look only at what's in front of you."
Although the stands were practically deserted, her friends were there. They had even put up a banner to cheer her on. There was truly nothing to be afraid of!
[1400m Debut Race, Dirt, Sunny, Track: Good]
As the gates snapped open, the race officially began.
The girl's start wasn't brilliant, but fortunately, there were no blunders.
Following the strategy she had practiced countless times, Twin Shine didn't fight for the inner rail. Instead, she settled steadily into the middle of the pack. She could clearly hear the breathing and hoofbeats of the Horse Girls around her, feeling the intense physical pressure of the competition—but it wasn't the suffocating oppression she had imagined.
She realized she could keep up! Confidence surged through her instantly.
She spent the first 600 meters in a strange state of focus. She utilized the techniques she had learned from countless sessions of following others: using the slipstream of the girl in front to save energy, carefully controlling her balance during the turns, and keeping her breathing in sync with her stride.
She applied the skills she had learned piece by piece—clumsily, but solidly. She felt there was a real chance!
As the race entered the final 600 meters, the pack began to stir. The front-runner was showing signs of fatigue; the critical moment to fight for victory had arrived!
Twin Shine thought to herself: Now!
The girl took a deep breath. Without a hint of hesitation, driven by some primal instinct, Twin Shine suddenly accelerated through a gap on the inside!
Her finishing sprint wasn't spectacular, but her timing was impeccable!
She overtook two opponents in quick succession, seizing a narrow lead as she entered the final 400-meter straight!
A few scattered gasps of surprise rose from the stands; the audience felt this girl's performance was quite decent.
Twin Shine heard none of it. Her ears were filled only with the drum-like thumping of her own heart and the wind whistling past. At the edge of her vision, the finish line had never looked so clear!
She could win! She felt she could actually win!
Expectation and emotion surged within her. She thought: I can really do it... I'm going to be a Horse Girl!
However, in that split second where she was overwhelmed with excitement and her spirit wavered...
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy, tyrannical, and oppressive footsteps followed close behind! They erupted suddenly, from a dangerously close distance behind her!
What shocked her even more was that it wasn't just one person—it was two or three! Spurred on by her overtake, they had launched their final, desperate sprints simultaneously!
An alien sense of pressure surged forward like a wave, "stabbing" directly into the girl's back!
Even more terrifying was the "presence" that came with it.
It wasn't the world-shaking power of Oguri Cap, nor the roar of a wild beast. It was a mental oppression woven from frustration, resentment, and a fierce obsession: "How could I lose to someone like you?!"
They turned into an invisible, cold tide that instantly submerged her.
Twin Shine felt her body stiffen.
A stumble appeared in her stride where there shouldn't have been one, and her balance was instantly shattered. To correct the mistake, she had to kick the ground harder, which inevitably made her rhythm even more chaotic.
Her breath hitched, and the burning sensation in her lungs became agonizingly sharp.
One mistake led to another; it was as simple as that.
"She's been passed. Sakura Dash on the inside has overtaken the leader, Twin Shine." The commentator's voice was almost monotone, but it filled Twin Shine with horror. She saw another girl move past her. The distance was half a length, maybe more. She...
She sped up her pace, but the gap didn't shrink. Instead, it grew wider!
In reality, this was an illusion. Because of the sudden upset, Twin Shine's mind had gone blank, and she had magnified a neck's length into an infinity.
Then, disaster struck again: a figure was rapidly approaching from the outside, looking as if she were about to draw level.
If this continued, being overtaken again was a certainty.
Twin Shine felt the wind kicked up by the other girls hit her like a slap across the face.
From the lead to being neck-and-neck, and then... was it over?
Twin Shine felt her body become as heavy as lead. Every lift of her leg became an agonizing struggle. A buzzing sound rang in her ears; the noise of the crowd and the voice of the commentator became blurred and distant.
Her vision held nothing but the retreating backs of her opponents. And that finish line... it felt like she would never touch it again.
The small spark of hope that had briefly flared up vanished. The moment she was surpassed, she felt as if all her strength had been drained away.
The girl thought dejectedly: In the end... I'm still not good enough...
To be unable to win even when giving your all—is this the fate of those without talent?
But it was at that exact moment that she heard a voice.
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Musume: Oguri Cap Grand Order (119 Chapters – Ongoing)
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