Chapter 455: 567

As Chasing Light went into full swing, the entire world felt the impact.

First, Bourbon swept the central circuit's Classic Triple Crown.

Then Rice claimed the Triple Tiara.

Across the central racing circuit, the two were unstoppable!

And beyond these two stars of Chasing Light's new Classic generation, the girls campaigning overseas were running wild.

After she and Teio claimed the G1 crowns of the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Dubai World Cup, McQueen continued on to America with Godolphin accompanying her.

Another year of steady development had given her everything she needed to take the American racing scene by storm.

Teio, meanwhile, remained in Europe.

The two once-innocent girls were now close friends and reigning champions of the track.

One swept east while the other conquered west, leaving the international racing world trembling in their wake.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes! The Juddmonte International Stakes! The Breeders' Cup series!

One after another, the world's greatest middle- and long-distance races fell to them.

It was almost as though Suave Dancer's emergence the previous year had used up an entire generation's share of exceptional talent. This year, no comparable prodigy appeared to challenge them.

As a result, McQueen and Teio encountered very few opponents capable of putting up a respectable fight.

Only when Teio's campaign reached France did that change.

At the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, beneath the eyes of the world, the previous generation's wielder of a [World] finally stepped forward. Public pressure and her own burning desire to race had drawn her back into the fray.

Suave Dancer was as formidable as ever.

But the limits of her natural ability had already become apparent during her confrontation with McQueen the previous year.

Over the past year, the only areas where she could still make meaningful improvements were her technique and her race sense.

Her physical abilities had improved very little.

Against Teio, whose physical capabilities could match and even far surpass her own, Suave Dancer ultimately fell short. Even unleashing her magnificent [World] once more and giving everything she had wasn't enough.

Fiery feathers drifted through the air.

The former ruler's glory had become a stepping-stone for the victor.

Although, according to the uncertain accounts of spectators seated near the finish line, Suave Dancer hadn't seemed particularly upset about losing.

Quite the opposite. She had apparently walked over to Teio in high spirits and said something to her.

Of course, that was merely what people claimed to have seen.

No one could say for certain whether it was true.

One thing, however, was beyond doubt.

Chasing Light, the training team that had once ruled only a distant island nation in the Far East, had broken free of those boundaries.

Their dominance now extended across the world!

And the storm showed no sign of stopping.

While Chasing Light's racers continued collecting victories around the globe, the stars destined to shine in the future were quietly gathering their strength.

In America, a little girl sat alone in a kindergarten playground, playing in the dirt.

She turned to look around. Older Umamusume were happily running across the grass nearby.

The girl paused.

Then she tried opening the eyes she so rarely opened.

In France, a little girl with short brown hair sat before a television.

Treve watched the images on the screen, her attention fixed on the contest between Teio and Suave Dancer.

"I'm going to win the Arc someday!"

Her tiny body brimmed with enormous confidence.

After a pause, she added, "Suave Dancer-senpai lost twice, so I'll have to win it twice to make up for her!"

Just then, her view suddenly rose.

Her feet kicked in midair.

Her mother leaned around from behind her, smiling as she lifted her up.

"Well, if Treve-chan has such big dreams, she'll have to eat properly and grow up big and strong!"

"Yes, Mama."

After a little squirming, the girl obediently let her mother carry her away.

Far away, in the island nation of the Far East, another little girl sat beside the track at Chasing Light's training base.

Brown-haired and expressionless, she propped up her chin and gazed at the sky.

"Star! Look at me! Look!"

Galileo called to her from nearby.

Once she was certain her younger sister was watching, she shot forward like an arrow.

Sea the Stars watched her older sister's performance without a flicker of expression.

After a while, she turned her gaze back toward the sky.

Europe, Asia, the Americas, Oceania…

Across continents and oceans, countless future stars were quietly growing.

They were waiting for their moment to burst onto the scene.

To cast their light across the world.

To leave their names forever in the pages of history.

Another year drew to a close.

At Nakayama Racecourse, a spectacular race had just ended.

"Teio! The winner of the Arima Kinen!"

The commentator's voice rang out over the thunderous cheers of a hundred thousand spectators.

At the center of it all stood Teio, triumphant.

Then she turned toward the stands, found Kuroha, and thrust her right hand high into the air.

Kuroha smiled and raised his own hand, giving her a thumbs-up.

"Trainer."

Behind him, Rudolf leaned against the railing, watching the girl in the middle of the racecourse with a gentle smile.

"That little girl has finally become the person she always dreamed of being."

She paused, then shook her head with a soft laugh.

"No. I suppose she's already gone far beyond the goal she set for herself back then."

Kuroha raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement curling his lips.

"Then we should thank our Emperor-sama for giving her that first goal to chase."

"Mm, exactly!"

Rather than object to his teasing, Rudolf smoothly picked up the thread of the conversation and blinked at him.

"So shouldn't I get a share of Teio's reward tonight?"

Kuroha stared at her.

A few days later, New Year's Eve arrived once again.

Chasing Light was even livelier than it had been the year before.

Just over ten days earlier, Suave Dancer had finally completed her transfer and become an official member of the team.

Although she had joined as a retired racer.

A few days after the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, her blessing from the Three Goddesses had ceased to work.

The former champion hadn't agonized over it. She had simply retired without hesitation and moved to the central circuit.

In the hall, Chasing Light's girls laughed, chatted, and played together.

Kuroha lounged on a sofa in the corner, with the Three Goddesses crowded around him.

Outside, brilliant fireworks occasionally blossomed against Tokyo's dark night sky.

The festive crackle of firecrackers drifted in now and then.

Watching it all, Kuroha suddenly remembered a boy from many years ago.

An inexperienced boy who had stood outside Kasamatsu Tracen Academy with a suitcase in hand, full of determination to train a truly world-class Umamusume.

Back then, he had nothing.

Now, he had everything.

It had begun with March in Kasamatsu.

Then he had gone to Oi, where he met Inari, Obey Your Master, Teio, and McQueen.

After entering the central circuit, he had brought Ardan, Chiyono O, and Maruzensky onto the team.

Oguri, Suzuka, Bourbon, Rice, Brian, Creek…

One familiar figure after another passed through his mind.

Their struggles. Their sweat. Their perseverance, hard work, and fighting spirit.

Every race, every moment, played back through his memories.

Somewhere along the way, even Rudolf, Sunday Silence, Folkqueen, Suave Dancer, and the Three Goddesses themselves had become his Umamusume.

His family.

What more could he ask of life?

Kuroha smiled.

Just then, the clock in the hall struck midnight.

Boom!

Boom!

Outside, fireworks erupted in rapid succession, their overlapping reports rolling through the night.

For a moment, the whole world seemed new again.

Teio's lively voice reached him from across the room.

"Trainer! Everyone! Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

The girls joined in excitedly.

Kuroha looked up, turned toward them, and smiled.

"Happy New Year!"

A new year was about to begin.