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

New York International Airport.

The airport bustled as usual, but to Twilight Song, it felt like the gates of hell.

Why?

Throughout the entire flight back from Japan, she had mentally prepared herself for the inevitable scenario of dropping to her knees and begging forgiveness the moment she walked through the front door.

But no one had warned her that Mejiro Ramonu and Ardan would be waiting right there at the airport exit.

"Ramonu-nee, I—"

"Be quiet. Get in the car."

Wisely, Twilight Song shut her mouth and obediently took a seat in the back.

Why do I feel like this kind of scene is happening way too often lately...?

O-onegai, watashi!

In the end, Twilight Song never found a chance to speak up.

Clearly, Ramonu was genuinely angry—furiously so.

I'm doomed.

At home, Twilight Song silently grabbed the fluffy cushion from the entryway, spread it carefully onto the floor, knelt down, and wondered if maybe rolling onto her back to expose her belly might ease her punishment.

When accepting punishment, stand straight. When apologizing... Anyway, I'm sorry. Yep, definitely sorry.

"What exactly are you doing?"

For a moment, Ramonu wasn't sure how to react. Though her anger was still burning brightly, a strange emotion had begun to surface as well.

Is this child's head filled with nothing but racing and competitions? Outside of that, is she actually a fool?

Standing nearby, Ardan finally lost control. The typically composed Uma Musume let out a gentle chuckle and shook her head helplessly at Ramonu.

This child had always been surprisingly mature and farsighted—

—to the point of already planning out how to apologize even before secretly flying off to Japan in the dead of night.

Was that a good thing or bad?

As an older sister figure, Ardan felt a peculiar sense of relief.

Nothing truly terrible had happened, after all. As long as she apologized sincerely, it would be best not to dwell on it too much.

But Ramonu clearly wasn't going to let it slide so easily.

With a knowing look, Ardan turned and headed toward the kitchen.

"I—I'm apologizing…"

"And what exactly did you do wrong?"

"Um, well…maybe I shouldn't have competed in the Satsuki Sho?"

Twilight Song cautiously tried to align herself with Ramonu's reasoning.

At this moment, Twilight Song suddenly realized something very sad:

As a former corporate wage slave reincarnate, she'd completely forgotten how to apologize.

After all, in her past life, her manager would always blame her without ever letting her explain.

Well, anyway—this must be what I did wrong, right?

"Wrong."

Then what could it possibly be?

As Twilight Song struggled to figure it out, Ramonu simply folded her arms and watched in silence.

The young heiress of the Mejiro household wore a form-fitting black dress today, completely devoid of accessories, yet her simple attire radiated a powerful sense of authority.

Put simply, Mejiro Ramonu currently seemed as imposing as royalty.

Unable to meet her gaze, Twilight Song contemplated for a long, long time—so long that Ardan eventually returned with a tray carrying three cups of steaming black tea, and yet Twilight Song still had no answer.

"All right, Ramonu-nee, you shouldn't push her too hard…"

"No, Ardan. She needs to realize what exactly she did wrong."

Ardan gave up trying to intervene and simply sat down helplessly nearby.

I shouldn't have told Ramonu-nee...

"I—I really don't know."

Having exhausted every possibility, Twilight Song finally lifted her head in defeat. Her clear, golden eyes met Ramonu's, shimmering with confusion as she silently asked for guidance.

"Then let's try another question. Who should you apologize to, Ruka?"

Who…? Well, since Ramonu asked like that, clearly it wasn't herself. So that left Ardan-neesan…

But why exactly should I apologize to her...? Ah! Of course.

"I—I'm sorry, Ardan-neesan, for making you worry!"

Grabbing the edge of her cushion, Twilight Song quickly hopped and spun around to face Ardan directly.

But this reckless maneuver made Ramonu's expression briefly twist in alarm—worried sick about her knees.

Similarly startled, Ardan immediately rose and approached her.

"All right, it's good that you understand. But don't do this again, understand?"

As the direct victim of Twilight Song's reckless trip, Ardan's quick forgiveness neatly cut off anything Ramonu could've added.

Now even Ardan's letting her off easy...? Ramonu was left momentarily speechless, though her face remained stern.

"Forget it. Next time, you're not allowed to travel alone for the Japanese Derby."

"Huh?"

"And what other races are you planning on entering? Tell me."

Um, well…why do I suddenly feel like I'm being interrogated? Fine, I'll tell, I'll tell!

"Um…um… maybe the St. Leger Stakes from the British Triple Crown?"

Ramonu fell silent for a moment, then let out a cold, humorless laugh.

The St. Leger Stakes.

A prestigious G1 race.

Just like Japan had the Japanese Triple Crown and America had its own Triple Crown, Europe—where horse racing had arguably originated—also had numerous prestigious events.

Great Britain naturally had its own legendary trio: the 2000 Guineas, The Derby, and finally, the St. Leger Stakes.

In other words, if Twilight Song accepted the invitation, she would become the first Uma Musume in history to attempt the Triple Crowns of three different nations simultaneously.

Just how insane and reckless was this idea?

Generally, an Uma Musume competed at most twice a month. In G1-level races, it was completely normal to race just once per month—or even less frequently—to ensure peak performance and physical condition.

Yet these nine races were scattered across nearly an entire year, with shockingly similar schedules.

Most outrageously, two of these races—The Derby and the Japanese Derby—would be held in the very same week this year.

If Twilight Song truly intended to enter both, she'd have to race one, immediately board a flight, cross oceans without rest, and then prepare for the next race.

And these were G1 events! Even an ordinary person running a thousand meters would feel sore for days.

To make matters worse—

The 2000 Guineas was approaching quickly, set to begin in less than two weeks from now!

Yet Twilight Song had just raced in the Satsuki Sho and needed proper rest and recovery.

Looking at the racing schedule, even a seasoned Legendary Uma Musume like Mejiro Ramonu felt her stomach twist with anxiety. Never mind a small filly like Twilight Song—Ramonu herself wasn't confident she could handle it.

She couldn't even imagine what it would mean if Twilight Song successfully conquered all these races in one year.

Legendary?

A modern-day Eclipse?

Comparable indeed!

Some unfamiliar with racing might think:

Couldn't she just win four or five races this year, and then gather nine championships gradually?

No, that wouldn't do.

The value of the Triple Crown lay precisely in this:

Only an Uma Musume competing in her debut year could enter, meaning there was just one opportunity in a lifetime. You couldn't piece it together bit by bit.

Terrifying indeed.

"You better think carefully, Ruka. If you truly compete in the 2000 Guineas and win…"

There would be no turning back.

Why?

Twilight Song had debuted in Japan. As a pure international representative from the JRA, once she gained fame abroad—especially by proactively entering multiple nations' Triple Crowns—

Japanese Uma Musume fans would fervently elevate her status, demanding that she take on even more races, more victories…

The Japanese Triple Crown, American Triple Crown, British Triple Crown.

Even the mythical European Triple Crown comprising the King George VI Chase and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

At that level, claiming physical discomfort to dodge races wouldn't be acceptable anymore.

This was a path where, once taken, she would have to ascend all the way to godhood.

Reaching the end would make Twilight Song a legendary idol for all Uma Musume. But even a single failure could doom her forever.

In fact, dying on the track might be a kinder fate than failure.

Because losing even one race would invalidate every drop of blood and sweat she'd shed. Fans wouldn't say, "Twilight Song tried her best."

Instead, they'd ask, "Why, after reaching so far, couldn't she win everything?"

"Have you truly thought this through, Ruka? Do you understand what you're facing?"

Twilight Song blinked quietly. Then she sincerely bowed, forehead touching the floor as she finally spoke her earnest request. Keeping secrets wasn't good, after all—she needed their full acknowledgment.

"I've already made my decision. This is something I absolutely must do, no matter what."

"Please give me your permission, and witness the path I choose to walk."

Ramonu remained silent for several seconds, then stood and swiftly pulled the cushion out from under Twilight Song's knees.

"Go back to your room and rest properly. Now—immediately."

Twilight Song cheerfully hopped away, leaving Ardan desperately trying to suppress a smile.

"Just laugh if you want, Ardan. You don't have to hold it in."

Ramonu sighed deeply, utterly speechless.

Yet Ardan didn't laugh. Instead, she turned to her sister, her voice gently serious.

"Aren't you going to ask Ruka what happened after the race?"

Ramonu fell silent, knowing exactly what Ardan meant—the footage Rudolf had sent.

Clearly, it was linked to the secret Twilight Song refused to share.

"Perhaps you should be the one to ask her, Ardan."

"No. This is something only you can do, Ramonu-nee. And while you're at it, please dispel that doubt Ruka has always carried."

Both sisters had sensed it. Twilight Song wasn't avoiding their warmth because she disliked the Mejiro family, but because of something else entirely—

A contradiction that made her want to draw close, yet prevented her from fully accepting their love.

But why?