"T.M. Opera O has won! With her powerful final spurt, she has overtaken Mejiro McQueen! SHE. IS. THE WINNER OF THE KIKUKA SHO!!!!"
"These are exciting times; we have just witnessed the birth of the fourth Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume! The Overlord, T.M. Opera O!"
"The new Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume after Narita Brian! This era undoubtedly belongs to T.M. Opera O!"
In the commentary booth, Akasaka Misato, who had just taken some lozenges to soothe her sore throat, once again shouted with exhilaration, her voice echoing throughout the Kyoto Racecourse.
Yet, even her passionate voice was completely drowned out by the cheers and applause from the entire venue.
Everyone at the Racecourse, regardless of which Uma Musume they supported, was now cheering for T.M. Opera O's victory and for the new Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume.
"T.M. OPERA O! T.M. OPERA O! T.M. OPERA O!" XN
"The entire venue is chanting T.M. Opera O's name! This atmosphere is so intoxicating that even I want to do it too~!"
"Truly, it is an honor to have witnessed the rise of a new Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume in my career."
Akasaka Misato gradually regained her composure, sat back in her seat, and said to Junko Hosoe beside her:
"Miss Hosoe, I'm sure you're also excited too, aren't you? We've just witnessed the ascension of a new Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume!"
"Yes, indeed, and look, all the other participants are also applauding T.M. Opera O,"
Junko Hosoe said with a smile, nodding.
Her gaze, however, had also noticed Wada Ryuji, who was applauding T.M. Opera O from the side of the spectator stands.
For some reason, when she first noticed Wada through her binoculars, Junko Hosoe inexplicably felt that this young, handsome Trainer looked somewhat familiar.
Of course, this was something she couldn't really mention in the commentary booth, especially in such a serious moment as this.
But... maybe she could get a closer look at him during the post-race interview? Junko Hosoe was also very curious about what kind of person this new Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume's Trainer was...
...
...
The race had ended, and T.M. Opera O, now slowly decelerating, showed an unhideable expression of joy in her pink eyes as she faced the cheers and applause of the crowd.
Soon, she performed an elegant bow for everyone in the stands.
The Kikuka Sho had concluded. This was the most perfect performance T.M. Opera O could offer her supporters, and she had, as she wished, won this honor belonging to the Overlord.
"Congratulations T.M. Opera, my other sel... No, the real me, congrats on overcoming all obstacles and becoming someone who surpasses even yourself."
And within T.M. Opera O's fathoms, the voice of "T.M. Opera O," accompanied by her phantom, slowly reappeared before T.M. Opera O.
This time, however, T.M. Opera O no longer harbored the previous hostility towards her; instead, it was a sense of relief and respect.
"No, it was you who dug out my flaws for me to see. Drunk in my continuous victories, I almost forgot the foundation of my existence as an Overlord."
"If it weren't for you, I never would've grown so quickly, nor would I have been able to understand myself at the critical moment."
T.M. Opera O was well aware that a large part of her rapid progress in strength was due to "T.M. Opera O" giving her a template as to where she should develop next.
Without her, her growth rate would definitely not have been so fast.
And now, even though she won this race, it was only because "T.M. Opera O" had forcefully made her confront her fears.
Otherwise, she might have continued to race on with an incomplete heart, ultimately losing to Mejiro McQueen.
"You're cutting yourself short, you are the one who managed to free yourself. And I... I am just a fading silhouette."
"Now that the Overlord has successively been born... it's best for a ugly remnant of the past like me to leave."
"...Aren't you at least going to say goodbye to Ryuji?"
However, T.M. Opera O, seeing "T.M. Opera O's" accepting expression, couldn't help but say with a touch of reluctance.
Because although T.M. Opera O now understood that the self before her was not her original self, the deep-seated affection for Wada that arose from her heart could not be faked.
"She" cherished Wada even more than she did; even T.M. Opera O had to admit this.
But precisely because of this, T.M. Opera O knew very well who she would miss the most when the day came for her to leave.
T.M. Opera O felt pained that "T.M. Opera O" could only spend such a short time with the person she longed for day and night, even if she was also chasing after that person.
"...No, no I won't. I don't want to make that child sad at such a happy time."
"T.M. Opera O" slowly closed her eyes, and her body began to slowly disintegrate before T.M. Opera O.
However, she still showed a smile and said:
"But still, say hello to him for me will you? And also... tell him I am proud of him."
"He has acted true on his promise. He can now stand tall and face me... I acknowledge everything he's done."
"So, goodbye... and may we never meet again."
As "T.M. Opera O" finished speaking, her body turned into golden particles of light which slowly drifted away in the wind and sunlight, eventually converging back into T.M. Opera O's body.
And at that moment, "T.M. Opera O" fully merged with T.M. Opera O.
Suddenly, T.M. Opera O couldn't help but shed two lines of hot tears.
She gently caressed her chest and whispered:
"Thank you... me."
'Huh...? Why did so many strange memories suddenly appear in my mind?'
In a daze, after the two fully merged into one, memories once again resurfaced in her mind; memories of a past that no longer existed.
They flashed by incredibly quickly, but this time, T.M. Opera O saw them more clearly than ever before.
T.M. Opera O subconsciously held her slightly aching head, and soon absorbed all these memories into her brain.
And just then, the person she had longed for day and night finally arrived before her.
"t.m. oper...! t.m. Opera O! T.M. OPERA O!!"
"Ryu...ji..."
As she woke up from her daze, T.M. Opera O, now clear-headed, noticed Wada coming towards her.
Almost instinctively, T.M. Opera O ran towards Wada in the same way, extending her arms unreservedly.
However, at the moment the two embraced, T.M. Opera O suddenly made a move that surprised everyone.
T.M. Opera O quickly opened her mouth and bit Wada directly on the neck.
"Ugh?!"
Wada was also startled by T.M. Opera O's sudden action, his muscles instinctively tensing up, but he didn't push T.M. Opera O away. Instead, he simply just let her do her thing.
Anyway, it didn't hurt much, and T.M. Opera O quickly released her mouth, leaving only a shallow tooth mark on Wada's neck, without causing any other injury.
"...T.M. Opera O? What's wrong?"
Wada asked, looking at T.M. Opera O, who was now burying her face in his chest.
"...Nothing, Ryuji, it's nothing."
However, after doing something that could be said to be completely out of character for herself, T.M. Opera O still said nothing more.
She just hugged Wada tightly and said in a muffled voice:
"Why did you only find me now, Ryuji...? I've been waiting for you for so long."
"Why did you only let me meet you now, Ryuji, Ryuji..."
T.M. Opera O's words seemed a bit incoherent, just repeating Wada's name over and over.
However, Wada quickly understood what T.M. Opera O was saying. After a long while, he wiped away the unshed tears from his eyes and softly said:
"No matter where you are, no matter when, I will find you immediately... T.M. Opera O."
"It's just that before... I could never face you with my head held high. I didn't dare to come look for you."
"I was afraid that when I finally stood before you, I would still be that good-for-nothing who never achieved anything of his own, and I would still be unable to help you."
"Even now, though I thought that I could face you with my head held high... I still couldn't help you... T.M. Opera O..."
"I really... am still useless, aren't I? I'm sorry for being such a waste T.M. Opera—"
"—Don't say that, Ryuji."
T.M. Opera O, hearing this, gently raised a finger to block Wada's mouth.
This Uma Musume, who was now the Overlord of The Century's End, spoke without reservation in front of Wada:
"'The Overlord of the Century's End' doesn't need a Trainer who can make her win, but a truly loyal partner who will accompany her throughout her life."
"I will always reserve this position for you alone, Ryuji, and it will never change."
"Now, together with me, the Overlord, let's announce our victory to everyone!"
T.M. Opera O grabbed Wada's hand and, without waiting for his response, pulled him a few steps forward.
And now, facing the entire venue, this pair, who might not be the strongest, but were perfectly made for each other, simultaneously raised their hands and declared their victory.
Their combination will become the most perfect one of this era, destined to be irreplaceable by each other.
"This era's pair, not the strongest, but the most perfect for each other, truly makes other Uma Musume envious."
As Symboli Rudolf applauded Wada and T.M. Opera O, even she couldn't help but start to envy T.M. Opera O.
She actually had such a Trainer, who, though green, always supported her.
A level of trust this high...; such a relationship was truly enviable.
"So, President, about the Arima Kinen..."
Air Groove, beside her, couldn't help but ask with a smile. Though she already knew what the answer was, she still asked anyways.
And sure enough, Symboli Rudolf cracked her knuckles, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said:
"Isn't this enough to excite you, Air Groove? Facing the most perfect pair in Tracen's history, I really want to know whether I am stronger, or if their combined strength is greater."
"And by the Arima Kinen, we'll know the answer to that."
"What if you lose?" Air Groove couldn't help but ask again,
"That would be a huge blow to your popularity. You know how the Japanese branch of the URA has always portrayed you as the symbol of Japan's peak, utterly invincible, right?"
"—I am not invincible, Air Groove. I lost three times already. No Uma Musume is eternally the strongest, just as eras change."
"...If T.M. Opera O can truly defeat me in the Arima Kinen, then perhaps we may be able to find who the next Student Council President of Tracen Academy will be."
Symboli Rudolf had long since made plans for her 'retirement.' Now that a perfect candidate had just dropped on her lap, there was no way she was just going to ignore it.
She eagerly looked forward to their showdown at the Arima Kinen. By then, everyone would know if T.M. Opera O had the strength to take on this heavy responsibility.
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So S IS for sayonara, Mili tricked me!
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.