The sky over Kyoto Racecourse stretches wide and clear; the clouds haven't touched the pale blue canvas. Fresh air glides over the fields of grass, sharpening every sound, every murmur of the crowd, every distant rustle of flags, every rhythmic echo of hooves against turf.
The condition is perfect; this is the day meant for running.
Amidst the stands, where the noise swells and dips like waves, with anticipation building with every passing minute, all to see if Echo Eclipse can maintain her dominance streak in her first G2 race.
Among the clamouring spectators sits Bizen Nishiki.
Her crutches are resting against the railing beside her; her hands are clasped together, fingers tight, her gaze fixed on the track below. She hasn't spoken since arriving, not to Goldway, not to Suzu Mach, not to anyone. She wants to find out what the discomfort in her chest is, and why she feels like suffocating when Echo Eclipse invites her to the race.
She shouldn't be here; her soul is shaking and wants to run away. She doesn't know why, but it's heavy. Yet, she's here.
'Echo Eclipse, a phantom of the greatest runner in history… Why are you… like this?' she thinks before closing her eyes.
Even now, as the announcer's voice rings out across the stadium, she doesn't hear it. As if she were underwater, slowly sinking into the deep ocean.
She is waiting, waiting to see what Echo Eclipse means.
"Watch me run," the words echoed in Nishiki's mind.
She waits, waiting to see what kind of answer can exist… for something she has already accepted as absolute. There is no use in being stubborn, no use in being defiant. Her fire won't return.
***
The paddock stirs, and the runners begin their slow, measured walk, circling beneath the watchful eyes of trainers and spectators alike.
However, amidst the runners, there is one unlike any other. Each step she takes has a bounce. Her shoulder doesn't look tense; she isn't smiling, but she isn't frowning.
She looks… free.
'Is that the difference between you and me, Echo?' she remarks in her head, focusing solely on Echo Eclipse.
Echo Eclipse's steps are light, unburdened, as if the expectations of the race, the weight of a G2 stage, mean nothing to her. Almost as if she will start dancing to the flow of the universe, her eyes begin to 'see.' She takes in information about everything, and that information doesn't bind her down.
A faint, joyful smile rests on her lips; outsiders would've thought that her smile is arrogance, or confidence, or maybe cocky even.
'However, for those who know her. She doesn't do cockiness or arrogance. That's just her being happy.'
"Today's feature race, the Daily Hai Sansai Stakes, Grade 2, 1600 meters." The announcer's voice cuts through the air, garnering all the attention of the spectators.
"All runners are making their way to the starting gates!"
At that moment, Echo steps onto the turf. The second her foot touches the ground, something clearly changes. Bizen Nishiki's eyes widen as all sounds and distractions disappear around Echo Eclipse, almost as if Echo Eclipse is the only one running on the racecourse.
The change isn't visible, no. It is only something experienced runners can feel; they feel like an invisible chain around Echo Eclipse has been released.
Bizen Nishiki's breath freezes before she sucks in cold air.
"Hiss-" She can't plan any words; she simply can't. But the moment Echo Eclipse steps onto the turf, the same heavy, uncomfortable feeling in her chest roars out. And every part of her instinct begs her to leave.
But she can't.
Gold Way removes her crutches while she focuses entirely on Echo Eclipse, and Symboli Rudolf now sits beside her. Arm crossed.
She cannot escape from here. Why are they doing this?
She takes another deep breath before looking ahead at the racecourse. The gates loom ahead of the runners, one by one. The officials guide the runners in.
Echo Eclipse steps in without hesitation; there is no use in being anxious. That's who she is. She was born to run.
Soon, the gate closes, and silence falls.
…
..
.
Click!
"And they're off!"
The race explodes into motion from the clean start across the field. Nishiki can see several runners surge forward immediately, vying for the front position. The pace is fast and aggressive, typical of a mile race at this level.
'Idiots, you should've waited until before the first corner to speed up. If it were me-' she stops her chain of thought, before letting out a deep sigh.
'What am I thinking about? There's no point in putting myself in their shoes. I can't be a runner anymore.'
As for Echo during the race? She doesn't follow the other opponents' strategy; she doesn't rush.
She simply moves. The white ribbon from her neck slackens and whips left and right. Her stride unfolds naturally and smoothly, as if she were a ghost. Gliding over the turf.
Echo settles the rear without urgency or pressure.
She is simply running; there is nobody who can run in the same world as she is in this racecourse.
"The duels for the leads are pushing the pace! The tightly packed field heads into the first corner!"
Bizen Nishiki, Suzu Mach, Gold Way, Symboli Rudolf. They don't react to Echo Eclipse's strange position; they're used to her quirky trait. There is nobody who can trap Echo Eclipse on the racecourse.
The backstretch opens, and the wind flows from the direction of Echo Eclipse. The runners ahead shudder and speed up, but it is futile.
You can't outrun the Unbounded Wind.
Her stride lengthens gradually; her constant speed accelerates.
For the spectators, it is subtle. One runner passes. Then, slowly, the spectators realise something. Another runner passes. Then another. Then another.
"Echo Eclipse is advancing from the rear! She's passing each runner! Will the runners ahead be able to defend their positions?"
Her acceleration doesn't stop; everyone knows this. Her fans, her opponents, her friends, and the announcer. This is the speciality of Echo Eclipse.
This is the Unbounded Wind.
Her pace rises, the field stretches, and the wind grows stronger.
"She is still speeding up?! What is her limit!" The announcer remarks in awe, this isn't his first time commentating on Echo Eclipse, but it never fails to leave him in awe of her never-ending acceleration.
Nishiki's grip tightens, her heart beats faster, and a thought appears in her head.
What if?
What if she is running against Echo Eclipse? Could she be able to keep up? Would she win? What about in a sprint-distance race?
What if she had never broken her leg?
What if sh- Stop.
There is no use in imagining.
Bizen Nishiki refutes herself, but she can't stop the what-ifs growing in her mind.
The race is nearing the end, as the pack reaches the final corner. The leaders begin their push, and normally, the race should have peaked there. Everyone should have reached their limit.
However, normalcy doesn't apply to Echo Eclipse; she is far from reaching her limit.
"Entering the final turn! The front is entering its last spurt! Who will take the trophy? Wait! Echo Eclipse is exiting the pack!"
Echo moves to the outside, where there is a clear path and open space. Although normally a runner would've spent more energy running from the outside to the front, hence why they stick close to the side to spend less energy.
Of course, with the sole exception of Echo Eclipse.
She runs. Each stride longer, each step she takes, boosts her forward. Gliding across the turf.
At that moment, Bizen Nishiki, who is watching Echo Eclipse, goes weak. She stops sinking into the deep ocean and floats up. Nothing is world-breaking about Echo's running, no. What makes her stop sinking is the idea of the race itself. Her fundamental belief about the race. Echo breaks it; she runs without wanting to be faster, stronger, or harder. Her running symbolises freedom.
To be free.
Then, Echo surges forward, and her speed doesn't stop speeding up,
One runner passes.
Another one gone.
Three left behind.
The gap between the runners doesn't close, no. Instead, it expands.
"W-Wha-?!" The commentator's voice cracked as Echo Eclipse broke away from the pack and moved faster and faster. The gap cannot be closed, no matter how hard the runners behind her try. It is simply impossible.
"Sh-She's still speeding up! Echo Eclipse is overtaking the entire field! She is proving to everyone that her dominance extends beyond grade 3 races!"
Nishiki tries to stand up without realising it, but she doesn't fall or feel any pain. Gold Way is right beside her, supporting her.
Nishiki doesn't realise this; her breath is gone, her eyes widen and lock.
The increasingly uncomfortable feeling raging in her chest roared once more. But Nishiki doesn't feel it anymore. She becomes entranced.
Echo isn't even racing; she is simply running. And this is the reason Echo Eclipse wants Bizen Nishiki to watch her race before deciding to retire.
The final straight stretches ahead, and Echo Eclipse glides through it. The wind grew stronger and sharper.
While the others are still running, still pushing and fighting for second place. Echo Eclipse is running a different race of her own.
"Echo Eclipse is winning with such a lead, wait, no! She's pulling away even more! She is still speeding up!"
The distance grows.
10 lengths.
Twenty.
Thirty.
And soon, forty.
She is approaching the finish line.
"Th-this… is impossible."
They have already accepted that Echo Eclipse can win with a significant distance in Grade 3 races, but in Grade 2 races as well? Grade 2 has more professional and experienced runners than Grade 3, and yet…
Forty-two lengths.
Silence falls as Echo crosses the finish line.
The crowd and the announcer cannot process what they are seeing.
"E-Echo Eclipse wins the Daily Sansai Stakes… by an overwhelming margin!"
Nishiki's legs tremble, her vision blurs, and her chest. Burns by the uncomfortable feeling, sinking her deeper into the deep ocean, and yet…
"That's…"
Her voice breaks.
"Racing?"
There isn't any grand explanation or description behind Echo Eclipse's actions; she simply tells Bizen Nishiki through the race.
No strategy.
No control.
No power.
And no tricks.
This is just pure running.
Echo slows gradually after the finish.
She isn't collapsing or gasping for air.
Her breathing is heavy but in control. Echo Eclipsed turns and looks up. Toward the stands, toward Bizen Nishiki.
The ashes in her chest, the remnants of the fire. Crackle.
Echo Eclipse smiles invitingly as she points toward Nishiki.
"Bizen Nishiki,"
Despite the cheering from the fans, Bizen Nishiki can hear her voice clearly.
"Come, run."
And from the ashes, the fire rises anew.