I know a lot of people are disappointed that the result is a dead heat again, but the thing is, the result I wanted has to be like this. As a newcomer debuting for 3-6 months, it's impossible to beat Narita Brian alone, especially for the fans and readers of the Sakura Laurel manga who are known for chasing Narita Brian's shadow and actually managed to defeat her. The historical point of Sakura Laurel is there. If we consider Narita Brian as a monster of her era, similar to the era of Oguri Cap, and then there's another Uma Musume who can beat Oguri Cap in a duel one-to-one on the last corner, wouldn't that mean that Uma Musume is not any less strong compared to Oguri Cap?
Besides, this isn't their last race. In the Tenno Sho Autumn, Seiun Sky will go up against Sakura Laurel, Marvelous Sunday, Mayano Top Gun, and Bubble Gum Fellow. In the Arima Kinen later, it will be Narita Brian's last race before officially retiring. There, other uma musume will face the peak of Seiun Sky, the peak of Narita Brian, the peak of Biwa Hayahide, and the peak of Sakura Laurel. Narita Brian, who for months has been buying 'healing potions' at the MC system shop, even if they don't fully heal her, will be back at her peak. Biwa Hayahide, after training with Narita Brian and getting used to facing the pressure from Predator King Halo after her evolution at second crown arena and the peak of Narita Brian's predator side after train with her for battle on last third crown arena against king halo predator side, and Sakura Laurel's evolution after the Tenno Sho Autumn four-ways battle.
Well, if you read the original version, all you get is one side winning without any tension at all. Because I changed a lot of match details to make their dominance (Altair Team) more 'woah' than facing an unknown enemy, or even when they weren't at their peak condition like the og one. That's why I gave it the title 'what-if'.
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The backstage area hummed with controlled chaos.
Staff members rushed back and forth carrying costume pieces, makeup kits, and clipboards. The air smelled like hairspray and fabric starch mixed with the lingering scent of the track: dirt and grass and sweat that hadn't quite washed off yet.
Seiun Sky sat in front of a mirror while a stylist worked on her hair, fingers moving quickly to pin up the blue strands into something more elaborate than her usual style. The reflection staring back at her looked surreal, like someone else wearing her face.
"Stay still," the stylist said gently.
"I am."
"You're fidgeting."
Seiun Sky hadn't even noticed. Her leg was bouncing, heel tapping against the floor in a rhythm she couldn't control. Nervous energy, maybe. Or leftover adrenaline that hadn't found anywhere to go yet.
A Tenno Sho Spring winner.
The words still didn't feel real in her head, like they were written in a language she could read but not quite understand. She'd won. Dead heat with Sakura Laurel, but still won first place. Fourth in popularity rankings, it didn't have any background character as a local horse.
Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the armrests.
"Deep breath," the stylist said, noticing. "You're going to be great out there."
Seiun Sky let out a long exhale and tried to believe it.
Across the room, Sakura Laurel stood perfectly still while two staff members adjusted her victory costume: a flowing dress in soft pink and white that caught the light beautifully. The fabric shimmered with every small movement, delicate and elegant in a way that somehow fit her completely.
Her hands were steady now. No tremor. No shaking.
Sakura Laurel kept looking down at them, flexing her fingers slowly, watching them move with a kind of wonder that made her chest feel tight. After months of trembling she couldn't control, after all those races where her body betrayed her, this day, when it mattered most, they were calm.
"How does it fit?" one of the staff asked.
"Perfect," Sakura Laurel said softly. "Thank you."
The staff smiled and stepped back to admire their work. "You look beautiful. Both of you are going to shine out there."
Sakura Laurel caught Seiun Sky's reflection in the mirror across the room. Their eyes met for a moment, and something passed between them: Acknowledgment, maybe. Shared understanding. They'd crossed that finish line together, burned themselves out together, and now they were going to stand on that stage together.
Seiun Sky's mouth curved into that lazy smirk. "Ready to have some fun, Laurel?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." Sakura Laurel's smile was genuine, warm, still carrying that gentle sweetness even through the nerves.
The door to the medical room opened, and Narita Brian emerged.
The entire backstage area seemed to pause for half a heartbeat. Staff members glanced over, then quickly looked away, pretending they hadn't been watching.
Narita Brian's expression was that same fierce composure she always wore. But there was something different in her eyes: something softer, less sharp. Her victory costume was deep black with silver accents that caught the light when she moved, elegant and powerful in a way that screamed champion.
Her right leg had been wrapped and treated. The medical team had done their job efficiently, professionally, and she'd endured it without complaint. Now she walked with only the slightest hitch in her stride, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it.
Tōjō Hana followed behind her, face tight with worry that she was trying and failing to hide.
"You should rest more..."
"I'm fine." Narita Brian's voice was firm but not harsh. "It's just the winning stage. I can handle it."
"Brian..."
"Hana-san." Narita Brian stopped and turned to face her trainer fully. "I lost today. Third place. Do you really think I'm going to miss the winning stage because my leg hurts a little?"
Tōjō Hana's mouth pressed into a thin line, but she nodded slowly. "Just... be careful up there."
"Thanks."
That was a lie, and they both knew it. Narita Brian had never been careful in her life, especially not during the races. But for now, Tōjō Hana let it slide.
Narita Brian moved toward the costume area, her gait steady despite the injury. When she passed by Sakura Laurel, she slowed.
Their eyes met.
Sakura Laurel's expression brightened immediately, that sweet smile appearing like sunshine breaking through clouds. "Brian-san."
"Laurel." Narita Brian's voice was quiet, almost gentle in a way that felt foreign coming from her. "That costume suits you."
Sakura Laurel blinked in surprise, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Thank you. Yours is beautiful too."
"Hmph." Narita Brian's lips twitched, not quite a smile but close. "We'll see how it looks under stage lights."
Then she moved on, leaving Sakura Laurel standing there with that soft, wondering expression on her face.
Seiun Sky watched the exchange from her mirror and felt something warm settle in her chest. The stylist had finished with her hair: elaborate braids woven with small blue ribbons that matched her victory dress, a flowing piece in sky blue and white that made her look almost ethereal.
"All done," the stylist announced, stepping back. "Take a look."
Seiun Sky stood and turned to face the full-length mirror.
The girl staring back at her looked like someone from a dream. The dress flowed around her legs in soft waves, the fabric catching light and reflecting it back in shimmering patterns. Her hair was styled perfectly, framing her face in a way that made her eyes stand out: sharp and bright and alive.
"Wow," she said quietly.
"Right?" The stylist beamed with pride. "You're going to steal the show."
"We'll see about that." But Seiun Sky was smiling, that lazy, confident smirk that meant she was feeling good.
A stage manager appeared in the doorway, clipboard in hand. "Five minutes! Everyone ready?"
The three uma musume exchanged glances.
Sakura Laurel took a deep breath and nodded.
Narita Brian rolled her shoulders, testing her range of motion.
Seiun Sky stretched her arms above her head with a satisfying pop in her spine.
"Ready," they said in near unison.
The walk from backstage to the stage entrance felt both too long and too short at the same time.
Hayato was waiting near the entrance, and when Seiun Sky spotted him, her expression shifted into something playful.
"Trainer! How do I look?" She did a little spin, the dress flaring out around her legs.
Hayato's stern expression cracked into something softer. "Yeah, you're surprisingly beautiful with that costume."
"Ofcourse i'm!"
"Bah! You are the laziest uma musume among the others, dressing carelessly. If it weren't for those who helped prepare you, how could you be this beautiful? Quickly, go to your first G1 winning stage!"
"You taught me well." She grinned, then added more quietly, "Thanks. For everything."
Hayato's hand reached out and ruffled her hair gently, carefully avoiding the elaborate styling. "Go show them what Hokkaido's local bloodline uma musume can do!"
"Let people outside the center dream that local Uma Musume can also shine on the big stage!!"
Seiun Sky's eyes got a little brighter, a little wetter, but she blinked it away quickly. "Yeah. I will."
Nearby, Maruzensky stood with Sakura Laurel, hands resting gently on the girl's shoulders.
"How are you feeling?" Maruzensky asked softly.
"Nervous," Sakura Laurel admitted. "My hands stopped shaking, but now my heart rate won't slow down."
"That's just excitement." Maruzensky smiled. "You've dreamed of this moment, haven't you? Standing on that winning stage?"
"Yes." Sakura Laurel's voice was barely a whisper. "I never thought... I mean, I hoped, but I didn't really believe..."
"Well, believe it now." Maruzensky squeezed her shoulders gently. "You earned this. Every single step of it. Now go out there and enjoy it."
Sakura Laurel nodded, blinking back tears that threatened to spill over. "Thank you, Maruzensky-san. For believing in me."
"Always."
A few feet away, Narita Brian stood alone.
Tōjō Hana had been pulled aside by medical staff for last-minute paperwork, leaving Brian in a rare moment of solitude. She tested her weight on her right leg carefully: pain flared up in her ankle, sharp and immediate, but manageable. She could work with what's manageable.
The sound of the crowd filtered through the walls, a constant roar of anticipation that made the air feel electric.
Third place.
The thought still sat strange in her mind, like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. She'd lost. Actually, truly lost for the first time in over a year. No excuses, no technicalities, just pure, undeniable defeat.
And somehow... it didn't hurt the way she thought it would.
Her eyes drifted to where Sakura Laurel stood with Maruzensky, that gentle smile on her face even through the nerves. Then to Seiun Sky, laughing at something Hayato said with that lazy confidence that seemed unshakeable.
They'd beaten her fair and square. Pushed themselves beyond every limit, burned through their zones, and crossed that line before she could.
And watching them now, seeing the genuine joy and disbelief and pride radiating from both of them...
Maybe losing to a new generation like this wasn't so bad after all.
"Brian-san?"
Narita Brian turned to find Sakura Laurel approaching, that sweet expression still in place.
"Are you okay?" Laurel asked gently. "Your leg..."
"It's fine." Narita Brian's voice came out softer than intended. "Just a little sore."
"If you need to sit during the performance..."
"I won't." Narita Brian cut her off, but not unkindly. "I can stand. I can dance. I'll be fine."
Sakura Laurel looked like she wanted to argue, but nodded instead. "Okay. But if it gets too painful..."
"I know." Narita Brian's expression shifted slightly, something almost like gratitude flickering across her face. "Thanks. For worrying."
Sakura Laurel's smile brightened, and Narita Brian felt that same crack in her chest from earlier: that strange, unfamiliar warmth that came from being seen, being cared about, by someone who had every reason to gloat but chose kindness instead.
"One minute!" the stage manager called out.
The three Uma Musume moved toward the entrance. The stage crew had already set everything up: lights, sound system, the massive screen displaying race highlights on loop. Beyond the curtain, the crowd's noise was deafening.
Seiun Sky bounced on her toes, shaking out her hands. "Here we go."
Sakura Laurel took several deep breaths, trying to steady her racing heart.
Narita Brian stood still and composed, but her fingers twitched slightly at her sides.
The stage manager raised their hand. "Positions, everyone. And... opening in three, two, one..."
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*As usual, the illustration is commented on.