3000mの長丁場。
第3コーナーから伸びる、長く険しい坂。
努力という言葉だけでは乗り越えられない、
遥かなる道のりだ。

額を伝う汗は渇きを知らず、
彼女の視界を遮ろうと躍起になっていた。
脈打つ心臓の音は悲鳴に変わり、
荒々しい吐息が喉を焼く。

彼女は心に問うた。
なぜ苦しみを抱え走るのか。
なぜ重い脚を前へ前へ運ぶのか。

答えるより先に耳へ届いたのは、
地響きのような歓声……期待の声色。
彼女はその一切を噛み締めることで、
あらゆる辛苦を塗りつぶした。

気づけば宿敵と見定めた
強大な影が、背を脅かしている。
振り返ることは許されない。
諦めることも許されない。
それが頂へ通じる、ただ1つの道。

……その日、最も諦めなかったウマ娘が、
最も強いウマ娘になった。

3,000 long, stamina-draining meters. A long, perilous slope stretching from the third corner. A difficult track that cannot be conquered with effort alone.

A stream of sweat drips from her brow, threatening to blur her vision. Her heart beats frantically, like it's screaming for more oxygen to pump through her veins. Each rough breath scratches at her throat like flickers of flame.

She asks herself why. Why does she keep running, when it hurts so much? Why does she continue to drag her heavy legs step after arduous step?

Her mind doesn't have time to process an answer. But her ears flick unconsciously towards a rumble from the stands. A roar of cheers—of fans' hopes and dreams. She then clenches her teeth, biting down into the pain, and spitting it out.

A sense wells in her gut—her fated rival is behind her. The large shadow she casts over the turf is getting closer. Closer. Closer.

But she knows she can't look back. She won't give up. The only way to reach the peak is to keep running.

...And that day, the runner who refused to surrender took the crown of the best.