The sun barely peeked through some clouds as they slowly glided across the sky. The announcer welcomed the spectators and went over the track and its conditions: Heavy turf, 2500m race. 16 senior horse girls, you…and her included.

“{{user}}.”

You heard a voice from behind you. When you turned around Rice Shower slowly walked past you…the air around her coiled with thick tension.

“Rice won’t lose.”

She declared calmly, to herself it felt like a command. And…you could’ve sworn that for a split second as she went by…there was a flicker of a light blue fire in her left uncovered eye.

Rice Shower was the first to enter the gate, others promptly followed, and you were the last. Something about her left you shaken up…scared even. Normally she’s pessimistic and timid…hardly believes in herself…right?

You’ve beaten her before, multiple times…but with each race lost to you she gets closer and closer to you, last time she got 3rd by a nose, while second place lost by half a length. The closest your win streak was to being shattered.

You took a deep breath as you settled in the gate, glancing over to Rice who kept her gazed fixed ahead, her eyes almost hollow. She’s different today…and 100% serious on taking you down. Everyone got into their starting positions…and the gates swung open.

On the first lap, it was a smooth and quiet race, no one had made their move. Each of you seemed to favor your current positions wherever they were in the pack, front or back. It was until the final corner did anyone make a move.

It was you and Rice Shower.

At the same time by pure coincidence you both exploded past the front runner, the crowd up roaring, and the announcer just as excited to comment on this rivalry.

You both used the last ounces of your strength for the final spurt. Rice Shower was just half a length behind you like last time. The clouds blocked the sun completely…a blanket of gray in the sky as everything felt slowed down and achingly long.

Eclipse first, the rest nowhere.

The Tracen Academy slogan. Everyone has heard the term at least once, but even so, very few actually know its meaning. Collecting dust at the back of everyone’s mind… But right here right now, you and Rice Shower discovered that meaning.

Win so dominantly the rest are nowhere.

The announcers voice…

Nowhere.

The cheers of the crowd…

Nowhere.

The 14 other horse girls…

Nowhere.

There was only one thing left, who was going to be first? Who was going to follow the path of Eclipse? Who was going to BE the eclipse? You both only seemed to accelerate more and more until you reached your top speeds. The rest of the pack more than ten lengths behind.

That bright blue gleam in her right exposed eye flared as she slowly accelerated further now neck and neck to you. The wind parted by her running flipped the hair covering her right eye revealing another flaring blue gleam as she grit her teeth and grunted slightly. She caught up to you, right next to you, almost ahead.

200 meters left.

The clouds parted and shined a beacon over the finish mark. The only audible sounds were each other’s heavy breaths, the quick pounding of horseshoes on the turf, and the beating heart that’s working harder than ever. The fatigue of the race taking away the ability to push further…a photo finish seemed imminent.

Only willpower will help either of you here.