Episode 6: Feelings that Reach to the Finish
The mountain paths had grown dangerous because of the Mountain God's running, and Suzume's stamina had reached its limit, struggling in last place.
Suzume
Pant, pant, pant!
Suzume
Lady Saren... I wonder what she'd say if she saw me like this. Something like, "You don't need to run anymore, okay?" Or, "Don't push yourself too hard, all right?"
Suzume
No... I'm sure she'd tell me to bring home the win. To reach the goal. Because I know that, in her kindness, she'd go on believing in me. So I can't give up either!
Suzume
I won't doubt myself anymore!
Announcer
My goodness, racer Suzume! She'd fallen behind because of the Mountain God, but now she's closing the distance to the others!
Suzume
My vision is blurry... But if I stop running, then my body won't be able to start again...
Announcer
A great round of applause is emerging for racer Suzume, who's refused to give up! Who would have predicted that she could make it this far!? But she looks to be close to her limit!
Pecorine
We believe in you! Right, Kyaru?
Kyaru
H-Hey, don't put me on the spot! I mean, I was the one who said you should participate, so my credibility would be in trouble if you didn't make it this far. That's all.
Kokkoro
Ha ha. You've been cheering on Lady Suzume more than any of us, Lady Kyaru. But I wonder if she will truly be all right... She seems to be having great difficulties...
Mountain God
Ogo! Ogo!
Matsuri
Hah, hah! I-I sprinted for too long, and now I'm exhausted...
Kuuka
Ugh. I'm also at my limit...
Mahiru
Then, this is my chance! That's what I'd say, if I wasn't all tuckered out too...
Announcer
Fighting off exhaustion, the front three racers are somehow pulling even with the Mountain God! Racer Suzume is hot on their trail after that! But will she be able to catch them before the goal?
Mountain God
Ogo!? Ogoooooo!
Announcer
Ohhh, that was close! Seeing racer Suzume catching up, the Mountain God seems to have been filled with new motivation! The falling rocks are growing more violent!
Little Griffin
Chirp, chirp...
Mimi
Boing, boing!
Announcer
Racer Mimi! Riding on Little Griffin's back, she's bounding across the tops the falling rocks!
Mimi
Hee hee. This is fun!
Announcer
Uh, racer Mimi... She's having so much fun crossing the rockfall that she's gone off course completely into who-knows-where.
Kyouka
Wait, Mimi! Come back!
Mountain God
Ogoooooo!
Matsuri
Whoa! T-There's no way we can run through all this!
Mahiru
Our lives are more precious! Everyone, fall back for now!
Kuuka
I-It's too rough... My body can't take it.
Announcer
The three racers, along with their guildmates' carriages, have chosen to evacuate from the area! That leaves only the Mountain God in first place, and racer Suzume in second!
Suzume
Whoaaa! Ahhh! Eeeek!
Announcer
By some miracle, she's evading all the falling rocks! But will this rock slide eventually compel her to evacuate as well!?
Kokkoro
No, this is your opportunity!
Pecorine
We'll stop the rocks for you, so please just focus on running! Hiyaaah!
Kyaru
Haaah!
Announcer
A-Amazing! The Gourmet Palace guild carriage is not evacuating, but has chosen to support their teammate! They're blasting away the fallen rocks with their attacks to allow racer Suzume to keep running without danger!
Suzume
Hah, hah! Everyone...
Kokkoro
You have only a little more distance to close! Lady Suzume!!
Pecorine
W-Watch out!
SWuzu
Huh!?
Announcer
A rock has fallen right in front of racer Suzume! She's stopped moving!
Kyaru
Damn it! We let that one through!
Suzume
I can't... anymore...
Announcer
Racer Suzume was using all her strength to keep running! Now that she's stopped, she can't get going again! Is this it!?
Kokkoro
Perhaps... this is it. Lady Suzume's body can only handle so much...
Kyaru
W-What? That means that Mountain God is gonna win by default!
Suzume
... In the end, I just couldn't do it. I couldn't fill my role...
???
... zume... Suzume!
Suzume
Ha ha. In the end, I can't help but hallucinate Lady Saren's voice... I'm always relying on her so much...
Saren
Suzume! Pull yourself together!
Suzume
Huh? Wha? M-Milady... Why are you...
Elsewhere.
Soldier 1
Man, the former lieutenant captain, huh. She really was great there.
Soldier 2
I never would've thought to use that cannon to blast the fallen rocks apart and open the road. It was real exciting... I think I'm a fan of hers now.
Soldier 1
And since the rocks are nothing but pebbles now, we don't really have to clean up anything either. Everything's all right!
Back at the race.
Suzume
Milady, why are you here?
Saren
As soon as I heard that you and Kurumi were in the race, I hurried over! More importantly, stand up! I'd never give up here if I were in your place!
Suzume
B-But... I can't. I'm nowhere near as capable as you, Lady Saren -- I only ever cause trouble...
Saren
Forget about that! You might cause me trouble sometimes, but you're also a great, great help to me. I've never asked for perfection!
Saren
Seeing your smile by my side gives me the energy to do my best, too! No matter how little confidence you have in yourself, I'll always have complete confidence in you. I always have, and I always will...
Saren
As your mistress, and as your friend... You're precious to me exactly the way you are!
Suzume
The way I am... By your side...
Suzume
(That's right... That's how Lady Saren has always been. I was afraid that she'd abandon me, but that fear was only ever in my head... As someone who calls myself her friend, I should have believed in her.)
Suzume
Milady... Please... Give me another chance!
Saren
Of course. Go on and win... Win it all, Suzume! The goal is waiting for you!
Suzume
Yes! I'll make it no matter what, Lady Saren!
Announcer
Fighting spirit has returned to light up racer Suzume's eyes! This is the result of her mistress's words -- and of her own heart!
Mountain God
Ogo! Ogo! Ogoooo!
Suzume
I won't lose, and I won't give up!
Kokkoro
Lady Suzume, are you sure your body can handle it!?
Suzume
Yes! Seeing Lady Saren has filled me with energy! I'm sorry for worrying you.
Kyaru
You can't lose after coming this far!
Pecorine
Suzume, after you win, we'll all have a big dinner party to celebrate!
Suzume
Then I'm sure to win. Everyone is counting on me!
Announcer
Fast, fast, faaast! What an incredible pursuit! She's left her fears and troubles behind, and she's blowing past all her limits!
Announcer
The other guilds could think of no way to cope with the sudden interjection of the Mountain God... But there was one runner who was prepared to take full advantage!
Announcer
The stunning shrine maiden, racer Suzume -- at one point in last place, she furiously fought to catch up to the other runners! And now, she's within a hair's breadth of the Mountain God!
Announcer
It's not over until they run through the tape... This New Year's Landsol Guild Race is about to reach its climax!
Begin animated cutscene.
Announcer
She's come! Racer Suzume is heeere! The goal is right ahead!
Mountain God
Gaaaaah!
Suzume
Eeek!
Saren
Huh!?
Saren
Suzume! Keep going! It's just a little farther!
Suzume
Milady...!!
Suzume
Grrrr...!
Announcer
They're tied! They're neck and neck! An incredible spirit resides within that delicate body of hers!!
Suzume
Lady Saren is waiting for me at the goal! I will... I will definitely win!
Announcer
They're completely even! Which one of them will have the honor of leaping across the finish line first!?
Pecorine & Kyaru & Kokkoro
Go!!!!
Suzume
Ahhhhh!
Suzume
Eek!!
Saren
Suzume!!
Suzume
Whoaaa!
Announcer
GOAAAAAL!
Announcer
The winner is, Gourmet Palace!
Saren
Congratulations. You were amazing, Suzume. Good work.
Suzume
Ehehe. Thank you, milady...
End of cutscene.
Saren
What a comeback. That was incredible... I knew you had it in you. Shall we head over to the others?
Suzume
U-Um, milady. Could I stay like this for just a bit?
Saren
Huh?
Suzume
My legs are at their limit... I don't think I can take another step.
Saren
... Ha ha, all right. Then, how about I give you a little princess carry?
Suzume
P-Princess carry!? T-That'd be embarrassing, though!
Saren
Ha ha, I'm only joking. And besides, I think a ride atop my shoulders would better fit a champion like you.
Announcer
She's the shrine maiden of the Mountain God! Everyone, give it up for racer Suzume! Your winners are Gourmet Palace! In an incredible display, they take home the championship of this year's New Year's Landsol Guild Race!