May 2nd, XXXX - Nine days before NHK Mile (Might make this a recurring thing for timeline)
Riku gazed around fondly as he walked towards the entrance of Tracen Academy, his eyes taking in the many Umamusume wandering around and chatting, some of them looking curiously at him as he walked by with his usual two followers. He was here for another meeting with Yayoi Akikawa to discuss some ideas they had shared before, as well as to potentially check on some of the students currently attending here. Those, of course, being Maruzensky, Mr. CB, Katsuragi Ace, Symboli Rudolf, Symboli Sirius, and Mejiro Ramonu. Sirius, Rudolf, and Ramonu were all new additions, with Sirius and Ramonu schooling there a few years before their debut, as they've hit their majority/puberty for Umamusume.
Riku's eyes lit up when he saw his favorite Uma standing at the gates, acting in her capacity as Akikawa's secretary. She noticed him at the same time and began to smile, until he spoke. "Tok–" was all Riku could get out, a mischievous smile on his lips, before she closed the distance at blistering speed, her hand covering his mouth. Buckshot and Opal could only blink in astonishment at the speed she displayed. Tazuna's smile twitched along with a fierce blush as she attempted to look imposing. Unfortunately, Tazuna could tell that Riku, with his eyes closed, was smiling at her actions.
"Ahem!" Tazuna stepped back to cough into her hand, quietly smoothing her dress back down. "Mr. Chairman, please follow me." Tazuna walked quickly, almost leaving the group in the dust with her speed. Riku could only chuckle as he did his best to keep pace, knowing he had managed to fluster his favorite Umamusume filled him with great joy. As they quietly followed, Tazuna still led by a good distance. His eyes softened as he looked at her, reminiscing about the name she formerly used, Tokino Minoru.
Tokino Minoru, a legendary racehorse who won all ten of his races, winning three G1 races, including, Satsuki Sho, Tokyo Yushun, and the Asahi Hai. Tokino was an unfortunate horse who died shortly after the Yushun due to there not being proper treatments for tetanus at the time. As Riku glanced at her, he thought about her future. She was here helping to guide the next generation, but was she satisfied with just that? Minoru drew comparisons to Icarus in flying too close to the sun, and was burned quite heavily by it. Riku was not satisfied with that, though. Would a racer with a competitive drive and passion, similar to some of the most driven Umas he's seen, be satisfied with just watching the next generation? Agnes Tachyon wasn't. He didn't think Minoru was either.
Riku shook his head as he stared intently at Tazuna, who could only look confused and a little embarrassed. He'd shelve those thoughts for later; that was something that couldn't be rushed. "Thank you, Tazuna." Riku gave a smile towards the flustered Tazuna, who decidedly did not look at him, a small blush still present on her face. Seeing that she was still a bit upset with him, Riku turned towards the door and took the lead, letting himself in. Seated and facing away from him towards the window, Akikawa was chuckling to herself about something, not even reacting to him opening the door. A glance back at Buckshot and Opal only led to a shrug and stare his way at the lack of a greeting.
Feeling a bit curious, Riku quietly stepped forward, the Director and hidden Umamusume somehow not reacting to his coming closer, until he could see what she was giggling about. Yayoi was a picture of a young Umamusume, clearly a distance away from her majority. The child was smiling at the camera, her nose bloody and eyes slightly teary. A pair of red and blue beads was attached to her right ear, but what gave her identity away completely, and had Riku looking in absolute disbelief, was the blue cap on her head that her ear was going through the center of.
"Mambo?" Riku said aloud, incredulous. He was not expecting to see the fabled meme Uma to be what Akikawa was staring and giggling about. However, his speaking aloud broke the Director from her trance, with her turning around sharply to see Riku leaning over her shoulder and staring. A moment of silence between the two seemed to stretch on, as neither knew how to react. "Uhh…" Riku began, only to be interrupted.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" Akikawa screamed out, falling back in her chair and crashing to the floor in a heap. The commotion led to Tazuna, who had been waiting outside, bursting through the doors, looking confused at seeing the Director on the floor, while Riku and his compatriots could only look bemused at the situation.
"Director?" Tazuna questioned, stepping around slowly as Akikawa's eyes swirled.
"Abababababba," Akikawa said insensately, seemingly falling into a trance. Riku could only look on questioningly until Tazuna seemed to sigh before smacking the back of Yayoi's head hard.
"Ouch!" Yayoi miraculously revived, standing up with a bump comically sticking out of her head. "Alright! Riku! You've arrived!" Her smile was bright and cheerful as ever. The group could only look incredulously as she stumbled over to her chair, helped by Tazuna, and took a seat. She coughed into her hand several times as the bit or interaction seemed over, and the group seated themselves on the couches. Tazuna glanced around several times before nodding and quietly excusing herself, glancing at Riku shortly before speedily leaving the room.
The brief, awkward silence lasted a moment before Riku sighed and began their discussion in earnest. "You wanted to see me, Akikawa?" Leaning back, he crossed his arms while looking at the Director of Tracen.
"Yes! I'd like to continue our plans we talked about before." Yayoi rubbed the back of her head as the bump slowly disappeared. She looked increasingly smug as she continued. "The URA Finale. Do you still intend to give your support?"
Riku gave a short nod. "I do, the URA Finale has tremendous potential for our runners, and gives them a better chance to show who is the best at their distance." He glanced away from Akikawa as he fell into thought. "It's going to take time, though. I don't think we'll be able to finish setting it up this year." Riku shrugged at her, only to get a dismissive wave in turn.
"Of course! How soon do you expect, Riku?" Akikawa tilted her head, her bump gone as she pointed her fan at him.
A good question. The URA Finale was the premiere tournament of the game, meant to be taken at the end of Senior Year for runners, with their most run race affinity and distance being the one used. It'll require a lot of planning and trial and error to get it right. However, the image popped up in Riku's mind of runners for the next few years. Maruzensky. Mr. CB. Katsuragi Ace. Symboli Rudolf. Sirius Symboli. Mejiro Ramonu. He opened his eyes as he turned to look at Akikawa once more.
"If we push for it, and I believe we should… I think we can get it ready for next year, after the Arima Kinen." Riku tapped his chin in thought, his gaze meeting Akikawa's expression of surprise.
"So-so-so… SO SOON!?" Akikawa reared back in surprise, her eyes blinking owlishly several times at Riku. She then grinned and sprinted around her desk, displaying that speed she's kept hidden for years. Once in front of Riku, she grabbed both his hands, shaking up and down in excitement. "Ahahahaha! Truly the miracle man, Riku Yoshida!"
The man in question wore a dead expression on his face, unable to really react to Akikawa's enthusiasm. The Director ignored any words he tried to get in afterward in her excitement. A glance at his two guards revealed that no help was coming from them. Opal had a small hand mirror out and was touching up her appearance as she glanced at him. Buckshot, the traitor, was cackling while recording him on her phone, giving a thumbs-up with her free hand.
Blissfully, after a long amount of time (In Riku's eyes), Akikawa pulled back, her grin still present. "Umu! I'll begin preparations." Akikawa walked back towards her desk before turning around. She wore a rare, small smile, missing her usual mischievous attitude. "Thank you, Riku. Truly." She gave a bow before being seated once more as Riku and his group stood.
"I suppose I'll get going then. I look forward to our cooperation." Riku gave a slight bow before heading towards the door and turning back to look at Akikawa once more. "Anything else you'll need, reach out to my secretary. Things are going to be busy going forward with the season ramping up." As he turned to leave with his hand reaching for the door, Akikawa spoke once more.
"Oh! Before I forget." Akikawa's words drew the group's attention. "You had inquired about some students here. If I'm not mistaken, two of them should be training on the fields right now, if you'd like to spectate. Mr. CB and Katsuragi Ace typically train around this time." Her mischievous grin was back in full force, seeing Riku's interest in her words.
He thought about it for a moment before nodding. "We'll do that, thank you again, Director." The group left the office, with Riku noticing Tazuna waiting by the door still as she smoothed down her dress and did her absolute best to look like she hadn't been at the door listening this whole time. With a brief chuckle, the group strolled past, not seeing Tazuna's eyes following them until they disappeared out of sight. Tazuna's hand clasped over her heart as she briefly looked at her leg, visions of races past and possibly… races to come appearing in her mind. Riku's words once again brought up memories and feelings of uncertainty. She briefly shook her head; there was no point ruminating on it. Her time had come and gone.
SCENE BREAK
"Haaa..haaa!" An Uma breathed deeply, her hands on her knees as she glared at her rival in exhaustion. A sweaty white bang of hair was quickly swiped out of her eyes as she stood, accepting a water bottle from her trainer, the man quickly stepping back after she was done. She only knew his last name, Otonashi, and he was incredibly skittish around her, rarely sticking around. "Again, CB!" The Uma pointed at her rival, getting a slightly tired smile in reply. They had just finished their fifth mock race of the day.
"Yes, yes. I'm ready when you are, Ace." Mr. CB smiled warmly at her trainer, a small woman who insisted she call her Trainer Matsuyama. After taking a big gulp of water with a huff, she stretched, preparing for their next race. She was currently sitting on five wins and no losses to Ace so far, but Ace had definitely surprised her. Every mock race they had done today was closer and closer in results. She had beaten Ace by four lengths in the first race, and only won the most recent one by half a length. Still… she had no intentions of losing.
Both runners took their positions, their eyes meeting in a challenge. Trainer Matsuyama held up her hand, looking at the two, before swinging it down. "Start!"
Both racers took off in a blur, Ace leading with her front-runner strategy, and CB following just behind. Unseen by both racers, a group of three made their way onto the field, glancing around at the crowd watching the two racers go at it. As Riku stepped forward, some eyes widened upon seeing him and pointed, creating a small commotion as he strolled by the course, watching the race unfold. He crossed his arms with a smile. Watching these two future legends was a joy.
Katsuragi Ace did her best to stretch her lead, but it seems Mr. CB had her beat still, as when they rounded the final corner, CB began her surge. His eyes widened when he noticed despite the surge, Ace was holding on, barely. When they passed the marker, a cheer went up from the crowd watching.
"She did it! Ace won!" An Uma to his right excitedly shared, jumping up and down as she talked to her friends and classmates.
"It'll still be 5-1 in favor of CB, though." Another remarked with a raised eyebrow, but smiled nonetheless as they watched the two talk.
Riku blinked at the admission, glancing over at the two in thought. Katsuragi Ace was an underdog, as someone who, in her career, was frequently overshadowed by Mr. CB, her rival. CB won the Triple Crown, while Ace won the Takarazuka Kinen, Mainichi Okan (G2), and the Japan Cup. The Japan Cup was a point of emphasis, as in his memory, it featured a stacked lineup, with an undefeated Rudolf, the previous year's Triple Crown winner, Mr. CB, and Katsuragi Ace, who would surprisingly take the win.
"Haha! Not bad!" A loud, boisterous voice cut in, grabbing not only Riku's attention, but everyone else's as well. Unsurprisingly, it was his loud and outspoken bodyguard, Buckshot. The Uma in question strutted forward up to the guard rail, pushing aside grumbling spectators as she did so. Mr. CB and Katsuragi Ace, while they were mid-discussion, stopped to look at the loud commotion. Mr. CB's eyes widened in partial recognition, having remembered seeing Buckshot briefly at the Winning Live for the Satsuki Sho. Ace, meanwhile, just grinned as she strode forward towards Buckshot. The two stared at each other before letting out matching grins as they clasped hands together, essentially a bro-handshake.
Riku's eyebrow twitched several times watching the byplay. He should've expected the boisterous Katsuragi Ace to get along with his loud bodyguard. While he turned to look at Ace, he briefly narrowed his eyes at another Umamusume, tall for Japanese standards, who was standing nearby with her arms crossed while watching the interaction. She had long brown hair tied into a ponytail, with a light pink diamond marking the middle of her hair. Golden pins were put in place to hold up her ponytail, as her ruby red eyes, marked with similar colored eyeshadow, narrowed on Katsuragi Ace. Why did she seem so familiar? Was he forgetting another Uma from this generation?
A nose ahead grabbed his attention. He glanced over and noted in surprise that Mr. CB had made a straight beeline for him, stopping just in front of the guard rail where they were situated. She smiled before giving a slight bow, many muttering amongst themselves as they watched.
"Hello, Mr Chairman." CB cocked her hip as she glanced over at her rival briefly, with Ace boasting about her first win over CB to the American Uma. Her smile widened as she met Riku's eyes. "Didn't know I was so special to get the Chairman of the URA to visit." A carefree aura seemed to emanate from the Uma as she spoke, her teasing statement hitting the iron wall of Chairman Riku.
"Actually, I was here to see Ace; she won after all." Riku smiled as CB seemed to recoil, an imaginary arrow piercing her carefree defenses. A dark cloud seemed to appear over Uma's head as she muttered to herself. Katsuragi Ace, who had overheard his words, strolled over, laughing as she did so.
"Hahaha! You're looking at a Future Triple Crown Umamusume right here!" Ace boisterously posed while patting CB's back mockingly. "You'll serve as a good silver collector, my rival." Said Umamusume broke free from her gloom to immediately stare at Ace, a bolt of challenge seeming to travel between the two. Before Riku could bemusedly get a word in, CB spoke up.
"Hoh? You're talking big for winning just one time there, Ace. How about another round?" CB smiled, her serene smile being contrasted by the dark aura emanating from her.
"Ha? I'll beat you as many times as you need, CB!" Ace smiled, a matching aura being let out, as she pointed to the track. "Bring it!" Both of them charged back towards the track; their trainers, who had quietly followed behind, looked exasperated. They both turned to look at Riku, who merely waved them on.
Honestly, rivalry was something to be admired, and barring no injuries, would only make the two perform better. An excited smile appeared on Riku's face. The thought of next year, when these two were in their Classic year, would be an exciting thing to behold. Especially with Maruzensky in her Senior year in the mix.
Without a word, Riku turned around and began to make his way out of the academy, Buckshot and Opal following him. He had not run into everyone he wanted, but he was content. Opal was as serene as ever, while Buckshot kept glancing back, a small smile on her face.
"Made a friend?" Riku asked lightly, as the crowd parted from them, some taking pictures as they went along.
"Maybe." Buckshot shrugged, her smile still in place. "She's definitely my favorite so far. I like her spirit." She made a show of patting her bicep as they went along, only to look in surprise as Opal spoke up.
"Hm. I personally like CB, she'll definitely go farther amongst the two." Opal stated, her gaze looking away as her words seemed to trigger Mount Buckshot.
"Haaaa!? Ace is definitely better! What nonsense are you talking about, you damn Aussie?" Buckshot glared down at her counterpart, who only looked flatly at her in reply.
These two weren't much better than the rivals they just left behind, huh. Riku quickly did his best to tune them out. Today was a productive day; he'd gotten a good feel for the level of his future two superstars, and they would only get better from here. They'd agreed to hold the URA Finale, hopefully by next year if circumstances allowed. He could imagine it now, with Maruzensky racing against CB, Ace, and maybe even Rudolf.
An excited smile appeared on his face, the bickering of his bodyguards not even registering as his gaze met that of Tazuna, who was positioned near the entrance. Her gaze met his as she gave a tentative smile, waving to them as they left. Yeah, things were definitely looking up. As his gaze went down to his phone, he received a notification. Next up, the NHK Mile.
CHAPTER END