"Congratulations, Margaret."
"Don't even worry about the results, Nearl. At least the exams are over, right? Come on, give us a smile!"
"You've worked hard."
As Nearl stepped out of the central trainer examination hall, the three grey-haired girls who had been waiting for her immediately gathered around, each offering their greetings.
"Oguri, Senior Tamamo, and March—thank you all for coming to see me."
Nearl accepted their kindness warmly.
"Alright, alright, today I'm treating everyone to a meal! Consider it a farewell gift," Tamamo Cross chimed in, her cheerful tone tinged with sadness.
Her face was full of reluctance, her delicate features all scrunched up in clear distress.
"Tamamo, don't be sad—there's good food waiting," Oguri Cap said, stepping forward to pat Tamamo's shoulder and giving a thumbs-up to comfort her.
"Get away from me! You think I'm upset for no reason? It's because of you!" Tamamo slapped Oguri's arm with a sharp smack, her ears flattened back in anger.
"Oww! Margaret…" Whimpering, Oguri buried her teary face into Nearl's chest, nuzzling wildly with her fluffy grey head.
"There, there, it's alright," Nearl murmured, gently stroking Oguri's head with what could only be described as… affection?
Yes, tomorrow Nearl and the others would be returning to Kasamatsu. Today was likely their last day in the central district.
When she'd first told Oguri and Tamamo about her impending departure, they had been visibly upset, but eventually decided to see her off with a celebration.
Even the notoriously frugal Tamamo had resolved to treat everyone to a meal—though she looked utterly soul-crushed after making the decision.
Amid the noisy bickering between Tamamo and Oguri, and Fujimasa March's gentle smiles, Nearl found herself reflecting on the experiences of the past few days, feeling she had gained so much.
'I've already said my goodbyes to Ms. Hayakawa, and repaired that paving stone up on the hill… The only one left is Ms. C.B., I suppose?'
A certain crystalline figure—a graceful Uma Musume—flashed through her mind.
'…I haven't seen Ms. Ardan since that day. Oh well. I hope she achieves her dreams soon.'
Shaking her head slightly, Nearl quickened her pace to catch up with the others.
--+--
Back in Kasamatsu, Kitahara Jo was alone in the training room, carefully studying the race entry list as he pondered which competition to enter Nearl in next.
"After that overwhelming victory, Nearl is now eligible for SP2-class races. Which one should I choose?"
"A mile race? Or middle distance? Honestly, I still don't fully understand her aptitudes…"
His finger traced over the page, scanning line after line of information.
Suddenly, his eyes fixed on one particular listing, and he tapped it firmly.
"Perfect. This is the one!"
"The Nagoya Racecourse quasi-grade race—the Spring Welcome Cup."
"It's a rare local turf race—a great opportunity to see how Nearl handles grass tracks."
Spreading the race brochure open on the table, he pulled a registration form from the drawer and began filling it out.
"2000 meters… I wonder if she can handle that distance?" He chewed nervously on the end of his pen, but soon shook his head with a wry smile.
"What am I saying? Her stamina is on another level. A mere 2000 meters—no way she'd fade."
Signing the form with a satisfied nod, he leaned back.
"Now I just need to notify Nearl."
"Wait… Does she even have a phone? …Probably not. Oh no, how am I supposed to tell her?"
Scratching his head in frustration, he groaned.
"Guess I'll have to go find Shibasaki. March should have a phone. Speaking of which… Should I get Nearl a mobile?"
--+--
"Understood, Trainer. I'll let Nearl know. Yes, she's right here. Don't worry, I've been doing well."
"Really?! The doctor said I can resume normal training when I get back? Thank you, Trainer! I'll hang up now!"
Click.
Fujimasa March closed her flip phone, her face lit up with excitement.
"March-chan, you were injured?" Mr. C.B. popped her head out from the kitchen.
It was six in the evening. Nearl and the others had already said their goodbyes to Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross and returned to Mr. C.B.'s home.
After this night, they would head to the station and board the train back to Kasamatsu.
When Mr. C.B. learned they were leaving tomorrow, she was clearly reluctant to see them go.
She decided to cook a meal herself—one last gathering with these two juniors she'd only recently gotten to know.
About half an hour earlier, Nearl had gone into the kitchen and returned with a slightly odd expression on her face.
A little later, as a certain smell wafted through the air, Nearl rushed back into the kitchen—and hadn't come out since.
Now, she was helping Mr. C.B. prepare dinner.
"Heh, I pushed myself too hard during training and got a little banged up," Fujimasa explained sheepishly.
"I get it, I get it. It happens to the best of us," Mr. C.B. nodded emphatically, radiating sympathy. Then, from behind her, Nearl's voice called out:
"Ms. C.B., your fried pineapple is about to burn."
"Coming, coming!"
Mr. C.B.'s head vanished back into the kitchen, leaving a puzzled Fujimasa behind.
"Did I hear that right? Fried… pineapple?"
Inside the kitchen, Mr. C.B. was crafting her uniquely… creative dishes.
The menu included: fried pineapple with bean sprouts, watermelon trotter soup, stir-fried tomatoes with chili peppers, and her personal favorite—beef hamburgers.
Truth be told, the beef hamburgers were probably the most normal item of the bunch.
"Ms. C.B., I've finished my dishes as well. I'll help you bring everything out," Nearl said, carrying two plates of perfectly ordinary home-style cooking.
(T/N: Mr. C.B.'s nickname is C.B. and Nearl's just adding Ms to C.B.)
"March, dinner is ready."
"March-chan, come taste your senior's culinary skills!" Nearl and Mr. C.B. called out almost simultaneously.
But the reception their dishes received couldn't have been more different.
"Why?! Why won't you try my food?" Mr. C.B. pouted, sulking on the sofa as Nearl quietly tried to console her.
"I'm heartbroken!" she declared, while nuzzling affectionately against Nearl—her relaxed expression betraying no actual sadness.
"Why is Ms. C.B. just like Oguri Cap?" Fujimasa muttered under her breath while clearing the table. "Is this what all top athletes are like?"
"Little Nearl, on race day, I'll be there to cheer you on. Try to win by a few lengths, alright?"
"I will, Ms. C.B. Let's hope you're not too surprised when it happens."
"Hmph, I'm a Triple Crown winner. I don't get shocked that easily."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.