At the Mejiro estate, Ardan finally let out a sigh of relief. Of course, her relief wasn't simply because Nearl had won.
"Thank goodness, Nearl is alright."
Her tightly clasped hands relaxed, and the nervous expression on Ardan's face softened into one of quiet ease.
Perhaps because her own legs weren't strong, every time Ardan watched Nearl push her body to the limit in a race, she felt a kind of phantom pain.
Putting herself in Nearl's horseshoes always sent a chill down her spine—she knew that if she tried to run with that kind of force, at that speed, with that kind of technique, she'd undoubtedly end up in the hospital afterward. She might not even make it to the finish line.
Thinking this, Ardan gently touched her legs. The bandages were gone now, but that didn't mean she could just run freely again.
"I wish I could go to the academy too… I wonder how everyone is doing."
"If you want to go, then go. As long as you follow the doctor's orders, Ardan, you can go anywhere you like."
Just as Ardan was lost in her thoughts, a voice, aged and stern yet carrying a hidden warmth, spoke up from behind her.
"Grandmother."
Ardan turned to see the familiar, veil-draped brim of a hat.
"Ardan, what are you watching?"
The Mejiro matriarch asked casually, merely making conversation. She hadn't really paid much mind to what was on the screen—until Ardan's reply caught her interest.
"It's Nearl's race—her first one at the Central circuit. I didn't want to miss it."
"Oh, I remember her. That Nearl left quite an impression on me. She's made it to Central already?"
After receiving a confirming nod, the matriarch gave an approving hum.
She'd always held a favorable opinion of that calm and dignified Uma Musume.
Hearing that she'd officially stepped into the Central circuit now only deepened her admiration.
"Splendid, truly splendid. To cross the gap between local and Central circuits—she has talent worthy of her presence. Could she be another Oguri Cap in the making?"
"By the way, Ardan, which race did she run? How did she place? If it's her first time at Central, losing would be understandable. As long as it wasn't too rough a showing."
The Mejiro matriarch held Nearl in high regard—a judgment born of years of experience. She was confident she hadn't misread the girl.
Still, she wasn't overly optimistic about this particular race.
There were too many factors—adjusting to a new environment, nerves, simple mistakes. As long as Nearl's form hadn't fallen apart, she'd consider it acceptable.
'Well, it's not as if every sister has a talent like Centaurea's, after all.'
"Nearl took first place."
Ardan's reply carried a hint of excitement, and the matriarch's eyes lit up.
"Excellent. A winning start. It seems her adaptability is remarkable. That likely means she's cleared her biggest mental hurdle."
"But there's more."
Ardan picked up the remote, clicked a few buttons, and the television switched from commercials to a replay of a Uma Musume race.
"Look, grandmother—this is the replay of the Sumire Stakes. Nearl achieved an overwhelming victory."
Ardan was beaming as though she were the one who'd won. Her usual gentle composure gave way to a more animated demeanor as she eagerly invited the matriarch to watch.
"Child, mind your posture."
Amused, the matriarch gave her descendant a light pat on the head but didn't refuse, even with her own packed schedule.
While "swamped with work" might be an exaggeration, being busy from dawn till dusk was her norm. Still, she was always happy to respond when the younger ones sought her closeness.
What started as a gesture of bonding, however, soon captured the matriarch's full attention as she watched the replay.
Especially when she saw Nearl accelerate down the track, crushing the competition so thoroughly that the other Uma Musume were little more than distant blurs behind her.
"!"
Her gloved hand clenched, wrinkling the smooth silk. Beneath the veil, her face showed stunned disbelief.
"This is the Central circuit… She's different. Unlike the ordinary Uma Musume, what Nearl is displaying is a talent that transcends eras."
"This year, Palmer and Ryan are also in their classic years, aren't they? Their paths align perfectly with Nearl's."
At this point, the Mejiro matriarch felt the urge to sigh to the heavens. Had she not been mindful of her image in front of Ardan, she might have done just that.
"How unfortunate for those two. To face an opponent of Nearl's caliber… Their road ahead will surely be fraught with hardship."
"Yes, grandmother. But I still believe that having a rival like Nearl in one's career could be the happiest thing for a Uma Musume."
Ardan rested a hand on her own legs, imagining the future that awaited Palmer and Rein.
"To have a goal like that right in front of you—a rival you could chase for a lifetime… Learning together, pushing each other to surpass your former selves. Even if the goal stays distant, when you look back, you'll find you've already reached places you never dreamed possible."
"Isn't that… both romantic and joyous?"
The matriarch fell silent. She looked at Ardan's slightly flushed face, her eyes sparkling like scattered gemstones, and had to concede the point.
"It seems I've been away from the tracks for too long. I've forgotten that feeling of growth. I was instinctively measuring an Uma Musume's worth by her accolades alone—how unreasonable."
Tenderly, she stroked Ardan's pale blue hair, her expression softening into that of a doting elder.
--+--
Meanwhile, Nearl was facing a crowd of reporters.
"Miss Nearl, now that you've won the Sumire Stakes so brilliantly—and by a huge margin—the GIII qualification must be secured. May we ask what your next target will be?"
"I plan to run in another OP race soon."
Nearl's announcement sent a ripple through the press.
"Back-to-back challenges? That's no joke!"
The reporter couldn't believe it and pushed the microphone closer.
"Not only will your stamina not fully recover, but you could even risk hidden injuries. What led you and Trainer Kitahara to make this decision?"
"Because my current qualifications still aren't sufficient. There isn't a single GIII race in February that I'm eligible for."
"A February-limited race? And not a GIII? Don't tell me…!"
The reporter's mind raced, the answer becoming clear. He could barely contain his excitement.
"Are you aiming for the Yayoi Sho?!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! 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.