Time flowed on between training and daily life, and the much-anticipated GII Yayoi Sho arrived as scheduled.
Tomorrow would mark the opening of this race, and countless eyes had already gathered here.
It wasn't just the spectators' anticipation, nor merely the attention of the Uma Musume themselves—even the Emperor and her circle were watching covertly from the shadows.
The first move had already been made: the spread of public opinion.
[Is there an Uma Musume held back by the entry system? Doesn't this unreasonable regulation need to change?]
[Is the URA being overly arrogant? Do they truly have the right to strip Uma Musume of their pursuit of victory?]
[The clash of the three powerhouses! Find out whose side you're on!]
[The Radiant Knight, with two consecutive wins in the central circuit—will this race be her first Waterloo?]
[The secret to her strength—rumor has it The Radiant Knight does this every day…]
All sorts of messages seeped into public awareness like water finding every crack, subtly guiding people's attention. The number following the Yayoi Sho now was even double as many as the previous year!
This was precisely Symboli Rudolf's goal. Attention—more and more of it—so that the backlash, when it came, would strike with greater force.
Over at the URA, the higher-ups were also irritably scanning the reports.
Though years of coasting had dulled the sharpness they once possessed, instinct still whispered to them that a storm was brewing.
"What's all this? Just the usual criticism, isn't it? Don't we get a few articles like this every year? Why the fuss? Besides, if you'd just hurry up and implement the pre-registration system, there wouldn't be a problem!"
The URA chairwoman didn't even look up from her work as she addressed them, and, as usual, delivered a scolding.
Yet her attitude actually put them at ease. As long as there wasn't any strange shift in her demeanor—like being unusually mild or evasive—then presumably nothing was really amiss.
"Right, right, we'll go push the staff below to move faster. Employees these days really aren't diligent enough. We'll give them an earful; results will come soon, for sure."
Chuckling awkwardly, the executives left reassured. Only after they had all vanished from the chairwoman's sight did a cold smile finally touch the corners of her lips.
"Hmph, enjoy it while you can. You won't have much ease left anyway."
Yes, with the very top of the organization actively cooperating in this "betrayal," those higher-ups already rotted soft by comfort were practically deaf.
There was a side effect to all this, though: harassment of the competitors, especially Nearl, had increased.
"Yes, daily training is like that. It's actually quite monotonous, so I hope the public won't hold prejudices against Uma Musume. They work very hard, truly."
Nearl dealt with the reporters until Kitahara Jo came over to disperse them.
"Alright, alright, we need to discuss strategy for tomorrow now. That's not something we can share, so let's call it a day here."
Watching Kitahara Jo methodically persuade each reporter to leave, Nearl felt a swell of warmth.
"Trainer, you've really become skilled at handling people. Back in Kasamatsu, you could barely get a word in when reporters showed up."
"I was Oguri Cap's trainer for a year, you know. Did you think her fame was small?"
Kitahara tugged down his cap, smiling with a hint of pride, but his expression soon turned concerned.
"Still, the intensity of the coverage now is really hard to make sense of. Could it be a special case because of your strength, Nearl?"
"…"
Nearl fell silent for a moment, wrestling with whether to tell her trainer about the plan.
In principle, the fewer who knew, the smoother the plan would run. But she felt Kitahara, as her trainer, had a right to know everything.
As Nearl pondered, Kitahara's gaze drifted over to her briefly.
"Trainer, there's something I want to tell you."
Finally, Nearl made up her mind. She had said long ago that her trainer was her comrade-in-arms—so what was there to hide from a comrade?
"No need."
Suddenly, Kitahara patted Nearl's shoulder, his eyes full of understanding.
"Looks like my hunch was right this time. You must be organizing or involved in something, but you don't have to tell me."
"Kitahara Jo, this central trainer, has gained a bit of a name now. It's worlds apart from the local circuit. And to have reached this level, I think it's thanks to the help and guidance of three people."
"My uncle Musaka Ginjirou, Oguri Cap, and you."
"Uncle Roppei was my guide. Back then, he practically led me step by step onto the trainer's path. Oguri Cap was my first Uma Musume, and the one I'm most proud of. We grew together, chasing our dreams side by side."
"And you, Nearl."
Kitahara looked straight into Nearl's eyes, his words brimming with gratitude.
"To be honest, I've always seen you as my teacher. Your arrival gave me the means to move forward. Without your hands-on support, who knows how long it would have taken me to reach the central circuit. For that, I'm truly grateful."
"So there's no need to say anything. Some things get complicated once spelled out. I'm not especially clever, and I can't guarantee I wouldn't let something slip if pressed. So it's better you don't tell me."
"Trainer, I feel fortunate that someone like you, who genuinely cares for Uma Musume, exists."
"I should be the one saying that. Being able to do something for all you good kids is my luck. I often wonder—what would my life be like if there were no Uma Musume in this world? But I suppose that's a question without an answer…"
Kitahara smiled and shook his head, giving his cap another slight tug.
"Well then, Nearl, I'll be off now. Don't train anymore today. Get ready for the Yayoi Sho tomorrow."
"Understood."
Nearl watched her trainer walk away, feeling a sudden lightness.
'I'll go to the library. I've realized lately I really should learn a bit more about medicinal cuisine.'
Nearl chose her own form of "rest"—though it was only her body taking a break.
--+--
Meanwhile, at the student council room, Maruzensky stood silently by the door.
Inside, two Uma Musume were nestled close together, dozing lightly, both hugging a hand-painted body pillow.
"Mr. C.B. and Rudolf… they can already hold each other like this in public without a care. So they've really reached this point, huh…"
Closing the door, a vague, lonely feeling of being left behind washed over Maruzensky as she walked away unsteadily.
--+--
A few hours earlier.
"Rudolf, want to try my body pillow? Nearl-chan sewed it for me herself. I even take it with me on hiking trips. Guaranteed to make you feel all warm and cozy."
"...Really? Let me try it too."
--+--
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.