"Mom, don't worry, okay? I'm doing really well here. It's nothing like what you're imagining."
Backstage at the racecourse, in the preparation room, a strikingly well-built Uma Musume was chatting on the phone with her family.
"No, no, it's not as tough as you're thinking. Just some normal part-time hours. Everyone takes good care of me."
"You can't! Mom, your health isn't good at all, you should stay home and rest. The younger sisters still need you. Let me figure out the living expenses."
"Haa, it's not hard. The race prize money is good, and there's merchandise royalties. Your daughter here is a strong Uma Musume now—I've already won the Asahi Hai and the Kyodo Tsushin Hai. We really don't need to worry about money at all."
"Yeah, that's right. Lean on me a little. I'm your daughter, and their big sister. I'm part of this family too."
"Alright, alright, enough of that. The main thing is, Mom, please don't even think about going out to work. What you need right now is quiet rest. I'm hanging up now."
Beep…
Pressing the end call button on her phone, Ines Fujin let out a long sigh. She raised her head and caught sight of her expression in the mirror on the desk.
"Ugh, no no no! What's with this gloomy face? Being able to help your family is something to be proud of!"
She hooked her fingers at the corners of her mouth, lifting them slightly upward, tracing a bright arc across her face. But in stark contrast was the faintly troubled look in her eyes.
'Still… I really am a bit tired.'
The thought echoed in her heart. Ines Fujin turned her gaze out the window, where a strong wind was blowing and fine raindrops were beginning to drift down from the sky.
"And I really don't like rainy days…"
--+--
Not far away, the atmosphere around Mejiro Ryan was quite different. Unlike the solitary Ines, Ryan currently had her family by her side.
"Ryan, give it your all."
Palmer patted Ryan's shoulder, offering encouragement, though its effect was purely psychological.
"Fufufu, just do your very best, okay? Don't get too hung up on winning or losing."
This came from Mejiro Bright, her smile always gentle and soft.
"Ryan-nee, don't you dare lose!"
This fervent look was from Mejiro Dober, the most outwardly fierce and competitive of the present group.
"Haha, thank you all for the cheers. I'll give it my all."
Bending her right arm, Ryan flexed confidently, then looked around curiously with a hint of confusion.
"But where did Ardan-nee go? Did she have something come up today?"
"Oh, that…"
Palmer scratched her head.
"Ardan-nee said she was going to go see Nearl. She asked me to pass on her best wishes."
"...Wow, I honestly don't even know what to say right now."
Faced with such blatant favoritism from her own sister, Ryan couldn't help but complain with a wry smile.
"Honestly, does Nearl even need Ardan-nee visiting her? Shouldn't I, the weaker one here, be the one needing more comfort and support?"
She had a point. But personal bias is hard to reason with, and they all understood that.
--+--
Over at Nearl's side, it was probably the liveliest group, with even more people than Ryan had.
Though two of the people present might as well have been mute.
Oguri Cap and Manhattan Cafe.
These two didn't seem to be here to cheer for Nearl. It was more like they'd come for a tea party. One was holding a bunch of fries, the other cradling a cup of coffee, sitting silently on the sidelines just watching.
"Ardan, shouldn't you be cheering for Ryan-san right now? I'm happy you came, though."
"It's fine. Ryan is surrounded by her sisters. I was worried that perhaps no one would be here for you, Nearl, but it seems I was overthinking it. Looks like you've made quite a few new friends during this time."
Saying this, Ardan glanced over at the silent Manhattan Cafe, whose eyes had been fixed on them all along.
"Cafe-san, how did you and Nearl meet?"
"Coffee."
She uttered just those two words, concise and frugal, then seemed to shrink back slightly, exuding an aura of 'strangers, keep away.'
"Is… that so?"
Ardan smiled awkwardly. With her social grace, she could just barely grasp the meaning behind Cafe's words.
"Did you meet at a café or something? But… Nearl wouldn't usually have the leisure to hang out at places like that. Did she perhaps buy you coffee?"
It had to be said, Ardan knew Nearl fairly well. Her guess wasn't quite right, but it was close to the truth.
"I made coffee for Cafe, and we got familiar back and forth. Actually, Cafe is just shy. She's not a cold person."
"That's wonderful then. Cafe-san is very cute. If possible, I'd like to be your friend too. Is that okay?"
Faced with Ardan's kindness, Cafe hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Mhm."
Centered around Nearl, the atmosphere in the room was warm and harmonious. Only Berno Light occasionally glanced at the drizzling rain outside the window with some concern.
"Nearl, it's raining today. I don't think you've ever run on a rain-softened turf course before, have you?"
Her words finally snapped everyone present back to reality, reminding them this was, in fact, a race venue.
Berno Light's concern wasn't unfounded. Track adaptability was extremely important for an Uma Musume, capable of playing a huge role in victory or defeat.
For a normal Uma Musume, facing a first-time, unfamiliar track condition like this, the chances of problems arising were far too high.
…If it were a normal Uma Musume.
"Don't worry. Margaret is super strong."
Oguri Cap was the first to vouch for her, standing by Nearl without a second thought, as always.
"Mhm, I believe in Nearl too. She definitely would have considered this possibility."
Ardan thought the same, but not as thoughtlessly as Oguri Cap. She believed in Nearl's steady, meticulous nature. Nearl would never forget her own shortcomings.
"Berno-senpai's concern is reasonable. While my trainer and I have simulated rainy turf conditions, that's not the same as an actual race."
Here, Nearl paused briefly, as the loudspeaker reminding the Uma Musume to proceed to the presentation stage had just sounded.
A smile surfaced on her face, different from her usual gentle expression.
Because her performance in this Yayoi Sho would prove too many things, and ignite too many things. She carried the trust of Symboli Rudolf.
"But I will win."
Confident, resolute, and unstoppable—Nearl was now one hundred percent in the zone.
"Everyone, let's talk again after the race. Though it'll probably be quite late."
Pushing open the door, Nearl turned back to the people in the room and zipped up her tracksuit jacket. It was just ordinary sportswear, but on Nearl in that moment, it seemed like a suit of armor.
"After all, the Winner's Stage does take a little time."
--+--
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.