"Next up, a hundred sets of squat jumps. An 1,800-meter race course tests speed more than endurance."
Gripping his cane, Musaka Ginjirou supervised Oguri Cap's training from the sidelines.
As race day drew nearer, Oguri Cap's training intensity had tapered off. Aside from maintaining her daily essential regimen, she spent the rest of her time listening to Trainer Musaka analyze her opponents.
A race no less demanding than a G1 event forced Oguri Cap to bring her absolute best.
Because she could run, she had chosen to become an Uma Musume.
That was true in the past, true now, and would remain true in the future.
She hoped her efforts would be worthy of these legs, nurtured and protected by her mother.
To run, and keep on running, to achieve victory.
Her way of repaying others was to carry the hopes placed upon her and realize them under the public's gaze, on that dazzling stage.
That was the meaning she found in being an Uma Musume.
But victory didn't come easy, and Oguri Cap knew it well.
Perhaps back in the regional circuits, she could leave everyone in the dust. But here, at the center...
Oguri Cap gritted her teeth silently.
There were far too many rivals to keep an eye on.
On this long, seemingly endless journey, beyond one mountain lay an even greater peak.
Right now, she was only halfway up the very first one.
And that alone was enough to make her feel the immense pressure.
Under Trainer Musaka's guidance, Oguri Cap finished her squats, her forehead already beaded with sweat.
And this was just... the warm-up before the main course...
Gasping for breath, constantly wiping the sweat that blurred her vision, Oguri Cap drank some water and began her ten-minute break.
"Oguri!"
Biting the mouth of her bottle, lost in her thoughts, Oguri Cap looked up as Belno Light, who had stepped away to take a call earlier, came running over.
"Oguri, Oguri, Oguri! I just..." She was so excited she was tripping over her words.
"Light."
Steadying her by the shoulders, Oguri Cap spoke in a calm voice. "Take a deep breath first."
"Sorry..."
After a few deep breaths, Belno Light finally composed herself.
"Just now, I got a call from everyone back in Kasamatsu!"
Hearing that, Oguri Cap's eyes widened instantly.
"Really!? What did everyone say!? Are they doing well? What are they eating...?"
Shaking Belno Light by the shoulders, Oguri Cap fired off questions one after another.
"Dizzy... I'm getting dizzy..."
"Ah, my bad."
Clearing her throat awkwardly, Oguri Cap waited eagerly for Belno Light's next words.
"Actually, they've all made a decision. They're planning to come to Central to watch your race!"
"Come to Central!?" Her heart began to pound, thump-thump-thump.
"Who's coming? Is everyone really coming?"
"Mmhmm! Everyone's coming, even Fujimasa March and Norn Ace! And... even Kitahara Jo is coming too!"
"Kitahara..."
Her first trainer, and her most important one. He was the one who had led her onto the racetrack.
And it was also him who had supported her decision to move to the center without hesitation.
It was safe to say that without Kitahara Jo's help, there would be no 'Gray Monster' as she was known today.
Words could hardly express her gratitude towards him.
"I see... I see..."
Everyone was coming.
For Oguri Cap right now, this was simply the best news possible.
Belno Light continued, "And that's not all."
What, there's more?
"Fujimasa March said... she's earned her qualification to race in Central."
"Qualification... to race in Central?"
"Yep." Belno Light nodded. "She placed in the top three in a regional stakes race."
"Top three? Which stakes race was it?"
"The Tokai Derby."
Hearing that familiar name, Oguri Cap's heart skipped a beat.
That was the promise she had made with Kitahara Jo and Fujimasa March.
To run in the Tokai Derby.
But later, because of her transfer to the center, Oguri Cap couldn't keep that promise with the two of them.
Even now, whenever she remembered it, she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.
So, Fujimasa March had run in the Tokai Derby, just as she said she would.
Top three...
Which place exactly did she get?
Seeing Belno Light carefully choosing her words, it wasn't hard to guess.
"March asked me to pass on a message to you."
"She said, 'I gave it my all in that race, just to earn my ticket to the center.'"
"'Reaching this level has already exceeded my expectations.'"
"'The desire to meet you on the racetrack is what kept me going when I pushed past my limits.'"
Placing a hand over her chest, Belno Light mimicked the other's tone.
"'I've already got my ticket to the center. Next, it's your turn to fight for that ticket to the higher-level races, Oguri.'"
It was as if Fujimasa March was standing right there, speaking to her.
Oguri Cap gazed at Belno Light with trembling eyes, then wiped the moisture gathering at the corners of her own.
That once seemingly insurmountable mountain now felt, faintly, as if she had reached its summit.
She screwed the cap back on her bottle and stretched her body.
The weight on her shoulders seemed to have vanished in an instant.
Oguri Cap clenched her fist.
Thank you, March.
Thank you, all of you.
"By the name of the 'Gray Monster'—"
I will not lose this race.
--+--
Clang, clang, clang...
The sound of dumbbells echoed in the room.
The residual heat from the treadmill hadn't yet faded.
Her muscles were so hot that the sweat evaporating from her skin rose in faint wisps of steam.
The girl with long grey hair let out heavy, ragged breaths.
"Komiyama, how many more sets do we have left?"
She asked her trainer in her distinctive Kansai accent.
The woman with medium-length hair, tied back, checked the training schedule in her hand.
"That's enough, Tama."
"That's enough? But... I still have plenty of energy left."
As she spoke, Tamamo Cross continued to slowly lift the dumbbells, each movement squeezing more sweat from her pores.
After another ten or so reps, Tamamo Cross set the heavy dumbbells on the floor and began stretching her muscles.
Komiyama Masami, Tamamo Cross's trainer, was recording her activity for the day.
"Tama's abilities have improved again..."
It was the second time this month she had muttered this in amazement.
Since her last race, Tamamo Cross had been growing stronger at a remarkable pace.
"Saved a bit of energy for the next part of training."
"Eh? But there isn't anything else scheduled."
"Come on, Komiyama." Tamamo Cross pointed outside. "Can't you hear the track calling out so loudly? It's practically telling us to go run a few laps up there!"
She pressed down on her legs, looking eager and ready to go.
"Even for you, that's too much..." Komiyama hadn't expected Tamamo Cross to still have any energy left after such high-intensity training.
It was like she had an endless supply of stamina.
"Too much? Komiyama, don't you forget who my opponent is."
It was already confirmed: Maruzensky would be running in the autumn [Tenno Sho], which meant the two of them would face off directly.
Not only that, but that Gray Monster from the regional circuit might also enter the [Tenno Sho].
Plus, through trainer channels, Komiyama had heard rumors that Sirius Symboli was also leaning towards entering the race.
She would soon get to see the capabilities of the latter two in the prelude race to the [Tenno Sho].
"Let's see just how much stuff that star who studied abroad, and that monster, really have."
Drying her sweat with a towel, Tamamo Cross grinned, a sharp, eager edge to her smile.
--+--
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.