After finishing breakfast, Rudolf-senpai and I returned to our room once, changed into our Tracen Academy training outfits, and then headed toward the Symboli family's private course. In my case, besides changing, I also needed to prepare sports drinks for both myself and Rudolf-senpai.
Even when you lump them all together under the term "sports drinks," there are actually a ton of variations. Ready-made ones sold in plastic bottles or cans, powdered variants you can mix whenever needed, isotonic formulas, hypotonic formulas, those designed specifically for ordinary humans, and those tailored for Uma Musume. On top of that, each company has its own unique ingredient ratio, so honestly, compared to my previous life, the variety is so wide that just counting them feels like a pain.
The one I brought this time was a powdered hypotonic sports drink formula designed for Uma Musume. Hypotonic drinks have lower osmotic pressure, so after sweating during exercise, they replenish fluids more effectively than isotonic drinks. Well, on the other hand, isotonic drinks—with osmotic pressure close to that of bodily fluids—are better for rehydration when you're sick or physically unwell, so I personally switch depending on the situation.
Anyway, after changing into my training clothes, I set out to make our drinks using that thing I borrowed from Sebas… what was it called again? You know, that big container with a faucet attached that sports clubs often use… like a massive water jug.
…Well, whatever.
To be honest, I'd like to eventually make the sports drink completely from scratch instead of using store-bought powder. You can make the base with water, salt, sugar, then add lemon or something. But making it taste good, keeping it low-calorie, and inexpensive at the same time has been difficult, and I've basically given up for now.
Anyway—moving past that—I mixed enough sports drink for both of us into that giant monster-like jug I borrowed from Sebas, and then, guided by Rudolf-senpai, we arrived at the Symboli family's course.
The lush green grass growing across the course was, of course, inferior to the constantly maintained turf of Tracen Academy—where specialists care for it daily—but compared to publicly accessible courses, it was far cleaner, well-managed, and overall an impressively high-grade facility. The course was surrounded by tall broadleaf trees extending their shade across the ground, and under that shade stood a wooden table and bench with a canopy overhead—almost like a miniature spectator stand.
"This is our family's course. There's a single 2000-meter lap course, and inside that is a dirt track. The woodchip track is elsewhere, but we won't need that today."
"Woooah… that's beautiful."
"Right? When I was younger, I had Grandfather let me use this place to train."
Rudolf-senpai spoke proudly. In response, I accidentally let out a dumb-sounding voice. She noticed and gave a small laugh.
Did she just laugh at me? Huh? No? Surely not.
That kind of silly back-and-forth continued as we followed the stone-paved path leading from the mansion to the grassy course. The sensation of stepping on turf with running shoes reinforced with horseshoe-like plates felt strangely pleasant, and I walked behind Rudolf-senpai while appreciating it.
Still, even though it was only morning, that uniquely Japanese humid heat clung to my body like scorching sunlight draped over sticky air. Rudolf-senpai walked ahead completely unfazed, as if the heat didn't exist. Meanwhile, sweat had already soaked my training shirt from the short walk alone.
"Hm? …Oh, it's her."
Suddenly, Rudolf-senpai stopped walking. I didn't know why, but I halted too and followed her gaze toward the opposite side of the course.
There, a single Uma Musume approached us with a boldly unpleasant grin on her face.
A bay-colored Uma Musume, with a slightly rounder white blaze than Rudolf-senpai's. A distinctive wave-shaped accessory hung from her right ear, and as she drew closer, her expression—which resembled Rudolf-senpai's features just a little—became clearer.
"Well good morning, Rudolf. You sure showed up late today."
"…Sirius. If you were here, you could have at least informed someone."
"Oh pity, but I'm not here to make nice with people. I don't need to notify anyone."
"Even so. You're using this course through my father's generosity. At the very least, you should greet him."
The Uma Musume named Sirius spoke without dropping her smug smile for even a second.
And right then, I remembered.
Of course. Why did I forget?
When one speaks of the Symboli family, it's not just Rudolf-senpai.
There was another—one year below Rudolf-senpai in age—in real history: the horse who won the Japanese Derby the very next year, giving the Symboli farm back-to-back Derby wins. A legendary horse that then went overseas, raced for two years, and made Japanese racing dream of the world stage.
And the Uma Musume inheriting that horse's soul was—
Sirius Symboli
26 races, 4 wins. One G1 title. Total lifetime earnings of 143.1 million yen + 229,000 French francs + 16,500 Deutsche Marks, amounting to approximately 149.3 million yen. A rare racehorse whose battlefield lay mostly overseas—competing in England, France, Germany, Italy—with 14 overseas starts, more than half his career. Even challenged the Arc, albeit unsuccessfully.
That was Sirius Symboli.
As an Uma Musume, she views Rudolf-senpai as a rival—rough, foul-mouthed, yet possessing charisma of a different kind. She detests lies and pretenses, always confident, always straightforward.
And now, that Sirius Symboli was standing before me, arms crossed beneath her chest.
"Hah? Who are you?"
The sharp, hawk-like eyes that had been fixed on Rudolf turned toward me. So she hadn't even noticed I was here until now.
"Sigh… Nature. Her name is Sirius Symboli. My cousin. A year below me. Which means she's your classmate."
"Ah—um… I'm Nice Nature. Hello…"
Rudolf-senpai introduced her with a sigh, and I offered a polite greeting. But Sirius Symboli only twisted her grin further, making it even more predatory than before.
"Heeh… so you're her. I'm Sirius Symboli. What an honor—meeting the famous Nice Nature in person."
Her mouth said the words, but her piercing eyes clearly screamed the opposite.
"So, we were about to start our daily training. Sirius, what about you? If you want to use the course, then Nature and I will warm up and head toward the woodchip track."
"I was originally thinking of challenging you today, Rudolf… but I've changed my mind."
"…What?"
Rudolf-senpai frowned suspiciously at her declaration.
I felt it too—
A horrible, unpleasant premonition sliding like cold sweat down my spine.
Then Sirius switched her gaze from Rudolf to me.
Her smirk sharpened like a predator's.
"You avoided mock races entirely, so I've been skeptical, Nature. But now I can check for myself whether the rumors about you at Tracen are real—Let's race. I'll take you on."
"Huh?"
"What—? I am Sirius Symboli, the brightest star. No matter how promising your talent is, Nature, talent alone doesn't beat a first-class star. I'll show you that myself."
The dangerous grin deepened—
It resembled that fierce smile Rudolf-senpai once showed me.
But I realized something:
Sirius was provoking me with her words.
Yet I wasn't reflected in her eyes at all.
Those deep wine-red eyes weren't looking at me.
She was looking past me…
At only one person.
Somewhere deep inside me—
Something growled back.