It was a week after the New Year's holiday.
At the start of the third semester at Tracen Academy, the news was finally revealed.
An Uma Musume from the local leagues—Oguri Cap—had transferred.
This news had me holding my head in my hands since morning. I had heard about the transfer, and the timing of a new year and a new semester wasn't strange.
However, while many Uma Musume transfer from Central to local leagues, it's very rare for an Uma Musume to transfer from a local league to the Central.
No offense, but the level of Uma Musume in local leagues is lower than in the Central. It might have something to do with the Uma Musume's talent, but the facilities and the quality of trainers in the local leagues are significantly inferior to those in the Central. Because of that, Uma Musume rarely transfer from the local leagues. They are only able to transfer if they are deemed capable of competing and succeeding in the Central and are scouted.
Even at that point, Oguri Cap was already a potential threat. But she was an incredible talent who excelled on both turf and dirt and could run any distance except for sprints. I was so puzzled as to why she hadn't entered the Central Tracen Academy in the first place. Maybe when she entered the local Tracen Academy, she wasn't a remarkable Uma Musume.
If that were the case, a talented trainer must have trained her. But I had never heard of a skilled trainer at the Kasamatsu Tracen Academy where Oguri Cap was. I mean, if they were a good trainer, they'd be in the Central. Maybe they were a trainer who enjoyed raising Uma Musume from the local leagues.
(Given the number of races, she'll probably go for turf... I hope... But the local leagues have mostly dirt races... She might run in dirt races until she gets used to this environment... Ugh...)
For example, if she were to run in a turf race and race against Rice, I wouldn't be worried at all. I believe Rice would win no matter how talented the Uma Musume was.
However, if she were to race against Urara, I would want to say, "Hold on a minute." Rice was an almost-complete Uma Musume, and after her muscle balance was corrected, all that was left was to refine her. But Urara was still in the developmental stage.
Rice could win. But with Urara, I didn't know what would happen in a dirt race. This wasn't me favoring Rice over Urara; it was about how developed they were.
If this were a year from now, I wouldn't have been flustered, thinking a strong rival had appeared for Urara. I believe Urara would be strong enough to handle it by then. But right now, I didn't know if she could stand up to her.
(I only have a few race videos of Oguri Cap... Even with that, I can only see a chance for Urara to win in sprints. A mile would be too tough... Seriously, why was a girl this good in the local leagues? Is the local league a demon realm?)
Urara was also from a local league like Oguri Cap, but if I were to believe the Director and Ms. Hayakawa, Urara got into Tracen Academy with just one interview, a unique talent in her own right.
Compared to Urara, who failed the written exam and was terrible at the physical one, Oguri Cap was scouted solely based on her ability. For a local Uma Musume to be scouted just for her ability was a huge deal.
(...Okay, I'll switch my mindset. There's no point in struggling now. All I can do is train Urara to be stronger.)
After agonizing for a while, I came to that conclusion. Even if she couldn't win now, my job was to train Urara to be able to. But without her getting hurt.
With that in mind, I headed to the Team Kitalpha team room. It had been handed over to me yesterday, and I could use it starting today.
Yesterday, I brought in desks, chairs, and other work essentials, set up the internet, and installed lockers for Urara and Rice. I knew I would need more things later, but at least the bare minimum was ready for us to start using it as a team.
The Team Kitalpha team room was in a good location, in a corner where other teams' rooms were lined up, and close to the practice track. It wasn't my own home, but for a trainer at Tracen Academy, it was like having a castle.
(I can't believe I got a team room in my first year as a trainer... I'm so grateful to the Director and Ms. Hayakawa for evaluating me, and most of all, to Rice.)
With that thought, I twisted the doorknob and opened the door.
Yes, the activities of Team Kitalpha would begin at this moment, in this place—!
"Ah! It's Trainer!"
Then, Urara, who was in the middle of changing, noticed me and shouted with a smile. I closed the door.
(Hmm... maybe I should hang a "Changing" sign on the doorknob? No, if it says "Changing," someone might open it on purpose...)
First, I should bow and apologize. I was completely at fault for not knocking because I was so excited. I deserved to be hit, but I hoped they would hit my body and not my face. I wasn't sure if my abs could take it, but a hit to my face might break my neck.
While I was thinking about that, the door opened. It was Urara, who was still in the middle of changing.
"What's wrong, Trainer? The door's unlocked."
"It's not proper to come out in your underwear, Urara-san!"
I yelled in a strangely flamboyant voice. Urara's eyes widened, and then she laughed.
"Wow! You're amazing, Trainer! You sound just like King-chan! King-chan always scolds me like that!"
"I don't care if I sound like her! And you're going to apologize to King-chan later! Rice! Rice-san! Do something about this girl!"
"B-big brother, Rice is, um, in the middle of changing, too... Do you, do you want to see?"
"Wait, wait, wait! No! That's not what I meant, so don't come over here! AHHHHHHH!"
I let out a death scream.
What a disappointing start to the team.
"Lock the door when you're changing. And I'll buy a screen for you to change behind. Urara, you're going to apologize and thank King-chan later. Rice, you need to stop Urara properly. And I will now bow and apologize."
After scolding Urara and Rice, I knelt on the floor of the team room.
Even if I was a trainer, walking in on a young Uma Musume changing was a reason to commit seppuku. It was my mistake for not putting up a screen yesterday. Yes, I deserved to be disemboweled. When should I do it? I need someone to be my second.
"What's wrong with that? I don't really mind."
"Please, please mind."
"R-Rice... It's embarrassing, but if it's big brother... it's okay?"
"No, it's not okay."
What kind of moral education is King-chan giving you? No, King-chan is just her roommate. So... my fault? No, that can't be it.
And Rice, it's not okay at all. I might be your big brother, but it's not... wait, I'm not your big brother. That memory doesn't exist. I'm your big brother... Huh? What's wrong with that?
"Anyway, the activities of Team Kitalpha will begin now."
I stopped my train of thought and stood up from the floor. Urara and Rice had forgiven me, but time was limited. I stood in front of the whiteboard on the wall and wrote with a new pen.
"Urara, we're going to aim for the Hyacinth Stakes in late February. Rice, we're aiming for the Osaka Hai in late March. Depending on her condition, I'm also considering the Osaka Castle Stakes in early March."
The Hyacinth Stakes is a 1600-meter dirt mile race held at the Tokyo Racecourse.
The Osaka Hai is a 2000-meter turf middle-distance race held at the Hanshin Racecourse. In Rice's case, the Osaka Castle Stakes is a mile open race also held at the Hanshin Racecourse, so it would be a good option for her.
The distance is slightly shorter, at 1800 meters, and it's an open race. It's a different course from the Osaka Hai, but I think it's a good choice for her to get a feel for the racecourse.
"For Rice, I'm thinking of aiming for the Spring Senior Triple Crown: the Osaka Hai, the Tenno Sho (Spring), and the Takarazuka Kinen. However, the Osaka Hai and the Takarazuka Kinen are a little short for Rice's distance aptitude, so we might skip them depending on her condition."
As I wrote on the whiteboard, Urara and Rice didn't say anything, maybe because I was in the middle of talking.
"After the Hyacinth Stakes, Urara will have a few more open race opportunities. After a few races there, I want her to challenge the Unicorn Stakes in late June... her first major race, a G3."
Dirt races are a bit lopsided, but the classic-class short and mile distance races that Urara is good at are all concentrated in the first half of the year.
They are all open races, but there are many of them: the Shoryu Stakes in early March, the Fukuryu Stakes in early April, the Tango Stakes in late April, the Seiryu Stakes in early May, and the Hoshu Stakes in late May.
She might not get in sometimes, but if she applies, she'll probably be able to run in some of them. And the last goal for the first half of the year is the Unicorn Stakes.
There are many other open races besides the ones I mentioned. But those races are open to senior-class Uma Musume as well, so it would be a very tough fight.
If possible, I would like Urara to run in the fall dirt G1 races, the JBC Sprint for short distances or the JBC Ladies Classic for a mile. But those are G1 races, so the entry requirements are strict, and you need to have prize money of 120 million yen or more.
There's also the Champions Cup for a mile in early December, but the entry requirements are the same, and the prize money is a hurdle. And of course, senior-class Uma Musume will be running, so it might be tough to even place.
To be honest, it would be very difficult for Urara to even earn enough prize money to run in a G1 race this year.
"So, in Urara's case, we need her to run in a few races and earn prize money first."
"Yes! Trainer! Question!"
I smiled and answered Urara, who raised her hand.
"Go ahead, Urara-kun."
"What happens if you can't earn enough prize money?"
"Hmm, that's a good question... you won't be able to run in the major races that have prize money as an entry requirement."
"What?! Why?! I want to run in a G1 like Rice-chan!"
"Yeah, that's just the rule... If there were no limits, everyone would want to run. If there aren't enough Uma Musume who have the prize money to fill the gate, you might be able to get in through a lottery, but..."
I wrote on the whiteboard while explaining to Urara.
"In Urara's case, you'll get prize money if you win an open race. In a major race, you'll get half of the prize money for a second-place finish or higher. So... to be honest, it's going to be very difficult for you to run in a G1 race this year."
It would be possible if she ran in every open race and won them all. But even with that, she would probably need to win at least 10 races to get enough prize money, including the open races where senior-class Uma Musume also run.
In turf races, there are a lot more major races, so it's easier to earn prize money to enter G1 races. Of course, that's only if you can win. The competition in turf races is much tougher than in dirt races, so there's a good chance you wouldn't even be able to place, let alone win.
"Rice, I want to try for the Spring and Fall Senior Triple Crowns, but many of those races are a little short for her. So we can just focus on the long-distance G1 races without pushing her too hard."
However, if Rice were to only run in long-distance G1 races, she would only have the Tenno Sho (Spring) and the Arima Kinen. Even winning those two would give her three G1 titles and an incredible record of two consecutive wins at the Arima Kinen.
We could also aim for the long-distance middle-distance races like the Takarazuka Kinen, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and the Japan Cup, without sticking to just the Spring and Fall Senior Triple Crowns.
"Rice, I want to confirm something... Do you want to try for the Spring and Fall Senior Triple Crowns? You can forget what we talked about before. You won the Arima Kinen... and I think the fans' view of you has changed. So... I don't think you need to desperately chase fame anymore."
When I first met Rice, I told her that if she won a lot of G1 races, she could become an Uma Musume who surpassed even Mihono Bourbon. Also, at the time, Rice was very depressed because of the boos she had received at the Kikuka Sho, so I thought having a big goal would motivate her.
But after seeing her victory live at the Arima Kinen and her demeanor since, I could tell she had let go of the past. So I didn't think she needed to aim for titles like the Senior Triple Crown.
Of course, if she wanted to, I would support her with everything I had. But the distance was a little difficult, and there was only a month between the Osaka Hai and the Tenno Sho (Spring). If we added one more race before the Osaka Hai, the schedule would be even more brutal.
In response to my question, Rice smiled and said,
"If big brother says so, Rice will run any race."
"Take that!"
I gave her a chop on her forehead. Of course, it was a gentle chop that wouldn't hurt her.
"B-big brother?"
Rice blinked in surprise. At the same time, her eyes started to well up with tears as if she was worried.
"You were a bad girl just now. So I'm scolding you."
When I said that, Rice's shoulders trembled slightly. I put my hand on her head and patted it soothingly.
"Listen, you don't run just because I tell you to. What matters is whether you want to run. You wanted to run with everything you had at the Arima Kinen, didn't you? If you want to aim for the Senior Triple Crown, I'll support you. If there's a race you want to run, we'll just aim for that race."
There was a huge difference in ability and motivation between an Uma Musume who was forced to run by her trainer and one who wanted to run on her own.
"I'm happy that you rely on me, but you can't be dependent. I'll try my best, but I'll also say the wrong things sometimes, so don't hesitate to tell me. Do you understand?"
"...Yeah. I'm sorry, big brother. Rice was wrong."
Rice's expression became serious, and she nodded. So I looked at Urara and Rice in turns and wrapped things up.
"The goals I've set are just temporary. We might skip some races depending on your condition, and we might add a race if you're in good shape. You might find an opponent you want to race against, and we might decide to run in a race she's in."
Because of the prize money situation, I wanted Urara to stick to the schedule as much as possible. But unlike Urara, Rice was in a position to choose the races she wanted to run. Whether it was a major race or an open race, I wouldn't make her run in a race she didn't want to.
(The Director might want us to get more accomplishments as a new team, but I'll just have to bow and ask them to let it go... though they might not...)
If Rice wanted to challenge a short-distance G1, she could. Or if she wanted to go for dirt races, I would let her.
(This is insane. I can just casually talk about G1 races... It's all because Rice is amazing. My ability as a trainer will be judged by Urara's results...)
The fact that I could be involved in G1 races in my first year as a trainer and be picky about them was all because of Rice. That's why I wanted her to run the way she wanted to.
The only other person in my cohort who could be involved in G1 races in their first year as a trainer was Kiryuin-san. But she trained Happy Meek with her own power and led her to a G1 win. If I hadn't met Rice, what kind of trainer life would I be living now? At the very least, there would be no talk of forming a team, and I would be struggling to get Urara's second win.
Of course, I couldn't say any of that out loud. If I did, Rice would definitely cry.
When I finished talking, I put my hands on the heads of Urara and Rice, who had been listening silently, and gently patted them.
"...So, these are our goals for now. Let's be careful not to get hurt and get stronger little by little."
"Okay, Trainer!"
"Yeah... Rice will do her best, too, big brother."
Hearing their responses, I smiled.
Team Kitalpha, let's start over.
—That was about an hour ago.
I had started training with Urara and Rice when a voice from an unexpected person made me pause.
"Excuse me, do you have a moment to talk?"
The person who spoke was arguably the most well-known Uma Musume at Tracen Academy—the student council president, Symboli Rudolf.
She had beautiful chestnut hair that reached her waist and a crescent-shaped white streak in her bangs. Her expression was full of confidence, and she had an overwhelming presence just by standing there.
Nicknamed the "Emperor," she had already retired, but she was a member of Team Rigil and had won the Classic Triple Crown undefeated, then won the Arima Kinen in the same year after finishing third in the Japan Cup. As a senior, she won the Tenno Sho (Spring), the Japan Cup, and the Arima Kinen two years in a row, for a total of seven G1 victories, earning her the nickname the "Seven-Crown Uma Musume."
Her career record was 13 wins in 16 races. She only lost three times: a third-place finish in the Japan Cup, a second-place finish in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and a sixth-place finish in the San Luis Rey Stakes in the US, which was a G1 at the time.
She was undoubtedly one of the strongest Uma Musume in history. Just by looking at her, you could tell she was a complete Uma Musume. To put it simply, she was on a whole other level. I believed Rice could win, but my confidence was starting to waver a little. No, Rice can win, I'm sure of it.
Behind her stood another beautiful Uma Musume with black hair cut to her shoulders. She also had a strong presence like Symboli Rudolf, but she gave off a slightly more reserved impression.
She was the "Empress," Air Groove, also a member of Team Rigil and the student council vice president. Air Groove had three G1 wins: the Yushun Himba, also known as the Oaks, the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and the Osaka Hai. While she might be inferior to Symboli Rudolf, she was still a top-class Uma Musume at Tracen Academy.
I was having Urara and Rice run on the dirt track when these two suddenly spoke to me.
"I am Symboli Rudolf, the student council president... Hehe, I've wanted to meet you for a while."
"...May I ask why?"
I didn't remember doing anything that would make Symboli Rudolf want to meet me. This was the first time we had ever spoken.
"The pose your Uma Musume, Rice Shower, made after winning the Arima Kinen..."
I swallowed my saliva, wondering what she was going to say. Symboli Rudolf went out of her way to talk to me. It had to be something important.
"I must say I was displeased with her imitating me."
"It's not good for the student council president to make such a lame joke."
"...."
Oh no, she made a lame joke with a good smile, so I couldn't help but retort, but now Air Groove was glaring at me with eyes that looked like they could kill. Stop it. That look doesn't make me happy. It's just intimidating and scary to be glared at by a beautiful Uma Musume.
And Symboli Rudolf-san, why are you looking at me with such sparkling eyes?
"Hahahaha... You're right. I'm not actually displeased, so it's not good for me to say something that would cause a misunderstanding. Yes, that's not good at all."
Was Symboli Rudolf not the Seven-Crown Uma Musume but a failing comedian?
"President, that's enough. You're confusing him."
"Oh, you're right... I was just kidding. So don't be so angry, Air Groove."
Is this person okay? Is she really the student council president? I wanted to ask Air Groove that, but I felt like I would be glared at again if I did.
"I came here today because I wanted to inspect the newly formed team. Even with the Director's and Ms. Hayakawa's approval, it's very rare for a rookie trainer to form a team."
When Symboli Rudolf said that, Air Groove sighed and looked at me.
"I apologize for the sudden visit. I just wanted to see what your team was like."
"It's fine... I guess it's natural to be concerned about a rookie's team."
If I saw someone in that situation, I would also wonder what was going on. But the problem was that I was the one in that situation.
Air Groove glared at me, as if she misunderstood what I had said.
"Your only members are Rice Shower and Haru Urara... I won't say anything since the Director approved it, but I expect you to fulfill your duties as a trainer."
"I will do my best."
Symboli Rudolf was scary in an Uma Musume way, but Air Groove was just plain scary. She seemed more like a student council president to me.
"Don't threaten him, Air Groove. You saw Rice Shower's run at the Arima Kinen, didn't you? He's a trainer who can make her run like that. You don't have to worry, and if you're so bossy, he'll be displeased, and that's not good... Hehe."
Symboli Rudolf was trying to calm Air Groove down, but she started laughing as she remembered what had just happened. Air Groove looked annoyed and slightly bowed her head to me.
"...I apologize. That was rude of me."
"It's fine... but are you okay? It must be hard on you."
I broke my polite speech and asked her. Is she really okay? What if a blood vessel in her brain bursts?
"...This is also my duty as the student council vice president."
I don't think that has anything to do with being a vice president. While I was speaking to Air Groove with concern, I noticed Symboli Rudolf staring at Urara and Rice running.
"Hmm... Rice Shower has not only recovered, but she's also gotten faster... And Haru Urara... she's running in a way you wouldn't believe based on her grades when she first entered."
"You can tell, even though they're not running at full speed?"
"Of course. Their movements are good... I can tell you're thinking about them, trusting them, and training them well. I can see why the Director and Ms. Hayakawa let you form a team."
She could tell their abilities just by looking at them for a little while. Was this the power of Symboli Rudolf, the Seven-Crown Uma Musume?
"Huh? It's President! What are you doing here?"
"...Is there something you need?"
As I was talking to Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove, Urara and Rice, who had finished a lap, came running toward us.
Urara innocently spoke to Symboli Rudolf, while Rice looked at both of them with a mix of confusion and caution.
"Hello, I apologize for interrupting your practice. I wanted to do a quick inspection of the newly formed team."
"Don't worry about us, just continue your training."
Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove smiled and answered. Urara cheerfully said, "Okay!" but Rice, knowing who they were, remained on guard.
"Rice, you should continue your training. It's okay. Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove are just here to do what's necessary as the student council."
"That's right. You can just think of us as decorations."
"Why do you call the President by her name but use a title for me...?"
I don't think I can ignore a seven-crown Uma Musume, even if she's a "decoration." And Air Groove-san, I just felt like I had to use a title for you.
"If big brother says so... Rice will go back to training."
Rice seemed to be convinced by my words and went back to practice with Urara. Then, Symboli Rudolf looked at me with a smug look on her face.
"Hmm... letting your Uma Musume call you big brother... that's a little inappropriate, isn't it?"
"I think your joke is far more inappropriate than that..."
I couldn't help but retort, and Air Groove closed her eyes and shook her head as if she was tired of it all.
By the way, when I explained that Rice wanted to call me "big brother," she seemed to understand. Apparently, some Uma Musume call their trainers by different names, so she seemed to have accepted it as a part of that.
So, about three days after the arrival of Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove.
I was training Urara and Rice as usual when I caught sight of a certain Uma Musume in the distance and stopped the training.
(That gray one... I've seen her in race videos. It must be Oguri Cap.)
The one I saw was Oguri Cap, who had transferred to Tracen Academy the other day.
She was wearing a worn-out tracksuit and was warming up near the dirt track.
She had long gray hair that reached her waist and a hair ornament on her head. She was a tall Uma Musume, around 160 centimeters, much taller than Urara and Rice.
Her expression was... hard to read. She looked dazed, but at the same time, I could feel a strong will from her.
"Big brother, is that Oguri Cap?"
"Yeah... She looks just like she does in the race videos. That's definitely Oguri Cap."
Oguri Cap was warming up properly, but she still looked dazed and lacked any fighting spirit. The Oguri Cap I saw in the race videos and the one in front of me seemed a little... no, they seemed like two completely different people.
This was the first time I had seen Oguri Cap on the practice track we always use. Maybe she usually practiced on a different one? There were a lot of trainers and Uma Musume watching her from a distance, as if they were curious about the new transfer like me.
(She's trying to run on dirt, not turf... Is she trying to get used to the environment by running on dirt first, since that's what the local courses have?)
If so, what kind of run would she show? I motioned for Urara to come closer and looked at Oguri Cap.
"Listen, Urara. It's possible... just possible, that you might race against her in the future. So watch her run right now."
"Okay, Trainer! I'll watch Oguri Cap... Oguri-chan closely!"
Urara answered cheerfully and leaned forward to watch Oguri Cap intently. I smiled wryly at Urara and decided to watch what kind of run Oguri Cap would show.
It was just practice, so she probably wouldn't run at full speed. But I should still be able to get a sense of her ability.
(From the race videos I've seen, she's a strong late runner... She's the same as Urara in that regard, but the problem is her physical ability is on a completely different level...)
The way she passed all the other Uma Musume in the final stretch to win first place was a typical late runner's style. Her speed was unbelievable, and I remember her passing the local Uma Musume without even having to compete with them.
I would have liked to see a more recent race video, but there weren't many available, and I had no connections in Kasamatsu. The Director and Ms. Hayakawa also said that they watch all the races with Tracen Academy students, but they don't watch local races.
Oguri Cap started running on the dirt track slowly, as if she were just getting used to it. Her movements seemed to lack fighting spirit. She was so slow that I could almost hear the sound of "thump, thump." I didn't think she was hungry or anything, but her pace was very relaxed.
Oguri Cap ran one lap on the dirt track and then stopped for a moment. She kicked the sand two or three times as if she was checking the condition of the track—and then she disappeared.
A tremendous kick sent a cloud of dirt flying backward. Oguri Cap's body, which had accelerated from that kick, was running on the track in an instant.
"...The gray... monster."
Watching her run, I couldn't help but mutter that.
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