Chapter 2

(A/n: When I say "rewrite," I mean keeping the same concept from my other fic the MC will still have a second body. The difference is that in this version, his second-body/soul character won’t appear right away; instead, she’ll only show up a near future chapters later.)

A week slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Three days before the Watch Hill Claiming Race, Ren stepped out of T. F. Green International Airport with a suitcase rolling behind him. Beside him, Seabiscuit trailed along, her ears flicking as she looked around curiously at the unfamiliar surroundings.

“Trainer, do we really need to come this early?” she asked, her voice carrying the faint whine of someone who’d rather be anywhere else.

“Yeah, we do,” Ren replied matter-of-factly. “You need time to get used to the track before race day. And—” He deliberately drew out the last word, a sly grin tugging at his lips.

Seabiscuit narrowed her eyes. “And what?”

“It’s Rhode Island, Seabiscuit.” His tone shifted to one of mock-seriousness. “Think of this as a mini-vacation before the race. Besides, they’re famous for their clam cakes and chowder. I’ve been dying to try them. Aren’t you curious too? You like food as much as winning, after all.”

She barely caught half of what he said. The moment the word vacation reached her ears, everything else faded into a blur. Her steps grew lighter, her mind wandering elsewhere, painting her own little picture of what that might mean.

Ren shook his head, pulling out his phone to order an Uber. By the time the car arrived, Seabiscuit was still lost in thought.

“Seabiscuit,” he called over his shoulder. “What are you doing? Come on.”

“Ah—yes! Coming!” She startled and hurried after him, slipping into the car at his side.

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The hotel was warm and polished, a welcome contrast to the cool autumn air outside. Ren handled the check-in with practiced ease before turning to his trainee, handing her a keycard.

“Here. Don’t lose it, got it?”

Seabiscuit puffed out her cheeks, ears flicking indignantly. “Don’t treat me like a kid! I’m not going to lose it.” She snatched the key with a pout and marched toward the elevator.

Ren chuckled, bowing slightly in thanks to the hotel staff before jogging after her. Inside the elevator, the soft hum of generic lobby music filled the silence. Ren glanced at his wristwatch, already calculating the afternoon schedule. Meanwhile, Seabiscuit stared off into the middle distance, daydreaming again, her tail giving the occasional absent flick.

When the doors opened on their floor, Ren gestured down the hall. “Once you’ve unpacked, meet me in the lobby in thirty minutes. We’ll decide what to do from there.”

“Okay, Trainer,” she replied automatically, trailing behind him.

“Your room’s that way.” He pointed in the opposite direction.

Seabiscuit froze, cheeks puffed once more. Her ears drooped flat against her head as she pouted at him. “…I knew that.”

Then, with a huff, she stomped off toward the correct room, her tail swishing in protest.

Ren smiled faintly, shaking his head. 

Ren stopped in front of his door, double-checking the number on his key against the plaque. Satisfied, he slid the card through the slot and pushed the door open.

Warm light spilled into a surprisingly spacious room. A single master bed dominated the center, its crisp white sheets neatly tucked. To one side stood a wide writing desk with a leather chair, and beyond it, floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the city’s skyline. A small sitting area with a sofa and low table rested near the window, while a sleek flat-screen hung on the wall opposite the bed.

“Not bad,” Ren muttered, stepping inside.

He set his suitcase on the mattress and unzipped it, pulling out his tablet before sitting at the edge of the bed. With a few taps, he opened the browser and began searching for must-visit spots in Rhode Island.

He’d told Seabiscuit they would decide together in the lobby later, but making a rough plan in advance seemed smarter. What an excellent trainer I am, Ren thought with a touch of self-congratulation.

“Pawtuxet Village, huh? It’s not far—we’re already in Warwick. Historic charm, though… Seabiscuit probably wouldn’t care about the history.” He tapped the screen again. “Lunch there, walk by the waterfront, then maybe head to Newport afterward… No, let’s hold that thought and check with her first.”

Just as he finalized the notes, a knock came at the door. Ren blinked, then stood to answer it.

On the other side stood Seabiscuit, her damp bangs sticking slightly to her forehead. She greeted him with a bright, almost singsong tone.
“Elloo, Trainer.”

Ren raised a brow. “Oh—hello, Seabiscuit?”

Without waiting for permission, she stepped inside, her tail flicking as she made herself at home.

Ren sighed and closed the door behind her. “What are you doing here?”

“Resting,” she replied casually, flopping onto his bed and sinking into the soft mattress.

“You have your own room, you know.”

“I no no wanna,” she muttered, brushing off his words with a wave of her hand.

Ren shook his head, resigned. “Suit yourself.”

He reclaimed his spot on the edge of the bed, opening his tablet again. He hadn’t noticed her shifting closer until her voice came from right beside him.

“So… is this the plan for today?” Seabiscuit leaned in, peering at the glowing screen.

Ren glanced at her, then back at the tablet. “Yeah. What do you think?”

Her lips curved into a small smile. “It’s great.”

“Alright then,” he said with a satisfied nod, saving the schedule.

He continued scrolling, but Seabiscuit tilted her head, curious. “Trainer, aren’t we done? What are you searching for now?”

“Car rentals,” he answered without looking up. “We can’t rely on grab for three days straight. Renting one will be easier.”

Seabiscuit blinked. “Oh… right.” She nodded slowly, though her thoughts wandered elsewhere. A rented car… just the two of us, no one else in between…

Her ears twitched as she imagine it.. the faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"hehe"

Ren notice Seabiscuit giggle and wonder what this cheeky girl even imagine that make her giggle suddenly.

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Inside the car, Ren kept his hands steady on the wheel as the road stretched endlessly ahead. Beside him, Seabiscuit sat quietly, her eyes glued to the scenery rushing past the window. Neither spoke for most of the ride, the silence broken only by the hum of the engine and the occasional whoosh of passing cars.

“It’s beautiful…” she finally murmured, voice soft with awe.

Ren glanced at her for a moment, then allowed himself a faint smile before turning his eyes back to the road.

A few minutes later, the sign for Pawtuxet Village appeared. Pulling into a small parking lot, Ren cut the engine. The moment he stepped out, a rush of fresh air brushed against his face. He inhaled deeply, savoring the crispness, before exhaling with a satisfied sigh.

Noticing him, Seabiscuit tilted her head, then mimicked his gesture. She drew in a long breath and brightened.
“I can smell water,” she said, eyes already fixed on the river in the distance.

Ren gave a sidelong smile. “Water has a smell?” His tone carried a hint of teasing.

“Uh? It does? …I guess?” Seabiscuit frowned, suddenly second-guessing herself.

A chuckle slipped from Ren before he could stop it.

Catching that, Seabiscuit shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass.

“Alright, alright. Sorry,” Ren raised his hand in surrender. Then, still grinning, he added, “Well, yes, water can have a scent. Just… not all of it. Pure water doesn’t.”

She puffed her cheeks at his half-apology, but followed him anyway as he began walking down the sidewalk.

With one hand in his pocket, Ren took in the scene around them: cobblestone streets, colonial-style houses painted in warm colors, storefronts with weathered wooden signs.

“Every building looks like something out of an old movie,” Seabiscuit said, eyes darting from one structure to the next.

“That’s because this is one of the oldest villages in New England,” Ren explained.

Her ears perked. “One of the oldest? Since when?”

“1638.”

Her eyes widened in amazement, and she clapped her hands together. “Wow! I didn’t know my trainer knew so much about history!”

Ren smirked and held up his phone, still displaying a quick search result. “Nah. That’s what Google’s for.”

Seabiscuit blinked at him, speechless, before letting out an exasperated sigh.

“What? That’s what the internet’s for.” He shrugged, entirely unapologetic.

Eventually, they stopped at a small riverside restaurant for lunch. Ren and Seabiscuit sat across from each other, the chatter of locals filling the cozy space.

While waiting for their order, Ren overheard a conversation from a table nearby.

“Did you hear the news this morning?” a bald man asked his companion.

“What news?” the friend replied.

“Man o’ War showed up to watch one of the new Umamusume debuts.”

The other man nearly dropped his fork. “You’re kidding. The Man o’ War? She really came?”

“Yeah. The horse girl herself.”

Ren’s ears perked up. Man o’ War? In America, there was hardly anyone in racing—or in Umamusume circles—who didn’t know that name. If she had appeared, it wasn’t by coincidence. Whoever drew her attention must have been a monster of talent in their own right.

Curiosity piqued, Ren pulled out his phone again and searched. His eyes widened at the headline.

War Admiral wins debut race by six lengths.

“So it was War Admiral she came to watch…” he muttered under his breath. Six lengths—that was no ordinary debut.

He leaned back, thoughtful. Seabiscuit might end up facing her one day.

Before he could dwell on the thought, their meals arrived. Ren slid his phone aside and picked up his fork. “Alright. Let’s eat.”

Seabiscuit’s ears twitched happily as she dug in.

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(A/n: War Admiral is the son of Man o’ War in real life. Both Man o’ War and War Admiral won many races, though each of them also suffered at least one defeat. If you want to know more about them you can search in google :p
Also, since this is the Uma Musume world  the timeline of their races may differ from actual records.)