Chapter 14: Outing Event - King Halo’s Resolve

Summer had come to an end, and by October, the heat had finally begun to ease. I was out in the city alone.
Simply put, I wanted new clothes. Both King Halo and my trainer had told me to do something about my wardrobe, and that’s when it hit me. Wait… could it be that my fashion sense is actually terrible?

Well, it couldn’t be helped. Ever since coming here, racing was all I’d focused on—and it’s not like I ever had a clue about women’s fashion to begin with.

"But still… if I’m going to be entering major races, I can’t afford to look sloppy in my private life either."

I had completely underestimated the scale of the Uma Musume industry in this world. I’d assumed only G1-class girls got any real attention—but recently, I’d stumbled across an article analyzing me of all people.

"It’s such a weird feeling… seeing myself in an article. That’s something that would’ve never happened in my old world."

Sure, it was just a small online piece—nothing worth making a fuss over. But still, if someone as minor as me, who’s only ever won a few low-tier races, was getting coverage, then what would it be like if I actually made it to a G1 stage and faced Mihono Bourbon?

"I mean, I only have one other outfit, the one I bought with Comp, and that one’s just way too over the top…"

Honestly, that outfit was ridiculously frilly and fluffy. There had to be some middle ground between “cute” and “I’ve lost all sense of self.” Starting off with that had been psychological torture.

So here I was, at a large commercial complex—the same shopping mall I’d once visited with my trainer. I stepped into one of the stores inside.

"This is the kind of thing I’m talking about. Nice and simple."

It was a popular nationwide chain. I grabbed a few of their recommended items—safe choices. That’s fine. Safe is good.
A calm-colored knit sweater paired with relaxed jeans. Though… huh. It’s a little tight in some places. Why just there?

"Still, this should do the trick. Honestly, all that frilly stuff just eats away at my sanity…"

I asked the clerk to remove the tags at checkout, changed in the fitting room, and left the store. Farewell, cringe-inducing fashion! Even I couldn’t bring myself to wander around in a tracksuit forever.

Now then, what to do next—
Just as I was thinking that, a familiar voice called out from behind me. I turned around to find a truly elegant, top-class Uma Musume standing there.

"My, this is unusual. I’m more surprised to see you own clothes that aren’t a tracksuit."

"Ahaha… good afternoon, King-senpai."

King Halo. Ever since that incident during training camp, she’d been a reliable upperclassman who often looked out for me. Just the other day, she even helped fix my bedhead in the hallway.

"And that bag you’re carrying… don’t tell me this is the first time you’ve gone clothes shopping?"

"Of course not! I already have another outfit! I just didn’t wear it today!"

"Hmm… very well. I’ll believe you."

Yeah, no, those were absolutely the eyes of someone not believing me.

Still, it was rare to run into her outside school—though that was mostly because I almost never left campus.

"Say, do you have plans after this? If not, I’ll grant you the privilege of accompanying King on her shopping trip!"

"Uh, no plans. I’ll be happy to join you."

"Fufun! Then I’ll show you what first-class shopping looks like!"

Cute.

King Halo had this way of saying “I’ll grant you the privilege,” but she never forced anyone. She didn’t push, didn’t impose, and if you truly didn’t want to, she’d never insist. No wonder she had an entourage—she just radiated charisma.

Following her lead, we went from store to store.

"Now that I think of it, I ran out of tea… Oh, this one’s cheap."

"Hmm, I don’t have a mug for my room, maybe I’ll grab one… This one’ll do!"

"Excuse me!? That’s what you’re buying? At least pick something stylish or cute!"

"But it’s just for my room…"

"That’s not the point! Are you even a woman!?"

"Ahaha, ha… ha…"

Yeah, can’t exactly tell her I used to be a guy, so I just laughed it off.

Still, King Halo really was caring. It felt like she was single-handedly topping up my missing “girly points.”

While we were happily shopping, her stomach suddenly let out a quiet growl.

"Um, how about we grab lunch soon?"

"R-right. Do you have any dislikes? Or anything you’d like to eat?"

"Nothing in particular. I’ll leave it up to your recommendation, King-senpai."

King picked a place that looked decent enough, and we went inside.
It was just a normal family restaurant—plain, safe, a choice that showed she’d even considered my tastes.

"I think I’ll go with this one. Have you decided?"

"Hmm… maybe this, and this… and that one too…"

"Can you really eat that much?"

"Sure can. I’ll finish it no problem!"

Yeah, Uma Musume bodies are insanely inefficient. No matter how much we eat, it’s never enough—and yet none of it ever seems to stick. Go figure.

Once we ordered, all we had to do was wait.
I took a sip of water and glanced over at King. Something was clearly off today. Her movements were sluggish, and every now and then she’d sigh while staring into space.

I already knew the reason.
The Kikka Sho—the G1 long-distance race that had just taken place.

"King-senpai…"

"Sigh… You’re so sloppy about yourself, and yet somehow sharp when it comes to others."

Caught in my gaze, King Halo finally spoke, as if admitting defeat.
She’d finished fifth in the Kikka Sho. On the board, sure—but not a result she’d be satisfied with.

The winner was Seiun Sky.
The fact that King couldn’t even keep up with her must’ve cast a long shadow over her heart.

And then, King spoke words that didn’t surprise me at all.

"I’ve decided that my next goal will be the Takamatsunomiya Kinen."

"Takamatsunomiya Kinen… that’s in March next year, right?"

"Yes. I intend to train thoroughly until then. It’ll be my first short-distance G1, so there’s plenty to work on."

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen—one of the few turf sprint G1 races. Her words didn’t surprise me at all. It was the expected course of events, at least in the app’s timeline. And if it’s her, she’ll pull it off. She’ll wear that second crown.

I wondered what King Halo’s distance aptitude was like in this world. Maybe she’d end up flourishing as a sprinter? Or… would she eventually return to middle-distance races?

"You don’t look surprised. What a baffling child you are. Even my trainer was shocked, you know?"

"That’s because I believe you can do it, King-senpai."

"Heh… thank you. Even if that’s just flattery, I’ll take it."

King took a sip of water, as if to pause the conversation—then began to speak about herself.

"Do you know about my mother? I suppose you do…? Though with you, I can’t help but worry you might not."

"Of course I know! She’s that amazing Uma Musume who made a name for herself in American G1 races, right?"

"That’s right. I’ve always been compared to her. ‘You’re her daughter, so you must be strong.’ ‘If you’re her daughter, then you have to take that route.’ …That sort of thing."

"That sounds… rough."

"It was. I won’t deny that it became a source of pressure for me. And that’s exactly why I was determined to prove myself no matter what. Or at least… that’s what I used to think."

"Used to think?"

"Yes. Until my trainer said something to me."

Ah, so that’s how it is. There must’ve been a turning point—something between her and her trainer.
But when? I remembered that even during summer training camp, she’d told me: “Stop thinking you’re worthless just because you can’t win.”
That meant the shift had already happened by then.

"Before the Kikka Sho, I made a promise with my trainer. If I couldn’t keep up in that race, I’d stop trying to compete with Sky and Special Week. And instead… I’d start considering the sprinter route."

"Since when did you make that decision?"

"Around the start of summer camp, I think."

"You managed to switch gears that easily?"

At her core, King’s motivation had always been the desire to be recognized by her mother. That’s why she kept pushing herself along the Triple Crown path.
So what changed her? What made her turn in a new direction?

"Well… it was after watching you two."

"Eh? Us two?"

"You and Bourbon. When you first enrolled, you were a complete mess. Running at an obviously unsuitable distance, with a form that didn’t match your body at all… it was painful to watch."

"Ugh…"

"But even so—you saw it through to the end."

So she’d had her eye on me from the start, huh…
Wait, I was her turning point? Didn’t see that coming.

"And the other reason… well, it has to do with Bourbon. So it’s probably not my place to talk about it."

"Yeah, I agree. It’d feel wrong to hear about her behind her back."

"You really are an honest one… If only you’d pick up a bit more femininity, I’d have nothing to complain about."

Right. Bourbon and I had made that promise—to speak through our races, at the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.

"You’ll keep focusing on short-distance races from now on, won’t you?"

"Yeah. That’s my plan. I think of that distance as my battlefield."

"In that case, I might end up racing against you someday. And when that time comes, I won’t be holding back."

Ah—right. If King Halo switches to short-distance racing, she’ll definitely become a powerful rival!

Crap. I’d just assumed she’d eventually go back to middle-distance or longer. But at this rate, she might actually stay in the sprinting route!?
Sure, the possibility had crossed my mind for a second—but who’d have thought she’d really go through with it!?

And yet, despite that sense of danger, my ears perked up, and a smile naturally spread across my face.

"Just what I wanted."

"You’ve really started to make some good expressions lately. But it seems you’re still a bit careless—you’ve gone back to using ore again."

"Eh!? Wait, time out! I didn’t even notice!"

"Hahaha, you really never let me get bored. Now hush, the food’s here."

When I get too worked up, I tend to lose control. I swear I didn’t used to be like this… what happened to me?

As I buried my face in my hands and started eating, King spoke up again.

"You don’t have to put on such an act in front of me, you know."

"But, I mean, there’s stuff like feminine charm and all that—"

"I’m not that petty. I only spoke up before because your laziness couldn’t just be brushed off as a ‘quirk.’"

"Ugh…"

Fair enough. I was originally a guy, so I can’t really argue if people say I lack feminine grace. I know I can’t stay like this forever, and I’ve been trying to improve—but honestly, there’s been zero progress. I’m so clueless I don’t even know where to start fixing myself.

"That said, I’m relieved. Looks like you bought those earrings yourself, huh?"

"Oh, these? Don’t you think they’re nice?"

"Yes, they’re cute. Did you pick them out yourself—or did your trainer choose them for you?"

"O-of course I picked them out myself!"

It’s not a lie. I picked them out—my trainer just paid for them.

But King Halo let out a soft, knowing laugh. …Yeah, she totally saw through me.

"If you say so. By the way, did your trainer compliment you?"

"Well, yeah, he said they looked cute on me…"

"My, my. Sounds like the two of you are getting along quite well."

Seriously, everyone around me always finds new ways to mess with my composure. Maybe I should pretend to sulk a little, just to throw her off.

Still, I’m grateful—to my trainer, to Comp, and to King-senpai. They’ve all given me something precious.

"Thank you, King-senpai."

"Oh? What’s with the sudden formality? You’re my adorable junior; leaning on your senpai a little is just fine, you know."

"Even so…"

I could’ve never come this far alone. In the selection race, the scouting, the Make Debut, the maiden race—I would’ve given up somewhere along the way.
That’s why I’m not running alone.

"I’ll definitely run with you someday, King-senpai… so please, wait for me."

"Oh my, are you planning to woo me after Bourbon-san now? Standing next to King isn’t easy, you know?"

"I’m well aware. So please—win, too, King-senpai."

"Ve-ry-well."

A declaration of war.

I won’t lose sight of my goals again. I’ll surpass Bourbon, surpass King Halo, and keep moving forward.
…It sounds like an insanely steep path, but hey—aiming high suits me best.

"By the way, your food’s getting cold, you know?"

"Ah—crap!"

My next race: the Keio Hai Junior Stakes—my first graded race.
That’s where I’d come to know the harsh reality of the racing world… and the terrifying hunger for victory that drives the Uma Musume who run in it.