Chapter 107: Running Away Is Shameful, But…?

To start from the beginning…

We racing Uma Musume don’t have time.

An Uma Musume can only truly develop her physical abilities during a three-year window in her long life—the period known as full bloom. In terms of days, that’s a little over a thousand… factoring in individual variation, probably just under that.

A thousand days sounds like a lot at first glance, but in reality, it’s not long at all. It’s only three years—the time it takes to move from middle school to high school, or from high school to college.

Before you know it, it slips by in an instant. A fleeting moment—especially when your days are as full as ours are.

That’s exactly why we can’t afford to waste time. Skipping a single day of training means letting someone else pull one day ahead of you. And unless you work harder while they’re resting, that gap will never close.

…Well, of course, in reality there are differences in growth rates and how well training is absorbed, so you can’t measure everything purely in days. But still.

If you truly aim to become a strong Uma Musume… if you genuinely want to win in the Twinkle Series, then at the very least, during your full-bloom period, you can’t afford to think about anything except running. An athlete before a girl. Full bloom before adolescence. Any time we spend indulging in “normal girl” activities ends up baring its fangs at us later.

That said, does that mean we should live in complete asceticism and do nothing but run? Not quite.

If you don’t satisfy your desires to some degree, your concentration drops and your motivation suffers. To focus on running, you need to vent your frustrations—at least a little.

In theory, the ideal time to rest your body and relieve stress is when physical fatigue has accumulated at the end of training… but managing that is difficult for us to do ourselves. When you’re fired up, you think, I can go more! And when your motivation crashes, it’s more like, Nope, I’m done. I can’t do this.

So who manages all that?

That’s the trainer’s job.

They accurately assess their Uma Musume’s stamina and motivation, then put together the optimal training schedule. …I may be a so-called armchair trainer, but I know just how insanely hard it is to gauge the emotional state of a teenage girl. Even as someone on her second life, I still get dragged around by this body and end up acting like a pain sometimes. A normal Uma Musume—depending on the horse—must be an absolute nightmare.

Building good relationships with girls like that, keeping them in a good mood and motivated, while executing the optimal training plan… yeah, depending on the situation, that’s a job that could give anyone a stomachache.

Anyway—back to the point. Racing Uma Musume don’t have time.

We’re athletes who stake our lives on competition. We don’t have the luxury of spending time on unnecessary things. This isn’t an excuse—it’s an urgent, unavoidable reality. An absolute top priority that trumps everything else.

Yes. Exactly because of that.

That’s why I can’t usually make any kind of move on Ayumu-san.

It’s not because I’m too embarrassed.
Not because I’ve gotten so used to the trainer–Uma Musume distance that I can’t take the plunge.
Not because I’m terrified I’d be genuinely crushed if I were rejected.

None of those convenient excuses exist. Not even a fragment of one.

It’s simply because I don’t have time.
Yes—just that.

…But.

Just the other day, the situation changed.

My massive, unfair advantage of being “the one and only assigned Uma Musume” vanished in an instant. As a rival in the Derby of Love, Bourbon-chan launched a terrifying late charge.

…Well, honestly, she’s not that much of a threat right now. I don’t think Bourbon-chan actually has romantic feelings for Ayumu-san.

She’s completely focused on running, aiming to achieve the dream of the Classic Triple Crown. There’s no way she has the mental bandwidth for romance.

But at the same time…

There’s also no guarantee that once she achieves the glory of the Triple Crown, she won’t turn her affection toward Ayumu-san—the person who supported her the whole way.

…I mean, seriously. If you’re next to Ayumu-san, of course you’d fall for him. Good looks, great voice, great body—absolutely top-tier as a trainer. Sharp edges aside, his specs are absurdly high. He’s awkward but thoughtful, seems perfect yet has gaps, had rock-bottom self-esteem but is actively improving, stays by your side when things are truly hard, and makes you want to help him in return.

What part of that is unlikeable? In another era, he’d be a kingdom-toppling beauty.

So of course, one day Bourbon-chan will start looking at Ayumu-san with pink hearts in her eyes. And all the juniors who come after her will gather around him, squealing and cheering too! Damn it—thieving cat? No, thieving horse! I know Ayumu-san isn’t mine alone, but I still can’t suppress this swirling mess in my chest! Gahhh!!

…Ahem.

I got a bit carried away. Anyway, that’s the situation.

Hoshino Wilm has no time. As a racing Uma Musume—and as a maiden.

As a racer, I can simply follow Ayumu-san’s near-perfect adjustments. But as a maiden, conquering the Derby of Love is an extremely dangerous challenge.

In my past life, I played my way through plenty of rom-coms and dating sims. But only recently did I realize something.

Romance in games and romance in reality are completely different.

The sense of immediacy is different. You get tossed around by irrational emotions. And above all, the embarrassment and fear are on a whole other level. Do girls everywhere really fight through battles like this to be with the one they love? That alone earns my deepest respect.

Even I—undefeated in gal games and otome games—am utterly helpless in real-life romance for the first time. I have no idea how much I can attract Ayumu-san, or whether I already am. I don’t know—and that’s exactly why it’s terrifying.

What if he doesn’t feel anything at all?

What if my body, my face, my voice, my personality just aren’t enough for him to like me?

That fear is overwhelming.

…But I’ve reached the point where I can’t keep saying I’m scared.

I can’t lose to Bourbon-chan. No matter how many Uma Musume Ayumu-san ends up in charge of, I want to be number one. As the Uma Musume he saved, I want to walk beside him for the rest of my life—and take his hand and help him if he ever falters.

So…

I can’t hesitate anymore.

Come on. Make up your mind.

---

"Ayumu-san!"

"Hm? What’s up?"

"T-together, let’s—da—da… uh… um, th-the Thanksgiving Festival, would you like to walk around it together?"

"Yeah, sure. I’ve got about an hour."

Impossible.

This isn’t about hesitation or resolve. The moment I try to say it out loud, blood rushes to my head. Excitement and fear crash together, my pulse pounds—no way.

Just to be clear, I’m not running away, okay? I’m totally not running away. I’m just… a little scared. Just a tiny bit. Really, just a little.

I mean, I’m not scared at all. This is a strategic retreat. If I’m going to ask him on a date, it’d be better to do it on a day when I can monopolize him for the whole day, right? Yes, exactly. This is an aggressive tactic to preserve the rarity value of a date—definitely not chickening out and running away!

So, in the end, I ended up walking around the Grand Thanksgiving Festival with Ayumu-san. Regrettably—deeply regrettably—it didn’t take the form of a date.

…Still.

Even if I’m not “scared,” I can’t just do nothing.

"Um…"

"Hm? …Ah."

When I fidgeted my hand near his, Ayumu-san smoothly took it. I looked up in surprise, and he gave me a faint smile.

"There are a lot of people today. With your build, if we get separated, it’d be hard to find each other again."

"Y-yes!"

I couldn’t help the grin that crept onto my face at such a perfect excuse.

Right—this is just so we don’t get separated! It’s not like there’s any ulterior motive… okay, there is one, actually! It’s all ulterior motives! But still!

---

After two mock races, and mingling with dignified juniors and promising future juniors—until the hour mark when he planned to go check on Bourbon-chan…

I walked through the festival with Ayumu-san for the first time in a while.

The Spring Grand Thanksgiving Festival feels completely different from the Autumn one.

Subjectively speaking, autumn feels like a mix of a festival and a school culture fair. Calm, fun, a little floaty, yet somehow settled. In that full, contented atmosphere, the Uma Musume laugh, play, and entertain.

Spring, though, is something else entirely.

If autumn is stillness, spring is motion. Uma Musume are running everywhere, shouting victory cries or yelling in frustration. Look one way and it’s an obstacle course; look another and it’s a speed quiz. Mist Tracen, beach flags—events of all kinds are happening at once.

With that much energy packed into one place, it’s only natural that both fans and Uma Musume get swept up in it.

Autumn is closer to a cultural festival. Spring is closer to a sports festival.

Calling it “rugged” might not be appropriate for maidens, but their true nature as athletes comes spilling out. As a result, Tracen is wrapped in an overwhelming wave of heat and excitement.

…That said, that’s not our objective right now.

If I were with Ayumu-san, I could probably enjoy those events too—but I’m already scheduled to participate in four athletic events today, so I’m more than full on that front. Because of that, we moved a little away from the high-energy sports areas and took refuge in a comparatively quiet corner.

It’s a space along the school buildings, a short distance from the athletic grounds, lined with stalls run by students. When I spot one booth in particular, I tug on Ayumu-san’s hand and jog over.

"Oh, carrot ice cream! I can buy one, right?"

"If you’re worried about calories, it’s not a problem. If you’re worried about money, I’ll treat."

Carrot ice cream is commonplace in this world. Just as the name suggests, it’s carrot-flavored ice cream.

There are several varieties, but the one we found this time is the most standard: a half-sherbet ice pop with a stick through it. As I pull my wallet from my pocket, Ayumu-san asks,

"Wilm, do you like carrot ice cream?"

"Yeah, well… reasonably so. Nature taught me what it tastes like."

When was that again? It was still really hot out—maybe August or September? Around the time I’d decided I really needed to start running properly. He treated me because I was working hard on rehab.

Anyway, I hand over some coins to the Uma Musume at the stall and finally obtain the long-awaited carrot ice cream. I lick it right away, feeling a sharp chill and mellow sweetness spread across my tongue. Yes—ice cream really is best in warm weather, even if it’s not summer yet.

"Excuse me, I’ll take one too. …Yeah, it’s a familiar taste."

"Hehe, it’s good, isn’t it?"

It’s not just the flavor or the coldness.

Experiences like this—eating the same thing as someone you like and sharing impressions. It’s kind of nice, isn’t it? Doesn’t it feel youthful?

In my past life, I was pretty world-weary and clueless about things like this. That’s exactly why being able to enjoy moments like this in my second life feels… incredibly happy.

…Still, my past life, huh.

Back then, I never thought I’d be eating carrot ice cream. I mean, if you looked hard enough, you could probably find it, but when you think of ice cream, isn’t vanilla the default?

"Maybe this is just a gut feeling, but doesn’t it feel kind of strange that carrots have a bigger market share than vanilla in the ice cream world?"

Ayumu-san picks up on my half-muttered comment.

"Ah, I get that completely. It really feels like vanilla should be more widespread."

"Huh, you get it too, Ayumu-san?"

Oh—that’s a bit unexpected.

In the Uma Musume world, carrots are insanely popular. To the point where a mysterious dish called carrot hamburger steak—with a whole carrot stabbed straight into it—once took the world by storm.

Carrots are so popular it’s like some reincarnated hypnosis-cheat-holder dyed the entire world orange. And yet, Ayumu-san has resisted that sweet temptation and understands the appeal of vanilla…!

"Apparently, in this world… or rather, this era, carrots have gained softness and sweetness through selective breeding. It makes sense they’d be loved… but still, vanilla wins. Like Coolish."

"Coolish is great! Personally, I like Sou as well."

"Sou is good. It’s still tasty even when it melts."

We—our tastes—match…!!

Wow, seriously, we click this well!?

So there really are people in this world who aren’t completely carrot-brained. Well, I guess preferences differ from person to person, so maybe that’s normal.

…Then again, thinking about it, I haven’t really had many people I’m close enough with to get excited over shared tastes.

My relationship with my parents fell apart fairly early, and until elementary school, I didn’t have a single friend. After entering Tracen, I made a few connections—Ayumu-san and Masa-san, Nature, Teio, McQueen-san, Bourbon-chan, Rice-chan, and a handful of juniors.

Even among them, the ones I really talk to are Ayumu-san and Masa-san from the same camp, Bourbon-chan, and Nature—my best friend. Maybe Rice-chan too, since she often asks me about myself. Compared to someone like Nature, who knows everyone, I’d say my social circle is pretty small.

It’s better than it used to be, but I’m still kind of socially awkward at heart. Going out of my way to make friends feels like a hassle… running is more fun.

Because of that, I have a vague sense that carrots are absurdly popular in this world, but I don’t really know the actual proportions. Maybe there are more people than I think who don’t like carrots all that much.

While I’m thinking all that and licking my carrot ice cream, Ayumu-san asks me,

"So, Wilm, you don’t like carrots all that much?"

"I like them normally. It’s just that when it comes to ice cream…"

"Ah, like how you might like meat, but putting it in a parfait is a different story."

"I think that’s a pretty extreme example, but yeah—basically."

If I had to pick a favorite food, it’d be sweet carrot sauté. Back when my family hadn’t fallen apart yet, my mom used to make it for me. I remember being amazed, even as a child, at how soft and sweet it was compared to anything from my previous world.

Ayumu-san must have remembered me mentioning it during my first self-introduction, because he still makes carrot sauté for me sometimes. There was even a little in today’s lunch. His seasoning is completely different from my mom’s, but… it’s good in its own way. Delicate, gentle, with a kind of depth to it.

"By the way, my favorite ice cream is the crunchy kind with vanilla inside."

"Hard agree… I also like crepe-style ones."

"Those are good too. Though in summer, they tend to melt from the bottom and drip—that’s the downside."

"Yeah, with non-cup ice cream, that melting-and-dripping problem always follows you. And it’s not ice cream, but don’t burgers spill their fillings too?"

"With burgers, if you squish them vertically, they won’t spill. A life hack."

"Doesn’t that ruin the taste?"

"It does."

"Then that’s no good…"

"Well, guys tend to be like, ‘as long as it gets into my stomach, it’s fine’…"

"Even you, Ayumu-san, coming from a prestigious family?"

"Huh? Ah, well… I used to be like that. Now, though… I think I have enough mental leeway to want to eat something delicious if I’m going to eat at all."

"That’s nice! Let’s eat more good food then. Look over there—carrot candy, carrot cotton candy, carrot yakisoba!"

"It’s really all carrots, huh… well, it’s good, so I guess that’s fine."

"Then how about that carrot oshiruko?"

"Carrot… oshiruko…?"

Talking about utterly trivial but incredibly fun things, I walk with Ayumu-san.

…Feeling the warmth and size of his hand in mine.

---

After walking around for a while, browsing various stalls…

"…Hm?"

I felt a gaze on me.

Well, it is a fan appreciation festival, so even if it’s not full-on staring, I expected some attention from fans.

That’s why I’m wearing a big knit cap that can hide my Uma ears and sunglasses. Even so, between my hair and my build, I assumed fans would recognize me anyway.

In fact, I’ve already been spoken to a few times today. Things like, “You really are close with your trainer!” or “Sorry to bother you on a date with your trainer, but could I get an autograph?”

Hehe… a date. A date, huh…!

I guess from the outside, it really does look like a date. I mean, we’re walking around a festival alone together. Whatever the official label, objectively speaking, this looks exactly like one.

Still, I knew there were a lot of good people in this world, but I didn’t expect walking around the festival holding hands with Ayumu-san to be accepted this naturally.

Normally—at least in my previous world—idols, regardless of gender, would get scolded or outright flamed the moment even a hint of the opposite sex appeared around them.

Racing Uma Musume also have that idol-like quality, so I thought things like this were strictly forbidden here too… but in reality, it seems to be surprisingly acceptable. It doesn’t feel nearly as taboo as it does for pure idols.

Of course, we’re still students. If things actually developed into a full-blown “romantic relationship” with an adult trainer, that would be socially disastrous. But at least having faint feelings seems to be considered safe.

In fact, I looked it up recently, and apparently this world even has a concept called “ToreUma.” I’m really grateful there are so many understanding fans—seriously.

From here on out, this is just speculation, but…

I feel like this comes down to the fundamental perception that Uma Musume are a different species.

Uma Musume look extremely similar to humans, but they’re still a completely separate race. …Though, honestly, being born from a human father and still being a different species raises some questions—but apparently, that’s just how it is.

That’s why people may find Uma Musume cute and want to support them, but it usually doesn’t go beyond that. Human instincts recognize them as “different,” so sexual desire or possessiveness doesn’t arise as easily. To develop deeper feelings, you may—or may not—need to really get to know the girl and recognize her as “someone like yourself.”

…Something like that? I’m being pretty loose here.

Honestly, I don’t fully understand this part myself. There are very few people who look at me—or other Uma Musume—with possessive desire. Judging by the low incidence of crimes against Uma Musume, that much seems certain.

Still, the reason why isn’t clear.

It’s almost as if this world itself is protected by some kind of rule—people’s gazes toward Uma Musume are gentle. Really, how does that work?

…Huh. I’ve gone way off topic. What was I talking about again?

…Ah, right. Feeling someone’s gaze.

While chatting and walking with Ayumu-san, I sensed a familiar gaze—thick and clinging—and came to a stop.

"Wilm?"

…I know this gaze.

It feels like being licked with a tongue—sticky, slightly unpleasant. But at the same time, I can tell it’s not truly malicious. There’s a distinct lack of real ill will.

This is unmistakable…!

"The look an otaku gives when staring at their oshi…!"

"Wilm??"

While squeezing Ayumu-san’s hand, I scan the surroundings. Judging from the nature of the gaze, the otaku in question is probably the type who wants to become a houseplant.

If that’s the case, they won’t be standing out in the open. They’ll be hiding somewhere, suppressing their presence…!

I shift my gaze around for a few seconds.

Behind the food stalls—nope.
Near the hollow of a large tree—nope.
Behind another tree—nope.

…Wait. Up in the tree!

"Found you!"

"Wilm??? Uh???"

My gaze meets the one that had been directed at us.

At that instant, the other person—

Lost their balance.

"Hey—!"

Even from a distance, I could see ears. That otaku-chan is an Uma Musume. And if she’s an Uma Musume, falling from just a few meters up shouldn’t be a big deal.

…But no. Even so, letting an acquaintance get hurt—even slightly—would sit terribly with me!

I already used the “anime reincarnation” excuse earlier, but at this distance…

With “Concentration,” plus that and that… I can just barely reach her!!

"Hah!!"

"Ui—!"

I burst forward with what was probably the best start no one in the country could beat, sprinting across the ground and—

Just barely catch the small girl’s body as she falls from the tree with one hand. I pull her into myself, then roll across the ground using the breakfall technique Ayumu-san drilled into me, narrowly avoiding disaster.

Dust flies. Onlookers murmur. And in my arms—

A pink-haired Uma Musume girl.

…Phew. I made it in time.

Well, it turned into a bigger scene than I expected, but even Uma Musume can suffer lasting injuries if they land the wrong way. I can’t allow that to happen to a promising future racer—one who might entertain me someday.

"…So. Are you okay?"

"H-huh… y-yesh…"

I speak to the Uma Musume girl I ended up knocking down rather forcefully.

Looking down, she’s probably around third grade in elementary school… or maybe first or second, judging by her height. Either way, she’s small. Her most striking features are her pink twin-tails and the big red ribbon. Her round eyes are a pale sky blue—and for some reason, they’re brimming with tears as she looks up at me.

A cute egg of a future racing Uma Musume.

And I recognize her immediately.

"Long time no see. Have you been well?"

"Eh… huh? Y-you know me?"

"‘Know you’ might be a bit much… You’re the girl who came to the counseling office last autumn, right? You collapsed from a nosebleed halfway through."

"W-wha—no way—there’s no way you’d remember—no, nooo!? Hoshino Wilm-san remembers someone like me!?"

"Of course I do. You’re incredibly memorable."

She made expressions so intense you’d question whether that was okay for such a cute girl, had an absurdly deep love for Uma Musume, and was a full-on, limit-breaking otaku. You don’t forget someone like that easily.

Not to mention, she apparently sends fan letters every time I run an official race. When I lost the Arima Kinen, she sent nearly twenty pages of a massive letter saying, “Even if you lost in the end, it was the absolute best run imaginable!!”

There’s no way I’d forget someone who leaves that strong an impression.

Honestly, I’m more surprised that you’re surprised I remember you. You’re exactly the kind of person who sticks in people’s memories, you know?

I was a little taken aback by how low her self-esteem was, but… first things first, I should probably move. Right now, my position basically looks like I’ve pinned her down. That’s not a great look—especially when the other party is a small girl. Socially speaking.

"Uh… anyway, I’m just glad you’re not hurt. Here, young lady—take my hand."

"H-hyad—!"

I pull up the pink-haired girl—who lets out a very unladylike squeak—and help her to her feet, then give her a quick once-over. She looks shaken by how sudden everything was, but there don’t seem to be any visible injuries. Her eyes are focused, too. For now, that’s a relief.

Just as I let out a quiet breath, the pink-haired Uma Musume suddenly bows deeply at the waist.

"I-I’m so, so sorry!! I was doing a bit of Uma Musume watching, and when I spotted you two, I panicked and thought I had to hide right away…!"

"Well, I get the feeling. But you’re an otaku and a promising future racehorse all at once, so you really need to be more careful about getting hurt, okay?"

"S-sorry—wait, huh!? M-me? Promising…!?"

The pink-haired Uma Musume stares at me with a visibly stunned expression. I nod once and continue.

"Wanting to see your oshi as close as possible. Wanting to aim for that same brilliance… if you’ve got that feeling, you’ll be fine. You’ll definitely get strong. So… the Twinkle Series might be a tall order, but I’ll be waiting for you in the Dream Trophy League. Someday, let’s run together."

"Ghk—ngh—gahh!!"

Ah. She collapsed.

…Yeah, that might have been an overload of fanservice from her oshi.

I’ve got plenty of experience on the otaku side of things, but not nearly enough on the being the oshi side. I still have trouble gauging where someone’s tolerance limit is—especially with hardcore fans like this one.

Still, she really is an otaku to her core.

She’s emotionally expressive, driven by desire, and willing to stray from the safe path just to satisfy that yearning.

…And that’s exactly why she’ll become strong.

Her motivation for running is intense, though different from mine. Being stared at strangely, suffering herself—none of that bothers her in the slightest. All she wants is to see that dazzling light with her own eyes. That alone is why she runs.

People who know why they can push themselves are strong. With her, maybe she could even become a named Uma Musume someday—someone who wins a G1 and reaches the Dream Trophy League.

As a former otaku myself, I can’t help but empathize with a kindred spirit. I really want to see what her future holds.

"Anyway, we need to get her to the infirmary. Ayumu-san, I’m going to—wait, Ayumu-san?"

…Oh. Crap.

Maybe because I’d been unconsciously dragging him along while holding his hand, Ayumu-san was completely limp and unconscious. And, uh… his arm was kind of dangling loosely.

"A-Ayumu-san! Ayumu-san!!"

…And so, our date that day turned into a date in the infirmary.

At least Ayumu-san turned out to be fine. Seriously—thank goodness.

He laughed it off and forgave me, but I couldn’t shake the guilt. I mean, really—it was a split-second thing. I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you at the Osaka Hai, I swear.

---

By the way, at that day’s Grand Thanksgiving Festival, I won every event I participated in. I successfully earned back all the “reward tickets” I’d spent. Yay!

…Well, to be fair, that last one was mostly luck—or rather, thanks to how hard the rest of my team worked.