Chapter 139: Sleep, sleep, sleepy-sleep.

The day after the Tenno Sho (Spring).

After holding a strategy meeting for my next race, we were dismissed and granted half a day off.

We’d been racing nonstop for the past month—race after race, without pause. Even I had to admit the fatigue was starting to pile up. My thoughts felt sluggish, like my mind kept stalling mid-process. Maybe I was just mentally worn down.

So, for the sake of stress relief, I… chose not to do any extra self-training.

Instead, I obediently headed back to the dorm early.

"Honestly, Trainer can be so rude. I do know how to rest when it’s time to rest, you know."

I muttered to myself as I walked down the nearly empty hallway.

When I told Ayumu-san, "I’m taking the day off," he asked me five separate times, "Really? You’re not lying? April Fool’s already passed, you know?" Isn’t that a bit excessive?

Well, it’s not like I’m actually angry.

If Ayumu-san sees me as a running junkie, that’s entirely the result of my own behavior. The moment we go on break, I run. The moment we get a day off, I run. I even run more than necessary during regular training sessions.

…Yeah. Looking back on it, I really did bring that image on myself. I can’t exactly blame him for thinking I’m addicted.

Anyway.

There were three main reasons I decided to skip self-training and rest this time.

The first was simple: I just didn’t feel like running.

The second was that, frankly, after that race, pushing myself any further felt dangerous.

The race against Mejiro McQueen—the physically gifted prodigy—and Tokai Teio—the genius.

This year’s Tenno Sho (Spring) had been an outrageous, all-out death match.

It was such a grueling battle that both McQueen-san and Teio decided to skip the Takarazuka Kinen and aim for an autumn comeback instead. The toll it took on them was that heavy.

And truthfully, it wasn’t light on me either.

Of course, judging by the fact that Ayumu-san didn’t react dramatically, it’s not like I suffered any serious damage to my legs.

They’re still as sturdy as ever. Racing once a month doesn’t feel like much on the surface.

Well… that’s the kind of thing that’s hard to notice on your own.

Still, now that my body has reached a certain level of completion, Ayumu-san concluded—after thorough examinations—that a once-a-month racing schedule should be manageable.

In any case, my decision to rest wasn’t based on physical exhaustion alone.

Okay, fine—my head does feel a little foggy. But that’s probably just post-race fatigue.

More importantly, there was one final reason I wanted today off.

There was something I needed to think about.

How to surpass my rival, Tokai Teio—and what to do about the rival who would stand in my way at the Takarazuka Kinen.

---

Back in my room, I changed into casual clothes and lay down on my bed.

I exhaled slowly and stared at the ceiling.

How could I outrun Teio?

After the Derby, the Osaka Hai, and the Tenno Sho… she had finally caught up to me.

The gap that once felt insurmountable had completely disappeared.

…But honestly?

I don’t feel that frustrated.

After all, my opponent is the protagonist of the previous life’s anime Season 2—one of the central pillars of this world: Tokai Teio.

The absolute Uma Musume who overcame her battle with Hayahide-chan—one that everyone said she couldn’t possibly win—and embodied a miracle.

My idol. The dream I once watched unfold. One of my all-time favorites.

I’d been running away from that girl.

I always knew she might catch up someday. If anything, I’m impressed I managed to stay ahead for as long as I did.

Sure, I have the reincarnation perk—"Anime Reincarnation"—but it was also thanks to my own efforts, and above all, Ayumu-san’s support.

Yeah. I really did work hard.

…That said.

Even if I’m not bitter about it, I can’t just leave things as they are.

I am the Ashen Dragon—the brightest star of the Star Generation—Hoshino Wilm.

The Uma Musume whom all of Japan expects to be "the strongest."

My fans. My rivals. My juniors and seniors. Masa-san. Sourie-chan, Rice-chan, Bourbon-chan. And more than anyone, Ayumu-san.

They all want a strong version of me. The strongest version of me.

And I want to live up to that.

As thanks to everyone who watches me, who supports me, who loves me…

I want to fulfill that dream: "Maybe Hoshino Wilm can really do it."

That’s why I can’t afford to lose.

Not to Nature. Not to Teio. Not at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Not even to the other protagonist waiting beyond the Dream Trophy League.

I can’t lose so easily.

…And more than anything, I want to run even more thrilling races.

Teio was strong. She’s grown even stronger.

If it’s not arrogance to say so, she chased after me and skyrocketed upward in a single burst.

If that’s the case, then I have to respond in kind. I have to push myself even further.

The next time I face Teio will be in autumn, after the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

By then, I need to be much, much stronger.

"…Ah, man."

This might be the first time.

I don’t think I’ve ever truly thought, I want to become stronger.

Before, it was more like, I have to become stronger. A duty. An obligation.

After Ayumu-san saved me, my perspective shifted. Then it became, I want to enjoy racing.

But wanting to grow stronger—to beat her—

Feeling my heart burn this fiercely…

This is probably the first time.

…Maybe that’s why I don’t quite know what to do with these feelings.

Teio is strong.

No—she’s stepped into the realm of the absurd.

She’s a textbook protagonist.

Overwhelming talent and potential, and above all, that ridiculous ability to awaken when cornered.

Especially that finishing kick she showed this time. It was beyond monstrous.

Sure, I might not be in a position to say this—but even by my standards, it was freakish.

Generally speaking, Uma Musume racing becomes more refined as eras pass.

A winning time from twenty years ago might only earn eighth place in the same race twenty years later.

As techniques improve, as race strategies deepen, and as elite bloodlines grow ever more polished, the baseline level of competition rises.

That’s why Uma Musume racing is sometimes called a "blood sport."

Of course, there are rare anomalies like me or Bourbon-chan—girls from modest origins who surpass carefully cultivated pedigrees—so bloodline isn’t everything.

Still, pedigree carries undeniable power.

Seeing Teio—someone blessed with what you’d call elite blood—makes that painfully clear.

…Though even then, running the final 600 meters of the Tenno Sho (Spring) at what was essentially a middle-distance pace goes beyond bloodlines and common sense.

Teio’s run—regardless of the overall race time—if we’re just talking about her final three-furlong split, I doubt anyone will break it for another twenty years.

Could you maybe not shatter bloodline logic through sheer monstrous talent? Though I suppose I’m not exactly innocent in that regard either.

Fundamentally, Hoshino Wilm is early-blooming, while Tokai Teio is late-blooming.

I ran desperately even before entering Tracen Academy, so by the time I joined the Twinkle Series, I already had a solid foundation.

…According to Ayumu-san, "Having such high base stats before reaching full maturity is unprecedented," so maybe that’s the reincarnation perk at work.

Teio, on the other hand—as you could see during the Satsuki Sho—wasn’t fully committed at first.

That’s why her physical development and mental focus hadn’t aligned, and she couldn’t fully draw out her bloodline’s power.

But the moment she did, she closed a seven-length gap in just one month and caught up to me—even in long-distance races.

…Even accounting for pedigree, that growth rate is insane.

I have reincarnation cheats, you know? So why are you casually overtaking cheats like that?

"Ugh…"

Since simply lying there felt unproductive, I pulled the covers over myself and shut my eyes.

Ahh… this is nice. I could stay like this forever.

…No. Focus. Teio.

How can I run faster than that prodigious monster?

Honestly, Hoshino Wilm doesn’t possess extraordinary talent.

Well, I’m fairly efficient at things—but that’s just efficiency.

I learn quickly. That’s all.

It’s not some broken gift like Teio’s, where anything related to running clicks instantly and she masters it on the spot.

Even with the reincarnation boost, my original bloodline isn’t anything special.

It’s not like I have overwhelming brilliance that lets me win on talent alone.

Of course, I’ve won plenty up to now, which means I do have my own weapons.

I do—but whether they’re overwhelmingly powerful is another matter.

My reincarnation perk is strong, sure—but at its core, it just makes my legs sturdier and temporarily accelerates my thinking to absurd speeds. It perfects my running; it doesn’t transcend it.

You could argue that reaching that level of cognition already breaks the upper limits for most girls… but even so, it’s not the kind of thing that shatters logic and common sense the way Teio does.

I also have knowledge from my previous life—but back then, my understanding of horse racing was half-baked at best. There’s barely anything I can truly apply.

If I’d known more about racing, maybe I could’ve competed at the Central level even without a trainer.

Ah—no, that’s not good. I might never have met Ayumu-san.

Anyway, by combining all those strengths, I’d barely managed to stay ahead of the monster known as Tokai Teio.

And this time, I finally reached my limit.

I always knew.

I can’t keep running away from Tokai Teio.

She’s strong, cute, cool—using Nature’s words, she’s a "sparkling protagonist."

The otaku me from my previous life—the one who cheered for her—is overjoyed to see her incredible rise, even if it’s shocking.

But Hoshino Wilm—the one who runs to meet everyone’s expectations in this life—is trembling, thinking:

This is a seriously dangerous development.

Hoshino Wilm, as a racing Uma Musume, is not the type to weave clever schemes.

More accurately, I simply can’t.

My front-running style—breaking far ahead of the pack—means I run separated from everyone else.

That keeps me from being influenced by the others… but it also means I can’t influence them much either.

At best, I can make the field conscious of my presence and slightly nudge the overall pace up or down.

But judging from how Teio toyed with me in the Osaka Hai, I clearly don’t have much talent for that kind of control.

That’s why, lately, I’ve focused on forcing victories through sheer specs—fighting in much the same way McQueen-san does.

But Teio came charging in relying purely on physical ability as well—and even under conditions that favored me, I nearly lost.

There’s no denying it.

Teio truly is the strongest rival.

…In the end, the only thing I can do is continue training my body.

Under Ayumu-san’s guidance, just… just keep running. Keep building myself up.

"…………?"

Huh?

My thoughts feel dull… slower than before.

…Wait. Why am I lying in bed with my eyes closed?

"Mm… ugh…"

Ah.

This is bad.

My consciousness is fading… drifting in and out…

---

Let me start with the conclusion.

I came down with a fever.

Honestly, I’d already had a vague sense that something was off.

I’d returned to my room thinking I’d rather reflect than train. I’d naturally pulled the covers over myself and closed my eyes.

It felt like my body was acting on instinct—like it desperately wanted rest.

I just never imagined that instinct was because I was actually getting sick…

"37.3°C…"

"…A mild fever. I’ll ask the cafeteria to prepare some porridge, so please stay in bed, Wilm-chan."

"I’m sorry, Senpai…"

I woke to Miku-senpai’s worried voice when she came back. She handed me a thermometer after noticing how flushed I looked, and that’s when I finally confirmed I wasn’t feeling well.

Now that I paid attention, my body felt heavy and faintly hot.

Even just moving my eyes made them ache slightly. My joints felt stiff.

It’s surprising how hard it is to notice your own health declining. During the strategy meeting earlier, I’d been so fired up that I hadn’t realized anything was wrong.

Then again, neither Ayumu-san nor Masa-san had pointed anything out… so maybe the moment everything ended and I relaxed, it all hit me at once after I got back to the dorm.

It’s been getting warmer lately, and I’ve been sleeping in light clothes. Maybe I let myself get chilled.

I’m not completely bedridden, but I feel sluggish enough that getting out of bed seems like an enormous task.

And on top of that, I ended up making my roommate, Miku-senpai, run errands for me.

Well… she offered. It’s not like I forced her.

Still.

"…Ugh, how pathetic…"

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

I’d planned to formally declare war on Miku-senpai today.

Two months from now, at the Takarazuka Kinen—Nature is recovering, and it seems Teio and McQueen-san will skip it. According to Ayumu-san, it’ll likely come down to a showdown with Happy Meek.

Truthfully, Happy Meek is someone special to me.

Not just last year, but the year before that—when I was an absolute mess—she stayed by my side. Offering advice. Keeping just enough distance so she wouldn’t interfere. Quietly supporting me the entire time.

I’ve known her longer than my contracted trainer, Ayumu-san.

To be blunt, since I don’t have parents, she’s the person I’ve known the longest in this world.

Especially during my first year at Tracen Academy—before I awakened to the joy of racing—I truly relied on Miku-senpai.

If she hadn’t been there…

I might not even be here now.

Because she’s someone so important to me…

I wanted to settle things properly with Miku-senpai.

If you ask who the strongest active Uma Musume in the Twinkle Series is, you’d probably get a dozen different answers.

Even so, certain names tend to come up more often than others.

Daiichi Ruby-senpai, who dominates the mile and sprint circuits—even if she hasn’t been at her peak lately.

Mejiro McQueen-san, the top-class stayer who has fully matured and stands closest to perfection.

Tokai Teio, the embodiment of unreasonable talent—a glitch in the world who twists everything through sheer ability.

Nice Nature, the race-maker who manipulates the flow of a race and creates the exact situation she needs to win.

Mihono Bourbon-chan, the undefeated Satsuki Sho winner and rising star who runs as if she can break through the very limits of distance aptitude.

Nishino Flower-chan, who displayed exceptional sprint and mile talent and claimed the Oka Sho.

And then there’s me—Hoshino Wilm—who claimed victory in the Tenno Sho to bring my total to eight G1 wins, taking the domestic record for most G1 victories from President Symboli Rudolf…

And Happy Meek-senpai—the all-rounder who has won G1 races in every category: sprint, mile, middle distance, and long distance.

Just like when I first heard it a year ago, Miku-senpai still stands among the strongest.

And because she’s strong—and because she’s close to me—it’s only natural, as an Uma Musume, to want to settle things properly.

I’d intended to do that at last year’s Arima Kinen.

But with the turmoil surrounding Ayumu-san—and everything else going on—neither of us delivered the results we wanted. It all ended vaguely, without a proper conclusion.

That’s why I want to win this time.

We don’t know when we’ll get another chance to race each other.

At the Takarazuka Kinen, I’ll defeat Miku-senpai…

And as Japan’s strongest Uma Musume, I’ll storm France.

…That was my firm resolve.

And yet—

Right now, Miku-senpai is feeding me porridge with a spoon.

She’s even blowing on each bite to cool it down for me—so kind…! Which only makes my current state feel even more pathetic…!

"…Is it too hot?"

"’S mffine…"

The flavor is mild, but with my tongue feeling strangely numb and prickly, it’s perfect. The small chunks of carrot crumble softly and taste surprisingly good.

When you’re weak, other people’s kindness sinks in deeper than usual.

…Well, it’s only a mild fever. It’s not like I’m on the brink of death or anything.

"Mm… I’m sorry, Senpai."

"…No. …At times like this, please let me act like a proper senpai."

"Miku-senpai has always been a senpai I respect."

"…Hehe. V."

Holding out another spoonful of porridge, she flashed a small peace sign with her free hand and smiled, her gray hair swaying gently.

She doesn’t talk much. She doesn’t push herself forward. Her ideas can be quirky and a little offbeat, and her calm, unreadable expression makes people misunderstand her.

But Miku-senpai isn’t strange.

When I’m down, she notices and asks what’s wrong. When I’m struggling, she steps in to help.

She’s genuinely kind—the kind of ideal senpai you imagine in your head.

"I feel a little guilty… I haven’t been able to repay you at all, Senpai."

Even back when I was a messed-up kid sulking because my parents didn’t love me, Miku-senpai stayed by my side without a single complaint.

And when I think about what I’ve given her in return… nothing, really.

At most, I treat her to juice or snacks sometimes. And between G1-level runners like us, that hardly means anything.

She’s someone I could call my second greatest benefactor after Ayumu-san—and here I am, causing her trouble right before a major race.

A flicker of guilt rose in my chest.

But Miku-senpai shook her head.

"…No. …I’ve already received so much from you, Wilm-chan."

Snacks and juice?

No way. You can’t repay that kind of kindness with material things.

"No, it’s not enough. I want to repay you properly. In some real way."

"…Hmm. …In that case, there’s one thing I’d like to ask."

"What is it? As long as it’s something I can do."

Her expression remained as unreadable as ever—but deep in her eyes, a clear flame burned.

"…At the Takarazuka Kinen… please come at me with everything you have. …This time, I will surpass you."

“This time,” she says.

That doesn’t just refer to how we failed to settle things at the Arima Kinen… not with that tone.

I don’t know what she’s thinking.

Truthfully, I don’t really know Happy Meek-senpai at all.

She wasn’t one of the “named” characters. In my previous life, I never got to see her story unfold.

All I know is her gentle heart, her habit of gazing up at the blue sky, and the fact that she went from having zero graded wins before her senior year to claiming four G1 victories over the next three years—a true late bloomer.

So I don’t know what she wants to overcome.

But—

"Of course. …Prepare yourself. In these next two months, I’m going to become much, much faster."

I flashed her a daring grin.

Well, after that—

"I am Hoshino Wilm—ugh, cough, hack—!"

"…Are you all right, Wilm-chan?"

It didn’t exactly end on the coolest note.

---

A few hours later.

As lights-out approached and I drifted in and out of sleep, something suddenly occurred to me.

"…Ah. I didn’t tell Trainer I’m sick."

…Well, tomorrow’s fine, right?

It’s not like I’m in terrible shape. Maybe I’ll feel better by morning.

And if I message him this late, maybe his affection points will drop or something?

Right. For now, sleep.

Tomorrow, I’ll wake up refreshed and go back to my usual days of energetically tearing across the turf—

…That’s what I thought.

But the next morning, when I checked my temperature—

"…37.7°C."

Oh no.

Yeah.

I really messed this up.