Chapter 141: When the Pink Cross Runs

It’s been about two weeks since I recovered from my cold.

Since then, Bourbon-chan and I have been training as hard as ever for our next race.

But today, we cut practice short for a special event.

…Well, “special” might be a better word than “small.” Objectively speaking, it’s actually a pretty big deal.

To put it simply, it’s a light version of the Japanese Derby.

"Wow… this has really turned into something, hasn’t it?"

I muttered absentmindedly as I sat on the sloped grass overlooking the Training Center’s turf course, gazing down at the track below.

In my line of sight stood eighteen Classic-class Uma Musume.

Going Noble-chan—third in this year’s Satsuki Sho and expected to shine just behind the top two.

Ribbon Lullaby-chan—fourth in the Satsuki Sho, known for settling mid-pack before launching a late surge.

Desert Baby-chan—sixth in the Satsuki Sho, a front-runner who excels at breaking away much like Teio.

And even Machikane Tannhäuser-chan, who hasn’t posted standout results yet but is still considered a named contender.

All the G1-level runners from the Satsuki Sho are here.

And that’s not all.

Original Shine-chan, who finished an impressive third in the Yayoi Sho but failed to qualify for the Satsuki Sho, is here too. So is Tactical One-chan, winner of a Derby trial.

I don’t know every detail, but according to Ayumu-san, these girls have not only the strength to enter this year’s Derby—they’re capable of making serious waves.

…And among them, two stand out above the rest.

Miho no Bourbon-chan, winner of the Satsuki Sho, whose precise, machine-like running borders on mechanical perfection.

And Rice Shower-chan, the only one who pushed Bourbon-chan to within two lengths.

They are the pinnacle of this year’s Classic generation in the middle- and long-distance categories.

And today, unbelievably, a mock race featuring this absurdly stacked lineup is being held.

The conditions: 2400 meters, left-handed.

The slopes and the configuration differ slightly, but functionally, it’s equivalent to the Japanese Derby.

Which means what’s about to happen is essentially a “Light Edition Japanese Derby.”

With less than three weeks until the real thing, this race serves as a dress rehearsal—featuring the Derby’s expected starters and more.

In practical terms, it’s a benchmark for predicting the Derby’s outcome.

Naturally, an event like this draws a crowd.

Even Senior-class runners like us are no exception.

"'Turned into something'? Wasn’t it your trainer who organized this mock race in the first place?"

The one firing back at me is my best friend sitting to my right: Nice Nature.

"Besides, Wilm, you held races like this all the time last year. …Ah, so maybe it’s not you or Bourbon—it’s just that trainer’s style."

The one nodding in sudden realization, legs crossed on my left, is my rival: Tokai Teio.

The three of us—sometimes jokingly called the “Three Stars”—have come to spectate.

Honestly, there’s no downside to watching a race like this.

Every runner has her own style, her own refined techniques.

When it’s Classic-class girls who are already polished to this degree, there’s almost always something to learn—or steal.

And when the most promising names of this generation are all gathered in one place? Not watching would be a waste.

Anyone with decent judgment—human or Uma Musume—would want to see this.

As a result, hundreds of people and runners have gathered on the grounds.

Someone’s even lugging around one of those giant TV cameras you usually see at official broadcasts.

Sharp-eared bunch. It hasn’t even been a full day since news broke about this lineup.

…That said, it’s not like Ayumu-san meant for this to turn into such a spectacle.

"Just so we’re clear, this isn’t our fault, okay? If anything, a certain Uma Musume declared her participation the moment she heard about it. That’s what really set everything off."

"Ugh…"

Nice Nature groaned.

Well, we are talking about her underclassman.

To be fair, Rice-chan’s participation played a huge role in making this mock race so extravagant.

If it had only been Bourbon-chan, we would’ve gathered a decent lineup—but probably only half of what we’re seeing now.

Last year, when I recruited runners for mock races, Nature usually joined, but G1-level girls often avoided them.

Maybe they didn’t want to risk disrupting their rhythm by running against a front-running escape artist like me.

In any case, Bourbon alone probably wouldn’t have drawn this many.

But add Rice-chan—the Satsuki Sho runner-up—and suddenly you have the top two of the current Classic field in one race.

It becomes the perfect opportunity to prepare countermeasures—not just for Bourbon-chan, but for Rice-chan too.

Since Rice-chan declared her participation immediately, word spread fast.

Other promising runners signed up in quick succession—some to test their strength, others to scout the competition.

I’m not saying it’s all Rice-chan’s fault.

But it doesn’t sit right for Bourbon-chan or Ayumu-san to shoulder the blame either.

"Ah—hey! It’s been a while since the three of us got together like this, hasn’t it?"

"Has it?"

Teio blinked in mild surprise at Nature’s abrupt topic change.

I gave her a wry smile.

"The one saying ‘Has it?’ is the same person who’s been so prickly since the start of the year that she was hard to approach."

"That bad?"

That bad.

Since the Arima Kinen last year, Teio’s been difficult to talk to.

She always looked like she was thinking about running—like she’d cut you down if you stepped too close.

Some of the younger girls even asked, "Is Teio-senpai okay?"

Well, runners go through phases like that. Source: me during the Arima Kinen.

So I didn’t say anything. I just waited for Teio to come back to herself.

Lately, though, she’s softened again. Her tone’s lighter. That old confidence is returning.

Seems like she’s found her footing.

"You mellowed out after the Tenno Sho, didn’t you? Something happen?"

"Hmm… I guess you could say I finally grasped my ideal running style."

"So you hadn’t even figured out your own style, and you were still closing to within a nose of me all this time…"

"Hey! Even after I ‘figured it out,’ I still couldn’t pass you, right? So if anyone’s frustrated, it’s both of us."

Not quite.

I’ve got reincarnation perks. If I can’t win even with bonuses, that just means I’d be overwhelmingly outmatched in pure ability without them.

Of course I can’t beat Teio’s natural talent.

She’s a blue-blooded prodigy. Even if my pedigree isn’t bad, I’m just an efficient, ordinary girl when it comes to racing.

…Wow. Saying it outright stings.

I knew I was ordinary, but still.

"Well, better well-tuned than rattled, right? Though from my perspective, it feels like I’ve suddenly been left behind by both of you."

"I’d love to run properly against you too, Nature. You’re not coming back yet?"

"I’m returning in autumn. I don’t want to grind down my racing career by overdoing it like certain people."

"We’re not running because we want to shorten our careers, you know?"

…Though admittedly, I’ve had my reckless moments.

Collapsing after the Derby. Breaking my leg after Takarazuka. Pushing myself to the brink at Arima. Throwing up after the Osaka Hai.

…Okay. Looking at it calmly, I might have been a little reckless. I’ll reflect on that.

"Speaking of which, Teio, you’re one to talk. Aren’t you skipping the Takarazuka Kinen to rest?"

"I planned that from the start! My legs can’t handle any more than this!"

Teio broke a bone at the Derby and collapsed at the Spring Tenno Sho. For all her fragility, she’s had her share of wild runs.

Come to think of it, maybe we are alike.

Being compared to Teio is… a little flattering.

…But still, I’m done pushing myself like that.

From now on, I’ll take it steady. Win the races I’m meant to win. Increase my G1 victories one by one.

That’s the path of the reborn Hoshino Wilm.

---

As we continued chatting, it seemed the mock race was about to begin.

The trainers who’d been gathered inside the inner rail began calling out to their runners.

"Oh, here we go."

"Time to study, I suppose."

As Nature and I leaned forward eagerly, Teio tilted her head.

"So, who do you two think will win?"

Oh?

You’re asking that?

That’s easy.

"Obviously Bourbon-chan."

"Rice, of course."

…?

?????

"Nature?????"

I turned to her in disbelief. She stared back just as suspiciously.

"Come on. Bourbon beat her by more than two lengths at the Satsuki Sho."

"True. But Rice has been training like crazy for the past two weeks. And this race is 400 meters longer."

"Bourbon’s been training just as hard! And Ayumu-san said she’s already conquered middle distance!"

"I’m not denying Bourbon’s effort. I’ve seen her in joint practice—she’s incredibly dedicated. But have you watched Rice train lately? She’s amazing."

Huh?

What happened to that so-called race sense of yours? You clearly don’t understand racing at all.

My junior is obviously going to win this.

"I run with Rice-chan regularly. She’s incredible—I won’t deny that. Sometimes even I’m blown away. But Bourbon-chan is unbelievably earnest and sweet too! The other day, even though she was exhausted after training, she said, ‘I will handle the cleanup, so please feel free to head back, Wilm-senpai.’"

"If we’re talking about that, Rice is super sweet too! Even though she’s been totally absorbed in training lately, she’ll suddenly bow and say, ‘Nature-senpai, thank you for everything.’ Most people feel shy about expressing everyday gratitude like that, right?"

As Nature and I continued our heated back-and-forth, Teio muttered under her breath.

"Senpai, you idiots…"

"Excuse me? Who are you calling an idiot?"

"But seriously, I think Bourbon-chan and Rice-chan are almost evenly matched."

I looked toward the starting line.

As expected, the strongest presence radiated from Bourbon-chan and Rice-chan.

Even among eighteen runners, those two felt a cut above the rest.

Considering the recent Satsuki Sho… yes, I do think Bourbon-chan has a slight edge.

But overall, they seem nearly even.

That said, the deciding factors today will probably be—

Whether Bourbon-chan keeps herself from getting carried away by the other runners.

And whether Rice-chan gets a favorable race flow.

Those two points will likely make the difference.

"Yeah. Rice isn’t particularly good at controlling the pace, so I’m just hoping the flow works in her favor… but who knows."

"A favorable flow, huh? I’ve never really thought about that."

"That’s because you just bulldoze your way through even when it’s tough. During the Spring Tenno Sho, you were completely boxed in—how did you even break out of that?"

"Huh? You ease the tempo for a second and slip through the gap. Easy, right?"

"It is not easy."

"Ahh, I get that."

"Why do you get that? You’re a front-runner!"

Nature shot me an exasperated look.

But back in my hometown, I used to run from behind.

When you get trapped in a bad race flow, the most efficient solution is to shatter it with raw ability.

I know that down to my bones.

…Though I doubt that kind of brute-force breakthrough would work in a Central G1.

The only reason I could overpower situations back then was because the gap in ability was overwhelming.

Hearing that Teio did something similar at the Tenno Sho just reinforces it.

She really is a natural cheat.

"As for Bourbon-chan, it’ll depend on her tendency to get carried away… but if she learns to manage it, she’ll be fine."

"Yeah. Once a runner develops that habit, it’s hard to fix."

The three of us—the so-called “Three Stars”—don’t really struggle with getting carried away, so we tend to view it from a bit of a distance.

Early in my Classic season, I had that problem too. But now it’s completely gone.

"So is it just a matter of running until she grows out of it?"

"No… from what I can see, you might be able to tone it down, but eliminating it entirely seems impossible.

They call it a habit, but it’s probably innate—like the valve that regulates her fighting instinct is weaker than normal."

"Oof… that’s rough."

Yeah. It really is.

The tricky part is that a strong fighting instinct isn’t a bad thing.

If you suppress the heat too much, your run loses its edge. But if you don’t suppress it at all, you burn out of control.

Managing your own temperament is complicated.

"So the key is learning to use it instead of fighting it—oh."

While we were talking, the runners below had taken their positions at the starting line.

It looked like the race was about to begin.

---

Ayumu-san, the organizer of this mock race, lowered the flag.

At that exact moment, the one who burst forward faster than anyone else was—

As expected, Mihono Bourbon-chan.

"Whoa. That’s not a Classic-class start at all. As expected of Wilm’s junior."

"I’m faster, though."

"Pick one—either dote on your junior or flex on her."

Bourbon-chan’s opening dash was explosive.

As expected of a trainee under Ayumu-san—the founder of the Church of the Perfect Start Dash. Her acceleration was on a completely different level.

…However, this time, she didn’t get to run away uncontested.

Because someone was desperately chasing her.

"Oh?"

"Huh?"

"She’s going with her? Isn’t that reckless?"

The three of us reacted in our own ways.

One runner matched Bourbon-chan’s sprint.

Her semi-long pink hair streamed behind her, and on her back—

was a name I knew well.

"Souri-chan’s fired up."

"Who?"

"A junior I’m rather fond of."

Neither Nature nor Teio recognized her.

Unfortunate—but not surprising.

Souri-chan’s results so far haven’t been particularly eye-catching.

Three starts, one win. No victories since her debut race.

Naturally, among a lineup packed with G1-level runners, her recognition—and expectations—were at rock bottom.

In truth, the only reason she was allowed into this mock race at all was because Bourbon-chan pushed for it, and the organizers approved.

But…

The Souri-chan running right now was anything but powerless.

"…Oh?"

Teio let out a quiet sound of interest.

I glanced at Nature and saw her frowning slightly as she watched Souri-chan.

She was keeping up.

Actually keeping up.

With Mihono Bourbon’s cruising pace—what would be a very high pace for most G1 runners.

Of course, she was likely pushing herself to the limit.

As she herself says, she isn’t some once-in-a-generation prodigy.

Well… I do think she has solid G2-level potential.

But she’s nowhere near Mihono Bourbon—who has a naturally flexible body, an obsessive fixation on the Classic Triple Crown, a bit of support from me, and above all, the strongest trainer of them all: Ayumu-san.

That’s precisely why she’s pushing herself so hard.

…But looking at it another way, that means if she pushes herself, she can keep up.

"Tell me her name, Wilm."

"Souri Cross-chan."

"I completely overlooked someone like that… man, that’s on me."

Bourbon-chan’s “high pace” is high even by G1 standards.

To keep up with that means—

Souri Cross is stepping into G1 territory.

"…Heh."

Souri-chan’s record stands at one win, two losses.

But that record only reflects her results up until January of this year.

Official races are the culmination of daily training.

However, if you want to win races, you also have to devote time to preparation—studying course layouts, acquiring race-specific techniques, refining strategies, final tune-ups.

None of that takes a trivial amount of time.

If you race too frequently, the hours available for pure training shrink, and your ability risks stagnating halfway.

Souri-chan didn’t have the luxury of racing while steadily building her body.

Without exceptional talent or overwhelming natural gifts, if she wanted to compete on the Kikuka Sho stage, she had to discard even the baseline “margin” everyone else took for granted.

So Souri Cross made a decision.

From February onward, she would stop entering official races and devote herself entirely to training.

There are two ways to qualify for the Kikuka Sho:

Either possess sufficient popularity and proven results, or finish within the top three in one of two designated G2 races.

She narrowed her race entries to the bare minimum needed to meet those conditions—and cut everything else away.

And as a result—

Face desperate, lips pressed tight, eyes blazing—

Souri-chan now ran stride for stride in Bourbon-chan’s shadow.

Then, an unexpected dark horse twisted the race.

"She got carried away."

"Well… given the circumstances."

Faced with an unforeseen threat, Bourbon-chan lost control.

She had run with Souri-chan many times before—but always in training.

She had never raced against her at full power.

More than that, she likely never imagined anyone could keep up with her pace.

Souri Cross is a front-runner.

But she isn’t some transcendent genius capable of toppling the monster that is Mihono Bourbon.

And she’s not foolish enough to believe she is.

So Bourbon must have assumed Souri would run within her limits, as usual.

But—

Perhaps this was Souri’s form of resistance.

Even as Mihono Bourbon accelerated further, Souri continued to chase.

And then—

"So this is where it ends."

"Wow… what a surprise contender."

With around 600 meters remaining, Souri-chan’s legs faltered.

Faced with an overwhelming pace and an undeniable gap in raw talent, her body gave out before her spirit did.

The unexpected dark horse, punished for her early overexertion, gradually sank back into the pack.

"…Yeah. You did well, Souri-chan."

---

After that, the race unfolded almost exactly as expected.

Would Mihono Bourbon escape all the way to the finish?

Or would Rice-chan catch her?

In the end, Bourbon’s earlier overexcitement seemed to take its toll. She slowed slightly—and Rice-chan surged past.

…Or so it seemed.

Then Bourbon-chan dug deep and unleashed a gritty re-acceleration.

The result: a narrow half-length victory. Bourbon-chan held on by the slimmest margin.

"Ugh… Rice was so close."

"I’m not handing over victories that easily!"

"Whose side are you on, Wilm?"

"The senior’s perspective, obviously."

"Quit fighting your battles through your junior."

And with that, the electrifying race came to a close.

Honestly, the result itself doesn’t matter all that much.

It’s just a mock race—not the real thing.

What matters is what they take away from it.

In that sense, this mock race was probably invaluable.

For Bourbon-chan, who had been running smoothly until an unexpected challenge caused her to lose control.

For Rice-chan, who pushed her further than she had in the Satsuki Sho.

And for Souri-chan, who was able to measure her current limits.

…Now then.

How much will these three grow from here?

I can’t wait to find out.