Chapter 201: That’s a given—so it’s not a reason to give up.

There’s a word: compromise.

It wasn’t a word that existed in my previous life… or maybe it did?

It’s not like I was particularly strong in modern literature, nor deeply familiar with horse racing culture, so I can’t say for sure. But at the very least, it wasn’t a word I knew, so it was probably something relatively minor. I think.

But over here, “compromise” is a pretty common term.

After all, it’s closely tied to racing Uma Musume—something that’s hugely popular all over the world.

Put simply, “compromise” refers to how well the trainer’s strategy and the Uma Musume’s mental state on race day align.

When everything clicks and both mind and body are in perfect condition, that’s called “being in sync.” On the other hand, when things don’t line up and the runner feels unsettled, that’s called “losing sync.”

And when you lose sync… you can’t run properly.

You might have a slow start, get overly excited, forget your strategy, get outplayed by others, or fail to grasp the flow of the race. It’s only natural—when your mind isn’t focused, the quality of your run drops drastically.

This applies not just to races, but to sports in general: unless both your mind and body are in peak condition, you won’t get results. That’s why we have trainers—people who stay by our side to help maintain that balance.

I haven’t run many G3 or G2 races, so I can’t speak for those, but when it comes to winning a G1 race, you absolutely cannot afford to lose sync.

Because every single one of your rivals will be perfectly in sync. If you’re the only one who isn’t, that’s a massive disadvantage. The only ones who could still win under those conditions would be complete anomalies—like me or Anne-chan.

But looking at it another way, that’s what makes Uma Musume racing so interesting.

We’re living beings, not machines. We can’t always perform exactly to our specs—and sometimes, we even exceed them.

Depending on how well we’re synced that day—how well our mind and body align—we can produce results far beyond, or far below, expectations.

That’s why races are always unpredictable. And those unexpected twists are exactly what the fans look forward to.

Anyway.

That was basically a lecture you’d hear in your second year at Tracen Academy—but now we get to the main point.

When it comes to “losing sync”… a classic example would be me, back when I was still bound by my father’s words.

Honestly, looking back, I was incredibly immature as a racing Uma Musume.

Driven by fear of losing, I’d ignore the planned strategy and get carried away. I couldn’t withstand that freezing fear welling up from inside me.

It’d be easy to blame it on the curse, but the truth is, I didn’t fully trust my trainer—Ayumu-san—and more than anything, my understanding of what it meant to be a racing Uma Musume was painfully shallow.

Yeah… that’s something I deeply regret. It’s embarrassing enough to make me want to bury my face in a pillow.

When you lose sync like that, it leads directly to abandoning your strategy, and of course, your performance suffers.

Back then, I still managed to win thanks to my ridiculous physical advantages—but if I’d been competing on equal footing, I probably would’ve lost. After all, my opponents were Teio and Nature.

And if I had to name someone else who tends to lose sync, aside from my past self…

It’d have to be my junior—Bourbon-chan, who has a habit of getting carried away. At least, in terms of recognition in Japan.

Bourbon-chan’s tendency to get worked up is… well, severe.

The moment she senses other Uma Musume around her, she’s forced into a battle against herself—whether she can suppress the heat surging up from her chest.

Ayumu-san once described it like this:

"Mihono Bourbon’s battle isn’t against others—it’s against herself."

Bourbon-chan’s natural talent isn’t quite on the level of someone like me—a reincarnated cheat—but even so, she’s among the very best in Japan.

According to Ayumu-san, she has a sponge-like ability to absorb experience and turn it into strength. Her growth rate is high, and she learns techniques quickly.

In fact, within her generation alone, her specs are overwhelmingly at the top.

…Though with me and Anne-chan around, she probably can’t claim to be the best in the world.

That’s precisely why, when Bourbon-chan runs perfectly, the other runners simply can’t surpass her.

Up until now, her races haven’t really been about defeating others—it’s been about whether she can control herself.

…But that lukewarm environment is over.

What lies ahead is a brutal dead heat—a battlefield where having even a single weakness means you absolutely cannot win.

Even reincarnated cheat Uma Musume… even natural-born anomalies… if you take your eyes off your opponent for even a moment, you lose.

In fact, even if you enter in perfect condition, you can still end up finishing third simply because your specs or mastery aren’t quite enough. I’m still frustrated about it, even a week later.

Bourbon-chan can’t afford to treat this as just a battle against herself anymore.

She’s stepped into a world where she has to fight both herself and her opponents—and stay in sync with both—to win.

And so…

Speaking purely from my personal feelings, of course I want to support her as she steps into this new stage.

Actually, not just Bourbon-chan—I want to support all my adorable juniors, like Rice-chan and Souri-chan. I want to teach them, help them.

After all, this is my chance to give something back for everything I’ve received—from Ayumu-san, from Tracen Academy, from the fans.

But my position makes that difficult…

Somehow or another, I’ve ended up in the “legend” category. I can’t just act freely based on personal feelings anymore.

Well, it’s not that I can’t—it’s just that if I did, I’d end up causing trouble for a lot of people.

Ayumu-san and Masa-san have already been working nonstop lately, so I don’t feel like I can afford to be selfish. I don’t want to burden the people who will be my family in the future.

So lately, I’ve been avoiding too much direct involvement with Bourbon-chan.

Of course, we still eat together and chat during breaks in training…

But beyond that, I’ve been sticking to Ayumu-san’s wishes—teaching her techniques when asked, running alongside her when told. That’s been my routine.

Anyway, one day during all that—

"Is this really okay…?"

Taking advantage of the lack of witnesses, I let out a deep sigh in my room.

I was troubled.

I kept wondering if there was some way I could help Bourbon-chan as her senior.

I’d taught Rice-chan quite a bit since last year, but somehow, it feels like she reached completion during the Kikuka Sho.

Of course, she’ll keep improving—it’s only her second year in peak condition.

But still… it feels like her unique style has fully taken shape.

Her direction is firmly set.

From here on, all she needs is steady growth, and she’ll become a terrifying challenger who can push me to the limit.

On the other hand, Bourbon-chan still feels like she has room to grow.

Her style has taken form, but it still feels like it has plenty of potential for further development.

That’s why I thought I could help somehow, but…

"...I’m kind of being left out, huh."

I muttered it aloud and immediately felt my mood sink.

Hoshino Wilm hates being alone—she’s the lonely type. Mostly because of childhood trauma.

Well, I do have Ayumu-san, so it’s not like I’m truly alone… but that doesn’t mean it isn’t lonely.

It’s not bullying or anything, though.

Ever since forming a joint front with Teio, Ayumu-san has been having Bourbon-chan run alongside Teio more often.

When I asked why, he said:

"Wilm’s too much of an exception—she’s not a good reference."

Teio, who had always been chasing those ahead of her, now gets the chance to guide someone behind her. And Bourbon-chan gets exposure to a top-tier runner other than Hoshino Wilm. Apparently, that’s good stimulation for both of them.

So yeah—I’ve been left out.

Sometimes I run with Nature or Rice-chan, but… being told not to interfere when my strongest rival and promising junior are right there is kind of harsh, don’t you think?

I mean, it’s a completely valid argument, but still.

"If I push myself too much… I’ll just mess up Ayumu-san’s plan…"

To be honest, I haven’t really done much that’s “senior-like” for Bourbon-chan.

At most, I introduced her to a trustworthy trainer, shared some techniques during practice, and included her in mock races…

…Wait, that’s actually more than I thought.

Still, since I taught her rival Rice-chan quite a bit, I can’t help but feel a little guilty toward Bourbon-chan.

I want to help her somehow.

Like how Spe-senpai guided me so decisively at the end of last year…

"Ughhh…"

Taking advantage of the fact that my ultra-cute, strongest senpai was out training, I flopped onto my bed, writhing back and forth as my thoughts went nowhere.

I felt like a shrimp on a cutting board—flopping helplessly across the soft bed in the Ritto dorm.

I can’t act like this in public because of my image, but honestly, when no one’s around, Hoshino Wilm is pretty restless.

…Maybe I should work on that. If I’m going to stand beside Ayumu-san, I should probably be more composed.

"Oh—right, focus."

Back to the matter at hand.

The wall standing in Bourbon-chan’s way right now—how to deal with her temperament, her mentality, her physical traits, her talent.

In truth, that’s something many Uma Musume face.

Even I struggled with getting carried away up until around last year’s Derby. Teio had to fundamentally rebuild her running style. Nature struggled with her lack of raw talent.

And from what I heard during the Kikuka Sho—Anne-chan apparently struggled because she had too much talent and couldn’t take things seriously.

So yes, every Uma Musume has their own struggles.

In Bourbon-chan’s case, it’s the mismatch between her personality and her running style.

As Ayumu-san said, her strongest form is definitely that lap-based running style.

A pace that neither falters nor overextends, perfectly using up her stamina—it’s like Suzuka-san’s runaway style, a dream form of running for an Uma Musume.

After all, the faster you go, the more your stamina consumption increases exponentially.

If you can perfectly balance that through calculation, then in theory, that’s the fastest possible run.

But compared to that ideal, Bourbon-chan’s temperament is very instinctive—almost wild.

The moment she senses another runner, a magma-like fighting spirit surges up from her chest, burning away her rationality and causing her to lose control.

As a fellow Uma Musume, I understand—that’s not easy to suppress.

…Or rather, there’s a limit to how much each of us can suppress it.

In my case, maybe because I’m reincarnated, my instincts are unusually weak, so my limit is very high. That’s why I can store that heat for a final burst.

But Bourbon-chan’s limit is very low—if there are even two runners on my level, she’d probably lose control.

A cold, calculated running style—and a fiery, instinct-driven temperament.

That mismatch is the core of the problem.

"...Huh?"

Sitting cross-legged on my wrinkled sheets, I caught onto a stray thought.

Cold and hot.

Wait…

"Ah—it’s the same as me."

When I thought about it, this was the same issue I’d faced.

Last year, I struggled with my own mismatch too.

Though in my case, it was more that I wore a cold mask while being hot on the inside.

In the end, I dealt with it by creating a switch—something that let me toggle between “cold mode” and “hot mode.”

"Give Bourbon-chan a switch too? …No, that’s impossible."

That thing took me ten years to build, and it came from being pushed to the brink. Besides, Bourbon-chan isn’t the kind of person who could create a “mask” like that.

She may have absurd abilities—like measuring distance and speed with machine-like precision—but when it comes to emotional nuance, she’s pretty clumsy.

Telling her to suddenly partition her emotions like that would be… difficult.

“Hmm… this is tough.”

One of the reasons I can control my “heat” is because of that switch.

So if someone asked me how to do it without one…

…I honestly wouldn’t know.

I’ve always had that cold mask since coming here, so when my instincts surged up, the separation between “cold” and “hot” just happened naturally.

Which means I don’t know what it’s like otherwise—and I can’t really give advice to someone who doesn’t have that.

Actually, I didn’t even solve my own problem on my own.

Being a senior means giving advice based on your own experience, right? But if I don’t have that experience, wouldn’t that just make me an annoying bystander giving useless advice?

In this area, I’m not just unfit to be a mentor—I’m probably the worst kind of person to give guidance.

“…Alright. I give up!”

After agonizing over it, I cut off my thoughts.

People call me the strongest in history, a living legend—but at the end of the day, I’m just a reincarnated cheat Uma Musume who hasn’t even lived half a life.

There are things I can do—and things I can’t.

But I do have a partner who can make up for what I lack.

"I’ll trust Ayumu-san. When it comes to Uma Musume, he never gets it wrong."

Just like how he entrusts me with handling Teio, I should entrust Bourbon-chan’s development to him.

That’s what being partners is about—dividing roles, trusting, and relying on each other.

…Actually, isn’t that his job in the first place? Maybe I was wrong to try and interfere halfway.

If anything, instead of overthinking alone after finishing training early, I should’ve gone to Ayumu-san and asked how I could help.

Wasn’t all this just a huge waste of time?

“……Guess I’ll go watch someone’s training to clear my head!”

I got up from the bed and decided to change my clothes.

Thinking about it, I’m not a trainer—I’m an Uma Musume.

Instead of sitting around worrying endlessly, it might be more productive to actually do something.

＊　＊　＊

Watching Uma Musume training is, for outsiders, incredibly difficult.

You can’t even enter Tracen Academy’s grounds to begin with, and staring at female students is ethically out of bounds.

Aside from a very small portion released to the media, our daily lives are tightly guarded from the outside world.

But on the flip side—

Once you’re a student, watching everyone’s training is actually pretty easy.

If you head over to the track, the pool, the gymnasium, or the training facilities, there are always plenty of Uma Musume honing their skills.

As long as you’re not picky about who you’re watching, there’s no shortage of opportunities. It’s neither difficult nor troublesome.

…Well, for normal students, anyway.

“If I show up, it’ll turn into a whole scene… Fame really is a hassle.”

With light, quick steps—tap, tap, tap—I made my way behind the Tracen Academy school building.

Like most schools these days, Tracen Academy keeps its rooftop locked.

A sturdy dial lock blocks the entrance, preventing anyone from getting in.

Well, apparently some well-informed students know the code…

But honestly, there are other ways to get up there besides the official route.

Reaching a quiet corner of the school building, beside an inconspicuous science lab, I grabbed onto the rain gutter and began pulling myself up.

“Hm-hm-hmm~♪”

I don’t need to do this anymore now that I’ve been given a spare key to the dorm entrance, but back in my Classic year, I used to overtrain so often that I’d miss curfew and get locked out all the time.

When that happened, I’d climb up the rain gutter behind the dorm and sneak back in through my room’s balcony. It became routine.

My adorable senpai once looked at me and said, “…Are you an Uma Musume, or a monkey?”

…Rude.

Anyway, for someone like me, climbing up to Tracen’s rooftop isn’t particularly difficult.

It’s not completely safe, but I am an Uma Musume. My danger instincts are sharp enough to sense structural wear and tear, so as long as I don’t let my guard down, there’s no real risk.

And so, I climbed smoothly up the gutter, then hoisted myself onto the rooftop with a final pull.

From the height above the third floor, the setting sun looked especially beautiful.

And beneath it, the energetic, diligent Uma Musume still training into the evening.

Both humans and Uma Musume tend to notice what’s around them horizontally—but rarely what’s above.

For someone like me, who makes the news just by moving around, the rooftop is the perfect observation spot: easy to see from, but hard to be noticed.

“Alright then… let’s see if there are any hidden gems worth watching.”

Murmuring to myself, I leaned against the fence separating the rooftop from the open air.

Below me stretched the vast training grounds, spanning kilometers.

Nearly a hundred Uma Musume were scattered across it, each focused on their own training.

G1-level runners or top-tier seniors… hmm, doesn’t look like any are here.

There’s one team that’s probably mid-tier in the Twinkle Series, another that’s maybe Open class, and then a handful of individuals.

Among them, I spotted a few familiar underclassmen, and naturally, my gaze drifted toward them.

“Hm…”

But unfortunately—or perhaps unsurprisingly—none of them really sparked anything in me.

It’s like… I can sense a kind of resignation at their core.

That part is a little disappointing.

Talent.

It’s cruel, but Uma Musume undeniably have it.

Exceptional aptitude, rare physical traits, cheat-like abilities, or overwhelming inner drive—

If a girl has even one of these, she can turn it into a weapon.

But on the other hand, those who have none of them end up confined within the word “ordinary.”

Central Tracen is on an entirely different level from local regions.

That’s why, after enrolling here, many Uma Musume eventually come to understand their limits—and accept them.

Even Nature carried that kind of air during her Junior years.

But… I like the ones who overcome that.

Nature, Nedirika, Souri-chan—they’re perfect examples.

They recognize their lack of talent, understand what they’re missing, almost give up… yet can’t.

And so, against stronger opponents, they fight with everything they have, thinking, “At least let me land one blow.”

Those are the ones whose running ignites something in me.

Even after knowing their limits, they can’t abandon themselves—they struggle desperately, stubbornly, even if it’s clumsy.

Sometimes… those kinds of runners are the ones touched by something divine.

Placing third in a hellish Arima Kinen against countless elite runners.

Surpassing even a heroic prodigy to prove their strength—and closing in on me.

Becoming a recognized star alongside Bourbon-chan and Rice-chan.

None of that could have been achieved without those seemingly reckless challenges.

If you don’t sow the seeds of challenge, the flower of achievement will never bloom.

That’s why I don’t want them to give up.

Even if it’s reckless, even if it’s painful—keep running.

And someday, somewhere, bloom.

Those are the Uma Musume who truly deserve recognition.

“Last year it was Nature, this year Souri-chan… I wonder if we’ll see someone like that in next year’s or the year after’s Classic races.”

…Or perhaps—

The fact that I noticed her at that exact moment wasn’t a coincidence at all.

If it were, it would’ve been far too perfect.

“…Hm?”

Something strange brushed the edge of my vision, pulling my attention toward it.

Beyond the academy’s main gate—visible from the rooftop—

There stood a single Uma Musume.

…She’s not a student here.

She’s not wearing a uniform, I don’t recognize her, and more than anything, she’s still young.

Her face and body haven’t yet taken on the form of an athlete. She hasn’t reached her peak—probably still in the elementary division.

Her beautiful chestnut hair was neatly parted down the middle, framing a refined face that carried the distinct elegance of an Uma Musume.

But… she didn’t look entirely Japanese. Maybe she had some foreign blood.

As I absentmindedly observed her…

Our eyes met—hers lifted toward the gate and the academy, shining with awe.

“…Oh?”

Without hesitation, I jumped down from the rooftop.

Ignoring the stunned gazes directed my way, I leapt from branch to balcony, closing the distance in seconds—

"Hey there. Hello."

—and landed right beside the future racing Uma Musume.

“Ah… eh—H-Hoshino Wilm…-san?”

The girl’s sakura-colored eyes widened in shock.

Well, that’s only natural.

Imagine standing in front of the academy, thinking, “I’ll enroll here someday!”—only to suddenly lock eyes with the strongest Uma Musume in history on the rooftop… who then jumps down and lands right next to you.

Even I have to admit—that’s a pretty shocking experience.

"That’s right. I’m Hoshino Wilm. You know me? Thanks for always supporting me."

…I considered kneeling to match her height, but standing side by side, we were almost the same anyway.

Seriously, is this petite body ever going to grow? Maybe I’ll hit a delayed growth spurt after my peak ends.

Pushing that thought aside, I gave her a small smile.

"You were looking pretty intently, so I got curious. Are you planning to enroll next year?"

When I asked, she seemed to have already regained her composure. With a faint smile, she nodded.

"Yes. I came to look around the academy today. I wanted to see the school too, if possible.

Next year… in just a few months, I’ll be enrolling."

"I see. You probably already know this, but Tracen is a great place. The facilities are excellent, you get to train alongside strong runners, and most importantly—you might meet a great trainer."

Someone who could even become your partner in life.

…Wait, now that I think about it, is this place basically a matchmaking venue?

“…A trainer…”

At my words, the girl lowered her gaze slightly, as if turning the idea over in her mind.

Maybe it doesn’t feel real to her yet.

That’s understandable. Three years ago, I never would’ve imagined I’d end up this head-over-heels for my trainer either.

Well… she’ll understand once she enrolls.

…Alright, that’s enough small talk.

"By the way, do you have a dream?"

"Huh?"

"A dream. Do you have a clear vision of what you want to do after enrolling in this academy?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, she let out a small gasp and widened her eyes.

But almost immediately, she met my gaze head-on and answered.

"I do. To become the strongest—so strong that no one can defeat me… and to beat you."

…Ah, honestly.

Uma Musume really are something else.

A girl this small, making a face like that.

Holding back the grin threatening to spread across my face, I tossed back a teasing reply.

"Just so you know, that’s not going to be easy. Beating me, I mean. I am the strongest, after all… and your legs are fragile, aren’t they?"

"Yes… That’s amazing—you can tell?"

Of course I can.

Her legs are probably like Teio’s.

They can’t quite keep up with the overwhelming talent she carries within.

Her running will surely have the potential to threaten even the strongest.

She’ll captivate countless people—show them something like a dream.

But only at the cost of her legs’ longevity.

She’s likely the same type as Teio—a girl destined to face repeated setbacks.

And from those struggles, she’ll create drama… and captivate hearts.

As someone connected to Ayumu-san, that thought feels a little lonely, but…

…well, it’s not really my place to say anything.

As I turned that over in my mind, the girl lowered her gaze slightly and spoke.

"You are so strong, so far above, so radiant.

Compared to that, I… can’t run.

So I don’t think I can beat you."

But then, she cast aside that pessimism.

Her cherry-colored eyes, now filled with resolve, pierced straight through me.

"—Not yet."

In the eyes of this still-young girl, there was no resignation.

She understood her limits—the hardships that awaited her—and yet refused to stop.

Her feelings weren’t blazing—not because they lacked heat, but because that flame was carefully contained.

They were delicate, almost painful… yet beautiful, resilient, and unwavering.

Yes—exactly.

She was like a great cherry tree, enduring winter as it waited for the day it would bloom.

Pressing her right hand to her chest, she declared it.

To me. To the world. Or perhaps—to herself.

"No matter how much I struggle, how much I’m hurt, how many tears I shed…

I will stand where you stand someday—at the pinnacle, where I can shine and bring brilliance to so many people.

I’ll win the race that decides the strongest, in the land where my father is—the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

And I will become the ‘strongest’—brighter than anyone else, without even the slightest shadow. I swear it."

In a sense, it was nothing more than a child’s “dream.”

Not a question of whether it was possible—just a declaration of what she would do.

Humans—and Uma Musume alike—everyone begins with dreams like that.

But most come to learn reality… and give up.

They accept what seems “appropriate” for themselves and stop struggling.

…But—

She won’t give up.

No matter how harsh things become… just like those girls, she’ll never lower her gaze.

Because right now, in the eyes fixed on Hoshino Wilm, there isn’t even a trace of resignation.

A fledgling runner who can stand before me—before a Hoshino Wilm showing even a hint of seriousness—and still declare she’ll win.

How many like her could you even find in all of Japan?

"Heh… I like it. Yeah, I really like you."

I couldn’t hold back my smile anymore.

Times change. Generations turn.

Just like how I, once a mere junior, now stand at the center of this world.

Like how Bourbon is striving to adapt to a new battlefield—senior mixed races.

Like how the current juniors, whom I’m not deeply involved with, will be competing for the Triple Crown next year.

She—and that other girl I saw at the Thanksgiving Festival, like a starving predator—will shape the next era as well.

Before long, Teio, Nature, and even I will be pushed aside as relics of the past.

It’s a little sad, maybe.

…but more than that, it’s exciting.

Stronger and stronger Uma Musume will keep appearing.

The kind that ignite me, thrill me—the very best.

…So what can I give back in return?

Like before, there’s only so much I can teach on my own.

If anything, it would be far more efficient to have Ayumu-san decide what techniques to pass on.

In that case… what I can do is—

Well, the same as with Bourbon.

Of course, I have my own thoughts about it, but…

When it comes to a trainer who can support someone through all the hardships and bitterness she’s bound to face—

I only know one.

Keeping that smile, I turned my back to her.

"If you’re serious about chasing me, come find me. You know Trainer Horino Ayumi, right?"

There was a brief pause, as if she hesitated.

But then, as if making up her mind, she asked:

"Will that trainer… share the same dream as me?"

"There’s no one more of a dreamer than Ayumu-san—and yet no one more realistic, either. Mihono Bourbon’s Triple Crown, defying her bloodline—no one believed in that dream. But he did, from the bottom of his heart. He even said something embarrassingly earnest, like, ‘It’s a dream we’ll achieve together.’"

"…Will he stay with me, no matter what happens to my legs?"

"That’s exactly what he wants. He’s ridiculously safety-first and absolutely loves Uma Musume. Though… if you want to beat me in the Twinkle Series, you might have to hurry."

With a light hop—boing—I leapt up onto the top of the front gate.

Then, realizing I hadn’t asked something important, I turned back.

"Lastly, mind telling me your name? My future rival."

"…Yes. My name is—"

With a gentle smile, like a bud quietly waiting to bloom, the future underclassman spoke.

"A Uma Musume who will surpass you and stand alone at the very top…

…Laurel. Sakura Laurel!"

It was a name that suited her perfectly.