Chapter 223: I'll introduce the Pollux members!
Ayumu’s assembled racing Umamusume team—〈Team Pollux〉.
At last, the day of their first outing had come.
Well… “outing” might be overstating it. In reality, we were each participating in mock races within the academy.
This event—proposed by Teio’s camp and organized by Ayumu—is divided into four races.
First: a mid-distance race featuring publicly recruited Dream Trophy Umamusume, along with Teio and me.
Second: a mile race featuring similarly recruited Twinkle Senior-class Umamusume and Bourbon-chan.
Third: a mid-distance race between Narita Brian—who joined Teio’s side—and our Laurel-chan, leading a Classic-class lineup.
And the fourth is…
"Y-you idiot, idiot! Stupid trainer! This isn’t even a matter of a ‘huge gap’—this is completely impossible!
There’s no way I can race against Ruby-senpai! I’m a Twinkle Junior-class runner! It’s arrogant just to think about running alongside her!!"
"…………"
…A short-distance mock race between the last member of our team—currently flailing her beige, outward-curling hair as she protests to Ayumu—and our team’s shortest yet oldest member, Ruby-senpai.
The girl desperately trying to deny reality is named Bridge Comp.
She’s the fifth member of 〈Team Pollux〉, personally scouted by Ayumu.
She joined the team just three weeks ago.
Apparently, when Ayumu went out fishing as a hobby, he found her idly staring out from a breakwater. Not realizing he was that “Horino Ayumu,” she vented her frustrations—"I can’t find a trainer," "I want to run in Twinkle, too."
Meanwhile, Ayumu himself had been struggling to choose another trainee this year.
He’d received quite a few reverse-scout offers, but none of them felt quite right.
A trainer without a trainee, and an Umamusume without a trainer—brought together by chance.
Taking it as fate, Ayumu recruited her on the spot.
Given how that happened… when she first entered the 〈Pollux〉 team room to meet everyone, her reaction was priceless.
It was the first time I’d ever seen someone literally flip over and collapse flat on their back.
To be blunt, 〈Team Pollux〉 is currently one of the strongest elite teams at Tracen.
There’s me—Hoshino Wilm—along with Daiichi Ruby, Mihono Bourbon, and Sakura Laurel.
Naturally, I’m the strongest. Ruby-senpai is among the best in the Dream Trophy sprint division, Bourbon-chan has already achieved an undefeated Triple Crown, and Laurel-chan—despite a delayed peak—has become a top contender for the upcoming G1 Hopeful Stakes.
So then, what about the remaining member—Bridge Comp, a.k.a. Buri-chan?
…Well, she’s decent. About average.
"Listen, Trainer! I’m not Hoshino Wilm! I don’t have that kind of talent—I probably can’t even enter graded races! I don’t belong in 〈Pollux〉!!!"
"That’s not true, Bridge Comp. You can run. You won your debut race by twenty lengths, didn’t you?"
"That’s not me being amazing—that’s YOU being amazing!!! I don’t even understand why I can run like that!!"
As Ayumu tries to drag her toward the track, Buri-chan puts up a desperate resistance.
Well… judging by how she’s still being slowly pulled along, she’s not exactly resisting with everything she has.
More importantly, this kind of scene is a daily occurrence.
For us members of 〈Team Pollux〉, it’s nothing new.
So we ignore it and start heading toward the track ahead of them.
Buri-chan’s talent is probably just as she says—not extraordinary.
She’s what you might call a “background” Umamusume, someone neither Ayumu nor I remember from our past-life knowledge.
She didn’t trigger my instinctive “champion sensor,” and even Ruby-senpai—who shares her optimal distance—remarked, “She has sufficient aptitude to run in Twinkle.” Translated from her refined phrasing, that likely means she lacks what it takes to reach the very top.
But…
There’s me—an irregular Umamusume who trains independently.
Bourbon-chan—who challenges distances outside her aptitude.
Ruby-senpai—a fully realized sprinter/miler.
Laurel-chan—a junior-class runner capable of competing at the same stage.
After supporting many Umamusume and accumulating vast training data, Ayumu’s abilities have… somehow transcended the bounds of normal sense, common logic, and expectation.
It’s been about three weeks since he took Buri-chan in.
Right now, she’s honestly pretty strong.
She’d probably rank among the top five in the Junior-class sprint and mile division.
My intuition—which once felt nothing—now says, “This girl might entertain me someday!” …though our preferred distances don’t match, so realistically, it’d be difficult.
Even Ruby-senpai, who is almost always calm and composed, remarked with rare astonishment, "…Her rate of growth is remarkable."
An overwhelming, almost otherworldly growth rate.
And the one most bewildered by it… is probably Buri-chan herself.
"Aaaah, that’s it, I’m terminating the contract!! I’ll go straight to the Chairwoman!! At this rate, I’m going to lose my mind!!"
"Calm down, Bridge Comp. Understood—we’ll lower the pace a bit. By the way, regarding your plan after winning your next race, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies—"
"That’s not lowering the pace at all! Why are you assuming I’ll win a G1 race?! That’s way beyond me!!! This time I’m definitely canceling the contract!!!"
"Alright, alright… ah, we’re out of time. Let’s go, everyone."
"Waaah!!"
Buri-chan flails wildly.
At this point, her “contract termination act” has become a regular routine.
But right now, it’s just before the mock race.
Ayumu has given the signal—we need to get moving.
So, as two of the team’s core members, Ruby-senpai and I call out to her.
"Come on, Buri-chan, get back here. If my Ayumu says you can win a G1, then you can."
"Bridge Comp-san… please refrain from causing trouble for my trainer."
"U-ugh… o-okay…"
Buri-chan isn’t particularly interested in trainers, but she does know who Hoshino Wilm and Daiichi Ruby are.
She can’t exactly brush us off.
Reluctantly, she releases her grip on Ayumu’s sleeve and starts walking.
…Also, Ruby-senpai, could you not casually stake your claim in front of a junior? Ayumu is my man, you know.
As we step onto the track, we’re greeted—as always—by a flood of gazes and cheers.
The grounds and even the school windows are packed with Umamusume and trainers.
Well, that’s normal whenever I run a mock race.
Once you compete in G1 races, the pressure is dozens of times greater.
Bourbon-chan, Ruby-senpai, and I are already used to it.
We casually raise a hand in acknowledgment as we walk forward, the crowd parting before us.
It feels like Moses.
On the other hand, those not yet used to this kind of attention are Laurel-chan and Buri-chan.
Laurel-chan flinches slightly at first, but quickly regains her composure—at least outwardly—and follows us.
…Buri-chan, meanwhile, is in full panic mode, being pushed forward by Ayumu with a "Come on, let’s go," and dragged along step by step.
"M-my stomach hurts… Running against Ruby-senpai in front of all these people…!"
"…Bridge Comp-san. You are a member of 〈Team Pollux〉. Do try not to embarrass yourself."
"Y-yes, ma’am…!"
"Ah, what she means is: ‘You’re a promising runner just like the rest of us, so don’t put yourself down—stand tall and face this race with confidence.’"
"Are you some kind of Ruby-senpai translation machine, Trainer?!"
"Think of me as her older brother."
I can’t help but smile wryly at Ruby-senpai’s usual expressionless face.
…It’s been a few months since Ruby-senpai joined Ayumu.
And when you spend that much time together, you start to notice things.
Somehow, I’ve come to quite like her.
If I had to describe Daiichi Ruby in one sentence, it would be this: she’s too serious.
Like Ayumu, she was born into a distinguished family.
But unlike him—who stepped away from that identity as a “Horino trainer”—she places being a member of that prestigious lineage above all else.
What the two of them share is an almost inhuman level of discipline.
As if they don’t need personal time at all, they pack their schedules full of self-improvement, training, and lessons—never once complaining.
From my perspective—someone who tends to chase what I want to do rather than what I should do—it’s honestly a little terrifying.
But that doesn’t mean they force that mindset onto others.
Nor do they act arrogant or look down on people as “commoners” or “mediocre.”
If something doesn’t align with their standards as members of a prestigious family, they quietly step back.
Otherwise, they respect others’ thoughts and methods—and if they find them worthy, they acknowledge them sincerely.
The only problem is that they don’t show much emotion, so it’s hard to read them.
Fitting for Ruby, I suppose—flaws included.
In any case—
She’s both an ordinary girl and a cool, admirable senior.
That’s the kind of Umamusume Daiichi Ruby is.
Someone worthy of respect… no, someone you can’t help but respect.
…Though honestly, if she weren’t actively trying to steal Ayumu right now, I could admire her as a senior without reservation.
And then, at the center of the track—
Waiting to greet us were two Umamusume and their trainer.
"I’ve been waiting, Wilm!"
"…………"
"Hello—thank you for today."
Tokai Teio, Narita Brian—and their trainer.
Teio, as always, wore her confident Teio-smile.
Her trainer, likewise, had that same calm, unreadable smile.
Meanwhile, Brian… looked slightly displeased, her expression sullen.
"Oh? What’s wrong, Brian?"
When I asked Teio, she answered with a wry smile.
"Ahh… seems like she’s upset she doesn’t get to race against me or you, Wilm."
"…………Ah. Yeah, I see."
Between Teio’s words and Brian’s expression, I got the gist.
This race—of course, it’s meant to check our training progress and keep motivation high, but…
On their side, it’s probably more about showing Brian reality.
Brian is strong.
That’s an undeniable fact.
Even my rival-detection instincts are going wild, and with Teio’s talent, there’s no way she hasn’t noticed.
Brian definitely belongs in the same category as us—someone with enough talent to casually sweep a standard Classic Triple Crown.
She’s one of us.
But—
If she can’t see reality, that talent will never truly bloom.
Well… maybe it’ll bloom halfway.
In a less competitive Twinkle Series—one without someone like me—she might even take the Triple Crown.
But unfortunately—
I’m here.
There’s a monster here beyond your expectations.
And there are countless Umamusume who’ve raced against me, who’ve chased after me.
If you keep clinging to that baseless belief—"No matter how strong they are, I’ll surpass them eventually"—born from accumulated victories…
Then you have no future.
You’ll be crushed under that weight—sinking, and drowning.
…But we are seniors—those who came before.
It’s our role to make her understand that harsh reality—
and to help her break through her limits so she can carve out a future.
"Hehe, Teio, you’re starting to feel like a proper senior. Instead of doing everything yourself, you’re thinking things through and entrusting others. Very good, very good."
"What kind of perspective is that? ‘Starting to’? I am a senior, you know."
Teio says it so casually.
But seeing her growth like this… it just makes me happy as her friend.
I get it.
I felt the same way when Bourbon-chan became my junior—having someone like that close to you really does change how you think.
And so, we each took our places for the mock races.
First race: Dream Trophy-class, mid-distance.
Normally, Dream Trophy races are only held once every six months.
So it’s no surprise people got excited at the chance to see one.
There were even suggestions to make it the grand finale, but since this is internal training rather than a public exhibition, we decided to open with it instead.
The lineup: me, Teio, and the now almost-regular Rudolf-senpai…
along with Oguri-senpai, who said she wanted to challenge the current Hoshino Wilm.
…and then—
"Long time no see, Wilm-chan!"
With a cheerful smile and her dark bay hair swaying, the one who greeted me was—
an Umamusume who might as well be the protagonist of this world.
Or perhaps, the senior who showed me the path when I was at my weakest.
Or even… the rival who handed me my one and only defeat in an official race—the one I’ve always wanted to surpass.
Special Week-senpai had joined this race as well.
"It’s been a while, Spe-senpai.
Today… yes, I’ve been looking forward to this day very, very much."
"Hehe, me too! Today—well, not just today. Let’s make this another great race!"
The senior who once taught me to run while believing in the world.
The one who defeated an undefeated me—leaving me with unbearable frustration, but also the hope to keep running forward.
Because she’s someone I respect so deeply…
I wanted to win.
I wanted to repay that gratitude with the best run I could give.
And today is that day.
With everything I have—
I’ll burn even your shooting star to ashes!
And the result of the first race…
"Fuhahahahaha!! Revenge—success!!
Finally! FINALLY!! I beat Rudolf-senpai, Oguri-senpai, Spe-senpai—and all those other Dream Trophy seniors!!!"
1st place: Hoshino Wilm
2nd place: Symboli Rudolf
3rd place: Special Week
The pseudo-dual domains and evolved states the Dream Trophy seniors deployed—
I burned them all down to ashes.
And secured victory over Rudolf-senpai by two lengths.
"Ghh…! I thought I’d trained enough in the Dream Trophy League…!
Wilm-chan, I won’t lose next time!"
"Gladly… Let’s do this as many times as it takes, Spe-senpai!"
We shook hands, promising a rematch.
It might take a little longer before I officially reach the Dream Trophy stage…
but someday, I want to win there too.
No—
I will win next time.
Standing beside Ayumu, I wipe my sweat with the towel he handed me and look out over the track.
The second race is about to begin—
a mile race featuring Twinkle Senior-class runners, led by Bourbon-chan.
After last year’s Arima Kinen, Bourbon-chan took the spring off to prioritize the safety of her legs.
As she moves into the Senior class, she’s shifting her focus from the mid-to-long distance races she ran during her Classic year… to a mile–mid-distance route.
To begin with, the only reason she ran long distances—despite them not being her specialty—was to achieve her dream of winning the Triple Crown, and for the fans who supported her along the way.
Now that dream has become reality, there’s no reason for her to cling to that path anymore.
And with a slightly… questionable statement of, "As long as I can run alongside Master, I don’t care where it is," her return to her natural distance range was decided.
My optimal distance is long—honestly, the longer, the better.
So our racing paths have diverged.
Rice-chan, who used to be Bourbon-chan’s rival, also focuses mainly on long-distance races, so the same goes for her.
That part is a little lonely, but…
Well, it’s nothing new.
It’s not unusual at all for racing Umamusume to take different paths.
Teio’s optimal distance is around 2000 meters, while Nature’s is around 2400 to 2800.
Even among my closest rivals—the so-called “three-star lineup”—none of them share my 3200+ range.
And then there’s Ruby-senpai—the thief-type Umamusume I most want to settle things with.
That’s even worse.
She’s short-distance to mile, while I’m mid-to-long distance.
We don’t even have overlapping races to compete in.
If you ask whether that makes me sad…
well, it would be a lie to say it doesn’t.
But that’s just how the world works.
Things don’t go as you wish. There’s sadness.
But there are miracles too—and joy.
That’s why we have to cherish the small miracles in each day.
And because the world is like this…
that’s what makes the present so precious.
After everything I’ve been through, that’s how I see it now.
…Anyway, back to the topic.
In this mile race featuring Bourbon-chan, she’s naturally the favorite.
The undefeated Triple Crown champion—everyone’s watching to see if she can perform just as well at this distance.
So aside from her, who else stands out?
"Um, Bourbon-san, I look forward to racing with you today!"
First, of course, there’s the girl speaking to Bourbon-chan right now—Nishino Flower-chan.
I don’t personally know her, but she’s a gentle, soft-spoken Umamusume…
and without a doubt, one of the top runners of Bourbon-chan’s generation.
She’s noticeably smaller than most others—but that’s only natural.
Her peak came early, back in the junior division, which earned her a special case: she was allowed to skip ahead and enroll in Tracen early.
That background alone tells you how extraordinary her early development is.
A short-distance and mile runner, she won the Junior-class G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, and in her Classic year, she went on to secure titles in the Oka Sho and Sprinters Stakes.
Generally speaking, winning even two G1 titles during a Twinkle Series career is enough to go down in history.
Even Spe-senpai only has four wins, including her final race.
So the fact that Flower-chan already has three by the end of her Classic year really shows just how exceptional her growth is.
…Well, I had six by then, though.
If Bourbon-chan is the protagonist of the mid-to-long distance scene for her generation, then there’s no doubt that Nishino Flower-chan is the protagonist of the sprint–mile division.
In fact, the URA Awards this year named both of them Best Classic-class Umamusume.
I spoke to her briefly at the ceremony—she’s such a good kid.
Honestly, in a world full of… let’s say colorful personalities, she’s like a breath of fresh air.
In any case, despite her soft and fluffy demeanor, her ability is the real deal.
She’s kind-hearted, yet faces races with sincerity and gives everything she has to win.
A truly promising talent—I’m looking forward to seeing how far she goes.
And there’s one more interesting… or rather, unique Umamusume in this race.
"You won’t beat me! Bakushin, bakushiiin!!"
According to Ayumu, she’s one of the well-known names from the “app side”—a demon of the sprint distance.
She did lose to Flower-chan in last year’s Sprinters Stakes, but aside from that, she hasn’t lost a single sprint race.
Sakura Bakushin O-chan is another of Bourbon-chan’s rivals in this race.
…Though, one thing worries me—her performance drops noticeably when she runs mile races.
Ayumu says things like, "Sprint-distance Bakushin Committee President Bakuchan is pure Bakushin…"—which I still don’t fully understand—but it’s true that she’s incredibly strong at sprint distances.
Her explosive starts and full-throttle front-running style are reminiscent of Turbo—an all-out, exhilarating kind of racing that’s simply fun to watch.
But having the same style as Turbo also means sharing the same weakness.
As the distance increases and stamina demands rise… she just can’t quite keep up.
For her, that limit is probably somewhere within the sprint category itself…
Though I wonder if she has some deeper strategy in mind.
"My first step toward winning a long-distance G1 race!! I’ll start by Bakushin-ing this mock race!!!"
…Apparently not.
Anyway—
There’s no way Mihono Bourbon—an Umamusume perfectly supported by my Ayumu—would lose.
The mile intuition she’s carefully developed by running alongside Ruby-senpai.
Her absurd new strategy of "constantly running at 120% of her maximum speed."
And that ferocious, ever-upward drive to push beyond her limits.
All of it coming together—
The current Bourbon-chan has the power to blow away just about any ordinary runner.
And sure enough—
she claimed a decisive victory, finishing one and a half lengths ahead of Flower-chan in second place.
After acknowledging the cheering crowd—and then giving a nod to Ayumu and me—she brought her victory to a close.
…Yeah.
I’m looking forward to the next time I race her.
Honestly, maybe I should ask Ayumu to help me develop my mile aptitude too—just for that.
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