Chapter 39: Chestnut at the Front Gate, Buckskin at the Back Gate

To be honest, I still don’t fully understand what kind of world this is.

The one thing I do know for certain is that it closely resembles the app game I played in my previous life—Uma Musume: Pretty Derby.

The existence of the Uma Musume, the Twinkle Series, Tracen Academy, the structure of the first three years…
The terminology and systems are almost identical to what the app described. Too identical, in fact.

There are still details that don’t quite line up, but broadly speaking, it’s safe to say this world is extremely similar to that game.

…But really, doesn’t reincarnating into a game world sound ridiculous?

At its core, a game is nothing more than a program—data. It doesn’t physically exist.
So being born into it with an actual body shouldn’t be possible.

Which means that unless my own perception is fundamentally broken, this world can’t literally be inside the game.

So then… what is this world?
And how is it connected to the app from my previous life?

I’ve been thinking about that for a long time.

There are several possibilities.

First: the “full-dive VR game” theory.

Maybe this is actually a virtual reality game, and due to some kind of bug or malfunction, I can’t remember my previous life. Maybe I’m just playing an impossibly advanced VR title.

Thinking about it that way does make the whole “reincarnation into a game” idea sound a little more reasonable.

But then there’s the overwhelming realism of this world.
The way both humans and Uma Musume feel so alive—there’s no way technology from my previous era could recreate something like this.

Unless, of course, time passed without my knowledge and technology advanced far beyond what I knew… perhaps through cryogenic sleep or something similar.
Still, that explanation feels like a stretch.

Next theory: bored gods playing a game.

Assume that godlike beings exist, and for some unfathomable reason, they took an interest in human entertainment and decided to create a world inspired by Uma Musume.

Viewed that way, a lot suddenly makes sense.
This would be a real, physical world—just one modeled after a game. The existence of Uma Musume themselves would also be neatly explained.

…Of course, that explanation works precisely because it dumps everything into the category of “god did it.”
It’s convenient, but not very satisfying.

Then there’s another theory—one that’s harder to accept, but still possible.

What if the Uma Musume app was actually based on this world?

If reincarnation exists, then maybe someone who died here was reborn in my previous world and created the game based on their memories.

Under that assumption, this world wouldn’t be a game at all—it would be the original.

But there’s a massive problem with that idea.

The racehorses that served as the basis for the Uma Musume actually existed in my previous world. Their names were chosen by real horse owners. There’s no realistic way someone could have coordinated all of that to perfectly align with this world.

That’s simply not plausible.

Which brings me to the theory I currently consider the most likely.

Instead of calling it a “previous life,” maybe I should call it “the other world.”

What if this world and that world are deeply connected?

It sounds absurdly fantastical, but if the two worlds influence one another, then this strange situation starts to make sense.

For example, maybe the souls of horses who excelled in the other world are reborn here as Uma Musume.

And maybe the Uma Musume who shine in this world are destined to be manifested as characters in the other one.

It’s a stretch—honestly, it’s pure speculation with no physical evidence to support it.

But out of all the theories, this one aligns best with the structure and logic of the app I knew.

In that case, Uma Musume would be mysterious beings who inherit both names and souls from another world. And if they can be influenced by that world, it stands to reason they could influence it in return.

…Yeah. I know. It’s more than half nonsense.

There are countless other possibilities too, but in the end, they’re all just speculation.

I thought about it, researched it, and after everything—
I still don’t know.

That’s the conclusion I reached.

So what is this world?

Honestly, maybe it’s something I’ll never fully understand.

All I have are fragments of circumstantial evidence. Nothing concrete.

There’s only one thing I’m certain of.

What I need to do now.

To live in this world as Horino Ayumu, and support Hoshino Wilm.

That’s my guiding principle.

Now then.

It’s almost certain that this world has some kind of connection to the app from my previous life.

And thinking about that connection might help me support Hoshino Wilm more effectively.

So let’s take another look at that app.

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby.

It was a social game that personified real-life racehorses as cute girls.

The basic gameplay loop went something like this:

You pulled the gacha to obtain training Uma Musume and support cards.

You trained your Uma Musume for three years using those support cards.

Then you raced them—or formed teams and competed against other trainers.

That was the core of it.

And surprisingly, it aligns very closely with how this world works.

First, the gacha.

In this world, it’s fate—who you happen to meet.

The training Uma Musume is your main charge. Support cards represent everyone else you encounter along the way.

We trainers are essentially “drawing” those encounters in real time as we live.

Take me, for example.

I struggled for a long time without pulling a training Uma Musume. Then one day, I finally drew a top-tier ★3—Hoshino Wilm.

After that, while training her, I pulled SSR Support Card Nice Nature shortly after her debut, and earlier this year I pulled SSR Support Card Tokai Teio.

Training with Nature noticeably boosted our stats. In my previous life, support cards represented companions who trained alongside you—and that interpretation fits perfectly here.

Then, before the Derby, I also pulled ★3 training Uma Musume Mihono Bourbon.

I don’t plan to take her on as my trainee, so she’ll likely be a pass—like pulling a unit but choosing not to raise her.

The difference from the game, however, is that in this world, they can contract with other trainers, and there’s a time limit.

Mihono Bourbon’s goal is the Classic Triple Crown, and the first step—Satsuki Sho—is only about ten months away.

If she doesn’t secure a trainer by then—or even earlier, considering debut races and qualifications—that might be the end.

Of course, someone of her caliber will definitely find a trainer. If it looked like she wouldn’t, I could always step in and help mediate.

But still, I have no intention of training Mihono Bourbon.

That’s simply how fate turned out.

Right now, I’m Hoshino Wilm’s trainer.

Now, as for training itself…

This is where the differences between this world and the game become truly apparent.

In the game, training ends after three years, once you win the URA Finals.

But in this world, that’s not the case.

After the first three years, you’re allowed to enter the URA Finals—but your relationship doesn’t end there.

As long as the Uma Musume wishes, she can continue racing in the Twinkle Series.

That’s why someone like Silence Suzuka competed for a total of six years.

…Well, she’s currently racing overseas, so she’s more like a registered name than an active participant. Calling it “participation” might be stretching it.

That said, I do have a theory as to why the game ends after three years.

In this world as well, just like in the app from my previous life, the “first three years” are treated as especially important.

That’s because a phenomenon known as “Full Maturation” generally concludes after about three years.

And that, most likely, is why the game ends its training period there.

“Full Maturation” is a well-known phenomenon unique to racing Uma Musume.

By running semi-official selection races alongside other Uma Musume, their bodies prepare themselves for competition and enter this state.

Once that happens, over the following three years, their bodies undergo explosive growth.

Speed, stamina, power, grit—even intelligence. All of it skyrockets at a pace incomparable to before.

Their physiques also rapidly develop and settle into forms best suited to their individual running styles. During those three years, their outward appearance barely changes.

That is what Full Maturation is.

Conversely, once those three years end, their abilities hardly grow at all.

That’s why the game cuts things off there.

Even if you continued training beyond that point, there would be almost no growth.

From a game design standpoint, that’s where progression ends.

But in this world, racing doesn’t end there.

Even after completing the Twinkle Series, it’s not over.

If a runner retires from the Twinkle Series with sufficient popularity and ability, she becomes eligible to participate in a group of races known—at least in the previous-life app—as the Dream Trophy League.

A dazzling stage reserved only for the greatest of the great.

Even Hoshino Wilm, at her current level, wouldn’t stand a chance in those races.

While physical growth has already reached its limit, technique, race sense, and mastery of one’s craft can still improve.

You can’t expect the explosive growth seen during the Twinkle Series, but even so, Uma Musume continue to grow stronger and faster.

That’s why the Dream Trophy League features far fewer races than the Twinkle Series.

And precisely because those opportunities are so rare, fans eagerly await those legendary clashes with all their hearts.

Now then, let’s return to the third point—team-based competition.

In the previous-life app, team races and Champion Meetings most likely correspond to the Dream Trophy League.

The Dream Trophy League also serves as a kind of fan appreciation event. In addition to standard eighteen-runner races, there are team-based formats and nine-runner races as well.

Of course, the same Uma Musume can’t run multiple slots. There’s no such thing as “debuff Nature,” after all.

Looking at all this, it’s clear that this world and the app from my previous life share a remarkably close relationship in terms of structure and terminology.

Whether this world became the basis for the app, or the app became the basis for this world—or whether the two are synchronized in some deeper way—I don’t know.

But one thing is certain: the knowledge and experience from the app won’t go to waste.

…All right. Let’s get to the main point.

Based on all of this, I’ve reached one conclusion.

Until I pass the “first three years” with my first trainee, I won’t take on another one.

In the app, the protagonist—the player’s avatar—was a rookie trainer.

He—or she—never handled more than one Uma Musume at a time.

…Well, to be precise, in the main story they technically did, but that was a special case. It only happened because they were appointed as a team trainer by their predecessor.

Fundamentally, managing multiple Uma Musume is far too much for an inexperienced rookie.

And above all, the highest authority at this academy may look young, but they are a person of integrity.

They aren’t the type to dump unreasonable demands on a novice.

Therefore, rookie trainers do not take on more than one trainee.

That’s an absolute principle—an unspoken rule at Tracen Academy.

…Or so I thought.

"Proposal! Trainer Horino, how about increasing the number of Uma Musume you’re in charge of?"

And just like that, the first chapter between Hoshino Wilm and me came to an end.

Before I even realized it, a new fate had begun to stir.

---

One day in August.

At last, Hoshino Wilm’s bones had fully healed, and it was time to put her comeback program for the Kikuka Sho into action.

I had gathered a large amount of data from the Horino family archives, so while it might not be perfect, it should at least be serviceable.

All I could do now was support Hoshino Wilm in my own way.

I had lost the path of being a Horino-family trainer.

But if there was any silver lining…

By that point, I had already found another path.

I had found a goal I genuinely wanted to pursue: becoming a good trainer for Hoshino Wilm.

Of course, unlike being a Horino trainer, this path had no clear guideposts.

It was like traveling without a compass.

With only her as my guiding star, I had to move forward under that faint light.

That wasn’t easy for someone as untalented as me.

…But it was still better than having no guidance at all.

So that day, too, I worked diligently in the trainer’s office—

When suddenly, there was a light knock.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Trainer Horino, the chairwoman is calling for you."

That was Tazuna, coming to fetch me.

Hayakawa Tazuna.

She was the secretary to the academy chairwoman, a character who also existed in the app from my previous life.

Dressed in her signature green attire, she was a mature woman with a calm, composed presence.

In the app, she was strongly associated with friend-support cards and gacha disasters, but in this world, she was incredibly capable and easy to work with.

Her official duties included assisting the chairwoman and acting as a liaison between individual trainers and the academy as a whole.

She compiled the paperwork we handled, passed it on to the appropriate departments, and stepped in wherever help was needed.

Without a doubt, she was the most well-connected person in the entire academy.

If any emergency arose, she was the first person you informed and relied upon.

And if you had questions or needed clarification, the standard move was to ask either the office—or Tazuna herself.

If she weren’t here, there’s no way trainers would be able to focus on their work the way they do now.

That’s why anyone who’s served as a trainer for more than a year holds deep gratitude toward her, respecting her tireless efforts and dedication.

…Though some people, terrified of how mercilessly she points out mistakes, jokingly refer to her as the “Green Devil.”

Now then, the fact that she came to call for me likely meant something urgent.

For example, something regarding Hoshino Wilm’s future.

Fortunately, it was lunchtime. Hoshino Wilm was probably eating right about now.

There was still time before training, and I didn’t have any pressing work to wrap up.

I sent Hoshino Wilm a message explaining the situation, then followed Tazuna as she led me toward the chairwoman’s office.

---

I refer to characters like Nice Nature and Tokai Teio as “named characters.”

By that, I mean characters who were implemented in the app from my previous life, rather than generic NPCs.

By that logic, Tazuna—who had a clear name and appearance in the app—also qualified as a named character.

And so did this tiny chairwoman.

"Welcome! I’m glad you could come, Trainer Horino!"

She greeted me with a smile, opening a fan emblazoned with the word “Welcome.”

She was a small girl with light chestnut-colored hair, and for some reason, she always had a cat sitting atop her hat.

She was none other than Akikawa Yayoi, the chairwoman of Tracen Academy.

The academy’s beloved pint-sized chairwoman.

Her appearance was just as cute as any Uma Musume’s, but her personality was bold beyond measure.

She lived on momentum, enthusiasm, and pure love for Uma Musume. In the app from my previous life, when the URA Finals were in danger of being canceled, she even tried to fund replacement turf out of her own pocket.

In this world, the URA Finals had begun being held about two and a half years ago, and Happy Meek—who had belonged to the same generation in the app—was now in her third senior year.

Considering that, this timeline was about two and a half years past the point where the app’s training story ended.

Which meant… yes. She had probably gone through all that turf-related chaos here as well.

Despite her reckless tendencies, she was fundamentally kind when it came to anything involving Uma Musume.

Though still young, she served capably as chairwoman, always thinking of others’ futures—a genuinely kind-hearted person.

Now then, Akikawa Yayoi was the chairwoman of Tracen Academy.

That meant she stood at the top of the organization, responsible for guiding the academy’s future.

And because of that, she would sometimes summon trainers like this—to deliver directives or assignments.

"Now then, have a seat. I have something important to discuss with you today!"

"Excuse me."

I took my seat, wondering what this was about.

…Well, I could guess, more or less.

After all, my trainee was one of the hottest stars in the racing world right now.

Possibilities included praise for her achievements, advance notice about this year’s URA Awards, or discussions regarding her future direction.

Hoshino Wilm was an undefeated dual-classic champion, and the first in history to win the Takarazuka Kinen at the classic level.

On top of that, her runaway style reminiscent of Silence Suzuka, her forward-leaning posture reminiscent of Oguri Cap, and her humble origins all contributed to her explosive popularity.

And alongside her, rivals like Tokai Teio and Nice Nature—and indeed the entire generation—were drawing global attention.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the Twinkle Series hadn’t been this electrifying since the era of the legendary “Eternal Three.”

Naturally, the URA—Tracen Academy’s parent organization—would want to capitalize on that popularity to further promote the series.

And now that Hoshino Wilm’s injury had fully healed, it was finally possible to openly plan events again.

URA-sponsored talk shows? Commercial appearances?

…If that was the case, it would be a difficult decision.

For a racing Uma Musume, promotional work is part of the job.

But at the same time, Hoshino Wilm wanted nothing more than to regain her full strength and compete in the Kikuka Sho.

Should I prioritize publicity, or training?

It was a tough call.

If I were acting purely as a Horino-family trainer, there’d be no dilemma.

Her wishes would come first. Even if the URA made a request, if she didn’t want to do it, that would be the end of it.

…but personally—

I wanted her to experience more.

Even if it didn’t directly help her training, being recognized by society was something she needed.

And I wanted more people to know her effort and her running.

Those were selfish desires, admittedly.

But I’d recently learned that acting without any ego at all wasn’t necessarily the right answer either.

For now, I would listen, confirm things with Hoshino Wilm, and then choose the path I believed was right.

That was what I was thinking—

When words completely beyond my expectations reached my ears.

"Very well. My proposal is this! Trainer Horino, how about increasing the number of Uma Musume under your care?"

With a snap, the chairwoman opened a different fan than before.

On it were written two bold characters: "Increase."

I always wonder—how many of those fans does she even have?

Does she hide dozens of them under her clothes? Is she some kind of assassin?

…No. Focus.

"...Increase… you mean, my number of trainees?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Taking on additional Uma Musume was something of a trial for a rookie trainer.

It was a challenge one had to face eventually—but touching it too lightly could leave you badly burned.

…Of course, there were exceptions. Teio’s trainer, for instance, stubbornly refused to take on more trainees no matter how many times he was told to—but that was very much an outlier.

The first problem was sheer workload.

Even with my so-called "cheat" advantages—my brief past-life work experience and the intense preparation I’d received from the Horino family—it would still be a heavy burden.

Manageable, perhaps, but far from easy.

For trainers without those advantages, especially those from humble backgrounds, it would be brutal.

With the workload nearly doubling, it felt like something intended for trainers in their fourth year or later.

The second problem was conflict with the current trainee.

Time is finite—for everyone, trainers included.

Taking on another trainee meant dividing that time.

And the first to suffer from that division would be the Uma Musume already under your care.

Unless a trainer had an abundance of free time—which was rarely the case—existing trainees inevitably received less attention.

That often bred dissatisfaction and led to problems.

…And yet, despite all of these issues, a trainer eventually had to take on more than one assigned Uma Musume.

The reason was simple.

Central Tracen Academy was a massive institution with nearly 2,000 Uma Musume, yet fewer than 200 trainers.

At best, the system barely functioned if each trainer was responsible for around ten Uma Musume.

…Well, in truth, not all of them were registered as active racing Uma Musume, so in practice it was closer to seven or eight per trainer—but that was beside the point.

That was why there were teams made up of dozens of Uma Musume, and why it was tacitly accepted that some were "loaned" a trainer in name only—unable to receive proper guidance, but at least allowed to race.

Tracen Academy was always in need of trainers.

And not just any trainers—ones who were capable, and able to oversee as many Uma Musume as possible at once.

…The logic made sense.

It really did.

But still—asking someone who hadn’t even fully settled into the job yet, whose very first trainee was still in the middle of the Classic Road, to take on more responsibilities? That felt like too much.

"...I am painfully aware of my own lack of talent. Even now, I can’t say I’m supporting my trainee as well as I should.

That’s why, if possible, I would like a bit more time."

If I could, I wanted to refuse.

For both myself—still finding my footing—and for Hoshino Wilm, who was still in rehabilitation, this was a crucial period.

To put it bluntly, I didn’t want to carry any more weight.

But Chairwoman Akikawa simply shook her head, unconcerned.

"I’ve heard that you work with remarkable efficiency, and that you rarely make serious mistakes.

Moreover, for a year and a half, you’ve managed your trainee so well that she hasn’t suffered a single injury during training."

"Respectfully, I allowed injuries during the Japan Derby and the Takarazuka Kinen. I can’t call that perfect management."

"We’ve already heard Hoshino Wilm’s account of those incidents.

'At the Japan Derby, I used a running style I never told my trainer about. At the Takarazuka Kinen, I ran despite being warned not to. The responsibility lies entirely with me.'

…Is that accurate?"

"No. I allowed her to race. As such, the responsibility lies with me as her trainer."

Before even discussing taking on another trainee, that was an immutable truth.

A trainer existed to observe, guide, and protect young Uma Musume who could not yet always make sound judgments on their own.

And I had failed to stop her from making choices that led to injury.

Even if she herself held no regrets, the responsibility for her wounds rested with me.

That was why I wanted to say I wasn’t capable of handling more than one trainee.

"Hmm. Excellent! With that mindset, you can certainly handle a second one!"

"...?"

Why was I being praised for admitting my shortcomings?

Was this a bug? Had the chairwoman malfunctioned somehow?

As I stood there wondering whether I should intervene before my superior went completely off the rails…

Chairwoman Akikawa’s expression suddenly sharpened, and she met my gaze directly.

"As chairwoman, I personally sit in on trainer interviews. Do you remember?"

"Yes, I do."

It felt nostalgic—about three years ago.

After obtaining my Central Trainer license, I’d gone through an interview.

There were four interviewers: two people I didn’t recognize—later I learned they were from the URA—along with Tazuna-san and the chairwoman.

Seeing familiar faces from the previous-life app for the first time in reality had made me realize something.

I really had come to the world of Uma Musume.

"At that time, I asked you this:

'What do you believe is the most important thing for a trainer?'"

"To abandon the self."

"Yes. You said one must cast aside the ego and devote oneself entirely to the other.

What do you think of that answer now?"

I thought for a moment.

Abandoning oneself to support one’s trainee—that was the ideal answer for a 'Trainer Horino.'

And even now, I didn’t believe it was wrong.

To remove unnecessary noise, to devote every resource one had to supporting another—those were undeniably essential traits for a trainer.

…But.

I no longer felt that was enough.

"...I think it was incomplete.

If Uma Musume truly run while carrying people’s hopes and dreams…

Then a trainer shouldn’t discard their ego, but learn how to properly rein it in.

Above all, they must love their trainee’s running—more than anyone else."

That was my own answer—not as "Horino the Trainer," but simply as myself.

Whether it was correct or not, I still didn’t know.

"Pass!"

The chairwoman’s reaction was theatrical.

With a sharp fwap, she opened yet another fan.

Written boldly across it were the characters: "PASS."

…Pass? Pass for what?

"My apologies for testing you, Trainer Horino.

This was something of a rite of passage. Before allowing a trainer to take on multiple Uma Musume, the chairwoman herself speaks with them to assess their growth and mindset.

If we do not speak privately, true intentions tend to remain hidden. I trust you will keep this confidential from the others."

Ah… I see.

So I’d been undergoing an examination—to determine whether I was fit to take on a second trainee.

…Even though I hadn’t planned on doing so.

"But seeing a trainer grow like this brings me great joy!

Trainer Horino, allow me to formally propose it once more—won’t you take on another trainee?"

"In the past year and a half, I’ve become acutely aware of my shortcomings. If possible, I would like to wait another year and a half—at least until Hoshino Wilm completes her full maturation."

"Mm. There is an unspoken understanding regarding that, and I had initially planned to wait until your 'first three years' were over.

However, now I truly wish for you to take on another trainee."

"...Why?"

"Two reasons. First—because it is you."

The chairwoman took a sip of the tea Tazuna-san had brought, then continued.

"I hold you in high regard.

Your stoic nature can be dangerous, yes—but it also holds the potential to become something exceptional. You are, in essence, a raw gem of a trainer.

And more than that, you possess true ability. You mastered work that normally takes over four years in just one, and you have an exceptional eye for detecting fatigue in Uma Musume."

…So she had noticed.

Setting aside my work speed, that ability was real.

That strange perceptiveness born from my so-called ‘app reincarnation.’

She probably didn’t understand its true nature, but she had clearly noticed my knack for reading a racer’s condition.

"...As you know, Tracen Academy is currently short on trainers. Because of that, many Uma Musume are unable to receive proper guidance.

That is why we seek as many capable, upright trainers as possible."

I briefly wondered when I’d earned such an evaluation.

But the only times I’d ever spoken to Chairwoman Akikawa about my beliefs were during that interview.

And the only time I had demonstrated my ability to assess fatigue was during rookie training.

…Which meant that from the very beginning, she had been watching me closely.

Realizing that, one lingering question finally fell into place.

"Could it be… that I was allowed to take on a trainee without first serving as a sub-trainer or instructor…?"

"Affirmative! I granted that permission myself!

There is no room in today’s Tracen Academy to let promising talent rot away. Prioritizing the Uma Musume of the present over outdated traditions is only natural.

If things had gone poorly, I intended to have Tazuna assist you—but you exceeded my expectations. No, you surpassed them entirely.

You have my gratitude, Trainer Horino!"

…So that was it.

I’d half-suspected my father might have pulled some strings behind the scenes, but no—this was entirely the result of a runaway chairwoman.

Still, I had grown as a trainer, and meeting Hoshino Wilm was nothing short of a miracle.

If things had truly gone wrong, Tazuna-san would have stepped in, and she wouldn’t have ended up permanently injured…

If all of this stemmed from her love for the Uma Musume, then perhaps it wasn’t fair to blame her.

…Though I would have appreciated a bit more explanation.

Still, it was probably a test—to see how far I could go without being told anything. I suppose I would have to accept that.

In any case, what mattered now was the question of taking on another trainee.

"I appreciate the high evaluation, but I truly don’t believe I possess that level of ability."

"Ability is not something one decides for oneself. It is something proven by results.

You guided your very first trainee to an undefeated Double Crown. Whether you believe that was luck or her strength alone is irrelevant—what led her there was you.

So no matter how much you downplay yourself, I will continue to evaluate you highly.

And if your workload ever becomes too heavy, I swear I will provide you with every possible form of support.

So please—for your own growth, and for the sake of many Uma Musume—choose the path of challenge!"

…Being praised does feel good.

But honestly, it still felt like an overestimation.

There was no sense of accomplishment—only a vague feeling of unreality.

That aside, what should I do?

With Tazuna-san’s support, even if things went south, there would be a safety net.

Mental strain and focus were things I had to manage myself regardless.

From a logistical standpoint, the problems were all accounted for.

…And yet, there was still one issue left.

"Considering Hoshino Wilm’s situation, I believe increasing my number of trainees at this time would be unwise.

She’s currently in rehabilitation after an injury. I don’t want to risk destabilizing her now."

"Understood! In other words, as long as you have her consent, there is no problem!

You two—come in!"

"Eh?"

As I stood there, confused, the door leading to the office opened with a soft click…

And two Uma Musume stepped inside.

"One more reason I want you to take on another trainee is this: one girl came to me personally to ask that you train her, and another came to request my approval.

When someone bows their head and makes such a plea, I can hardly refuse!"

The first to enter was the chestnut-haired Uma Musume who had once tried to scout me—Mihono Bourbon.

…So she was the one who had steered the chairwoman in this direction.

I couldn’t help feeling baffled that she’d gone that far just to avoid finding another trainer.

…But then—

The Uma Musume who stepped in behind her made all such thoughts vanish.

She was small, bay-colored, and far too familiar.

"Hoshino… Wilm?"

My trainee—whom I had seen only hours earlier—bowed lightly before speaking.

Then she said something completely unexpected.

"Trainer… if you don’t mind, could you take care of Bourbon as well?

Not just me—please guide her too… all the way to the Triple Crown."