Bonus: I Brought the Expressionless Three Musketeers

I seem to have always been an Uma Musume lacking a strong will.

As far back as I can remember, even though there were slight fluctuations, I never truly felt intense emotions.

Data reference.

Favorite food… none.
Disliked food… none.
Favorite animal… none.
Disliked animal… none.
Things I like… none.
Things I dislike… none.

Mihono Bourbon may, perhaps, be missing something fundamental.

I do not feel affection toward others.

And likewise, I do not feel malice toward them either.

I have no “preferences.”

If I were to describe my past self in a single phrase, that would be the most accurate expression.

…However, that situation changed at one point.

“Fast, fast—what an incredible finishing kick! As expected of a Triple Crown Uma Musume, she dominates even a G1 race!
She crosses the finish with a two-length lead and claims the year-end championship!
Her time is… 2 minutes 32.8 seconds!! A record—an all-new record!!”

It was a G1 race in the Twinkle Series that my father took me to see.

The Triple Crown Uma Musume running there claimed victory in the highest tier of domestic racing with overwhelming strength.

A literal landslide victory. Power so exceptional that no other Uma Musume could come close.

When I saw that, I felt something powerful for the first time in my life… admiration.

If I had been participating in that race, how far could I have gone?

Of course, at that time, I hadn’t even reached physical maturity, let alone proper conditioning. Even if I had run alongside that Triple Crown Uma Musume, I would not have been able to compete at all.

And yet, even so, I couldn’t help but simulate it in my mind.

…Amazing.

A Triple Crown Uma Musume is amazing.

Looking back, that was probably the first “preference” I ever developed.

However, my younger self didn’t yet know how to express that feeling properly—or even what that feeling truly was.

So all I could say was this:

“D-Dad, I… um… I want to become a Triple Crown Uma Musume.”

What I truly admired may not have been that title itself.

…but at the very least, I knew that without winning the Triple Crown, I could never reach that back I had seen.

And so, perhaps that is why I said it.

And then, one more thing.

“…! …I see, I see. So, Bourbon wants to become a Triple Crown Uma Musume.

Then let’s aim for it together. Let’s go for the Triple Crown!”

My rough, taciturn father smiled—something he rarely did.

I remember feeling a strange emotion when I saw that smile.

A former trainer who was always strict, yet sometimes gentle, and who trained my body day after day.

Seeing him smile at me was truly rare…

And I believe, in that moment, I felt happy.

Thus, the goal of Mihono Bourbon was set.

To become a Triple Crown Uma Musume.

No matter how harsh the path might be, I would make my original resolve—my dream with my father—into reality.

That remains, even now, the longest-standing and highest-priority task I carry.

---

However, in reality, problems arose beyond all expectations.

First, I lacked the aptitude for long-distance running.

When my instructor observed my running, their judgment was that I was better suited to sprinting or mile races—distances aligned with my bloodline.

It is understood that Uma Musume entering Tracen Academy generally lack long-distance stamina.

…However, at the time, I couldn’t even properly run a mile—1,600 meters.

Even after training enough to manage it, the moment I had to compete head-to-head with other Uma Musume, my legs would quickly give out.

Thus, my current limit is the mile… at most 1,800 meters.

Unfortunately, anything beyond that is difficult for Mihono Bourbon.

I might not even be able to finish the 2,000 meters of the Satsuki Sho, let alone the 3,000 meters of the Kikuka Sho.

…It is an extremely fair assessment.

Bloodline—the absolute wall.

That was the first obstacle I faced upon entering Tracen Academy.

The next obstacle was my inability to reach an understanding with the veteran trainer who had chosen me… my former Master.

My former Master explained it to me many times.

You have talent as a miler. It would be a waste not to use it. You have the potential to succeed, so you should make use of it. I understand your feelings, but the Triple Crown is unrealistic.

That was likely the truth.

Even I could feel it—no matter how many times I ran, I could not extend my effective distance. The Triple Crown was drifting farther away.

…But that was my fundamental directive.

I am reversed from ordinary Uma Musume in terms of causality.

It’s not that I want to win, grow stronger, and claim glory, and therefore aim for the Triple Crown.

Rather, because I aim for the Triple Crown, I want to win, grow stronger, and claim glory.

Thus, the goal of the Triple Crown was not something I could ever relinquish.

…Even if that ultimately resulted in the termination of my contract with my former Master.

Because of these issues, I found myself in a critical situation—lacking both the stamina to run middle and long distances in the Classic races, and lacking a contracted trainer.

Cornered, the status “Impatience” activated within me.

I immediately recognized the need to resolve this situation and began taking action.

There were two things I needed to do.

Improve my physical ability to the point where I could run long distances.

And acquire a new trainer—a new Master—so I could compete in the Twinkle Series.

The latter was especially urgent.

At the time, my debut was only two months away.

Debuting as early as possible is not strictly mandatory, but the sooner it happens, the more flexibility it provides in scheduling.

Therefore, I needed to find—quickly—a Master who would believe in my dream of the Triple Crown.

…However, once I actually began trying to solve the problem, I realized just how difficult it truly was.

It seemed that I had already gained a reputation as a difficult Uma Musume—one who had defied the instructions of the former Master who had taken her in and had her contract terminated as a result.

And above all else, every trainer I met, upon hearing that I was a sprinter by blood yet aimed for the Triple Crown, simply shook their head and urged me to give up.

They all said the same thing.

That it was for my own good.

My requirement for a Master was simple: someone who would act in pursuit of the goal of achieving the Classic Triple Crown.

Yet there was no one who met that condition.

In just a single day, my plan collapsed, and I short-circuited in my own room.

Reality does not bend so easily. I had believed that effort could overcome anything, but a lack of trust from others was not something effort alone could fix.

In a word—checkmate.

And then, it was my roommate, Flower, who spoke to me.

She suggested that I try meeting a senior from the current Classic generation… an Uma Musume widely regarded as a prime Triple Crown contender: Hoshino Wilm-senpai.

Hoshino Wilm-senpai. Undefeated in three races including a G1, each victory a decisive blow—an escape-type runner hailed as the strongest of her generation.

Rumor had it that even she had once struggled with the limits of her legs.

In the only mock race she ran before her selection race, she had placed second, beaten by a full length. An unremarkable performance, unbefitting of Hoshino Wilm—or so it was said.

And yet now, she stood as one of the central figures of her generation, boasting overwhelming strength.

…Which meant that perhaps there existed a way to break through my own distance limit.

Having already exhausted every idea I could think of—and failed at all of them—I decided to act on Flower’s suggestion.

As it turned out, this decision became a major turning point for me.

Hoshino Wilm-senpai explained that she had simply misjudged her own aptitude and run mile races at first; she now focused on middle-to-long distances.

In other words, she had always possessed that aptitude from the beginning.

Unfortunately, that meant there was no method to surpass my own distance limit.

…However.

Despite being undefeated and carrying an air of calm confidence, she still took the time—despite it being just before the Satsuki Sho—to listen to my request.

And she shared two crucial facts with me.

First, that her bloodline was not particularly favored—she, like me, came from what was considered a humble lineage.

And second, that her trainer had once said this:

“Mihono Bourbon will achieve results in the Classic races.”

The wall of bloodline could be overcome.

There existed a trainer who believed in my dream.

That information alone was enough to determine my future course of action.

---

“After that, I continued training while searching for a trainer who would support my dream.

But no matter who I spoke to, they all saw me as a sprinter and said the Triple Crown would be unrealistic.

They told me that if I thought about my future, I should switch to short or mile distances now.”

There was no malice in their words, nor in my former Master’s.

They were simply considering my future and my legs.

…Even so.

I couldn’t be smart about it.

I couldn’t give up—the only dream I had ever possessed.

"So… Horino Ayumu, Trainer. I wanted you to become my Master.

There are people who worry about me, but there is no one else who truly believes in me.

And even if there were, I judged that no one would be more compatible with me than you."

"Compatible?"

"I am prepared to endure any level of harsh training.

If it is for the sake of the Triple Crown, I will endure even training that feels like my legs might tear apart."

"…I see. I understand now how I’m perceived among you junior Uma Musume."

Saying that, my new Master—Trainer Horino Ayumu—nodded.

Horino Ayumu, Trainer.

A contractor from a prestigious lineage, permitted to take on a charge without first serving as an instructor or sub-trainer.

The only reliable information available beforehand was that fact alone.

There were countless rumors, most of them unreliable.

Some said he was cold and ruthless, pushing his Uma Musume beyond their limits and forcing them to win through sheer brutality.

Others said he was earnest yet absent-minded, a compassionate man who would never allow his Uma Musume to overexert themselves.

Some claimed he was a strange man who, despite his pedigree, chose an Uma Musume from a humble background.

Others claimed he was a genius who drew out that hidden potential and led her to an undefeated Double Crown.

Some said he was a master of control who never allowed injuries.

Others said he was incompetent, having broken a famous horse through reckless scheduling.

The rumors shifted wildly depending on who spoke.

To some, he was the ideal trainer, worthy of admiration.

To others, a selfish man who cared nothing for his Uma Musume.

…In short, one could not discern his true nature through rumor alone.

That is why I chose to meet him myself—to evaluate his character and ability firsthand.

The conclusion I reached was simple.

He was an exceptionally sincere and capable trainer.

He remembered my name despite having met me only once before, through Hoshino Wilm-senpai.

He possessed the humility to say that I would be better off with him than elsewhere.

He allowed an unfamiliar Uma Musume to approach him and took the time to discuss race strategies.

His eye for evaluating Uma Musume was extraordinary, and his race planning was refined to its limits.

Status: “Conviction” acquired.

It was only natural that someone with such character and ability would earn the respect of Hoshino Wilm-senpai.

…There is a saying in this world: “Uma Musume resemble their trainers.”

Perhaps the reason Hoshino Wilm-senpai could show such generosity—taking time to advise a stranger on the eve of the Satsuki Sho—was because she resembled her Master.

Or perhaps it was because of that shared nature that the two were drawn together and formed a contract.

In any case—

For me, Mihono Bourbon, it was clear that serving under him was the optimal choice.

A kind and powerful senior who believed in me, and a capable, sincere Master who believed in my dream.

There could be no better environment than that.

Therefore, I executed Operation “Contract.”

I directly approached him and asked whether he would be willing to contract with me. When he refused, I tried again. And again.

Unfortunately, my Master’s resolve was firm. A frontal assault proved ineffective.

He told me repeatedly that he lacked the capacity to take responsibility for me, and even went so far as to recommend other capable trainers instead.

…However.

Precisely because he was that kind of trainer, I found myself wanting to contract with him all the more.

I believed that he was someone who would truly support me until the very end.

After that, I sought advice from my father and from Flower, and initiated the second operation: “If you wish to shoot the trainer, first shoot the Uma Musume.”

I made contact with Hoshino Wilm-senpai, who was hospitalized at the time, and requested her cooperation.

The result was favorable. Hoshino Wilm-senpai readily agreed—and even helped devise an effective strategy.

Thus, I finally succeeded in securing a Master who believed in my dream.

And now—

As I prepared to formally contract with my Master, we were in the process of communicating with one another.

After reintroducing ourselves and sharing our respective goals and policies, he asked me why I had chosen him.

Since we would be walking forward together from here on out, I deduced that a mutual understanding of our backgrounds was essential.

So I told him about my dream, how I had learned of him, and why I believed he was necessary to me.

His reaction was… complicated.

He seemed uncertain, as though something had caught in his thoughts.

I am not adept at reading the subtleties of human emotion, and could not fully grasp what he was feeling.

…However, he quickly reined in his expression and spoke again.

"Since Hoshino Wilm accepted you, I’m willing to contract with you as well.

…but there is one condition."

"What is it?"

"I don’t take on trainees lightly. I won’t accept someone unless I truly feel that I want to support them.

So… forgive me, but I need to place one condition on becoming your trainer."

I see.

It is not uncommon for trainers to impose tests or conditions before taking on an Uma Musume.

Especially someone like him, with such an exceptional track record—he was constantly being approached by junior Uma Musume seeking contracts.

Given that demand, it was only natural that he would impose conditions before accepting a new trainee.

"Order acknowledged. I will hear it."

"Good."

The Master paused, then glanced toward his current trainee, Hoshino Wilm-senpai, who was still running on the turf.

To me, she was a senior in two senses of the word. After suffering a fracture at the Takarazuka Kinen, she was currently undergoing rehabilitation.

That was why the two of us were speaking while watching her train.

"Here’s the condition. Before your junior year ends, win a G1 race.

Show me a run that makes me fall for your potential. Make me want to support you."

"…A G1 title."

"Yes. Don’t worry—your aptitude is more than sufficient.

I’ll support you as best I can. Let’s set that as your first objective."

A G1 race is something only those who stand at the pinnacle among thousands of Uma Musume in Japan are allowed to enter.

It is not something one can casually reach for—let alone declare they will win.

But if that is what is required to achieve the Triple Crown—

No—if my Master says I must do it—

Then all I need to do is carry it out.

Within the Twinkle Series, there are four G1 races that junior-class Uma Musume can enter.

Hanshin Racecourse, turf 1600 meters: the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

Same conditions: the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.

Kawasaki Racecourse, dirt 1600 meters: the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yūshun.

Nakayama Racecourse, turf 2000 meters: the Hopeful Stakes.

I have trained to run on turf in preparation for the Classic races. Therefore, it stands to reason that I should avoid the dirt-track Zen-Nippon Nisai Yūshun.

That leaves two realistic options.

Either run the mile at the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies or the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes—

Or run a middle-distance race at the Hopeful Stakes.

My ultimate goal is the Classic Triple Crown.

If I am to keep the Kikuka Sho in sight, then the goal I should choose is—

"Should I follow in Hoshino Wilm-senpai’s footsteps… and aim for the Hopeful Stakes?"

"No. …Actually, let’s talk about that first."

My Master paused, then looked me directly in the eyes and said:

"Mihono Bourbon, for now, give up on middle and long distances."

…Thought process frozen.

That meant—

"You mean… give up on the Triple Crown?"

"Hm? …Ah, I see. That’s a misunderstanding again.

Sorry—old habits die hard. What I mean is this: as long as you want it, you will run the Kikuka Sho.

What I’m saying is that, for now, you should give up trying to run middle distances. Start with the mile."

…Status detected: Relief.

A breath escaped my lungs.

Parting ways with my former Master—being unable to share my ideals and losing someone who supported me—was still a fresh memory.

For a moment, I feared this would end the same way.

My heart rate spiked rapidly.

It seems I was feeling anxious.

But it was only a misunderstanding.

My Master still believed in my dream.

And that was more than enough.

After several steady breaths, I confirmed that my thoughts had stabilized.

I will now proceed with the conversation.

"Apologies for interrupting. Please, go on."

"No, I should be the one apologizing… but we’ll set that aside for now.

To restate it clearly: with your current stamina, your distance limit is the mile—around 1600 meters at most.

Rather than forcing yourself into middle or long distances, it would be better for both your legs and your overall conditioning to extend your range gradually.

Therefore, the G1 title you should be aiming for is… the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes."

The Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.

A major junior-class showdown held in mid-December.

It is also one of the most important G1 races directly tied to eligibility for the Classic season.

However, one question arose in my mind.

"May I ask why you are certain it should be the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, rather than the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies?"

"Speaking plainly, it’s a matter of level.

The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes are both G1 races, but there is a slight difference in overall competitiveness. On average, the latter is stronger.

If you aim to become a true champion, Mihono Bourbon, then you should aim to win the tougher one."

It was a simple and logical answer.

If one seeks the exceedingly difficult achievement of the Triple Crown, then overcoming such a hurdle is only natural.

At 1600 meters—a distance suited to my bloodline—if I cannot become the best of my generation, then 3000 meters would remain nothing more than a dream.

It made perfect sense.

To achieve the lofty goal of the Triple Crown, I would need to defeat stronger and stronger rivals.

At the same time, I detected a weaker instance of the status “Relief.”

…This is merely personal sentiment.

My roommate, Flower, is scheduled to run in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

If possible, I would like to see her win as well.

It seems that, somewhere within me, I felt that way.

"I understand. I will follow your directive and aim for the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes."

"Good. That makes things easy.

This year’s Asahi Hai will be held on December 8th.

…Which means we’ll want you to win an Open or Pre-Open race before then, to build recognition."

"Will the distance be 1600 meters as well?"

"Yes. Considering we’ll need time after your debut to refine your form and observe your temperament… mid to late November, 1600 meters…"

As he spoke, Master reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a planner, flipping through its pages.

…For an instant, I caught sight of its contents. Detailed notes about this year’s races were written in small, meticulous script.

Among them was an entry reading: “Hanshin JF – Nishino Flower scheduled to run.”

So he knew Flower’s schedule as well.

And despite that, he still chose the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes…

Perhaps he was being considerate.

…Indeed, he is not the kind of person who treats Uma Musume carelessly.

He is a trainer who truly considers those under his care.

"November 17th, the Begonia Stakes. Tokyo Racecourse, turf 1600 meters.

The conditions aren’t ideal, but this should be suitable. It doesn’t overlap with Hoshino Wilm’s Japan Cup either."

"Hoshino Wilm-senpai is scheduled to run in the Japan Cup?"

"Ah… yes, that’s right.

But that information isn’t public yet. Keep it confidential."

"Understood."

"Mm… well, I suppose I can trust you with it.

Hoshino Wilm will be running in the Kikuka Sho, the Japan Cup, and then the Arima Kinen this year.

None of those overlap with your schedule, so you can rest easy."

"The Kikuka Sho…?"

"…Ah. I suppose I hadn’t told you that yet.

That’s on me—I haven’t organized my thoughts well. I’ll get an earful from Masa again… no, that’s beside the point.

Hoshino Wilm has already fully recovered from her fracture. If rehabilitation continues smoothly, she should be able to race."

Status detected: Shock.

From the Takarazuka Kinen to the Kikuka Sho, there are roughly 139 days—about four and a half months.

I had heard that Hoshino Wilm-senpai suffered a complete fracture.

Normally, even a clean break requires nearly three months to heal.

Then comes rehabilitation—at least two more months.

After that, one would usually need additional races to return to peak form.

In total, recovery typically takes over half a year.

And yet, she was already running beautifully, with no visible trace of injury.

Even so, returning fully in time for the Kikuka Sho would be extraordinarily difficult.

And yet they intended to overcome that difficulty as though it were natural.

…Perhaps common sense simply does not apply to my senpai and my Master.

If I stay with them… perhaps I, too—

"Now then, that’s enough about Hoshino Wilm. Let’s talk about you.

For now, I want to see how you perform in an actual race. We’ll polish your form over the next week and get your debut out of the way."

"Understood."

There was no bravado in his voice—only calm certainty as he mapped out the schedule.

Not confidence born of arrogance, but the ease of someone who already knows the correct answer.

Though he is, like me, new to this level, he organizes training and planning with astonishing efficiency.

This is a trainer of a prestigious lineage.

No—this is my Master.

…Unknown status detected.

Searching for similar entries: “Admiration,” “Respect,” “Envy,” “Impatience.”

From these, I infer that I may be aspiring to stand beside him.

In the distance, I see Hoshino Wilm-senpai running along the turf.

When I spoke with her before, she seemed to trust her Master deeply.

And the way he had looked at her earlier—calm, assured—

A powerful gray dragon and a trainer of exceptional skill and spirit.

They share a bond built on absolute trust, truly worthy of the phrase “two as one.”

I must become an Uma Musume worthy of standing beside my Master as well.

My next objective is set.

To win the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and earn my Master’s recognition.

And to build an unshakable bond of trust with both my Master and Hoshino Wilm-senpai.

Mihono Bourbon will rise to the challenge.