Chapter 44: A Line-Forming Wilm Advice Booth

The project Hoshino Wilm would put on for the Autumn Fan Appreciation Festival was decided: an advice booth.

Its name was “Wilm Advice Booth.” …Yeah, it ended up being an extremely straightforward, no-frills name.

The idea itself was simple. Listen to each visiting fan’s worries one by one, respond to them, and communicate along the way.

For the record, conversation time was limited to one minute, and the consultation fee was 300 yen. An outrageous rip-off—something that would only ever be tolerated at a festival.

To be honest, I almost said I didn’t want to do it, because I wasn’t confident I could have fun conversations with people I didn’t know. But in the end, I steeled myself.

I wanted to give something back, even if only a little, to all the fans who support me.

You may have forgotten, but I’m bad at communicating.

…Well, maybe “bad” is overstating it.

In my previous life, being around people was painful, and I was a loner. Even in this life, after losing that aversion… well, various things happened, and I still didn’t have many friends.

Before coming to Tracen, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I had none at all.

So I simply lack experience communicating with people.

Rather than “communication-shy,” maybe “communication-poor” fits better.

That said—this may sound self-congratulatory, but I’m fairly capable.

Thinking back, even in my previous life, I rarely failed at something I seriously committed to.

In this life too—this isn’t a brag, okay… sorry, that’s a lie, it totally is a brag—but I think my own talent, alongside my trainer’s ability, played a role in reaching things like an undefeated Double Crown and the first-ever Classic-tier Takarazuka Kinen victory.

So it’s not that I can’t communicate at all.

It’s just that it only works when the other person’s position is clearly defined—like “my trainer” or “a junior”—when I already know how to talk to them and what topics to bring up.

If I’m suddenly put on the spot, there’s a real chance I’ll freeze up with an “uh, um…”

I know how to deal with fans as a collective. But in a one-on-one advice booth format, where I have to respond to each individual…

Could I really walk away thinking, “Yeah, that was a fun conversation”?

…I was just about to voice that kind of weakness.

But it’s true that I want to give something back to my fans. And if my trainer said, “Let’s go with that,” then it meant the idea had more than enough appeal to draw people in.

Having demand but too little supply is painful.

In my previous life, I went through plenty of unpleasant experiences with lotteries, instant sellouts, and those trash-tier scalpers that infest the market.

Precisely because of that, I wanted to actively meet the demand of the people who support me.

And so, I made up my mind.

At this point, there was nothing left to do but go for it.

Days passed as I worked through meetings and training…

And then the day arrived in the blink of an eye.

…Seriously.

Why is it that events you’re not thrilled about always come so fast?

---

Early in the morning on the day of the Fan Appreciation Festival, after finishing my early run, I was standing in front of Tracen Central’s famous “Hollow of Lament.”

A large, hollow tree stump stood alone in the academy courtyard.

It’s a kind of stress-relief spot where Tracen Academy students vent their frustration from losses or the pain of training by shouting into it.

By the way, “Hollow of Lament” is a name I came up with myself.

It even appeared in the anime and is a fairly popular spot, but it doesn’t have a clear official name.

People usually call it “the big tree’s hollow” or just “that hollow.”

So I named it.

Since it’s filled with Uma Musume frustration and suffering, it’s the Hollow of Lament.

Pretty good name, right?

…Anyway.

The reason I was here was simple.

I had things I wanted to vent too.

Specifically, anxiety, excuses, and maybe even vomit.

On the day of the big festival, Hoshino Wilm was tasting tension and unease for the first time in a while.

It’s fine.

I’ve gotten through tight spots plenty of times before.

Something like this is nothing now.

The final corner of the Takarazuka Kinen was way worse—my legs were about to give out, I got passed left and right, it was a mess.

Compared to that adversity, this situation should be easy.

A breakthrough is simple.

It has to be simple.

That’s right. I can do this. I can do this. I can—

No matter how much I told myself that, the tension and anxiety wouldn’t fade.

Ugh.

What if people came here to have fun, and I ended up giving them some garbage response like “uh, yeah, um—ah, right, uh”?

I hardly ever feel nervous or anxious during races. That’s because the turf is my home ground.

I’ve been running for more than half my waking hours since I was little.

Of course I wouldn’t be nervous there.

But today is a complete away game.

I’ll be competing on the unfamiliar field of communication.

And on top of that, I absolutely can’t fail.

This is the Autumn Fan Appreciation Festival.

I have to make sure everyone enjoys themselves.

I do take pride in being strong when it counts, but I’m also the type who piles on preparation in advance and faces things fully ready.

I practiced mock advice sessions about thirty times with Meek-senpai.

But unlike a senior I know well, today’s visitors are fans I can safely say I’m meeting for the first time.

How much of that practice will actually carry over is anyone’s guess.

In that sense, this really is a do-or-die, no-safety-net kind of match.

For people who don’t quite get it, if I had to compare my current state…

It feels like entering a dirt G1 race that I absolutely have to win, without having been able to train properly.

Of course I’d be tense, thinking I have to win, and anxious, wondering if I even can.

"...What do I do?"

I muttered the words into the hollow.

Asking what to do doesn’t change anything.

I have to do it.

I thought I’d already steeled my resolve and braced myself…

And yet, the anxiety still won’t go away.

…This is almost irrelevant to who I am now, but in my previous life, “I” hated communicating with people.

Probably because I just wasn’t cut out for it.

Being with people meant being considerate.

Adjusting to them.

Having to take some kind of action myself.

It was tiring and troublesome, and being alone was far easier.

But “Hoshino Wilm” doesn’t think that way.

Sure, being considerate is necessary, but that’s just a natural cost.

And once you become close, even that consideration stops being necessary.

Matching others can be useful at times.

It builds a sense of unity.

And synchronizing like that lets you understand the other person more deeply.

Taking action and getting a response back is something I’ve even come to enjoy.

Whether my nature changed when I became Hoshino Wilm, or whether Ayumu-san and Nature and the others changed me, I don’t know…

But one thing’s certain.

Now, I don’t find communication with people all that painful.

…And yet, precisely because of that, there’s something that makes me anxious.

What if, talking to strangers, I feel traces of the old “me” again?

You don’t have to be enjoying yourself for the other person to enjoy things.

But still, during an event that lasts for hours, there’s no way I could perfectly hide a negative expression.

Someone perceptive, with sharp observational skills, might pick up on discomfort from my face.

And if that made them feel bad—what then?

I want to give back to my fans.

But what if I ended up doing the opposite?

…What do I do?

My thoughts spiraled into a mess of nothing but bad possibilities.

The negative imaginings wouldn’t stop.

I came here to shake all of that off… yet somehow, it felt like things were only spiraling in a worse direction.

"...Hoshino Wilm."

I twitched reflexively.

At the familiar voice from behind me, I hurriedly fixed my expression and turned around.

Standing there, bathed in the pale orange light of the morning sun, was my trainer—Ayumu-san.

"Trainer..."

"So this is where you were. Did something happen?"

"No. …I was just thinking about various ways to make sure the fans enjoy themselves."

I wasn’t lying.

If I don’t cut away this anxiety, I might not be able to handle today’s project properly.

That’s why I came all the way here—to let it all out.

…But once I actually got here, my anxiety stubbornly refused to turn into words.

Winning a race isn’t that difficult.

If you reach the finish line faster than anyone else, you win—no arguments needed.

But enjoying communication, and making others enjoy it, is hard.

You have to match the wavelength of someone you’ve just met, improvising the conversation on the fly. For someone like me, who isn’t used to that, it’s easy to imagine how exhausting it can be…

Would I really be able to enjoy it? And could I truly make the fans enjoy themselves?

That’s probably what it all boils down to… I think.

My emotions are a mess, so honestly, I’m not even sure myself.

"It’s rare to see you this anxious."

"Eh—anxious…?"

"I’ve been watching you this whole time. I can tell that much."

…I thought I was hiding it.

My face instantly grew hot.

"I think that side of you—being honest about your emotions—is good too."

"H-hey, wait, don’t look!"

I grabbed my trainer’s arm, turned him around, and held both his arms so he couldn’t turn back.

…Ugh, I let my guard down.

Well, it’s not like showing my emotions to my trainer is a problem or anything.

But still—embarrassing is embarrassing. It’s mortifying.

I’ve always kept my true face hidden. Carefully, for a long, long time.

It’s not about logic—whether it’s okay to show it or not.

If I had to compare it to something, it’s like being naked.

If someone sees it unexpectedly, of course it’s overwhelmingly embarrassing!

"Haah… um, wait, what were we talking about again?

Oh right—being anxious…"

I tried to brush it off, then remembered there was no point.

He’s the only person who knows even a little of my true self.

If it were a surprise, that’d be one thing—but if we’re actually talking like this, there’s no reason to hide my worries anymore.

I have a trainer who supports me now. I’m sorry for always leaning on him, but… maybe it’s okay to let some weakness slip, just this once.

"No—you’re right. I am anxious. About whether I can properly fulfill my role at this event."

"I see. I don’t think there’s any need to worry, though."

"…I’m not as good at communicating with people as you think I am."

"You don’t particularly like it, and you’re not especially good at it—but it’s not something you’re bad at either, right?"

Wow. He really sees right through me.

My trainer… knows me better than I expected. He’s been paying attention.

He’s right—it’s probably not accurate to call it a weakness.

The only thing I’m truly bad at is… well… doing romantic, uh, things with my trainer.

…But listening to other people’s problems might be just a little difficult for me.

I never felt like I truly solved the juniors’ concerns, either.

Most of the time, I guided the conversation through expressions and tone, gave responses they seemed to want, offered advice that wouldn’t clash too badly—and then consulted my trainer afterward to come up with countermeasures.

Very few of those were fundamental solutions. It’s not like revolutionary ideas just pop into my head.

For the kids who couldn’t find a good trainer, I could at least talk to my trainer and introduce someone who might suit them… but for most, all I did was listen and suggest surface-level fixes.

And yet, apparently Bourbon-chan rated me highly. Why?

"Even so… I’m worried I won’t be able to properly help the fans with their concerns.

If I can’t come up with solutions on the spot, the conversation might not even flow…"

"…? Ah, I see. So that’s what you’re thinking."

"Huh?"

"There’s no rule that says you have to solve a problem just because you’re listening to someone’s concerns."

"…???"

Wait—what?

If someone comes for advice, it’s because they don’t know what to do. So shouldn’t it be solved?

Confused, I let go of his arms.

My trainer turned around and looked straight into my eyes.

Ugh… that gaze is ticklish.

Whenever he talks to someone, he always looks them straight in the eye… and when you’re in love with him, that’s kind of embarrassing.

"In most cases, when someone seeks advice, they either want to be heard—or they want a push from behind.

You’re not required to provide some unexpected, perfect solution. Just stay close to them, listen properly, and say what you genuinely think—as long as it isn’t disrespectful."

"But still… they went out of their way to consult me…"

A warm hand rested gently on my head.

The sunlight streaming in was dazzling.

I squinted and looked up—and my trainer was smiling, a little helplessly.

"Don’t overburden yourself, Hoshino Wilm.

You are certainly an Uma Musume who carries the expectations of many people.

…But more than that, you’re still just a young middle schooler.

Rather than focusing on what you must do, prioritize what you want to do—what you find enjoyable."

…Was I overburdening myself?

Thinking about it now, I probably was obsessing too much over having to entertain the fans, having to solve their problems.

Prioritize what I want to do… huh.

"…Trainer."

"Yeah."

"I’m not bad at communicating with people—but I’m not good at it either.

To be honest, it weighs on me."

"I see. …I’m sorry for putting that burden on you."

"No. I thought it was something I should do too, so please don’t worry about it.

But if your trainee is going to work this hard… don’t you think a reward would be appropriate?"

When I said that, my trainer froze in surprise and thought for a moment.

"I see. That’s an option too, huh.

…Alright. Then let’s make it a contest—it’s been a while.

If you can get through this Fan Appreciation Festival while making the fans happy and enjoying yourself until the end…

I’ll grant you a ‘reward right.’"

"Yes!"

Enjoying myself, huh.

Not “not failing,” but “having fun.”

That’s clearly what my trainer is prioritizing.

Don’t overthink it—just enjoy myself…

Yeah. That’s right.

It’s a festival, after all. If I don’t enjoy it with everything I’ve got, that’d be a lie.

…Enjoying a festival like this—it’s been since my previous life.

It really has… really been a long time.

"Well then, it’s about time we go set up our space… will you help me?"

"Of course. It’s my project, after all!"

Before I knew it, my anxiety and tension had melted away into the morning sunlight.

Alright then… the advice booth is open!

A full-on, no-safety-net, ad-lib showdown—let’s go!

---

There’s a saying that goes like this.

“Worrying doesn’t make it harder than giving birth.”

Right now, I was feeling the full weight of those words—deeply, profoundly.

"Ah—uhm, um, o-oh, blegh—"

"Are you going to throw up? I have a bag."

"I-I’m fine! Ah—no, that’s not it, um—y-you have my support!"

"I see. Thank you for always cheering me on."

"E-eh—your smile…! You’re really smiling at me…!?"

"You’re usually all cool and expressionless except during lives… and wow, up close your face is seriously amazing!"

"Well, of course. It’s a face I’m quite proud of. …Now then, let’s hear your concern."

"Oh! Right! Um, I’ve been dieting lately, but I just can’t beat my cravings…"

"I see, that does sound… difficult. I can’t fully empathize, since I’ve never gained weight no matter how much I eat."

"T-there it is—the casually overpowered, totally-unaware-of-it comment…! Too strong! I want to record this and use it as my alarm…!"

“Casually overpowered…?”

"A-ah, sorry! Please don’t mind that!"

"About dieting—th-this is just general advice, but it might help to start by eating a little less and exercising a little more.

Dieting sounds painful, but if you think of it as gradually shifting your lifestyle baseline, you should be able to lose weight naturally without too much hardship."

"Ooooh! So this is the Dragon’s dieting method…! I need to share this with my family immediately!"

"N-no, really, it’s just general advice! …General advice, okay?!"

I had overlooked one very important thing.

To begin with, entry to Tracen Academy’s Fan Appreciation Festival is decided by a highly competitive lottery. Since attendees can interact directly with star Uma Musume, the admission tickets are apparently quite expensive as well.

What goes on inside is essentially a school festival, but from the outside, it feels closer to a live event from my previous life.

Which means that, in a sense, the quality of the crowd is guaranteed. To put it bluntly, only people who genuinely love us Uma Musume come here.

Everyone has an amazing time just talking.

And simply watching the fans’ reactions naturally makes me start having fun too.

…Truly, worrying is harder than doing.

Enjoying myself—and making others enjoy themselves. Once I actually tried it, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I’d imagined.

"Uh—h-hello… whoa, no way, that’s seriously the real Hoshino Wilm…!"

"Hello. Yes, I’m the real Hoshino Wilm. Were you expecting a fake Hoshino Wilm?"

"Ah—n-no, sorry about that. …Man, you really do have an aura. Like, for real."

"Naturally. I am an undefeated double-crown Uma Musume, after all. Hah."

"Ahh… yeah, figures."

"Figures…?"

"N-no, nothing like that.

Anyway, straight to my question—my childhood friend, she’s an Uma Musume and says she wants to enter Central Tracen. I want to support her somehow. From an Uma Musume’s perspective, is there anything that’d make you happy?"

"I see… Uma Musume are all different, but having someone who understands you and stays close to you makes a big difference. Please be kind to her."

"I try to be, but she snaps pretty easily. Any idea what I’m doing wrong?"

"When does she get angry?"

"When I talk to other girls in class, or when I’m watching race broadcasts.

…Ah, actually, I came here in secret today, so if she shows up, please don’t tell her I was here."

"Ah… I see. In that case, there’s nothing I can say. Please, just make her happy."

"Huh? Ah—yeah. I do want her to be happy.

…Oh! If it’s okay, could I get an autograph? She’s a huge fan of yours, Hoshino Wilm—she’d love it."

"…………Let’s say you happened to meet me by chance, got my autograph, and then left right away. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled."

"Huh? Ah—yeah, got it…?"

Since I’m an undefeated double-crown Uma Musume, it’s only natural that fans flock to my booth in droves.

…Well, technically, it isn’t an endless line.

"Ticket number forty-four, please proceed to the tent! …Yes, this is the ‘Wilm Advice Booth.’ Please take a numbered ticket from that machine. The fee is 300 yen.

Once you’ve taken your ticket, please wait on that bench. It’s still quite sunny, so don’t forget to hydrate, and check the information board while you wait.

…Excuse me! The current wait time is one hour! Please note that we’ll be taking a lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00!"

Outside the tent, my trainer—Ayumu—is managing the steadily growing crowd.

He even brought his own ticket dispenser and is handling everything with impressive efficiency.

Thank you—seriously, thank you, Trainer. You’re a lifesaver.

But isn’t he taking this a little too seriously? Borrowing benches and a tent from the academy is one thing, but renting a ticket machine and a generator too? That’s intense.

…Still, without that setup, handling this many people would’ve been impossible.

There are easily over fifty people waiting outside the tent.

If they’d been forced to stand in line under this clear, cloudless sky, it would’ve been brutal.

I’ve heard couples tend to break up at theme parks because of how harsh wait times can be. Without my trainer’s setup, the atmosphere might’ve soured at least a little.

I really can’t help but feel grateful for a trainer who supports me this thoroughly.

Honestly, shouldn’t I be the one giving out rewards? I found myself thinking.

"H-hyoweeeeehhh! Th-the real Hoshino Wilm is right in front of meee!"

"Calm down. Let’s take a deep breath, okay? Inhale—exhale—"

"Fwooo—haaah—whoa, you smell amazing! This isn’t just a good smell, it’s a godly smell…! The scent of an impossible myth, one pillar of a goddess descended into the modern age…!"

"What… was that?"

"A-ah—hehe, sorry, I’m just really shaken. Um—fwooo—hehehe. I managed to get through the lottery, but I never imagined I’d be able to talk one-on-one with the actual person—no, the divine presence herself! …Ah—hyperventilating—my head—"

"It’s okay. Let’s take a moment and calm down first. …Actually, let’s just talk while you settle your nerves. What kind of consultation did you bring today?"

"Ah—fu—uh, um—w-well, as you can see, I’m an Uma Musume, but I’ve always preferred watching Uma Musume give it their all! I enjoyed races and winning lives as a spectator. But—but! Just watching from afar isn’t enough for me anymore! I want to see those precious figures running in races up close! Arrogant as it may be, that’s what I find myself wishing for! What should I do…?!"

"…I see. I understand how you feel. Wanting to truly experience your oshi—that desire can’t be stopped by anyone."

"Wheeeeh!? N-no way… d-don’t tell me… d-don’t tell me you’re a fellow believer too?!"

"When you have the best oshi, the best rival, and the best friends… even if our finer creeds differ, in a broader sense, we’re comrades. But this stays top secret, okay? Don’t go spreading it around.

And the solution is simple. You should run races yourself and enjoy racing alongside your oshi from closer than anyone else. Come join us—in the Twinkle Series, where you can experience the hottest races with the greatest Uma Musume."

"Ababababa—th-this is a dream…?! I never imagined Hoshino Wilm herself was a fellow believer…!! And—and—and! I’m being invited to the Twinkle Series!! Directly from Hoshino Wilm herself?! Th-this is bad… I’m ascending to heaven—ack!"

"Ah, she fainted… what do we do?"

"One minute has elapsed. Transporting the customer to the infirmary."

"Sorry, Bourbon-chan. I’m counting on you."

The ones helping me aren’t just Trainer.

Even Bourbon-chan—my junior, who doesn’t even have an obligation to participate in the Fan Appreciation Festival yet—is pitching in. Her role is to assist me inside the tent, helping deal with any issues that arise. …I really didn’t expect an Uma Musume to pass out from sheer excitement, though. I hope that pink-haired girl will be okay.

Bourbon-chan also has an incredibly precise sense of time, perfectly measuring the one-minute-per-person limit for the consultation booth. Using a visible timer in front of customers would look bad, so her quiet timekeeping is a huge help.

After Bourbon-chan carried the small Uma Musume away, I found myself alone in the tent for the first time in hours.

I picked up the plastic bottle of water at my feet and brought it to my lips.

"…So good."

The water tasted inexplicably amazing after so long. Oh—so this is what they mean by nectar. Yeah. If plain water tastes this good, it means I’m genuinely exhausted.

Interacting with fans is, honestly, really tiring. After all, the people who came today are especially passionate, even among fans. Everyone’s intensity is incredible—so intense it almost feels like being hit by a heat wave. Some even unleash a level of passion you’d expect from an Uma Musume mid-race, like that pink-haired girl earlier.

Facing that head-on naturally pulls my own energy up with it. The result is… yeah, I get pretty worn out.

"…Well, it’s worth it, since it’s several times more fun than it is tiring."

Interacting with fans in real life is fun.

That really sums it up.

I should’ve known this already. Fans are always there—I see them every time after a race ends. And yet, somewhere along the way, it hadn’t felt real. The reality that each and every fan supporting me truly exists.

…But now I understand.

They’re all alive. Each living their own lives, standing there. And they’re watching me.

There’s nothing more gratifying than that.

"Alright—Trainer, next person, please."

So just for this moment… I’ll forget about races and training, and let myself enjoy it.