Chapter 53: Invasion! Human Girl

Q. Describe a girl’s reaction when the younger sister of the person she likes suddenly appears—someone she’s only ever heard about. (20 points)

A. She gets extremely flustered.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Horino Masa. I’m the younger sister of your trainer, Horino Ayumu. You must be Hoshino Wilm-san and Mihono Bourbon-san. I’ve heard from my brother that you’re both wonderful Uma Musume. I look forward to working with you."

"I’m Mihono Bourbon. I look forward to working with you."

"Ah… um, uh—y-yes, I look forward to working with you too…"

Just in case there’s any misunderstanding, that last response was mine.

Ughhh, my natural, painfully awkward communication skills are leaking out at full force!

I’m usually fairly competent, so under normal circumstances I can handle greetings like this smoothly enough… but this time, the situation is different.

After all, she’s the younger sister of my contract trainer—my savior—and the person I love.

Once again, I sneak a glance at Ayumu-san’s sister, Horino Masa-san.

First impressions… yeah. She’s the type you’d describe as a beautiful working woman in a suit.

She’s probably not on the level of a Uma Musume, but her well-cared-for skin has a healthy glow, and her hair is smooth and glossy. Her face still carries a hint of youth, but her sharp, slightly upturned eyes and generally unreadable expression—combined with her fairly tall height, around 170 centimeters, and a reasonably ample chest—give her the dignified air of an adult woman.

It’s not the perfectly refined, eternal beauty of a Uma Musume in her prime, but as an ordinary human, her overall score is extremely high. The kind of person where, if she entered a beauty contest, no one would object—more like, "Yeah, figures she would."

…Come to think of it, I remember hearing that Ayumu-san’s older brother was also ridiculously handsome.

Does this family just have absurd face stats? What is that? Did they hand-pick their genes or something?

Well, whatever. It’s not like I mind the Horino family being full of attractive people.

That part isn’t really the issue.

The problem isn’t her looks—it’s what’s inside.

"My brother is a stubborn fool who lacks understanding of other people’s feelings, so I’m sure he’s caused you both some trouble. I apologize for that, but I hope you’ll continue to put up with this troublesome brother of mine."

"With all due respect, I do not believe Master qualifies for the status parameter ‘troublesome.’ He provides clear guidelines, understandable decision-making criteria, and appropriate training, efficiently guiding us forward."

"I see. Then I assume, Mihono Bourbon-san, that you’re quite compatible with my brother. Having a Uma Musume like you by his side is surely a stroke of good fortune for him. Please continue to take care of him."

"I would argue that it is we who should be making that request. You and Master Horino Masa-san will be supporting Uma Musume as trainers, after all. Once again, it is us who should say: we look forward to working with you."

Bourbon-chan and Masa-san clasp hands, seeming to hit it off almost instantly.

When Bourbon-chan pushed back a little aggressively, I wondered how this would turn out, but it looks like those two are actually quite compatible.

…I wonder if I’ll be able to get along with Masa-san too.

I’m a little—no, pretty worried.

The existence of “the younger sister of the person you like” is unbelievably huge.

I mean, hypothetically—purely hypothetically, okay?

If I were to cross the finish line with Ayumu-san someday…

If I retired as a racing Uma Musume, and after that, instead of being trainer and trainee, we became a man and a Uma Musume…

And then, in the end, became a family…

…Family. Family, huh.

Come to think of it, even in my previous life my family environment was kind of a mess—honestly, borderline collapsed. And in this life, it wasn’t just borderline; it completely fell apart. I’ve never really had a family I could call a family.

Becoming a family with Ayumu-san… that’s surprisingly hard to imagine.

What even is a family, anyway?

You love each other, and you’re together—that much is certain, but…

Just being together doesn’t automatically make you family, right? What piece is missing? Stability? Or maybe an established reality?

At what point do two people become family? Where’s the boundary between family and strangers?

…Whoa, whoa, my thoughts are spiraling. Poetic mode sealed. Sealed.

That’s not what I should be thinking about right now.

I mean, assuming we eventually made things official and registered everything…

That would make Masa-san—Ayumu-san’s sister—my family too.

If we didn’t get along, or if we were incompatible, that alone could potentially ruin our happy new life together…

In short, my relationship with Masa-san—no, with Ayumu-san’s family as a whole—is an incredibly important factor for me.

Of course I’m nervous. Of course I’m flailing internally about what to do.

Still, I can’t afford to keep reacting after the fact forever. If you want results, you have to take action yourself.

"Ah, um… I look forward to working with you."

I slowly extend my hand, carefully choosing a break in the conversation. Masa-san accepts it readily.

But at the same time… her eyes widen, just a little.

"Yes, likewise… Hoshino Wilm-san."

For just an instant, as the corner of her mouth twists slightly, I almost catch a glimpse of some emotion—

And then, smoothly, her gaze slips away.

That timing. That action.

…I might be wrong, but this person—

She has a rigid mask. Someone who can conceal her emotions and maintain appearances far better than you’d expect from Ayumu-san’s younger sister.

As I waver between feeling empathy for her and being wary of her…

"Brother, please."

"Ah—y-yeah."

Called out, the trainer—who had been pushed into the corner of the room—steps forward somewhat hesitantly.

He usually carries himself with confidence, at least on the surface, so seeing him like this feels oddly fresh… hehe. It’s kind of cute.

Without noticing my faint smile, the trainer clears his throat once and resumes steering the conversation.

To recap, today is the day after the surprise party that the trainer and Bourbon-chan threw for me.

The plan was supposed to be a meeting to decide our future races and training direction… or at least, it was supposed to be.

Then Horino Masa-san appeared out of nowhere.

Naturally, things couldn’t proceed as usual today, so before the meeting, we ended up having Horino Masa-san introduce herself and everything.

"So, yeah. This is my little sister, Masa. According to Tazuna-san, she’ll be working here as an intern until next April, and after that she’ll officially become a rookie sub-trainer… apparently. That right?"

"That’s right. So that’s how you talk in front of your Uma Musume, Brother. Are you imitating Dad?"

"Hey—shut up, that’s none of your business… Anyway, Masa, are you sure you’re okay? Interns don’t get paid, right? What about rent and living expenses? And your trainer license? College? Are you eating properly?"

"Annoying. Overprotective. I still have an allowance for now, plus ad revenue, so living frugally isn’t a problem. I rented a place nearby. I passed the license exam in September. I dropped out of college after that. And as for meals, you’re the last person I want lecturing me. Satisfied?"

"You dropped out!? Why!?"

"…No deep reason. The Training Center values ability and character over academic background, apparently. And my seminar professor was full of himself and insanely irritating."

"…Knowing you, Masa, I want to believe you thought this through properly. Still, I wish you’d at least consulted me—or told me."

"You’re annoying. And I don’t want to hear that from someone who never came home."

"Th-that one hurts…"

Their lively back-and-forth is unmistakably that of close siblings.

Seeing a side of the trainer—his expressions, his tone—that I’ve never seen before, I can’t help but exchange a glance with Bourbon-chan.

I’d heard that the trainer wasn’t great at communication, and that his sister was a bit rough around the edges, but…

It doesn’t feel like they’re on bad terms. And Masa-san doesn’t seem volatile either—just… different.

It’s not that they don’t acknowledge each other. It feels more like they do, and precisely because they can rely on that, they clash. If I had to name it, it’s something like a rebellious phase.

In any case… the trainer and Masa-san get along pretty well.

I mean, they’re siblings, so there’s nothing wrong with that. If anything, it’s better that they’re close…

But still—ugh. There’s this vague, fuzzy feeling in my chest.

Masa-san doesn’t really resemble the trainer, and seeing a beautiful woman getting along so well with the person I like makes my heart feel… unsettled.

Even so, I can’t let that show on my face. Holding down the restless feelings in my chest, I watch the two of them absentmindedly—

When the trainer seems to notice us. He clears his throat, looking a little embarrassed, and continues.

“…Anyway, from here on out, Masa will be helping with our work as a trainee sub-trainer. Her language can be a bit rough, and she has a somewhat cynical edge, but at her core she’s kind and earnest. I’d appreciate it if you’d look after her."

"What kind of perspective is that? And what makes you think you understand me so well? That aside… Hoshino Wilm-san, Mihono Bourbon-san, once again, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ll do my best to support you both."

And so—

Ta-ra-ra-ra, ta-ta-taaa.

Horino Akira has joined the party!

…Well, I’m not sure this is something I can really joke about so cheerfully.

The seasons turn, and for both the trainer and me, it’s our second autumn.

A gale—like an autumn storm—has begun to blow into our relationship.

---

Now that Masa-san’s introduction is finished, it’s finally time for today’s main event.

A meeting to think about what comes next for Bourbon-chan and me.

“…Alright. Now that Masa’s here too, let’s go over our plans going forward once again."

The trainer pulls out the whiteboard that had been pushed into the corner of the room and grips a marker.

Masa-san takes a step back, rests her notepad against her binder, and listens attentively.

Bourbon-chan and I straighten our posture as well. This is about us, after all—we need to focus.

When one season ends, the next begins.

The fact that the Triple Crown–contesting Classic races are over means the next group of races is already closing in.

“For now, we’ll focus on the remainder of the year—up through the Arima Kinen. We’ll sort things chronologically… no, by Mihono Bourbon’s and Hoshino Wilm’s respective target races, and confirm our future rotations.”

On the whiteboard, the trainer writes “Mihono Bourbon” and “Hoshino Wilm,” leaving space beneath each, then adds two race names under the former.

11/17　Pre-Op　Begonia Sho (Tokyo, Left, Turf 1600m)
12/8　G1　Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (Hanshin, Right Outer, Turf 1600m)

These are the final two official races remaining in Bourbon-chan’s Junior year.

The main focus is, of course, the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes. Everything will be adjusted with that goal in mind.

“Mihono Bourbon’s ultimate destination is the Classic Triple Crown. Up until the Satsuki Sho, we’ll build up your fan count to ensure eligibility, while gradually extending your maximum distance to compensate for your lack of aptitude.”

“However, this year’s objective is different. It’s about getting used to the big G1 stage, and—”

“And having my running acknowledged by you, Trainer.”

“Yeah. That too.”

…Ah. Right. That part too.

It’s easy to forget—or rather, I completely forgot—but Bourbon-chan still hasn’t been acknowledged by the trainer yet.

The trainer fell in love with my running at the Takarazuka Kinen. Not in a romantic sense, but as a trainer falling for the legs of the Uma Musume he’d train.

From there, he apparently arrived at the belief that “a trainer must first love the running of the Uma Musume they’re responsible for,” and when Bourbon-chan asked him to take her on, he set her a trial: “Then make me fall for you.”

…That was already more than two months ago. Time really flies. Especially lately—it’s been moving frighteningly fast.

And so, the stage where Bourbon-chan must earn the trainer’s recognition through her running is the year-end Junior G1 race, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.

Setting a G1 victory as the condition for taking her on… maybe the trainer is kind of brutal. Only a tiny handful of Uma Musume ever win G1 races, after all.

Well, even from my perspective, Bourbon-chan is a prodigy—maybe not quite on my level, but still exceptional.

With the trainer’s management and development layered on top of that, a G1 victory isn’t an impossible dream.

…That said.

Even if, hypothetically, Bourbon-chan doesn’t take first place, I won’t allow the trainer to terminate their contract.

Once he’s entered into a contract, he’ll try to take responsibility for Bourbon-chan’s future. And in this academy, there’s probably no trainer who believes in her dreams more than Ayumu-san does.

If we tried to find her another trainer, it’s obvious we’d just conclude that there’s no one better than him.

Besides, the trainer from before the Takarazuka Kinen aside, the current trainer should… surely take emotional factors into account too.

Ayumu-san’s management ability surpasses that of any trainer in Central. If Bourbon-chan aims for the Triple Crown, there’s no one better suited than him.

Which means Bourbon-chan will come to need the trainer out of necessity.

And the trainer, over the past two months, has grown emotionally invested in Bourbon-chan. He wants to support her—or at least, he should.

So eventually, the trainer will also come to want Bourbon-chan emotionally.

In the end, the only reason their contract could be terminated is the single restriction the trainer places on himself: “I only train girls whose running I love.”

Sticking to one’s principles is admirable, but you can’t let them control you completely. Sometimes, you have to bend.

Besides, there’s no rule saying he has to fall in love with her running during the Junior year.

He didn’t come to love mine until the Takarazuka Kinen. Bourbon-chan can make him fall for her during the Classic races.

Until then, the trainer can wait.

…And if he doesn’t understand that, I have a plan of my own.

I’ll ask him directly to continue his contract with Bourbon-chan.

Having your trainer suddenly propose contract termination partway through your journey is more devastating than you’d expect.

It’s like walking forward with determination, only to suddenly realize one of your legs is gone. The despair is overwhelming.

I don’t want Bourbon-chan to ever experience that.

As her senior Uma Musume, I need to get ahead of things and persuade the trainer.

That’s why I’m saving the “reward right” I earned from the Kikuka Sho.

With that command right, I can force the trainer to postpone any talk of terminating Bourbon-chan’s contract. I’ll keep it as a last resort.

…Well, either way.

If Bourbon-chan delivers results at the Asahi Hai FS, then everything will be fine.

While I’m busy running through contingency plans in my head, the trainer continues.

“But there’s one more objective.

…Mihono Bourbon. You have three weaknesses. Are you aware of them?”

“Weaknesses… initiating data retrieval.”

Bourbon-chan stares upward with a vacant expression for a few seconds, then returns her gaze to the trainer.

I think it over too… three, huh.

If I had to guess: bloodline, stamina, and then… that.

“An unsuitable bloodline and insufficient endurance for long distances can be inferred. What is the third?”

“Correct. In other words, lack of aptitude and lack of stamina. That leaves the final point.”

The trainer pauses.

“That would be your temperament.”

Ah… yeah. I thought so.

I nod internally at the conclusion I’d already half-expected.

“Mihono Bourbon, you are undeniably strong.

…However, in your debut race, you lost focus inside the gate. And in the recent mock race, you became fixated on Rice Shower’s presence and lost control.

Judging from your usual running as well… you’re the type whose fighting spirit intensifies during races, making you prone to overexerting yourself.

In simple terms—your temperament is difficult.”

“…I am?”

Bourbon-chan freezes slightly, her expression remaining blank.

If you run together for a while, you gradually come to understand an Uma Musume’s temperament. From my perspective, Bourbon-chan matches the trainer’s assessment almost perfectly.

Normally, she’s calm and precise like a machine—but once the race begins, she turns into an uncontrollable blaze, her restraint blown away in an instant.

That duality is exactly what kind of Uma Musume Bourbon-chan is.

That said, she’s even more data-driven than the trainer—almost oblivious when it comes to emotional matters. Even when it concerns herself, she might not notice these things easily.

…No, thinking back to how I was before the Takarazuka Kinen, maybe there are things you’re blind to precisely because they’re about yourself.

"So from here on out, you’ll accumulate race experience and resolve that temperamental issue through acclimation. Ultimately, the goal is for you to be able to run races exactly as calculated, guided by your calm judgment."

"Understood. Strategy acknowledged."

"Good. Then let’s go over the actual races."

The trainer taps the whiteboard with the back of his marker.

Her next race: November 17—the Begonia Sho.

"Your first race after your debut—the pre-open Begonia Sho. However, based on our analysis… and I’d rather not say this outright, but there are no particularly threatening rivals here. Just like your debut, you should be able to clear it without difficulty. Use it to get accustomed to the atmosphere of official races."

Having said that, the trainer immediately moves on to the next race.

December 8—the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.

"The Asahi Hai. Being a G1 race, this is where clear and dangerous opponents appear. In a sense, you could say your real challenge begins here. Likely threats include Fruit Parfait and Breeze Kite, who are expected to contend for first place in the Keio Hai Junior Stakes. And then there’s the one who set a record in her debut… Machikane Tannhauser."

Machikane Tannhauser-chan. Or just Tannhauser-chan. Or even Machitan-chan.

She’s an Uma Musume who appeared in the previous-life anime—a member of Team Canopus alongside Nature.

This is just my personal impression, but since Tannhauser-chan was part of Team Canopus, I don’t really associate her with being overwhelmingly strong.

Still, if the trainer calls her a threat, then she probably is strong after all. A named character is a named character—corner her, and she might surge forward explosively, just like Nature does.

While I idly think that it’d be nice to race against her someday, Bourbon-chan beside me shows no reaction.

Apparently, she doesn’t know Tannhauser-chan either. Come to think of it, even in the anime, I don’t recall Bourbon-chan and Tannhauser-chan interacting.

They’re technically in the same year, but… well, there are around six hundred junior-level Uma Musume at Central Tracen Academy. It’s not strange they don’t know each other. I didn’t even know Teio last year, after all.

"Your rivals are certainly strong. …But more than that, the opponent you must face is yourself. Mihono Bourbon, running at her optimal performance, will never lose. We’ll overcome your temperament here, in preparation for next year’s Classic races."

"Understood. Mihono Bourbon will give it her all."

Bourbon-chan nods once, firmly. Well—giving it too much her all would be a problem, though.

Bourbon-chan is strong.

After all, in her debut, she won despite a catastrophic late start, charging from the back with a style that doesn’t even suit her.

If she can race with her usual calm composure, her potential is unquestionably high.

And for my part, if I’m going to face her, I want Bourbon-chan at her very best. I truly hope she overcomes her weaknesses—and if there’s anything I can help with, I’ll give it everything I’ve got.

Now then, after Bourbon-chan, it’s my turn—Hoshino Wilm’s race rotation.

Under my name, the trainer writes down two races.

November 24 — G1 Japan Cup (Tokyo, left-handed, 2400m)
December 22 — G1 Arima Kinen (Nakayama, right inner, 2500m)

Naturally, we start with the Japan Cup.

A rare opportunity to face elite competitors from overseas.

"Now then, the Japan Cup. I believe I mentioned this before, but this year’s foreign entrants are weaker than usual. We were watching Noble Singer—the Arc-winning Uma Musume—since she’s trained by the same trainer as Montjeu, but it seems she’ll skip the Japan Cup to recuperate. Tender, the British Derby winner, is also absent after finishing a disappointing eighth in the Arc and falling ill."

"That being said, the ones we should pay attention to are…"

Beneath “Japan Cup,” the trainer writes the names of two Uma Musume.

As expected, I don’t recognize them. Unless you’re actively following overseas Uma Musume racing, that kind of information doesn’t really reach you. And I don’t watch much TV, either.

"First, the obvious one—Witch Evening from France, second place in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. And then… while she draws less attention due to America not being a turf-centered battleground, there’s Silver Pigeon, who wishes to compete from the U.S. Given examples like Obey Your Master, she’s not someone we can afford to underestimate."

The foreign Uma Musume the trainer identifies as potential threats.

They’re strong—no, undoubtedly so.

…But as a general rule, Uma Musume tend to lose condition more easily when racing overseas.

The race environments themselves differ. Between Japan and abroad, turf quality isn’t the same—European turf is longer and denser, while in America, dirt racing is far more common to begin with.

Running in such unfamiliar environments naturally causes an Uma Musume’s condition to dip.

On top of that, long-distance travel and jet lag can throw them off as well. I feel like Meek-senpai mentioned something like that not too long ago.

So rather than worrying about foreign Uma Musume…

The ones we really need to be cautious of are the powerful Uma Musume here at home.

Namely, that senior with ash-gray hair—considered part of the absolute elite.

"And then there’s McQueen-senpai."

"Indeed. With Mejiro Ryan and Innocent Grimoire absent, the most dangerous opponent remaining is Mejiro McQueen. …Though first, we’ll see how she performs tomorrow in the Tenno Sho (Autumn)."

The trainer says that with a deliberate pause, leaving room for implication.

"...?"

That reaction feels slightly puzzling.

With Seiunsky-senpai, myself, and Ryan-senpai absent from this year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn), judging by pure ability alone, it feels like McQueen-senpai should simply win without trouble…

Ah—what happened in the previous-life anime again?

Let’s see… it was the year Teio got injured, near the end of the year… I vaguely remember a scene where she lost the Arima Kinen, or something like that…

Hmm. I can’t recall it clearly at all. Maybe in the previous-life anime, McQueen-senpai didn’t even run in the Japan Cup—unlike in this world.

Just as I’m about to ask the trainer why he seems hesitant, he points at the next race on the board with his marker, and I miss my chance.

Normally, I wouldn’t hesitate to interrupt and ask—but this time, I keep my mouth shut.

Because the trainer’s tone sharpens noticeably.

"Now then… the real issue is the final race. The year-end festival. The battle to determine the strongest of the year—the Arima Kinen. …Hoshino Wilm, Mihono Bourbon, and Chang as well. What I’m about to say stays strictly between us. Do not let this leak outside. Under any circumstances."

The expression on the trainer’s face as he says this is unusually severe.

His brows are drawn together, and his eyes hold a seriousness far deeper than usual.

The last time I saw the trainer look this intense was… during Bourbon-chan’s Make Debut.

Wondering what could possibly warrant that level of gravity, I instinctively straighten my posture—

And then, I hear it.

"This year’s Arima Kinen will include Seiuns Sky, Silence Suzuka, and Special Week."

"...What?"

Silence Suzuka-san.

And Special Week-chan.

The two Uma Musume who had sworn to race together someday—yet, due to tragic accidents, were never supposed to achieve that while still active in the Twinkle Series.

…Beyond even my past-life memories.

At the very end of the year, a battle born from accumulated wishes is drawing near.