Chapter 7: Bonus: Thus Spoke Trainer Libon

"Sorry, but could I ask for your help tomorrow? I’m really having a hard time doing this alone, so I’d like to borrow your strength."

That day, while I was in the middle of paperwork, the call I received nearly made me fall out of my chair.

"H-H-Horino-kun is asking someone for help…!?"

"Hey, you. What do you take me for?"

I’m a rookie trainer working at the Central Training Center. I got my license about three years ago, spent some time building experience as a sub-trainer for a team, and starting this year, I finally earned the right to have my own charge.

…Looking back, that’s really all there is to say about me. It just makes me realize how painfully ordinary I am.

And Horino-kun is my fellow cohort—meaning we were recognized as full trainers around the same time.

He’s from the illustrious Horino trainer family, yet he never relies on that pedigree. A hardworking young trainer who keeps his suit perfectly crisp even in the sweltering heat.

He’s incredible in all sorts of ways.

At first, some people gossiped that he only got in thanks to his family connections, but now almost no one says that.

Why? Because in less than a year after becoming a trainer, he slammed his raw talent and ability into reality.

There’s an Uma Musume named Hoshino Wilm. Small, bay-coated, and always looking slightly downcast.

In the mock race I watched, she ran a mile as a closer.

…To be honest, I didn’t see anything special in her at the time.

Sure, she finished second, but with that kind of late kick, she’d only fall behind as races got tougher. The reason she placed so high was simply because she was an early bloomer with little room to grow later.

That was the consensus among us trainers… or rather, among all trainers except Horino-kun.

But he alone reached out to her. He must have been the only one who truly saw her potential.

I don’t know what happened between them after that, but somehow, Hoshino Wilm ended up under his care.

And then—

In the selection race meant to draw out Uma Musume talent, Hoshino Wilm won by a huge margin.

In her Make Debut, she also won by a huge margin.

Now she’s being called things like “Successor from Another Dimension” and “The Serpent,” and she’s considered one of the leaders of her generation.

Yeah. Already incredible, right?

A trainer needs the eye to recognize talent the moment they meet an Uma Musume. His eye is exceptional.

And on top of that, he had the guts to take a closer-type Uma Musume and convert her into a frontrunner without hesitation. Switching from closing to front-running is a massive strategic shift—normally you’d agonize over that decision.

Observation and decisiveness—arguably the two most important traits for a trainer. He has both.

I respect him, and at the same time, I secretly see him as a rival. Hoshino Wilm is definitely one of the strongest of her generation. For my own charge’s sake, keeping tabs on her is only smart.

That’s Horino-kun for you—but his superhuman qualities don’t stop at training.

He’s got a lean, powerful build. When we arm-wrestled over drinks, he flattened me in an instant without even changing expression.

His face is extremely handsome too. When we walk through town, people stare at him constantly. He doesn’t seem to notice, though.

His knowledge is impressive. Coming from a distinguished family helps, but his grasp of early signs of mental strain in Uma Musume and developmental theory is far beyond what you’d expect from a newcomer. And he gladly teaches others without hesitation.

Honestly, he’s the “perfect trainer.”

Sorry to the seniors, but if you ignore the minor issue of his lack of experience, I don’t think there’s a trainer alive who surpasses him.

Which is why his phone call shocked me so much.

"Horino-kun is asking someone for help!?!?"

"For the last time, what do you take me for?"

But seriously, we’re talking about Horino-kun! He handles everything on his own! For him to say he can’t do something alone!? That he needs my help!? What happened!?

Something he can’t solve but I can!? And why me, of all people in our cohort!? I’m the most average one!!

…And yet, mixed in with my confusion and anxiety, I also felt this was a golden opportunity.

He’s a superhuman. There aren’t many chances to earn a favor from someone like him.

We’re friends, sure, but I’m also a trainer with my own charge.

For her sake, I don’t mind bending the rules a little.

"…Anyway, I have no objection to helping you. As long as it’s not beyond my authority, and it won’t harm my Uma Musume."

"No problem. Can you come to my dorm room tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah, got it. …Should I expect something in return?"

"Of course. As long as it’s within my authority and won’t harm my charge."

Good. That’s the promise I wanted.

"Then, could you set up a mock race between your Hoshino Wilm and my girl? I think it’ll be a great stimulus for her. …Seeing an Uma Musume shine so brightly."

By the way, the favor he needed was hauling out a massive amount of roof tiles that had been packed into cardboard boxes in his room.

…Well, yeah. Doing that alone really would’ve taken forever.

Still, tiles? It looked like there were over 500. What on earth did he need them for?

---

"Whoa, hold on, Trainer! Are you serious!? A mock race against that Hoshino Wilm…!? Just say it was a joke while you still can!"

"I’m absolutely serious. If you’re going to run the Classic route, she’ll stand in your way for sure. It’ll be useful to know her strength firsthand."

I dragged my protesting charge along to the area of the track Horino-kun was using.

She has solid talent, but her self-esteem is frustratingly low.

Maybe she flinches at decisive moments, or maybe she’s just unlucky, but she often misses first place even in races she should win. Still, in mock races she always finishes within the top three.

In her Make Debut, she got jostled in the pack and narrowly lost in second, but she immediately won her next maiden race without trouble.

She calls herself “an almost-there, one-step-short Uma Musume,” but that consistency is nothing to scoff at.

A closer’s placement can swing wildly depending on the race development, yet she keeps finishing in the top three. That speaks to her cleverness and ability.

All she needs is a few more first-place wins and a boost in self-esteem. Then there’d be nothing to complain about.

But first, I wanted her to see a wall.

Every trainer knows this: the greatest spark for an Uma Musume is the enormous obstacle that stands before her.

If she loses here, that’s fine. As long as she doesn’t break, stands back up, and lets that burning fire rise within her, it’s enough.

If she keeps challenging that hardship without giving up, I believe she’ll someday be a match for Hoshino Wilm herself.

"Alright, let’s go. It’s time to see the height of the wall you need to overcome."

"Wait—ugh! Fine, fine, I get it! I’m going, okay!? Let’s just go already!"

And so, brimming with determination, we arrived to find…

"Only six broke! Again!!"

"Y-yes!"

CRACK! Clatter-clatter.

"Focus! We're doing it again!"

"Yes!"

CRACK! Clatter-clatter.

"...Um, Trainer. Do you know what they're doing over there?"

"Looks like… they're breaking roof tiles?"

For some reason, Horino-kun and Hoshino Wilm were attempting a tile-breaking challenge.

…Why?

"Hm? …Ah, you're here."

Horino-kun’s eyes locked onto us. I could feel the Uma Musume behind me flinch.

…Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors spreading among this year’s freshmen. And his gaze really is sharp enough to scare someone.

"It’s fine. Horino-kun thinks very carefully about Uma Musume. He’d never do anything reckless."

"...Okay, but he is making her break tiles."

"Well… I’m sure he has a reason."

Breaking tiles… how does that connect to racing? Maybe something like mental focus?

Judging by the sheer number of shattered fragments scattered everywhere, they’d probably been at it for an hour. Can you really gain mental focus like that?

…Or maybe this is some traditional training method passed down in the Horino household?

"Hm. Not improving. If my assumptions were correct, this was supposed to give your power a real boost."

"Phew… Trainer, I still believe arm strength and leg power have very little correlation. Also, my hands hurt."

"Here, ice water. It shouldn’t be anything serious, but keep cooling them until the mock race just in case. …Weird. Something’s off."

"Understood. What about cleanup?"

"Ah, sorry—can I leave that to you?"

"Yes, understood."

Horino-kun whispered something quietly to Hoshino Wilm, then walked toward us.

"Wait, Trainer! He’s totally dumping cleanup on his trainee, isn’t he!?"

"N-no, I’m sure he just wants to talk to us, so he’s leaving it to her. Probably."

"Probably!? Are you sure he’s safe today!?"

…Yeah. Honestly, even I’m starting to wonder if Horino-kun is okay today.

He always struck me as someone with unorthodox training methods, but even then, it’s hard to imagine tile-breaking being useful.

…No, wait.

Could this be misdirection?

There’s no way Horino-kun would make his Uma Musume do something so pointless and inefficient.

Maybe he knew we were coming, so he’s hiding his real training regimen by showing us something fake…?

Horino-kun usually doesn’t hide his knowledge. If you ask for advice, he gives it. If you ask for information, he hands it over for free. He’s incredibly generous.

But he’s still a trainer. Maybe he wants to keep the specifics of his own trainee’s regimen secret.

I did see him purchase a huge amount of tiles with my own eyes—that much is certain.

But thinking calmly, there’s no way their purpose is something as random as tile-breaking.

He must have come up with some highly efficient training method using tiles.

And to disguise it, he’s staging this bizarre tile-breaking performance…!

Realizing he’s keeping information hidden from me doesn’t inspire resentment or anger.

It only deepens my respect.

He’s willing to bend his own principles for the sake of his Uma Musume. He’s even willing to shoulder the shame of being seen as an incomprehensible trainer who makes his girl break tiles.

As expected of Horino-kun. I need to work harder too…!

"Anyway, sorry again for the trouble the other day."

"No, it’s fine. This race made up for it."

"Thanks. …The agreement was one mock race, correct?"

"Yeah. Even if it’s a mock race, go all out."

"…Right. I’ll give it everything I’ve got."

Of course, that’s just talk. There’s no way he’ll actually go all out here.

A mock race is unofficial. A man who hides even his training methods isn’t going to reveal his hand.

But even so, something will show through.

Her start, her form, her cornering, her breath control. There’s still plenty to learn from someone of her caliber.

…But more importantly, that’s not the real objective.

My own trainee—the girl currently trying to hide behind my back. The goal is to ignite the competitive fire inside her.

"So that’s your trainee?"

"Yeah. Come on, introduce yourself."

"O-okay…"

She timidly peeks out from behind me.

"H-hiii, I’m Nice Nature~…"

"Hyoop!"

Eh—wh-what!?

Horino-kun freezes, letting out a noise like nails scratching a chalkboard. A rare look of shock spreads across his face, eyes wide as he stares at Nature.

I wondered what was wrong, but he quickly moved again.

"S-sorry. That was, uh, me practicing the death cry of a walrus."

"P-practicing the death cry of a walrus? I-I see…"

"Yeah. Thinking of using it as a comedy routine."

That’s a lie. An unbelievably obvious lie. Why would he even bother with such a transparent excuse?

He saw Nature and felt something. What? What surprised him?

…A jolt of realization races through me.

No way—

His observational ability is extraordinary.

He spotted the hidden talent of the once-dormant Hoshino Wilm with just one mock race. His eye is truly genius.

If that Horino-kun was shocked upon seeing Nature, then the meaning is clear.

As expected, Nature possesses wonderful potential—just like her name implies.

Potential so great it made him involuntarily let out a scream at the thought she might even beat Hoshino Wilm.

Back then.

I watched her run in the selection race, and I fell for her at first sight.

That fierce expression, eyes locked on first place. That competitive fire, that final burst of speed responding to her will.

She looked resigned after the race, but there was no mistaking the light inside her.

That’s why I scouted Nice Nature.

With her, we could win graded races. She could stand on the G1 stage—I truly believed that.

Both my decision and Nature’s talent—

None of it was wrong.

"…gh."

"H-hey, what’s wrong? Don’t cry, don’t cry. I don’t know what’s going on, but sorry. Want some candy?"

"Whoa, Trainer—what’s happening!?"

Both Horino-kun and Nature tried to comfort me. …Ahh, I’m really hopeless.

"Sorry, I’m fine. …Horino-kun, Nature hasn’t actually met Hoshino Wilm before, so could you introduce them too?"

"Eh? Ah. Are you sure you’re okay? I really do have candy, you know?"

Horino-kun still looked worried, but I directed him toward Hoshino Wilm, who was cleaning up the tiles.

Good. I don’t want to show him any more pathetic behavior. …I didn’t want my own trainee to see it either, honestly.

"Are you okay, Trainer? Here, use my handkerchief."

"Thanks, Nature. …Look, Hoshino Wilm is coming."

"Okay. …Whoa, she’s even more intimidating when you get a proper look…"

Behind Horino-kun, I could see Hoshino Wilm following after finishing most of the cleanup.

A small, lean body. That bay coat swaying gently. Her ears and tail motionless, her expression blank, her pale blue eyes cast downward—as if nothing outside the turf deserved any attention.

Seeing her like this, her presence is overwhelming.

This is Hoshino Wilm, one half of the generation’s famed “Big Two.”

"Introduce yourself, Wilm."

"Yes, Trainer."

These two always communicate smoothly despite expressionless faces. As expected from a prestigious trainer and one of the strongest of her generation—they must already have perfect mutual understanding.

I’m a little jealous. Nature trusts me, yes, but misunderstandings and miscommunications still happen.

If only I were better at communicating… maybe someday we could have a bond like theirs.

Hoshino Wilm steps forward from her trainer’s side. Her gaze slowly shifts toward us.

"Ee-up."

… I see.

Horino-kun must have taught his keen observational skills to his own Uma Musume as well.

Nature isn’t overwhelmingly strong yet, not right this moment.

But judging from Wilm’s perked ears and raised tail, she must have sensed that Nature’s underlying potential could one day rival her own.

Nature, you don’t need to look so anxious. These two are taking you seriously.

"Um… uh—are you okay?"

"Cough—hack— mm, I’m fine. I was just sli—surprised and choked on my own saliva."

"O-oh, I see. …Um, I’m Nice Nature. Nice to meet you today?"

"I’m Hoshino Wilm. …Pleased to meet you."

Nature offers her hand, and after a moment of hesitation, Wilm takes it.

And then—

"Nice Nature-chan."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Let’s be friends."

"Ha-nyaa!? W-whoa, that’s sudden! I mean, uh, it’s not bad or anything, but—"

"Is it not allowed?"

"N-no, not at all! I’d be fine with that! It’s just—are you sure it’s okay with me? Wilm-chan, you don’t exactly seem like the… friend-making type—"

"Call me Wil. Just Wil is fine."

"Eh—uh, um… Wil-chan?"

"Wil. You don’t need 'chan.'"

"Ehh… I mean, going straight to calling someone by just their name is kind of a big step, at least in Nature’s humble opinion…"

…They say strong Uma Musume tend to be quirky, and she’s definitely one of them.

---

"All right, we’re starting the mock race. When I lower this flag all the way, that’s the start. Goal is two thousand meters out—two laps around the track, finishing at the white line. Understood?"

"Understood."

"Ready anytime~"

With Horino-kun managing the start, I lean against the outer rail and watch the two.

Hoshino Wilm has her usual poker face, unreadable as always. Even so, the pressure she radiates marks her as a true top-class prospect.

And Nature—she’s prepared herself for today.

She feels Wilm’s pressure, definitely. But she isn’t backing down. She’s facing it head-on.

Her body is well-conditioned; there’s real confidence in her now.

Still, even assuming Wilm won’t go all out, Nature’s chances of winning today… maybe ten percent at best.

That’s how complete Wilm already is.

Even a rookie trainer like me can tell: she’s undoubtedly the protagonist of this era.

But there’s no rule that the protagonist has to be just one. In this world, it’s not rare for a girl who calls herself a “supporting character” to fight her way toward center stage.

Win, Nature.

You can turn this situation around. Even if the numbers paint a cruel and realistic picture, you can overturn it. You can pull off an upset.
I believed in the Uma Musume I was in charge of.

"On your marks."

…Yes—up until that very moment.

Hoshino Wilm’s pressure spikes explosively. If her presence before had been like crackling flames, now it’s a blizzard fierce enough to swallow everything whole. Even from here, the killing intent rolling off her is enough to freeze your limbs if you stand too close.

This pressure… no way…!

"She’s serious…!?"

"Set."

Horino-kun raises the flag.
Nature is visibly frightened, completely at a loss.
The Uma Musume who just moments ago had approached at her usual relaxed pace, and the Uma Musume now radiating such clear hostility—she probably can’t believe they’re the same person.

And above all, that pressure is stronger than anything she’s ever felt before.

But Nature shakes it off, snapping her gaze straight ahead once more.
…Good. Go for it, Nature!

"Start!"

Both shoot out with no hesitation. If anything, Hoshino Wilm’s start is the more perfect of the two.
Nature takes the form of chasing the fleeing Wilm.

…but the gap only continues to widen.
Those two differ in raw ability. Their “held-back speeds” differ by that much.

"…As expected, Nice Nature is fast. She’s a step or two ahead of the other Juniors."

"Horino-kun."

His job done, he climbs over the outer rail and watches the race beside me.
His face is expressionless—like he already understands exactly what’s about to happen. No expectation. No fear.

Nice Nature is fast. That’s not sarcasm; it’s a solid fact.
Relative to her peers, Nature is undoubtedly top class among the Junior division.
But Hoshino Wilm’s speed… is not something that belongs to the Junior class.
…It’s closer to Classic class—or even beyond that.

"Horino-kun, is that… Hoshino Wilm going all out?"

"Yeah. Just like you said, she’s taking this race seriously. She’s running at official-race pace."

No way.
No way she’d bring official-race pace to a race like this.
Horino-kun, what is Hoshino Wilm thinking? At worst, she could injure her legs with that kind of decision.

…Is she really weighing Nature that heavily?
No—she could outrun the current Nature even without going all out. There’s no need to go this far.
Then why…?

"Take good care of Nice Nature. …She’s an incredible Uma Musume."

……That means…
Is this for Nature’s sake? For the sake of letting her face the strongest of her generation?
It’s true that understanding the current difference in strength—and the speed she should aim for—would be an enormous advantage.

But… even if he recognizes her talent, would he really go this far for someone else’s trainee?

"Horino-kun, you…"

"Hey, Nice Nature’s moving!"

Horino-kun shouts. For someone normally calm and collected to raise his voice—something has happened far outside his expectations.

The race is just before entering the mid-phase, right after clearing the first corner. It’s far too early for Nature, a closers-type runner, to start using her legs.
Yet she clearly accelerates.

She’s overextending. A reckless burst far too early.
It’s nothing like her usual style—normally she watches the race coolly, aiming to win the moment an opening appears.
…No. Or maybe—

"Is that her strategy?"

"No… looks like her fighting spirit just ignited."

Nature’s eyes, visible even from afar, are very much alive.
She must already sense her own defeat. If she’s allowed to fall any farther behind, she’ll never catch up again.
So she’s choosing to land at least one blow—using her finishing burst now, while she still can reach her.

The distance that had only been growing now begins to shrink, little by little.
Right now she can close it. She can reach her. At this pace, likely just before the final phase, Nice Nature will catch Hoshino Wilm.

…Of course, this is a reckless move that ignores proper race flow.
Nature won’t have any stamina left for the final spurt. She might not even be able to fully overtake Wilm at all.
Meanwhile, Hoshino Wilm still has plenty of stamina to spare. Even if Nature manages to pass her for a moment, she can easily take the lead back.

In short, Nature has abandoned winning.
She’s choosing instead to catch up to Hoshino Wilm, even if just for a moment.

"…………"

"…!"

Even from far away, I can see their expressions.
Hoshino Wilm’s face is utterly blank, void of any emotion.
Nature glares ahead with fierce intent—focused solely on Wilm’s back.

The gap narrows. By the time they pass 1000 meters, it’s less than half.

"This might… actually be bad."

"Huh?"

…1400.
Nature closes in behind Hoshino Wilm. Four lengths… three lengths…

When the gap shrinks to around two lengths, something changes.

For the first time, Hoshino Wilm looks away from the turf ahead. She glances back slightly.
Her pale blue eyes lock onto Nature.

And then—

Hoshino Wilm explodes into a mad sprint.

"What—"

I’m speechless.
There are still 600 meters left—nearly a third of the entire race.
From this distance, can she hold a spurt? No—more importantly, can an Uma Musume who was already maintaining that pace really unleash a 600-meter long sprint!?

The distance that had been shrinking suddenly spreads open again at terrifying speed. At this point, no matter what she did, she couldn’t close that gap.
For a moment, Nature wore an expression close to despair—but she immediately forced herself back into focus… only for her strength to give out as she started fading.

"Is that… is this Hoshino Wilm in an official race?"

"No. Even in an official race, she doesn’t go this far."

Horino-kun shook his head as he spoke. Right now, Hoshino Wilm was giving more than she ever did in the real thing—more than her absolute best.

In the end, Hoshino Wilm crossed the finish line without slowing down—an honestly terrifying feat. But immediately afterward, she collapsed on the spot, and Horino-kun had to carry her straight to the infirmary.
To run all the way through, decelerate, and then collapse as if fainting… I’d never seen Hoshino Wilm like that before. Just as Horino-kun said, she must have pushed past her limits—far beyond anything she’d shown until now.

"…How is she? Is Hoshino Wilm okay?"

"It was only momentary exhaustion and lack of oxygen. She just couldn't move. Her condition… overall, she’s fine."

"I see. …Sorry. I didn’t mean to push her that far. Please tell Hoshino Wilm that for me."

"Understood. Sorry, but could I ask you to handle the cleanup?"

"Yeah, please let me do at least that much."

His voice over the phone sounded far more dejected than usual. Well, of course it did.
If my own trainee collapsed from overexertion, I’d panic and have no idea how to deal with it.
He lifted Hoshino Wilm in his arms, passed along a few instructions to me, and immediately took off running toward the infirmary.
As a trainer, he was one—or two—steps ahead of me. Someone truly worthy of respect.

"Trainer… san."

"Mm? What is it, Nature?"

My trainee was bent over, hands on her knees, gulping for air.
Having started her surge from mid-race, Nature had burned through her stamina and slowed to a crawl, but she still managed to finish the full 2000 meters.
By that time, both Hoshino Wilm and Horino-kun were already gone.

"I'm sorry… I…"

"It’s all right, Nature. I understand how you feel, and neither of them would ever blame you."

"…………"

She had given up the race. Mock or not, a race is still a race, and in a sense, it could even look like she had insulted her competitor, Hoshino Wilm.
But everyone understood that wasn’t it.
Nice Nature challenged a wall. She ran in her own way, trying to overcome a wall far too high.

What happened to Hoshino Wilm wasn’t anyone’s fault… and if you had to blame something, you’d blame Hoshino Wilm’s own runaway intensity.
Which means the rest is up to her.
And Nature—Nature’s runaway problem was one of the heart.

"…You know, I… I was frustrated. When she pulled away from me right at the start… I felt relieved. She’s that fast, so it can’t be helped that I can’t catch up. It’s not my fault… That’s what I thought. There are things you can’t reach no matter how hard you try. No matter how far you stretch out your hand, you can’t grab those sparkling stars. She wasn’t someone a plain girl like me could beat…"

Her true feelings fell out of her little by little, like the first drops of rain.

"When she glanced back at me for just a second… I was happy. Even a plain girl like me could at least make her look my way. I could make her bring out her real full power. …But maybe that’s my limit.
Haha… thinking something like that… that’s just—"

Nature’s ears hung flat. For the first time in front of me, she was about to let her emotions explode.

"Something like that—just realizing that makes me the MOST frustrated! We’re both Uma Musume, aren’t we!? I’m the same kind of Uma Musume as she is! I was running right there with her! And yet she’s always so far ahead it’s like she can’t even see me! I…!"

Her hands were clenched so tightly it looked like she might draw blood. I had never seen her face twisted like this before.
Someone who’d always chosen resignation and self-protection was now stripping all of that away, boiling with anger—at the arrogant champion, yes, but more than anything, at her own pathetic helplessness.

"I want to win too! In races—and against her!"

…Ah. That was what I wanted to hear, Nature.

"The Kikuka-shō."

"…Huh?"

"Hoshino Wilm’s greatest strength is her stamina. At middle distances or shorter, you can’t catch up to her with that high pace and that finishing burst. But in long-distance races where stamina is always drained… if she loses her rhythm like she did today, then Hoshino Wilm becomes nothing more than an ordinary front-running Uma Musume who’ll fade before she can even sprint."

"Trainer-san… does that mean…"

I extended my hand to her—much like the day I first scouted her.
Good. My judgment wasn’t wrong after all. With this girl, I can aim higher. We can reach for those sparkling stars.

"Let’s beat Hoshino Wilm, Nature. The one who’ll stop her Triple Crown… is you."

"…Y-yeah!"

Her hand clasped mine. I could feel that burning-hot determination flooding through her.

Maybe that was the second time we truly started running together.
The beginning of a story about an Uma Musume chasing after something sparkling.

---

As a side note—on the very next day:

"Nature-chan, would you like to train together?"

Hoshino Wilm knocked on the door of my trainer’s room as if words like resolve and determination meant nothing to her, and Nature and I couldn’t help but exchange a look.
Should I assume she still didn’t recognize us as rivals, or that Nature was being singled out in some special way?
…Maybe only someone like Horino-kun can understand how Hoshino Wilm’s mind works.