Chapter 62: Legends Are Meant to Be Rewritten

Information is power.
I think most people living in the modern age would agree with that.
And if you’re a trainer at Tracen Academy with a dedicated charge, it’s something every single one of them would nod along to without hesitation.

When analyzing a race involving your assigned Uma Musume, data on rival runners becomes critically important.
For example, if there’s a runaway frontrunner like Silence Suzuka in the field, you can expect the pace to skyrocket.
Or if there’s a schemer like Nice Nature, then the key to the race lies in how she thinks and acts.

By researching the rival Uma Musume competing in your trainee’s race, you gain the essential material needed to predict how the race will unfold. In fact, trying to forecast the outcome without going through that process would be close to impossible.

On top of that, the more you investigate—course distance, track condition, your trainee’s running style and limits, even the size of the crowd—the more accurate your predictions become.
Once you’ve lined up all the factors in your head… predicting the outcome of a race, or devising a way to overturn it, isn’t all that difficult.

After all, even I can do it. If you really put your mind to it, anyone could.

…But that also means the opposite is true.
No matter who you are, without sufficient information, predicting how a race will play out becomes extremely difficult.

"……"

I look down at an overhead map of Tokyo Racecourse, quietly organizing the information in my head.

In this race, there isn’t another runaway horse on the level of Hoshino Wilm.
At a stretch, the girls in gate 7, number 15, or gate 5, number 10, might try to push to the front—but even then, they don’t have legs like Wilm’s. And even if they do manage to get ahead, the current Wilm should be able to deal with it calmly.

So there’s almost no doubt that Hoshino Wilm will take the lead. That much is certain.
But what happens after that?
Who makes a move, and when?
In a pace that’s almost excessively fast, how will the overseas Uma Musume—who aren’t as accustomed as Japanese runners to Wilm’s self-destructive, runaway style—respond?

Will they force an early move anyway? If so, where? On the downhill of the backstretch?
Or, having seen the Kikuka Sho against Nice Nature, will they conclude that attacking too early only leads to failure?
Will they bet everything on the long final straight? And if so, how much will they ease the pace before then?

I close my eyes and run the simulations over and over in my head.
Again and again and again. Based on stats and past races, I keep predicting who will do what.

There’s a lot to think about, and there’s no single, clear-cut answer.

I don’t know enough about the overseas Uma Musume.
Of course, I’ve read articles about them, watched their races, and even examined their stats through photos.
But their temperaments—and their trainers’ strategic philosophies—are things you can’t truly grasp from afar. You can infer certain tendencies, make educated guesses, but it never reaches a level you could call certainty.

That’s why, for this race… for Wilm’s Japan Cup, I don’t have enough information to definitively say, “She will win.”

…Even so.

The fact that I can still believe she’ll win in the end might be a blessing.

There’s no data. No logic.
Just an irresponsible, unfounded trust that Hoshino Wilm will somehow make it work.

In other words, I’ve already formed the preconceived notion that “Hoshino Wilm will win,” which—objectively speaking—isn’t exactly a healthy state of mind for a trainer who’s supposed to assess situations impartially…

But no matter the circumstances, what I need to do doesn’t change.
I do everything I can and guide her to victory.
That’s been my policy ever since I signed my contract with her… with Hoshino Wilm, and it hasn’t changed one bit.

"…If it comes down to the final straight, then Witch Evening is probably the one to watch, right? In terms of raw specs, she’s the most dangerous.
But there’s also information that her condition dropped after traveling to Japan. If that’s true, then maybe Mejiro McQueen… or rather, Silver Pigeon, who I’ve heard is actually improving?"

And so…

Right up until the last possible moment before leaving for the racecourse, I remained lost in thought in the trainer’s room.

November 24th, Tokyo Racecourse.

The turf spread out below the stands wasn’t in particularly good condition.
It seemed the grass maintenance hadn’t been able to keep up after a stretch of continuous rain, and large patches of exposed soil were clearly visible.

That meant kicking off the ground while running would require more power than usual—and using more power also meant consuming more stamina.

The days when Wilm lacked power are long past. Now, with stamina and grit at the forefront, all of her stats are balanced at a high level, so it shouldn’t be a major issue. In fact, since this is a stamina-demanding race, it might even work in her favor.

Despite having taken a long break of over four months, her stats still don’t fall short when compared to Mejiro McQueen.
…If anything, the gap between them is smaller than it was at the Takarazuka Kinen.

McQueen’s recent dip in form likely plays a role, but the effects of the joint training sessions Wilm’s been doing with other Uma Musume lately are probably significant as well.
She trained mainly with Bourbon, and on some days Nice Nature and Rice joined in too. Whether or not something like “friendship training,” as it was called in my past-life app, actually triggered is anyone’s guess—but the stat growth was undeniably impressive.

As I continue analyzing, the voices of the announcer and commentator carry over to us.

‘The Japan Cup, where many elite horses from overseas have gathered at Tokyo Racecourse. The current weather is cloudy, and the track condition has been reported as good.
What kind of race will we see today?’

‘Naturally, the focus is on the odds-on favorite, Hoshino Wilm, entrusted with the role of Japan’s standard-bearer this year.
Second favorite Mejiro McQueen as well—at 2400 meters, this distance might actually feel short for both of them. How they make use of their long-lasting legs will be the key, and all eyes are on their runs.’

"So they say, big sister."

"Hm? Yeah, I suppose so."

Honestly, I think Hoshino Wilm is the runner to watch in this race too. She’s my charge, so that’s only natural.
With a runaway specialist like her in the field, it’s fair to say she’ll be the one setting the pace.

The question is how closely the others can stick with her—and how much they can afford to keep in reserve…

As I give a vague nod while thinking that over, Masa looks at me with narrowed, probing eyes.

"…You haven’t been sleeping, have you? Well, you did at least take a nap, right?"

"Why are you and Hoshino Wilm both so perceptive lately?"

With the race approaching, my sleep schedule hasn’t been stable, but thankfully I managed to get about two solid hours of rest yesterday—enough that watching the race won’t be a problem.

More importantly, though, the race right in front of us is what matters.
I can sleep anytime if I really want to. But Hoshino Wilm’s Classic-tier Japan Cup is something that will only ever happen once.

"So, Trainer, what do you think about today’s race?"

Perhaps reading the mood between Masa and me—or maybe she was simply curious—Bourbon asks from beside us as she watches the track.

Hmm… Normally, I’d confidently lay out my opinion.
But this time, with so little information, my answer comes out less certain.

"I don’t have enough information to be fully confident, but… in terms of pure winning probability, Hoshino Wilm is the highest. After that… Mejiro McQueen, and Silver Pigeon."

"I understand Mejiro McQueen, but… Silver Pigeon?"

Masa furrows her brow slightly at my assessment.

Silver Pigeon.
An Uma Musume born in America, who traveled through Britain and France before returning to America—and finally making her way to Japan. A shining gray coat, just like her name suggests.

In this eighteen-runner field, she’s only the eighth favorite. Not a particularly eye-catching competitor. That may be why Masa questioned my reasoning.
…Or rather, since she knows about the “app reincarnation,” maybe she wasn’t doubting me so much as finding it unexpected.

Though her reputation has fallen now, Silver Pigeon was once a truly elite runner.
She won two G2 races and even claimed a G1—but then suffered an injury. Her post-recovery results were poor, and expectations steadily declined as a result.

…But today, she’s awakened in spectacular fashion.
Stat-wise, she’s one step below Mejiro McQueen, but she has the potential to pull off a massive upset.

"She’s not an opponent you can relax around. She hasn’t shown strong performances in a while, but… right now, she’s strong. Strong enough that she might even get ahead of Hoshino Wilm."

Perhaps Japanese turf suits her legs exceptionally well—her condition is outstanding, to the point that she might even surpass her own peak form.

There are precedents, like Obey Your Master snatching victory in the Japan Cup from Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross. For Uma Musume, running on a surface that matches their stride really is crucial.

…Even so.

Whether she can actually beat Mejiro McQueen is another question—it might be a bit of a stretch.

I recall how McQueen looked in the paddock earlier.

"And of course, Mejiro McQueen is an extremely formidable wall as well.
Her tactics are straightforward. She simply smashes you with orthodox strength… and precisely because of that, she has very few weaknesses."

McQueen’s current stats are only slightly higher than Hoshino Wilm’s. Her condition is… perfect.
Her skills are acquired in an extremely solid, reliable manner, and in this race, she’s likely the strongest contender for victory after Hoshino Wilm.

If I remember correctly, in my past-life app’s main story, she received a demotion at the Tenno Sho (Autumn), failed to recover mentally, and went on to lose the Japan Cup as well…

But the McQueen standing here now shows no signs of such instability.

Most likely—no, without a doubt—the version of her in this world will be a dangerous opponent who cannot be underestimated.

And when it comes to Mejiro McQueen, one can’t ignore her five-length victory in the previous Tenno Sho (Autumn).

Her results in the Tenno Sho (Spring) and the Takarazuka Kinen hadn’t been impressive, to the point where people were even saying, “Has McQueen’s era come to an end?”
But she crushed those rumors with her own strength.

By displaying overwhelming power, she proved to everyone that she, too, stands among the strongest active Uma Musume.

Given that, it’s only natural that she enjoys immense popularity. She’s been named the second favorite, right behind Hoshino Wilm. Really, it’s already a two-horse race between the two of them.

In fact, if I listen closely right now, I can hear the voice of what’s clearly a McQueen fan nearby.

"This race—of course Hoshino Wilm will be one of the stars, but the other Uma Musume to watch is definitely Mejiro McQueen."

"Where’d that come from all of a sudden?"

"McQueen is a stayer with phenomenal consistency, and last month she won the 2000-meter Tenno Sho (Autumn) held right here at Tokyo Racecourse—the same venue as this Japan Cup.
Her calm, composed run, perfectly neutralizing a bad track condition and relentless marking from other runners, is still fresh in everyone’s memory.

On top of that, she has the experience advantage of having raced at Tokyo within the past month, and the excessively long final straight—normally a major disadvantage for runaway runners—also works in her favor.

If she can fully demonstrate her abilities again in this race, I think it’s entirely possible for her to catch up to Hoshino Wilm."

"I see! So you’re looking forward to an intense showdown between Wilm and McQueen!"

…Wow, there are some seriously knowledgeable fans out there. And that voice sounds oddly familiar, too.

What a strange coincidence… or so I thought.

"…Huh?"

"Big brother?"

The Bourbon who had been standing beside me was gone. Since Masa was on my other side, I hadn’t noticed her leaving.

I scan the surrounding area, and then—

"Excuse me, but Wilm-senpai will not lose."

"S-sorry!"

…Bourbon was protesting to what appeared to be the two men who had been speaking earlier.

Naturally, Masa and I both bowed deeply and apologized to them afterward.
Thankfully, they were kind enough to forgive us…

Still, I never expected Bourbon—normally calm and composed at all times—to act like that.

It seems Wilm is very dear to her.
They talk often even outside of training, so I suppose you could say they have a good senior–junior relationship.

As a trainer, having a healthy relationship between my two charges is about as fortunate as it gets…

But incidents like this are a problem.

"I understand how you feel about her, but try to act a bit more calmly."

"My apologies."

I scold her for now, but Bourbon remains as expressionless as ever.

…Does she really understand what she did wrong?

Before long, it’s time for the horses to enter the main track.

The Uma Musume competing in the Japan Cup begin stepping onto the turf at their own pace.
During the Kikuka Sho, Wilm’s entry had been delayed due to issues with her horseshoes—but today, she appears promptly, just as she always does.

‘Here comes Hoshino Wilm onto the turf. Both physically and mentally, she appears to be in flawless condition.
On the same course where she once battled fiercely with Tokai Teio in the Japanese Derby, what kind of run will she show us today?’

Watching Hoshino Wilm walk across the turf…

Seeing her again from a distance, there’s an overwhelming presence about her—something akin to authority.

She’s short.
At 145 centimeters tall, she’s the smallest among today’s runners. Even visually, her frame is clearly slighter than the others’.

…And yet.

As she advances at an unhurried pace, there’s an indescribable power to her.

Is it the pride of an undefeated champion who has claimed four crowns?
Or the resolve born from carrying the expectations of countless people and Uma Musume?
Or perhaps… simply the instinctive thrill of wanting to enjoy the race before her?

Wearing a flame-like jacket over a monochrome inner layer, an ash-colored mantle glinting behind her, she crosses the turf with soft, steady footsteps.

Her presence is overwhelming.
…She truly looks like a new legend of the present age.

And yet, in truth, she’s just an ordinary, kind girl you could find anywhere.

In a sense, this too is one of her facets—the face Hoshino Wilm shows when she stands before a race.

And then—

"Go, Hoshino Wilm!"
"Win and become a legend!"

Considering what she’s accomplished so far—and what she’s about to attempt—this reaction is only natural.

In a race where Japan’s pride must be put on display, she is now the Uma Musume bearing the greatest expectations.

A rise from humble beginnings.
A Triple Crown achieved as a runaway runner.
A Takarazuka Kinen victory at the Classic level.

By rewriting the impossible into the possible time and again, that girl—who became hope for many and despair for others—

Is now being asked for the “next” step.

The Japan Cup.

A race Japan has lost for two consecutive years since Special Week’s victory.
She’s being asked to move forward without allowing that record to continue.

To claim a new crown while remaining undefeated.

After all, this race carries yet another meaning.

"Well… yeah. She’s definitely expected to win."

Masa’s muttered words draw a wry smile from me.

"Of course she is. …After all, if she wins this Japan Cup, her record will surpass even Symboli Rudolf."

Symboli Rudolf.

An undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume, widely celebrated as the strongest in the long history of the Twinkle Series.

Her record at the time she achieved the Triple Crown stood at eight races, eight victories. After that, she went on to compete in the Japan Cup… where she was defeated, finishing third.

By coincidence, Hoshino Wilm’s current record also stands at eight races, eight victories—and now, here she is, competing in the Japan Cup.

If she wins this race, it will become an openly acknowledged fact that she has surpassed Symboli Rudolf… the Eternal Emperor herself.

People always long for the future. Progress over stagnation, tomorrow over yesterday.

That is why Hoshino Wilm—an active Uma Musume who may surpass the strongest of the past—boasts overwhelming popularity.

If her opponent were an ordinary Uma Musume, I would probably be worried as her trainer about whether I could shoulder expectations this enormous… but—

Hoshino Wilm, calmly stretching on the turf right now, shows not the slightest hint of unease.

She already knows that the people watching her are not enemies.

She knows they are those who look at her, place their hopes in her, and push her forward.

And so… all I can do now is cheer for her.

"…Brother."

"Hm? What is it?"

That voice—coming from Masa—somehow sounds weaker than usual.

…No, that’s not it. There’s no trembling, and her tone is the same as always. Probably just my imagination.

When I look at her expression again, she’s simply gazing out over the turf with her usual blank look.

"…You’re not feeling unwell, are you?"

"Huh? That’s sudden. I’m fine—no problems."

"I see. …Then that’s good."

…? What was that about?

It feels a little unusual for Masa to worry about my condition. Usually, she just scolds me.

…Well, maybe it’s not that rare. Sometimes, instead of getting angry, she shows concern like this.

Perhaps it’s a lingering trace of the kindness she had when she was younger.

While I’m thinking about that, Mejiro McQueen appears on the turf.

Calm and dignified as ever, she surveys the field proudly before walking straight toward Hoshino Wilm.

Noticing her approach, Wilm stops stretching.

After exchanging a few words, the two firmly shake hands.

The conversation between the first and second favorites—Uma Musume drawing the full attention of Japan—sends the crowd into a frenzy… while the foreign Uma Musume glare at them.

From their perspective, it probably feels as though they’re being told they aren’t even worthy opponents.

…But that’s likely not the case.

Mejiro McQueen would never look down on another Uma Musume.

She has simply acknowledged that Hoshino Wilm is the one most capable of becoming her greatest rival, and has resolved to compete with her in earnest.

…For Hoshino Wilm, the era in which her strength was underestimated has completely come to an end.

From here on, she will fight as one of the strongest—facing challengers and fellow top-tier Uma Musume alike.

"Now then, all eighteen Uma Musume have assembled at Tokyo Racecourse. Against challengers arriving from around the world, can Japan’s Uma Musume demonstrate their strength?"

"Tokyo Racecourse, left-handed turf course, 2,400 meters. The weather is cloudy, and the track condition remains firm. Let’s look forward to an exciting race that brings out each competitor’s strengths."

"It’s starting… a G1 race."

Masa mutters, her voice tinged with tension.

Even though she’s an intern, this is her first time working as a trainer in a G1 race. It’s only natural that she’d be nervous.

There’s no need for me to say anything in response.

I was nervous at first too, so I understand. Until you get used to it, nothing anyone says will ease that tension—and the only way to get used to it is through experience.

So I avert my eyes from the stiffened Masa and turn my gaze back toward the turf.

A cloudy Tokyo Racecourse.

More than 150,000 spectators have packed into this confined space, placing their hopes on Japan’s Uma Musume.

Can Wilm overcome the formidable competition—and Mejiro McQueen—and live up to those expectations?

In this Japan Cup, the odds of victory are certainly not low.

…But they are by no means 100 percent.

I’ve already conveyed the strategies, but none of them are guaranteed.

In the end, it’s fair to say that Wilm’s own judgment will determine the outcome of this race.

Considering the special trait she mentioned to me earlier—Hoshino Wilm’s heightened cognitive ability during races, likely due to the partial release of her domain—it’s unlikely she’ll make a wrong call in the final stretch… or so I believe. There’s no concrete data, so I can’t say for certain.

If that’s the case, what we need to watch most closely is the early and mid-race development… though as a runaway-style Uma Musume, those phases aren’t as critical for her.

That leaves one concern in the endgame: being overwhelmed by sheer power.

With the Classic races finished, Hoshino Wilm will now be running shoulder to shoulder with elite competitors. Winning purely on raw specs, as she once did, will only become more difficult.

Her strategy—an all-out early escape—consumes tremendous stamina in the opening phase. The key will be how much of that stamina she can preserve for the final stretch while maintaining a decisive lead through the early and mid-race.

And in that regard, Hoshino Wilm—who, when her domain is opened… or something close to it, can apparently reduce stamina consumption drastically in the late stages—should be able to compete with a significant advantage.

If she can enter the final straight with enough stamina left to run properly, then the race will become Hoshino Wilm’s stage alone.

…That’s what I want to believe, at least.

But how will it really turn out? There are simply too many unpredictable elements in this race.

"Let’s introduce the third favorite! Winner of the G1 Prix Vermeille, second place in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with an astounding 70 percent top-two finish rate!

A petite French Uma Musume riding a hot streak enters the fray to avenge Montjeu!

Can she work her magic in Japan? Gate two, number three—Witch Evening!"

Witch Evening, lightly circling the turf, notices her name being called by the announcer and responds with an affected, theatrical bow toward the crowd.

An autumn riser among Uma Musume, she has posted strong results since June—finishing first twice and second three times in graded races. Though she narrowly missed victory with a second-place finish in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe—widely regarded as the ultimate turf championship—her ability is beyond question.

And she herself clearly takes pride in that strength.

In a pre-race interview, she declared something to the effect of, "I’ll take them head-on. With my legs, I can cast a spell that would even bewitch a dragon."

…However, perhaps due to the toll of travel, her current condition seems merely average.

Objectively speaking, she likely isn’t close to challenging an absolutely peak-form Hoshino Wilm.

"Second favorite is the Mejiro Uma Musume who conquered the Tenno Sho!

Demonstrating overwhelming strength with a staggering five-length victory on a heavy track, can she turn this race into the third masterpiece of her career!?

A true virtuoso of the turf stands here—Kikuka Sho Uma Musume, gate three, number five, Mejiro McQueen!"

McQueen remains unfazed by the impassioned commentary, fixing her gaze firmly on the turf as she calmly centers her mind.

For her, this race is a turning point.

Will she defeat Hoshino Wilm and reclaim the title of the strongest—or will she suffer another crushing loss like the one at the Takarazuka Kinen? This is the decisive battle.

Her mental state and physical condition are perfectly aligned. She is, without exaggeration, in flawless form.

How closely can she press Wilm, and might she even surpass her?

Everyone is watching, placing their expectations on the run she is about to deliver.

And then…

"There can be no doubt about the number one favorite—Japan’s standard-bearer of the year!

A speed junkie who seeks ever-stronger foes and ever-harsher races, her true form is that of a dragon weaving a new myth!

Today, will her fangs reach the title of ‘Strongest in History’!?

The ash-gray dragon that overturns the impossible—still undefeated, Triple Crown Uma Musume, gate five, number nine, Hoshino Wilm!!"

In response to the fevered announcement, Wilm lightly waves toward the crowd.

…Though her expression, steeped in combative intensity, is anything but calm.

Her motivation is overflowing, and more than anyone else, it’s clear that she is eagerly anticipating this race from the depths of her heart.

With her in this state, she’ll surely enjoy the race—and she may very well win it, too.

"All Uma Musume are now loaded into the gates. Preparations for the start are complete."

Up to this point, we’ve done everything we could.

We devised the strategy with the highest likelihood of victory and structured the training to support it. There’s nothing more I can do now.

…So at the very least—

From here on out, I’ll cheer for you with everything I’ve got.

Do your best, Hoshino Wilm.

"And they’re off!"