Chapter 11: This feeling, could it be...
The maiden race was over, and I… no, officially become an open-class Uma Musume. Well, by late September, due to prize money rankings, I’d inevitably drop back to one-win class… but still, I’d won.
A complete victory, overcoming my trauma. Sure, it was just a maiden race, but for us, it was a huge milestone. Even from a pure racehorse perspective, reaching open class means you’re among the elite. So in the Uma Musume world, becoming open-class is definitely worth celebrating.
The next stage was the Shigiku Stakes (1-win class), October Week 3—2000 meters on turf, right-handed. It’d mean traveling to Kyoto Racecourse, but that was just another experience to gain. If I ever wanted to compete in graded stakes, I’d need to get used to traveling anyway. Right now, the priority was running in as many races as possible.
…At this point, someone might butt in with, "Why not the Fuji Stakes? It’s October Week 1, 2000 meters, open class! The prize money’s way better if you win!" But that was absolutely out of the question. Getting cocky after a maiden win and jumping into a higher class would just get me crushed instantly.
Besides, higher prize money directly correlates with tougher competition. This isn’t a game—you can’t just waltz in and win effortlessly. People forget, but winning even one graded stake makes you a legendary horse—or Uma Musume. And no matter how strong you are, luck or accidents can still ruin everything. Some girls burn out the moment they win their dream G1. The racing world is terrifying like that.
Not to mention, I… no, I hadn’t earned much prize money yet, so there was a real risk of being excluded. The debut race’s first-place prize was , and the maiden win was —though the actual added earnings were only each.
At this point, if the Fuji Stakes got 16 entries with higher earnings than mine, I’d easily get excluded, ruining all my training and plans.
…For reference, if entries exceed the maximum gate, the race divides into "selected runners," "non-selected runners," and "non-lottery runners." Selection criteria vary, but most races decide based on factors like "total earnings," "race records," and "time since last run" as of the entry deadline.
Runners excluded for not meeting the criteria are called "non-lottery." Those who met the criteria but lost in a tiebreaker draw are called "non-selected."
Most people just lump them together as "excluded," but if you got non-selected, the regret would be unbearable. Some girls probably missed the Derby that way. That’s why it’s crucial to steadily build earnings in races where you’re guaranteed entry.
Hence, the Shigiku Stakes on October Week 3—a safe step while continuing my development. We agreed to train as usual leading up to it.
…Or so we should’ve.
But ever since the maiden race, I… no, I had started acting weird. For some reason, I couldn’t look my trainer in the eye anymore.
To be specific, my body had felt off since after the live performance—the moment I realized I wanted to be special to Tomio.
Training became half-hearted, to the point where Tomio started worrying. "What’s wrong, Apollo?" he’d ask almost daily, and the guilt was eating at me. So I decided to consult Guriko.
"That’s love, Apollo-chan."
"……Hah?"
The moment I explained, Guriko instantly dropped that bombshell.
"Pfft, no way! I mean, I wanna do my best for my trainer, but love? Nahhh~"
"Nuh-uh, it’s love. You get all flustered trying to look at him, right? Your face went bright red when you realized your feelings were special, didn’t it?"
"……Well… yeah."
…I couldn’t say I was completely unaware.
At the finish line of the maiden race, I’d clearly become a girl. How do I put it…? It was like something deep inside shifted—"he" had become "her."
Since then, my girly side had been surfacing more often. That had to be why my feelings were all messed up. Sure, Tomio’s favorability was high, but sober-me wasn’t girly enough to fall in love.
…But honestly, lately, thinking of myself as "he" had been getting harder. And now, talking to Guriko made me realize—I’d already become "her." Since that race day, bit by bit, I’d been eroded, turning into a girl.
In reality, I’d stopped sitting cross-legged, and I’d become hyper-aware of my skirt length. I still thought the me in the mirror was cute, but now I caught myself wondering who I wanted to think I was cute.
Plenty of other girly behaviors had seeped into my daily life too. Truthfully, the remnants of my male past were just faint traces—rough thought patterns lingering at the edges.
I didn’t want to admit it… I really didn’t.
But I… no, I had already become a girl. There was no going back.
"……Ugh."
"See? Even the way you’re moping is totally girly now. You used to be all wild, but look at you~"
"……Guriko, what… what should I do?"
"About what?"
"I mean, you know… about my relationship with Trainer. …Right?"
"Isn’t that up to you, Apollo?"
"Ughh…"
I had no idea what I even wanted with Trainer. That’s why I was asking—Guriko was being mean. She just smirked, watching me squirm.
"Y’know, Apollo-chan, you’ve changed since winning that maiden race."
"Changed? How?"
"Dunno how to put it. Like… you’ve gotten more girly? You’ve still got some rough edges, though."
"…………"
…So even Guriko could tell I’d fully "mare-ified." Not exactly thrilled about that. I slumped with a sigh, and Guriko suddenly sprang up from her bed.
"Oh, right! Your trainer’s that Momozawa guy, yeah?"
"Yeah, but…"
Hearing another girl say my trainer’s name made my chest feel weirdly tight.
"Well, I saw him getting real cozy with some girl named Kiryuuin."
"!"
My whole body froze at those words.
Right—Tomio was surrounded by cute girls. Kiryuuin Aoi, Happy Meek’s trainer, who he met during joint training sessions. They were close enough to go drinking and exchange info. Then there was Hayakawa Tazuna, who he was always chatting with, not to mention the mountain of other Uma Musume students under his care.
If I hesitated too long… someone might snatch him away. The thought sent a jolt of panic through me. My body reacted before my mind could—No. I hate that.
"I get not wanting to be honest, but Momozawa’s pretty popular… Wait too long, and someone might swipe him up."
"Th-that’s—"
"Just go for it! Better to try and fail than regret never trying, right?"
I gritted my teeth. At this point, it wasn’t about my past as a guy. I just… didn’t have confidence in myself as a girl.
Not to toot my own horn, but Apollo Rainbow was cute. I’d say my looks ranked pretty high among Uma Musume. But there was one area where I couldn’t compete with other girls.
The effortless, natural femininity they exuded. I’d started thinking like a girl, sure, but traces of my male past lingered. My mannerisms were 90% girly now, but sometimes—like when startled—I’d let out a totally dude-like yelp. What if that made Trainer lose interest in me?
This called for immediate action.
I grabbed Guriko’s cheeks.
"Guriko. You know how I’ve still got some guy-like habits, right?"
"Uh, yeah? Why the sudden—"
"I’m gonna become the most goddamn adorable Uma Musume to ever exist."
"……Hah?!"
—OPERATION [ULTRA-KAWAII UMA MUSUME TRANSFORMATION], COMMENCING.
A few days later. Having secured a day off from Tomio, I decided to go out with Maruzensky-chan to fully embrace my inner femininity. Here’s how it all went down.
To: Maruzensky-sama
Thank you as always for your kindness.
I humbly request your guidance on how to become a choberigu and now-style woman. If your schedule permits, would you take me on a date sometime?
I eagerly await your consideration.
Sincerely,Apollo Rainbow
Japan Umamusume Training Center Middle School
Contact: ApolloRainbow@umamail.comTel: XXX-YYY-ZZZZ
From:
Mochi no ron~!
Leave it to your super-senpai Maruzensky to handle her cute kouhai’s request~ ♥
I’m pretty much OK bokujo all August, so hit me up again, ‘kay?
Toodles~ ♥
Our email exchange was peppered with outdated slang even our parents’ generation wouldn’t understand, but that’s how I secured my date with Maruzensky. When I told Guriko and Tomio, their reactions were priceless:
"You contacted Maruzensky directly? You’ve got guts."
"Going out with that Maruzen-san… Apollo-chan, you’re kinda scary, huh?"
Honestly, I’d probably be intimidated by Symboli Rudolf or Narita Brian, but Maru-chan’s easy to talk to. Sure, her record’s terrifying, but she’s cute and sweet.
On the day of, Maru-chan’s supercar pulled up in front of Tracen Academy. She waved from behind the rolled-down window, so I bowed and greeted her properly.
"Good mor—uh, , Maru-senpai!"
"Ohh, osoyou~ ♪ Fufu, Apollo-chan knows the trendy lingo~ ♪ C’mon, hop in!"
"Excuse me!"
Cheerfully welcomed, I slid into the passenger seat. Back when I was working, I’d only ever test-driven a supercar once—never thought I’d ride in one again. And a bright red one, no less. Supercars never lose their charm. I couldn’t help but marvel at the plush seats.
"Seatbelt fastened! Looking forward to today!!"
"Ready? Then—!"
"Deppaaatsu…?"
With that, Maru-chan slammed the accelerator—hard.
So the rumors are true, I thought, just as whoosh—my body was pinned to the seat. The supercar shot past Tracen Academy and onto the road in seconds.
Our destination? Bubbly Land.
According to Maruzensky, it was a dream stage where a girl’s charm could reach batchiguu levels—complete with dance platforms, folding fans, and bodycon fashion. But…
"……？？？？"
Even I was at a loss. The place was a riot of flashing lights and deafening bass. Everyone there—including Maruzensky, who’d brought me—was dancing wildly in swimsuits.
"C’mon, Apollo-chan, dance with me~!"
"Huh… O-okay!"
In my school-issued swimsuit, I awkwardly mimicked Maru-chan’s bizarre, wriggly dance moves. Was this how I’d become a , now-style girl? …Maru-chan, are you serious right now?
I flailed my fan to the music, but the stares from the crowd burned into me. Ugh, we’re totally the center of attention… I can’t do this…!
"Who~ cares~ about~ the~ crowd~? Just~ dance~!"
Just as I tried to stop dancing, Maruzensky’s voice immediately cut through the air. Since I was the one who’d begged her for this, I couldn’t exactly refuse now.
(……Ugh, fine! Whatever happens, happens!)
In the end, I danced my heart out, shame be damned. By the second half, I’d even gotten into it—attempting some incomprehensible breakdancing moves. Looking back, I have no idea what that was about, but Bubbly Land had a way of pulling you into its madness.
"So? How’d it feel—dancing without a care in the world?"
"W-well… It was actually kinda fun."
"Ufufu, glad to hear it!"
On the way back from Bubbly Land, we pulled over at dusk by the coast and decided to take a short stroll. Leaving her supercar—glowing under the golden hour—behind, we stepped onto the soft sand.
We walked in silence for a while until Maruzensky suddenly crouched down. Curious, I peeked over her shoulder to see her picking up a seashell.
"What’s that?"
"Who knows? Just a regular shell, probably."
The one she’d picked up was… far from pretty—a misshapen, ashy-gray thing with uneven holes. Why that one? Puzzled, I started scanning the sand for nicer ones.
"Maru-san, there are way prettier shells over here!"
"Oh? But I like this one."
"……?"
I froze mid-step and turned back to her. She was holding the shell up against the sunset, squinting at it with a dreamy smile.
It didn’t make sense. There had to be better ones. Why cling to that ugly little thing?
Unable to hold back, I finally blurted out the question.
"……Maru-san. You… like that shell? Even though there are nicer ones?"
"……It just caught my eye. Felt like fate, that’s all♪ Sure, it’s a bit rough, weathered, full of holes… but that’s why I adore it!"
Backlit by the sunset, Maruzensky grinned. "This’ll be my souvenir of today!" she murmured, tucking the shell into her pouch.
I stared, baffled. It was objectively ugly. What was there to love?
Maybe my face betrayed my thoughts—or maybe my gaze was just that rude—but Maruzensky turned to me and said:
"Nothing’s perfect, Apollo-chan. Loving someone means embracing their flaws, their rough edges—all of it."
"……!"
"I picked this shell because its imperfections are cute♪"
The ‘Supercar’ said it breezily, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Her words struck me right in the chest.
I’d been so hung up on not being ‘girly’ enough. But maybe I’d overthought it. My trainer and I were doing fine as-is… Had I just been worrying over nothing?
"Turn your flaws into charm! C’mon, chin up—live boldly! That’s a promise to your big sis, ‘kay?"
"……Maru-san!"
——What makes a girl charming? I’d always assumed it meant being perfect. But Maruzensky’s words melted into me, syllable by syllable, like sugar in tea.
(…Though, was the Bubbly Land dance really necessary?) I wondered. But ruining the moment felt wrong, so I kept that to myself.
……Ah.
I’m really lucky to have people like this around me.
Thanks, Maru-san.
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