Chapter 54: Hot Summer Training Camp – Part 1

Mid-July, at Tracen Academy. After gathering with Team Spica, I helped load our luggage into the academy-owned microbus driven by Tomio. Honestly, I was surprised that a trainer even had a license for large vehicles, but apparently, many trainers get one since they often have to drive big buses for summer camps every year.

Tomio got his license back when he was Mejiro McQueen’s assistant trainer and has been putting it to good use for these camps. Of course, Trainer Okino also has a license for the annual summer trips. This time, Tomio and Okino would take turns driving to our destination—long drives are exhausting, after all.

Chewing on gummies in my seat, I immediately pulled up UmaSta. No matter where I scrolled, the feed was flooded with summery posts like "At summer camp rn!", "Swimsuit photoshoot!", and "Got sunburned!" Well, Japan doesn’t have any G1 races during summer, so there’s not much else to tweet about.

Sure, there’s the Summer 2000 Series, Summer Mile Series, and Summer Sprint Series—collectively known as the Summer Series—a set of distance-based races to hype up the Twinkle Series summer season. They’re popular, sure… but casual fans and the public tend to focus more on G1s. Since the Summer Series is made up of G3s, G2s, and open races, overseas G1s around the same time steal the spotlight… which happens a lot. Fans just can’t resist the allure of foreign G1s.

Right now, Taiki Shuttle and Seeking the Pearl, who flew to France, have the entire Japanese fandom’s attention since their overseas G1 challenge was officially announced.

I sent an "Uma-ne!" to a photo of Taiki-chan and Pearl-chan wearing sunglasses on a French beach. An excellent shot. The Deauville racecourse was visible in the background, so they must’ve taken it at a nearby beach. Just the fact that it’s a photo taken abroad makes even the sky look exotic—guess that’s the appeal of overseas, huh?

As I scrolled, thinking "Overseas is the dream stage in every field~", a post from Chairman Symboli Rudolf, updated 12 seconds ago, caught my eye. Let’s see…

"City folks say the air’s dirty, but here I am blowing off steam in a footbath."

A text-only post, no photo. Despite being crazy famous, she never uploads pics and only makes these low-key posts, so her UmaSta gets oddly few "Uma-ne!"s. Her no-nonsense attitude is kinda charming. Maybe people don’t even realize it’s really her? Chuckling, I decided to reply with a full-force pun.

"@SymboliRudolf Great content, but it’s dirty with greed."
"@ApolloRainbow Sticky and ruthless—net users weep."

What even is this exchange? I sometimes reply to her when I’m in a late-night mood, but now that I think about it, outsiders must find this super weird. Well… as long as we’re having fun, right?

Trying to stifle a dumb grin while browsing UmaHo, Teio-chan plopped down next to me. When I glanced over, she puffed out her cheeks and shoved her screen in my face.

"Apo-chan! How come you’re so close with the Chairman?! You only give me normal replies!"

"Huh? I don’t think there’s anything to envy here…"

"No fair! I wanna have fun convos like you two!"

…Yeah, that’d ruin Tokai Teio’s image, so better not. Swallowing those words, I pacified her with some gummies. Just then, Trainers Okino and Amami boarded the bus and called out to us. Time to depart.

"Seatbelts on? Let’s go!"

As Okino spoke, Team Spica cheered. The moment driver Tomio nodded, the slightly exhaust-fumed bus rumbled to life, and we set off from Tracen Academy toward the training camp.

The bus sped down the highway, leaving the city behind. The further we went, the fewer cars passed us, and the buildings shrank until—just greenery. Seriously, nothing but green. How many mountains and tunnels had we crossed?

At some point, the bus fell silent. Everyone who’d been playing cards or games earlier was now asleep. Reminded me of school trips—plenty of people dozed off on the Shinkansen, both ways.

After a few driver swaps and several hours, the salty scent of the ocean finally seeped into the bus, rousing everyone. Spe-chan, seated by the window, tapped Suzuka-chan’s shoulder and pointed outside.

"Wow! The sea!"

Following her gaze past the thickets and guardrails, a deep blue expanse stretched out. A stretch of empty sand was visible in the distance—a hidden gem, considering it was peak beach season. Perfect for sand-based training.

The sea drew closer. Up close, it looked more greenish than blue, the choppy surface jagged and sharp. When I cracked the window open, the shrill cries of seagulls (or some seabird) hit me, along with a pungent briny smell that made me quickly shut it again.

After driving past a breakwater lined with tetrapods, the bus finally stopped. With a hiss of releasing air, we hurriedly unloaded our luggage. Our destination? A quaint old inn where we’d be staying. In no time, we hauled everything to a large shared room, parked the bus, and greeted the inn’s staff.

I bowed my head. “I’ll be in your care from here on out. Thank you for having me.”
It brought back memories—I used to do this same kind of greeting back when we stayed at inns for school trips. As I reminisced, I quietly made a promise to myself: I’d be on my best behavior with the staff. No being loud at night, no breaking windows or vases.

It was early evening. After we’d all settled our luggage—eight Uma Musume in a shared room and the three trainers each in their own—we headed out with our valuables in hand to meet up at the training track near the inn.

Since we’d come on the bus already wearing our tracksuits, we were able to start training within twenty minutes of arrival. There was hardly any downtime after getting here. Every minute was allocated to training or studying, and even our short breaks or off-hours were packed with race-watching events or other planned activities.
But this intensity is exactly what makes us strong. This training camp is going to be hard—exhausting, even. But still... I’ll give it my all, both in love and in racing.

With that vow in my heart, I tackled the camp’s first training session.

“…Ugh, I’m wiped…”

“Trainer Momozawa’s training is way too intense…”

“H-Huff… D-Does… does Apollo-senpai really do this much every time?”

“Huh? Yeah. You’ve gotta at least do this much if you wanna win.”

“Phew… That felt amazing.”

“See? Looks like it was just right for Suzuka-san.”

“No waaay…”

Our first session included endurance runs on a woodchip track, as well as 1000-meter hurdle runs designed to build lower body strength centered on the hips. The training facilities near the inn were very well-equipped—while not quite at Tracen Academy’s level, they had everything we needed for a proper training camp. In fact, the change of environment was supposed to make our training even more effective.

“I’m starving! I’ve been super hungry ever since we got here!”

“Same… I think I might pass out…”

“It’s only the first day, right? But this kind of deep, bone-heavy fatigue is seriously brutal.”

“I wanted to run more…”

“Ehh… Suzuka-san…”

We chatted idly as we headed back to the inn and filed into the dining hall, still soaked with sweat. There, we devoured a lavish spread of seafood. Once we’d filled up, it was time to head to the baths to wash away the day’s fatigue. Carrying our pajamas and a change of clothes, we crowded into the changing room, peeled off our now-heavy training uniforms, and got completely naked. Then we scrubbed ourselves clean in the showers and gently eased into the bath, toes first.

“Ahhhghhh…”

With a towel draped between my ears, I let out a gravelly, old-man groan and soaked in the hot spring.

For the next few weeks, we’d be rotating through training programs devised by Tomio, then Okino-san, then Amami-san, and back to Tomio. We’d be training six days a week.

The remaining day was technically a study session-slash-rest day. From what I’d heard from Team Spica, we wouldn’t really have any proper days off until the very end of the camp. That last day was apparently our traditional beach outing…
And on that day, I was going to wear a swimsuit for Tomio to—

Before I could get too deep in thought, Tokai Teio, who looked like a steamed bun as she soaked in the bath, paddled her way over. She was still as slender and delicate as ever. At 150 centimeters, she was five whole centimeters shorter than me. Despite not being built for power, she was one of her generation’s top runners—and seeing that gave me courage.

Of course, having a smaller frame comes with its own pros and cons, just like being taller does, so it’s not something that can be easily compared.

Teio-chan had her mouth dipped under the surface of the water, blowing bubbles. I get it—there’s not much to do while soaking—but still, it made her look like a little kid.

Sure enough, MacQueen-chan swam over and scolded her with a prim, “That’s unseemly.”
Teio lifted her face from the water in response, then reached out and took my hand, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Apollo-chan, your skin’s so white and smooth~”

“O-oh, is that so? I’m flattered coming from you, Teio-san. But if we’re talking skin, I think MacQueen-san’s is even more beautiful.”

“Oh, but of course. I am a member of the Mejiro family, after all. This much is to be expected.”

“Well, that’s just how MacQueen is.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothin’~?”

…It felt like I was either witnessing a deep, intimate bond, or… maybe just imagining one.
Well, Tokai Teio and Mejiro MacQueen had been friendly rivals for years. I’m sure they have a history I don’t know anything about.

Teio-chan ignored MacQueen’s glare and instead reached around to touch my back.
“Apollo-chan, your back’s really pretty too. See? No breakouts or anything!”
As she said that, she ran her fingers across the area from my shoulder blades to the top of my shoulders. I couldn’t help but let out a squeaky “Uhyii!”

“W-well, that is one of the spots that shows in my racing outfit, so… I do try to take care of it, at least a little. Still… that really tickles, Teio-san…”

"Ah, sorry."

Among the classes offered at Tracen Academy, there’s a course specifically about media appearances. There, they drilled into us—down to the last detail—what it really means to show your face on national television or the internet. It’s absolutely vital to present your best self visually, so you won’t bring shame to your family, relatives, friends, fans, or most importantly, yourself.

The flood of photo shoots after the Derby really drove that point home. Even for a naturally beautiful Uma Musume, basic grooming and a sense of style are non-negotiable. Excellence in any field only comes through effort. …Though I have to admit, interviews and photo shoots still make me nervous. I’m not exactly a fan.

"...But it's not just me—everyone at Tracen has such nice skin and hair. I remember thinking how serious everyone was about self-care when I first enrolled."

"I don’t really do much, though~"

"Even if it’s not true, you’re supposed to play along at times like this..."

Whether it’s body care or training, that kind of effort is beyond common sense at Tracen Academy. It’s not something you’re told to do—you just have to. Otherwise, you won’t survive the fierce competition. And when you have high-minded Uma Musume like that around, their energy rubs off on everyone else, creating a virtuous cycle. The ones who only do things when told—well, with rare exceptions, they don’t go far.

Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen may look like flawless, effortless beauties, but they’re both passionate and hard-working. They just don’t show the struggle on their faces—but you can bet they’ve been through plenty.

Their success and popularity are built on that kind of blood-and-sweat effort. The girls soaking in the bath in front of me are living examples of that. During this training camp, I won’t just be honing my body—I’ll be learning from how they live, too.

Honestly, I’m lucky—surrounded by people like this. If I can’t become the strongest stayer even with all this support… that’d be beyond pathetic. I will bloom in the Kikuka-shō.

…Hah, thinking so much made my head start spinning. My body feels sluggish—what’s wrong with me? I wasn’t trying to copy Teio-chan, but I ended up bubbling at the surface just like her. Blub, blub… blub, blub…

“Apolo-chan… Apolo-chan!? Your face is bright red!”

“She’s overheated! We have to get her out of the bath right away! Everyone, please help!”

And just like that, I was pulled out of the bath and ended up spending the next few dozen minutes out cold in the dressing room, cooling off in front of a fan.

Watched over by Spe-chan and Suzuka-chan until I was back to normal, I stepped outside to cool down my flushed body. Even in summer, the nights are cool. Especially by the sea—the breeze carries the scent of salt and feels just right on the skin.

The time was 21:54 (9:54 PM). The area around the training inn was just a quiet countryside town, with hardly any lights. The moon peeked out from between the clouds, and the ocean rolled in pitch black waves. The forecast said the weather would be stable for the next week, so it’s unlikely I’d get swept away or anything… but better safe than sorry. I made sure not to get too close to the shoreline as I walked along the beach.

Fine sand slipped into my sandals, clinging between my toes—unpleasant. I immediately regretted it. Guess I’ll need another bath later.

“…Huh?”

As I walked, I noticed a faint light in the distance. A flashlight? Someone was there. Were they looking for something by the water? Was it Trainer Okino? Trainer Amami? Or maybe Tomio? …Or, a suspicious stranger? To find out, I quietly made my way toward the figure.

“Hm?”

It was Tomio holding the flashlight. I couldn’t see his face clearly, but there was no doubt—it was him. I could tell just from the way he carried himself. Without hesitation, I called out to him.

“Tomio, what are you doing?”

“That voice… Apolo? Shouldn’t I be asking you the same?”

Tomio didn’t shine the flashlight in my face. He really recognized me just by my voice. That made me unexpectedly happy—my tail gave a little shiver at the base.

“I asked first! So you answer first!”

“It’s nothing special.”

Apparently, he was picking up dangerous debris around the beach in preparation for tomorrow’s training. Since we’d be running barefoot, stepping on something could lead to injuries, and he was clearing the area to prevent that.

When he lifted the plastic bag slightly, I saw bits of plastic trash and glass bottles—probably things that had washed ashore. It wasn’t much, but I was surprised that even a beach this beautiful could collect litter. He also said he’d cleared out some driftwood and seaweed to tidy up the area. Without hesitation, I offered to help.

“I’ll help too!”

“Wait, what about your homework? I thought everyone was supposed to be studying around this time—”

“I already finished all of it!”

“No way!?”

“It’s true! I used to be a working adult—ahem, I mean, I’m a Derby-tier Uma Musume, don’t underestimate me!”

“My deepest apologies…”

Having once been a member of society, middle school-level homework is a piece of cake for me. Of course, there’s a sheer volume of it, so it still took time to get through—but now I use my free moments to study race strategies and training theory. I’ve even started picking up a foreign language, looking ahead to next year.

“Well, if you’ve got time to spare, I guess I’ll take you up on the help…”

“Okay. I’ll take this side, then.”

“Yeah.”

And so I began walking along the beach, using my Umaho’s flashlight. He kept tossing out warnings like, “Don’t touch any broken glass, I’ll handle it,” and “Stay away from jellyfish too,” while I went about moving driftwood and picking up little bits of trash. Honestly, the place was already pretty well maintained, so I ended up mostly just walking.

For a while, nothing happened. We walked the beach in silence. He matched my pace.

Then I spotted a plastic bottle nearby and reached for it. At the same time, Tomio’s hand stretched out from beside me and landed right on mine. Startled, I looked over—and in that moment, under the moonlight, I saw his face clearly for the first time. Up close.

His eyes were wide. I couldn’t really tell what color his face was—he looked red, maybe, or maybe not. It was just... so close. Oh, right—we’d crouched down at the same time. My mind went completely blank. I couldn’t look away. My heart was pounding against my ribs.

I had to say something. Anything. I needed to calm this rush of emotion somehow. This was a chance. Everyone in Spica had encouraged me to go for it—to make this summer training camp the turning point in my love. I opened and closed my mouth like a fish, and then, impulsively, the words spilled out.

“—Ah, T-Tomio!”

“Y-Yeah?”

“T-The moon!”

“…? The moon? What about it—?”

“…………It’s, like… super pretty, right?”

“O-Oh… yeah, it really is. Paired with the night sea, it looks kind of magical. I’ll grab this bottle.”

“Ah, okay…”

Tomio nodded at my words, then casually picked up the bottle and started walking again.

—Ugh, I blew it. What was that, seriously!? Even if the moon is beautiful, there had to be a better way to say it! Why did I try to cover it up and let the moment fizzle out like that…? I could’ve at least just said, “I love you,” like a normal person, you idiot!

“Sigh…”

I let out a long breath and followed behind Tomio. After that, nothing else happened—the cleanup ended without incident. We parted ways, and I returned to the inn. As I washed my feet off, I muttered to myself under my breath.

“I’m such an idiot. And Tomio… that hopelessly dense trainer…”