Chapter 82: Visiting the Family Home of Our Uma Musume! Part 1

Apollo Rainbow is a G1-winning Uma Musume. Simply reaching the Open Class is already a remarkable achievement—placing her among the elite of all Uma Musume—but with three G1 victories under her belt, her skill speaks for itself.

Her performances in the Kikuka Sho, the Stayers Stakes, and the Arima Kinen have earned her a reputation as one of the greatest stayers in history. The sales of merchandise like Paka Puchi and other goods released by the URA are staggering. She is, without a doubt, an Uma Musume who shines in both popularity and achievements.

And Momozawa Tomio understood all too well just how popular Apollo Rainbow was.

First of all, Apollo Rainbow was ridiculously cute. Even among the many beautiful Uma Musume, she stood out. Even setting aside the bias of being her trainer, she was a dazzlingly gorgeous girl.

Pink-tinged roan coat, a delicate face, flawless fair skin, a strong sense of fashion, stylish casual wear, her meticulously designed racing outfit, the sheer intensity she displayed in races—all these visual elements combined to give her a massive fanbase, both male and female.

There were even rumors that some of the Uma Musume attending Tracen Academy were secret fans of hers. That’s just how much of a big deal she was. And on top of being strong enough to win G1 races, she was also a rare front-running type in recent years—her popularity was off the charts.

—And yet.

She herself had absolutely no awareness of it. Outside of training, her friends, her family, and Momozawa Tomio, she paid no attention to anything else. Her indifference to fame and others’ opinions was a relief from a trainer’s perspective, but on a personal level, it was causing Tomio a lot of trouble.

—Apollo Rainbow’s clinginess.

The overwhelming affection she poured out—and the uncomfortably close proximity that came with it—seemed to be tormenting Tomio.

At the end of the year, Tomio found himself traveling with Apollo Rainbow to visit her family home. Since her hometown was deep in the countryside, they had to take a plane from the airport and then transfer to a train.

Which was why Tomio and Apollo were now at the airport together—but just as they were boarding the plane, Apollo, whose vision was impaired in one eye due to an injury, nearly tripped.

"Whoa—!"

"Careful—!"

Her toe caught on a step, and she stumbled. Tomio reflexively caught her. A faint, sweet scent wafted through the air, followed by a cold sweat running down his back.

An Uma Musume’s body is their greatest asset. For a G1-winning Uma Musume, that body is invaluable—priceless, even. It’s unpleasant to think about, but if a popular G1 Uma Musume were to get injured, the resulting economic losses would be immeasurable.

If a trainer’s carelessness led to a fracture—especially when she was already dealing with impaired vision—it would be an instant dismissal. But more than that, Tomio never wanted to see her get hurt again.

"...You okay?"

"Y-yeah… I’m fine."

Still nestled in Tomio’s arms, Apollo wagged her tail, blissfully unaware of his worry. The roan-haired girl simply melted into his warmth, dazed. Noticing the stares of passersby, Tomio guided her to a quieter spot, giving her shoulder a few reassuring pats.

If he had been even a second slower—snap—it could’ve been disastrous. Even seemingly minor accidents could lead to fractures. Tripping, bracing a fall too hard, bumping into something—et cetera. He needed to stay sharp and keep a closer eye on Apollo to prevent any further injuries.

Tomio swallowed hard, muttering a quick apology before gently reminding her to be more careful herself. No matter how much those around her tried to protect her, it wouldn’t matter if she didn’t take precautions.

The Kikuka Sho, the Stayers Stakes, and the Arima Kinen had all been high-risk races where injury was a constant threat. The fact that she had only suffered an eye injury was sheer luck. The way Apollo ran—as if putting her life on the line—terrified Tomio.

She was already a top-tier competitor. All he wanted now was for her to retire without any career-ending injuries. Of course, he still wanted her to win, but the bare minimum was making sure she got through the rest of her career unharmed.

"If you get hurt, it won’t just be me who’s sad… Your parents would be devastated. Your fans would be heartbroken, too. Your body isn’t just yours anymore."

With that final warning, Tomio moved to board the plane—only for Apollo to extend her small hand toward him. The meaning was obvious. Under the pretense of "holding hands so I don’t trip again," she was looking for an excuse to cling to him.

…Tomio was starting to suspect (though it was a bit late for that) that her clinginess might actually be his fault. But the thought of her getting hurt again was terrifying enough that he obediently took her hand.

Whether it was out of embarrassment or something else, her body stiffened the moment their hands touched. Tomio pretended not to notice, guiding her to their seats. Apollo, usually so talkative, kept her eyes down the entire time. Her large ears drooped, her tail curled around Tomio’s leg—her feelings were impossible to miss.

Not wanting to accidentally crush her tail when sitting, Tomio carefully unwound it with his free hand before taking his seat. Only then did Apollo sit down as well.

"...Hey, Apollo, you can let go now."

"What’s the point? We’re just gonna hold hands again when we get off the plane anyway."

"...Well, yeah, but—"

If anything, her grip was even tighter now. Despite how tense she had been earlier, she now had the nerve to lightly trace circles on Tomio’s palm with her fingertips. What the hell is up with this girl? He tried to pull away, but Apollo only interlaced her fingers further, locking them in what could only be described as a lovers’ hold.

There was no winning against an Uma Musume’s strength, and more than that, she’d probably sulk if he forced it. Tomio could only sigh and let her have her way.

"…………"
"Huh? You ticklish or something?"

"...Just do whatever you want."

"Aw, c’mon, don’t be like that."

"I’m not sulking, it’s just… whatever, do what you like."

"...Hmph."

Whether it was his dismissive tone or something else, Apollo puffed out her cheeks in frustration. She began fiddling with his fingers exaggeratedly, even letting out an overdramatic sigh. At this point, it was impossible not to notice her affection. Of course, Tomio still clung to the excuse that "this is just normal teasing from a teenage Uma Musume, don’t read into it."

His gaze drifted to her flashy manicure. Not wanting to leave the conversation dead and risk her escalating things, he decided to compliment her nails.

"Your nails look nice."

"Wait, seriously?! You actually noticed?!"

"You bought them last time we went out, right? I remember because you took forever picking them."

Apollo flipped their joined hands over to show off her nails. For an Uma Musume, hooves—and by extension, nails—were crucial. While hand nails weren’t as critical, weak foot nails could hinder their ability to push off during a sprint. Fortunately, Apollo’s nails were in perfect health. She had no congenital weaknesses or training-related cracks—nothing to worry about.

If anything, her high standards for beauty meant her nails were always immaculately maintained. The length was perfectly even—enough to impress even Tomio. Every part of her was flawless, a testament to her physical resilience. …Though, considering how close she had come to breaking in the past, it only made her sheer power even more terrifying.

"Wanna try nail art too, Tomio?"

"P-please, spare me the jokes…"

"Ehh~ I think it’d look cute on you, though."

"I’ve got to meet your parents, so if we’re gonna try it, let’s save it for another time."

"Okaaay~"

As they exchanged their usual banter, the plane finally began to move. The vessel carrying the two of them took off, soaring toward a distant hometown.

Once they disembarked, their little train journey began. Dragging their suitcases behind them, they walked for a while before boarding a bus. The area was already sparsely populated, and with it being late December, the snow was piled high. The scenery stretched out before them like something straight out of a rural postcard.

"Your place is seriously in the middle of nowhere, huh?"

"Mmm, pretty much."

"I’ve never seen this much snow before."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Wait, so you’ve never played in the snow or anything?"

"Nope."

"Not even built a snowman or an igloo?"

"Nah."

"...People like that actually exist?"

"That’s rude, you know."

"If we have time, let’s play in the snow together!"

"...If we have the energy and time for it."

After the bus ride came a walk to a desolate countryside station. The ground was slick with half-melted snow, making it easy to slip. Tomio was glad he’d worn snow boots, though he couldn’t help but glance at Apollo’s feet—worried she might be wearing heels.

Thankfully, she had on fluffy winter boots, which eased his mind a little. Still, with her impaired vision, the risk of her tripping was high. Gripping her hand tightly with his free one, Tomio made sure she stayed steady.

When they finally reached the station, they waited for the train—one that came maybe once an hour. The cold had made both of them quieter than usual, but they sat side by side on the platform bench, hands still linked.

Sweat—whether his or hers, it was impossible to tell—dampened their palms. Their breaths came out in white puffs, yet their joined hands stayed warm. They’d been holding on for so long it almost felt like they’d fused together.

Apollo buried her nose in the scarf she’d gotten as a Christmas present. When their eyes met, she grinned lazily. Tomio found himself smiling back. Her grip tightened, and he let it happen, content to simply watch over her.

Tomio’s emotions didn’t waver. He cared for her deeply—but nothing more. Her clinginess was troublesome, yet he never stopped her.

As her trainer, he had stood by her through every struggle, every race where the odds were stacked against her, every near-disaster. The bond between them went beyond the usual trainer-Uma Musume relationship—they understood each other on a level that transcended words.

That was why Tomio’s feelings didn’t waver. Because they were already at their peak—and from there, they would never shift.

To both Apollo and Tomio, having the other by their side was simply a given. The strength of their feelings might differ, but the space they shared was like that of a long-married couple.

Some might call it love. Not romance—but something deeper.

Exhaling a white breath, Tomio cracked a joke.

"...Just occurred to me."

"...What?"

"You, standing here on the platform with your suitcase… It’d make a really nice picture."

"...Wanna take one?"

"Sure."

"Just make sure my eyepatch isn’t showing, okay?"

"Got it."

"Ugh, that slang is so cringe~"

"Sorry."

"Let’s take a pic together later."

"Alright."

After a little photoshoot on the empty platform, they boarded a three-car train that looked like it had seen better days. Unlike city subways, the seats faced the direction of travel, with few sideways options. And the biggest difference? The lack of people.

"We’ve got the whole place to ourselves!"

"You’d never see this in the city..."

"I could use the handrails for pull-ups."

"Please don’t."

"Kidding."

They settled into their seats, watching the scenery drift by. Apollo pulled out a snack from her bag, popped it into her mouth, then—with a soft "Mmm"—tossed one into Tomio’s. He caught it perfectly, their timing seamless.

"Gonna check my emails real quick, so… hand?"

"Fine, fine."

When they finally let go, Tomio was the one left feeling oddly empty. If I miss an important email, Tadzuna’s gonna kill me, he scolded himself, opening his laptop. Apollo, meanwhile, stared out at her hometown’s scenery while uploading their photos to Uma-Sta.

As soon as he finished checking his emails, the surroundings darkened—they’d entered a tunnel. With his laptop closed, the only light came from the dim overhead fixtures.

"Once we’re through this tunnel, we’ll be there."

"It’s a long one, huh."

The train’s vibrations jostled them slightly, their shoulders bumping together. Tomio was struck by how delicate she seemed—like a gust of wind could knock her over. How did she even survive the brutal junior-class training without getting hurt?

But the coming year would be even tougher. After the spring Tenno Sho, they had overseas races planned, mostly in Europe.

Making it through the year without injury mattered more than wins or losses. After the Arima Kinen, he’d realized just how much Apollo’s family—especially her parents—feared her getting hurt. Of course, Tomio dreaded it too, but as former racers themselves, her parents were hyper-aware of the risks.

If the European turf didn’t suit her, or if she struggled to adjust, he’d rethink their schedule—her well-being came first. In a way, that was the whole reason for this trip.

As the train emerged from the tunnel, a snow-covered countryside town came into view. Slowing to a stop, the train tilted slightly forward. Tomio stood before it had fully halted.

"Alright, grab your stuff. Let’s go."

"Wait, where’s my ticket?!"

"Your pocket."

"Oh!"

"C’mon."

"Yessir!"

Suitcases in hand, they stepped onto the platform. No one else got off—just untouched snow stretching ahead. Hand in hand once more, they walked in sync, leaving matching footprints as they headed to meet Apollo’s waiting parents.