Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 11
--+--
"We're coming up on the bend."
Starlight Trajectory’s physical strength hadn’t fully recovered from last night’s exertion, yet the further she ran, the better she felt.
It was a sensation she knew all too well.
Before coming to Kasamatsu, her body had lived in this state every single day—constantly compressing itself to its absolute limit, utilizing items for a quick recovery, and then pushing until the breaking point again in a never-ending cycle until training concluded.
She could squeeze half a month’s worth of training into a single night.
Back then, the system had been generous. Starlight Trajectory’s points could handle that kind of burn.
But ever since she arrived at Kasamatsu, it had turned stingy, forcing her to pinch every single penny and calculate every point.
Unfortunately, even the best-laid plans often go awry. Oguri Cap’s unexpected situation had drained her reserves completely, leaving her without a single point to her name.
These two years of comfort had made her far too soft...
But now, Oguri Cap was making her remember it all. Her legs, which had felt like leaden weights barely able to move, seemed to lighten.
At the same time, a genuine sense of admiration for the opponent before her welled up in her heart.
"Oguri Cap, you really are something else."
For the first time in a long while, Starlight Trajectory felt the squeeze of pressure. Based on the standard of the trio she ran against yesterday, she should have been able to maintain the lead—and even open a massive gap before the wire—with nothing more than a stamina-conserving jog.
But in this race against Oguri Cap, that plan was proven impossible from the very start.
Following the current distribution of pace, Oguri Cap would hold the lead until the final straight. At that point, the race would turn into a raw test of whose explosive power was superior.
However, Starlight Trajectory knew she wasn't suited for the dirt track. It took more time and more strength for her to accelerate here.
Oguri Cap seemed to be holding something in reserve as well; if it came down to a final dash, there was a high chance she’d be overtaken. Her only real hope for victory was to seize the initiative now.
Alright then. From this moment on—sprint!
To an outsider, it looked like a reckless gamble. To Starlight Trajectory, it felt conservative.
If she were in peak condition, she could have maintained this sprinting speed for the entire duration of the race.
Starlight Trajectory’s ankles flexed with power. The deadlock was broken as she surged past Oguri Cap, reclaiming the very front of the track.
Watching the race intently, Shibasaki Kouichi was taken aback by her sudden acceleration. After all, they hadn't even entered the third turn yet. Choosing to sprint now seemed incredibly premature.
"She’s choosing to pick up the pace here? Is this part of a tactic...?"
"But she shouldn't have much stamina left. Won't she lose her momentum at this rate?"
Unlike the deep-thinking Shibasaki Kouichi, Kitahara Jo wasn't overanalyzing. He simply felt that Starlight Trajectory’s move was far too risky.
By contrast, thanks to her new racing shoes, Oguri Cap’s condition was surprisingly good.
Because she had been leading the pack, it wasn't until Starlight Trajectory surged ahead of her that Oguri Cap noticed just how poor her senior’s condition actually was.
Sister Starlight looks like she’s struggling... but she told me to give it my all.
I can't let her down!
With that thought, Oguri Cap found herself swept up in the momentum, accelerating in kind.
But she was a beat too slow. Starlight Trajectory’s speed had already climbed; overtaking her now would be no simple feat.
"Oh no!" Kitahara Jo suddenly shouted.
"Eek! ...What happened?"
Belno Light’s nerves were even more frayed than the two runners on the track, causing her to jump at Kitahara Jo’s sudden outburst.
"I haven't had the chance to teach her how to manage her pace yet! If she starts sprinting from here, her stamina is going to crater!"
There were still six hundred meters left to the finish line—hardly a distance one can just "sprint" on a whim. Without enough reserved energy, a burst like this would almost certainly lead to a complete loss of speed before the end.
Moreover... both of them were getting faster and faster.
"Is that how it works?"
This was news to Belno Light. She had assumed that in a relatively short distance like a Mile race, you just kept accelerating until it was over.
Beside her, Shibasaki Kouichi nodded.
"While speed and power are the dominant factors in shorter races, lane choice and pace distribution are equally vital."
When facing an opponent of equal strength, the final straw that decides the victor rests on those two points.
"Ah, they sped up again!" Belno Light cried out in surprise.
"It seems they don't plan on just 'running' the rest of the way."
Seeing the secondary acceleration from both Oguri Cap and Starlight Trajectory, Shibasaki Kouichi understood immediately.
In the heat of the race, Oguri Cap hadn't even noticed that her expression had become strained and grim.
Why?! The question echoed in her mind.
"Two hundred meters to go!"
Starlight Trajectory and Oguri Cap were still sprinting as they entered the final straightaway.
Even at this velocity, Starlight Trajectory could still hear the relentless thud of hoofbeats right behind her. Oguri Cap had never let her slip away.
"But... is this the end of the line?"
The rhythm of the footsteps behind her faltered slightly. She knew Oguri Cap had hit her limit. If things continued as they were, the girl wouldn't even be able to maintain this speed to the finish.
Oguri Cap was sprinting with everything she had, appearing to bite down hard on the heels of the girl in front of her, yet the gap between her and Starlight Trajectory wouldn't shrink by so much as an inch.
Why can't I catch her?!
"Only a hundred meters left..."
In the final stretch, Starlight Trajectory gauged her unrecovered stamina and ultimately decided against another burst of speed.
Because Oguri Cap simply wasn't going to catch up anymore.
I should leave this debutante with at least a little bit of her pride intact.
With that thought, Starlight Trajectory held her current pace and crossed the finish line.
"First place, Starlight Trajectory!"
Kitahara Jo clicked his stopwatch and announced the result.
Shibasaki Kouichi leaned in, his eyes fixing on the timer. He was immediately struck speechless by the numbers on the display.
"What's the time...? One minute, thirty-two point six-one seconds!"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 12
--+--
[Challenge the 'Cinderella Gray' of Kasamatsu to a race and emerge victorious (Complete)]
[System Prerequisite Task Progress: ■■■■■■■■■■ 99%]
"I won!"
Seeing the system notification flash before her eyes, Starlight knew her intuition hadn't failed her.
"That was a magnificent race."
Shibasaki Kouichi clapped for the two girls. Even in those final grueling moments, neither had entertained the thought of giving up.
It was a shame that Oguri Cap’s stamina had eventually betrayed her, causing her to lose speed at the end, but even so, the final time was nothing short of terrifying.
He couldn't help but compare her to his own top-tier trainee, Fujimasa March... though as for Starlight, she was in a league of her own, beyond any point of reference.
Shibasaki Kouichi realized he had still been severely underestimating her.
The Tokai Derby? No—the Japanese Derby!
If Starlight were to enter the Japanese Derby, she’d have a genuine shot at the championship. By comparison, Fujimasa March would struggle just to secure the Tokai Derby. There was simply no contest.
However, against Oguri Cap, Fujimasa March might still hold an edge in rhythm control, though in raw speed, it would be a toss-up.
"Oguri... Cap. A fine name."
Shibasaki Kouichi didn't recall anyone other than Fujimasa March putting up such eye-popping numbers during the freshman testing.
Is this the rising star you’ve been chasing, Jo?
The man truly had an eye for talent. He felt a surge of genuine respect for his senior, Kitahara Jo, while simultaneously marking Oguri Cap as the primary rival for Fujimasa March in his mind.
"You really are incredible, Oguri Cap."
Dragging her exhausted body over, Starlight placed a hand on Oguri’s shoulder and offered a sincere word of praise.
Secretly, though, a sense of crisis prickled at her. To be pushed this hard by a filly who hadn't even made her debut yet... she had clearly grown too complacent.
Even without the system’s prodding, she knew she had to ramp up her training intensity as much as possible.
Just as she began mapping out a future training regimen, a system chime rang in her ear, and a translucent window flickered into view.
[Inspiration for 'Ramp Up' has increased to LV.1]
What’s this? This was the first time she had seen a window like this.
[Ramp Up: Slightly increase velocity when passing another runner mid-race.]
Reading the description, she began to understand. It was essentially a skill. While the system’s definition of "slightly" was frustratingly vague, it was better than nothing.
In fact, the trigger condition was much clearer than the effect itself—all she had to do was pass someone during the middle leg.
Her inherent ability was the exact opposite: a vague trigger with a crystal-clear effect.
Yet, when she summoned her status panel, the skill bar at the bottom still only held that solitary inherent trait.
Before Starlight could figure out what was going on, a startled cry from Belno Light snapped her back to reality.
"Oguri, your hands...!"
Following Belno’s gaze, Oguri Cap realized with a start that her tightly clenched fists were stained with blood.
"I know you’re frustrated, but you can’t hurt yourself like this!"
Belno Light hurriedly fished a handkerchief from her bag, gently prying Oguri’s fingers open to tend to the wounds.
The sight sent a ripple of shock through the onlookers. Oguri Cap had maintained such a stoic expression that no one realized she was harboring such a devastating sense of defeat.
"So... I'm frustrated?"
Oguri Cap couldn't quite process the emotion. She felt she should be happy for Starlight’s victory, yet this feeling welling up from deep within her soul refused to be suppressed.
"I’m sorry, Starlight. You were so kind to me, yet here I am... feeling miserable about the result."
"Why are you apologizing?" Starlight reached out and ruffled Oguri’s hair, a warm smile playing on her lips. "If anything, that obsession with victory is your most precious quality. Someone who can't feel the sting of losing will never truly grow."
Oguri didn't pull away from the touch; instead, she leaned into it, feeling the dark clouds in her heart begin to lift.
"I learned a lot from this race too... and I’m finally certain of one thing. Oguri, we’re two of a kind."
"If I were a trainer, I probably would’ve signed you without a second thought."
Starlight meant it. From a standpoint of pure compatibility, they were a perfect match.
It was a pity, really—if not for these unfinished system missions, she never would have let this opportunity slip away to someone else.
"Well then, I’ve got things to do. I’ll be taking my leave."
Having soothed Oguri’s spirits, Starlight was itching to check the next mission. For the first time, the progress bar hadn't stopped at a decimal point.
This likely meant there was only one task left before the system was fully unlocked.
"Senpai, your shoes are still..." Belno Light called out.
"Oguri doesn't have any other racing shoes to wear anyway, right?" Starlight replied nonchalantly. "Just keep them for now. I’ll come back for them eventually."
The system-issued shoes were undoubtedly expensive, but Starlight still had the pair from her racing silks she could use. Leaving them for Oguri was no big deal.
The girl’s family wasn't well-off, after all; she likely wouldn't be able to afford high-quality gear until she started making a name for herself.
"Starlight... are you leaving?"
Picking up on the finality in her tone, Oguri Cap asked with a hint of longing.
"Yeah. I was really just passing through."
She had only stayed in Kasamatsu because of the system; now that the task was done, it was time to move on. Of course, the specifics depended on what the next mission entailed. Kasamatsu... she’d spent two years here. She’d certainly miss it a little.
So, she’s basically giving the shoes to Oguri? Belno Light realized as she listened.
"Can we... race again?"
Though they’d known each other for less than two days, Oguri Cap felt a profound reluctance to see her go.
"That," Starlight said, resting a hand on Oguri’s shoulder, "depends entirely on you. Oguri, keep climbing toward the peak!"
Because they were the same, Starlight knew Oguri had likely never thought about anything else. Just like her former self, she ran simply because she could.
All she needed now was a goal.
Before turning to leave, Starlight touched two fingers to the right side of her forehead and flicked them outward toward Oguri in a sharp, confident salute.
"Perhaps one day, we’ll meet again on the track."
On the system panel, the final preamble mission slowly shimmered into existence.
[Successfully debut as Starlight Trajectory and retire after a fulfilling career.]
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 13
--+--
[Successfully debut as Starlight Trajectory and retire after a fulfilling career.]
The moment they parted ways, Starlight couldn't wait to pull up her mission panel. Those were the words staring back at her.
"This... this means I have to debut?"
She’d assumed this mission would be like all the others—sending her off to some random location to act as a sparring partner for a specific filly designated by the system.
Instead, it was asking her to step onto the stage herself.
"Wait, not just a debut... I have to stay until retirement!?"
After double-checking the text a few times, the reality of the system's demand finally sank in.
For an Uma Musume, the journey from debut to retirement usually took at least three years, with no real upper limit. Did this mean she’d be locked into the system for three years of racing?
Sure, some girls were forced into early retirement due to accidents, but those cases were rare. Unless it was physically impossible to compete, most chose to rest, recover, and make a comeback.
Starlight didn't actually mind the timeframe. She’d already spent two years in Kasamatsu just to finish a single mission; what was another three?
"Well, there’s no time limit anyway. Let’s see how my stats are looking."
Setting the debut issue aside for a moment, she felt a surge of confidence. After that last race, it felt like the plateau she’d been stuck on had finally cracked. She flipped open her status window.
[Speed: UD, Stamina: UC, Power: UE, Guts: MAX, Intelligence: UF]
"Exactly as I thought. My stamina went up a rank."
Seeing the stats that had been stagnant for so long finally move brought a bright smile to her face.
"I remember getting a Skill Inspiration too... where would that be?"
Since the system's current functions were pretty bare-bones, she cycled through the available displays. She quickly spotted a yellow icon.
Starlight remembered this panel being completely empty before, aside from the PT total at the top. Since the system lacked any sort of manual or beginner’s tutorial, she’d basically forgotten the feature existed.
Now, the once-blank space held a single entry: [Ramp Up]. A small plus sign hovered next to it, along with a required PT value.
"So, 'Inspiration' is basically the foot in the door for learning a skill?"
Because she’d been unable to learn skills for years, her Skill PTs had ballooned into a five-figure sum. She didn't even blink at the 10% discount offered by the Level 1 Inspiration.
Without a second thought, Starlight hit 'Learn' and watched with satisfaction as her Unique Skill finally gained a companion on the skill list.
"Setting 'Guts' aside—since I still don't know what it actually does—my other four stats are D, C, E, and F. That should be enough to breeze through a debut race in Kasamatsu."
"Even if the other girls have more skills, I can win on pure raw talent."
After watching a few local races, Starlight had a pretty good handle on the level of these yet-to-debut fillies.
As for the Central circuit... she wasn't getting ahead of herself. She knew exactly how wide that gap was.
If a girl from Central came down to the local tracks, it was usually a total slaughter. But unless someone truly couldn't cut it at Central, they’d never move to a small-time place like Kasamatsu.
"In that case, I'll stick around Kasamatsu for a while. Secure a smooth debut first, then go see what Central is all about."
"Now then, let’s see... when is the next debut race scheduled..."
--+--
"Climbing toward the peak...?"
On the other side of the grounds, Oguri Cap was deep into her daily training, but Starlight’s parting words kept echoing in her mind. Though she yearned to run as an Uma Musume, she knew next to nothing about the actual racing series. She felt a bit adrift.
"What is 'the peak,' Kitahara?"
Having finished a set of laps, Oguri Cap walked over to Kitahara Jo, looking to her trainer for an answer.
"The peak? Why, the Tokai Derby, of course!" Kitahara blurted out without even thinking. "I’ve told you before... my ultimate goal is to win the Tokai Derby."
"Can I... aim for the Tokai Derby too?"
Kitahara froze for a split second at her question, then let out a helpless little laugh.
"You don't need to ask permission to choose a goal, Oguri. If you want it, anything can be your goal."
"But, Oguri, I want you to choose based on your own will. Don't force yourself just to please someone else."
"I think Starlight feels the same way. That's probably why she said what she did."
Oguri Cap opened her mouth to respond, but Kitahara seemed to read her mind and cut her off before she could commit.
"Don't make a snap decision. Wait until you understand a bit more, then choose your path."
The Tokai Derby was indeed Kitahara’s greatest dream, but he refused to achieve it by guilt-tripping someone else—even if Oguri Cap was the only miracle he'd seen in all his years of coaching.
Moving past the heavy topic, Kitahara continued:
"Regardless of the goal, it’s all just talk if you don't have the strength to take the win."
"Right now, what we really need to focus on is your debut race."
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 14
--+--
A little over a month had passed since the new students arrived. Kitahara Jo sat in his office as usual, a stack of newspapers in hand, lost in thought.
Kasamatsu Tracen Academy held academic classes as well, and during these hours, the trainers generally found themselves with nothing to do.
"Jo! Your legs are blocking the way!"
Kawamura Hiyori’s irritated voice snapped Kitahara Jo back to reality. He hurriedly pulled his legs off the desk and offered a quick apology.
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Shibasaki or Kaede lately."
Kitahara Jo looked around, only to realize the surrounding desks were all deserted.
"I heard Shibasaki is spending all his time at the club lately. Apparently, the race date is drawing near."
Neither of them mentioned Mano Kaede—not because he was unpopular, but because he was a ghost. He came and went as he pleased, working entirely according to his own whims.
"Heh, time sure flies. I guess it's about time I..."
Before Kitahara Jo could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a sudden, loud bang as the door swung open.
"The entry list for May 19th is out!"
Suzuki Takashi burst into the office clutching a sheet of paper. He was also a trainer at Kasamatsu Tracen and a contemporary of Kitahara Jo.
"Keep it down, you idiot! Watch your volume!" Hiyori, already on edge, barked at him.
"Hahaha, my bad! It's just that the lineup is incredibly stacked."
Compared to previous years, the average quality of students at Kasamatsu Tracen this year was significantly higher. With talents like Fujimasa March and Oguri Cap showing serious potential for heavy stakes races, this was arguably the academy’s strongest generation yet.
In Japan, there had always been a superstition that gray-haired Uma Musume couldn't run fast, yet remarkably, the two most formidable prospects among this year’s freshmen were both grays.
"Well, we did have a pretty exceptional intake this year," Kitahara Jo mused.
He eagerly took the list from Suzuki’s hand, but as his eyes scanned the names, the smile on his face instantly froze.
Gate 1: Fujimasa March.
If there was one person Kitahara Jo didn't want Oguri Cap to face, it was Fujimasa March.
It wasn't that he lacked confidence in Oguri, but March’s performance had been stellar. Since the two had never faced off, a bit of nerves was only natural.
However, it was the name further down that truly sent a shock through him.
Gate 6: Starlight Trajectory.
"Wh-wh-wh-wh-what!?"
Kitahara Jo let out a strangled cry, nearly toppling out of his chair.
"What is wrong with you? What happened?"
Hiyori snatched the list away and looked it over, her eyes landing on Fujimasa March in the top spot.
"Oh, it's March. I remember your girl is debuting today too, right? Did they get matched up?"
Hiyori had been run ragged by her trio of troublemakers lately. Even though they were finally willing to train, their bad habits were hard to break.
Consequently, she hadn't paid much attention to other trainers' charges and didn't know much about Oguri Cap.
Still, if her three Uma Musume had to compete against the likes of Fujimasa March, they’d likely be crushed. She could understand why Kitahara Jo would be worried.
"No, it's not because of March..." Kitahara Jo’s voice trembled slightly. "The one I'm terrified of is that girl in Gate 6... Starlight Trajectory."
"Starlight Trajectory? Is she that good?" Hiyori asked, confused. She didn't recognize the name.
"My trainee ran against her once. Even in a state of extreme exhaustion, she still won!"
If Starlight Trajectory were a training partner, Kitahara Jo would be thrilled; practicing with such a powerful Uma Musume would surely teach Oguri Cap a lot. But as an opponent? The sheer pressure was hard to put into words.
The more he understood Starlight Trajectory’s strength, the more he worried for Oguri Cap’s debut.
If she could hold her own while exhausted, what would she be like at her peak?
Kitahara Jo couldn't even fathom how massive the gap might be.
How could a girl like that have no racing record? And why on earth was she debuting in a small place like Kasamatsu?
It didn't make sense. If you were going to debut, you'd go to the Central Academy—what was her goal in coming to the regional circuit?
"Well... she sounds impressive, I guess."
Hiyori handed the list back. She felt Kitahara Jo was being a bit dramatic. If someone was truly "extremely exhausted," they shouldn't even be able to finish a race, let alone win.
Just then, another person entered the office.
"Shibasaki? What are you doing back?"
"Forgot something," Shibasaki Kouichi explained, immediately noticing Jo’s distress. "Jo, why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?"
"See for yourself."
Without another word, Kitahara Jo waved the list in his face.
Shibasaki took the list and scanned it. When his eyes hit the sixth row—Starlight Trajectory, grouped with Fujimasa March—his complexion turned just as pale.
He looked like he was facing something utterly unacceptable, and then, a realization dawned on him.
No wonder... no wonder he couldn't find a single scrap of information on Starlight Trajectory anywhere. She had never actually debuted.
"...Hey, do you think we should just withdraw?" Kitahara Jo said, his face a mask of misery.
Though it was a joke, it perfectly reflected the state of their hearts.
"Seriously, what is going on? Is this Starlight Trajectory really that strong? Stronger than Fujimasa March?"
Seeing both men so discouraged made Hiyori start to feel tense herself.
"Hiyori, you actually know her. She’s the Uma Musume who raced against your girls that night," Shibasaki Kouichi said, rubbing his temples without looking up.
Hiyori froze. Immediately, the memory of her trio being lapped that night flashed through her mind.
And just like that, two miserable people became three. They sat there in silence, heads propped up in their hands, brooding.
The atmosphere was so heavy that Suzuki Takashi, the only one left in the dark, felt a chill run down his spine.
Fortunately, the gloom only lasted a moment. Hiyori finally snapped out of it and ended the silence with a single realization:
"Thank god I didn't sign up for today’s race."
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 15
--+--
May 19th was a day that held a weight of its own for Oguri Cap.
Today, she would officially step onto the track and run her very first race as an Uma Musume.
"The shoes... I’ll go with Sister Starlight's."
After a long moment of wavering, Oguri Cap finally chose the racing flats Starlight Trajectory had lent her.
Kitahara Jo had already briefed her on the details of this debut race, and she wanted to face Starlight Trajectory in her best possible form.
Actually, Belno Light had already picked out a new pair of shoes for her after that last run, but they just didn’t feel as right as Starlight’s.
Of course, while Belno Light did the choosing, it was Kitahara Jo who footed the bill... and on a local trainer’s salary, buying those shoes had practically bled his wallet dry.
"Oguri, it’s time to go!"
Belno Light’s voice drifted through the door of the storage room, reminding Oguri Cap that it was time to move out. Even though Norn Ace had already prepared a spot for her in the dorms, Oguri still preferred her "private suite" in the spacious storage room, so she hadn't moved back to her assigned quarters.
"Coming."
With a quick response, Oguri Cap pinned her hair ornament into place. After a final check to make sure she hadn't missed anything, she hurried out the door.
--+--
"What am I going to do? What am I supposed to do, Shibasaki?!"
In the second row of the stands at Kasamatsu Racecourse, Kitahara Jo was frantically shaking Shibasaki Kouichi by the shoulders.
No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't stomach the idea of Oguri Cap failing her very first debut.
He had said everything there was to say. He’d spent the last month drilling her on dirt-running techniques, pacing, and overall race strategy, but the hope of victory still felt painfully slim.
"Shaking me isn't going to help," Shibasaki Kouichi said, prying Kitahara’s hands off him. "Just look at this race as a learning experience for them."
He was just as worried about Fujimasa March. He didn't want his trainee to taste defeat in her debut either... but the opposition was simply too formidable.
Logic told him that unless Fujimasa March was secretly hiding Central G1-level talent, or if Starlight Trajectory was as exhausted as she’d been last time, the chances of winning were near zero.
"The paddock parade is starting."
Belno Light held her notebook tight, her eyes darting between the competitors. Before the race, the Uma Musume would circle the paddock to warm up; it was the most important moment for the fans to get a good look at them.
"Man, that outfit really stands out."
Kitahara Jo spotted Starlight Trajectory instantly. Among the ten girls in the first group, she was the only one not wearing a standard tracksuit. He’d already begun to assume that the outfit was her Racing Silk.
“First up is the highly anticipated Number One of Group One, Fujimasa March!”
As the top favorite of the race, the announcer gave Fujimasa March the royal treatment.
Titles like "The Rising Star of Kasamatsu Tracen Academy" and the "Majestic Number One Favorite" were heaped upon her.
In the stands, Rudy Lemono watched Norn Ace cheering for Fujimasa March—and the even more fanatical Mini the Lady—with a look of slight discomfort.
"...You guys are obsessed."
If these two hadn't dragged her along, Rudy Lemono wouldn't have even bothered coming. Ever since that fateful encounter, her desire to train had become a burning fever; she didn't want to waste a single second of precious time.
“Next, Number Five of Group Five, Oguri... Cap.”
“Um... did she run out of time to do laundry?”
The announcer hesitated visibly when she got to Oguri Cap. The girl’s tracksuit was so noticeably dirty that the commentator couldn't help but let a comment slip.
Under the gaze of the sparse Kasamatsu crowd, a dazed Oguri Cap suddenly pulled out her hair ornament and pinned it on with an air of sudden, fierce determination.
“And next is Number Six of Group Six, Starlight Trajectory!”
“A style that certainly breaks the mold! We look forward to seeing what she brings to the Kasamatsu track.”
Starlight Trajectory’s Racing Silk caught the announcer's eye, but since she had no formal reputation to speak of, the introduction was brief and moved on quickly.
However, in the stands, some people were losing their cool.
"Whoa, wait... am I seeing things? What is she doing here?"
Rudy Lemono, who had been bored out of her mind, snapped to attention. Her eyes widened as she tried to confirm she wasn't hallucinating.
Without even realizing it, her face was practically glowing with admiration.
"Turns out you're a bigger fan than we are," Mini the Lady teased with a giggle. "Right, Norn Ace?"
But Norn Ace didn't answer. Her reaction was even more intense than it had been for Fujimasa March, and she began screaming her lungs out in support of Starlight Trajectory. Seeing the two of them like that, Mini the Lady felt a spark of excitement too.
Alright, she had to admit—she looked up to Starlight Trajectory a little bit, too. She just wasn't as loud about it as the other two.
The drama in the stands didn't reach the athletes. After the parade and warm-ups, the ten runners stepped onto the track.
Starlight Trajectory hadn't expected to run into Oguri Cap in her debut race; she had simply picked the earliest available date to sign up.
There had been a bit of a headache during registration, though, because she didn't want to list Starlight Trajectory under the name Mano Kaede.
Think about it: a trainer signs only one Uma Musume, yet never shows up to watch her race?
If anyone looked into that, they’d realize the two were never seen in the same place at the same time, and eventually, they’d realize they were the same person.
While a normal person might not jump to that conclusion, there was always the risk of someone having a sudden stroke of genius. At the very least, they’d get suspicious and start digging.
To kill the problem at the root, she had to keep the two identities completely unrelated. Fortunately, local registration wasn't too strict, and she managed to sign up as an independent.
"Oguri, we meet again."
Outside the starting gates, Starlight Trajectory greeted Oguri Cap, only to be immediately met with a massive hug.
"Big Sister Starlight!"
"How’s your training been? Feeling okay? Have you been eating well?"
She couldn't help but play the big sister; Oguri Cap reminded her too much of a lovable, slightly scatterbrained kid from next door. The reunion was short-lived, however, as the staff ushered them into their respective gates.
"Good luck out there. I won't be holding back."
That was a lie.
Starlight Trajectory had no intention of going full throttle. She planned to stay within a safe margin—just enough to stay slightly ahead of the pack.
To ensure she was actually getting a workout during her daily life, she usually wore five sets of system-issued weighted bands and heavy-duty iron shoes.
Of course, she’d stripped those off two days ago just to be safe for the debut.
Aside from Oguri Cap, she spared a thought for the one the announcer called the "Rising Star of Kasamatsu Tracen," Fujimasa March. She wondered how good the girl actually was. Maybe even better than Oguri?
She turned her head to catch a glimpse of Fujimasa March, only to find a pair of eyes already fixed on her.
Standing in the first gate, Fujimasa March was staring directly at Starlight Trajectory and Oguri Cap, her gaze burning with an intensity she made no effort to hide.
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 16
--+--
May 19th was a day of equal gravity for Fujimasa March.
It wasn't just about her debut race; it was the first time she would truly measure herself against Oguri Cap.
She hadn't forgotten that day during the freshman test. Oguri Cap had started in the heat right after hers, and the trainers had already begun whispering that she was a girl capable of seizing the Tokai Derby. Since then, March had kept a sharp eye on her, marking the silver-haired girl as her ultimate rival.
But yesterday, her trainer, Shibasaki Kouichi, had caught her off guard.
He told her that a much more formidable Uma Musume would be entering the debut race—someone for whom winning the Tokai Derby would be effortless.
Though Shibasaki hadn't said it outright, March felt the sting of his doubt. It felt like a lack of faith in his own trainee, as if he had conceded her defeat before the gates had even opened.
The thought rang. It left a bitter taste of indignation in her mouth. She had never even met this so-called "Starlight Trajectory," so by what right did her trainer decide she was inferior?
By what right!
She would prove him wrong. Even against an opponent of graded-race caliber, she would take the win. Because the one meant to win the Tokai Derby...
"Is me!" March whispered to herself, hunkered down inside the gate.
At that exact moment, the magnetic locks snapped open.
"The gates are back, and they're off!"
"After a bit of a ragged start, this freshman debut race is underway!"
Accompanied by the announcer’s high-octane commentary, the ten competitors charged onto the track. Every Uma Musume present had a single, burning objective: the winner's circle.
"Number six, Starlight Trajectory, takes the lead early! Our crowd favorite, Fujimasa March, is currently holding steady in fourth."
From the jump, Starlight had committed to the "Great Escape" style—a front-running tactic that could be notoriously unstable.
Positioning? The timing of the break? Calculating stamina reserves?
None of it mattered to her. This debut race was shorter than any standard competition.
To her, eight hundred meters of dirt wasn't even enough for a proper warm-up. All she had to do was dictate the pace from the front until the end.
Listening to the frantic drumming of hoofbeats behind her, Starlight maintained a comfortable half-length lead with effortless poise.
"Starlight Trajectory keeps her lead, holding a half-length gap over South Heroine in second!"
"These ten debutantes are about to hit the third turn!"
Reaching the curve meant the race was already half over.
So, Starlight Trajectory really is the one setting the pace.
Running in the "Leader" pack just behind, Oguri Cap kept her eyes locked on the front-runner, remembering Kitahara Jo’s strict instructions. A single length ahead of her was her other great rival for the day, Fujimasa March.
"They're starting to push as they enter the fourth turn! Starlight Trajectory is still the one to beat!"
"South Heroine is right on her heels, but Fujimasa March in third is biting deep into her lead! Can she find the opening to overtake on the curve?"
"The girls in the back are starting to close the gap one by one!"
March could see it clearly; South Heroine was redlining, her energy spent. Yet Starlight, right at the tip of the spear, still looked like she was out for a morning jog.
But March didn't panic. The real battle began when they hit the homestretch! If their stamina was equal, then she would simply overwhelm her with raw speed.
She counted the beats in her head, and the instant they straightened out for the final stretch, she ignited her sprint.
"Number one, Fujimasa March, kicks into high gear! She blows past South Heroine, but there’s still a gap between her and the leader, Starlight Trajectory!"
"Incredible! You don't see speed like this in a local debut race! Starlight Trajectory is in the danger zone!" the announcer shouted, swept up in the adrenaline.
But that wasn't the end of it. At that same moment, Oguri Cap, lurking just behind, launched her own assault, surging toward the finish line.
"What!?"
March stared in disbelief. Oguri Cap was matching her stride—no, she was moving even faster.
"Number five! Oguri Cap is charging up! She’s eating into the distance between her and Fujimasa March at terrifying speed!"
"Run for it, March!" Shibasaki yelled, his knuckles white as he gripped the railing, his voice cracking under the tension.
"That's it! Go, go, go!!!" Kitahara Jo and Belno Light screamed in unison, cheering wildly for Oguri. Even if they couldn't catch Starlight, they had to beat March—that was the goal.
"Two lengths, one length, half a length... they're level! Oguri Cap has pulled even with Fujimasa March!"
"Two hundred meters to go!"
How? How is she so much faster than before? Confusion and shock swirled in March's mind. She had been studying Oguri, tracking her progress, and the girl shouldn't have had this kind of gear!
But I refuse to lose! My goal is the Tokai Derby! I won't be broken in a place like this!!
"Fujimasa March finds another gear! She’s trying to shake Oguri Cap!"
"It’s a dead heat! They've left the rest of the field in the dust!"
Oguri Cap didn't even hear the announcer anymore. Her world had narrowed. She didn't care about Fujimasa March; her eyes were fixed solely on the back of Starlight Trajectory.
Not enough. It's still not enough!
This speed... it's not enough to pass Starlight!
More! I need to go even faster! Faster!! FASTER!!!
"An explosion of speed! Oguri Cap accelerates again! What incredible power, what a terrifying late kick! Can Fujimasa March stay with her!?"
There was no third burst for Fujimasa March. She was already at her limit, her legs screaming, unable to find another ounce of velocity. Oguri’s back grew smaller and smaller in her vision, an unreachable horizon.
She had thought they were rivals. Had it all been one-sided?
The bitterness tasted like ash. I can't accept this! I won't!!
"Number five pulls away from Fujimasa March! Oguri Cap wins the duel!"
"March..."
In the stands, Shibasaki felt a pang of guilt watching his trainee fall behind. Knowing her pride, he knew this defeat would leave a deep scar.
"That’s it, Oguri! Catch her at that speed!" Kitahara’s heart leaped. With this momentum, maybe—just maybe—victory was possible.
"One hundred meters left! Only Starlight Trajectory stands in Oguri Cap’s way!"
"If she keeps up this monstrous pace, she might just take first—uh..."
The announcer’s voice hitched, the excitement cutting off into a confused stammer as he realized something the entire stadium had overlooked.
"...Unbelievable. Number six, Starlight Trajectory, has maintained a precise half-length lead throughout the entire surge!"
"The biggest dark horse isn't from the Kasamatsu Tracen Academy duo—it's the girl in the number six jersey!"
The battle between March and Oguri had been so fierce that everyone had forgotten the girl leading the pack. She looked too composed. It didn't even look like she was sprinting; it looked like she was gliding.
Why... why can't I reach her!
No matter how hard Oguri Cap pushed, no matter how much she strained, she couldn't shave a single inch off Starlight’s lead. That tiny half-length felt like an infinite abyss.
Is the gap between us... really this vast?
"And they cross the line! Starlight Trajectory takes the top spot in her debut race, holding her lead by exactly half a length!"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 17
--+--
"It’s over..."
"Yeah, it’s over..."
Staring at the rankings displayed on the giant screen, Shibasaki and Kitahara fell into a simultaneous silence.
Even the lingering thrill of Oguri Cap overtaking Fujimasa March at the very last second vanished into thin air.
Anyone with eyes could see that in this race, Starlight Trajectory possessed an absolute dominance that didn't belong in the local leagues. That half-length lead was clearly a courtesy; after all, seeing someone finish a race looking like they’d barely broken a sweat was nothing short of terrifying.
At this point, they only hoped this monster would hurry up and leave the Kasamatsu racecourse. The Central leagues were where she truly belonged.
"...I lost."
Fujimasa March clenched her fists, staring at the leaderboard with a look of pure, bitter resentment.
She had lost her very first official race.
She wasn't first—she wasn't even second. She had trailed behind in third place. Not only had she lost to Starlight Trajectory, but even Oguri Cap had beaten her by a full length.
Looking at Starlight Trajectory, who wasn't even winded, she finally realized that the gap between them was likely far wider than she had ever imagined.
The girl was a complete and utter monster.
Until the very moment they crossed the line, Starlight had played with them, maintaining that precise half-length advantage with surgical accuracy.
But why...
Starlight Trajectory’s sheer power was so overwhelming that the thought of competing against her didn't even cross her mind, but by what right was Oguri Cap better than her too?!
"Just you wait. Next time... I’ll be the one who wins!"
With a voice only she could hear, Fujimasa March threw down a silent challenge to Oguri Cap and stalked away from the Kasamatsu track, teeth gritted in frustration.
At the same time, Oguri Cap was also looking up at the rankings. Beneath her calm expression lay a deep-seated unwillingness to lose.
"Oguri!" Starlight Trajectory found the dazed Oguri Cap and said with a smile, "You’ve gotten stronger for this race. You’ve been putting in some serious work, haven't you?"
The tracks at Kasamatsu were loose sand paths made of river silt, which demanded a specific kind of power and technique.
One had to grip the sand with the entire sole of the foot, then use the strength of the ankle to kick the sand backward with force.
Standard running styles on a track with such low friction led to slipping, causing the power of the stride to disperse.
Oguri Cap had clearly undergone targeted training for her ankles; after all, a month ago, her gait on the dirt had been no different from her stride on the grass.
This was the kind of knowledge a Trainer had to master. Starlight Trajectory, who aimed to become a Trainer herself, had never stopped her studies.
Over the past two years, any time she had shaved off from her own training as an Uma Musume was spent studying under her true form, the Trainer, Mano Kaede.
She wondered if he had passed the Central Tracen Academy Trainer exam last year.
"But I still lost to you, Sister Starlight..."
Oguri Cap’s spirits were a bit low. A month had passed, and yet she still hadn't managed to close the gap between her and Starlight Trajectory.
"You were amazing, Oguri. If I hadn't been here, first place would have been in the bag for you." Starlight Trajectory smiled and ruffled the hair on top of Oguri Cap’s head. "But if you want to beat me, you're still a long way off."
"When you can finally chase down that half-length, only then will we be standing on the same line. Until then, I’ll be waiting for you."
Oguri Cap nodded, giving a solemn response:
"Yeah!"
A moment later, the announcer’s voice rang out over the speakers.
“Would the winner, Number Six, Starlight Trajectory, please head to the Winner’s Stage!”
The Winner's Stage was a concert held by the competing Uma Musume to express their gratitude to the fans who supported them. Only the top finishers, or the winner themselves, had the chance to stand on that stage.
The Winner's Stage at Kasamatsu was very rudimentary, far more modest than the extravagant, luxurious setups found in the Central leagues.
The undisputed star of this particular stage was, without a doubt, the champion: Starlight Trajectory.
“Starlight Trajectory has secured a brilliant first victory! Please, show us your Winner's Stage performance!”
The announcer’s voice continued to urge her on, but backstage, Starlight Trajectory’s face was grim. She hesitated, lingering in the shadows.
“Starlight Trajectory’s racing silks are quite unique. I’m already looking forward to her spectacular show. Could she be bringing us something completely different?”
"No, I'm not!"
Spectacular show? Unique performance? How was she supposed to produce something that didn't exist!
Starlight Trajectory desperately wanted to go to the broadcast booth, shut the announcer up, and tell everyone that she didn't know a single dance move. But she could only think about it.
If she actually did it, she’d probably be in the newspapers the next day and face a suspension.
"How did I forget about the Winner's Stage..."
Starlight Trajectory was capable in many areas, but when it came to singing and dancing, she was completely clueless.
After all, while she was an Uma Musume now, on the inside, she was a man through and through. There was no way she would have ever gone out of her way to learn how to dance!
Running away seemed like a viable option—after all, no rule explicitly stated a girl must perform—but when she had seen Oguri Cap’s eyes earlier, they were filled with nothing but pure, sparkling expectation. She couldn't bring herself to just bolt.
In short, she just had to bite the bullet.
Setting her resolve, Starlight Trajectory stepped forward and walked toward the stage.
Then, under the expectant gaze of the entire audience, she chose a popular English song from across the ocean, paired with the only dance she could actually remember.
Keeping her facial expression locked in a deadpan mask, Starlight Trajectory began to move her body.
"California Gurls~🎵"
"We're unforgettable~🎵"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 18
--+--
"I’m asking one more time to be certain—are you really applying for retirement?"
"Yes."
"But... what’s the reason? Why retire now? You look like you’ve only just..."
"I don't want to run anymore. It's as simple as that."
Inside the regional Uma Musume Racing Association office, Starlight Trajectory was at the counter, filing her retirement papers.
No matter how many times the staff tried to talk her out of it, she wouldn't budge.
"If you're truly set on this... then, very well," the clerk said, her voice heavy with regret.
Starlight Trajectory looked so incredibly young; she could have easily raced for several more years before even considering hanging up her silks.
Once the arrow is shot, there is no calling it back. In this world, retirement meant never competing again—there was no such thing as a "comeback."
Because of this, it was rare for any Uma Musume to retire unless her career was complete or a tragic accident rendered her unable to compete.
Most would simply stop entering races rather than officially retiring.
After all, every Uma Musume is a spirit born for the sprint. Who could possibly want to quit of their own volition? To retire after only a single debut race... she must have some deep, unspoken struggle.
"As of today, you are officially retired."
In a local circuit like Kasamatsu, the process was straightforward—just a quick update to the registry.
"Thanks for your help," Starlight Trajectory replied politely before heading straight for the exit.
What the staff didn't know was that her reason was actually quite simple: she just didn't want to stand on the Winner’s Stage.
Lately, videos of her performance had been circulating on various sites. Fortunately, the hype hadn't exploded; it had been a flash in the pan that was already starting to fade.
To be honest, she’d just gotten swept up in the heat of the moment and ended up dancing to "California Gurls." Who knew the fallout would be this massive!
Recalling that performance from a few days ago made her want to bury this identity forever. She’d much rather just run on her own time, in private.
After all, her ultimate goal was to be a top-tier Trainer, not a top-tier Uma Musume.
"Ugh... finally, it's over," Starlight Trajectory muttered dejectedly. "I just hope the System mission actually counted, otherwise I retired for nothing."
Since the System hadn't given a specific metric for a "satisfactory retirement," she had taken the liberty of interpreting that herself. One race, one win—that’s a perfect record.
A perfect record is a satisfactory career! Therefore, retiring now was a satisfactory retirement.
That was her logic, anyway.
Deep down, she wasn't entirely sure the System would accept her "loophole" reasoning. If it failed, she’d have to blame the System for being too rigid and lacking the common sense to see her genius.
[System Prerequisite Task Progress: ■■■■■■■■■■ 100%]
[Objective: Successfully debut as Starlight Trajectory and retire after a satisfactory career (Completed)]
"It actually worked!"
Seeing the progress bar hit 100% on the panel, Starlight Trajectory beamed. This saved her at least three years of grinding as a racer!
[Congratulations, Host! All pre-missions are complete. The System will now unlock its full functionality!]
Starlight Trajectory felt a bit dizzy looking at the sheer number of new features popping up.
She had assumed the "full functionality" would just be a stat-checker for other girls and fewer restrictions on items. This was far more than she expected, and the System didn't drag its feet—it unlocked everything instantly.
Most importantly, it was honest! It wasn't like those industry-standard "toxic" systems that get stuck at 99.9%, demanding a million sub-quests only to pull a bait-and-switch and unlock half the features.
"I’ll dig into the details when I get back. Now that everything's unlocked, I can finally start signing contracts with trainees instead of making excuses."
Now that she was sure the System wouldn't force her to run all over the place anymore, she was ready to get back to her real job. From the very beginning, all she wanted was to be a Trainer!
If it weren't for the System forcing her to use the Uma Musume identity for those missions, she’d probably be preparing for a race with her own trainee by now.
[System Bonus Reward issued. Please accept.]
"Huh? A bonus?"
This was a surprise. The System never did anything extra; it usually just followed its rigid programming. Or was this bonus also part of the code?
Without much hesitation, she hit "Claim." A bag materialized out of thin air, and she scrambled to catch it before it hit the floor.
Peeking inside, she found two sets of gender-neutral casual clothes and a flat-brimmed cap.
[Garments imbued with special power. Wearing these will conceal Uma Musume traits.]
Starlight Trajectory’s eyes lit up. Now this was a prize. Even if she didn't use them every day, they would make things much easier... for instance, she wouldn't always have to appear as an Uma Musume. She could move around as a human.
"The System really thought of everything."
It might not have a personality, but it was surprisingly considerate. Five stars, highly recommended!
"Anyway, time to head back to Kasamatsu Tracen Academy and see if there are any other promising talents."
She tucked the clothes away and focused on switching back to her Mano Kaede form.
One second passed... two seconds... five seconds...
She remained standing there as the Uma Musume, Starlight Trajectory. Mano Kaede, the human Trainer, was nowhere to be seen.
"...What's going on?"
Usually, she could swap forms seamlessly with just a thought. Why was nothing happening? Was the System glitching?
[An Uma Musume's physical constitution is several, even dozens of times greater than that of a normal human. To become a top Trainer and fulfill your duties to your trainees, a healthy body is indispensable.]
[To ensure the Host’s physical and mental well-being, the identity fusion is now substantially complete.]
Come to think of it, after her debut race, her "Starlight" form had felt a bit different—she’d grown a good ten centimeters taller, though she hadn't thought much of it at the time.
A cold realization washed over her.
No way... No way, no way, no way...
She tried to trigger the change in her mind over and over, but the result was the same. She had to face the facts.
She... might just be stuck like this.
--+--
Author’s Note:
Just to clarify, even though she's "retired," the protagonist will still be racing.
In this setting, the Regional and Central circuits aren't fully integrated yet. Therefore, the Central authorities don't know about her retirement in the local circuit. Later, under Symboli Rudolf’s influence, the URA and the Regional circuits will establish a unified system.
By then, the protagonist will have already finished the Triple Crown. To get her to run in the "G1 grind," the URA will actually work to cover up the fact that she ever retired.
Plus, someone already signed her up for the Classic series two years ago. We’ll find out who that was very soon.
Being a Trainer and an Uma Musume at the same time—now that’s what I call a healthy balance! Don’t worry, she’s definitely still hitting the track!
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 19
--+--
Inside the trainer’s office at Kasamatsu Tracen Academy, Mano Kaede—or rather, Starlight Trajectory—was leaning against the railing at the edge of the training grounds, just like during the freshman aptitude test, watching the Uma Musume running in the distance.
Nearly half a year had passed since the debut race. After avoiding reality for as long as she could, Kaede had finally returned to Kasamatsu Tracen Academy not long ago.
Thankfully, the principal had believed her excuse about being seriously ill and even granted her a full six months of leave.
During that time, some of her coworkers had wanted to visit her, but she brushed them off with every excuse imaginable—or simply ignored them outright.
Now she kept herself wrapped up from head to toe, not a single patch of skin exposed. A mask covered half her face, all her hair was tucked into a flat-brim cap, and the brim itself was pulled low.
Because honestly, a human turning into an Uma Musume and not being able to change back?
That was way too bizarre.
Over this period, she’d tried countless methods.
For example: looking for the system, looking for the system again, and looking for the system even harder. But the system remained exactly the same as before—completely brain-dead.
If you didn’t ask questions, it wouldn’t say a thing, and even if you did, it usually stayed silent anyway.
Who was it that said this system was user-friendly!?
…Oh right, it was me.
Never mind then.
“Ugh…”
At any rate, until she figured out a way to turn back, she could only appear in public as Starlight Trajectory.
Fortunately, after finishing her debut race she’d grown quite a bit taller. Combined with the outfit the system had given her, she could barely cover up her current situation.
Though compared to before, she was still about half a head shorter.
Thinking about it now, the system probably gave her this outfit because it had already anticipated all this…
Which meant she’d walked straight into a trap from the very beginning. That damned system had never been anything good.
“…Might as well look at the Uma Musume out there.”
Running away forever wasn’t an option. Since more of the system’s functions had unlocked, it was time for her to start doing her actual job again.
During this period, Starlight Trajectory hadn’t stopped researching the system either. Ignoring all the flashy features she couldn’t use yet, the most practical function was probably stat analysis.
The problem was that there were restrictions when using it on other Uma Musume. She needed fairly extensive physical contact.
Like… touching their legs.
That condition made it impossible for her to screen the Uma Musume at Kasamatsu on a large scale. Even now, she still hadn’t found a suitable target.
After all, from an identity standpoint, Kaede was technically a man. Walking up to unfamiliar Uma Musume and doing something like that would probably get her kicked into paralysis.
But still…
There really weren’t any Uma Musume on the training grounds worth noticing. The few promising ones had already been signed by other trainers.
If she’d known beforehand that the system’s final mission didn’t actually require her to leave Kasamatsu, she definitely would’ve signed Oguri Cap herself. Then there’d have been no room for Kitahara Jo at all.
And just as she thought of him, he showed up.
No matter what, they were still coworkers, and everyone had been genuinely worried about Kaede’s health.
“Kaede, feeling any better?”
Even in the middle of summer, Kaede was bundled up this tightly. Anyone could tell something was off. A few Uma Musume resting near the training grounds were already whispering about her.
As one of Kasamatsu Tracen Academy’s poster figures, plenty of Uma Musume had enrolled because they’d been lured in by Kaede’s looks—only to discover after entering school that this trainer had never once signed an athlete.
That situation had gone on for two years. Add in the half-year disappearance, and her story was practically becoming an urban legend around campus. Standing out was unavoidable.
“…Still recovering.” Kaede subtly stepped back and lowered her voice. “By the way, could you ask Oguri Cap to come over? I wanted to talk to her.”
Kitahara assumed the strange tone in her voice was just weakness from illness and didn’t think much of it.
“Give it a minute. Oguri’s just about to finish a set.”
Not long later, a lightly panting Oguri Cap stopped by the edge of the track, and Kitahara waved her over from afar.
“Oguri, someone’s here to see you.”
When she walked over, Kitahara introduced Kaede to her.
“This is Mano Kaede, another trainer here at Kasamatsu Tracen.”
“Hello. Did you need something?”
Oguri Cap greeted her politely, tilting her head slightly in confusion, unsure why Kaede wanted to see her.
In truth, her confusion wasn’t really about that. It was because Kaede somehow felt strangely familiar, though she couldn’t quite remember why.
Seeing that Oguri Cap didn’t recognize her, Kaede quietly let out a sigh of relief before nervously asking:
“Um… this might be a little rude, but could I… touch your legs for a moment?”
“That’s way over the line, Kaede!”
The moment the request came out, Kitahara practically jumped.
How was he supposed to know Kaede had come for something like this?
Checking an Uma Musume’s aptitude through the condition of her legs was an old tradition among trainers. But doing it to someone else’s athlete basically implied you wanted to poach them, which naturally rubbed people the wrong way.
“Considering you just recovered from a serious illness, I won’t say much. But whether this happens or not is up to Oguri herself.”
Kitahara didn’t stop her. In the end, the choice belonged to the Uma Musume.
Besides, he really didn’t think Oguri Cap would agree.
Any normal woman would be uncomfortable with physical contact from a stranger—especially something like touching her calves.
“No problem.”
Oguri Cap nodded without refusing.
“See? I told you—wait, huh!? Oguri, you agreed!?”
Kitahara only realized halfway through what she’d said.
“If it’s just my legs…”
Before she could finish, Oguri Cap’s face suddenly flushed red.
Because Kaede had already reached out and started touching them.
“Just as I thought… really well-trained. Strong calves too. Perfect for middle-distance races, though shorter distances probably wouldn’t suit you.”
Even without the system, Kaede could already roughly judge what distances Oguri Cap was best suited for through experience alone.
As for track preference, that wasn’t something you could determine just by feeling someone’s legs, so she relied on the system for that.
The results the system gave were more or less identical to her own assessment.
--+--
[Oguri Cap]
[Turf: A, Dirt: B]
[Short: E, Mile: A, Medium: A, Long: B]
[End: F, Late: A, Pace : A, Front: D]
[Speed: B+, Stamina: C, Power: B, Guts: D+, Wit: E+]
[Speed Growth Rate: +20%, Power Growth Rate: +10%]
[Overall Training Aptitude Evaluation: S]
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 20
--+--
T/N: The previous chap, the mc was referred to as Mano Kaede, but it may feel awkward because of the sudden name change, but it was like this in the raws too.
--+--
“Better on turf than dirt... and more suited to running from the middle pack or near the front. And her training gains are especially high in speed and power?”
Starlight Trajectory hadn’t expected the system to even analyze training efficiency. That information had never shown up before.
With data like this, helping train her own runner might end up being even more useful than she’d imagined.
Then there were the stats she couldn’t quite make sense of. Oguri Cap’s five core attributes seemed to use a completely different rating standard from hers.
Aside from Speed and Power being above B rank, everything else hovered around D+, and unlike Starlight’s own screen, there wasn’t any colorful “U” symbol in front of them.
After seeing Oguri Cap’s debut race performance, Starlight Trajectory was finally able to confirm something.
The system’s evaluation criteria for her was probably different from every other Uma Musume.
Maybe she was even stronger than she’d thought.
--+--
[Triumphant Pulse LV0 (Unique)] [Hydrate] [Nimble Navigator]
--+--
As for skills, aside from her Unique Skill, Oguri Cap only had two others. Not much more than Starlight herself. Even the Unique Skill was still only LV0.
Still, the system had somehow given her an overall aptitude rating of S.
Oguri Cap really was an incredible prospect.
“Hey, have you touched enough yet? Keep this up and I’m seriously gonna get jealous.”
Watching Starlight Trajectory’s increasingly shameless inspection from the side, Kitahara Jo finally couldn’t help but interrupt.
Seeing someone openly fuss over his own runner right in front of him left him weirdly irritated.
“Sorry, I got a little carried away.”
Realizing her behavior might’ve crossed a line, Starlight quickly let go—though the person she apologized to was Oguri Cap.
“It’s okay,” Oguri Cap replied, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t mind even if you kept going a bit longer.”
The surprise attack at first had made her instinctively want to kick Starlight away, but after enduring it for a while, she found herself no longer resisting.
Those hands weren’t rough at all. If anything, they were soft like a girl’s, and the way they moved felt like the practiced touch of a professional masseuse.
More importantly... they felt familiar.
Very familiar.
As though they’d known each other long ago.
But no matter how hard Oguri Cap searched her memory, she couldn’t find anyone who matched Starlight Trajectory.
In the end, following her usual philosophy of “if I can’t figure it out, don’t bother thinking about it,” she stopped dwelling on the matter entirely.
“By the way, can you really tell all that just by touching someone’s legs?”
As Oguri Cap’s trainer, Kitahara Jo obviously knew what she excelled at. But that understanding had come from months of working and training alongside her.
And yet Starlight had figured out even more from a single touch than he had learned in all that time. He’d never even considered that Oguri Cap might perform better on turf than dirt.
Granted, the latter claim still couldn’t be verified yet, but everything before that perfectly matched the conclusions he’d reached himself. Besides, there was no reason for Starlight Trajectory to lie to him.
“You’d understand if you tried feeling for yourself.”
Since she couldn’t exactly explain the system, Starlight dodged the question entirely and instead blamed it on his lack of skill.
And honestly... Kitahara really was terrible at it.
Even after getting Oguri Cap’s permission and awkwardly fumbling around for quite a while, he learned absolutely nothing. The only thing he noticed was how unbelievably solid her legs were—far denser and firmer than human muscles.
After messing around for a while, he finally gave up on the whole idea and simply sent Oguri Cap back to rest in preparation for her next race.
“So what race are you entering Oguri Cap in next?”
Watching Oguri Cap’s figure gradually disappear into the distance, Starlight suddenly asked.
“She already finished the Junior Crown Cup.”
“So next up is the Chukyo Cup?”
“Isn’t that the obvious choice?” Kitahara laughed. “Honestly, I was worried Oguri Cap might not adapt well to turf, but after hearing what you said earlier, I feel a bit more reassured.”
The Chukyo Racecourse was one of the rare regional venues where runners could experience turf tracks, and one of the few places that hosted both regional and central races.
Most Japanese races were held on turf, with turf events vastly outnumbering dirt races. If Oguri Cap wanted experience on grass tracks and practice handling long-distance travel for competitions, the Chukyo Cup was unquestionably the best option.
“Good choice,” Starlight Trajectory nodded.
Like the Junior Crown Cup, the Chukyo Cup was a quasi-graded race. Since Oguri Cap had already won the Junior Crown Cup, testing herself there made perfect sense.
The only concern was the schedule.
There were barely ten days between the two races.
That turnaround was brutally short.
“So you think so too, huh? Oguri Cap really should run the Chukyo Cup.”
Kitahara looked pleased to have his judgment validated. To prepare for the upcoming gauntlet of races, he’d been putting Oguri Cap through constant stamina training.
Combined with her naturally monstrous endurance, the Junior Crown Cup hadn’t taken much out of her at all.
Even so, Kitahara had already reduced her training load to the bare minimum needed to maintain condition, letting her spend the rest of the time properly resting.
While the two chatted, Kitahara’s other runner, Belno Light, jogged over and stopped in front of them, breathing heavily.
“This is Belno Light, another one of my runners,” Kitahara introduced casually, while also introducing Starlight Trajectory to her.
Compared to the already-rising Oguri Cap, Belno Light’s talent could only be described as ordinary.
The same training that barely counted as a warm-up for Oguri Cap was enough to completely drain her stamina.
Starlight Trajectory’s gaze drifted toward Belno Light’s legs, and the thought in her head slipped out before she could stop herself.
“Can I touch your legs for a moment?”
“Ehhhhhh!?”
The request came so suddenly that Belno Light froze on the spot.
This time, however, Kitahara barely reacted.
Now that he knew Starlight Trajectory’s instincts were frighteningly accurate, he actually hoped she could help evaluate Belno Light’s potential too.
After half a year of training, he’d realized Belno Light still hadn’t improved much. Even her debut race—the same event period as the Junior Crown Cup—had produced disappointing results.
Belno Light shot her trainer a pleading look for help.
Unfortunately for her, the answer she received was encouragement to agree.
“Th-then... okay.”
Belno Light had never been good at refusing people in the first place, so she shyly nodded.
After going through the exact same experience as Oguri Cap, Starlight Trajectory finished examining her and slowly frowned, signaling for Kitahara to let Belno Light head back first.
The system’s evaluation wasn’t promising.
Compared to both Oguri Cap and Starlight herself, this status screen was honestly painful to look at.
Among the five core attributes, Wit—the only standout stat—was merely E rank. Everything else was either F or G, and none of them had any training growth bonuses attached.
The skill list was even harder to describe.
[Sympathy] [Restraint] [Ramp Revulsion] [Inner Post Averseness] [Running Idle]
The first two were normal enough.
The last three, however, were all purple negative skills.
That was something she’d never seen before.
Then there was the aptitude evaluation the system gave her.
Only F rank.
“What exactly’s going on?”
Kitahara was visibly alarmed by Starlight Trajectory’s expression and hurriedly asked.
But Starlight didn’t rush to conclusions.
Right now, she lacked sufficient data. Even if the system declared something to be F rank, she still wanted to judge it herself first.
Both she and Oguri Cap were special cases and couldn’t be used as reference points. And so far, aside from the two of them, she still hadn’t gathered enough information on other Uma Musume.
But after examining two runners back-to-back, Starlight realized the process wasn’t nearly as difficult as she’d initially thought.
Which meant...
“I probably can’t answer that question until a few more days from now...”
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T/N: For anyone whos played the uma game, im sure i have the skills correct, cause it took me a while to find them.
--+--
Additionally, I forgot character images, so here is the images the author posted on ciweimao.
We got Starlight Trajectory's appearance.
Oguri Cap
Fujimasa March
The Bully Trio