Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 31
--+--
"Madam Chairwoman!"
The disciplinary committee members immediately straightened, offering their deepest respects to the figure standing at the door.
And for good reason—this young lady was the ultimate authority at Central Tracen Academy: Yayoi Akikawa. To the students, she was the academy’s most revered figure, the Chairwoman herself!
The flourishing state of the Uma Musume industry in Japan owed much to Yayoi Akikawa's efforts, which was why every girl in the school held the diminutive Chairwoman in such high regard.
"Since the Chairwoman has spoken, we shall take our leave," they said, bowing deeply before quietly filing out of the office.
"Yayoi, you’re finally here!"
The moment Hayakawa Tazuna spotted her, she practically lunged forward, ushering her toward the desk as if terrified the girl might suddenly bolt.
"My apologies! I received word last night that a dear friend was coming to visit, and I simply couldn't sleep a wink," Yayoi replied with a sheepish smile.
She was well aware of how buried under paperwork Central Tracen had been lately, but after seeing that email last night, her excitement had kept her wired until dawn.
By the time she’d managed to drift off, the sun was already up, and she hadn't opened her eyes again until the afternoon.
The last time Starlight Trajectory had come for her examinations, Yayoi had been so swamped with business that she couldn't break away. By her count, it had been over two years since they had seen each other face-to-face.
"Good work! Tazuna, you should go get some rest now. I’ll handle the rest from here."
"As for you, little filly," Yayoi added, looking toward Tokai Teio, "please step outside for a moment. I’d like a private word with young Kaede."
With a flick of her wrist, her folding fan snapped shut and flipped over. While the side shown during her entrance had read 'Appearing,' the reverse now displayed 'Withdrawal.'
Hayakawa Tazuna didn't argue. Staying up all night had left her in a mental fog. She took the curious Tokai Teio by the hand and led her out of the office, giving the two old friends the privacy they needed.
No matter how much time passed, Starlight still found the text on Yayoi’s fans utterly mystical, as if the Chairwoman knew exactly what was about to happen before it did.
She had once suspected the words shifted by magic, until Yayoi had presented her with an entire crate of fans, proving she simply had one printed for every conceivable situation.
Once the initial wonder wore off, the reality of the situation finally hit her.
"Ya-Ya-Ya-Yayoi! You’re the Chairwoman of Tracen Academy!?" Starlight sputtered, the realization nearly robbing her of speech. "You never breathed a word of this to me!"
"Heh-heh, well, Kaede, you never asked," Yayoi chirped triumphantly, snapping her fan open again. Unfortunately, she had already exhausted both sides of this one and couldn't conjure a third message.
"But more importantly... after all these years, has Kaede finally succumbed to the allure of the track?"
Hearing the meaningful weight in Yayoi’s voice, Starlight was quick to protest. "It's nothing like that! It’s just... because of certain unique circumstances... I can't change back for the time being."
She knew exactly what Yayoi was implying. Aside from herself, the Chairwoman was the only person who knew Starlight’s secret. In fact, even the name 'Starlight Trajectory' was partly Yayoi’s doing.
Starlight’s mother had introduced her to Yayoi when they were very young; they were practically childhood friends.
Yet, Yayoi had always looked exactly like this. Even after all these years, she hadn't changed a bit—and she hadn't grown a single centimeter taller, either.
"Isn't this wonderful, though? Now that you’ve become an Uma Musume, you can run to your heart's content."
"Besides, I happen to quite like Kaede in this form," Yayoi added, taking her seat in the high-backed Chairwoman’s chair. She was intimately familiar with the issues Starlight used to have with her legs.
Back then, she had sought out countless doctors for her friend, but they could only manage the pain; there had been no permanent cure.
"Yayoi, you forgot your verbal tic."
Starlight knew that the more she tried to explain herself, the deeper the hole she’d dig, so she pivoted the conversation.
"I remembered you saying you didn't like it, so I dropped the habit!"
Yayoi fluttered her fan. To break that verbal tic, she had practiced for a long time. While it still slipped out occasionally, she could usually keep it under control when she was around Starlight.
Starlight blinked, momentarily stunned. She didn't remember saying that. Wait... no, maybe she had.
Ransacking her memory, she recalled a passing comment she’d made before heading to Kasamatsu. It had been a throwaway joke at the time, but she hadn't realized Yayoi would take it so seriously.
Personally, she actually thought Yayoi’s unique way of speaking was rather cute, even if it could be a bit much in long doses.
"Setting that aside, how long does Kaede plan to stay at Central Tracen this time?"
Yayoi knew her friend was often pulled in different directions for various reasons; they hadn't crossed paths once in the last two years.
"Well... the things I needed to do are mostly finished. I probably won't be drifting around like I used to."
Starlight’s goal was to become an elite Trainer, and in Japan, there was no better place for that than Central Tracen. Now that her System tasks were complete, she had no reason to go anywhere else.
"Um... Yayoi, since you’re the Chairwoman and all... could you help me with my identity issues?"
The thought of her legal status gave Starlight a headache. She could already see a future filled with repeats of today’s chaos.
"What do you take me for? I can't just wave a wand and fix something like that."
While Central Tracen was indeed the highest authority in the racing world outside of the URA, legal identity was a matter that reached into entirely different levels of bureaucracy.
Figures...
Starlight felt a wave of disappointment, but Yayoi’s next words turned the tide.
"Actually, it's not impossible. But Kaede, you must agree to one condition."
Yayoi snapped her fan shut and pressed it against her chin, her tone leisurely.
"What condition?" Starlight asked.
"The year before last, I already secured your certification as a Central Trainer... and not just that. I also took the liberty of registering Starlight Trajectory for the Classic Series."
At the time, Yayoi had planned to have Starlight apprentice under a veteran Trainer to gain experience once she returned. She hadn't expected Starlight to pass the examinations entirely on her own last year.
But she had done one other thing... she had signed Starlight up to compete! Yayoi had seen the signs of Starlight’s 'Awakening' long ago, and based on the timeline, the girl was finally in her prime years.
"You mean..."
"Kaede! You’re going to run in the Classic Triple Crown!"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 32
--+--
"But... I’ve already retired."
Looking at Yayoi Akikawa, who was excitedly pointing her folding fan at her, Starlight Trajectory fell silent for a long moment before stating the cold, hard truth.
Because of the so-called "comeback" system—which effectively didn't exist anywhere—an Uma Musume who had retired was forever barred from participating in sanctioned races.
The only loophole was to flee to a racing circuit outside of Japan, such as Europe or America, and register there. Even then, they would still be unable to compete on Japanese soil.
"When did this happen?! Why wasn't I told!?"
Yayoi Akikawa immediately grabbed Starlight Trajectory’s arms and began shaking her frantically. Of course, with her meager strength, she didn't have a hope of budging the girl.
"Just six months ago. I made my debut in Kasamatsu, and then I retired."
"How could you!"
Yayoi looked like she was on the verge of tears. Oh, my poor Kaede... she was supposed to be marching toward the top of the world on a much grander stage.
As the Chairwoman of Tracen Academy, Yayoi Akikawa might not have been a Trainer, but she had a keen eye for talent.
Having watched Starlight Trajectory grow up, she arguably understood the girl’s potential better than the girl did herself.
With Starlight's raw talent, capturing the Classic Triple Crown would have been a walk in the park. Barring any accidents, she likely could have replicated Symboli Rudolf’s feat as an Undefeated Triple Crown winner.
If one dreamt even bigger, she might have even secured a victory at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe—a feat the Japanese racing world had never achieved.
But now, because of Starlight’s retirement, it had all vanished like sea foam.
The URA’s rulebook didn't explicitly cover a situation like this, but judging by how the URA typically handled "gray areas," Starlight’s registration for the Classic races would likely be voided.
While Tracen Academy held significant sway in the racing world, it paled in comparison to the corporate giants backing the URA.
In any other matter, there might have been room for negotiation. But when it came to their rigid, bureaucratic systems, the URA would never budge. A comeback was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Seeing Yayoi so dejected, Starlight Trajectory hurried to comfort her.
"There were special reasons why I chose to retire. If you really want to see me run, you could always organize some unofficial races within the Academy for me to join."
"That's not the point at all!"
Tracen Academy was Yayoi Akikawa’s life's work, built to further the cause of Uma Musume. It was one of the few institutions relatively free from corporate influence and petty politics.
Everything she did was to create the best environment for these girls to grow. She had no ulterior motives.
Now, having finally found such a rare, brilliant talent only to see it wasted like this, Yayoi was truly overcome with grief.
"Ugh... well, since you can't race, Kaede, you’d better focus on being an excellent Trainer."
Yayoi wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye, looking so discouraged she even set her folding fan aside.
Just then, there was another knock at the office door. Yayoi quickly composed herself and called out:
"Come in."
"Chairwoman, you've returned?"
Having received permission, Symboli Rudolf pushed the door open. She stepped inside and placed a stack of processed documents on the desk, with Tokai Teio following closely behind her.
"Yes. Rudolf, is there business from the Student Council?" Yayoi asked.
Watching the newcomer, Starlight Trajectory’s mind began to race.
So, this is the Undefeated Triple Crown winner and seven-time G1 champion... the 'Emperor,' Symboli Rudolf.
This was Starlight’s first time seeing the Emperor up close. Even just standing near her, Starlight could feel an aura that set her apart from any other Uma Musume.
I really want to touch her legs... wait, no, I mean, check her stats.
She wondered what kind of evaluation the System would give to the girl standing at the very peak of Japanese racing. Perhaps she could use Rudolf as a benchmark for Oguri Cap.
As for the strange sense of familiarity she felt, Starlight didn't overthink it; she figured the Emperor’s fame was simply so ubiquitous that constant news reports had created a subconscious recognition.
"Nothing urgent. The tasks are complete, so I came to see if there was anything else needing my attention and to report our progress."
Symboli Rudolf was slightly surprised that Yayoi had dropped her usual eccentric manner of speaking, but her attention didn't linger there. Instead, she was drawn to the person standing nearby.
She felt a similar sense of familiarity toward Starlight Trajectory—as if they had met somewhere before.
She looks so familiar... but I can’t place it.
Was it just her imagination? Because she couldn't see Starlight’s horse ears, Rudolf didn't even consider the possibility that she was looking at an Uma Musume.
"And this is...?"
"You mean Kaede? She’s our newest Trainer."
Yayoi made no effort to hide her closeness with Starlight, affectionately pulling the girl to her side.
"My name is Mano Kaede. As the Chairwoman said, I’m a new Trainer here."
Though a bit startled by Yayoi's physical affection, Starlight didn't resist. She politely extended a hand to Symboli Rudolf.
"I’ve heard much of the 'Emperor’s' legend. I look forward to working with you."
"The pleasure is mine. The Student Council looks forward to your contributions as well."
Rudolf offered a graceful smile and took Starlight’s hand, though she was still searching her memory.
Mano Kaede? Not a name I recognize...
Shaking off the confusion for the moment, Rudolf returned to her report.
"To the matter at hand: there has been a bit of friction in synchronizing the URA with the regional circuits. The regional data is too disorganized, making it incredibly difficult to compile."
"The URA offered to send personnel to assist, but the regional authorities flatly refused. It’s expected that the integration process will be further delayed."
Progress was being made, but the moment the central authorities got involved, the regional circuits became as skittish as startled birds. Still, it was a massive improvement over their initial refusal to cooperate.
Rudolf had been waiting years to find the figure from her memories; she could afford to wait a little longer. Her visit truly was just a routine report.
Yayoi nodded. As long as things were moving forward, there was no need to rush. But just as she was about to dismiss Rudolf with some files, she caught a specific detail in the report.
"Wait, Rudolf. Does that mean the URA currently lacks the data on regional athletes?"
"That is correct," Rudolf nodded. If the data were already shared, she wouldn't be having such a hard time finding a single person.
"Excellent! This information is vital!"
Yayoi was so excited her verbal tic slipped back in. A bold, daring idea began to take shape in her mind.
"Kaede, I’ve found a way!"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 33
--+--
"What kind of plan?"
Starlight Trajectory found herself a bit muddled by Akikawa Yayoi’s cryptic words, struggling to grasp exactly what she was getting at.
"Well, it’s... ahem ahem, never mind."
Realizing they weren't alone, Akikawa cleared her throat twice, forcefully tamping down her rising excitement.
She couldn't afford to expose Starlight Trajectory’s true identity just yet. If the media caught wind of an Uma Musume acting as a trainer, they’d undoubtedly spin it into a sensationalist frenzy.
At that point, not only would the secret of her retirement from Kasamatsu be out of the bag, but her entire past might be unearthed.
If things reached that stage, it would be a monumental disaster—one that even someone of her standing might not be able to suppress.
"Kaede, come by here tonight. I'll give you the full breakdown then."
Akikawa decided it was better to wait; she still had a mountain of official business to clear, after all.
Starlight Trajectory didn't think much of it and gave a simple nod of agreement.
However, to Symboli Rudolf and Tokai Teio, that single sentence felt heavy with hidden meaning.
Aside from Hayakawa Tazuna, the Chairwoman’s secretary, this was the first time Symboli Rudolf had seen anyone so close to the Chairwoman—perhaps even more so than Miss Hayakawa.
"My reports are complete. If you’ll excuse me, I shall take my leave."
Symboli Rudolf had no intention of intruding on them. Having finished her duties, she prepared to depart.
"Wait a moment!"
Akikawa trotted forward on her short legs, clutching a stack of documents even thicker than the ones Rudolf had brought in, and thrust them into the girl's arms.
Shouldering the Chairwoman’s burdens was simply a part of the Student Council’s lot in life—a duty that had to be endured.
"These are for the Student Council to handle."
Without a hint of resistance, Symboli Rudolf nodded, accepted the heavy load, and exited the Chairwoman’s office.
Tokai Teio moved to follow her out, but Starlight Trajectory called her back.
"Tokai Teio... why not give it another thought? Everything I said before still stands."
Now that her identity was confirmed, she figured she might as well use the opportunity to scout Teio into her stable.
"Oh? Kaede, you’ve taken an interest in this little filly?"
Akikawa leaned down with interest, peering at the bay-coated girl. She nodded inwardly, approving of Starlight’s keen eye.
"But Teio is a protégé personally mentored by Rudolf. Are you sure you can win her over?"
"Is that so?"
Starlight Trajectory looked at Tokai Teio with genuine surprise. She hadn't expected the girl to be under the tutelage of the Emperor herself, though a strange sense of realization began to dawn on her.
Looking closely, Teio really did share many similarities with Symboli Rudolf. That white blaze on her hair was practically identical!
So, I just happened to set my sights on someone else’s treasure with a single glance...?
"It’s not like that! It’s just a family connection—Prez was just helping me out with some tutoring!" Teio explained frantically, her face flushing a faint pink. "And... I think Trainer-san is a wonderful person, so I'm not saying no."
"Oho, so we're already calling her 'Trainer-san,' are we?"
Akikawa chuckled, hiding half her face behind her folding fan as she teased the young girl. Suddenly, she pulled Starlight Trajectory close to her side.
"However! Regrettably, Kaede belongs to me... because I am her superior, after all."
"...!"
Teio looked as if she had just heard something impossible, left utterly speechless by the shock.
"Don't say things that sound so misleading!" Starlight Trajectory barked back, her face burning red.
"Alright, alright, just a joke," Akikawa laughed. "Tokai Teio, though you aren't quite old enough to enroll yet, if you want to stay under Kaede’s wing for now, I can put in a word with Tazuna. That way, you can come and go from Tracen Academy as freely as any student."
"Really? I can?"
Teio’s ears shot straight up, twitching with excitement.
If she had free rein of the place, wouldn't she be able to see Prez every single day?
"Of course! And Kaede, that goes for you too. Aside from Tokai Teio, you aren't allowed to sign any other Uma Musume."
Having settled things with Teio, Akikawa turned her attention back to Starlight Trajectory.
"Why not?" Starlight asked, feeling a bit confused.
"With your current skill level, handling one trainee is about all you can manage. Don't go biting off more than you can chew."
"I’ll be assigning a veteran trainer to you for a while. You'll follow them and learn the ropes properly. Understood?"
Akikawa was well aware that Starlight Trajectory had barely scraped by the passing mark on her exams, hence the arrangement.
Starlight might stand at the pinnacle of Japan as an Uma Musume, but as a trainer, she was the greenest of rookies.
While the number of people who passed the Central exams to become trainers each year was minuscule—making them elite by outside standards—Akikawa’s personal bar was set much higher.
Besides, Tokai Teio had yet to hit her growth spurt, making her the perfect partner for Starlight to gain experience with.
There was one more crucial reason, too.
The intelligence Symboli Rudolf had brought sparked a daring idea in Akikawa’s mind. Starlight Trajectory would likely be competing in quite a few races herself soon, leaving her little time to serve a large stable of girls.
"By the way, what kind of deal did you promise Teio?"
Akikawa, now in a fantastic mood after settling the arrangements, asked casually. The answer she received left her stunned.
"Uh... an Undefeated Classic Triple Crown."
"...Shocking! Do you even realize what you're saying?"
Akikawa nearly dropped her fan. She wondered if Starlight, thinking her own path to the Triple Crown was easy, had just assumed winning it was a walk in the park for everyone else.
Teio certainly had talent, but it depended on who you were comparing her to. Starlight Trajectory had the potential to be a once-in-a-generation talent.
Besides, if an Undefeated Classic Triple Crown were actually easy, Symboli Rudolf wouldn't be the only one to have achieved it so far.
"Teio, Kaede talks nonsense sometimes. Please, don't take it to heart!"
"I get it, really."
Teio nodded with a wry smile. Honestly, she hadn't taken it too seriously herself.
After all, if a stranger suddenly told you that you could win an Undefeated Triple Crown, any Uma Musume’s first instinct would be to wonder if that person had a screw loose.
Not even the most die-hard fan would lose their grip on reality to that extent.
Still, being looked at with such high expectations and recognition gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling.
"That's good, then..." Akikawa breathed a sigh of relief. "Teio, you've been to Tracen many times, right? I'll leave the task of showing Kaede around the academy to you."
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 34
--+--
It wasn’t that Akikawa Yayoi didn’t want to spend more time with Starlight Trajectory—there was just too much paperwork piled up. If she slacked off any longer, she’d be pulling an all-nighter and still not finish it all.
So after arranging everything that needed to be handled next, the two of them were politely ushered out, leaving Akikawa Yayoi with a quiet environment where she could finally focus on work.
Already completely familiar with Tracen Academy, Tokai Teio led Starlight around the campus, showing her the various buildings and facilities before eventually returning to the training grounds where they had first met.
By now, the sky had begun to fade into the warm gold of dusk, yet plenty of Uma Musume were still out on the track, training under the guidance of their trainers.
Back at Kasamatsu Tracen, the field would’ve been completely empty by this hour.
So this was the difference...
Watching the girls drenched in sweat as they ran, Starlight felt an itch rising in her chest, wanting to step onto the track herself and test her speed against the Central division’s Uma Musume.
And those trainers too… managing so many trainees in perfect order, assigning the right tasks based on each girl’s strengths. She still had so much to learn.
Thinking about her own barely-deserved title as a trainer, then glancing at the tiny little trainee standing beside her, Starlight remembered the important thing she still had to do.
Right now, she knew practically nothing about Tokai Teio. If she wanted to create a proper training plan, she needed at least a basic understanding first.
And the quickest way to do that...
“Teio...”
“What is it, Trainer-san?”
Hearing her trainer call out to her, Tokai Teio looked up at Starlight and tilted her head curiously.
“Could you... let me touch your legs for a bit?” Afraid she might misunderstand, Starlight hurriedly added, “No weird intentions, I swear. I just want to check your leg condition.”
“!”
Tokai Teio immediately took two cautious steps back, staring at Starlight warily.
No matter how deceptively harmless she looked, Teio knew perfectly well that her trainer was actually a guy.
Letting someone of the opposite sex touch the legs that were most important to an Uma Musume—there was no way Tokai Teio could casually accept something like that!
“Please!”
Starlight’s expression was utterly sincere.
Looking at the earnest look on her trainer’s face, Tokai Teio struggled internally for a while before finally giving in. She just couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
After all, he was only doing this to create a proper training plan for her.
Using the most direct method possible to understand her condition wasn’t exactly unreasonable. She couldn’t just stomp all over someone’s good intentions.
“O-Okay... but only for a second.”
Before she could even finish speaking, a pair of hands had already climbed onto her legs, skillfully kneading and pressing along the muscles.
The speed and sheer familiarity of the movements instantly made Tokai Teio realize she’d been completely tricked. Her cheeks flushed bright red on the spot.
“Trainer-san, just how many Uma Musume have you done this to before?!”
Meanwhile, after expertly feeling around for a while, Starlight had already formed a rough understanding of Tokai Teio’s condition.
But when she tried using the system for a more detailed analysis, she found that the interface displayed no data at all—only a line of text she absolutely hated seeing.
[Cannot be used on targets who have not completed their full maturation.]
Starlight had completely failed to anticipate that response from the system.
At the same time, she remembered something else: when she first realized the system even had this function, she herself had already completed maturation.
Which meant she’d never once tested stats before maturation either. It wasn’t the system being unfair—it was entirely her own oversight.
Damn it, I got careless.
Thankfully, unlike Kitahara Jo, she wasn’t completely clueless. Just from the feel alone, she could already tell Tokai Teio was most likely suited for middle-distance races, and perhaps even had long-distance potential.
But mile races and sprint distances could basically be ruled out. Her trainee probably wasn’t built for shorter races.
Still, without the system’s help, there was no way to determine her preferred racing style or track compatibility.
“Well? Well? Trainer-san, what do you think?”
After the embarrassment faded, Tokai Teio eagerly leaned in, looking forward to hearing what kind of evaluation her trainer would give her.
Oddly enough, despite being thoroughly handled earlier, she didn’t feel any disgust or resistance toward it.
“Strong. Really strong.”
That was Starlight’s final conclusion, spoken with genuine admiration.
Even without completing maturation yet, Tokai Teio was already better than ninety-nine percent of the Uma Musume at Kasamatsu Tracen Academy.
She never imagined the gap between the central and regional divisions could be this absurd. Even fully matured Uma Musume might not necessarily surpass an unfinished one...
“What kind of evaluation is that? I’m being serious here, Trainer-san.”
Tokai Teio had no idea what methods her family used, but ever since childhood, she’d been trained personally under Symboli Rudolf’s guidance.
Among girls her age, she had absolute confidence that she wouldn’t lose to anyone.
“My experience is still too lacking. I can’t make an accurate judgment yet.” Starlight glanced up at the darkening sky. “There’s still some time left. Teio, try running for me.”
“Okay!”
The moment running was mentioned, Tokai Teio instantly lit up with excitement. She hopped over the railing and onto the track, immediately beginning her warmups.
Watching from the sidelines, Starlight quickly noticed how different her trainee was from the other Uma Musume around them.
Teio’s body... seemed unusually flexible too?
Still, her running posture was fairly standard—completely different from Oguri Cap’s extreme forward-leaning style.
Which was honestly for the best. While forward-leaning techniques had plenty of advantages over normal running form, the tradeoff was putting enormous strain on the joints, making injuries far more likely.
Unless absolutely necessary, she really didn’t want to see Uma Musume running with such high-risk techniques.
“Trainer-san, Teio’s amazing, right?!”
After doing a couple quick laps, Tokai Teio hurried back to Starlight’s side, unable to hold back her excitement.
“Yeah. You’re incredible.” Starlight unconsciously reached out and patted Tokai Teio on the head. “At this point, I’m confident even winning the Classic Triple Crown wouldn’t be impossible for you.”
Praised so directly, Tokai Teio scratched at her cheek shyly.
“Hehe... I’m not that amazing.”
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 35
--+--
The moment Starlight saw Tokai Teio’s silhouette out on the track, she knew the girl was destined for greatness.
It wasn't just a cold calculation based on the facts; it was a deep-seated belief in her first trainee.
However, Teio was still a long way off from her debut and the peak of her growth. For now, the most pressing issue on the agenda was, of course, dinner.
Inside the cafeteria, Teio stared at the mountain of food piled high on her Trainer's table, letting out a genuine gasp of awe.
"Whoa! Trainer, are you really going to polish all that off?"
Teio had never seen anything like it—not from an average person, and not even from an Uma Musume with a legendary appetite. Was a human stomach even capable of holding that much?
Other diners in the hall kept stealing glances their way. After all, the heap of food on the plates was literally taller than Teio, who was sitting right next to them.
"Don’t you worry. I can handle this much," Starlight replied.
Even Starlight had been baffled by her own appetite recently, wondering if she’d picked up some kind of binge-eating disorder. But when her weight stayed steady and she found herself feeling stronger than ever instead of falling ill, she stopped worrying about her intake.
She could only chalk it up to the mysteries of being an Uma Musume.
This has to be a blessing from the Three Goddesses!
As she tucked in, swallowing mouthful after mouthful, Starlight let out a contented hum. Central Tracen lived up to the hype; the variety and flavors were leagues beyond what she’d experienced back in Kasamatsu.
Best of all, "all-you-can-eat" actually meant it here. The pantry seemed bottomless; even if Oguri Cap joined in, they probably couldn’t clear the place out.
"So, Teio... what’s the deal with you and Symboli Rudolf?" Starlight asked, her voice a bit muffled by a mouthful of food.
She’d been dying to ask. The two looked so much alike, and Akikawa Yayoi had gone out of her way to drop a hint about it earlier.
Though she’d seen Symboli Rudolf countless times in the media, Teio’s connection to the "Emperor" who had ruled an entire generation seemed to be anything but ordinary.
"Trainer, you really should finish chewing before you talk..."
Teio cut her off, worried her Trainer might actually choke.
"It’s nothing too crazy, really. It’s just that when I was little, I wanted a teacher to guide my training. My family did... well, whatever it is they do... and managed to invite Prez over."
Starlight fell into thought. She knew the Symboli family was one of the most prestigious lineages in Central, but she hadn't realized Teio came from a prominent family as well.
Is not having a family background the exception around here rather than the rule?
"To me, Prez is the most special person in the world—just like the parents who raised me. And I want to be an Uma Musume just like her!"
"I see."
By the time Teio finished her brief explanation, Starlight had already demolished the mountain of food and was heading back to grab another round.
So, was that why the Classic Triple Crown held such a magnetic pull for Teio? Because she was chasing a dream.
Having a clear goal and a legend to pursue was undoubtedly a good thing; it wasn't something Starlight needed to worry about.
"Oh, shoot! Is it that late already?" Teio glanced at the time and began frantically tidying up. "Trainer, I’ve gotta head home! See you tomorrow!"
"Want a lift?"
"No need! My house is super close to the Academy!"
With a quick wave, Teio hurried out of the cafeteria. Watching the girl’s departing back, Starlight patted her stomach and made a decision that would have looked terrifying to any onlooker.
"Still feels like there's a bit of room. Let’s go for one more plate."
--+--
Late that night, at the Trainer’s dormitory.
Unlike the student dorms which were located just across from the main gate, the Trainers' dorms were nestled right inside the Central Tracen campus.
After hauling her luggage from the hotel into her new room, Starlight collapsed onto the bed with a cozy sigh. The conditions here were infinitely better than the cramped studio apartment she used to rent.
"I wonder why none of my colleagues live here. It’s not like Trainers make a fortune."
On her way in, Starlight had noticed that many of the dorm windows were dark, with no signs of life inside. Even if Central Tracen didn’t have a massive faculty, the building shouldn't have felt this deserted.
Well, if she couldn't figure it out, there was no use dwelling on it. She’d just assume her colleagues were all rich boys who didn't need the housing.
After lounging for a bit, she finally started unpacking her bags before heading in for a refreshing shower.
She wasn't the type to get shy over something as trivial as a bath. In the six months since she’d found herself unable to change back, she’d learned a lot and made her peace with things.
It was her body, after all; she could look or touch as she pleased, so why make things complicated with unnecessary modesty?
"Phew... much better."
Dressed in light loungewear with her long, dark-chestnut hair draped over her shoulders, Starlight flopped back onto the bed and pulled out her phone.
"Oh right, I should send Kitahara a message."
[Kaede: Guess where I am right now?]
A reply came back almost instantly.
[Jo: You went to Central, didn't you? I assume you're officially a Central Trainer by now...]
[Kaede: Bingo! And I signed my first trainee today. Our goal is the Classic Triple Crown!]
[Kaede: By the way, how’s Oguri Cap? Have you figured out her schedule after the Chukyo Hai?]
[Jo: Oguri... she’s doing great. She’s training harder than ever. I’m thinking of entering her in the Gold Junior Cup next.]
[Jo: I’ve got some things to take care of here. Let’s talk later, Kaede.]
The conversation cut off there.
Starlight rolled over, using her phone to shield her eyes from the bright glare of the ceiling light as she stared at the screen, puzzled.
"Did I say something wrong? Jo sounds like he's in a bad mood."
She’d just told him she was going for the Triple Crown, and he barely reacted before rushing off the line. Maybe the news of her becoming a Central Trainer had stung a little?
"Whatever. As long as Oguri is healthy, it's fine. I wonder when she’ll make her move to Central."
Thinking of that dorky, silver-maned girl, Starlight knew she possessed talent that rivaled even Tokai Teio.
If she ever came to compete at Central, she would surely shatter the "regional curse" and make a massive name for herself.
"I really can’t wait to see that day."
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 36
--+--
Right now, back in Kasamatsu, Kitahara was sprawled across the bed of his rented room, staring blankly at the slightly dilapidated ceiling in a state of utter helplessness.
The sky had grown dark. His spirit had been flagging miserably lately, yet sleep remained stubbornly out of reach.
Symboli Rudolf—the Student Council President of Central Tracen and the "Emperor" with seven G1 titles to her name—had somehow obtained his contact information and given him a call.
"Please make the... best choice for Oguri Cap, won't you?"
Rudolf’s words looped endlessly in his mind. The more he chewed on them, the more he felt he was a failure as a trainer.
If he had only been a bit more firm, Oguri probably wouldn't have refused the transfer to Central!
But... he had waited fifteen years for an Uma Musume like Oguri. This was his only real shot at fulfilling his dream, at standing on the stage of the Tokai Derby.
How many fifteen-year blocks does a person get? If he let this chance slip through his fingers, would he ever find another?
"Kaede... he’s amazing. He even managed to get a Central license."
"And here I am, just dragging Oguri down..."
Kitahara felt a surge of self-loathing. If he held a Central license himself, perhaps he wouldn't be drowning in this much agony. But reality was a cold comfort; he didn't have the qualifications to step onto Central’s turf as a trainer.
Yet, keeping Oguri Cap tied to his side—wasn't that the height of selfishness?
True, local Uma Musume almost never made a name for themselves in Central... but what if? What if Oguri was the one to shatter that cursed reputation?
Kitahara didn't dare follow that train of thought too far. He couldn't bear to doubt his own dedication, but right now, he desperately needed a reason to keep from doing what he knew he had to.
In his daze, his mind drifted to Oguri’s upcoming schedule.
The next race was... the Gold Junior Cup?
A plan began to form in the midst of his inner conflict. After agonizing over it for a long while, he finally let out a heavy, ragged sigh of relief.
He knew this method was cruel, but he no longer had the courage to make any other choice.
"Mano, I’m doing something truly greedy..."
--+--
"So, you’re the lad the Chairwoman was talking about?"
Musaka Ginjirou adjusted the frames of his reading glasses, his sharp gaze piercing through the dark lenses straight at Starlight Trajectory.
Even with his decades of experience, he couldn't quite see where the "lad" part of the description fit in.
"This... isn't the first time we've met, is it?"
Musaka was getting on in years, but since he was still active at Central Tracen rather than retired, his memory was sharp. Given Starlight’s striking features, the moment they stood face-to-face, the memory clicked into place.
"No, sir. We met once before at the Chukyo Cup."
Starlight hadn't expected this old gentleman to be a Central trainer. When Yayoi mentioned the name last night, it had sounded familiar; as it turned out, they were indeed "acquaintances."
"Your name is interesting. It’s identical to one of my nephew’s colleagues."
Musaka occasionally heard Kitahara mention bits and pieces of his life, so he had a vague idea. To an outsider, the maverick Starlight seemed to harbor many secrets, the kind of person who drew attention without even trying.
"...I was indeed Kitahara’s colleague. I served as a trainer at Kasamatsu Tracen for two years."
Hearing this, Tokai Teio recalled how Starlight had handled her leg examination earlier. It finally made sense why those movements had been so practiced. Before coming to Tracen Academy, Starlight had already been a trainer.
"So Trainer-san had plenty of other girls before me, huh?"
"That’s not true, Teio. You are my very first trainee," Starlight said with a dead serious expression. "Those Uma Musume in Kasamatsu can't even hold a candle to you."
"Eww—that somehow makes you sound even more like a scoundrel."
Teio huffed, but even she didn't notice that her strangely dampened mood had brightened significantly.
"My office isn't a place for idle gossip," Musaka interrupted, thumping his cane against the floor.
Looking at Starlight and thinking of Kitahara back in Kasamatsu, Musaka felt a pang of frustration at his nephew's lack of ambition.
"Since you’ve been a trainer before, I don't need to explain much. I’m not going to spoon-feed you knowledge. Your job during this period is to watch, record, and think. Eventually, you’ll forge your own experience and apply it to your trainee."
"Understood!" Starlight gave a firm nod. "So, when do we start training?"
Musaka didn't answer. Instead, he stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes drifting downward. Starlight followed his gaze and realized he was staring intently at her legs.
"Roll up your trouser legs a bit. Up to the knee."
After a moment, Musaka made a request that caught her completely off guard.
"That... might not be a good idea."
Starlight felt a wave of resistance and tried to decline politely. If even she could judge an Uma Musume's condition by touch, a veteran trainer like him certainly knew the trick.
"What's with the cloak and dagger? It’s not like you’re some young maiden."
Musaka, displeased by the hesitation, thumped his cane again.
"Absolutely not! Anything but that!"
No matter what he said, Starlight remained adamant.
"...Fine, have it your way."
Seeing her resolve, Musaka didn't push any further, nor did he seem particularly offended by the refusal.
Hmph, so that's how it is.
With that one question, he had a pretty good idea of the situation. He finally understood what Akikawa Yayoi was up to.
Using his cane for leverage, he pushed himself up from his chair and headed toward the office door.
"Both of you, follow me. It’s time you met some people."
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 37
--+--
The person Musaka Ginjirou wanted them to meet was none other than the members of the team he led.
Every team at Tracen is assigned a dedicated clubroom. Though the space isn't sprawling, it's fully equipped with everything a girl might need—lockers for clothes and towels, and enough room to host various team activities.
"Let me introduce you. These are the members of the team. They are your seniors."
Musaka placed a subtle, deliberate emphasis on the word "your," though no one present caught the underlying meaning.
Starlight Trajectory looked up at the three Uma Musume, each standing a head taller than her.
They formed a literal wall of muscle and height in front of her. She couldn't help but swallow hard, her mind flashing back to Rudy Lemono and her gang back in Kasamatsu.
Is this like... a high-spec, upgraded version of that trio? she wondered.
"So, you’re the new trainer everyone's talking about? The school is absolutely buzzing with news of your arrival, you know."
A girl named Meikun Tsukasa—representing the team—stepped forward to shake Starlight’s hand, offering a bit of intel in the process.
"Is that so?" Starlight asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
Her meeting with Akikawa Yayoi hadn't exactly been public knowledge.
Surely a tiny misunderstanding with the Disciplinary Committee couldn't have caused such a massive stir across the entire academy, right?
"You have no idea how long it’s been since a brand-new trainer actually joined the staff here," another Uma Musume with a distinct, sharp aura explained. Her name was God Hannibal. "Most trainers are just here 'on paper'—affiliated with the school but rarely ever stepping foot on campus."
After all, the Central Racing Authority wasn't just limited to Tracen Academy. There were numerous smaller families and regional institutions scattered about, though none held the prestige of Tracen.
Given the choice, most girls would choose Central Tracen in a heartbeat. It boasted the finest turf and the most advanced training equipment, and naturally, their contract trainers followed them there.
Even factoring those in, the actual number of resident trainers at Tracen was surprisingly low. Over ninety percent of the girls were left to train under the general instruction of the academy’s coaching staff.
The final member of the trio remained silent, shrinking back behind the other two. Her gaze was filled with curiosity, though she clearly wasn't the type to strike up a conversation with a stranger.
"It’s about that time. Let's start the session like usual," Musaka said, checking his watch and nudging the group into motion.
As Musaka’s newly appointed assistant trainers, Starlight Trajectory and Tokai Teio naturally followed the group out to the training track.
Despite their titles as assistants, once they hit the field, Musaka ignored them entirely. The team members fell into their routines, leaving the two newcomers to their own devices on the sidelines.
"How do I put this... it’s all very 'by the book,' isn't it?"
Starlight watched for a while before letting out a bored yawn.
Whether it was lower-body muscle conditioning or endurance drills, everything aligned perfectly with what the textbooks preached.
It was exactly the same kind of self-directed training she had done before her own "maturation" period.
The only real difference was that, back then, she had the help of system items to crank the intensity up to god-tier levels. Thinking about her currently pathetic bank account and lack of points, Starlight felt a wave of intense nostalgia for her old system.
Back then, the system was so generous.
As long as she found a younger filly who needed a training partner, even the smallest daily interactions would net her a handsome sum of points—and there was no daily limit!
But the biggest payout always came from racing against "Luna."
If the Symboli family hadn't eventually kicked her out, she would have stayed a few more months just to hit the point cap before making her escape.
Now, the system was being incredibly stingy. It wasn't until last night that it finally coughed up a few missions.
Starlight had gone to the Chairwoman’s office last night as promised. Akikawa Yayoi, still buried in overtime work, had pitched a plan to her.
In short: they were going to exploit a loophole. Since information sharing between Central and the regional circuits wasn't fully synced yet, Starlight would dive straight into the Classic Triple Crown races.
By the time the URA realized what was happening, the Triple Crown would already be over.
The worst the URA could do at that point would be to nullify her record and hand down a lifetime ban—which wasn't much different from her current situation of being "retired" after a single debut race in Kasamatsu.
It was a high-reward play with zero risk!
Starlight had been wavering on whether to actually go through with it, but the system had conveniently chimed in with a quest.
[Compete in the Japanese Classic Triple Crown as Starlight Trajectory]
The quest didn't even demand a victory; instead, it promised points based on her actual performance in the races.
While the "vague rewards" made Starlight suspect the system was setting her up for a fall again, it was currently her only source of points.
She was locked in. The Triple Crown was happening!
"Hey, hey! Trainer-san? Trainer-saaan?"
A small hand waving frantically in her field of vision finally snapped Starlight back to reality.
"Sorry, Teio! I spaced out for a second. Please, give me one more lap... no, wait, just half a lap is fine!"
Starlight finally remembered she was supposed to be drafting a training plan for Tokai Teio. She’d let her mind wander at the worst possible time.
She was so used to being a lone wolf that having a trainee—especially one this energetic—was taking some getting used to.
"Geez, Trainer-san! Don't get distracted this time, okay?"
Tokai Teio gave a cute, high-pitched pout, then adjusted her breathing and took off, her boots thudding rhythmically against the grass.
The turf track at Central Tracen was only a meter shy of two kilometers. For a young filly who hadn't even reached her physical peak to finish a lap with energy to spare spoke volumes about Teio's natural endurance.
But... something feels missing.
Watching Teio’s final sprint, Starlight compared her to Oguri Cap’s performance at the Chukyo Cup. She quickly identified the bottleneck.
It was the "Last Spurt"—the final burst of speed.
Teio had such a flexible, lithe body; it was a waste not to utilize it fully.
"Teio, you still got some gas in the tank?"
Starlight cut across the track to meet Teio as she slowed down. The young girl was panting heavily, her exhaustion plain to see.
Starlight made a note on her clipboard: Teio’s long-distance aptitude might not be as stellar as her stamina suggested. Of course, these stats were temporary; they’d need a full re-evaluation once her physical manifestation was complete.
"Even if I wanted to say 'yes,' my body is saying 'no way'!" Teio wheezed.
If there weren't other girls training nearby, Teio would have probably collapsed right there on the grass to take a nap.
"During that final sprint just now," Starlight asked, looking her in the eye, "did you feel like you just couldn't get your legs to shift into that top gear?"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 38
--+--
"Huh? You think I’m slow, Trainer-san?"
Tokai Teio was caught off guard. To her, speed was a blur of sensation she couldn't quite quantify; the whistle of the wind past her ears always sounded more or less the same when she was in full stride.
"A little," Starlight Trajectory nodded. "Your running style is... well, it’s a bit ordinary."
Since Tokai Teio wasn't exactly built for long-distance endurance, her closing speed—that final "Last Spurt"—was everything. In the heat of a race, it would be her ultimate trump card.
During her last lap, however, Teio’s pace had been far too steady. Even when she tried to sprint, the needle hardly moved.
Of course, she was still a young filly who hadn't hit her "Maturation" period yet, so a lack of raw power was to be expected. She simply lacked the explosive technique needed to bridge the gap.
"But... isn't this how everyone runs?"
Teio tilted her head in confusion, watching the other Uma Musume practicing on the track. She couldn't quite wrap her head around what Starlight was getting at.
"That’s because they don’t have what you have."
Most Uma Musume were flexible, sure, but none reached the sheer, fluid limberness of Tokai Teio.
As far as Starlight Trajectory knew, only she and Oguri Cap possessed that kind of physical gift; she’d seen very few others like it, even in professional races.
"Teio, I want you to imagine your body as a spring. Before you accelerate, compress all the power in your lower limbs. Then, let it snap—transfer that energy through your ankles, into the ground, and launch yourself forward."
"...I can't really picture it, Trainer-san."
Teio felt her brain going a bit fuzzy. Trying to imagine her body compressing like a coil was a bit of a stretch for her.
Seeing her trainee’s dazed expression, Starlight Trajectory hummed in thought before deciding to take matters into her own hands.
"Let me show you."
Starlight vaulted over the railing. Even though she wasn't wearing racing shoes, the moment her feet touched the turf, a surge of adrenaline raced through her heart.
It had been years since she’d stepped onto a grass track; she’d almost forgotten the unique give of the sod beneath her feet.
She’d wanted to test the track the night before, but a mountain of paperwork had kept her until it was far too late.
"Watch closely. Shift your center of gravity forward, like this."
Starlight leaned into a forward tilt so extreme her chest was nearly brushing the grass. She explained the mechanics to Teio as she balanced on the edge of a fall.
If this had been a dirt track, she would have eaten sand long ago, but the grip here was far better than she anticipated.
Beside her, Tokai Teio was staring, completely awestruck. She couldn't fathom how anyone could maintain their balance at such an impossible angle.
"Compress... and then—"
Starlight coiled her entire body, the latent power in her legs winding up like a loaded trap.
The change was palpable.
To Teio, the atmosphere around her trainer suddenly felt heavy, dense, and suffocating. For a fleeting second, she didn't see her trainer at all, but a stranger—a formidable Uma Musume from another era.
"—Explode!"
With that final shout, Starlight’s tightly folded frame snapped open with violent force.
"Trainer-san... vanished?"
Teio blinked instinctively. When she opened her eyes again, Starlight Trajectory was nowhere to be seen.
Wait, did she really move that fast in a heartbeat?
The thought hadn't even finished forming before it was punctured by a muffled, pathetic sound from the ground nearby.
"Teio... a little help here..."
Starlight was sprawled face-down in the grass, looking utterly disheveled, though she still had the stubborn pride to reach one hand up toward the sky.
"Tr-Trainer-san! Are you okay?!"
Teio rushed over to haul her embarrassed trainer back to her feet. Luckily, Starlight just looked like a mess; there were no actual scrapes or bruises.
"That's not how you run on turf."
Musaka Ginjirou approached them, leaning heavily on his cane.
"The technique is solid, but turf has way more friction than dirt. You need to run like you're walking on air—light and buoyant."
He had been watching them for a while, keeping his distance so as not to interrupt the lesson.
"I didn't realize the grass here was so soft," Starlight muttered, brushing the dust and blades of grass off her clothes. She shook out her ponytail, but still felt like she was covered in grit.
She knew the theory, of course. But after two years of training exclusively on dirt, her muscle memory had betrayed her. On dirt, if you don't dig your toes in and grip the earth, you’ll just slide. She had simply pushed too hard in the wrong direction.
"Soft...?"
Musaka poked the turf with his cane. It barely dented the surface before hitting the firm soil beneath.
"Teio, did you catch that movement?"
Starlight cared less about the grass and more about whether her demonstration had actually sunk in. If she’d embarrassed herself for nothing, it would be a tragedy.
"I got it!" Teio chirped with renewed energy, before immediately wilting. "But... I don't think I can do it to that degree, Trainer-san."
"If you could do it like that already, you wouldn't need me to train you."
Starlight gave Teio’s head a playful, slightly frustrated rub. Ignoring the girl's indignant pout, she turned to Musaka, who was still staring intently at the ground.
"Musaka-san, I’m going to head out for a bit."
She desperately needed a shower; the feeling of the dirt on her skin was driving her crazy. Besides, Teio was out of stamina and needed a break anyway.
"Go on, go on," Musaka muttered, waving his cane dismissively without looking up.
His eyes were glued to the footprint left in the turf.
On the otherwise pristine, level track, there was a sudden, violent crater—as if a sod cutter had been slammed into the earth with a sledgehammer.
After a long silence, a single sentence escaped Musaka's throat:
"...What monstrous power."
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 39
--+--
In the following days, everything proceeded as usual.
Most of the regimen Starlight Trajectory designed for Tokai Teio focused on ankle conditioning, while the rest was kept at a maintenance level just to keep her body in peak form.
This was the result of constant fine-tuning. Starlight was convinced that this specific routine was the perfect fit for Teio right now.
It’s fair to say that you can’t paint all Uma Musume with the same brush. There was a time when Starlight Trajectory, fueled by pure adrenaline, had trained for over ten hours straight without a wink of sleep. Tokai Teio, on the other hand, couldn't even manage a tenth of that.
Of course, the System played a role in that. But even if the System deserved 99% of the credit, didn't the girl herself deserve at least that remaining 1%?
Cough... Just kidding. Starlight Trajectory had enough self-awareness to know that with her current body, high-intensity training would be an impossible dream without the items provided by the System.
"Teio, one more set and we're calling it a day."
Watching Tokai Teio complete another circuit on the training grounds, Starlight Trajectory ticked a box on her tablet. There was only one line left.
"Hey, Trainer-san, is that really enough?"
Tokai Teio sat down on the grass, rubbing her ankle. She felt like the workload was a bit too light.
Other Uma Musume usually trained for half the day, often begging for extra sessions until dusk. Yet here she was, being shooed away by her trainer after only a short while.
If she wanted to become an Undefeated Triple Crown winner, shouldn't she be working twice as hard as everyone else?
"You haven't hit your growth spurt yet. High-intensity training isn't suitable for you at this stage."
"If you want to get stronger, eating more will do you a lot more good than overworking yourself."
Starlight Trajectory’s own frantic training before her growth spurt was only possible because of System items. Right now, she didn't have a single point to spare to help Teio.
For a young filly who hadn't reached her peak yet, steady development and a good meal were far more practical.
"I could never eat as much as you, Trainer-san!"
The mere mention of food made Tokai Teio think of Starlight’s terrifying appetite. For Teio, a single cup of Honey Drink was enough to fill her to the brim. She couldn't possibly pack away that much food!
After a brief rest, Starlight Trajectory signaled Teio to start the final set while she continued to log the data.
Not long after the training resumed, however, she heard someone calling her name from behind.
"Trainer Mano Kaede."
Turning around, she saw Symboli Rudolf greeting her.
"Prez!"
"Don't stop. Focus on your training."
Starlight Trajectory immediately pressed down on the excited Tokai Teio, forcing her to finish her set.
"Seeing you two getting along so well puts my mind at ease," Symboli Rudolf said with a soft chuckle. "It seems you’ve grown quite accustomed to the work of a Trainer."
"I wouldn't say accustomed. It’s just not that different from where I used to be."
Starlight Trajectory turned her head slightly, pulling the brim of her hat down to avoid eye contact with Symboli Rudolf.
"So, does the Student Council President have business with me?"
Seeing this reaction, Symboli Rudolf couldn't help but feel a flicker of confusion.
Did I... offend this rookie Trainer somehow?
She didn't think she had been impolite, and she had kept her overwhelming aura firmly in check. She shouldn't be intimidating anyone.
Meanwhile, Tokai Teio, having finished her last set, felt the sudden tension in the air and didn't dare to speak up.
Do Trainer-san and the President have some kind of beef?
Little did they know, the reason for Starlight’s sideways glance wasn't nearly that complicated. She was simply trying to suppress the urge to touch the President’s legs.
After all, this was one of Japan’s top Uma Musume. To say she didn't want to touch them... especially after seeing those stats... was an absolute lie.
Strange... why has my urge to check their legs become so strong ever since the System unlocked that function?
Fortunately, the awkward silence didn't last long before Symboli Rudolf got to the point.
"It’s nothing major, really. The Chairwoman would like to see you in her office."
--+--
In the Chairwoman’s office, Akikawa Yayoi looked up from her work as Starlight Trajectory arrived. With an excited flourish, she pulled out an ID card and handed it over.
"Kaede! I’ve finished setting up your identity!"
"That fast?!"
Starlight Trajectory had expected Yayoi to want something else; she hadn't expected the identity issue to be resolved in just a few days.
Considering this world contained things as illogical as the Three Goddesses and Uma Musume, she supposed it made sense for the Chairwoman of Tracen Academy to have that kind of pull.
"This is your new identity from now on. Have a look, see if you're satisfied."
Taking the Tracen Academy ID, Starlight Trajectory examined it closely.
The name was still Mano Kaede, but the photo had been updated to reflect her appearance as an Uma Musume. At least now she wouldn't be treated like a suspicious person every time she went out.
The only thing that gave her pause was...
"Yayoi, is there a mistake? Why is the gender listed as 'Female'?"
Starlight Trajectory pointed to the gender row on the card. This was the one thing she couldn't just accept!
"There’s no mistake, that’s exactly right," Akikawa Yayoi said, snapping her folding fan open with a grin. "Kaede, surely you don’t think you look like a boy right now?"
"I just can't change back yet! That doesn't mean my heart has changed!"
"Oh, what does it matter? If you ever manage to change back, I’ll just swap the card for you again."
Akikawa Yayoi fanned herself with a look of pure delight. It was only then that Starlight Trajectory noticed the characters written on the fan.
[Just as Planned]
First the System plays me, and now even Yayoi is plotting against me?!
Unfortunately, she was the one asking for favors, and Yayoi’s logic was irritatingly sound. With no room for a comeback, she could only swallow her pride and accept it.
Staring once more at the glaring word in the gender column, Starlight Trajectory felt a silent wail echoing in her soul.
Was she really losing even the nominal right to her own gender?
I didn't sign up for this!
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 40
--+--
Over the next few days, Starlight Trajectory remained in a state of total despondency, her spirit so dampened that even her appetite took a noticeable hit.
It was only when she sat down to draft training schedules for Tokai Teio that she regained a rare spark of focus, though she would inevitably wilt back into a daze the moment the work was done.
Had her horse ears not been tucked away beneath her hat, they surely would have been drooping dejectedly the entire time.
"Today’s session was excellent, Teio."
Starlight Trajectory’s fingers tapped rhythmically across her tablet, constantly tweaking data. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before they could push for a heavier workload.
Tokai Teio’s potential was immense, especially now that she had developed such a powerful late-leg burst; even if she hadn't reached her peak physical maturity yet, she was more than ready to take her debut race.
"Trainer-san!"
Having finished her cooldown, Tokai Teio came scampering over with her usual boisterous energy.
"Hmm? What is it?" Starlight Trajectory asked, blinking in confusion. Usually, Teio would have bolted for the gates by now. Why was she sticking around today?
"You’ve been so out of it lately, Trainer-san! If something’s eating at you, you can always talk to the Great Teio-sama about it, you know?"
"That’s kind of you, but... I’ve just been losing a bit of sleep, that’s all."
Starlight Trajectory offered a thin smile and reached out to give Teio’s head a gentle, affectionate rub. It wasn't a total lie; she really hadn't been sleeping much.
Between managing Teio’s regimen and keeping up with her own personal training, her schedule was packed tight.
Since she had resolved to challenge the Classic Triple Crown, she had to give it everything she had.
To avoid being recognized by anyone she knew, she was forced to wait until the dead of night, when the tracks were deserted, to do her running.
Akikawa Yayoi had previously suggested enrolling her Uma Musume persona into Tracen Academy officially so she could use the facilities openly, but Starlight had turned the offer down.
She didn't have much need for specialized gym equipment right now, and there was no sense in risking exposure. The less connection there was between her two identities, the better.
"I’m going to head back and get some rest. See you tomorrow."
Starlight Trajectory let out a weary yawn. She felt like her internal clock was drifting toward a time zone halfway across the globe.
If this kept up, she wouldn't even need to worry about jet lag if she ever moved to Europe.
"Trainer-san..."
The moment Starlight Trajectory walked away, Tokai Teio’s ears flattened against her head. To her, the tired smile her trainer had just forced out was so strained it actually made her heart ache.
"Teio, has Trainer Mano Kaede been in a foul mood all week?"
Sensing movement behind her, Tokai Teio turned to see God Hannibal, dressed in her school uniform, strolling toward her.
"Oh, it's you, Senpai. Skipping training again?"
Knowing this girl was under Trainer Musaka Ginjirou’s wing, Teio immediately knew she was playing truant.
While Musaka Ginjirou looked like a terrifyingly stern old man, he was actually incredibly lenient with his girls—bordering on indulgent, really.
Unless it was something critical, he rarely scolded girls like God Hannibal who skipped out for the most trivial reasons. Then again, she was the only one in the team who pulled this; the other two seniors were hard workers.
"I didn't bring my gym clothes today, so running would be quite inconvenient," God Hannibal said, her tone as casual as if she were commenting on the weather.
Her dark, hollow eyes shimmered with a constant, unreadable sense of amusement.
"That’s the third time you’ve used that excuse this week!"
Tokai Teio had heard that line three times in just seven days.
Yet, considering how hard God Hannibal worked when she actually did show up, Teio couldn't tell if her senior was being genuinely forgetful or just incredibly lazy.
"Heh, perhaps I’m just getting senile," God Hannibal chuckled. "But really, Trainer Mano’s current state has even Musaka-san worried."
Even if Musaka Ginjirou didn't let his emotions show on his face, God Hannibal had spent enough time around him to read the concern in the fine lines of his expression.
"I don't know what’s wrong with her either. She’s been like this ever since the Student Council President visited the other day."
Teio’s own mood took a dive, her shoulders slumping. Even though her training volume had been light lately, she could feel herself getting stronger.
It didn't take a genius to realize that her trainer must have spent countless hours agonizing over the data to streamline such a perfect plan for her.
Now, caught between her devoted trainer and the President she so deeply admired, Teio felt torn.
"Do you think it’s possible that Trainer Mano and Symboli Rudolf have some sort of history?"
God Hannibal didn't share those internal conflicts. After a moment's thought, she simply blurted out the most likely theory.
"But Trainer-san just arrived at Tracen. They shouldn't have had any reason to cross paths before..."
As she spoke, Teio suddenly remembered the first time she had met Starlight Trajectory.
Her trainer had asked about her relationship with Symboli Rudolf, and when she had answered, the trainer had drifted off into a long, hauntingly distant stare.
"Who’s to say?" God Hannibal finished her ice cream just as a voice called out to her from the distance. "Actually, there's an easy way to find out. Go ask Symboli Rudolf yourself. If she starts acting cagey, then there’s definitely something to it."
"Hannibal! Get over here!"
"Trainer Musaka is calling. I’ll be going now."
Once again, Tokai Teio was left alone to stew in her worries.
Though she visited Symboli Rudolf in the Student Council room every day after practice, the thought of interrogating the President she respected so much about a potential secret made her throat tighten.
But seeing her trainer so miserable was becoming unbearable.
"Urgh!! Why does the Great Teio-sama have to deal with such complicated stuff!"
The little filly let out a frustrated shout toward the sky, feeling only slightly better for the outburst.
"Fine... I guess I have to talk to the President."
--+--
T/N: I forgot the misc image again for chaps 20-30... My mind is actually turning to mush these days...
Chapter 24 Photo: Rudolf's Flashback Chaps (This is child Starlight Trajectory)
For Chap 37: And here are Musaka's trainees in Cin Gray, From left to right: Meikun Tsukasa, Kraft Univer, and God Hannibal.