Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 91
--+--
Symboli Rudolf leaned against the wall, her gait unsteady as she forced herself forward.
Ever since Maruzensky had stirred her memories, a sense of clarity had gradually settled over her, helping her piece together a scattered puzzle.
"It can't be wrong..."
Dragging her tired body with great effort, she made her way from the infirmary to the training track, finally finding a moment to breathe.
It was early morning. Unlike the desolate, quiet night, the track was already dotted with students engaged in their own self-directed morning training, their dedication unmonitored by instructors.
In the past, during the mundane routine of her daily work, Symboli Rudolf would occasionally glance down from the window, silently watching the juniors put their hearts into every stride. It had been a small comfort to her amidst her repetitive duties.
Today, however, though her eyes remained fixed on the track, her mind was elsewhere. Her gaze was lowered, scouring the turf intently.
Starting from the point she recalled, she walked slowly along the guardrail, mentally unraveling the events of last night.
She was no longer confused about why she had woken up in the infirmary; the recovery of her memory had cleared that fog.
The scene etched most deeply into her mind was not the opponent’s bold breakaway at the start, nor the desperate struggle in the early stages, nor even her own loss of momentum as she attempted to manifest her zone.
It was... the moment just before she collapsed, the sight of that Uma Musume appearing within her blurring vision.
Only under the direct glare of the light could Symboli Rudolf clearly see those bay-colored tresses draped over the girl’s head... and that distinct, familiar white blaze on her forehead.
Yet, because the girl was silhouetted against the light and her own consciousness was slipping away, she hadn't been able to see her face clearly. She only remembered those eyes, clear and brilliant even in the darkness.
But for Symboli Rudolf, that was more than enough.
Thanks to the memories of her dream remaining just as vivid, she had other pieces of evidence to substantiate her hunch.
"Actually, thinking back, during last night's race, the distance between us was consistently held at five and a half lengths."
"Even when I managed to close the gap by half a length with that sudden burst of speed early on, she countered immediately, and the gap never shortened again after that..."
She reached a curve on the track. This was where she had been lured into the opponent's rhythm, marking the beginning of her collapse.
"Excluding the five lengths she gave me at the start, she stayed exactly half a length ahead of me the entire way..."
Symboli Rudolf paused briefly by the bend. That small half-length gap stirred old memories within her.
'Heh... the world knows of the Emperor’s eternal "one length," but they don't know that the glorious Emperor was once bested by someone else’s absolute "half-length."'
A smile bloomed on her face before she could stop it. Scenes from her childhood flashed before her eyes.
This was the only instance of failure that didn't make the 'Emperor' feel a shred of resentment. Facing that bay-coated Uma Musume, she found it impossible to harbor any negative emotions at all.
However, the smile on Symboli Rudolf's face quickly faded, and she continued her trek along the track.
While the dream had helped her recall the past, the way the memories of the dream and reality were so intricately woven—combined with the fact that her memories of last night had only surfaced afterward—made her doubt whether this was truly a dream or reality.
After all, the timing was too sudden. To find a childhood companion she had lost contact with for years, right here at Tracen Academy, right under her nose...
It felt a little too good to be true.
"I hope... this isn't just a hallucination born of exhaustion."
She muttered to herself, scanning the grass even more carefully, searching for the traces left behind last night.
Now, all she needed to prove was that this hadn't been a dream.
Although a night had passed and many new footprints had marred the turf, the sheer speed and power the two of them had exerted during their race could not be matched by ordinary training.
It would, at the very least, have left some ephemeral mark.
Ignoring the curious gazes of the other students, Symboli Rudolf walked and stopped until she finally reached the finish line of last night's race.
Straining to climb over the railing she would normally clear with ease, she used the lighting equipment as a reference and found the spot where she had prepared to unleash her zone.
In the center of the track, Symboli Rudolf discovered a distinct indentation in the grass.
"Thank goodness..."
Seeing that footprint, she could finally set her heart at ease, unable to suppress a relieved smile.
This was the answer she had been looking for.
Even though her zone hadn't manifested in the end, the final step to activate it had been packed with every ounce of her strength.
If not for the fact that Japanese turf had been trending toward higher speeds in recent years, or that her own abilities hadn't regressed too much, it wouldn't have been impossible for her to have gouged a crater into the grass.
Far off at the edge of the training grounds, Maruzensky, who had been following Symboli Rudolf the entire time, saw the Japanese Emperor's reaction and wore a smile of her own.
Unlike Symboli Rudolf’s, however, her smile carried a much higher degree of intrigue.
--+--
"Achoo—!"
In the activity room of the Musaka Ginjirou team, Starlight, who was currently mapping out a training plan for Tokai Teio, sneezed unexpectedly again.
As for why she said "again," it was because she had been sneezing repeatedly since the morning.
Even the members of the team couldn't watch anymore and began to show concern for her health.
"Trainer-san, do you have a cold?"
Tokai Teio, sitting beside Starlight, asked with genuine worry, placing her hand on her trainer's forehead to check for a fever.
Instinctively, Starlight's eyes shifted toward Oguri Cap and Belno Light.
"Mano, don't worry, we can complete our training on our own!"
Compared to Oguri Cap’s somewhat guileless answer, Belno Light looked as if she had been entrusted with a grave mission; she immediately straightened her back and sat up straight.
"I-I-I will do my best!"
"What are you all talking about? Do I look like I have a cold?"
Starlight retorted, annoyed, as she gently pushed Tokai Teio’s small hand away from her forehead.
No sooner had she spoken than she felt a familiar tickle in the tip of her nose.
"Achoo—!"
She couldn't stop the next sneeze. When she looked up, all she saw were the three of them nodding in dull, rhythmic synchronization.
Unable to explain the true cause to her team members, she cleared her throat and chose to move past the subject.
"Cough, cough... anyway, let's not talk about this. Not only am I not sick, but even if I were..."
"Achoo—!"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 92
--+--
Starlight actually knew full well why she was sneezing.
It was simple: someone was likely thinking about her.
While there was no scientific evidence proving any necessary link between sneezing and being in someone's thoughts, she lived in a world where the Three Goddesses and creatures as miraculous as Uma Musume actually existed.
Starlight felt that, under these circumstances, it wasn't a bad idea to believe in such folklore occasionally.
As for who was thinking of her, Starlight didn't need to ponder it for long. She immediately pegged it as Symboli Rudolf.
Even though the Emperor hadn't come to visit her at all today, she couldn't help but wonder if this was merely the calm before the storm.
"At the end of the day, it's all because I stuck my nose where it didn't belong..."
"But she looked like she was in so much pain, I just couldn't bring myself to walk away."
Starlight sighed and rubbed her temples, a dull ache blooming in her head.
Last night, just as she was about to make a quick escape after the race, she saw Symboli Rudolf’s condition. Unable to just leave her like that, she had carried the other girl to the infirmary.
But even that didn't put her mind at ease. She had ended up calling Akikawa Yayoi, who was sound asleep, and then notified the medical staff, who were also resting, to come and provide on-site treatment for Symboli Rudolf.
Fortunately, Tracen Academy staff lived on campus unless they were on holiday, so finding a doctor wasn't too difficult.
After an initial diagnosis confirmed that Symboli Rudolf was physically fine, Starlight finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, because the situation was so urgent at the time, she hadn't bothered to hide her identity.
If the Emperor had regained even a shred of consciousness during that time, she probably would have seen her face clearly.
"What's done is done. So, I guess there's only one option left—"
After turning it over in her mind, Starlight concluded there was only one way to solve this.
"Give up and rot!"
Once she settled on that, she felt a wave of relief wash over her.
Yes, her master plan was simply to give up on the problem entirely.
If she didn't face the problem, then the problem didn't exist!
Since the power to decide whether her identity was exposed was no longer in her hands, why not just go with the flow?
"Though, just to be safe, I think I'll avoid training on campus for a few days..."
--+--
"Achoo!"
At that very moment, inside the Student Council room, Symboli Rudolf—who was also being thought of in reverse—let out a synchronized sneeze.
"Strange... Did I catch a cold last night?"
"But I remember being tucked in well when I woke up."
She wiped the tip of her nose, puzzled.
After sneezing a few more times, the onslaught finally subsided, making Symboli Rudolf feel slightly better.
Because she had passed out midway through the race last night, she hadn't had a chance to stretch, and the result was the lingering exhaustion and muscle soreness that plagued her today. Every sneeze felt like torture.
She slowly leaned back into her chair, only feeling better once her muscles relaxed.
As to why she chose to stay in the Student Council room rather than resting in her current condition... the reason wasn't exactly complicated.
She was simply trying to prevent any seeds of suspicion from sprouting, which could lead people like Maruzensky to deduce what happened last night from the smallest details.
While Symboli Rudolf didn't personally care about losing to Starlight—she had even considered spreading the news on purpose to draw Starlight out—that remained nothing more than a thought.
The repercussions of doing so would be far too great.
She was no longer just the little filly known as Luna; she was the Emperor of the Japanese Uma Musume racing world, the Student Council President of Central Tracen, and the most brilliant Uma Musume of the Symboli family.
On the surface, reports about her had been tepid since her retirement, mostly because she had always been cautious with her words and actions, leaving little room for gossip.
But if such explosive news were to break...
Just imagine it: the Emperor of the Twinkle Series, forced into such a pathetic state in a private race by another Uma Musume. It would absolutely become a topic that shook all of Japan.
Even if one considered her lack of training or her underestimating her opponent, the media wouldn't care about such nuances. They would surely spice up the story with all sorts of exaggerations.
If the public discourse turned negative, there would be no going back, and it might even drag a large number of people down with her.
"Perhaps... the reason she's stayed out of the spotlight for so many years is because she didn't want to get involved in all these matters outside the racetrack?"
As she pondered, Symboli Rudolf’s thoughts returned to Starlight, and she nodded to herself, feeling that her theory made sense.
Thinking of how she had been just a hair's breadth away from the other girl made her feel incredibly refreshed.
However, she hadn't held this state of ease for long before her abdominal muscles reacted before she could even process it, followed immediately by another sneeze.
"Achoo!"
A pain as if her body were being torn apart filled her, and a trace of agony flashed across her expression.
Maruzensky, watching from the side, couldn't help but shake her head.
"See? I told you your body is still weak. Pushing yourself like this all morning is just reckless."
"But... what kind of person could push you to this extent?"
At Maruzensky’s words, Symboli Rudolf’s mood instantly brightened.
If we’re talking about this, then I’m wide awake!
"Right, didn't you never believe me before? About that companion of mine."
"Could it be...?" A look of realization dawned on Maruzensky’s face.
"Exactly. It's her—she's back!"
Symboli Rudolf’s tone carried an unconcealable excitement. If not for her physical fatigue, she might have sprung right out of her chair.
"Maruzensky, you might not know this, but I have never felt such immense pressure from a race!"
"I'm not exaggerating when I say that if I hadn't activated my Zone, I would have had absolutely no chance of winning against her!"
"And from the very beginning of the opening stretch, I..."
Once the subject turned to Starlight, she began to talk incessantly about the details of last night's race, breaking down every move for Maruzensky, terrified that the other girl might have even the slightest doubt.
Maruzensky merely kept a gentle smile on her face, nodding from time to time in response.
"Actually, after hearing you put it that way, I'm very interested in learning more about this student, too."
It wasn't until Symboli Rudolf finished her lecture that Maruzensky finally voiced her thought.
"Could you tell me in more detail... what kind of person she is?"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 93
--+--
After the race that night, Starlight decided to put her plans for on-campus training on hold.
Being a slacker is one thing, but "cutting your losses" is a necessary skill.
Perhaps Symboli Rudolf hadn't paid any mind to what happened that evening, or perhaps this damage-control strategy of hers had actually worked; regardless, Starlight managed to sail through a rather mundane week.
She continued instructing Tokai Teio and Oguri Cap as usual, occasionally discussing training matters with Komiyama Masami, and in this daily routine, time slowly slipped away.
During this period, Starlight also took the time to spectate at the Osaka Hai, where Tamamo Cross was competing, though she didn't walk away with the insights she had hoped for.
After personally experiencing the pressure of Symboli Rudolf's "aura," she had become increasingly curious about this uncharted territory.
However, the pacesetter in this Osaka Hai had been deliberately suppressing the race's rhythm, causing even Tamamo Cross—who usually employed a late-kick style—to end up in third place among the seven runners.
Compounded by the potential influence of trying to adapt to a new running style, the end result was that Tamamo Cross didn't just fail to manifest the embryonic form of that "Zone," she barely managed to snag the win without any distinct advantage.
Yes, truly no advantage at all.
This isn't an exaggeration; it was because a rare phenomenon occurred in this race—a dead heat.
When the scoreboard didn't show the order of finish, but instead flashed "Photo," no one—including Starlight and almost everyone in the stands—had even considered the possibility of a dead heat.
After all, just because the human eye can't distinguish something doesn't mean technology with much higher precision than humanity can't.
However, after various deliberations by the judges, it was declared that the first-favorite, Tamamo Cross, and the fifth-favorite were tied for first, while the seventh-placed runner, trailing by a nose, took third.
Although the race was incredibly nerve-wracking, looking at the result, a dead heat didn't seem to be a bad thing; it allowed more runners to add a feather to their cap.
The only thing that kept Starlight worried was Tamamo Cross’s physical condition after the race.
So, while training her own two charges, she would occasionally observe Tamamo Cross’s situation, but those fleeting glances couldn't escape Tokai Teio’s eyes, and that inevitably led to another scene.
Like the two of them on the training track right now.
"Teio..."
"What is it, Trainer-san?"
Hearing Starlight call her name, the petite Tokai Teio beamed with a radiant smile, her fluffy tail wagging back and forth in excitement.
In contrast, Starlight’s expression looked rather gloomy. She placed her entire right palm atop Tokai Teio’s head and applied a bit of pressure, followed immediately by Tokai Teio’s dramatic, high-pitched wail.
"Finish your training and go rest. Don't hinder my coaching of Oguri."
Prying Tokai Teio off her, she returned her gaze to Oguri Cap, who was out on the track.
Seeing that Starlight was back to ignoring her, Tokai Teio’s mood, which had just calmed down, surged right back up. She grabbed hold of her trainer and began making an even bigger fuss than before.
"This little bit of training is nothing for Teio-sama; I don't need a rest!"
"Besides, isn't it perfectly normal for a trainer and their charge to be together? Isn't it, isn't it!"
Tokai Teio shook Starlight’s arm vigorously, but no matter how hard she pulled, Starlight remained as unmoved as if she hadn't felt a thing.
Realizing that physical means weren't going to get her trainer’s attention, Tokai Teio stopped her movements and switched to a volume-based offensive.
"Trainer-san, Trainer-san, Trainer-san!"
"Isn't it, isn't it, isn't it!"
I have to say, the volume offensive was remarkably effective.
Before long, Starlight was so annoyed she couldn't think straight; she couldn't just keep pretending nothing was happening like before.
'Teio... when did she become like this? She was so well-behaved before...'
Compared to when they first met a few months ago, the change in Tokai Teio was nothing short of earth-shattering.
Though, rather than calling it a "change," it was more accurate to say that now that they were truly close, her real personality was finally coming out.
Simple, optimistic, and cute—these were indeed traits Tokai Teio possessed; it’s just that she had added a layer of mischief and wilfulness on top of them.
'Is this the classic "the best kids are always someone else's kids"...?'
Sighing helplessly, Starlight said to the childishly venting Tokai Teio with a mix of exasperation:
"Back when you went to find your Student Council President, why didn't you think of that?"
"Th-that... of course, it's because... because..."
As soon as these words were out, the noisy Tokai Teio immediately choked up, stuttering and unable to put a sentence together for the longest time.
Watching Tokai Teio look like this, Starlight didn't continue to make things difficult for the little Uma Musume; instead, she gently stroked the top of her head.
"I understand how you feel, Teio, but Oguri’s training is also very important. So, could you please be quiet for a little while?"
"If you can do that, I'll buy you a honey drink when training is over!"
Sure enough, as soon as honey drink was mentioned, Tokai Teio’s ears perked up instantly.
"You can count on me, Trainer-san! For the sake of honey—I mean, Oguri-senpai’s training—I’ll be as quiet as a mouse!"
"That's better."
Starlight nodded in satisfaction, gave Tokai Teio’s head a few more affectionate rubs, and finally pulled her hand away.
'Pity I can't use the honey drink trick too often, or Teio will think throwing a tantrum gets her a reward, and that would be counterproductive...'
'Geez... why does it suddenly feel like I'm babysitting? I wonder how Symboli Rudolf usually teaches her? Or have I just failed to establish any authority in Teio’s eyes?'
However, the mere mention of Symboli Rudolf brought her thoughts back to the situation over the past few days.
A day or two might not mean much, but now that a full week had passed and the other party still hadn't made any move to confirm her identity...
'I assume I haven't been exposed... right?'
Looking up at the clouds drifting across the sky, Starlight pondered for a moment and made a decision.
'Anyway, I'll confirm it for sure tonight.'
'If there’s no issue, then I’ll go back to on-campus training.'
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 94
--+--
Clouds drifted by as time slipped away, and the azure sky deepened into a violet hue under the setting sun, signaling the arrival of yet another night.
Maruzensky leaned against the training track railing, looking bored. She rested her chin lightly on her right hand, her expression tinged with a faint, melancholy air.
Since Tracen Academy prohibited students from training late at night, most Uma Musume had already begun to file out of the grounds.
A few others were just winding down, pacing slowly as they reviewed their training results for the day.
"Haaa—"
Scanning the young underclassmen with her gaze, Maruzensky let out a listless yawn. Even though she hadn't been here long, a seed of desire to just leave had already taken root in her mind.
After all, counting from the night Symboli Rudolf suffered that defeat, she had been keeping vigil here for six nights, yet she still hadn't caught a glimpse of the target she was searching for.
To ensure she wouldn't nod off and miss her chance, she had pulled an all-nighter that first time. Ever since, her internal clock had been completely flipped, day for night.
She had never indulged in such behavior before. Even back in the day, when she’d get a sudden whim to take her favorite supercar out for a midnight spin, she would, at most, wait for the first light of dawn before heading home to crash.
Staying awake for several days straight was a completely different story.
"...According to the internet back in China, does this count as reaching the Mahayana stage of cultivation?"
Once the students had nearly all dispersed, Maruzensky slumped over the railing, completely disregarding her usual poise. Feeling heavy with fatigue, she pulled out her phone to scroll aimlessly.
"Even surfing the web can't shake off this drowsiness..."
"If they don't show up today, I'll just have to take a day off..."
Her eyes, stung by the glare of the screen, felt no more refreshed; if anything, she felt even more exhausted.
If she kept this up, in a few days, there would surely be rumors circulating among the early-morning trainees about Maruzensky found collapsed on the training track.
Then again, that just went to show how deep her interest was in the rival who had bested Symboli Rudolf—enough to keep her awake for seven days and nights.
Time ticked on relentlessly until the twilight gave way to total darkness. Maruzensky was the only one left in or around the training ground.
Unable to stop yawning, Maruzensky felt her consciousness drifting further and further away. She rubbed her eyes gently with her hands, but the motion only made her eyelids feel heavier.
Even though she hadn't touched the brightness settings on her phone, the light from the screen seemed to dim, and the text turned into a blurred mess.
"I can't... hold it together anymore..."
"Just... a quick nap."
"Just for a little while..."
"Hooo—"
Her phone hit the ground with a soft clatter, and within seconds, the sound of long, rhythmic breathing drifted from Maruzensky.
Because she had fallen asleep slumped over the railing, it wasn't the most comfortable rest, but the overwhelming exhaustion kept her trapped in that hazy space between dreams and reality.
The night breeze brushed across the grass, the soft, rustling sounds forming a delicate balance that pulled her deeper into sleep.
Who knows how much time passed, until a faint sound of footsteps shattered the equilibrium.
A subconscious flicker of annoyance crossed Maruzensky's sweet sleeping face, and the ears atop her head gave a small, involuntary twitch.
--+--
But the person responsible for interrupting someone else’s dream had no such self-awareness.
A figure crept stealthily toward the perimeter of the training ground. From the lively ears twitching atop her head, it was clear she was an Uma Musume.
She peered down at the field from a distance, and seeing that there was no one in sight, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
'Perfect, no one's here. Looks like Symboli Rudolf really didn't take it to heart after all.'
She flipped her hood back, and a cascade of supple, greenish-black hair spilled out, following the breeze behind her.
The late-night visitor was none other than Starlight Trajectory.
Even though a week had passed, she had still chosen to wear a slight disguise; at the very least, she didn't want the other party to clearly see her back while she was making a getaway.
'Looks like this was a bit unnecessary, though.'
Smoothing out her wind-tossed hair, she skillfully tied it into a sharp, efficient ponytail.
Starlight Trajectory felt that she was in excellent form today; the fatigue from her race against Symboli Rudolf earlier had finally faded.
The main reason for this good state was the recent lack of intense training.
To avoid running into Symboli Rudolf again, Starlight Trajectory had been forced to run off-campus... or rather, "warm up," because the light exertion hardly qualified as training.
The pace of city life was always so prolonged; even in residential areas late at night, you could often see people on the streets.
There weren't many, but Starlight Trajectory worried that if she ran too fast and accidentally bumped into a pedestrian, the trouble would be immense.
She might be fine, but the poor soul she hit probably wouldn't survive long enough for an ambulance to arrive.
One had to remember that Uma Musume often had designated lanes in many districts. To put it simply—city vehicles had a speed limit of 50 km/h, and Uma Musume could run quite a bit faster than that...
If an average person took a hit from that, it wouldn't be much different from being flattened by a speeding truck.
Though... being hit by a truck might give you a chance to be reincarnated in another world, while being hit by an Uma Musume would likely just land you in the care of the Three Goddesses to be reborn as an Uma Musume in your next life, right...?
Come to think of it, maybe in her past life, she was actually...
"Wait, what on earth am I rambling about?!"
Starlight Trajectory shook her head violently, her ponytail whipping around behind her.
Clearing her mind of the distractions, she instinctively reached for her waist, only to remember that she hadn't brought her bag today, thinking it would be easier to run if something unexpected happened.
"It's a pity I don't have equipment to record it... but I should just get started. Wouldn't want to drag this out too long."
Muttering a word of regret, Starlight Trajectory began walking slowly toward the track.
But before she had taken more than a few steps, she stopped dead, her ears twitching slightly as if she had sensed something.
"Though—"
Just as the doubt escaped her lips, another voice sounded eerily from behind her, finishing the thought she hadn't yet completed.
"Though... what?"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 95
--+--
"Though... what?"
Maruzensky murmured, a playful, mischievous glint in her eyes as the corners of her mouth curled upward into an irrepressible grin.
At last, her persistence had paid off! After a long, arduous week of waiting, she had finally caught her target in the act.
And let it be known, she had spent this past week alternating between day and night, turning her entire schedule upside down just to... wait, no, she had already mentioned that before.
Her gaze locked onto the bay-coated Uma Musume, and Maruzensky felt a thrill of excitement that was hard to put into words.
It was exactly like a detective following a trail of breadcrumbs, finally arriving at the truth after relentless investigation.
And now, she was only one step away from solving the mystery!
'You finally let me catch you, the mysterious underclassman who defeated the Emperor, and... the bay-coated Uma Musume that Symboli Rudolf just won't stop talking about!'
'I can't help it; I’m just so curious—absolutely dying of curiosity about you.'
'After all, I’d never heard of such a dark horse hiding among the new generation.'
Maruzensky pressed her body firmly against the other girl’s back, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace, just like close friends might. Lacking common sense in these matters, she was completely oblivious to how invasive her actions might seem to a complete stranger.
Feeling no instinctive tension in the bay Uma Musume’s body, the smile on Maruzensky’s face deepened.
'Looks like she’s scared, how cute.'
'She’s so formidable in Symboli Rudolf’s descriptions, yet she can be this adorable when caught off guard.'
'...This just makes me even more curious about who you really are.'
The reason she could harbor such intense interest in this stranger—even going so far as to pull seven consecutive all-nighters—was entirely thanks to the student council president, Symboli Rudolf.
She still remembered how, whenever she would lounge in the student council room, Symboli Rudolf would tirelessly share anecdotes about her past and her old companions.
For stories brimming with such youthful energy, Maruzensky simply... lacked the ability to refuse.
At first, she looked forward to these "serialized updates." Later, when Symboli Rudolf ran out of new material, Maruzensky treated them as retrospectives on the classics, still savoring the stories with gusto.
However, a person’s novelty for any given thing has its limits. Even the most interesting story, when told hundreds of times, begins to taste like cardboard to the listener.
Perhaps... only the person who lived it can retain that passion forever.
In any case, after countless days and nights, there came a day when Maruzensky finally grew tired of listening. Between that and the fruitless search she had joined Symboli Rudolf in, she started to feel a bit annoyed.
Yet, this didn’t mean the sense of longing those stories had once inspired in her had vanished. When the possibility was laid out before her once again, the anticipation surging in her heart was no less than Symboli Rudolf's.
'Stories, after all, are only perfect when the protagonists appear together.'
'Let me be the one to solve this riddle right here and now!'
Turning her head slightly, she rested it gently on the girl’s shoulder, attempting to catch a clear look at her face.
However, the first thing to greet her eyes wasn't the girl's full face, but a mask covering half of it.
Maruzensky arched a brow. She hadn't expected that even though the bay-coated Uma Musume had pulled up her hood, she would still be clinging to that mask.
But it was too late now; the mask wouldn’t be able to protect the girl for much longer. All she had to do was make the simple motion of removing the ear loops, and she would finally see the face hidden behind it.
But it was precisely in that split second that the bay-coated Uma Musume finally snapped to her senses, realizing her current predicament.
'She's so close, and so soft... no, wait, won't I be exposed if she's this close?!'
'I checked the entire training ground; I was sure there was no one around before I came out! Why did someone just pop out of nowhere?!'
Starlight Trajectory, panicking, didn't realize that when she had been surveying the perimeter, she had mistaken Maruzensky—who was sleeping draped over the guardrail—for a fence post, which was why she had missed her.
After all, no one would expect someone to be doing that, nor would they be likely to try it themselves.
Not to mention whether it was comfortable to put all one's weight on a thin bar, it was questionable whether one could even fall asleep in such a position in the first place.
Before she could think much further, Starlight felt a smooth hand reach up to her ear, plucking at the mask's cord.
'She’s trying to take off my mask!'
Realizing this, Starlight struggled, instantly breaking free from Maruzensky’s embrace.
Though she managed to escape the hug, the mask remained in the other girl's hand.
This meant that her face was now completely devoid of any disguise!
Maruzensky hadn't expected such a fierce reaction from Starlight. Because she hadn't wanted to hurt her, she hadn't used much force in the embrace, which was why the girl had managed to slip away.
'I didn't think she would resist so hard... is she that desperate not to be recognized?'
'Well, I suppose that makes sense. Coming out to train alone at such a late hour, avoiding Symboli Rudolf’s radar, waiting a whole week to return to the scene, and going to such lengths to hide...'
'...Could it be that she has some shameful secret?'
'This is... so exciting!'
'But, in the dead of night like this, just where do you think you're going to run off to?'
Maruzensky didn't show a hint of panic at her target's escape; she maintained the posture of someone who already held the winning hand.
The reason she could remain so calm was largely due to her never having neglected her physical training, even in her downtime. Although the intensity wasn't as high as when she was active, and it wasn't exactly improving, maintaining her peak state wasn't a problem at all.
The phenomenon of being so busy with work that one neglected training—the way Symboli Rudolf did—would never happen to Maruzensky!
...As for why she chose to retire while still in her prime, that was a different story entirely.
"Retirement" was perhaps less accurate than "withdrawing from competition."
Because there were only so many races held in the Twinkle Series, every Uma Musume could run most of the Grade 1 races within two or three years.
However, the prime of an Uma Musume lasted far longer than that. Even after their physical bodies peaked, there were still things like "Zones" to cultivate on a mental level.
The Zone, in particular, made all the difference in the world. Even in the international Classic-grade racing scene, only a handful of Uma Musume could awaken it, let alone the newcomers in the Maiden-grade.
This meant that if the older generation refused to leave, the new generation would almost never have a chance to step onto the stage, and the races would be monopolized by the same old faces.
Therefore, to prevent this, the practice of "withdrawing" became an unspoken convention among older Uma Musume in various countries.
Those who felt their careers had been fulfilled would choose to retire, leaving the Twinkle Series and making room for the newcomers.
Of course, sometimes retirement was a forced choice, and Maruzensky was one of those cases...
'Come to think of it, why does this figure seem so... familiar?'
Watching the blurred silhouette ahead, she couldn't help but feel a sense of recognition, as if she had met her somewhere before.
'Well, once I can see her face properly, that doubt will resolve itself.'
With that thought, Maruzensky tossed the captured mask aside and slowly lowered her right hand.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, Starlight Trajectory saw the figure in the shadows make this motion. Although she didn't know what was about to happen, she prepared herself to bolt.
As for why she hadn't run earlier... it was because she could feel the aura behind her becoming increasingly solid, just like Symboli Rudolf’s did that day when she was ready to accelerate.
In this situation, without having warmed up, if she faced an opponent who was likely prepared, her initial acceleration might not be enough to outpace them.
'Why are there so many people with such auras lately...!'
'Have Uma Musume in Central reaching this level become common practice, and I'm just the one living under a rock?!'
'But I haven't found a single book that describes this... surely everyone didn't just choose to hide their power, did they?'
Cursing the situation internally, Starlight still didn't dare to act rashly, fearing that any movement would spook her opponent.
Getting close to her without making a sound was the biggest oversight she had made all night.
'Since you didn't choose to run immediately, then—'
'Don't blame me!'
Maruzensky raised her right hand with lightning speed, aiming it toward Starlight.
But the expected "click" and the flash of a camera didn't come. She realized her hand was completely empty.
'Huh...? Where’s my phone?'
She thought in confusion, then suddenly remembered, and quickly turned her head toward the guardrail behind her.
'Don't tell me... at that moment...!'
In the brief moment she turned her head, Starlight saw her chance. She immediately kicked off the ground and sprinted away from the field.
Maruzensky looked anxiously between Starlight’s retreating form and the guardrail, unable to make a choice.
'What do I do... if I chase her now, I might have to spend the whole night looking for my phone!'
'But if I let her go, once she’s on guard, I’ll never have an opportunity like today again.'
'And she’s already started running; I might not even be able to catch her now...'
In her desperation, unable to choose, Maruzensky could only shout at Starlight:
"Wait! I'm not here to cause you any trouble!"
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 96
--+--
"Wait! I'm not here to cause you any trouble!"
As the words left Maruzensky’s lips, the bay-coated Uma Musume’s stride, which had just begun to lengthen, faltered noticeably. She slowed, step by step, until she came to a complete stop.
Seeing that her message had seemingly hit the mark, Maruzensky let out a sigh of relief.
Though she could still feel the thick wall of wariness radiating from the other girl, the fact that she hadn't simply bolted meant that a path for negotiation had been opened.
‘In the end, I didn't come here to do anything underhanded, so why be so defensive…?’
Maruzensky suddenly realized that her original intention was merely to find a rival worthy of a sparring partner. Matters of identity and secret motives should have been secondary to the thrill of the race.
‘Getting too hung up on who she is, only to scare her off—that’s just putting the cart before the horse.’
‘But… damn it, I just have to know who she is!’
‘If I can't figure this out, I feel like even my signature drifting will lose its flavor…’
The more mysterious someone is, and the more they deliberately try to hide themselves, the more it stirs up the flames of curiosity and the desire for discovery.
On the other hand, no one tries to keep a secret for no reason, especially when they go to such lengths to bury it deep. There had to be a reason—a secret that simply couldn't see the light of day.
If this bay-coated Uma Musume hadn't displayed what Maruzensky saw as a tantalizing, "come-hither" level of secrecy, she might not have been half as obsessed with the girl's identity as she was now.
‘Still… I can't rush this. If I show my hand too early, I’ll just startle the snake.’
‘But as for Symboli Rudolf… it's hard to say how much longer I can stall. Seven days have already passed. My time is running thin.’
Maruzensky grew troubled. After all, if Symboli Rudolf were to find out, wouldn't all her efforts be for naught?
Knowing the Emperor as she did, if she hadn't talked her way into taking on the heavy responsibility of finding this girl herself, it would likely be the Student Council President standing guard on the training track right now.
As for why Maruzensky chose to do this… truth be told, she wasn't entirely sure herself.
Perhaps it was the sensory thrill of an unspeakable, illicit secret, or maybe just the petty pleasure of being the first to uncover the truth right under her friend's nose.
Or perhaps… it was a bit of both.
Regardless, Maruzensky hadn't spent much time overthinking it; she simply followed her heart and chose the path that promised the most excitement.
‘That's it!’
‘If she’s been trying to avoid Rudolf ever since the race, doesn't that mean everything I’ve been doing these past few days is actually helping her?’
The realization dawned on her in an instant.
Even if her intentions weren't exactly pure—and even if these actions were born purely for her own amusement—as long as she kept a straight face, how could the bay-coated Uma Musume possibly know?
Once she veiled her true motives behind a cloak of benevolence, the facts remaining on the surface looked, from every angle, like she was the one helping the girl conceal her identity.
'I don't know what happened to turn those two close friends, as Rudolf calls them, into the state they’re in now, but if I use this to show my "good faith," could I leverage it to break through her defenses…?'
With that thought, Maruzensky seized the precious window of communication to make her move.
"Actually, I’ve been waiting here for seven days—ever since the race between you and Symboli Rudolf."
"And… if I’m not mistaken, you’ve been trying to avoid her, haven't you?"
If she wanted the girl to feel her sincerity, the first step was to be honest.
Trading information that was trivial—or information they both already knew to be true—to earn a sliver of trust was a bargain. Even a tiny bit of progress was a win.
As Maruzensky finished speaking, the bay-coated Uma Musume’s eyes flickered, a hint of contemplation crossing her features.
Starlight Trajectory hadn't needed Maruzensky to point out such a simple truth; she had already surmised as much.
She had been training at Tracen Academy under the veil of night for months now, and the only variable had been that race with the Emperor a week ago.
'…Just as I thought. She came because she knew about the race.'
Knowing that the visitor was not Symboli Rudolf, Starlight Trajectory’s panic subsided, and she felt no urgency to flee.
'But why her? Why did she come, and not the Emperor?'
Starlight Trajectory had been wondering why Symboli Rudolf hadn't made a single move over the past week. Although she kept telling herself that the Emperor simply hadn't cared, that was just a flimsy excuse she’d concocted to fill the silence.
After all, no one knew better than her just how prideful a heart lay beneath that title of "Emperor."
To be defeated by a nameless Uma Musume who appeared out of thin air—given Symboli Rudolf’s temperament, there was absolutely no way she would let such a thing slide.
If she put herself in Symboli Rudolf’s shoes, she would have definitely taken action to identify her opponent and launched a challenge again after re-centering herself, rather than simply choosing to act as if it had never happened.
'It seems… there’s more going on behind the scenes than I’m aware of.'
'I just wonder what role this person standing before me plays in all of this.'
Starlight Trajectory’s gaze locked onto Maruzensky, attempting to peer through the shadows to deduce her identity, but she soon gave up.
She wasn't familiar enough with Symboli Rudolf’s inner circle to use the process of elimination to find the correct answer.
Just as Starlight Trajectory was about to open her mouth to ask, Maruzensky spoke, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
"You must be wondering why it’s me standing guard here, and not Symboli Rudolf, right?"
"Truth is, right after Rudolf lost that race, she wanted to use her authority as Student Council President to investigate you. But thanks to my persistent stalling, I managed to buy us some time."
She laid out the cause and effect with concise grace. Maruzensky immediately caught a flicker of change in Starlight Trajectory’s expression—a small crack in her armor.
A hint of triumph bloomed in Maruzensky’s heart.
'Perfect. Keep it up!'
'Once I’ve earned her trust, finding out her identity through a bit of well-placed prodding will be easy as pie!'
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 97
--+--
'What do you mean by, "buy us some time"...?'
'Could it be that she’s the one who’s been holding back Symboli Rudolf for me all week?'
Starlight Trajectory felt skeptical of Maruzensky’s statement.
While it aligned with what she had suspected, she couldn’t wrap her head around the motive behind someone helping her delay Symboli Rudolf.
There was such a massive gap in information between the two of them; without the missing puzzle pieces, Starlight could rack her brain until it broke and still not fathom the reason.
Not to mention, Maruzensky was simply acting on her own whims. Even if forced to answer, she likely couldn't provide a definitive reason herself.
"...What are you trying to say by telling me all this?"
After a moment of contemplation, Starlight decided to initiate a dialogue.
Her tone, however, was exceptionally cold, clearly projecting a "keep your distance" vibe.
Despite fully understanding the subtext of Maruzensky's words, Starlight couldn't directly state her confusion; doing so would be tantamount to admitting she was, in fact, avoiding Symboli Rudolf.
No matter how accurate the other's deduction was, as long as she didn't personally confirm it, it would remain nothing more than a guess.
That way, she would have more room to maneuver in their subsequent conversation.
Although Starlight’s demeanor wasn't exactly welcoming, Maruzensky was delighted that communication was even possible.
It meant her one-sided chatter had actually worked, rather than being dismissed entirely as lies.
'So she’s finally willing to talk. I thought I’d need to reveal more specific details to earn her trust, but it seems things are moving faster than I expected.'
'Wait, this voice... is it a bit too familiar...?'
Because Starlight hadn't intentionally stifled her voice while speaking, Maruzensky quickly snapped out of her delight.
If the figure under the shadows had merely seemed familiar, this unmasked tone made identification far easier. It didn't take long for Maruzensky to match all the conditions in her mind.
'Dark bay coat, ponytail, this specific tone, and keeping her identity under wraps for some reason...'
'No wonder, no wonder I felt she looked familiar...!'
'This figure—isn't she that new trainer?!'
Although Maruzensky felt it was absurd and inexplicable, once she eliminated all the impossible choices, the only thing left—no matter how strange—was the correct answer!
'It seems... I’ve stumbled upon something absolutely incredible!'
While Starlight Trajectory was unfamiliar with Maruzensky, Maruzensky knew quite a bit about Starlight, or more specifically, Mano Kaede.
If nothing else, just by virtue of being a trainer at Tracen Academy, any student who didn't shirk their responsibilities would be aware of her.
'To think the answer would be this...'
A newly hired trainer at Central Tracen... is actually an Uma Musume?!
Maruzensky hardly needed to think to realize the impact this would have if word got out.
After all, throughout history, there had never been a true Uma Musume trainer in society.
At most, there were individuals like Symboli Rudolf, who provided nominal guidance to other Uma Musume, but whose coaching proficiency could hardly be compared to professionals.
But the Mano Kaede before her was different—she was an Uma Musume who had obtained her Central Trainer’s license through official channels and been hired by Central Tracen!
But these... were not the point! At least, in Maruzensky's eyes, these things were completely irrelevant.
What she truly found interesting was a minor conflict that had occurred between Starlight Trajectory and Symboli Rudolf a few months ago.
Although Symboli Rudolf had never mentioned any details of the incident to the public, well... could Maruzensky and Symboli Rudolf really be considered "outsiders" to one another?
As the "Supercar" who had acted as a sparring partner for the "Emperor" more than anyone else in private, and as one of the few rivals who could trade wins and losses with the Emperor in exhibition races, their relationship couldn't be described as mere "acquaintance."
On the very day the conflict occurred, Symboli Rudolf had shared the incident with Maruzensky.
That was one of the catalysts for Maruzensky becoming interested in and observing the new trainer, Mano Kaede; otherwise, it would have been impossible for her to deduce Starlight's identity just from these conditions.
'If Rudolf found out that the new trainer she had a conflict with is the very person she once admired most, what kind of scene would that be?'
'Interesting. Simply fascinating!'
Just imagining the scene in her mind made Maruzensky’s body tremble slightly, unable to suppress the joy spreading from the depths of her heart.
This was arguably the most delightful thing she had ever encountered in her life!
However, her emotions didn't last long, and she soon regained her composure.
'Pity I can’t see that scene right away. I’m quite interested in this new trainer myself, after all.'
Maruzensky thought to herself, shaking her head with slight regret.
If Symboli Rudolf found out, it would certainly satisfy her momentary craving for amusement, but the aftermath might spiral in a direction unfavorable to her.
Not to mention whether Symboli Rudolf possessed some "possessiveness" or other such odd traits; if she really did something about it, Starlight might hold a grudge against her and refuse to have any further contact.
At that point, the many mysteries fueling Maruzensky’s curiosity might never be answered.
Therefore, for both sentiment and reason, she shouldn't actively reveal the other party's identity.
'I’ve drifted a bit too far. The premise for all these situations is to gain her trust first...'
'But, how should I go about doing that?'
Maruzensky frowned slightly, contemplating her next move.
Under Starlight’s wary and perplexed gaze, Maruzensky pondered for a good while, until all her thoughts eventually circled back to the starting point.
'If two Uma Musume want to develop a bond, it really has to start with Uma Musume racing, doesn't it!'
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 98
--+--
Starlight Trajectory, standing opposite Maruzensky, remained completely unaware that her true identity had been laid bare.
Because of the dim, murky lighting, she failed to notice the series of expressions flickering across Maruzensky’s face. She was too busy wondering why it was taking the older Uma Musume so long to answer her question.
As the silence stretched, Starlight Trajectory’s unease began to gnaw at her. It felt as though the very atmosphere between them was brewing something disadvantageous to her.
‘Should I just... bolt?’
Starlight Trajectory’s gaze sharpened; the urge to make a run for it bubbled up again.
If the woman couldn’t even give a straight answer to such a simple question, how could any further answers possibly be trusted?
Hard to say!
While it was certainly possible that this woman had helped her stall Symboli Rudolf, her true motives—whether good or ill—were a complete mystery.
If she’d been cornered and this escalated into something even more troublesome, she might as well have just turned herself in to Symboli Rudolf.
At the very least, knowing the Emperor’s character, she wouldn’t be treated with undue malice.
“My apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment, recalling some things from the past.”
Maruzensky finally snapped out of her reverie, offering a timely explanation for her silence.
“You might have misunderstood my previous comment. It wasn’t that complicated—I simply have an interest in racing against an Uma Musume capable of defeating Symboli Rudolf.”
“Hmm... you may have heard of me. My name is... Mr. C.B.”
Mr. C.B...?
Wait, Mr. C.B.?!
The name sounded vaguely familiar to Starlight Trajectory. She lowered her head in thought for a moment, and then, a spark of recognition struck.
An image flashed in her mind: that particular Uma Musume, standing tall after a championship victory.
‘If I remember correctly... no, there’s no way I’m remembering this wrong...!’
‘She is that other Classic Triple Crown winner, the one who competed in the same generation as the "Emperor"—the Uma Musume who refused to be bound by anything!’
Another Triple Crown winner!
Although the "Undefeated" Triple Crown belonged to the Emperor alone, and having other Triple Crown winners wasn't exactly rare, it was undeniable that every single Uma Musume who achieved that title was a standout among the millions of runners since the founding of URA.
Whether or not they were considered "undefeated" was merely a distinction of whether they had won races outside of the Triple Crown.
However, the prestige of pre-triple crown races didn't quite carry the same weight.
Most of those were dominated by Uma Musume who had reached their peak early; those who developed on a more standard, gradual timeline simply couldn't compete with them.
So, the gap between the "undefeated" and the typical Triple Crown winners wasn't actually as vast as one might imagine.
“Well? Can you trust me now?”
A faint smile touched Maruzensky’s lips. In those brief seconds, she could clearly see the look in the other girl’s eyes shift from wariness to confusion, and finally, to pure astonishment.
‘Sorry, C.B., I’m just borrowing your name for a bit.’
‘It’s not my fault the Supercar... never had the chance to run in the Derby.’
Maruzensky offered a completely insincere apology in her heart.
She could have used her own "Supercar" moniker, but it likely wouldn't have been nearly as effective as "Mr. C.B."
In that star-studded generation, the two most prominent figures—Symboli Rudolf and Mr. C.B.—were forever heralded by the public as eternal rivals.
Whenever the "Emperor" was mentioned, someone was bound to bring up Mr. C.B.; even Katsuragi Ace, who had defeated the Emperor at the Japan Cup, had to take a backseat in that conversation.
As for her, the "Supercar"... she hadn't appeared in the same generation as the Emperor. Her career had been filled with too many regrets, and even participating in the Triple Crown had been a pipe dream...
“Honestly, stalling Rudolf was just a whim. I’m simply intrigued by any Uma Musume who can topple the Emperor. That’s all.”
Since she was already wearing Mr. C.B.’s mask, Maruzensky decided to lean into it a little further.
Back in the day, Mr. C.B. was always kept under Symboli Rudolf’s thumb during races. No matter how free-spirited she was, it would be a lie to say she held no resentment—that was just the nature of an Uma Musume.
So, being curious about someone who could beat an old rival—curious enough to pull an all-nighter just to corner them—was a perfectly plausible reason!
If only Mr. C.B. weren't so hard to track down, Symboli Rudolf would have told her about this herself. If she had, it wouldn’t just be Maruzensky standing guard over Starlight Trajectory right now.
Just as Maruzensky had hoped, Starlight Trajectory was mostly convinced by her story.
The only lingering doubt was...
‘Is this really what Mr. C.B. is like?’
Though Starlight Trajectory wasn't exactly close with Mr. C.B., she couldn't help but feel that the woman’s demeanor was different from what she’d imagined.
Still, relying on assumptions to judge people was foolish, so she let it slide.
“Since I’ve revealed my identity, it’s only fair that, by the rules... it’s your turn.”
Seeing that the time was ripe, after much careful framing, Maruzensky finally revealed her true fangs.
The cat was out of the bag!
Starlight Trajectory, having let her guard down, didn't sense the trap. After a moment of hesitation, she finally relented and gave her real name:
“Starlight Trajectory.”
Anyway, she didn't know Mr. C.B. personally; surely it wouldn't matter if she told her, right...?
“Heh, Trajectory... what a cute name.”
“Cute...?”
The word triggered that sense of incongruity once again. Starlight Trajectory couldn't fathom that the free and wild Mr. C.B. would speak in such a tone.
Did I... just make a huge mistake?!
A thought flashed into her mind, unbidden and impossible to shake off.
“Trainer Mano Kaede...”
“No, I should call you Starlight Trajectory now.”
Maruzensky stepped out of the shadows and into the pool of light, making no effort to hide the smirk on her face as she whispered to the dark-bay Uma Musume:
“You wouldn't want your secret—that you’re an Uma Musume—to reach Symboli Rudolf’s ears, would you?”
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 99
--+--
“You wouldn't want your secret—that you’re an Uma Musume—to reach Symboli Rudolf’s ears, would you?”
Maruzensky strolled over to the side of the dark bay-haired girl, her flippant tone laced with an unmistakable sense of delight.
However, after a few moments passed, the girl still stood there with a sullen expression, offering no reaction whatsoever.
This quickly eroded most of the excitement Maruzensky had felt about her little reveal.
"Huh? Why aren't you reacting?"
Waving a hand in front of the other girl's face, a perplexed Maruzensky reached out with her index finger and poked Starlight Trajectory's cheek.
Though she still received no reply, the sensation from her fingertips felt surprisingly delightful, prompting her to boldly reach out and pinch it.
Then... it was as if she had discovered a New World, and she simply couldn't stop.
"I never would have guessed... Trainer Mano Kaede uses skincare products? Your skin is in such great condition."
And this texture—it was simply unfair!
Caught up in her sudden playful mood, Maruzensky looked left and right, completely forgetting the issue of exposing someone's identity.
Moreover, she felt a bizarre, overwhelming urge rising within her: she absolutely had to see Starlight Trajectory perform on the Winner’s Stage!
It was such a waste for someone with such raw potential not to debut as an idol.
'Since she has a name like an Uma Musume, that means she must have raced before... or at least considered pursuing that path, right?'
'If she has raced in the Central circuit, there should be footage of it, including her stage performances. I should be able to find it through the URA channels...'
A few more moments ticked by until Starlight Trajectory finally snapped out of her daze, only to realize her cheeks were being ruthlessly kneaded by a pair of unfamiliar hands.
Her eyes darted around nimbly as she took a quick, two-second assessment of her situation...
"?!!! What are you doing!"
"Besides, who even is Mano Kaede? Is that some famous trainer?"
Starlight Trajectory slapped away Maruzensky's restless hands and scrambled back several steps, her face flushing crimson.
No matter how friendly someone might be, this level of intimacy was way over the line!
How could a dignified Triple Crown Uma Musume be so indecent!
If she hadn't come back to her senses when she did, Starlight Trajectory suspected it wouldn't have just been her cheeks that suffered.
'This situation is looking pretty dire, though...'
Starlight Trajectory hadn't expected 'Mr. C.B.' to actually know her.
It was possible her identity had been unmasked by the other girl from the very start, and the subsequent negotiation was just a ploy to squeeze her registered racing name out of her.
But... she had never even met Mr. C.B. once, and she hadn't exactly made a name for herself in the months since arriving at the academy. There was no way the other girl could have identified her at a single glance.
Even if there was something suspicious going on, she absolutely could not admit to being 'Mano Kaede' under any circumstances!
She had already lost her identity as a man; all that remained was the perception everyone else had of her.
At the very least, when she first arrived at Tracen Academy, she had joined as a man. Symboli Rudolf knew this, Tokai Teio knew this, and many others still held that impression of her from that time.
As long as Starlight Trajectory didn't go around announcing it herself, perhaps things could stay as they were—it was one of the few pieces of solace she had left for her past.
But if her identity as an Uma Musume were to be exposed, wouldn't even that last trace of her old self disappear forever?
She couldn't let that happen!
Even though Starlight Trajectory had retreated back into the shadows, Maruzensky had caught a glimpse of her flushed cheeks before she had pulled away.
'What a cute reaction... Is she embarrassed because her identity was exposed?'
While she found the dark bay-haired girl's reaction amusing, she didn't realize it was her own actions that had caused it. As for what Starlight Trajectory had said, Maruzensky simply dismissed it as playing hard to get, not taking it to heart at all.
"Alright, alright, I was just joking. I won't use this to demand anything from you, and I won't tell Rudolf about this either. You can rest easy."
"Of course, I do want to see for myself exactly what kind of strength an Uma Musume who could beat the Emperor possesses."
Maruzensky walked back to the girl's side, playfully stroking the ponytail tied at the back of Starlight Trajectory's head.
In truth, the hairstyle had been the telltale feature that allowed her to see through Starlight Trajectory's identity at a glance.
Feeling the sensation on the tips of her hair, Starlight Trajectory shook her head, whipping her ponytail out of Maruzensky's grip, and suddenly realized why she had been exposed so quickly.
She usually let her hair hang loose during training, but in a rare moment of carelessness—having been away from campus for a week—she had habitually tied it back like she always did.
Speaking of hair, through the faint light of the lamps, Starlight Trajectory could finally get a good look at this 'Mr. C.B.' She was an Uma Musume with smooth, glossy, brown wavy hair.
That style was rarely seen; in fact, looking across all of Japan, it was quite... unique.
More importantly, she had seen another Uma Musume at Tracen Academy with the exact same hairstyle.
That was none other than the 'Supercar'—Maruzensky, who had finished her career with a perfect 8-0 record!
She would occasionally see her by Symboli Rudolf's side; the two were always laughing and chatting whenever they were together.
Even at the Chukyo Cup, which Oguri Cap had participated in, they had been there to watch together. They clearly had a close relationship, and they likely sparred with each other in private.
With such a distinctive style, it would be almost impossible for it to be a coincidence.
'In other words, she's not Mr. C.B. at all—she's Maruzensky, masquerading under someone else's name!'
'No wonder I felt such a strong sense of dissonance...'
Well, well. So she was wearing a mask too.
That explained why she had been paying attention to her. Because she and Oguri Cap had both come to the Central circuit from Kasamatsu, and both had been assigned to Musaka Ginjirou's team, it was only natural that Maruzensky, who always kept a close eye on Oguri Cap, would have noticed her as well.
Although Starlight Trajectory had realized the truth, she had no intention of exposing Maruzensky just yet.
After all, she wanted to see what Maruzensky was really up to, going so far as to steal someone else's identity just to make contact with her.
Since her own cover was already blown, she might as well wait until the other girl showed her true intentions, then use that to turn the tables and reclaim the advantage!
'Heh heh... Maruzensky, you wouldn't want the Emperor to know you were hiding something about me, would you?'
Even if Symboli Rudolf didn't care about Maruzensky's little stunts, what if she told Mr. C.B. about this?
All in all, the upper hand was hers!
Starlight Trajectory could already imagine the scene when their roles were reversed.
Still, while she was thinking that, denying her identity was a necessary formality.
"About the racing... we can talk about it, but I really don't know any Mano Kaede!"
Maruzensky, completely unaware that the power dynamic had shifted, couldn't help but let out a yawn; she had no intention of arguing about that.
"Alright, alright, I understand. Miss Starlight Trajectory, who doesn't know Trainer Mano Kaede."
She was getting sleepy again...
Once the rush of excitement faded, Maruzensky remembered it was the middle of the night. She had been so tired earlier that she had actually fallen asleep right against the railing.
"It's getting too late tonight. Meet me tomorrow at the first coffee shop on the street to the right of the main gate."
"I never agreed to that." Starlight Trajectory was taken aback by how easily the other girl had made the decision for her.
"I think Miss Starlight Trajectory is just as interested in chatting with me as I am in getting some answers, so I'm sure you won't turn down such a reasonable request, will you?"
Maruzensky spoke to herself, disregarding whether the person involved had any objections, and wandered off into the distance, yawning as she went.
--+--
Is it Wrong to Skip Racing? - 100
--+--
The following day, at high noon.
Though the past week had been filled with too much turbulence for Starlight Trajectory, she still chose to handle her professional duties with care once the daylight hours arrived.
After all, with only ten days left until the next race—the Mainichi Hai—she could not allow her personal affairs to hinder Oguri Cap’s progress.
For instance, at this very moment, she was not at the location she had agreed upon with Maruzensky. Instead, she was still in the activity room, summarizing Oguri Cap’s morning training.
Oguri Cap, Tokai Teio, and Belno Light sat gathered on both sides of a square table, while Starlight sat at the short end, holding a tablet and scrolling through the pages with her fingertips.
After tidying up the speed and training metrics, Starlight finally set the tablet down and asked Oguri Cap:
"After this recent stint of endurance training, how are you feeling, Oguri?"
"I feel like I can run even faster now!"
The response came almost instantly, delivered with great spirit.
Of course, if one were to selectively ignore the fact that her belly had become round and plump from a post-workout feast, the answer might have been even more convincing.
That’s just your imagination.
Endurance training is notoriously slow to show results; one week wouldn't even count as a last-minute effort, and the data she had recorded over the past few days aligned perfectly with this.
Although Starlight desperately wanted to point this out, she looked at Oguri Cap’s vibrant, energetic expression and ultimately gave in, affectionately ruffling the gray-haired Uma Musume’s head.
"Excellent. Keep up that state of mind."
She hadn't really expected immediate, miraculous results from short-term training anyway.
The reason she had arranged it this way was more to build upon the foundation and continue refining the compatibility between Oguri Cap and the Tracen Academy track.
Therefore, being in a "good state" was proof enough that the training was effective.
As Starlight was still patting Oguri’s head, she suddenly felt her hem being tugged.
Looking down, she found that Tokai Teio had slipped from her seat to her side at some point, making no attempt to hide the longing shining in her eyes.
"Trainer-san, I want some too!"
Knowing Tokai Teio’s temperament well, Starlight had no choice but to free up her hand to soothe the little filly.
Belno Light, who had been observing the data, looked up to see this scene and felt, for some reason, like she didn't quite fit into this team.
Why is it that I always get the feeling... that Trainer Mano is more of a parent figure?
After a small, mental sigh, she turned her attention to recording the analytical notes on her tablet, soon noticing the issue in the previous dialogue.
"Trainer Mano, this data..."
Realizing it might be inappropriate to be blunt while Oguri Cap was still nearby, Belno hesitated, but Starlight understood what she wanted to convey and smiled as she explained:
"The Mainichi Hai is a 2000-meter race. This is the first time Oguri is facing a mid-distance race, so the focus of our training needs to transition from track adaptation to distance adaptation."
In reality, from the moment Oguri Cap arrived at the central track until now, both Musaka Ginjirou and Starlight had focused their training plans primarily on adaptation.
Because Oguri Cap possessed such a high level of natural ability, specialized training was far more effective than just slowly getting accustomed to things through routine drills.
"Oguri, back at the Pegasus Stakes, you should have had quite a bit of stamina left at the end, right?"
"Eh?!"
Belno Light looked toward Oguri Cap in surprise, then back at Starlight, completely unaware of this situation.
Every time a race of Oguri’s concluded, she was the first one on the track to handle logistics, so she felt she should have been the most informed on the matter.
Yet, here was Starlight, even from far away, identifying the issue while she herself had noticed nothing at the time.
If that excess stamina could be properly distributed into the race, couldn't she have achieved even better results?
"I won’t leave any behind now!"
Seemingly dissatisfied with her trainer’s lack of trust, Oguri Cap immediately stood up and declared with firm conviction.
"Of course I believe you won’t, but it’s better to be safe than sorry," Starlight laughed. "I’ll have Tamamo Cross come over to help with sparring; that will be very helpful for deepening your understanding of your own stamina limits."
"I recall you hitting a wall once back in Kasamatsu. If you don't experiment and try things out like this many times, it’s hard to realize where your limits truly lie..."
As she said this, her smile suddenly stiffened, remembering that she hadn't been on the scene at the time. She hurriedly added:
"Cough, cough—these are all things Kitahara told me. He compiled all your records from Kasamatsu."
Feigning a cough and acting as composed as possible, Starlight cast a cautious glance at Oguri Cap.
Seeing that the gray-haired Uma Musume was looking at her with an expression of pure, moving adoration, and didn't seem to suspect a thing, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Thinking about how Maruzensky had managed to deduce her identity last night based on only two or three similarities, and comparing that to her own current, pathetic excuse for a disguise, Starlight couldn't help but feel a flicker of solace.
If only all the Uma Musume were as simple-minded as Oguri Cap...
Then again, it might just be a matter of familiarity. Because Maruzensky and she were far from being close acquaintances, there weren't those cognitive obstacles in the way.
Sometimes, just putting on or taking off glasses, changing one’s hairstyle, or hiding features like her white blaze was enough to make a huge difference to someone who knew her well.
"Let’s call it a day here. Oguri and Light have classes in the afternoon, so use the remaining time to get some rest."
"Teio, I have some things to take care of this afternoon, so I won’t be able to keep you company today... Be a good girl. I really can't this time—I'll take you out to play another day."
Following the farewells from Oguri Cap and Belno Light, and some fussing from Tokai Teio, the team members left the activity room one by one, leaving Starlight alone.
"Maruzensky didn't set a specific time either, so I can't just hang around the shop all afternoon waiting... Hmm? An unknown caller?"
--+--