Author's Note: I am not an editor or a pro writer. I will write this the best I can and edit it the best I can. I also do not own Uma Musume, for it is owned by Cygames. Watch the animes, and read the mangas for they are pretty good. Finally, please enjoy.
Great Wonder POV
We were assigned to visit teams and organizations that Gray had researched. I had grown up in a very wealthy family, and unlike the nouveau riche who simply spoiled their children, I was trained from a young age to navigate business relationships, secure favorable deals, and expand our family's influence and wealth. Because of that upbringing, I wasn't surprised to find that many of the teams and organizations we visited were either so underfunded they couldn't meet even basic demands, or so sketchy they bordered on criminal.
I had seen every side of business—starting as a naïve child and growing into a seasoned adult—constantly working to improve myself and safeguard my family's interests. Still, despite the endless negotiations and elite education, I found ways to escape that world through hobbies.
Athletics became my refuge. I trained in self-defense, dance, weapons, and various sports, but running captivated me the most. I started with cross-country, then track, though my interest faded—until I discovered relays. The idea of working together toward a shared victory thrilled me. Those races were some of the happiest moments of my youth.
Eventually, I graduated and left that world behind. I married my husband, who was perpetually busy, and we had children. I stayed in shape for my health, but something inside me felt unfulfilled. That changed when a friend invited me to participate in a small local marathon. The sense of community, the joy of running, and the energy of the crowd reignited something I had been missing.
From there, I dove in headfirst. I participated in every marathon I could, volunteered at others, and even organized some myself. Before long, people began calling me Momma Marathon. Thanks to my athletic background, I was genuinely skilled—and I never allowed that foundation to fade.
Returning to the present, when I learned about freestyle racing—with its relays, marathon flats, and hybrid formats—I was immediately intrigued. I began researching on my own and quickly discovered that the sport was still small in this country. As expected, most of the teams and organizations we visited were either poorly managed or deeply questionable. After thoroughly inspecting each one, I rejected them and explained my reasoning to Vic and Gray after every visit.
There were a few exceptions—organizations that were neither poor nor sketchy—but once they heard our demands, they politely declined. Some wanted full control over us, while others admitted they had no expectations at all. We were on the verge of forming our own team when Rose suggested a compromise: meeting potential partners halfway. If we were going to work with others, she said, we had to consider their growth as well—not just our own.
She was right. We realized we had been selfish. Still, we wanted creative freedom, strategic control, and the ability to incorporate musical performances. With that new mindset, we began searching for organizations that were flexible and ambitious—partners we could help grow into something bigger.
That's when I had a realization: instead of looking for teams, why not find a sports agency with connections to the Freestyle Running League? After I suggested it, we immediately began searching.
Eventually, we found a small agency that fit perfectly. It was run by a single agent with a handful of assistants. When we met her, we were surprised—she looked like an older version of Seeking the Pearl. After asking questions specific to our world, we learned she had no past-life memories and wasn't an Uma Musume; she simply resembled her.
She agreed to meet us formally and stated that her only conditions were meeting the entire team and testing our abilities on the track.
Rose and the agent quickly bonded, leading us to schedule a team evaluation the very next day. Thanks to Rose's persuasion, the groundskeeper and city hall allowed us to book a public track. A crowd gathered as we ran, and by the time we finished, the spectators—and especially the agent—were clearly impressed.
She initially introduced herself only to Rose, but after the run, she gathered us together and said:
"Hello, everyone. I am Ayana Hiraga. I believe all of you are exceptionally talented, and I'm grateful to have met you. Please treat me well—I will do everything I can to represent you."
We applauded, and everyone introduced themselves, myself included. She was surprised by some of our more eccentric personalities but remained composed. Soon after, she introduced several trainers to help us adjust to our new bodies, along with dietitians and instructors to support us while she searched for a team willing to work with us.
Unfortunately, many of those assigned to us were overworked or limited in expertise. Once we reached the limits of what they could teach, there was little left to gain.
That made Ayana's next news all the more important.
She had found a potential partner—but it was unexpected. A fashion brand wanted to create a team to compete internationally in freestyle racing. While the sport was more popular overseas, it was strange for a Japanese company to prioritize global recognition before local success. Still, they agreed to all our demands and were willing to fund everything.
We knew we had to see it for ourselves.
Rose, Vic, Mama, Gray, and I accompanied Ayana, while the rest of the team stayed at a nearby Airbnb. The meeting was in a different city from the large town where we had arrived.
Soon, we found ourselves standing before the headquarters of Dark Wear Fashion.