"Eh!? You're leaving early, Star-aneue!?" Inari One shouted.
Blossom Star nodded, smiling faintly as she offered a small towel. "I am, yes. I'll be returning to our hometown for the last two weeks of the camp." She turned to Fujimasa March, who was lying on the sand with a tired expression. "The rest of my team will be going as well. It has been quite some time since we last met our friends and family, and this is the best chance we have." She explained, and March agreed with a silent nod.
Inari muttered a soft 'thank you' as she took the towel and began wiping the sweat on her face. "Aah, so that's why…" She muttered, thinking of her own family.
She grinned as she thought of those ragtag misfits who had taken her as their own. She'd been a little umamusume back then, too afraid to do anything but hug the leg of a tori gate and wait for her parents to find her. It was Boss that first looked at that crybaby and told her that she could be something more.
"Ah, what's Kasamatsu like, Star-aneue?"
At that, Star hummed. "It's fairly small and quaint; a typical region-side town you'd see from pictures and all." She hummed as she glanced at the ocean. "There's not much to do there, especially compared to Tokyo."
March hummed in agreement. "Yeah. It's pretty boring." She smiled. "But it's still home."
Star blinked, and then smiled. "That's true."
Inari nodded enthusiastically, before she paused. The talk reminded her that Star and March would be leaving in a few days. And she didn't know if she'd ever get another chance like this in the future. Star always seemed so busy in Tracen, and she appeared even more rarely than someone like Obey Your Master.
Which meant there was no more time to hesitate!
"Star-aneue!" She stood straight, and with a serious expression, she delivered her most dedicated bow. "Please race with me!"
Star blinked. "Race? But we've done that many times before, haven't we?"
"No, not training." Inari shook her head before she fearlessly met Star's gaze. "I wanna race with ya', no holding back." She clenched her fist. "Don't know when I'll get tha' chance to run against you again, Star-aneue. So I'll take this chance." She grinned fiercely, her pupils seeming to sharpen like a vulpine's. "Please, let me run against you!"
Star's expression had steadily sharpened throughout her explanation, and by the end of it, the Star that stood before her was no longer the usual laid-back Blossom Star, but the heroic White Comet who had dazzled millions with her overpowering Great Escapes. "Are you sure?"
Just three words were spoken, and yet Inari unconsciously took a step back from the sudden pressure that descended around them. Even March, more than used to how Star usually was, couldn't help but gulp as her eyes went back-and-forth between her and Inari.
This wasn't the first time she'd seen this. It was simply Star's way of showing respect to her opponent—showing that she wouldn't hold herself back, even in something as paltry as a practice race. It happened most with Oguri and Belno, who she raced with most often during training.
But, for Star to show that same pressure to a seemingly unknown umamusume like Inari One–
March glanced at Inari with a complicated look.
Just who are you?
And again, she felt that rising brimstone in the back of her throat—a bubbling, regretful jealousy that threatened to burst through her chest. She did her best to force that ugly feelings back down, but they continued rising regardless.
Unknowing of March's complicated gaze, Inari returned a dazzling grin. "Of course!" She said back. She stomped her foot down into the sand, and illuminated by the harsh sunlight, it almost looked as if paint-like flames were rising from her calves. "I am Inari One—a child of Edo!" She thrust her first forward. "You showed me that prestige or bloodline doesn't have to determine our strength, that we were all born to run!"
And at that, Star grinned. "I don't dislike the enthusiasm." She said, before she turned towards Yusuhara Tarou, who'd been watching from the sideline. "Is there a racecourse anywhere close to here, Yusuhara-san?"
Tarou frowned slightly as he combed through his memories. "There are no races officially held here in Okinawa." He began as he closed his eyes. "Though I believe there is a local Tracen just east of Naha? I am unsure, but I can quickly check if that is true." His gaze returned to her. "I assume you wish to borrow their track if this is indeed true?"
"Please." She nodded. "And if you need to, you can also ask Kitahara for some help."
He nodded back. "I'll do just that."
After that, things got a little…hectic.
It wasn't as if the spot they'd taken for our training had been particularly secluded, and combined with Inari's shouting, our plan to hold a small practice race had been exposed in mere minutes. And soon enough, practically everyone in the summer camp knew that Inari One had challenged Blossom Star to a race, and she'd accepted.
Which was big. Really big. Not just because Star had been incredibly secretive this year around, but also because those that'd been with her from a year back knew that Star wasn't one to accept practice runs with simple acquaintances.
The fact that Star had accepted Inari's request meant two things: Either Inari and Star had become friends in so little time, or Star believed that Inari had the potential. And considering the fact that Inari had continued training under Star's guidance despite the hellish conditions she endured?
It was safe to say that Inari One wouldn't be having any peaceful outings anytime soon.
Growing commotion aside, Director Akiakwa naturally caught wind of their plan for a practice race and was more than happy to accommodate. Alas, this was the Director, and her excitement for everything umamusume quickly bled over as the previously simple plan soon grew into something far more grandiose.
And by the end of it,
The principal of Naha Tracen, a portly old man, quickly wiped his brow as he gulped. "I-I thank you for coming today, Akikawa-sama." He stuttered, still barely able to comprehend the fact that his usually remote Tracen was now filled with hundreds of umamusume, all hailing from Central.
His Tracen's track, usually empty and sparse, was now in the process of being cleaned up. Dozens of staff from Tracen Central bustled all around the track, while others were slowly making their way through the now-crowded stands, giving snacks and drinks to the hundreds of students who'd all come after hearing about the upcoming race.
"Gratitude! It is I that must thank you for kindly providing us this space!" Director Akikawa said, flashing open a fan with the word 'Thank You!' written across it. "I didn't think we would have such trouble finding a suitable racecourse. It is only by luck that you were also here at this time!"
The principal laughed awkwardly, both grateful for the praise, but also quietly wishing he'd instead chosen to relax and stayed home. After all, with URA's disbandment, Director Akikawa quite literally controlled all of Japan's racing; if he made even one misstep, his Tracen could very well be wiped off the face of the planet!
Not that something so dramatic would ever happen. Director Akikawa loved umamusume more than anything else; disbanding a Tracen for something so menial was something she'd never do.
Alas, the principal could only stew in his growing terror, afraid that even speaking out would cause something wrong.
And meanwhile, Inari One stood just outside the track, watching with wide eyes as the staff swept through the track like a storm, cleaning through years of disrepair in mere minutes. Even now, she couldn't believe that this professional-looking track had looked like an abandoned yard just minutes before!
Besides her, Blossom Star just smiled wryly. "Well, this has certainly ballooned into something unexpected." She said, before she chuckled. "Still, I suppose this only shows the dedication our Director shows for racing."
"I think 'dedicated' is putting it lightly." Someone said, and Inari turned around just in time to see Obey Your Master walking towards them, her smile both awkward yet proud. Just like Inari and Star, she too had changed her clothes into some gym clothes she'd borrowed from Naha Tracen's storage. "More like obsessed."
Belno Light giggled, also dressed in her own gym clothes. "Akikawa-san is very energetic, but I don't mind."
Oguri Cap nodded, her tail wagging as she smoothed out the gym clothes she'd put on minutes before.
Inari One gulped.
She hadn't expected this. At all. She'd made her request thinking that she'd be racing only against Star, and maybe March if she also joined in. But somehow the script had been completely flipped, and she found herself about to race against some of the most powerful umamusume of this era.
Still–
Inari grinned, her eyes sharpening as she felt the collective pressure in the air. This might not be what she'd expected, but she'd be a failure if she backed down now! This was an unexpected windfall she had to make use of if she wanted to become the strongest umamusume!
Naturally, her enthusiasm didn't go unseen, and the subtle weight she carried was easily felt, especially since the four of them either had already unlocked their Domains, or were intimately familiar with the feeling.
And so, even someone like Oguri found her eyes narrowing slightly. "This…" She whispered, though she then noticed the way Star had placed a finger over her lips. She subtly nodded and kept the rest of her words unsaid.
That was right. There was no need for speculation.
All they needed to do was to run.