To call Inari One's entrance 'explosive' would be an understatement.
Domains were no longer the hidden superpower it once was, but it was still a realm exclusive to a select few. An umamusume could go their entire lives having never met their Limits, and those that've encountered that towering wall knew just how insanely difficult it was to make a breakthrough.
And suddenly here comes Inari One; essentially a no-name rookie who'd just recently moved to Central after mainly racing in local circuits. There was a healthy dose of skepticism when she openly declared that she'd challenge me in a race, and that skepticism only grew when that simple practice race then ballooned to include Oguri, Belno, and Obey.
Yet Inari showed that she wasn't someone to be underestimated. Despite being so far behind that victory was impossible, despite seeing just how much more she needed to climb if she wanted to contend at our level—she didn't give up. The grit she was known for had blossomed into a roaring flame, and in a shower of blinding foxfire, Inari's Domain made its first appearance in this world.
It didn't matter that Inari One came in last place; everyone's focus turned to the fact that another umamusume now possessed a Domain. Director Akikawa's passionate speech during Inari's awakening remained especially vivid in everyone's mind, with people jokingly commenting that the Director could have a side gig as an announcer.
The fact that the Director somehow managed to see a Domain went entirely over everyone's head.
And since I didn't want to have a sniper pointed at my skull, I made no mention of it either.
"Five…hundred…!" Inari One screamed out before she collapsed onto the sand, her face covered in sweat and sand as her arms and legs trembled. She'd just completed her third set of jumping jacks, and from the looks of it, she wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.
"Congratulations. You reached the goal this time around." I said.
Meanwhile, Yusuhara Tarou stared at Inari One in complete shock, having accidentally dropped his clipboard into the sand. "That was…" He whispered, barely able to believe that Inari had actually reached the goal I'd set for her today.
His surprise was well warranted, considering Inari had only managed to do around 300 jacks before she completely exhausted herself, and yet in the span of a few days, she suddenly jumped to being able to do 500.
"This is expected." I told him, recalling the details Tamamo had told me about her own awakening. "For a few weeks, Inari would be far stronger than normal, before all that energy will burn away." I smiled slightly. "Once that happens she'll return to normal, but given enough time and dedication, she can train herself back to this level and more."
Tarou took a moment to register everything I'd said, before he nodded slowly. "...so this is the power of a Domain." He concluded. I nodded, and he hummed. "It's just a shame that I'm unable to see it."
"You will, someday." I said with confidence. And while Tarou looked rather confused at where my confidence was coming from, he was grateful to see that I had such faith in his trainee.
"That's…right…!" Inari One gasped out, raising her fist towards him. "Just-, ya' wait, Boy! I'm…headin' to the…big stage!"
Tarou sighed at being called 'Boy' again, though he couldn't quite hide the fond smile on his lips.
"By the…way, Star-aneue…" Inari took a quick breath before she slowly sat up. "Where's March? I haven't seen her today."
At that, my expression turned a little awkward, and I struggled to keep a frown from my face as I recalled those words March had spoken to me this early morning. "She is busy today." I said instead, forcing a wink to downplay my true feelings. "We're going back soon, so she's out getting some gifts when we're back home."
…I'd need to have a good long talk with her before we left Okinawa. It'd be awkward as all hell, but if I didn't nip this in the bud, then this could spiral into an entirely different issue.
What a mess.
"Ah, that's right." Inari's ears drooped down. "You're leaving soon aren't you, Star-aneue?"
I nodded. "In five days." I said, and then smiled as I patted her head. "Don't be too sad. This isn't goodbye just yet, and we can still meet once we're back in Tracen Central." I grinned. "Don't be shy. Feel free to drop by our clubroom whenever you want. I can't guarantee I'll always be there, but it's the best place you can find us."
"Team Kitahara's clubroom…" Inari whispered in awe.
Meanwhile, Tarou was more than happy at the invitation. "Then we'll drop by when we have the time, Blossom-san."
I flashed him a thumbs up.
…
Hours went by after that, and as midnight approached, the condos Director Akikawa had rented for the students gradually fell silent as the students soon fell asleep. Each room turned dark as lights were turned off, and soon enough even the lights in the hallways were deactivated, plunging the buildings into darkness.
But there was one room that remained dimly lit, illuminated only by a faint desk light.
Fujimasa March sighed softly as she completed a log of today's observations. Or rather, she'd finally managed to finish the observations she'd made from the trial race held a few days ago.
Though it was only a trial race, none of the runners were holding back by any means. She'd attained plenty just from insight alone, and she had a few questions she needed to ask Belno Light to see if her assumptions held true. Alas, that'd have to wait. Her current roommate was already long asleep.
…tch.
She silently grit her teeth. Finishing this report had been rough. Not just because she could still barely believe what she'd seen, but also because of the terrible, terrible feelings she could feel even now. Even just thinking about what she'd witnessed made her entire throat burn, and it took her all she had not to punch a hole in the wall.
Because–!
Because–
…because what else did she have left? Inari One cleanly showed that March didn't deserve to be here. Inari One had completely blown her out of the water, and it wasn't even a competition. At first, she believed that Star's training had helped close the gap, even if slightly, but now she saw the truth; the gap had only grown wider—her friends were becoming even more unreachable.
Fujimasa March remained an outsider to Team Kitahara. Her talent, her skills—they didn't match this legendary team she'd been adopted into. As a fact, Inari One likely fitted far better into the mold. Her growth was terrifying, her spirit was undaunted in the face of defeat, and she even demonstrated aptitude on both Turf and Dirt.
Compared to her, March was the one that felt like a cheap copy.
Ha.
Haha.
A soft laugh bubbled past her lips. And then it grew louder, grew more manic, more frazzled. But she forced herself to keep quiet, even if it meant physically wrenching her own jaw shut. She couldn't be loud—Belno Light was still asleep, and she'd feel even more terrible if she accidentally woke her up.
But the laughter continued. It rose past the brimstone in the back of her throat, escaping as soft croaks and sobs as tears built in her eyes. A pained grimace stretched across her lips as she dragged her hands across her face, almost as if she was trying to rip her own face off.
She continued laughing softly, barely held back by biting her own lips. The notebook she'd been writing on began crumpling as tears fell onto the paper.
What was the point of all this?
…
Minutes later, her laughter had finally gone away, but it left her feeling raw, like someone had scraped out the inside of her chest and left it hollow. She took a shuddering breath as she quickly wiped her eyes. "I need to sleep." She whispered, her voice still coarse after what she'd endured.
Just then–
March's ears twitched as she heard a soft scraping, and she turned just in time to see a slip of paper slide under the door and into the room. She blinked in surprise, and after some hesitation, she walked over the picked it up.
On the other side was a message. "Come to the beach." It read, seemingly having been written by Oguri. For a moment, she wondered if someone had managed to faithfully recreate Oguri's chicken-scratch, but she quickly shook the thought away. Such levels of dedication to something so menial wasn't something anyone would do.
Which meant that the likeliest possibility was Oguri genuinely asking her to head to the beach.
But…why? Why to the beach? Why now? Was it because she'd missed today's training?
…forget it. She could save the questions for when she finally met up with her.
Taking a deep breath, she folded the paper and stuffed it into her pocket. She then grabbed her keys, and as quietly as she could, she locked the door behind her and began making her way towards the beach the condo was built right next to.