"A debut with a victory... not bad."
Yayoi murmured as she turned off the transmission and started spinning in her chair.
There were no bad feelings about this, but it still wasn't enough; competing at the national level was very different from competing at the regional level.
"But he's very confident she'll make it."
She looked at the two documents on the desk that had arrived the same day.
They were the required registration documents to become a national-level racehorse girl.
"Fujimasa March... and Oguri Cap."
She wouldn't admit it out loud, but the one she had the most hope for going to the nationals out of the two of them was Oguri Cap... her performance today was more than phenomenal, and the only thing that tarnishes it is March's victory.
"You have a good eye..."
She had to murmur a compliment for Kiyoshi, but with that also came a question.
"But why didn't you recruit her, then?"
It was better to stop thinking about that; it made no sense to question Kiyoshi's behavior, so she focused on her entertainment.
"Hehehe, it's time to finish the Nameless Demon manga."
She searched for her manga on the desk and then picked up the one she had left off on the night before.
"I am... a God?"
The title was already a big spoiler, but she still felt very curious to find out.
---
"Mmm."
Kiyoshi touched his chin as he observed the darkness of the early morning sky.
After March's debut race, he had a brief meeting with the director of Trancen Academy, which March attended, but it was a quiet one as usual when it didn't involve him.
Afterwards, he invited her to eat and buy something, but she refused and simply went home.
He didn't insist; everyone needed their privacy.
But...
"You're upset... aren't you?"
He leaned back on the rooftop while the sound of footsteps could be heard from below.
There was no answer. The UmaMusume just walked to the lookout and silently contemplated the city under the night sky.
"Why?"
She asked into the void. Kiyoshi just remained silent, waiting for the UmaMusume to formulate her question completely.
Although that took many minutes, during which only silence reigned as March simply contemplated the city beneath her feet.
Undoubtedly, a view that made you feel on top of the world.
"Why did you choose me, and not Oguri Cap?"
"I like your hair more than Oguri's."
March's face twisted into a grimace of perplexity and embarrassment, but that didn't last long when anger appeared in her eyes.
"What kind of choice is that? She is..."
March froze in place when Kiyoshi physically stopped her words by flicking her forehead.
The pain, which shouldn't exist, was overwhelming, so much so that it made her step back and move her hands to touch the sore spot.
"You're very foolish, Marchi."
Kiyoshi said boredly while the UmaMusume had many questions in her head as she tried to minimize her pain.
"You should stop thinking those things."
Kiyoshi crossed his arms and looked at the moon, and just like the first time they met, he asked a question.
"What do you think of the moon?"
March felt confused and looked up.
The moon was very different from the first time Kiyoshi had asked a similar question.
But... she felt something different.
"It's blurry."
She murmured without realizing it, and a fleeting grimace formed on Kiyoshi's face before quickly disappearing.
"I see."
He now looked at the city and put his hand on March's head, giving her a few pats before the embarrassed and angry UmaMusume pushed it away.
"Tell me, March, if you're walking down a path, but that path is blocked, what do you do?"
"I look for a way to find another path."
March replied without much hesitation. Kiyoshi nodded at her answer and raised his hand, pointing at the city.
"That's a completely viable option, but if that's the only path leading to your goal, what will you do with that obstacle?"
March fell silent while thinking of her answer. It was clear there was a motive behind her trainer's question.
"Overcome it."
She said calmly, and Kiyoshi nodded.
"Even though I don't know why you have foolish thoughts, I'll only tell you once, and you have to remember it."
Kiyoshi turned and gave March a smile as he placed his hand on the UmaMusume's head.
"You are someone precious to me. No matter what happens or what you think, you will always be important, and becoming your trainer is a decision I will never regret, no matter if there are more beautiful umas."
All the feelings that had welled up inside her as she listened to her trainer's words vanished when she heard his last words.
"You really chose me because you think I'm cute...?"
"I've finished the emotional part. How about we start today's training? For breakfast, I'll make whatever you want."
March's bad mood disappeared quickly as the thought of eating what she wanted appeared in her mind.
"Mmm."
March nodded while crossing her arms; it would be good to start training.
"Good, let's go train."
She looked up and finally realized that Kiyoshi had at some point started playing with her ears.
"They're soft."
That was the last thing Kiyoshi said before finding himself in a headlock by an embarrassed and furious March, who only let him go when he promised her a new carrot dessert.
---
While Kiyoshi rode his bike boredly, March trotted beside him at a steady pace without needing to go too fast. Her face already showed traces of effort, while Kiyoshi simply kept pedaling to keep pace with her.
"In these last five days, you've improved with the use of that collar."
Bored of the silence, Kiyoshi spoke. March nodded.
"I discovered it only drains my energy at a certain speed. The more stamina I have, the more I'll notice my progress."
March puffed out her chest proudly at her great discovery, but Kiyoshi only looked at her with silent mockery, saying nothing about whether she was right or wrong.
"Tomorrow is the twenty-first."
Kiyoshi murmured as he watched the sun begin to emerge, welcoming a new day.
"And what's so important about tomorrow?"
March questioned without turning to look at her trainer.
"It's the birthday of an acquaintance."
Kiyoshi replied without giving much detail, and March just nodded.
She wondered if Kiyoshi's acquaintances were like him.
---
"A very good day."
Her ears twitched as she looked at the box on the table.
"Did you order it?"
Her mother looked at her with a raised eyebrow, and she simply nodded slightly.
"I saved up for this."
She lied. Anyway, no one would believe her if she said the person who sent it hadn't even met her in person yet.
Using a bit of strength, she opened the box with her own hands and carefully took out what was inside.
It was a cake decorated with several little carrot figures and the chibi face of the uma looking at her calmly.
"Happy birthday, Neo. Have a great day."
Her mother read it and wondered if her daughter had really ordered it to congratulate herself.
The cake showed no signs of having been damaged in shipping, so every detail was perfectly visible.
Even she felt it would be a shame to eat it.
"It's time to try it."
Her daughter's hands trembled a little, as if this cake were a millennia-old work of art and she was reluctant to lay a hand on it.
"But first, a photo."
Her mother said as she went to fetch something from the room and returned with a couple of t-shirts and her cell phone.
The little girl didn't argue and simply put on the t-shirt with a picture of her and her mother.
The photo was taken without much trouble, and both umas finally used a knife to cut the cake into pieces and serve themselves on small plates.
"It's time to try it."
She took a fork and cut a small piece to eat.
She remained silent for a few seconds and then continued eating quietly while her mother just watched curiously.
When she finished her piece of cake, she stayed silent, looking at the empty plate.
"Knowledge doesn't compare to real experience."
She silently looked at the rest of the cake and then at her stomach.
"I think I'll have a few more pieces."
Even ignoring her mother, Neo started eating more of the cake while her mother just let out a laugh and finally tried the cake herself.
"I see..."
And so, both UmaMusume continued eating the dessert in silence.
Thank you, master.
Neo thanked her master silently and continued eating with great happiness.
---
A new day had arrived in the city of Kasamatsu.
Children were getting ready for school, adults were grumpily going to work.
And the UmaMusume were waking up to do their daily routine.
"I still wonder why you three are so eager to train."
Kiyoshi said as he pedaled boredly, accompanied by Hiyori, who seemed a little tired after having cycled for a long time.
"That stinky little bunny..."
Norn murmured while continuing her steady pace.
Although her words were soft, her companions on the run and Kiyoshi could still hear them.
"Oguri..."
Kiyoshi murmured and simply let out a low chuckle.
"In a week and a half, you'll face her, right?"
Kiyoshi asked, and Norn opened her eyes in surprise.
"She's going to race?"
Norn turned around, wondering how he knew that.
"Don't ask how he knows. Ask yourself if he already knows what Oguri will eat; he's her number one fan."
March said dryly while continuing the pace without paying too much attention to her surroundings.
"Kiyoshi is a fan of that little bunny?"
Norn seemed even more incredulous as she turned to look at March, the same UmaMusume on the mentioned trainer's team.
"Hey, March, don't expose me!"
"Shameless."
Rudy and Mimi murmured at the same time while Kiyoshi basically confirmed what the gray-haired uma had said.
"But changing the subject..."
Kiyoshi leaned back on the bike and seemed thoughtful for a few seconds.
"If Oguri bothers you that much, you'll only end up sinking deeper."
The trainer spoke boredly, and March turned around, ready to stop him, as did Hiyori.
"You'd better cut that out."
Kiyoshi watched Norn and gave a cold smile.
"You won't beat her."
The group stopped. March simply sighed, taking advantage of the moment to catch her breath.
"Kiyoshi-san, that wasn't necessary..."
Hiyori murmured in panic while Norn just silently watched the black-haired man who started looking for something in the bag he carried.
"I don't care. I'm just telling the truth."
Kiyoshi took out several bottles, which Rudy and Mimi quickly grabbed without caring about the situation.
"It's stupid to have prejudices just because you don't feel good."
Kiyoshi offered a bottle to Norn.
"So that's why I'm telling you it's better to leave it behind and simply put in the effort if you really want to win."
March silently looked at Kiyoshi and approached quietly.
"Mine."
She demanded, and Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow while Norn took the offered bottle. Kiyoshi's face turned serious as he replied.
"I forgot it."
March froze, and the black-haired man smiled amusingly as he took another bottle out of the bag.
"It's a bad joke. Don't hit me again."
"It seems being March's trainer isn't so good if you get domestic violence."
Rudy murmured while watching Kiyoshi seem so small before the annoyed March, who was scolding him for making things up.
"If I were on Kiyoshi's team, I'd even carry him on my back if he gave me food every day."
Mimi murmured while wiping her mouth and then smiled cheerfully.
"Does he cook that well?"
Hiyori asked, and the three UmaMusume under her care looked at her strangely.
"Don't trainers eat from the cafeteria food?"
Norn asked after being quiet for a long time.
"Well... most of the food there is special for UmaMusume, so we prefer to eat our own dishes."
Hiyori murmured while watching the trainer and UmaMusume finally finish their argument.
"Well... lately, all the UmaMusume say the taste of the food has improved after Kiyoshi joined the cafeteria staff. The three days we were under his care, he gave us some of the food he prepared for himself, and I think if someday he and March go to the nationals, many UmaMusume will want to stop him."
Mimi said between giggles.
Many UmaMusume at the academy saw Kiyoshi as a prototype of what they want when they retire from racing.
Some even try to get close to the cook/trainer with clear intentions of knowing more about him.
"Although he looks young, no one who is a trainer is under 24."
Norn murmured, still a bit annoyed by the words Kiyoshi said a few minutes ago.
'You won't beat her.'
Norn squeezed the bottle a little harder while frowning.
'I know...'
She turned around and walked a little away from the group to sit down while Rudy and Mimi's eyes followed her.
"I think it affected her more than it seems."
Rudy murmured, and Mimi just nodded.
Kiyoshi was too biased.
And so, after several minutes of rest, they continued with the planned route in a somewhat uncomfortable silence.
---
The next day, as was Kiyoshi's habit, he was sitting quietly in the early morning, observing the city of Kasamatsu with his bottle of hot coffee.
In summary, the previous day was normal after the little remark to Norn about her complex.
Although March remained annoyed because he had played a bad joke on her with the orange juice he always gave her.
She was a strange UmaMusume. In front of others, she was the silent and serious March, but when she was with him, it was as if she had received the blessing of the God of War and only wanted to be violent.
"Her emotions are very explosive when we're alone."
Maybe it was his problem and not hers. He'd have to check on that later.
The sound of footsteps only confirmed the fact that the UmaMusume he was thinking about was arriving at their usual meeting spot.
"I didn't think you'd arrive so early today."
He turned around and could only raise an eyebrow when he saw a pale, red-haired Uma.
"Kyaaaa!"
The scream was understandable, but it was still annoying.
"W-what are you doing here at this hour?"
The trembling question, the fear, and the confusion reflected in her slightly teary eyes were strange to see on her.
"Daily routine."
Kiyoshi replied without giving much importance to the girl's state.
"I didn't expect another UmaMusume to visit this place at four in the morning."
Kiyoshi said while turning his gaze back to the city.
"Especially someone like you, Norn."
He took a sip of his coffee, also a bit surprised by the UmaMusume's presence in the place.
Norn, despite being an UmaMusume who by instinct loved racing, seemed more like a lazy Uma who preferred to be on her cell phone.
Though he didn't blame her; he loved his video games, but since he had completed them all, he was bored and wanted to change his entertainment.
For her part, Norn was still recovering her breath after the scare of finding someone in this place.
She hadn't been able to sleep well today, so she decided to go for a run at a time that could be considered normal for the more dedicated UmaMusume.
"I came out to train early."
She lied. Kiyoshi knew, but he was too lazy to point out something that clearly wasn't meant to be revealed.
"I was a bit harsh on you yesterday."
Kiyoshi played with his coffee and sighed.
"But I'm only trying to..."
"I know..."
Norn interrupted.
"I know what you were talking about better than anyone."
Norn gritted her teeth while looking away, feeling weird talking about this with someone who wasn't even looking at her.
"My talent made me the fastest in my hometown, but upon entering Trancen, I realized my talent was nothing. Only those with special talent can touch the peak."
Norn spoke her own thoughts without any problem, though they seemed confused in the way she narrated them.
"That's why I accepted reality. It's better to enjoy the moment than to exert yourself and get dirty without achieving anything."
Norn kept complaining, and Kiyoshi finally gave her a slight glance while taking a sip of his coffee.
"That's why I don't like her... she's clumsy, but she still stands out."
Kiyoshi let out a sigh at the same time as Norn.
"Inferiority complex and jealousy of talent."
Kiyoshi silently looked at Norn, noticing gray streaks appearing in the distance.
"It's normal."
Kiyoshi said calmly, and Norn opened her eyes a little, a mix of anger and surprise at the black-haired trainer's words.
"You're a good girl, Norn."
Kiyoshi silently looked at the Uma as he spoke.
"Maybe you're not the most talented, and maybe you let yourself be guided too much by your jealousy of Ogurin, but you're a good girl."
Kiyoshi lifted his gaze.
"At least Oguri doesn't hold a grudge against you; she's too absent-minded to do that."
Kiyoshi let out a laugh while taking a sip of his coffee.
"As a trainer, I'll tell you this..."
Kiyoshi wiped his mouth and looked at the silent Norn.
"If you so desire to run and reach the top, why do you decide your talent isn't good enough? Do you think talent decides everything?"
Kiyoshi raised his hand to the sky and then closed it, as if grabbing something.
"Effort is a great factor in reaching the top."
Norn's eyes shone as she watched Kiyoshi's pose illuminated under the moonlight.
For some reason, he seemed so heroic and inspiring in his words, as if he were a guide sent by the three goddesses.
"If you cling to the idea that everything is based on talent, then the one limiting yourself is you."
Kiyoshi finished his speech full of hypocrisy and ignorance, but what he did know was one important fact.
People liked to hear the possibility of progression; as long as there was hope, they would try.
Norn's look indicated the success of his words, though that made him feel a little guilty.
He didn't like lies; he had lied many times, and it only resulted in inconveniences.
"Thank you."
Norn thanked him while wiping her face with her shirt.
"Though you don't have to lie to me."
Norn looked at Kiyoshi with a small smile.
"I appreciate your effort to make me feel better."
The uma looked back at Kiyoshi.
"But you're not sincere because you know the reality about talent... after all, even someone like you had to create a false identity..."
Kiyoshi opened his eyes a little, as did the silent listener whose only ears moved to express her emotions.
"I don't know what one has to do with the other, but I think you're underestimating yourself."
Kiyoshi quickly returned to normal without Norn noticing his surprise.
"I'm sure of this."
Norn now seemed determined.
"I've been observing you since the first day we were under your care."
The Uma began to approach Kiyoshi, who just stayed in place, now curious to know what gave him away in Norn's eyes.
"You're not normal. No human would be fine after being tackled at high speed by an angry UmaMusume, or when March put you in a hold that would easily dislocate a normal human's shoulder."
Norn moved her hand and with her index finger touched Kiyoshi's chest, who seemed a little surprised.
"The only way to explain it is that you're a descendant of UmaMusume, and since your talent isn't suitable for racing, you decided to change your name and become a trainer."
Her words were confident, and honestly, Kiyoshi had to give her a five out of ten in his rating.
He might even seriously raise the score.
"I was careless about that."
Despite the accusation, Kiyoshi remained calm while Norn just looked at him with a mix of confidence and confusion.
A strange mix, honestly.
"I suppose your plan was to blackmail me with it, right?"
"Huh?"
Norn felt confused.
She never had that in mind; she only brought up the topic because she felt a bit frustrated by Kiyoshi's lie when talking about talent.
"I... didn't have that in mind."
Norn stepped back and looked confusedly at Kiyoshi, who just drank his coffee relaxedly, as if he really weren't bothered by his own speculation.
"Tell me... what do you want to keep the secret?"
Kiyoshi asked. Although Norn wasn't entirely correct, she had the main idea.
It was better to avoid small problems without resorting to means that decided the end of existence.
"I-I don't want..."
The UmaMusume stopped halfway as an idea emerged in her mind.
"I want you to train me personally in the mornings."
She recomposed herself, and her resolution was unshakable.
"Huh?"
Kiyoshi tilted his head.
"You don't want money? Status or something like that?"
"Pff, I don't need money or status."
Norn scoffed.
"I want to be faster. I want to believe you're not lying about your training, besides lying about your identity. I want to see if training can break the limit of talent."
Kiyoshi wanted to set aside his coffee and, without a doubt, applaud Norn.
Her ability to create a concrete lie was, in fact, remarkable.
"But... that decision honestly doesn't fall on me."
Kiyoshi said and with his free hand pointed behind Norn, who with confusion began to turn her face.
"Why don't you ask Marchi?"
Finally, Norn found herself face to face with March.
Her ears were completely erect, indicating her state of alert.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her yellow eyes with red were shining slightly with embarrassment and seriousness.
"You... since when?"
Norn seemed genuinely surprised, and in her head, the pieces began to come together.
"Since you started ranting about the trainer's identity."
There was more a trace of doubt than annoyance in March's words as she looked at Kiyoshi now.
Norn's points were very accurate now that she thought about it.
But that also made her feel embarrassed.
She would apologize to her trainer in private later.
"But I don't think that's important right now..."
March now looked at Norn and crossed her arms.
"I think I'd better go..."
Norn wanted to leave but was grabbed by March, who gave her a smile that produced a mix of emotions in the other UmaMusume.
"Why are you leaving? Didn't you want to be my training partner?"
Kiyoshi just averted his gaze while taking a sip of his coffee.
It seemed March would also get revenge on Norn for some reason.
Maybe because she wanted to take her trainer away? It was very doubtful, really.
Anyway, the sun was a humble and handsome trainer; he had no reason to get involved in problems between UmaMusumes.
---
At the end of the day.
For some reason, they ended up at the lookout again. This time, only March and he were there, though there was an awkward silence he ignored as he leaned against the wall.
"First of all..."
After a long silence, March finally seemed to make up her mind and spoke.
"I want to apologize for having been so violent."
March bowed in the direction of her trainer, who raised an eyebrow as he watched her.
"I acted without measuring the strength of my actions and could have seriously hurt you. Despite you being an annoying person, none of your actions have been dangerous to me, and yet I acted in such a way."
The sincerity in her words only made Kiyoshi smile sincerely, though he quickly repressed his smile and crossed his arms.
"You shouldn't worry about those things."
Kiyoshi dismissed it, but March still didn't move; she remained bowed.
"No... you really didn't deserve what I did. You've even taken care of all the necessary expenses for my training and diet."
March continued while her hands touched the collar she was wearing.
"Lately, I've been thinking a lot about your intentions. Your actions were strange; even this collar is something I doubt is normal."
Now Kiyoshi wondered where March was going with this.
"When we met..."
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow as he heard March pause.
"You were right... the Tokai Derby."
"Leave it."
Kiyoshi cut in seriously.
"My comment that time wasn't meant to mock your dream... just..."
"I know... you're someone ignorant because you come from a family of recognized UmaMusumes."
Kiyoshi rolled his eyes at the great misunderstanding but decided not to point it out for now.
"But... you were right..."
Kiyoshi's eyes opened a little, and he frowned.
"The Tokai Derby is a minor race, but I still want to win it."
March finally stood firm and looked at Kiyoshi with her eyes shining with determination.
"Satsuki Sho, Tokyo Yushun, Kikuka Sho."
March clenched her hands and smiled with a mix of emotions, as if it were a difficult step.
"My new goal is to win those three races!"
March announced with a big smile while Kiyoshi could only feel bewildered.
"And be the best UmaMusume in Japan."
End of chapter.
Y one more new chapter.
Again, mostly transitional, but as the ending indicates, I've finally decided which path to take.
Although to maintain the coherence of the work, I obviously won't make him accomplish very great feats, because after all, what a bother to create butterfly effects.
Anyway, it took me a long time for just one chapter that was ready since Wednesday, but well, I've been very focused on games, so apologies.
Also, during this week, when I space out at work, I started thinking about the team, and I basically already have three UmaMusume for the golden era, but I don't have any that fit into the TM Opera period, but that's not the point.
Gentildonna or Orfevre?
It's a serious question :v.
If you have questions, comment them, I'll answer as best I can.
Possibly the next chapter will be over 5k words, idk, it depends on how inspired I am to write.
I don't think I have anything else to say, so until next time!