Fuji's POV
Fuji: "…"
Hachiman: "…"
The Takamiya Kinen… or rather, today's entire race schedule has ended, and Hachiman-san and I are heading back to Tracen Academy together. The others must've been considerate and took the train home. In today's race, I couldn't catch up… Despite all of Hachiman-san's help… But that's not the only reason I'm like this.
Fuji: "…Hey, Hachiman-san. Could we… stop for a bit?"
Hachiman: "! …Let me check if there's a park nearby. Wait a sec."
Even my sudden request—he responds. Maybe it means I look too pitiful to behold. But yeah, I think so. My face is probably worse than a crying one.
Park
Fuji: "…"
Hachiman: "…It's almost April, but nights still get chilly. Fuji, we'll head out soon."
Fuji: "…"
Hachiman: "…Fuji?"
Fuji: "Hachiman-san, today's race…"
Hachiman: "Yeah, we lost clean. Didn't expect it to stretch that much on the slope. Impressive, as expected. Including this one, 1200m: 3 wins, 1 second; undefeated at Chukyo. Should've been more cautious."
Fuji: "But if I'd spurred earlier—"Don't talk 'what ifs'—it'll just make you feel more miserable." …"
Hachiman: "The Hankyu Hai showed it—Fuji runs short distances well. Your true strength is mile-range mid—"Hachiman-san!!" !?"
Fuji: "…Why?"
Hachiman: "…What?"
Fuji: "Why… how come? Why did you say that at the press conference?"
Hachiman: "Well, it's the truth—"NO!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!! My loss is NOT your fault!!" …Fuji."
After the race, Hachiman-san and I stood on the same press stage. I answered what I could. But Hachiman-san…
Flashback – Post-Race Press Conference
Questions for me focused more on the broken undefeated streak and distance aptitude than the loss itself. Naturally, I volunteered for this race and was confident in shorter distances over long ones. I told the press that.
"Thank you, Fuji Kiseki-san. Next, to the trainer. It ended regrettably. Your thoughts?"
Hachiman: "Indeed a close but regrettable result, but I feel it connects to the next race. We'll use this loss as fuel for the future."
"As asked to Fuji Kiseki-san, shortening from long to short distance—was it forced?"
Hachiman: "No, about 5 months since the Kikuka Sho. Adjustment was possible, and Fuji's aptitude is mid-distance, leaning mile. So short was fine—I was certain."
"Takamiya Kinen 2nd and a crushing defeat—what's the cause?"
I thought then: if I'd spurred earlier, I wouldn't have been pulled away. Three were ahead, yet I held back accumulating energy. Hachiman-san said short distances decide in a flash. Bad timing in the duel—I planned to answer that.
But Hachiman-san…
Hachiman: "Yes… my overconfidence."
Fuji: (…Huh?)
"What do you mean?"
Hachiman: "Won the Hankyu Hai, entered Takamiya Kinen. Deep down, I thought 'Fuji will definitely win.' Her training was perfect, today's form excellent. But my arrogance, pride, and lax finishing led to this loss. I have zero complaints about her run today. The one to blame is me—for slacking on what needed tightening."
Fuji: (…Why?)
Flashback End
Fuji: "Why say something self-blaming? That race was my chase mistake… No reason for you to blame yourself."
Hachiman: "…No, that's not it. I give the strategy calls. The biggest reason we didn't win is on me."
Fuji: "But you said to leave it to me! You trusted me—that's why! So why not call out my mistake there!?"
Hachiman: "…"
Fuji: "Hachiman-san!"
Hachiman: "…What do you think would've happened if I did?"
Fuji: "Eh? Well, my judgment error… !!"
Hachiman: "Right. As you said, most Uma Musume plan strategies with trainers. Especially GⅠ—1 or 2 plans aren't odd. A favorite loses, trainer blames the Uma Musume—what then? The public hammers the trainer. Blaming the Uma Musume for your own plan. If I did that, I'm already spotlighted good or bad—it'd reverse everything you're building. Either way, not heading positive."
I… unconsciously… was going to…?
Fuji: "S-Sorry… Hachiman-san. I, I didn't mean it that way!" tears
Hachiman: "I know, don't worry… can't say that, huh. But you get why I self-blamed?"
Hachiman-san protected me from the start… Taking all the bad attention so it wouldn't hit me. But that means…
Fuji: "Th-Then… Hachiman-san…"
Hachiman: "Well, depends on the articles. But we exist because of Uma Musume. A little badmouthing? For me, it's old news."
Fuji: "…Sniff, sniff~!" tears
I'm the worst… Making Hachiman-san say that. I hurt him, yet he won't blame me… I hate my powerless self… Might end up hating it…
Tight hug!
Fuji: "!"
Hachiman: "Cry now. Let it out, even a little."
Fuji: "Sniff, sob, sob~!!" tears
I leaned fully on Hachiman-san, muffling my cries. Cursing today's pathetic, worthless race and myself for blaming him without realizing his protection.
Fuji, you don't have to hate yourself, okay?
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