Historically, on this day, Oguri Cap participated in the Youth Crown Race on October 4, 1987. At the same time, far away at Hanshin Racecourse, Tamamo Cross also finished the 8th race of her career.
In that race, Tamamo Cross only placed 3rd—and she had already suffered five consecutive defeats.
Just by looking at this record, there was no way Tamamo Cross could compare to the currently undefeated Oguri Cap.
In fact, counting all her previous races, Tamamo Cross had 1 win in 8 races since her debut—an undeniably poor record.
But it seemed fate had a hand in it. After Oguri Cap won the Youth Crown Race, Tamamo Cross also reversed her fortune on the same day, starting a meteoric rise in the central circuit, achieving eight consecutive victories, and becoming the strongest active racehorse at the time.
After Oguri Cap moved to the central circuit, she won 6 consecutive races. Her first defeat came at the Autumn Tenno Sho, where she lost to Tamamo Cross.
Their second encounter was at the subsequent Japan Cup, where Oguri Cap placed 3rd and Tamamo Cross 2nd—the former losing again.
The third showdown was Tamamo Cross's retirement race: the Arima Kinen at the end of that year, following the Japan Cup.
This time, Oguri Cap finally defeated her long-time rival, instantly becoming the strongest gray-haired horse, surpassing Tamamo Cross as the top active competitor.
Indeed, Tamamo Cross was also a gray-haired horse, with silver-gray hair like Oguri Cap—a true nemesis.
Moreover, in the manga, due to the author's creative twist, after losing her 8th race, Tamamo Cross mistakenly took the wrong train and ended up in Kasamatsu to eat a bowl of noodles.
While eating, she accidentally learned about the ongoing Youth Crown Race, went to watch it, and discovered her future rival, Oguri Cap.
She also awakened her potential, beginning an 8-win streak from that moment onward.
It's quite interesting. When Kitahara first read this part, being familiar with the original horse's history, he thought the same.
In this world, it was obvious that the incident of a defeated Tamamo Cross coming to Kasamatsu to eat noodles also happened. She must have seen Oguri Cap; otherwise, she would have left Kasamatsu long before finishing a bowl, and the shop owner wouldn't have said Kitahara and the others could run into her at the Shinkansen.
Kitahara could even imagine a small 1.4-meter-tall girl, flashing little tiger teeth, bawling as she rushed off the Shinkansen, crying and complaining loudly:
"Ah—! I lost the race again—! Just going home like this is so frustrating! Since I took the wrong train anyway, I might as well go to Nagoya and eat some noodles!"
All while speaking in a Kansai dialect.
After eating and watching the race, she hurried back to the Shinkansen in the same feisty manner.
Confirming Tamamo Cross's identity, Kitahara didn't make a fuss. He just shrugged and pointed to Musaka Ginjirō beside him, whose ears were perked up like a Uma Musume's:
"I'm not too sure, but my uncle is a central trainer; he should know."
"Sorry, boss, I'm in a hurry to catch the train, can't chat much. Your noodles are great; I'll visit again next time." With that, he glanced at Oguri Cap and Belno Light, and left the noodle shop with them.
"…Ah, a bit of a pity. I got too caught up talking and forgot to ask my uncle about training," Kitahara thought as he left the shop. "But no rush—after returning from Tokyo or transferring to the central circuit, it'll be fine to ask him properly."
After Kitahara and the others left, the shop owner looked at Musaka Ginjirō expectantly:
"Excuse me, trainer-san, may I ask…"
"Tamamo Cross. I have some business as well, so I'll take my leave. Your noodles are good—I'll definitely visit again before heading back to Tokyo."
As a central trainer, Musaka Ginjirō was familiar with all Uma Musume. Besides the famous ones, he could recall nearly all the current Umas' records. He immediately recognized whom the shop owner was referring to.
After leaving, he walked out while taking out his phone—putting it away, taking it out again, unlocking it, staring at the screen for a moment, then putting it away once more.
After a while, he took it out a third time, remained silent for a long while, and finally started dialing.
"…Hello? I… call me Roppei! Do you have the past central race sheets? Prepare a set for me. …Why worry about that?! Anyway, this time I owe you… Nagase Hidetoshi."
"Miss Hand Rein, sorry to trouble you… A junior is going to Tokyo soon… Yes, my nephew, Kitahara Jo… Thank you very much."
"Old friend ? Haha, I need a favor… That's it, thanks, I'll treat you to a drink when I get back."
"Hey, Sir Edmund, long time no see, how have you been? …Yeah, something for help, something from FUI… Erm, rival? The JC? No problem, welcome… (Hi, Teacher Edmund, long time no see! Seeking some help, something from the Federation of International Juvenile Umas… Uh, a match? Japan Cup? No problem, welcome.)"
…
Kitahara had booked the tickets to Tokyo early. With Oguri Cap and Belno Light, they arrived at the station and soon entered the waiting area.
While waiting, there was a small incident.
"Miss Uma Musume, you can't bring these foods onto the train—it may inconvenience other passengers." A staff member politely warned with an embarrassed smile while the three sat in the waiting area.
Kitahara covered his face; Belno Light did the same.
Oguri Cap, holding roughly dozens of pounds of fried chicken wings—a Nagoya specialty—sat in shock looking at the staff.
Actually, "shock" wasn't quite accurate; she looked like the world was ending, full of panic and despair.
"…But these were gifts from friends for me to eat on the way," she murmured. The huge pile of fried wings had indeed been given by Fujimasa March and Norn Ace after learning she was going to Tokyo.
"…Even so, you can't bring them on the train. Sorry, hope you understand," the staff continued awkwardly.
"Ah, I see…" The gray, defeated aura around Oguri Cap visibly thickened.
But she quickly thought of a solution:
"Fine, I'll just eat them now. I only ate 80% of my noodles at the shop anyway." She started stuffing the wings into her mouth.
"…You ate 12 bowls of noodles and still only 80% full?! Oguri Cap, are you serious?" Belno Light exclaimed, facepalming, equally embarrassed as the staff.
Kitahara could no longer hold back. Since there was still some time before departure, he also had a convenient excuse to step away temporarily.
Covering his face, leaving only his eyes visible, he stood up and asked the staff, blushing:"Excuse me, may I ask if you've seen a Uma Musume here in the waiting hall? Short, cute, a gray-haired horse like the one next to me."
Perhaps fate intervened. As the noodle shop owner had said, Tamamo Cross was indeed at the station, and the staff had seen her.
"Yes, I remember her well. She got off a train crying, saying how frustrated she was after losing a race, and not long ago she returned full of energy," the staff replied.
"She's a little ahead at the waiting area. Need me to guide you?"
"No need. I'll go find her." After declining assistance and signaling Oguri Cap and Belno Light to stay put, Kitahara followed the staff's directions.
He intended to try recruiting Tamamo Cross.
(End of Chapter)