"Still worrying about the Junior Crown Cup? With your skills, winning the championship is totally within reach."
Oguri Roman's ears twitched slightly as she turned toward the source of the voice. Sure enough, it was that young man who always wore a training cap.
"Kitahara…"
It was Kitahara Jō, the trainer who had guided Oguri Cap through both her early and late career.
Having witnessed Oguri Cap's entire journey, he had matured considerably. His experience in the central racing circuit had seasoned him; a mere local graded race no longer made his heart race.
From Kitahara's current perspective, Oguri Roman's defeat in the last Autumn Wind Junior Tournament was nothing but a fluke. She was a Uma Musume worthy of the G1 stage, and in local races, she would undoubtedly sweep through her opponents just like Oguri Cap had back in the day.
Yet, he understood all too well why Oguri Roman was so nervous. Kitahara sat down beside her and began to speak.
"The Junior Crown Cup was the race where Oguri Cap first truly shone, the one that put her on the map."
"I still remember that day. Back then, the Junior Crown Cup was only a quasi-graded race. In the final hundred meters, Oguri Cap unleashed an incredible burst of speed, overtaking Fujimasa March right at the finish line."
"Hard to believe, isn't it? And on dirt, no less, where closing speed is even harder to muster. Yet she managed to summon that kind of power."
As he spoke, a nostalgic expression spread across Kitahara's face. Beside him, Oguri Roman found herself drawn into his story, transported back to that era brimming with miracles.
Back then, a young Oguri Roman had watched the race on television. Her parents had excitedly told her about an amazing cousin in the family and pulled her in front of the TV.
That was her first encounter with Oguri Cap. From that day on, she knew she had such an incredible Uma Musume in her extended family.
After that, Oguri Roman followed Oguri Cap's career closely, even taking a special Kasamatsu-edition Oguri Cap doll to cheer for her at the trackside.
From Kasamatsu to the central circuit, from local races to the Arima Kinen, Oguri Roman followed Oguri Cap through almost her entire career.
That dappled gray figure racing across the track was like a beacon, lighting up Oguri Roman's life. At a time when many dismissed Kasamatsu Tracen as unreliable, whenever Oguri Roman felt pain or exhaustion, the image of Oguri Cap would appear before her, illuminating the path ahead.
To Oguri Roman, Oguri Cap was her morning star.
That's why the Junior Crown Cup was special to her—it was where she first met Oguri Cap.
But whenever Oguri Roman imagined herself winning the Junior Crown Cup, another figure always surfaced in her mind.
That unstoppable force who left other Uma Musume hundreds of meters behind, the dazzling presence who had once helped Oguri Roman move past her defeat in the Autumn Wind Junior Tournament—was now her greatest rival.
Lately, Oguri Roman had been lying awake at night, her mind filled with doubts. Could she really overcome such a formidable opponent and win the Junior Crown Cup?
Could she truly win?
Noticing the unease hidden in her expression, Kitahara paused thoughtfully before continuing.
"Tell me again—why did you step onto this track?"
Hearing his question, lost in thought, Oguri Roman instinctively voiced her admiration for Oguri Cap.
After listening quietly, Kitahara turned his gaze to the calm river flowing beyond the grassy field and spoke slowly.
"It was because of Oguri Cap that I truly became a trainer, too."
Oguri Roman's ears perked up. This was the first time she had heard Kitahara speak personally about his history with Oguri Cap.
"Back then, I was a greenhorn, a stubborn fool. I convinced myself that the Uma Musume in Kasamatsu lacked competitive spirit, not realizing that my own ambitions had grown sky-high."
"But even as a fool like that, I think I did one thing right: I wanted to nurture a rising star—one who could meet every expectation, who was captivating and brilliant."
"That's how I found Oguri Cap."
After a brief pause, Kitahara continued.
"She was, as you and I both saw, a star shining brightly on the track. Someone who could answer every expectation, a star carrying everyone's hopes."
"Many people stepped onto this path because of her. Many persevered because of her."
Oguri Roman's ears drooped slightly. She murmured, "Are you saying someone like me isn't special?"
Seeing that she had misunderstood his words out of insecurity, Kitahara quickly clarified.
"No, what I mean is, so many people have been inspired and uplifted by Oguri Cap's brilliance."
"That radiance doesn't bring pressure—it gives us motivation to move forward!"
"You, me, everyone. We've witnessed that brilliance, admired it, and now we're striving to touch it ourselves. That's why we grit our teeth and keep pushing forward, isn't it?"
Kitahara stood up, facing the river glittering under the sunset, and declared loudly,
"To everyone else, Kitahara Jō is an accomplished trainer from the central circuit. But to me, he's just a fool who was captivated by Oguri Cap's light!"
Then, he turned and pointed directly at Oguri Roman, raising his voice.
"To you, Oguri Roman might just be an ordinary girl who stepped onto this track out of admiration for Oguri Cap. But to me—"
"Oguri Roman is a Uma Musume who can shine with her own light! She has her own dreams and pride, a Uma Musume who stands tall with dignity!"
Oguri Roman's eyes glazed over slightly; she wasn't fully processing his words.
Instead, she stared, somewhat overwhelmed, at the finger pointing toward her. A sense of pride and honor—touching a legend firsthand—surged within her.
Was this what it was like to be trained by someone from the Miracle Generation?
Oguri Cap's trainer was right here, encouraging her. Clenching her fists silently, Oguri Roman wondered: Was this the environment where the legend she admired and looked up to had grown?
In one swift motion, she stood up, mimicking Kitahara's posture, and shouted toward the river,
"I am Oguri Roman, and I will definitely become the winning Uma Musume of the Junior Crown Cup!"
She would win. Even if her opponent was the formidable Dream Weaver, she would tread this path of glory, following in the footsteps of legends, following the paths of Kitahara Jō and Oguri Cap, step by step, into that glittering future—into the world she had always dreamed of.
The starting point of glory, the Junior Crown Cup, was about to begin.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.