Thanks to Koji, Kazuo experienced the feeling of standing in the corridor as punishment for the first time in his life.
As an honor student, he had never had such an experience even in high school, but now, because of this unreliable senior… what a series of misfortunes.
Caught red-handed by Ms. Tojo, the two were directly kicked out of the auditorium.
Compared to Kazuo, who was silently feeling down, the other person on the side had a much thicker skin.
Although they were out for punishment, everyone else was currently inside the auditorium for the entrance welcoming ceremony. So, no one was managing the two of them at all; the so-called punishment was entirely based on self-awareness.
So—
"Hey, take this."
Once the fierce Ms. Tojo left, Koji immediately sat on the steps outside the auditorium. At the same time, he pulled something out of his pocket and, without a word, threw it directly to Kazuo.
Kazuo only saw a black shadow fly by. He subconsciously caught it and saw that what was in his hand was a horseshoe-shaped lollipop wrapped in candy paper.
"This is a limited-edition candy unique to the Central Racecourse; it tastes really good!"
"…Thank you.!"
Kazuo slowly tore open the wrapper, picked it up, and put it in his mouth.
"! This taste is pretty good!"
Squatting outside the auditorium with his senior, eating a lollipop, Kazuo tried his best to ignore how he looked at the moment.
"Haha, right? This is mixed fruit flavor. In the shops around the racecourse, it's a product that sells out. I usually carry a few with me."
"Do you want more? I still have a box of them in my dorm room; I can share some with you then."
"Thank you, no… No, then I'll trouble you, senior."
Kazuo originally wanted to refuse, but on second thought, he changed his mind.
Koji, however, smiled generously: "I told you, no need for honorifics. You did help me, didn't you? Consider this a small token of my appreciation."
"Is that so…"
Although he was frivolous, unreliable, and even a bit perverted and lustful, fundamentally, Kazuo didn't dislike this senior.
"Thank you, Koji."
"Oh!"
At this moment, as the academy anthem in the auditorium gradually stopped, the host began the meeting agenda for the entrance ceremony.
The two sitting outside, though unable to witness it firsthand, recognized the gentle and melodious voice as Ms. Hayakawa's.
"Want to see?"
Koji suddenly looked at Kazuo with a mysterious expression and pointed at the tightly closed auditorium door behind them.
Kazuo stared at him with a slightly strange look, not quite understanding what he was up to.
"There's a small window over there in the auditorium. We can stand on the ledge and peek."
Koji was an old hand at this academy; there was nothing here he wouldn't know. But Kazuo seemed a bit hesitant.
"Isn't that not good? Ms. Tojo told us to stay here. If we leave without permission…"
If they were caught again, and if she reported them to the Chairman, what would happen to him?
"It's fine, you don't have to be afraid of her. I'll cover for you if anything happens!"
Koji clearly wasn't afraid of Tojo, confidently patting his chest as he assured him.
Of course, he had his reasons for saying so, as he was one of the very few in the academy who knew who was truly supporting Kazuo's entry into the academy.
What's more, he also had his own calculations.
"Even if you say so..."
Seeing Kazuo still hesitant, Koji began to persuade him in a low voice:
"Don't you want to see the current number one Uma Musume in Tracen Academy?"
"The current number one?"
"That's right, the students from the high school division are currently at an off-site training base preparing for the April races this year, and the newly appointed Student Council President in the middle school division is undoubtedly the most anticipated Uma Musume in the academy right now. Don't you want to see her?"
Hearing Koji say this, Kazuo was first stunned, then instantly reacted: "Koji, you're not talking about the one from last year, are you?!"
Even Kazuo, far away in Seto Inland Sea, had heard of the achievements of this Uma Musume.
With Koji's reminder, he immediately recalled the live broadcast of the race he watched in front of the TV in the school cafeteria at that time.
Koji was very satisfied with Kazuo's surprised attitude, smiled, nodded, and said: "That's right, last year at the Central racecourse, her performance after her debut race was extremely brilliant. She is currently the most anticipated athlete in the academy. At the same time, she is also the first low-grade student to serve as the Student Council President of Tracen Academy — Symboli Rudolf, the one crowned with the name 'Emperor'."
"..."
"How about it, tempted?"
"Wait a minute — if it weren't for you, Koji, I should have been watching from behind the curtain at a close distance, and even had the chance to see her backstage... right?"
"Uh — was I found out? Heh~ (Winks and sticks out tongue playfully)"
Well.
.
"Hahaha! It seems everyone is full of energy now! Hmm! Excellent, this is the vitality and grace that you, the Uma Musume of Tracen Academy, should possess."
"First, please allow me to extend my deepest blessings to all the Uma Musume present. Welcome to Tracen Academy. I am your Chairman, you can call me Chairwoman Akikawa."
"And I, like you, once ran on the track as an Uma Musume, and my name back then was 'Northern Taste'."
As soon as this opening remark was made, the scene immediately boiled over. In the history of Uma Musume in Japan, Northern Taste can definitely be called a legendary Uma Musume.
And this legend was this short girl, less than 1.5 meters tall.
Standing on a wooden box, she looked at the Uma Musume below, who represented the future of Japan's Horse Racing world, and showed a confident smile.
— "Hey, Kazuo, don't push! Don't move around."
"No! With such a small window, if I don't squeeze in, I'll fall down!"
The two were standing on the display stand outside the auditorium at this moment. In such a small space, two men had to squeeze together like they were hanging there. And at this moment, it was exactly time for the Chairman to give her welcome speech for the new students.
"Now, your presence here means you have taken the first step on the path to success, and next you will make choices that may affect the entire trajectory of your lives."
"Trainer and Uma Musume always achieve success together, and in the next three years, gains and losses, successes and failures, these are all things you will experience. Some of you may be unstoppable on the track, perhaps becoming a Triple Crown winner, or even conquering all races, but some may also struggle to win a single race, perhaps fade away, or perhaps be cut short by injury — but this is competition, this is Uma Musume."
Chairwoman Akikawa paused slightly, then pointed forward with her folding fan.
"Eclipse first, the rest nowhere... This is a proverb commemorating the world-renowned legendary Uma Musume, Eclipse. Similarly, it is also the motto of our Tracen Academy."
"The future is yours. When the strong wind blows, that is your most Shining moment, just like the group of stars in the sky that are swallowed by darkness, unsure where they will be taken, all other horses are nowhere, but one horse is first —"
After she finished speaking, the entire venue immediately erupted in prolonged applause.
Yes, as the Chairman said, Horse Racing is like this, a blend of everything, a precipitation of all the joys and sorrows.
This is — the world of Uma Musume.