"Don't be afraid to test them, Teio. You will be using them in your race."
"I know~~"
In one of Tokyo's biggest malls, a pair of trainer and trainee can be seen window shopping for Uma's shoes. Tokai Teio will be having her first real race after her debut in two weeks from now, and since she is aiming to be an Undefeated Triple Crown, the young man decides to make sure that she will be in tip-top shape on every front. Including in her equipment.
"Mmmhhhh…"
"These shoes will be used in G-two race and below, so don't try to look for something that'll match your racewear, Teio."
"I know! I know! But you can't go with just some random ugly shoes, trainer. Everyone would laugh at me."
"And you will laugh back at them when you stand higher on the podium."
"Mmhh!!!"
"Besides, I don't think people will be looking at your shoes. They'll be looking at your cute face."
"There you go again!! Saying stuff like that as if they were nothing!!"
"They are nothing. They're just words… Why are you getting so worked up?"
Guuuh!! This bastard!! Making my heart flutter and acting as if it was nothing!! Someone has to teach him the consequences of his actions!!
"Don't worry about the money. Tracen has given me some to help you girls out."
"I can buy these with my own hachimi money, thank you very much. You can save that money for others, though."
Tokai Teio might not look like it, but she comes from a very rich family. It's just that her family isn't as deep into the Uma racing scene as the Symboli and Mejiro. But regardless, her pocket is as deep as McQueen's.
"You're acting very weird today."
"And whose fault is it?"
"What did I do?"
"Being you."
"...You're cute."
"Mmmmmmhhhhhhhh!!!"
"Sorry!! Sorry!! I was joking!!"
"Are you saying that I'm not cute?!?!"
"What the hell do you want from me, woman!?"
"My shoes!"
"Alright! Let's buy one then!"
"Okay!"
The pair then angrily stormed into the store, startling the staff. The staff look at each other before deciding to send the intern to handle the troublesome couple.
"Eh!! Uuuh… Ummm… Is there something that I can help with?"
"Yeah. This baby, over here."
"I'm not a baby!"
"Is looking for a running shoes. Do you have any recommendations for her?"
"Uma Musume running shoes, yes? Is this recreational or professional?"
"Proffesional."
"Proffesional! Please follow me."
The pair is then guided through the store by the intern staff. Pass the shelves of unique and colorful stores before reaching the Uma Musume shoes section. Since Uma Musume loves running, the Uma Musume shoe industry is more developed compared to the normal human shoe industry. Even Uma Musume, who isn't in the racing scene, would run at least 10 Km each week. The same thing can't be said to humans. Find me humans who run 10 Km each week, and compare those numbers to the Uma Musume, the scale wouldn't even register the human even being there.
"Here is our store collection of Uma Musume's running shoes. Please feel free to look around. If you perhaps have a preference, please do tell me."
"You don't like heavy shoes, do you, Teio?"
"No."
"That's why your power is kinda lacking. Can you find us light shoes?"
"Light shoes… Light shoes… It's over here."
"Hmm…"
The young man grabs one of the shoes from the shelves and weighs it in his hands. An Uma Musume's shoes come equipped with… horseshoes on the callus area of the sole. Unlike in the young man's old world, where horseshoes are used to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear, this world's horseshoe is used to help the Uma Musume dig into the earth and create traction. There are several kinds of horseshoes depending on how much traction the Uma needs. Some are shaped like snake fangs, some like pyramids, some are completely flat, while some even bend upward.
"So… what kind of shapes do you like, Teio?"
"Mmmhh!! I don't like the one that digs too deep into the dirt."
"So a flat one?"
"Yeah… Those are my usual go-to."
It's the most prevalent since now they're living in the modern world. In the Medieval era, Uma Musume's world, shapes that help the Uma to dig into the dirt are more widely spread and loved since paved roads are still rare. But in this modern era, flat shoes are more preferred since they can be comfortably used on and out of paved roads. It also doesn't ruin asphalt or pavements.
"Ah! If you don't like shoes that dig too deep into the dirt, we have a new model that might suit your taste!"
"Hmm?"
The intern staff quickly brings out a new pair of shoes from the box. The shape of the metal was serrated. The serrated faces weren't too big that they would be used to plow farmfields, as it's almost as flat as Teio's chest, which fit her taste.
"Eeeh~~ This is nice!!"
"Put it on first before deciding to buy them."
"I know!"
Teio unties her shoes and then shakes them off. She then quickly put on the new shoes and took a look at herself in the mirror.
"I look good!! Right, trainer?"
"I'm more concerned if it feels good or not."
"I wouldn't smile if it didn't now, do I? Now tell me, do I look good in this or not?"
"I want to kiss your cheek, how about that?"
"Ehhh!! Why not lips?!?!"
"You have to be sexy first, Teio. Not cute."
"MmmMMhh!!! Meanie!!"
"Do you have a testing ground for the shoes?"
"Of course!! Please follow me."
The staff guide the pair once again, and this time, to a fitting section of the store. Unlike in the old world, this world's shoe store usually comes equipped with a treadmill. This is how Uma Musume tests if they're compatible or not with the shoes that they just picked.
"Alright!! Watch me!!"
Teio quickly hops onto the treadmill and turns it on. At first, it was a normal walking pace, but Teio is buying the shoes to run, so she quickly turns up the dial on the control panel. Teio finally shows the staff who she really is.
"Whoa!! She runs so fast!!"
"Hehehe!!"
The staff's comment only emboldened the young Uma Musume. She planted her feet with her entire body's weight behind them and propelled herself further. The young man let the whole thing continue on, as in his eyes, this was just testing the shoes. If the shoes can't survive Teio when she isn't on the turf, they won't survive when she is on one.
"Haaah!!"
"Hmm? Wait. Teio, this is not–"
The young man notices far too late as Teio digs her foot into the treadmill and boosts herself forward. She was completely engrossed in the run that she forgot that she wasn't in a long track, but on top of a treadmill. The result was that Teio face planted onto the treadmill's control panel.
*Thud*
"BUGAH!!"
*Thump*
"WWAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
*Crash*
*Thud* *Thump* *WWHOOMMP* *Clink* *Clank* *CLANK* *KKRRRAASSSH*
After faceplanting herself on the control panel, Teio falls onto the still active treadmill and is thrown off the back. Remember, the treadmill was set to match the speed of a professional racing Uma Musume before Teio landed on it, so the amber brown-haired Uma was thrown with an incredible exit speed. Her little body crashed onto the shelf behind her, causing it to tilt forward and fall onto the little Uma. Shoes, glasses display, and the shelf itself are destroyed into a pile of rubble with Teio being buried in it.
"..."
"..."
"...She is paying, by the way."