"I'm telling you, aren't you just a little too much of a saint?" Norn Ace wore an expression that seemed to say, 'Is this some kind of fantasy character?'
"It's a trainer's duty to spend money on us. We share our prize money with them after we win—it's just an investment."
"They put in the effort and resources early on, and when we race, they get a cut of the earnings. That's how most trainers and Uma Musume work together. I've never seen anyone like you who takes everything on yourself."
Norn Ace sounded almost frustrated, as if she thought Nearl was being taken advantage of. Normally, she wouldn't bother with someone else's business, but for some reason, even after just one day knowing Nearl, she was already worrying about her.
"I'm no saint. I just care about my trainer a bit more. We've entrusted our dreams to each other, so it's only natural that I want to support him in every way I can."
Nearl knew Norn Ace meant well, but she didn't see her relationship with her trainer as purely transactional. To her, he was a comrade and family—and family doesn't keep score.
"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I recognize my trainer's strengths, so I should also accept his flaws."
Here, Nearl paused briefly before continuing.
"It might sound arrogant, but I'm strong. If I race, I'll win—more than once. Money won't be hard for me to come by, but my trainer… he might not be as skilled in that area. So if I can ease his burden even a little, I should."
"Then why not just give him a bigger share of your prizes later?"
"That's not the same. I can't just hand him money for no reason. It might seem like it would help him live more comfortably, but in the long run, it would wear down his spirit. Only those who've abandoned their pride accept handouts—and my trainer isn't that kind of man."
"So the only thing I can do is try to lessen his load from my end."
After hearing Nearl out, Norn Ace had to admit she felt a twinge of admiration. She'd never met an Uma Musume so principled and upright. Maybe that was why she'd taken such a liking to her without even realizing it.
"Hah, whatever. I still don't really get it, but I don't mind listening. Earlier, you were asking what races I'm planning to enter, right?"
After a moment's thought, Norn Ace decided to drop the subject. Nearl clearly had her own way of thinking, and it wasn't something an outsider could easily influence. But when it came to debut races, she could still offer some advice.
"Yes. Which race are you planning to enter next, Norn?"
"I'm aiming for the October Autumn Tree Cup—a 1500-meter race, SP2 grade. The prize pool is 2.5 million. Even if I don't win, placing in the top five wouldn't be bad."
[Note: Japanese local horse racing is divided into several grades: SP1, SP2, SP3, and P. SP1 is the highest grade. For example, the Tokai Derby is one of the top SP1 events, with a first-place prize of 7 million.]
"You don't believe you can win?"
As Nearl listened to Norn Ace describe her goals, her expression grew serious. She sensed hesitation and fear in those words.
Hearing such a blunt question, Norn Ace's face briefly clouded over. She opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. Eventually, she leaned heavily against the railing, her tone subdued.
"You're really straightforward, huh… But you might be right. I guess I'm not that confident. There are so many Uma Musume running—how could anyone know for sure if they'll win?"
"I've raced quite a few times now. I've won some, but lost more. I've accepted it—I'm just an average Uma Musume. I can't guarantee I'll ever take first place."
Nearl fell silent, watching her. She wanted to say so much—to encourage her, to say that even without top talent, she should keep striving; that even without winning, she could still find joy in running; that hard work would be rewarded. But in the end, she held back.
Having never walked in Norn Ace's horseshoes, Nearl didn't feel she had the right to offer empty encouragement. Superficial, well-meaning words wouldn't respect what the other was feeling. And unless something unexpected happened, she would likely never truly understand Norn's experience.
So Nearl stayed quiet. Hollow comfort and motivation would only be condescending—a self-serving gesture. Her principles wouldn't allow it.
But if she couldn't comfort, she could still offer companionship.
"Norn, would you like to train together? With your race coming up, a little extra practice could help."
Nearl looked at the worried Uma Musume and made the suggestion, hoping that training might help her release some of the pent-up anxiety and disappointment.
The invitation clearly took Norn Ace by surprise, and she stared blankly for a second.
"Train together? I mean, I guess we could, but I might not be able to keep up with your pace."
"That's alright. I can mix up the training routine. I'll match your rhythm."
Nearl knew her usual regimen would be too much for most other Uma Musume, but she could adjust—maybe do squats or strength training while Norn was resting after a jog.
"Well, if you're offering…"
After a moment's hesitation, Norn Ace agreed. She'd come to train anyway, and having company wouldn't hurt.
Little did she know her entire worldview was about to be shattered by Nearl.
--+--
After 9 a.m., the track grew busier as more Uma Musume arrived to train. At first, everyone minded their own business, but gradually, all eyes drifted toward one corner where two figures stood out—one doing push-ups, the other slumped on the ground, gasping for air.
It was Nearl and Norn Ace.
Mid-push-up, Nearl glanced around the field and called over to Norn Ace, who was still wheezing on the grass.
"Norn, you should sit up to rest. Lying down like that isn't very proper. Look, everyone's watching us."
Norn Ace, usually so polished and stylish, was a complete mess. She shot Nearl a resentful look.
"You—you think they're looking at me? I must've been out of my mind to train with you… huff… puff… Are you even an Uma Musume? I haven't seen you take a single break. They're all staring because your routine is insane…"
"I'm sorry about that," Nearl replied helplessly.
Her stamina was simply on another level compared to Norn's. Even keeping up with a fraction of Nearl's routine had left Norn exhausted.
But what could she say? Only something reassuring.
"Whatever. I should've known you're a monster. Now I get where your confidence for your debut race comes from."
Norn Ace struggled to sit up, brushing herself off before continuing.
"You asked me about races earlier, right? Let me give you some advice for your debut."
--+--
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.