The moment she crossed the finish line, Fujimasa March felt all her strength drain away. The last thread of will that had pushed her through that final sprint snapped with a snap, and she immediately pitched forward.
"March!" Trainer Shibasaki, who'd sensed something was wrong even before she finished, tried to vault over the railing to reach her. But at his speed, how could he possibly catch her in time?
"Ah!" The Uma Musume watching from the sidelines instinctively covered their mouths. At the speed Fujimasa March had been going, a sudden fall could lead to serious injuries—multiple bruises, or even broken bones. No one dared to watch.
But Fujimasa didn't hit the ground. Nearl caught her firmly, the impact forcing Nearl to take several deliberate steps backward before she steadied herself.
"Hah… hah…" Gasping for air in Nearl's arms, Fujimasa March's face was flushed an unnatural red, sweat beading on her forehead. Her half-closed eyes lacked their usual spark, the light in them like ashes after a fire has burned out.
Nearl looked seriously at the half-conscious Fujimasa in her arms, quietly placing one hand against her back and letting a gentle light flow into her, unnoticed.
Nearl hadn't expected Fujimasa to push herself this far. If she hadn't been here, if she didn't have this ability to channel light, Fujimasa would've ended up hospitalized for months—or worse, completely burned out.
Unaware of Nearl's special ability, Fujimasa only felt her mind gradually clear. Blinking slowly, she finally focused on Nearl's face—stern and full of concern, making Fujimasa instinctively turn her head away in embarrassment.
It wasn't shyness; Fujimasa simply felt awkward as Nearl's senior, now needing rescue from her junior. It bruised her pride.
But soon she turned back, a proud smile on her face. "I gave it my all. And you didn't hold back, right?"
"That's right, March. I used everything I had today. You gave me a wonderful race."
Hearing Fujimasa's clear voice, Nearl couldn't help but smile. She carefully helped Fujimasa stand steady before replying.
Fujimasa straightened up as best she could, her eyes fixed on Nearl, her tone resigned but calm. "I lost. You really are a genius, just like Oguri Cap said. But I'm not giving up. I have my own battles to fight. Fujimasa March of Kasamatsu will keep running."
"I'm glad to hear that. I want my running to bring hope to others. If it only discourages people, that's the last thing I'd want."
Relieved to see Fujimasa still so spirited, Nearl asked, "Do you need help walking? You must be struggling to stand right now."
"No need. See over there? My trainer's on his way. He'll take me back."
At Nearl's question, Fujimasa shook her head and gestured to her left.
Nearl turned and saw a young man in a suit running toward them, his face full of worry and anxiety.
"Is that your trainer? He looks really concerned about you."
"Ugh, he's probably gonna lecture me again. I can't stand it—he treats me like a little sister who doesn't know any better, when we're just Uma Musume and trainer."
Nearl wanted to refute. In her opinion, if both trainer and Uma Musume saw their relationship so superficially, neither would grow much. But she held her tongue.
Because she saw the look on Fujimasa's face. Even as she complained, there was trust in her eyes and a smile on her lips.
Seeing that, Nearl understood. Their relationship needed no input from her.
Quietly stepping back, Nearl watched as Fujimasa's trainer fussed over and scolded her, a faint smile in her eyes. She didn't want to interrupt, so she simply turned and left to find Kitahara.
Kitahara wasn't hard to find. He'd stayed rooted to the spot since the race began, staring blankly at the stopwatch in his hand, so dazed he didn't even notice Nearl approach.
Nearl tapped his shoulder. "Trainer, snap out of it. I won the mock race. Now it's time for you to keep your promise."
Hearing this, Kitahara Jo finally reacted. He looked up at Nearl, his eyes empty. "Hey, Nearl… are you really a local-level Uma Musume?"
"I am registered locally, yes. Why do you ask, Trainer?"
"Haha, nothing. I just suddenly understand why Oguri Cap insisted I become your trainer. In a way, it's like déjà vu."
Kitahara forced a dry laugh, his words filled with a sense of sudden enlightenment that puzzled Nearl. But she tactfully didn't press further—it clearly involved his personal history, and she saw no need to reopen old wounds.
Fortunately, Kitahara recovered after a few awkward chuckles. "Ahem, Nearl, your performance in this mock race speaks for itself. Beating Fujimasa March by over ten lengths… there can't be many local Uma Musume who can outperform you now. In that case, I don't need to worry about your debut race. Do you have any preferences for which one you'd like to run?"
"I've asked around among my classmates. One of them recommended three races to me."
"Oh? Let's hear them."
"She suggested the Nike Gear Sponsored Cup, the Sun-Moon Cup, and the Shirakawa Grand Festival."
Kitahara pondered deeply. "Hmm… your classmate really did recommend three solid options. They cover the highest prize money and the broadest audience—all excellent choices."
Scratching his head, he still couldn't make up his mind—an old habit of his, lacking decisiveness and boldness.
So he left the choice to Nearl. "Nearl, what do you think? Do you have any goals in mind?"
"Yes, I do have a goal. Trainer, you just reminded me. I know which race to pick now."
Hearing his words, Nearl's eyes lit up. She knew exactly which one to choose.
"Oh?"
"I want to enter the Sun-Moon Cup. It has the largest viewership, so my name will likely spread farther. If I want to achieve my goal, being known to the public is a must."
"Great. Since you've decided, it's time for me, your trainer, to get to work. I'll look into the Sun-Moon Cup details right away."
Seeing Nearl's resolve, Kitahara felt motivated too. He adjusted his cap, ready to take on trainer duties he hadn't touched in over a year.
--+--
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.