The Sun-Moon Cup—it was just a small, local SP3-grade race.
You could say it sat at the very bottom of the official racing tiers, the kind of event only newly debuted Uma Musume would enter to build up prize money and popularity.
But lately, things had started to change.
In this world, everyone had their own favorite Uma Musume. Some worshipped the Undefeated Triple Crown Winner, Symboli Rudolf; others adored the dashing and beautiful Tokai Teio; and there were those utterly captivated by the elegant and noble King Halo.
But if you asked who the most beloved Uma Musume in Kasamatsu was right now, almost everyone would give the same answer: Oguri Cap.
Kasamatsu's pride, the regional hero, the Grey Monster—countless glories gathered around her name, and the affection people held for her far surpassed anyone else's.
In the shopping streets of Kasamatsu, the hottest foods were the ones Oguri Cap had eaten. Restaurants she'd once visited were now packed every single day.
And in the Uma Musume merchandise shops, even if the Emperor's dolls sold out, Oguri Cap's would never be marked "out of stock." Store owners always made sure her figures took priority on the shelves.
In Kasamatsu, you could say Oguri Cap was in a league of her own as an idol.
Because of this, the status of the local races she had run in Kasamatsu had gradually risen.
Even though the prize money and grade hadn't changed one bit, the number of spectators at these events wasn't what it used to be.
'Joining these races can quickly boost your popularity!'
With that thought in mind, plenty of Uma Musume had signed up for these events.
That, in turn, made the races far more exciting than others of their level, drawing even more spectators—creating a kind of cycle.
You could say that even if these races weren't the highest grade, their prestige had far surpassed other events of the same tier.
The Sun-Moon Cup had caught the tail end of this wave, managing to raise its own profile a little.
Since it was scheduled at the same venue as the Junior Crown Cup, and right before it, too…
Thanks to that, it drew a much larger audience than usual. And if the performance here was strong, the chances of being allowed to compete in SP2-grade races would be even greater.
Nearl was here now, at this very event.
"So, Nearl, what do you think of the scene here?"
Leaning against the hallway wall, Kitahara Jo spoke calmly, though his eyes were fixed intently on the track. Emotions swirled inside him, hard to put into words.
This was his first time back at the races since Oguri Cap moved to the central circuit. The moment he saw the track again, memories from the past unfolded in his mind like a painted scroll.
The days of striving together with Oguri Cap, late nights spent carefully revising training plans and arranging races, the moments shouting himself hoarse cheering her on to victory.
These memories hadn't faded with time. Instead, they'd taken deep root in his heart—until this moment, returning to the track once more.
Gritting his teeth, Kitahara felt both a bitter ache and a thrill of excitement. Once again, he realized a simple truth:
He became a trainer because he loved seeing Uma Musume give their all in a race, because he loved everything about the track.
Beside him, Nearl scanned the venue. What greeted her was a spectator stand that was mostly, if barely, filled.
Most of the crowd was chatting among themselves as if they were at a teahouse rather than a racetrack. Very few were actually watching the event.
As for the Uma Musume she'd be racing against, their mental state didn't seem great either.
Looking around, Nearl could even spot a few who clearly hadn't slept enough, already nodding off.
The track itself was in decent condition—the dirt was well-maintained, and the official commentators were in place.
She turned back to her trainer. "I don't think this will be much of a race."
She pointed down the hallway. "Look, Trainer."
As Kitahara followed her gesture, Nearl continued.
"These Uma Musume clearly aren't taking this event seriously. Running in this state of mind—they're just going through the motions."
"You're wrong about that, Nearl." A faint, mocking smile touched Kitahara's lips. "They can't even be bothered to go through the motions."
"The audience isn't blind. Who's going to be inspired by a sluggish race like this? All it does is drain the spectators' passion."
"This is the reality of local racing. Outside of the SP1 events, a lot of races are like this. Forget getting cheers from the crowd—if the audience isn't disappointed, that's already an achievement."
Nearl had put her finger right on the problem plaguing most local SP2 and SP3 races.
"Yeah, people are losing interest in local competitions. If it weren't for Oguri Cap bursting onto the scene and reigniting everyone's dreams, the racing environment out here would be even worse."
Adjusting his cap, Kitahara's tone was worried, but when he spoke of Oguri Cap, pride filled his words.
Just then, the opening bell rang out across the field, urging the contestants to make their entrance.
Hearing the signal, Nearl allowed a slight smile. She turned back to her trainer and gave him a reassuring pat.
"Please watch my race, Trainer. You won't be disappointed. I'll make the audience gasp in genuine amazement. I'll make this local race headline central circuit news."
With that, Nearl turned decisively and walked toward the track, her steps firm and full of purpose.
A breeze swept through the passageway, stirring her golden hair and revealing eyes that seemed to shimmer like aged gold—mesmerizing to behold.
"Heh." Behind her, Kitahara Jo felt the intensity radiating from Nearl, a presence that seemed to press against the very air. A smile crept onto his lips.
"How could I ever be disappointed? More than anyone, I believe you can shine with miraculous light, Nearl."
"Margaret Nearl!"
As she was about to step fully out of the passage, Kitahara's voice called out, stopping her in her tracks.
Nearl glanced back to see him cupping his hands around his mouth, shouting with all his might.
"Run! Right here, right on this track! Begin a career you'll never regret!"
Nearl nodded, smiling.
Then she turned and walked onto the racetrack.
--+--
"Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Sun-Moon Cup! I'm Ms. Hana, your commentator for today, and beside me is Mr. Kan."
"Hello, everyone."
"We'll be bringing you all the excitement of today's race! Without further delay, let's take a look at the competitors!"
The commentator on stage gestured grandly toward the entrance where the Uma Musume were making their appearance.
--+--
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.