The ramen shop's fan whirred overhead as a steaming bowl of tonkotsu ramen was set down on the table.
The TV mounted on the wall was broadcasting the latest news, while a newspaper left by a previous customer lay spread across one of the seats.
"So, are you saying the reason none of the tens of thousands of spectators managed to capture any footage of her is due to what you call the 'principle of synchronicity'? May I understand it that way?"
The voice from the TV belonged to a host interviewing an expert on Uma Musume, discussing the recent [Japan Derby]—a topic that seemed to make the news almost daily.
Sensing a trend, various programs were scrambling to invite specialists in the Uma Musume field to share their perspectives on the race.
"That's correct," replied a man with a dusting of facial hair and thick glasses. "Normally, we use the 'principle of synchronicity' to describe such supernatural phenomena."
"One person's camera malfunctioning is an accident. Two people's cameras failing is a coincidence. But when the number reaches tens of thousands, it can no longer be explained away as mere 'coincidence.'"
"From our human logic, if something breaks, there must be a cause—for instance, forgetting to clean the lens, or a chip failure in the camera."
"Yet the 'principle of synchronicity' lacks a clear cause-and-effect relationship. Instead, it involves multiple events occurring in parallel, outside of causality."
"So you're suggesting this is a supernatural phenomenon?" asked the journalist.
"Currently, there's no scientific method to explain the cause of this incident. However, I don't believe the online rumors about ghosts or curses. I lean more toward 'synchronicity'—multiple events happening simultaneously without any causal link."
Snap.
The girl broke apart a pair of disposable chopsticks, her ears twitching slightly at the conversation on TV.
She picked up a strand of steaming ramen and blew on it gently.
"In fact, synchronous events occur quite often in our daily lives. For example, in 1817, a man named Thornton killed a woman in a small English town. Then, 157 years later, at the same time and same location, another woman was murdered—and the killer was also named Thornton."
"Or, say, you suddenly feel like calling home to check on your parents, only to find the line busy because they were calling you at that very moment."
"These are examples of 'synchronicity' we might encounter. If we apply this theory to the Uma Musume, then them simultaneously experiencing events significant enough to change the horse racing world—at the same time, same place, same year, without any causal connection—would also be 'synchronicity.'"
Hearing this, the girl eating ramen lifted her head, her ocean-blue eyes sparkling with interest.
Events significant enough to change the horse racing world, happening simultaneously—
"Well, well~"
She murmured in a distinct Kansai accent, "Now you've got my attention."
--+--
The streets of the central city were bustling with traffic.
A girl with short brown hair and white streaks looked down at the map in her hands, her expression troubled.
Though she admired the city, she knew very little about the central district and was completely unfamiliar with the area.
She kept turning the map around, comparing the names on it to the buildings around her.
"Light, have you figured out where we are?"
Behind her, a girl with long gray hair and blue-gray eyes asked.
"Ah… sorry, Oguri, just give me a moment longer," the girl replied apologetically.
She really should have done more research before coming to the central city.
But leaping from a small, quiet local racetrack to the heart of the nation had left her feeling dizzy with excitement. She'd been so keyed up she hadn't slept well the night before, and now she was feeling sluggish.
This girl was Belno Light, who had just passed the Tracen Academy staff trainee exam.
Beside her was the Uma Musume recently featured in all the major papers, winner of the [Junior Crown Cup], and dubbed the 'Gray Monster'—Oguri Cap.
According to the schedule Symboli Rudolf had provided, a Tracen student was supposed to have met them near the station.
But it had already been over half an hour.
If they stubbornly kept waiting, they might miss Tracen's curfew.
Without dorm assignments, the two would have to spend the night outside the academy.
So, Belno Light was doing her best to navigate using a map she'd bought months ago, squinting at street signs as she led the way.
"If it's too difficult, we could always take a taxi to Tracen…" Oguri Cap suggested, seeing her friend sweating nervously.
"No, absolutely not!" Belno Light rejected the idea vehemently.
She grabbed Oguri Cap's shoulder, speaking with the grave tone of someone who'd learned a hard lesson: "Remember, you must never take a taxi in the central city. Never! The starting fare alone is 500 yen. By the time we reach our destination, it could easily be over a thousand."
"Over a thousand yen…"
"That's enough for a whole hotpot buffet."
"What!?" Oguri Cap lowered her head, pondering. "A distance that wouldn't even work up an appetite, costing as much as a full meal? That really is poor value."
"You see now."
"I understand." She nodded with a look of realization. "Then, Light, let's walk to Tracen together."
Even so, Belno Light kept taking a taxi as a last resort.
After all, a night at a hotel would cost far more than a cab ride.
Such was the terrifying cost of living in the central city—the dreadful power of the economic heartland!
Here, you had to budget carefully every day. Otherwise, a single trip outside could bankrupt you.
Spend wisely, avoid spending traps! Belno Light reminded herself once again, then focused back on the map.
"Is this the street here?"
Oguri Cap leaned in, pointing at a circular building icon on the map, then looking toward a large structure in the distance.
"Huh?" Belno Light carefully compared the road before her eyes lit up. "Yes, that's it! Just two more intersections and we'll be at Tracen. Thank goodness! I was worried I'd led us the wrong way. This is great—"
…So you were just guessing earlier?
"Anyway, let's hurry. If we're lucky, we might still run into a Tracen student."
Folding the map, the two broke into a quick jog toward Tracen.
Just then, a long, distressed cry cut through the street.
"Stay away from me!"
A girl in a blue-and-white uniform shot past at a speed far beyond any ordinary Uma Musume.
Chasing close behind her was a girl in athletic wear, her long black hair flowing as she ran.
--+--
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.