Flip.
A narrowed my eyes slightly as I read the words on the page. I didn't know what page this was, and honestly, the words were beginning to blur into one another. But I did my best to remain focused; this wasn't something I could lose my focus on.
Flip.
I resisted the urge to groan. By the Three Goddesses, why did the author of this book have to be so boring? I mean, I kinda get it considering what this book was, but couldn't they have made it somewhat more interesting? Add in some images or something? This was practically visual torture!
Flip.
Still, there were some interesting factoids here and there. Little bits that implied a story the author wasn't directly jotting down into words. At times, I had to wonder just what insane story ended up being the origin of some of these-
"Star-san!"
I blinked as the door to the communal room opened, and in came Belno. "Hmm? What's up?"
Belno sighed as if she'd already expected my confusion. "It's lunch time, you know?"
I frowned. "Really?" I glanced at the clock on the wall, and raised an eyebrow as I saw the time. It was two past noon now—I didn't even realize it was now that late. "Huh." I smiled wryly. "Sorry. I guess I got a little into reading."
Belno smiled. "It's fine. But we really should hurry." Her expression became panicked. "We need to go before Oguri finishes everything!"
"Pfft." I smirked. "Yeah, that'd be a real issue."
After nearly an hour reading, I finally stood up from the couch I'd been lying on, leaving the URA Rulebook I'd been reading as Belno and I headed for Kasamatsu Tracen's cafeteria. Alas, by the time we arrived at the cafeteria, the Tracen's main cook had forcefully closed the food displays, fearfully staring at Oguri Cap from the kitchen as she continued to pile on more and more empty bowls on her tray.
I rolled my eyes. "How quiet." I said outloud, smirking as Oguri turned my way. "It's almost as if a monster just came through."
Oguri swallowed her food and tilted her head. "A monster? Where?"
Belno sighed behind me, and I just shrugged. "Who knows." I then sat on the other side of the table, leaning my cheek on my hand. "What's with the late lunch?"
"Preparation." She said as she took another bite. "For tomorrow."
Ah, right.
It'd been nine days since Oguri's victory over Fujimasa March in the [15th Junior Crown], and her next race would be the [Chukyo Cup]. The race would be held tomorrow, and if things progressed as normal, it would be the prelude Oguri needed to eventually challenge the [Tokai Derby].
Normally.
…
"Star?"
I snapped out of my thoughts. "Mm?" I smiled. "What's up?"
Oguri stared at me for a good moment, a small frown occasionally appearing across her usually neutral expression. "Are you sick?"
I huffed. "I'm fine, I'm fine." I forced those thoughts away as I leaned back. "How're you feeling? Ready to tackle the race tomorrow?" I smirked. "Not to sound rude, but there isn't anyone in the roster that can catch up to you."
Oguri nodded, clenching her fist. "I feel good."
I smiled and nodded. "Then victory is an inevitability." I glanced at some of the food Oguri still hadn't eaten, and with a smirk, I reached over and grabbed one of the potato katsu. Belno gasped as she saw me perform the thievery right in front of Oguri's face, and then paled as she saw the stormy look Oguri gave me.
"Star…" She whispered my name like a curse.
I just grinned wider. "That's your fault. How much money do you think you've bled from Kasamatsu Tracen already?" Distantly, I caught the head chef nodding vigorously as he heard my words. "This is just karma, Oguri."
She just narrowed her eyes. A powerful pressure descended over the entirety of the cafeteria, causing the few students that were still here to break out in cold sweat.
"W-What's this?"
"Are they…fighting!?"
"M-Maybe they're-, you know…?"
I struggled not to laugh. Kitahara should encourage Oguri by stealing her food from time to time—she'd probably never lose this way. "Alright, alright." I reached over and patted her head. "I'm just joking. I'll treat you to some melon bread later."
The offer of food quickly placates the beast, and Oguri smiled as if she wasn't just about to leap over the table to strangle me. "Can we go now?"
I glanced at her tray. "Finish your food first."
"Okay."
She quickly ate the rest of her food in giant bites, and after she returned the tray and the large towers of empty bowls, we went out to get some melon bread from the nearby convenience store. We even found Kitahara along the way, who'd apparently been sitting in a park and rereading his notes on the participants in the upcoming Chukyo Cup.
That evening, as the skies were painted bright orange by the setting sun, Team Kitahara enjoyed a meal in my parents' izakaya, not knowing that things were about to drastically change tomorrow.
.
.
.
The next day arrived, and alas, without the presence of any powerful umamusume, Oguri Cap easily snatched the victory in the [Chukyo Cup], earning her 3rd consecutive victory. She displayed a staggering 9-length lead over the 2nd place, causing the crowd to explode with cheers.
It was certainly an event worthy of legends, and it just so happened that Symboli Rudolf just so happened to be visiting the Chukyo racetrack that very day. She'd watched Oguri Cap's staggering victory from the VIP room, and her eyes narrowed in delight as she gazed at the race track.
"Oguri Cap…" She whispered, an idea brewing in the back of her mind.
Seeing Oguri's victory, Musaka Ginjirou simply tilted his hat down as he stood from the stands and left, his jaw tense.
Not long after, seeing that Kitahara and Belno were still busy cheering for Oguri's victory, Blossom Star silently stood up and left.
And so there was no one to warn Kitahara Jo when a pair of sharply-dressed bodyguards approached him. "Kitahara Jo." One of them said, suddenly snapping Kitahara out of his cheerful reverie. His eyes comically widened when he saw them, and cold sweat immediately poured down the back of his neck. "Please come with us for a moment."
"W-Why?" He stuttered, quietly inching closer to the similarly-scared Belno.
"Someone has requested your presence." They said, and it was clear they weren't taking 'no' for an answer.
Kitahara gulped, and trembling slightly, he nodded. "O-Okay."
Then, after a tense few minutes,
"W-What's with this situation…?" He whispered weakly as he was brought into the VIP room, placed right in front of a large audience of umamusume, all sharply dressed in the uniform for Tracen Central.
Then, steps echoed down the steps.
Chestnut hair flowed, adorned by a lick of white.
Kitahara's eyes flew wide open, and it took him all he had to keep his jaw from falling.
S-Symboli Rudolf!?
Why would such a big shot want to meet him!?
"First of all, I would like to thank you for accepting my call on such short notice." She said kindly, and he trembled slightly.
'Accepting her call'? Yeah, right. There was no way he could've said no in the first place! "Uh, um…" He gulped. "D-Did Oguri do something wrong…? Or maybe Star…?"
Rudolf chuckled. "No, it's not something like that. But…" She looked aside for a moment. "Mm, but…well. That's right." She closed her eyes. "I don't want to take up too much of your time."
"Let's get straight to the point."
An overwhelming feeling of tension filled him then, as if something truly terrible was about to come.
Something that couldn't be taken back.
"Kitahara Jo." Rudolf kindly smiled. "I want to recruit Oguri Cap to Central."
"...what?"
"And not just Oguri Cap either." She hummed. "Blossom Star has already displayed her dominance in the few races she's participated in, and Belno Light has shown incredible potential." She smiled. "Really, I could scarcely believe my ears when I first heard that such terrifying talents had all appeared together in Kasamatsu." She nodded. "But truth is indeed stranger than fiction at times."
Kitahara couldn't answer. And how could he? To think that someone as incredible as Symboli Rudolf considered every member of his team someone with the potential to go to Central. It was practically confirmation that Oguri, Blossom, and Belno were all umamusume that had the possibility of going down in history.
But, the words she didn't say were clear to hear as well.
Team Kitahara had the potential of becoming legends.
Kitahara Jo did not.
"I am sure you have thought this as well." Rudolf continued, unbothered. "But with their talents, only Central can truly accommodate them." Her eyes darkened for a moment, lost in memory. "To let them languish here, their light unallowed to shine." She shook her head. "That would be a great tragedy."
His figure trembled. His hands clenched into fists.
He could not say anything, because she was right. In truth, the more he'd watched his team, the more apparent it became that he just wasn't enough. He knew full well that Oguri's talent and Star's resilience came from themselves, and Belno's recent tactical mind was first spurred by Star's suggestion.
In the end, what had he done to contribute to their victories? A few words here and there? Timing their races?
Why the hell would that matter in the long run?
Rudolf gazed at him silently, understanding the internal struggle he was facing. "I do not ask for an immediate decision." She ultimately said. "I would suggest you talk with your trainees, Kitahara Jo. Ask them what they think, and I will call you back regarding their decision." She gave a small bow. "That is all I ask."
"...y-yeah." He did his best to smile. "I'll do just that." He took a deep breath, and forced his usual carefree grin onto his face. "Don't worry, Symboli-san." He gave her his best determined stare. "I won't disappoint-!"
BANG!
Suddenly, the door to the VIP burst open.
"Don't you dare say it." A familiar voice said.
Everyone's eyes immediately turned, and Kitahara nearly fell down in shock as he saw who had entered.
"S-Star…?" He whispered, and he gulped as he saw two other umamusume follow behind her. "Belno…? A-And even Oguri…!?"
"Oguri Cap…?" Rudolf frowned. "Should you not perform your Winning Concert now?"
Oguri opened her mouth for a moment, but after glancing at Star, she shook her head and remained silent.
Rudolf's frown deepened as she gazed at the door, and the two guards who were distinctly missing. "The VIP room should not be unguarded." She whispered, confused.
"Oh, you know." Star strode forward, seemingly uncaring before Rudolf's presence. "Even the most stoic people need to go to the bathroom here and then." She winked. "Last I heard, an elder sister is helping them find the nearest toilet."
Kitahara gulped.
Rudolf's eyes narrowed, but Star continued talking. "Say, all three of us heard what you said earlier." She gave a theatrical bow. "Thanks, by the way. To know Symboli Rudolf herself believes we have what it takes to take on Central makes me really happy. Ecstatic, even!"
"But,"
She stepped forward between him and Rudolf, almost as if she was protecting him. "Kitahara doesn't have a Central license just yet, so going to Central means leaving him behind. And that?"
Oguri and Belno came to his sides, forming a triangle around him.
Star smiled coldly. "That's not something that can happen."