Umamusume racing was an integral part of cultures all around the world. To watch as they galloped across the track, their forms burning with the blessing of the Three Goddesses, was an experience that couldn't be easily replicated. Naturally, this was no different in Japan, which cherished these races with their heart and soul.
But recently, the URA faced an issue they never thought was possible.
Following the retirement of Symboli Rudolf and Mejiro Ramonu, the Japanese racing scene had fallen into a slump. The bustling excitement the people showed had waned to a worrying level, and the number of fans that actively came to watch the races had begun to slowly dwindle.
That was not to say that the excitement had vanished, or that the umamusume who raced on this very day were terrible. Far from it! New talents were appearing by the day, and the races remained as blood-pumping as ever.
It was just that the current age lied beneath the shadows of giants. Mr. C.B., Symboli Rudolf, Mejiro Ramonu—they had been too legendary, their legacies too dazzling to be forgotten even after their retirement. The whole of Japan was cast in shadow once their flames had gone still.
And for quite a while, it seemed as if the Japanese racing scene had been caught in a dangerous spiral, slowly but surely heading towards extinction.
That was until a certain newspaper was released.
News of a new team originating from Kasamatsu, filled with umamusume of incredible talent. A group of young runners who boasted strength easily comparable to those found in Central.
Oguri Cap, Blossom Star, Belno Light,
Team Kitahara.
At first, the news brought exasperation. It was ridiculous, insulting even. Those reporters dared compare our Central to runners that belonged in the countryside!? Did they truly think so little of the prestige they carried!?
But then it didn't stop.
Race after race. Victory after victory. Every member of Team Kitahara displayed a level of dominance that was shocking, and they tore through their hometown of Kasamatsu like a monsoon. No race track was safe, no umamusume were spared—It was a level of domination that struck terror and awe in any who dared to come and watch them run.
Such incredible news, combined with the drought Central was currently facing, mixed together to create an inevitable storm. At first only a few curious onlookers began arriving in Kasamatsu to see if the news held any truth. Then dozens of people began arriving whenever a member of Team Kitahara was set to race. Then thousands began arriving whenever Team Kitahara was even mentioned.
Every person that arrived in Kasamatsu for them was mystified. The news was true! Even having only seen them recently, it was clear that none of them were like the other local umamusume. They carried with them a certain weight, a pressure that seemed to draw the crowd's eyes no matter what.
Oguri Cap, called 'The Beast'. Her moniker was justly earnt, for her monstrous power easily allowed her to triumph over any who dared to stand in her way. "When you hear her run, it's like being in an earthquake." Was what Fujimasa March—a runner who was often compared to her—had to say when asked.
Blossom Star, called 'The Comet'. During her Debut, she showed the crowd a powerful Great Escape, and this tactic would quickly become a recurring sight. The moment the gates exploded open, there would come the inevitable sight of Blossom Star flying forward, her blue eyes leaving behind a contrail like a comet as she flew to the lead.
Belno Light, called 'The Tactician'. She didn't seem impressive compared to her peers, and her gentle demeanor had fooled many into dismissing her at first. But many trainers who'd come to watch her races were filled with profound awe as they watched her control the race without the other participants realizing. Even after the people began realizing, Belno's sharp wit would show them that they were still five steps behind.
Those who came to watch them easily agreed on one thing; they were an entire team of geniuses, excelling brightly in different fields.
By the time the end of the year neared, Team Kitahara boasted a record that awed all of Japan.
Oguri Cap, 11 out of 12 wins.
Blossom Star, 10 out of 10 wins.
Belno Light, 11 out of 11 wins.
A total of 32 victories! And all achieved by runners who hadn't even finished their Junior years! It was a record that practically dissolved any doubt the people had regarding Team Kitahara's ability.
And so, as the new year came around, the people began demanding the URA to bring Team Kitahara to Central. It would be an absolute tragedy if such incredible runners were to remain confined to the local scene! What did it matter that they had none of the pedigree those from Central had? Were their strengths not already dominant enough!?
The thing was, even before the general populace began expressing their demands, the URA had already begun quietly preparing to bring Oguri, Star, and Belno into Central. Central desperately needed something to relight the fire of excitement, and these three would no doubt take Central by storm!
Thankfully, before the URA needed to take any drastic measures, one Kitahara Jo had secretly sent a request to allow the members of Team Kitahara to enter Central Tracen Academy as students.
Absolute score! The moment the URA received his application, the entirety of the URA became giddy with joy. And how could they not? The previously dark future had suddenly turned bright!
Not only that, they also found that this request had been sponsored by none other than Musaka Ginjirou himself, a legendary trainer who bore the epithet of 'Fairy Godfather'. And as it turned out, he was an uncle to the applicant Kitahara Jo, who himself would become an Apprentice under him.
It was practically a team that was destined for greatness!
Team Kitahara's application was approved just a day after it was received—a record time that wouldn't be beaten for years. And once they did, they immediately turned to the media and released the news.
"Team Kitahara headed for Central; confirmed!"
"Team Kitahara confirmed to join Central Tracen Academy this early January!"
"Three consecutive winning streaks! Just who are these legends!?
"Oguri Cap, Blossom Star, Belno Light—Their Stories as We Know Them."
To call the public's reaction explosive would be an understatement. The moment the media released this news, celebrations rang across the country. For the first time in years, it seemed like Central would suddenly become interesting again!
The other runners and trainers were similarly excited, but it was also tempered with the knowledge that they would likely have to compete with these legends themselves. Some even became afraid, outright planning to avoid these three umamusume however they could.
But, to a small izakaya located in Kasamatsu, none of the chaos this news caused mattered.
"Cheers!" Over a dozen people said as they raised their glasses together, and chatter quickly filled the homely izakaya as the celebrations began.
That evening, the Kabe Izakaya had been entirely rented out for the rest of the night, reserved as a place to celebrate Team Kitahara's confirmed application to Central. The celebration was fairly quaint considering the feat they'd accomplished, but it was better this way.
"I won't lose to you. Oguri Cap…!" Fujimasa declared as she sat opposite of Oguri, her eyes blazing with determination.
Oguri just smiled. "I won't lose, March."
Just a moment later, a staff member approached, wheeling an entire cart filled to the brim with enough food to feed a family for a week. The woman began distributing the plates onto the table, and she pulled out a stopwatch from her pocket after she did so. "The competition…" She smiled as she began the stopwatch. "Now!"
Norn Ace, Rudy Lemono, and Mini the Lady began cheering as the two began tearing into the buffet, trying to finish their portions as fast as they could. "You can do it Oguri!" Belno cheered from the side as she idly ate a stick of yakitori.
"That's my Oguri!" Kitahara cheerfully said, before quietly sighing. "Thank god I'm not the one paying…"
"Go, March!" Shibasaki—March's trainer, loudly cheered for March instead. The girl in question blushed when she heard her trainer's cheer, but her tail began swaying happily.
Meanwhile, sitting by a corner of my parents' izakaya,
"So, how'd you feel?" Musaka asked as he drank his mug of beer.
"I'm dying." I said dryly as I idly swirled my own mug of lemon sour. "My legs feel like they're about to tear off."
Musaka barked out a laugh. "That's what ya get for racin' so much!" His tone softened as he glanced at the chaos on the other side of the izakaya. "Still, congrats girl. You deserve this."
"We deserve this." I corrected jokingly. "It was a team effort."
"Right, right."
We felll silent for a while after that, interspersed by the cheering in the background as March did her utmost best to keep pace with Oguri's monstrous appetite. I caught Musaka glancing at me here and then, but since he didn't say anything yet, I pretended not to notice.
Then,
"You ready?"
"Hm?"
Musaka stared at me, his sunglasses shining beneath the warm lighting. "There'll just be two months before your first race." He slowly drank from his mug. "A G2 as well. Ya feeling ready to take it on?"
I glanced to the left, towards the floating panel only I could see.
[Name: Blossom Star
Speed: 344 (D; Experienced)
Stamina: 364 (D+; Experienced)
Power: 282 (E+; Beginner)
Guts: 201 (E; Beginner)
Wits: 240 (E; Beginner)
Skills: {Competitive Spirit ◎}, {Homestretch Haste}, {Front Runner Savvy ◎}
Domain: -
SP: 634]
I smiled secretly. "Time will tell."
Musaka huffed. "Ha! You and ye'r secrets."
Then, with a grin, he held out his half-empty mug towards me. "Blossom. I'll wait for ya and that idiot in Central." His grin grew. "Let's show those upstarts what ya got."
I returned a grin as I lifted my own mug. "We'll do just that." And then we clinked our mugs together, echoing a pleasant sound as the ice cubes clattered against the glass.
We spent the rest of the night celebrating, and finally went home hours after midnight.
Suffice to say, none of us awoke in time when tomorrow came.