Clearly, Takeda Makoto's current goal was to sign a rookie Uma Musume and repay his debts by winning race prize money.
He already had a candidate in mind, and he possessed both a Trainer license and club qualifications, but the signing and training fees were a major headache.
Much like football is the premier sport in a world without Uma Musume, Uma Musume racing has become the most watched and lucrative sport in this world. Countless Uma Musume long to become professional athletes, but fewer than five percent succeed.
The cost of raising an Uma Musume is also extraordinarily high. For an ordinary family to meet the nutritional and athletic needs of an Uma Musume, they must spend significantly more than they would on a normal child.
If they also want to participate in systematic running training, the cost of a full set of courses is an astronomical figure.
The club model was born to adapt to the times. Similar to horse owners in horse racing, clubs sign new Uma Musume who have reached the age of eighteen, providing them with Trainers and training facilities to let them compete on behalf of the club.
Consequently, the moment those high-potential Uma Musume graduate, countless scouts present them with signing applications and pay high signing fees, allowing the Uma Musume to become professionals.
Uma Musume who are not signed must either find a Trainer at their own expense or give up on becoming a professional.
Takeda Makoto was penniless at the moment. Aside from the Takeda Uma Musume Club under his name, he had less than 100,000 yen in cash.
However, he had a plan. He knew a bit about the 'one property, two loans' trick from his previous life; as long as you have the property rights, the bank will give you a loan. It was Takeda Makoto's father who went bankrupt and went to jail; Takeda Makoto's own credit was still quite good. Since he already owed over ten million, he wasn't afraid of adding more to the pile.
After taking out a 10 million yen loan using the racecourse as collateral at another bank, Takeda Makoto caught a flight from Hanshin to Hokkaido.
After getting off the plane and taking a Shinkansen, he arrived at Niikappu, a small seaside town in southern Hokkaido.
Niikappu is located in the Central part of the Hidaka Subprefecture in Hokkaido, with the Hidaka Mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Its climate is relatively warm for Hokkaido with less snowfall, and the area is famous for its renowned Uma Musume and music records.
After searching fruitlessly at the Local Tracen Academy and making several inquiries, Takeda Makoto learned that his target Uma Musume's family had left their hometown long ago to live in Kansai.
Without stopping for breath, Takeda Makoto flew through the night back to the Ritto Tracen Academy in Kansai.
In this Kansai-famous Tracen Academy, Uma Musume with fluffy ears and swaying tails went in and out, filled with laughter. On the vast, bright tracks, many Uma Musume were sweating under the summer sun.
Because it was graduation season, many formally dressed scouts were recording the Uma Musume's running data, hoping to find a few among this year's graduates who could compete in Graded Stakes in the future.
The scouts from famous clubs were especially welcomed by the graduates. Long lines formed in front of the interview selections, as girls submitted their physical data and test results, hoping to join the selection for a major club.
After all, joining a big club meant high signing fees, excellent Trainers and training equipment, and the ability to enter the Central racing leagues right from their debut, rather than having to work their way up from Local races.
The longest queue was for the Trainer from the Sakura Uma Musume Club, Akikawa Hirono.
Akikawa Hirono already had thirty years of experience as a Trainer and had achieved great success in small-scale races. After being recruited by the Central Sakura Club, he desperately needed an Uma Musume who could produce results in the Central league.
During the selection process, he would first look at the Uma Musume's files, such as height-to-weight ratio, body fat percentage, heart rate, and speed in running tests.
If he was satisfied with the physical data, he would have the Little Uma Musume who passed the initial screening compete in a simple selection race on the track. He would observe their running posture, stride frequency, breathing rhythm, and arm-swinging habits before finally deciding whether to sign them.
"I'm sorry, perhaps you should try another Trainer. My training methods might not be very suitable for your running style."
Akikawa Hirono couldn't remember how many times he had said that today.
Although the famous Uma Musume were scouted as soon as they graduated, Akikawa Hirono still hoped he could find a hidden gem among the new Uma Musume.
He had been there all morning and had only offered a few preliminary contracts to some Little Uma Musume who might be able to compete at the OP (Open) Level; the others might struggle to even make a name for themselves in Local races.
"It is Kansai, after all," Akikawa Hirono thought, recalling a common joke. He muttered to himself, "Kansai Uma Musume can't run fast... I wonder who started saying that?"
The two most widely circulated sayings in the racing world in Japan are: Kansai Uma Musume don't run fast, and Gray Mane Uma Musume run slow.
When the club Trainers were choosing locations to recruit new Uma Musume, Akikawa Hirono, who drew Kansai, thought it was just the prejudice of the Kanto folk. But now, it seemed the facts indeed supported it.
"Next."
Ending his idle thoughts, Akikawa Hirono cleared his throat. As soon as he finished speaking, a file was handed onto the table. Akikawa Hirono didn't even see the Uma Musume.
"Strange? Where is she?"
"I'm right here."
A huffy Kansai accent came from the front of the desk.
Akikawa Hirono sat up straight and finally saw a small Gray Mane Uma Musume standing before the desk. Her red ear covers were twitching as she waved her hands huffily, trying to get Akikawa Hirono to notice her.
She was truly too thin and small, looking like an elementary school student.
"Little one, only graduates can participate here. Are you still too young?" Akikawa Hirono thought she might be a teacher's child who had wandered in out of curiosity.
"I'm not a kid! Look at my file properly, Torare-na-san!" The Little Uma Musume in her tracksuit had already huffily clenched her fists, and her tail behind her was twitching like a bolt of lightning.
Is she actually serious? A high school graduate?
Akikawa Hirono looked at the file in his hand in disbelief. This Uma Musume named Nishikino Cross was only 140cm tall.
By all accounts, she was a very thin and small Uma Musume, so frail that one would suspect she was a minor.
She was from Kansai, she was a Gray Mane, and her physical condition was so poor. How could an Uma Musume with such a background ever become a professional?
Just as Akikawa Hirono was about to open his mouth to refuse, he saw the heart rate column and immediately swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue.
Heart rate is a very important physical talent for an Uma Musume. A powerful heart is an essential factor in becoming an excellent Uma Musume.
In races where running speeds exceed 60km/h, the heart is like a car's engine, and the small Uma Musume in front of him actually possessed a top-tier engine.
What a terrifying heart. The last Uma Musume with such a low resting heart rate was Symboli Rudolf, known as the Emperor.
The undefeated classic three crowns legendary Uma Musume, the Student Council President of Central Tracen Academy, and now the Executive Director of the URA Central Horse Racing League and one of the founders of the Rigil Champion Club.
Looking further down, the file also contained records of severe motion sickness, slight anorexia, a short temper, and a fear of crowds.
If it weren't for so many flaws, Akikawa Hirono might have offered a signing contract without hesitation.
But no matter how good the heart is, it's useless if the physical constitution is too poor. A low heart rate was only one of the Emperor's many strengths.
Akikawa Hirono stood up with the file and led Nishikino Cross away from the small patch of shade set up for recruitment and out into the blazing sun.
"Nishikino-san, I'm willing to give you a chance. Run one lap and let me see."
Nishikino Cross nodded. After warming up her body, she stood on the starting line with the other Uma Musume who had passed the initial screening, preparing for a simple 1600-meter Mile selection race.
This was also the first time Nishikino Cross had participated in a selection race; previously, she had only taken part in training races without an audience.
Standing on the starting line, Nishikino Cross caught the eyes of many Trainers because her thin and small stature seemed completely unsuitable for professional racing.
"That kid is also participating in the selection? To become a professional Uma Musume?"
"Her build is too thin and small, it's simply impossible, right? She looks like an elementary schooler."
"Nishikino Cross... is it? Never heard of her..."
Watching the attracted crowd gradually surround the track, she felt a trace of nervousness in her heart. So, she clenched her left fist and placed it over her chest to cheer herself up.
"It's okay... I can win... anyway, just charge forward... charge forward and take first...!"
Despite saying that, Nishikino Cross's left fist wouldn't stop trembling. She irritably grabbed her trembling left fist with her right hand and said through gritted teeth.
"I have to win. I can't lose here...!"
"If you're ready, please raise your hand. The race is about to start!"
Akikawa Hirono's voice rang out over the racecourse. After confirming that all the Uma Musume had raised their hands, he raised his own arm.
At this moment, all the participants cast aside their nervousness or other emotions. After taking their starting stances, they waited for the starting command to ring out.
"Ready! Go!"
Akikawa Hirono lowered his raised hand, announcing the start of the race.
The Uma Musume dashed forward together, their starting power kicking up large clumps of dirt into the air. Every single one of them was giving their all.
Even though this was just an ordinary selection race, an Uma Musume would not give up her desire for victory. Moreover, the winner of this selection race might even get signed by the Sakura Club.
On the straight at the start of the track, the Uma Musume crowded together, all wanting to fight for the inner rail.
Because of the curves, the running distance on the inner rail is the shortest. For Uma Musume who use Runner or Front Runner strategies, whether they can grab the inner rail on the first straight is extremely important.
Nishikino's small frame was very flexible, and she was high-spirited. In a group where everyone was half a head taller than her, she didn't shy away from the struggle. Her small figure squeezed out from among the crowd of Uma Musume and was the first to grab the best inner rail position.
Holding the inner rail, she quickly gained a leading advantage at the first turn.
"That little Uma Musume has a lot of drive."
"Wow! How did she squeeze out from the crowd? Did you see that?"
Unlike the cheers around him, Akikawa Hirono furrowed his brows. He noticed that Little Nishikino's running posture wasn't very good; her head was held too high. In a normal running state, looking straight ahead is best. Moreover, she was pushing too hard at the beginning, seemingly wasting too much stamina.
"Ha... ha... ha...!! Gotta win...! Definitely, definitely gotta win...!"
To maintain her lead, Nishikino Cross constantly pressured her own stamina. Gradually, her breathing became heavier, and her legs could no longer move as quickly as they did at the start.
As Akikawa Hirono expected, when the race entered the middle stage, Nishikino Cross, who had been in the lead, slowed down visibly to the naked eye. The Uma Musume who were originally behind her overtook her one by one, and she fell from the lead group, getting buried in the back.
"Nishikino Cross, has she already reached her limit?"
"With such a thin and small frame, she doesn't have the stamina to support her, does she?"
After half a lap, Akikawa Hirono shook his head and drew a cross on the file. He could see that this child had some talent, but it was still far from enough.
Even though she was still running desperately, the professional Trainers watching had already long since reached their verdict on her.
"Nishikino Cross... although her momentum at the start was quite amazing, she charged too far ahead and didn't master her rhythm, leading to failure. Is that how it is..."
"Her competitive spirit is commendable, but her thin and small build is too much of a disadvantage in the final struggle to catch up."
By the final straight of the race, Nishikino Cross, who had no stamina left to sprint, fell into last place.
Staring at the figures ahead, she gritted her teeth and gave her all trying to accelerate, accelerate, wanting to run faster, but she could only watch those backs get further and further away from her.
The selection race was over... the violent panting made her lungs feel as uncomfortable as if they were burning, and her sweat-soaked gray-white bangs clung to her forehead.
With her hands struggling to support herself on her knees, Nishikino Cross raised her head as if using all the strength in her body, looking toward Akikawa Hirono with hopeful eyes.
The latter just shook his head apologetically and returned to the shade.
"Did I fail again? Damn it... damn it, damn it, damn it...! What am I doing...!!"
Nishikino Cross lowered her head and gripped her knees tightly, as large beads of sweat continuously dripped onto the ground.
A bitter smile played on the corners of her mouth. She never feared failure, but she still felt a bit dejected.
It was already early July, and no one was willing to sign her yet.
"Hello, Nishikino Cross. I'm sorry to come to you just after you've finished your race, but could you spare a moment..." A gentle voice made Nishikino Cross raise her head.
Standing before her was a man with a middle part and round-framed glasses. He wasn't wearing a club uniform, suggesting he might be an individual Trainer or from a small club, though it wasn't certain.
"Eh... Wh-what...?"
"I'll get straight to the point. I want to scout you. Although you're lacking in some areas, I think your running style is good."
"Re... Really!?"
Nishikino Cross straightened up instantly, her hands clenched into fists. Her fatigue seemed to vanish as she asked breathlessly.
"Yes. Come with me, and I can offer you a base salary contract. I guarantee you'll at least be able to appear in Open-class races, and if things go well, you should be able to place..."
"What do you think?"
"Um..."
Her clenched fists slowly lowered, and Nishikino Cross's eyebrows furrowed, her expression becoming somewhat formidable.
"What do you mean by 'place'? Does that mean I can win races in one go?"
She crossed her arms over her chest, her tone very displeased.
The man with the middle part and glasses looked troubled and spoke with some embarrassment. "Well... I can't guarantee that. It depends on your future performance, or rather..."
"Don't look down on me!!"
Nishikino Cross forcefully swung her left hand back, interrupting the man. She then waved her clenched fists in front of her chest and spoke with ringing conviction.
"I want to win! Win, win, win, and keep on winning! Anything less than winning is absolutely unacceptable."
"What's this 'place' talk!? There's a limit to how much you can play me!"
"I'm not entering races with such a half-hearted attitude!"
Having said her piece, Nishikino Cross ran off on her own.
The man with the glasses shook his head. "A bit too arrogant..."
No other Trainers intended to chase after the fleeing Nishikino Cross. No one believed this thin, competitive Uma Musume could gain a foothold in the ruthless Central... At the entrance of the campus racecourse under the green shade of trees, a handsome black-haired youth appeared, attracting the gazes of many passing Uma Musume.
This person was Takeda Makoto, who had just gotten off a plane.
The round trip from Hokkaido to Kansai had wasted so much time that he only arrived at Ritto Tracen Academy in the afternoon.
"Ouch!"
To his surprise, as soon as he reached the entrance of the racecourse, he collided head-on with a scatterbrain. The force was so strong it sent him sitting right down on the ground.
"Sorry!"
Before he could see clearly who it was, he heard a small, gray-haired Uma Musume say sorry before she ran out of the racecourse with red eyes, leaving Takeda Makoto sitting there stunned and completely bewildered.
He patted his rear and sat up from the ground.
"Huh, strange. Why did that Uma Musume look so familiar just now?"
He stroked his beardless chin and carefully recalled the appearance of the Uma Musume who had just committed the hit-and-run.
White hair? Yes! Small stature? Yes! Red ear covers? Yes!
Takeda Makoto clapped his hands. It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?
But... an Uma Musume in Ritto who matched those three characteristics? There was no mistake, it was her!
Takeda Makoto pulled back the foot he had just stepped into the racecourse with and began searching along the path the Little Uma Musume had taken to flee.
Soon, behind a school building, Takeda Makoto found a small figure.
He tidied his appearance and quietly approached from behind, hearing her saying something.
"Dammit... Dammit... Unforgivable...! Being looked down on... and running like a fool too...!"
She seemed to be sulking, so she didn't notice Takeda Makoto had already reached her.
Considering that eavesdropping, even if unintentional, would lower his first-impression favorability, Takeda Makoto coughed lightly to alert her to his presence.
Nishikino Cross turned around and looked at the unfamiliar Takeda Makoto with a puzzled expression.
"You are...?"
Takeda Makoto cleared his throat and delivered the self-introduction he had rehearsed countless times in his head: "Hello, I am Trainer Takeda Makoto. I admire your running style and hope to scout you to become your Trainer."
Nishikino Cross looked at the young and handsome face before her and asked suspiciously, "You look so young, are you a rookie Trainer?"
Takeda Makoto scratched his head awkwardly. In the Uma Musume game, he was a Trainer who had raised countless Triple Crown horses, but in reality, he was just a rookie who had just graduated from the Trainer Academy. Such rookies usually worked as assistants to professional Trainers, and rarely became head Trainers themselves.
Takeda Makoto didn't want to lie to her, so he said frankly, "Yes, I just graduated from the Trainer Academy this year."
Nishikino Cross lowered her head and said something that surprised Takeda Makoto.
"Can a rookie Trainer who just graduated obtain a league license?"
Obtaining a league license required a Trainer certificate, as well as a certain amount of operating funds and proof of total assets. It was impossible for an average person to meet the requirements.
Fortunately, Takeda Makoto was a third-generation horseman; even a bankrupt one was not someone an average person could compare to.
As early as graduation season, his application for the certificate had been submitted, and now he had officially established a club of his own.
"I come from the Takeda Family, and I have already obtained the competition license. If you don't believe me...?"
A sudden voice interrupted Takeda Makoto's words.
"Takeda... The Takeda Horse Racing Club, isn't that the old-school club from Hanshin?"
A middle-aged man who had suddenly appeared interrupted Takeda Makoto, sizing him up rather impolitely.
"Huh? Didn't the Takeda Family go bankrupt this year?"
"I heard that because of suspected illegal betting, even their club license was revoked, and they've been blacklisted by the Racing Association. How could they have a Trainer coming to sign an Uma Musume?"
Akikawa Hirono, who had come to use the restroom, couldn't help but chime in upon hearing Takeda Makoto's words.
He scanned Takeda Makoto with a suspicious gaze, doubting if he was a scammer using the Takeda Family name to kidnap Uma Musume.
"Yes, I am the heir of the Takeda Family."
Takeda Makoto paused. After admitting his identity, he immediately continued.
"However, I am not signing a new Uma Musume for the Takeda Family's club, but for my own club."
Takeda Makoto paused and raised his voice slightly.
"This is a brand-new club with no relation to the Takeda Uma Musume Club. I also don't have a Central racing license. If you sign with me, you will start with me from Local races."
Takeda Makoto spoke directly to Nishikino Cross. Japan's Central URA Racing League was the dream stage for all Uma Musume, but not everyone was qualified to participate. Uma Musume clubs that couldn't meet Central standards could only start from Local racing.
The Takeda Family's club had already been blacklisted by the URA, and the new club Takeda Makoto represented naturally had no qualifications.
Because his registered capital was only 10 million yen, whereas clubs participating in Central races needed at least 75 million yen in total assets to even qualify for an audit.
On the grand stage of Central, Uma Musume could compete against stronger opponents and enjoy more spotlight and attention.
In Local racing, most tracks were even dirt paths, there would be no cameras for online broadcasts, and the prize money for events was much lower.
So, talented Uma Musume generally wouldn't choose to join small Local clubs, just as a Premier League football player in his previous life wouldn't want to go to the Chinese Super League, or an NBA basketball player wouldn't want to go to the CBA.
Ritto Tracen was also one of several Uma Musume academies located in the Central region. The Nishikino family had moved far from their hometown in Hokkaido to Kansai specifically so that Nishikino Cross could have a better starting point.
The vast majority of Uma Musume who graduated from Ritto Academy debuted in Central, which was far better than Local academies.
The man with the middle part and glasses looked at Nishikino Cross and said earnestly, "Out of a thousand Uma Musume who go to the Local circuit, it's hard for even one to make it into Central. Most likely, you'll be running on dirt for the rest of your life."
In fact, in the world without Uma Musume, Tamamo Cross was in 1987, two years later.
Only after the late-blooming Tamamo Cross began to show her racing talent was she purchased by Central horse owner Mitsuno Michio, who was in the art business, to participate in Central races, and she only won her first race and debuted in her third Maiden Race.
Joining Takeda Makoto's club now would indeed be a step down for Nishikino Cross.
But Takeda Makoto was confident that with his training knowledge that transcended the era and the cheat on his phone, he could become a club with Central qualifications in two years.
Nishikino Cross fell into a state of conflict. No Trainer in Central was willing to pay her a signing bonus. Going to the Local circuit undoubtedly meant giving up her dream of becoming a high-profile Uma Musume.
But what made her hesitate wasn't these things, but a single reason.
"Why... did you choose me?"
Nishikino Cross held her hands to her chest. In her sky-blue pupils, Takeda Makoto could see his own reflection.
He knew that this answer would determine the success or failure of this matter.
So he took a deep breath, crouched before her, looked straight into her eyes, and said solemnly.
"I'll be honest, in my heart, you are an Uma Musume who can dominate the whole country."
Takeda Makoto extended his hand in invitation.
"I want to reach the peak of Japan with you. I'm confident that in just one year, we can break into Central!"
"Dominate the whole country? Break into Central?"
Akikawa Hirono couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Young people are so arrogant; once upon a time, when he had just graduated, he was also so full of confidence, with ambitions as high as the sky.
But only after spending half his life moving from the Local circuit to Central could he understand the cruelty of competitive sports, especially a racing competition where only first place matters.
Takeda Makoto didn't care about others' opinions; he only focused on the small white figure before him.
Nishikino Cross stood with one hand on her hip, her tone sounding very calm, like the prelude to a storm.
"...You're a rookie Trainer, right? Your experience and achievements are a blank slate. Do you have the resolve?"
Her aura suddenly became aggressive, blowing over like a violent storm as she spoke as if questioning him.
"Believing in my victory, training me, making me win in Graded races! The resolve to make me number one in Japan! Do you really have it!?"
Takeda Makoto knew how to respond to her expectations. He carefully took out a golden badge from his breast pocket.
He opened his hand and showed the badge to Nishikino Cross.
On the shield-shaped golden badge, there was the official URA engraving and a golden star. In the center was the name Takeda Eiichiro, signifying that as the club's main Trainer, he had achieved the highest annual total points in the Central Uma Musume League.
"This is my grandfather's championship badge, and also the honor of the Takeda Family. I swear on the honor of the Takeda Family that I will stand at the peak of Japan with you!"
Nishikino Cross was stunned at first, then she put her hands on her hips, revealed her cute tiger teeth, and laughed out loud with her head held high.
"Hahahahahahaha! Stand at the peak?"
She shook her head somewhat helplessly.
"You really have a lot of nerve to say that."
"But, Torare-na-san is really interesting! I feel like we'll get along quite well."
Stopping her laughter, Nishikino Cross extended a fist and held it in front of Takeda Makoto.
"Since you've put it that way... I've decided to join your club. Torare-na-san, I'll be in your care from now on!"
Takeda Makoto extended his fist to bump with his first Uma Musume and said with a smile.
"Welcome to Cinderella!"
After the fist bump, Tamamo Cross scratched her head. Although a verbal agreement had been reached, there were still many specific details to be determined.
"...Um, let's go somewhere else. My body is cooling down, and this place isn't suitable for talking about these things, right?"
At the same time, Takeda Makoto didn't notice that his pocket vibrated. The screen of his Horseshoe phone lit up, and a notification scrolled across it.
"Congratulations on obtaining SSR Uma Musume—Tamamo Cross! Reward: one SSR Support Card!"
..."Cinderella? Like the fairy tale? Interesting. I'll keep an eye on you, young man of the Takeda Family."
Watching the two figures walk away, Akikawa Hirono said to himself.