Chapter 63: I Love Running the Most
A short while later, at the front row of the spectator stands—
Makoto wore a complicated expression while staring at the pinkish white bangs of the Umamusume next to him.
"...So, what you're telling me is that you were hiding in the bushes to surprise Kitasan?"
"Hehehe~ yeah, that's pretty much it."
Scratching her cheek with a sheepish smile, the Umamusume looked bashful as she explained.
"Since she was still in pre-race prep and getting ready to enter the gate, I figured it'd be rude to interrupt her, so I wanted to surprise her just before she came out..."
Just then, a nervous yet hopeful voice chimed in from beside them.
"Sp-Special Week-senpai, h-hello! C-Could I get your autograph? I've admired you forever!"
The brown-and-white-haired Umamusume standing beside Makoto was none other than Special Week. After being discovered earlier at the exit of the underground passage, she'd explained herself in a flurry and ended up coming along with Makoto to the audience stands.
Special Week was one of the most beloved Umamusume in Japan. On the popularity rankings, she'd rarely ever dropped out of the top three—and thanks to that, she carried the title of "Most Popular Umamusume."
So naturally, when she appeared here in the stands, many fans immediately recognized her, and people began gathering for autographs and photos.
The stands were mostly filled with trainers, and a few had brought along their trainees. One such trainee had just approached now, eyes sparkling.
She looked around 12 or 13 years old, still not yet in full-fledged training. Her young face was full of innocence.
She had three golden star-shaped earrings near her left ear, medium-length brown hair, a white "shooting star" streak across her bangs, and pale cyan flower pins on both sides of her hair.
"Ah, sure! Of course!"
Cut off mid-conversation, Special Week just beamed and took the autograph board and pen with a smile.
"Thank you so much for your support! How would you like me to sign it?"
"Um, umm…"
The young Umamusume bounced excitedly in place, clenching her tiny fists before blurting out:
"'So that Yuko can become Japan's number one Umamusume'—i-is that okay...?"
"Japan's number one..."
Special Week was taken aback for a moment, then a glimmer of nostalgia lit her eyes. She nodded warmly.
"Of course! No problem at all. You're Yuko, right? I believe in you—you'll definitely become Japan's number one Umamusume someday!"
"Mm-hmm! Thank you, Special Week-senpai!!"
With a bright grin, she signed the board and wrote the words Yuko had asked for, handing it back with both hands. She watched with a gentle smile as the young girl scampered off, practically glowing with joy.
"'Japan's number one'... What a spirited little junior."
Watching everything unfold beside her, Makoto gave a thoughtful hum at Special Week's words.
"When it comes to 'Japan's number one,' I'd say someone like you—who actually won the Japan Cup—is more than deserving of the title. If I may ask, did you always have that kind of ambition from the start?"
"Eh?"
Special Week blinked, looking at him in surprise. "Why do you ask that, Makoto-san…?"
"Well… I guess it reminded me of Kitasan."
He chuckled softly and turned his gaze toward the paddock.
Kitasan Black's race hadn't officially started yet. The paddock introductions were still ongoing.
Over the loudspeakers, the announcer was currently introducing each participant, and it wouldn't be long before the Umamusume began their parade.
"When I first signed a contract with Kitasan, I asked her why she wanted to become an Umamusume—why she chose the path of the Twinkle Series."
Makoto continued, his tone calm.
"She told me it was because she admired President Tokai—because her grandfather and family supported her—and because of a promise she made with a childhood friend."
"And later on, she added more reasons."
"To be honest, I didn't have any experience coaching Umamusume. Admiration, support, childhood promises… those aren't really things I know how to deal with very well."
He looked at her seriously.
"So that's why I wanted to ask you, Special Week-senpai—what was it that led you to such an incredible career?"
This was how he truly felt.
He had long ago accepted that, much like Kitasan Black, he wasn't particularly gifted or special. If he wanted to achieve anything remarkable, the only way was through steady, diligent effort—accumulating results bit by bit.
That was exactly why, even after earning his trainer's license, he never allowed himself to slack off in self-improvement.
Reviewing everything he'd learned, studying the latest research in the industry, repeatedly watching race footage and trainer interviews—that was one part of it.
The other part was communication: talking and learning from all sorts of Umamusume.
During a previous joint training session, he'd taken the opportunity to speak with Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka at length.
Now, standing beside yet another top-tier Umamusume, he hoped to draw some inspiration and experience from Special Week herself.
"'Senpai'? Makoto-san, why not just call me 'san'? You calling me 'senpai' as a trainer feels kinda… hehe, weird."
Scratching her head awkwardly, Special Week lifted her chin slightly, tapping her finger on it in thought.
"Why I stepped onto the racecourse, huh…? That's kind of hard to explain, honestly."
"Hard to explain…?" Makoto blinked, taken aback.
"Hehe~ yep."
Scratching her head again with a sheepish grin, Special Week admitted:
"Not gonna lie, Makoto-san, I grew up in the countryside of Hokkaido. Before I came to Tokyo, I didn't know anything—like, nothing."
"Not just racing or training—I didn't even know how to ride the subway or the trains. I caused a lot of trouble back then, and made a ton of silly mistakes."
She chuckled, shaking her head fondly.
"After that... I don't think I really did anything that special."
"I just remembered the promise I made with my mom—to become a great Umamusume. Then I made a bunch of wonderful friends at school."
"We trained together, we ran together. Every day was just filled with laughter, and before I knew it, time just kept moving forward."
"Of course, losing races really hurt, too."
"Not gonna lie, Makoto-san—I cried a lot. Like when I couldn't beat Air-chan at the Satsuki Sho, when I lost to Pasa-chan in the Japan Cup, or when I couldn't beat Grass-chan at the Takarazuka and Arima Kinen…"
"Every time, I'd sneak off to cry in that tree hollow in the academy courtyard."
Her voice softened with a bittersweet tone.
"There were lots of sad things."
"Like getting a call from Pasa-chan when she went to France, and…"
Her expression shifted slightly—something fleeting crossed her eyes—but she shook her head, brushing it away with a smile.
"But still, there were far more happy days."
"I don't know if that really answers your question, Makoto-san. But if you're asking how I ended up on the racecourse, then I guess…"
"It's because it made me happy. It brought me joy."
"I stepped onto the track because I was happy."
"Because—I love running more than anything."
"And what made it even happier—what made it even more joyful—was all the people I met, and everything I experienced because I kept running."
Her whole face lit up with a smile so genuine it seemed to sparkle.
Then suddenly, her eyes widened and she looked excitedly at the giant screen across from them.
"Ah! Kita-chan's coming out! She looks so cool!!"
Makoto was still lost in thought, moved by Special Week's words.
In that moment, he began to understand—truly understand—why she was so beloved.
Yes, her ability and results were dazzling. But more than those, what drew people to her was her pure love for running.
That crystal-clear passion had a strange, almost otherworldly charm—something that made people forget the realities of training and competition, if only for a second, and realize something simple yet profound:
Every Umamusume was born into this world for one reason—
To run.
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Note:
Air-chan: Air Shakur
Pasa-chan: El Condor Pasa
Grass-chan: Grass Wonder