A short while later, at the very front row of the spectators' stands—
Looking at the Uma Musume with pinkish-white bangs beside him, Yasui Makoto wore a strange expression.
"...So you were hiding there because you wanted to surprise Kita-chan?"
"Hehehe, that's exactly right..."
Scratching her cheek with a sheepish grin, the Uma Musume replied apologetically:
"I thought it wouldn't be good to disturb her while she was getting ready, so I figured I'd catch her right before she entered the paddock..."
Just then, a nervous yet hopeful voice interrupted:
"S-Special Week-senpai! Hello! C-could I possibly get your autograph? I've always admired you so much!"
Indeed, the Uma Musume with pinkish-white bangs was Special Week. After Yasui had found her hiding near the underground tunnel exit and heard her panicked explanation, they had come up to watch from the stands together.
Special Week enjoyed immense popularity across Japan. She consistently ranked among the top three most beloved Uma Musume, earning her the title "Most Popular Uma Musume."
Thus, once in the stands, several fans quickly recognized her, coming over for autographs and photos. This particular section was mainly trainers watching the race, some accompanied by their own Uma Musume. The girl now asking shyly for an autograph was clearly one of them.
She looked around twelve or thirteen, not yet at the age of honkaku-ka (competitive maturity). Her youthful face showed obvious excitement. She had mid-length brown hair with a small white streak resembling a shooting star across her bangs, three small golden star-shaped earrings near her left ear, and pale green hair ornaments on both sides of her head.
"Ah, o-of course!"
Special Week smiled warmly, taking the autograph board and marker with enthusiasm.
"Thank you so much for your support! How would you like me to sign this?"
"Um, could you write..." The young Uma Musume nervously clenched her fists. "'I hope Yu-chan becomes Japan's number one Uma Musume'... Is that okay?"
"Japan's number one…"
Special Week seemed momentarily surprised, her eyes softening as nostalgic memories flashed through her mind. Then she nodded with a gentle smile.
"Yes! Absolutely! Yu-chan, right? I truly believe you can become Japan's number one Uma Musume!"
"Thank you so much, Special Week-senpai!"
After happily signing and carefully handing back the autograph board, Special Week watched the excited junior hurry away, letting out a small sigh of admiration.
"Japan's number one... what a spirited kouhai."
Having quietly observed the entire exchange, Yasui pondered for a moment before speaking:
"When it comes to being 'Japan's number one,' Special Week-san, who won the Japan Cup, surely deserves that title. May I ask—did you always have that clear goal from the beginning?"
"Huh?" Special Week blinked, puzzled. "Why do you ask, Yasui-san…?"
"Well…perhaps it's because you reminded me of Kita-chan," Yasui smiled faintly, gazing toward the paddock.
Kitasan Black's race hadn't started yet—right now the horses were still parading in the paddock as their basic information was announced. Soon, they would individually make their appearances.
"When I first signed the training contract with Kita-chan, I asked her why she wanted to become an Uma Musume, why she chose the path of the Twinkle Series."
"She told me it was because she admired Student Council President Tokai Teio, because of her family's support—especially from her grandfather—and because of a childhood promise she made with a close friend."
"She had many more motivations as well."
Yasui paused, smiling slightly.
"I don't actually have much experience guiding Uma Musume, to be honest. Things like admiration, family support, promises... those kinds of emotional motivations aren't exactly my strong suit."
"That's why I'd really like to ask you, Special Week-san… No, perhaps I should say Special Week-senpai: how did you set yourself onto such a remarkable path?"
He was sincere in his question.
Yasui had long understood clearly that neither he nor Kitasan Black were particularly gifted prodigies. To achieve anything remarkable, they would have to rely purely on diligent effort, building achievements steadily and incrementally.
This was precisely why, despite already having his trainer's license, he never stopped studying and improving himself.
He reviewed old lessons, researched industry breakthroughs, repeatedly watched races and interviews with trainers, and also communicated with various Uma Musume—seeking advice wherever possible.
Previously, during training sessions, he'd seized opportunities to learn from Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka.
Now, facing another exceptional Uma Musume, he naturally wanted to hear Special Week's perspective, hoping for inspiration from her personal experiences.
"Senpai...? Yasui-san, maybe calling me 'Special Week-san' is better. Having a trainer call me senpai is just... hehe, a little strange."
Special Week laughed shyly, awkwardly scratching her head before tilting it upward slightly, lost in thought.
"How did I end up on this path...? Honestly, even I'm not entirely sure."
"Not sure…?" Yasui stared, puzzled.
"Hehe, yup!" Special Week chuckled again, a bit embarrassed. "To tell you the truth, Yasui-san, I grew up in the countryside in Hokkaido. Before coming to Tokyo, I knew absolutely nothing."
"It wasn't just racing or training—even taking trains or subways confused me completely. I made so many silly mistakes back then!"
"And after that, I feel like I didn't do anything special."
"I just kept the promise I made with my mom—to become a great Uma Musume. Then at school, I met so many amazing friends."
"We trained together, raced together, and just happily spent our days together."
"Of course, losing races was always hard…"
Special Week paused, eyes growing a bit distant.
"It's a little embarrassing to admit, but after losing the Satsuki Sho to Sei-chan (Seiun Sky), the Japan Cup to El-chan (El Condor Pasa), and both the Takarazuka and Arima Kinen to Grass-chan (Grass Wonder), I secretly cried a lot by that big hollow tree in the academy courtyard."
"There were plenty of other sad moments too…"
"Like when I received a call from El-chan from France, and..."
Her expression flickered briefly before she shook her head gently, quickly changing the subject with a smile.
"But there were so many more happy moments than sad."
"I don't know if this really answers your question, Yasui-san. But if you're asking how I started racing, maybe the simplest way to say it is…"
"Joy. Happiness."
"I stepped onto the racetrack simply because it made me happy."
"Because…I love running more than anything else."
"And what made me even happier were all the people I met because of running, and all the experiences it brought me."
With a genuine smile illuminating her face, Special Week suddenly perked up, excitedly pointing to the big screen opposite them.
"Oh! Kita-chan is coming out! Wow, she looks so cool!"
Yasui Makoto was still quietly absorbing Special Week's heartfelt words.
In this moment, he finally understood why Special Week was so deeply beloved by so many.
Certainly, her achievements and talent were dazzling—but even more captivating was her pure, crystal-clear love for running.
That extraordinary sincerity possessed an almost mystical charm, allowing one to momentarily forget everything else—training, racing, pressures—and realize one simple truth:
Every Uma Musume was born into this world solely to run.