The door opened, the bright lights of the room briefly flashing in Riku's eyes, as he was not wearing a pair of convenient sunglasses, like his bodyguards. His eyes slowly adjusted as the audio in the room quietened, his eyes taking in the full room to his right. Several tables were placed throughout the room, with one to two reporters seated at each table, their respective news station displayed on the top of each table. His table was situated opposite theirs, with the URA emblem prominently displayed on the front of it.
Riku walked slowly towards the table, well aware of the whole room's eyes tracking his movement. He glanced around briefly, taking note of the array of professionally dressed Umamusume positioned on the walls, glancing around at the news staff. Several cameramen were present by the security Umamusume. Several news tables drew his eye, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), the main public broadcaster of Japan. Nippon TV (NTV), Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Fuji TV, TV Asahi, and TV Tokyo. A bunch of big-name news crews in Tokyo. He took his seat at his table, giving a brief bow to the people present, and received a short one in return.
"Thank you for patiently waiting for me. My previous meeting ran a little late." Riku apologized outwardly, knowing it was merely a formality. He had no idea this meeting was even going to happen until a few minutes prior. "I'm Riku Yoshida, Chairman of the URA. Who is first today?" He smiled, his practiced customer service smile.
One of the two women present at the first table raised her hand, his focus drawn to her. "Hello, Chairman Riku." She wore a black and white pinstripe dress, her brown hair styled in a bun. "Shibuya Aki, NHK newsline. Congratulations on your recent promotion to Chairman at only twenty years old. It's quite an achievement." She smiled, a sharp glint in her eyes. "What are your thoughts on the rumors that you're being promoted to Chairman, came through unscrupulous means?"
Riku raised an eyebrow briefly in reply. They were starting pretty strong with that one. "A controversial one, immediately, Miss Shibuya?" Riku's fake smile stayed on his face. "I'm not sure what you are talking about, but I can elaborate on my promotion. My grandfather hired me as his assistant three years ago. With his declining health, he decided to elect me as his successor. It's not fair to my fellow employees who were eligible, but the decision lay with him alone." Riku nodded towards her as she leaned back in reply, looking unsatisfied by his words. He had deflected the blame on his grandfather in this case, and with reporters only allowed one question each initially, he was safe from her on this round.
"Next?" He called out, glancing around. A raised hand met him next, another woman dressed in a business casual suit this time.
"Hikari Tanaka, Nippon TV. What's your opinion on the upcoming season of racing, Chairman? With your recent promotion, it's sure to be a busy year." Her smile was smaller, but more genuine.
"It's sure to be an exciting one, I think the matches between Tosho Boy and Ten Point promise to be as exciting as ever. Not to mention it's Green Grass's Classic year, it promises to be exciting. Although I think the Classics will be far more interesting than people expect this year." Riku smiled brightly. "It'll be a very busy year for me, but I'm looking forward to it."
Another raised hand preempted him, his gaze following it. A woman with tangerine colored hair, dressed in a white and blue dress.
"Inoue Nami, TBS. Recently, after your promotion, several members of the board have resigned, as well as more layoffs than there have ever been in recent memory in the URA. Why is this the case?" She tilted her head towards him, tapping her chin in thought.
"My promotion was not well received by a majority of the board. They chose retirement rather than working with me. I disagreed, but respected their decision." Riku shrugged towards the reporter. "Regarding the layoffs, we had done a deep audit of the company, as one had not been done thoroughly in years. Any individual who was laid off did not meet company standards for work or ethics, and was given a severance before being let go."
He glanced around, noting a lack of hands immediately after. Perhaps they found his answers unsatisfactory? The first and third questions seemed geared towards trying to see if he'd slip up, or just general curiosity. A raised hand to the left drew his attention.
"Nagisa Watanabe, Fuji TV, Chairman!" A bubbly woman with short brown hair spoke, her bright red dress standing out amongst the room. Were there no male reporters in here? Surprising. "My questions are a bit more about you. Who is your favorite Umamusume? Do you think Green Grass will take the Triple Crown this year?" Her smile was bright, with her eyes gleaming as she looked at him eagerly.
Her energy was certainly in a different tier, to Riku's eyes. "Interesting questions, Miss Watanabe," Riku smiled her way, glad for the change of pace. "My favorite Umamusume currently is Tokino Minoru; she's left a great impression on me." His words drew confused looks from many, but a look of interest from older members of the audience. "Green Grass is a strong contender for the Triple Crown this year, but I don't think she'll take it easily." Watanabe gave him a nod of thanks in reply.
Two more remained among the initial question portion, meant for those of the mainline news stations. After these two, it'll be a free-for-all in terms of asking questions until their time is up, or he pulls the plug on it.
Perhaps he spoke too soon; the next person was an older man dressed in a business suit, similar to his own. "Ichiro Furutachi, TV Asahi. Chairman Riku, what are your thoughts on Japan's chances in the Japan Cup this year?" He wore a light smile, but his eyes were calculating as he looked at Riku. A pretty loaded question, despite how simple it was. The past few winners had been from the USA, with the Japan Cup only being around for the past few years. It irked a lot of people nationally that their own international event had yet to be won by a Japanese horse.
"I think our chances this year are as good as they will ever be." Riku nodded towards the reporter. "Tosho Boy, Ten Point, perhaps even newcomers like Green Grass could make an appearance. We're catching up to the rest of the world, of that I'm confident." Ichiro looked at him longer for a short time before giving a wider smile and nodding.
His eyes tracked to the last of the main news tables, where the last reporter sat. A middle-aged woman with short black hair had her hand raised as she looked at him.
"Rina Yamasawa, TV Tokyo. You've stated that your grandfather decided to appoint you, a twenty-year-old young man, to be the Chairman of the most important organization to Umamusume in Japan. Do you feel that you are ready to hold that position?" Her look towards him was purely neutral, with just a little bit of curiosity.
"If I'm being honest, no. Not at all." Riku shook his head, meeting the surprised looks of many of the younger reporters, with the older ones looking interested. "You said it yourself, I'm only twenty years old. I've lived a fraction of the life of many of my coworkers, and I have yet to experience many things that could help me as Chairman. All I can do is my best, that is all." He smiled helplessly at Reporter Yamasawa, who only chuckled in response, before nodding.
He glanced around the room as the initial line of questioning ended. He glanced and met the hungry eyes of the remaining smaller news stations, waiting for the free questioning. He sighed before straightening up.
"Now let's open the free question section. Who's first?"
TIME SKIP: Maruzensky Classic Year - March
The roar of the crowd outside pounded in Maruzensky's ears. This was it, the first step on her road to the Classics. Her previous victories had guaranteed her registration in this race, the Yayoi Sho. A top-three placement guaranteed her a spot in the Satsuki Sho, the first of the Triple Crown. However, she had every intention of winning today.
"Hmmm, hmm, hmmm," Maruzensky hummed as she hopped from foot to foot in the starting tunnel, waiting for her name to be called. She wore a bright white shirt, a number 12 displayed prominently on a white slip she wore on said shirt. A red track jacket covered this shirt, which she would take off once her introduction happened. She wore orange colored shorts with matching orange tights. She smiled as her feet felt light in her orange and white shoes. She was humming along to Make Debut, which she would sing for the first time after winning this race. This was due to many songs being exclusive to those who raced in the central circuit.
The sound of footsteps took her out of her thoughts, before she turned and saw her trainer making his way towards her.
"Papa!" Maruzensky enthusiastically glomped him, getting a chuckle out of the man. "What are you doing here? Trainers aren't allowed here, you know!" She frowned playfully at him.
"Haha. I wanted to make sure you were nice and ready, let me dote on you a bit." He affectionately patted her head, hitting a spot between the ears she loved. Her pleased hum definitely proved that true. "I don't need to wish you luck, I know you'll win." His confidence made her smile brightly. "Don't forget to enjoy it, okay, Maru?" She blinked at him shortly before she gave him her signature double peace sign.
"Of course! Thank you. Papa." Her eyes watered briefly as she hugged him one last time before stepping away. Their moment was broken shortly after by the announcer.
"With four wins in her undefeated first year, including a G1 win in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, the second favorite to win, Maruzensky!" Satomi Akesaka, one of the main announcers for the G1 circuit, was here, doing commentary for the G2 Yayoi Sho. Despite her four wins and claiming one of the most important G1 races as a debut Uma, she was considered the second favorite.
Maruzensky strolled out of the tunnel and onto the podium, slipped her jacket off, tossing it into the air as the cameras flashed around her. Her easy smile and peace sign were well received, and a small round of cheers met her. She walked off after picking up her jacket to make her way towards the track. A man jogged up to her to take her coat away, and he quickly left, blushing upon meeting Maruzensky's smile.
Her eyes turned back towards the tunnel as the crowd volume increased with the last Uma now leaving the tunnel. "The favorite to win by fan vote! With a record two wins, including a win in the G2 Tulip Sho, it's Azuma Hunter!" Satomi's voice called out, the crowd roaring in reply.
An Uma of equal height to Maruzensky made her way to the podium. She had chestnut brown hair with green highlights throughout, tied up into a ponytail. Her eyes were a matching brown, and she had a green mini hunting hat on her head. With a powerful tug, her jacket ripped clean off, sailing into the crowd. The crowd, including the man who had the jacket land on his head, cheered louder than before, absolutely loving it.
Azuma Hunter held her head high as she walked towards the course and paddock, before stopping abruptly. Her eyes met Maruzensky's easy smile, an unsettling feeling washing over her. There was something different about this Umamusume. She could tell.
"Your name?" Her voice rang out, deep and husky. Her eyes narrowed at the Uma before her. This didn't go unnoticed by everyone else, their eyes also looking curiously at the confrontation between the two.
"Oh my. I'm Maruzensky, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Maruzensky smiled brightly, holding up a peace sign in front of her face. Completely unbothered, or perhaps not noticing Azuma's tone.
Azuma Hunter narrowed her eyes further, briefly grinding her teeth before letting out a muffled, "Tch," in reply. "Azuma Hunter. I'll remember your name, Maruzensky." She muttered before walking towards her paddock.
Maruzensky merely blinked in reply before giggling lightly to herself. "She's so cute," Maruzensky thought idly. She lightly tapped her cheeks before walking over to her own paddock. Her eyes glanced over to the crowd, taking in the sheer number of fans present. It amazed her that this crowd at a G2 in central was even bigger than her previous G1 race in her first year. Central was truly different. She was so excited.
"The Umamusume have entered their paddocks. Which of these Umamusume will take home the Yayoi Sho, and secure their place in the Satsuki Sho?" Satomi played to the crowd, as they slowly quietened until a dead silence. "Ready… start!" Satomi called out as the gates popped open and the race began.
Azuma Hunter immediately burst from her paddock, clearing ahead of a majority of the other racers in an instant. She was a pace chaser who knew the importance of securing a good position early.
"Azuma Hunter has a perfect start! She is pushing forward quickly! Oh! What's this?" Satomi's voice commented, while before Azuma's eyes, another Uma burst ahead of the pack with incredible speed. Creating a lead of up to five lengths instantly, and it looked to be growing! "Maruzensky! Maruzensky has burst ahead of the pack!"
Azuma grit her teeth, digging her feet in and surging forward with a burst of speed. It's not a smart strategy to burn her stamina this early on, but she didn't care. She only cared about catching Maruzensky. "Get back here!" She growled out.
"Oh! Azuma Hunter is surging forward! She's passed Quiet Dancer and is firmly in second place! She's cutting into Maruzensky's lead! Four lengths! Three lengths!" Satomi called out, fueling her drive to catch Maruzensky.
However, the Uma she was chasing? She was in her own world. "Hmm.. hmm.. Hmmm!" Maruzensky hummed as she ran, the wind flowing past her. She loved this feeling more than anything. The speed. The freedom. There was nothing better than it. Hoof beats resounded behind her, breaking her from those thoughts. "Oh?~" She smiled, meeting the eyes of Azuma Hunter slightly behind her on the left.
"Finally caught you.. Maruzensky!" Azuma Hunter panted out. They had already crossed the halfway point of the race. The two of them had created an over ten-length lead over the rest of the competition as well. "Haah.. Haah. I'm going to win this race." She ground out as she attempted to pass Maruzensky.
"Ah! We're already over halfway? Sorry Azuma! I'll see you at the end!" Maruzensky cheerfully smiled, and to the disbelief of Azuma, took a big kick into the ground. A slight red aura seemed to permeate around Maruzensky to her eyes, the faint sound of a car engine revving. Maruzensky finished her kick and exploded forward, making her previous acceleration look like a leisurely jog.
"Maruzensky! Maruzensky surges past Azuma Hunter! What unbelievable speed! Less than six hundred meters left!" Satomi yelled, her disbelief picked up through the microphone.
Azuma Hunter's eyes widened in horror. What just happened? She had just caught up to her. How was she supposed to compete with this!?
"Two hundred meters remaining! Maruzensky is first! The rest are nowhere to be seen! Maruzensky! Maruzensky!" Satomi yelled out as Azuma watched, her body slowing down with her stamina burned from earlier. Several racers surged past her, their eyes briefly glancing at her as they charged forward.
"Goal in!! Maruzensky takes the Yayoi Sho! She wins by distance! A lead of thirty-one lengths!" Azuma continued to run, sluggishly but surely. Her eyes were fixed on the Uma standing past the goal line. Her chestnut hair swayed behind her as she waved to the cheering crowd, her smile bright and carefree.
Azuma Hunter cleared the goal, her sweat dripping into her eyes and blocking her vision. She angrily swiped at her eyes to clear the stinging pain. As her eyes cleared, she glanced briefly at the screen. She had come in fifteenth place, out of fifteen competitors. A disgraceful finish considering her projected win in this race. When her eyes shifted again, they met the cheerful eyes of Maruzensky. The Uma gave her a warm smile.
"It was fun!" Maruzensky smiled at her, driving daggers further into Azuma's confidence. She couldn't take it any longer. She sprinted away from Maruzensky's outstretched wave, into the tunnel. Maruzensky's eyes followed her worriedly. Maruzensky met the astonished eyes of her competitors with a smile before she held up a hand as she ran down the tunnel after Azuma.
Meanwhile, with Azuma Hunter in the tunnel. "Damn it! Damn it!" She punched the wall repeatedly, tears streaming down her face as she slumped. Her head was placed into her hands, muffling her sobs. She had come into this with such high expectations. Her focus was on this win, and with it, her chance to compete with Green Grass in the Triple Crown.
"Tap.. tap," echoed in the hallway, her eyes turning sharply into the tunnel. The sound was coming from the wrong direction, so it wasn't her trainer. Her eyes glanced up and met the worried blue eyes of Maruzensky, her frown prominent. "What do you want?" She rasped, her teary eyes showing confusion.
"To check on you, silly~," Maruzensky smiled, before taking a seat next to Azuma. She cheerfully hummed as she placed her head on her knees and turned to look at Azuma. "You ran off in a hurry. Are you okay?"
"Why do you care?" Azuma grumpily muttered. Her teary eyes met Maruzenskys. "I came in fifteenth. Fifteenth! Never mind the Triple Crown, I'm a failure." She angrily wiped at her eyes again, only for her to freeze as Maruzensky lightly placed her hand on her arm.
"I care because I can, hehe." Maruzensky giggled as she patted Azuma's arm. "Why does one race make you a failure? You've won two races before this; you're pretty amazing, Azuma!~" Maruzensky smiled cheerfully. "Also, I've been wondering. Do you normally front-run in your races?" She asked curiously.
"Front-run? No, I never have." She muttered, looking away from Maruzensky.
"I see~. So you burned too much energy chasing me." She made an ah-ha face as she patted her fist on her open palm. "That explains everything. You could have easily taken second had that not happened." She smiled with her eyes closed, not seeing the incredulous look on Azuma's face.
"Second!? I'd be first, obviously!" She said hotly, nearly growling as she leaned towards Maruzensky. "You just wait, Maruzensky! I'll catch you." Her eyes burned fiercely as she promised that.
"Good!~ I'm looking forward to it, Azuma." Maruzensky smiled as she met her challenge, before standing and holding her hand towards Azuma. Azuma glanced around to make sure no one else was looking before taking her arm and standing up.
"Thanks," Azuma muttered.
"Un." Maruzensky hummed before turning and walking towards the exit of the tunnel. She turned around briefly, noticing that Azuma hadn't started following her, raising an eyebrow her way. She tilted her head as she made a "come hither" gesture.
Azuma's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, but she followed, falling into step with Maruzensky. Her eyes glanced at her when Maruzensky wasn't looking. What a monster. A naive and kind one, but a monster all the same. She shook her head at the thought. It doesn't matter. She'll come back from this, and she'll beat Maruzensky. She straightened up as they emerged from the light of the tunnel into their next chapter.
BRIEF SKIP
(Make Debut - Umamusume Season 1 Opening)
"Resound, Fanfare!
Reach, towards the goal
because I want to watch the shining future with you…"
Maruzensky sang out clearly to the audience, the two Uma who placed first and second on each of her sides. The audience swayed their penlights back and forth, moving to the music. Her smile was bright and captivating to those present.
"Once you start galloping, surely the story will begin
After all, it is always nearby
If you hold out your hand
You can grasp more glory
Aim for number one, let's challenge,
accelerate away
Let's make even the goddess of victory immersed
in a race connecting to a special tomorrow,
Make debut!"
Vincent smiled, his eyes misty as he looked at his daughter perform. Her first win in the Classic circuit. She was shining up on stage, as she was meant to be.
"Truly an amazing start for her, huh?" A voice called out to his left, drawing his attention and a look of surprise from him. It was Chairman Riku, dressed like he just jumped out of bed and had put on a hoodie. "A fantastic showing from her, the first of many." Riku smiled at him, and his bodyguards were also dressed casually behind him.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Chairman," Vincent said uncertainly, his eyes torn between the Chairman and his daughter performing.
"Ah, my mistake. Let's focus on her performance first. I'd hate to miss it." Riku smiled before turning his full focus onto the performance. His eyes gleamed as he proceeded to pull out a pair of penlights himself and enthusiastically moved with the crowd to the performance.
Vincent blinked in surprise, looking to the two Uma behind Riku, who looked surprised, before shrugging and pulling out their own penlights and joining him. Vincent chuckled before smiling and watching.
"Resound, fanfare
Reach towards the goal
because I want to watch the shining future with you
Let's gallop through
on a track only for you
More, faster
I believe in…
Resound, fanfare!
Reach, until far away
That shining hope is a strength only for you
Because it's something that change if one dive into it
Run, run, faster than anyone else
One day, you'll laugh
Let's just aim for the best
I believe
until the end of dreams."
Maruzensky waved to the crowd as the cheers blared out, and the top three struck their pose. "Thank you~!" Maruzensky yelled out as the crowd cheered back at her.
"Maruzensky! What's your next race?!" A fan near the front called out, getting a chorus of "Yeah!" from the people around him. Maruzensky tilted her head at the man, her eyes looking up and meeting the eyes of her father standing further back in the crowd. She blinked, noticing what looked like Mr. Riku next to him, dressed in a hoodie and sweatpants. Her father gave her a thumbs-up as Mr. Riku comically held up his penlights in a salute.
She turned back towards the fan and smiled before announcing aloud, for all to hear. "I'm going to run in the Satsuki Sho next! I'm going for the Triple Crown!" Maruzensky held up her trademark double peace sign as the crowd roared in a frenzy.
CHAPTER END
For those who were curious, Azuma Hunter is a real Japanese horse. They haven't been made into an Umamusume yet, but were a previous winner of the Satsuki Sho in 1982.