Tokyo Racecourse, Rain, heavy ground.
The oppressive summer air mingled with the irritating drizzle, coalescing into a heat so intense it felt ready to steam up the next moment amidst the overwhelming crowd.
Damp clothes, sticky skin, strangers jostling against one another—it stirred a fiery bloodlust that surged within, spreading this scorching heat indiscriminately to everyone.
In such conditions, no one could possibly feel comfortable.
But even hotter than the environment was the passionate cheering erupting from the depths of people's hearts.
"Woooooooh—!"
"Tokai Teio—go for it!"
"Win your debut race!"
People waved their fists with wild excitement, their roaring voices tearing through the clamor of the rain. Compared to the inner fervor that felt like it could set a person ablaze, what did a little muggy heat matter?
"And next up on the track is—!"
An impassioned female voice echoed through the speakers across the venue. She seemed even more excited than the spectators, ignoring the tedious scripted introduction, brushing off her colleague's warning glance, snatching the microphone in front of her, and leaping to her feet.
Amid the screech of her chair sliding back, her enthusiastic announcement rang out:
"A genius who's shown exceptional talent since childhood, aiming for an Undefeated Triple Crown!"
"Cheer! Praise! This is the new star even the Emperor herself acknowledges!"
"The top favorite! Number twelve! Tokai Teio!"
"Let us witness the beginning of your glorious journey!"
Following the host's fervent, breathless introduction, the entire crowd at Tokyo Racecourse once again erupted into earth-shaking cheers—
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!"
The curtain of rain was torn apart, heaven and earth seemed to roar along; even nature itself couldn't withstand the people's passion.
Amid the spectators' thunderous applause, a petite figure emerged from the dim tunnel.
It was a small Uma Musume with chestnut hair, a white crescent-shaped fringe swaying with her bouncy steps. With a spirit-like lightness in her dance-like gait, she flashed a smile as brilliant as the sun—enough to dispel the stifling gloom around her—and waved to the crowd.
Her name—Tokai Teio.
"Everyone, keep your eyes wide open and watch me win!"
Tokai Teio waved cheerfully at her supporters, her tone carrying that distinctive, playful girlish charm. Yet the words themselves conveyed absolute certainty, as if she were already holding the trophy, having fast-forwarded to the post-race live thank-you speech.
Her sky-blue eyes shone with unshakable confidence.
Ever since she was little, watching the legendary Uma Musume, Symboli Rudolf, seize Triple Crown glory on the track, the young Tokai Teio had made up her mind to become an Uma Musume just like her idol.
No—even greater! To achieve the astonishing feat of an Undefeated Triple Crown, unprecedented in history.
Today's debut race was merely the starting point of her legendary path.
She would win, without a doubt!
Because she was undeniably a genius!
Within this petite, adorable Uma Musume's body lay talent that could truly be called prodigious. Her flexible ankles and physique made even her casual warm-up exercises seem like a beautiful dance to outsiders.
Such innate gifts had drawn attention to Tokai Teio from a young age, even leading to her being earmarked as the heir to the Emperor—a weighty and glorious title.
After all, under normal circumstances, an ordinary Uma Musume's debut race in weather like this wouldn't have attracted such an enthusiastic crowd.
But today was different. That genius Uma Musume, Tokai Teio, was finally stepping onto the stage.
What the audience had come to see today was simply to witness the Uma Musume named Tokai Teio embark on her path of glory.
Of course, even though this enthusiasm was astonishing, it couldn't captivate everyone.
For instance—
Those currently standing on the racetrack, Tokai Teio's soon-to-be rivals.
"Ha… having to race against someone like this…"
A chestnut-haired Uma Musume muttered, fiddling with her rain-dampened, drooping hair while sneaking a sidelong glance at today's main attraction.
"Is this the protagonist's radiant aura?"
"It's practically giving me a sunburn… even though it's raining."
The brown-haired, brown-eyed Uma Musume sighed helplessly, then instinctively joked to lighten her own discouraging words. Using self-deprecation to protect herself seemed to have become a reflex.
"Even if my name is 'Nice Nature,' at best I'm just 'Nice.' There's no way I can compete with a main character like this…"
As she spoke, Nice Nature felt another sigh coming on.
But then, as if remembering something, she shook her head vigorously, as if tossing away the negative thoughts, and patted her cheeks, whispering to herself,
"But… for everyone back in the shopping district, I've gotta do my best no matter what."
Letting out a breath and rallying her spirits a little, Nice Nature finally averted her gaze.
After all, if she kept watching, what little confidence she'd just mustered would surely be crushed again.
Just as she began taking deep breaths to steady her nerves, Nice Nature's ears—adorned with red and green ribbons—caught the announcer's voice introducing the next Uma Musume to enter the track.
A calm, middle-aged male voice came through the speakers. It seemed the previous female host needed to recover from her overexcitement, so the introduction duty had fallen to her partner.
"Ahem, now please welcome the next contestant. Ranked thirteenth in popularity, number thirteen: Dream Weaver."
"She appears to be an Uma Musume who enrolled at Tracen not long ago. Her entrance results seem fairly average, and she doesn't have much popularity. Let's hope she can shine in her own way during today's race."
Hearing this, Nice Nature's ears twitched.
"Huh?"
She couldn't help but shift her attention away from herself, surprised inwardly. That's just too unlucky!
Not only having to make her entrance right after today's absolute main character, but also being ranked dead last in popularity? Could there really be such a born unlucky star in this world?
Unconsciously, Nice Nature began mourning for this unfortunate Uma Musume in her heart. Curiosity drove her to sneak a glance toward the entrance tunnel.
Her gaze followed the direction of the tunnel.
Through the rain, a petite Uma Musume emerged. She seemed slightly taller than Tokai Teio. Her black hair was casually tied into a ponytail with a red ribbon, swaying gently in the rain with each step.
Her face was blurred by the downpour, but Nice Nature could make out her strikingly pale skin under the gloomy sky and a pair of notably captivating black eyes.
The rain seemed capable of washing away all emotion. As Nice Nature stared into those dark eyes, she couldn't discern anything within them.
Looking at this figure composed almost entirely of black and white, Nice Nature felt a strange sense of familiarity wash over her. Before her brain could decide whether to go offer comfort, her feet had already unconsciously carried her toward the Uma Musume named Dream Weaver.
As the distance closed, Nice Nature finally managed to cobble together a greeting after a mental scramble of random thoughts.
However, when she actually approached Dream Weaver, she realized the expression in those dark eyes was nothing like anything she had imagined—
Not dejected, not disheartened, not even a trace of unease could be found.
For a first-time racer, for a nobody making her entrance after the main character, her gaze was remarkably calm.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.