Dream Weaver's expression was relaxed, her tone casual, so much so that Chizuru Haibara wondered if she'd misheard.
That was the Triple Crown she was talking about—the honor every Uma Musume gets only one chance in her lifetime to pursue.
Yet Dream Weaver had said it with such breezy ease, as if she already held it firmly in her grasp, with no possibility of it ever slipping away.
But how could that be?
The chance to win the Triple Crown comes only once. Even legendary champions wouldn't dare claim it was a sure thing.
From April to October, six months of racing, three different tracks, each with its own course and distance—the variables were simply beyond calculation.
Even if you trained yourself to the absolute limit and avoided any mishaps along the way, what about your opponents?
No one could guarantee that a rival strong enough to match you wouldn't suddenly emerge on the road to the Crown.
Even without a single opponent challenging you all the way, if each race featured a specialist perfectly suited to that particular track, you could still face defeat—even if your overall strength far surpassed the rest.
On the racetrack, anything can happen. That very uncertainty is what keeps the passion alive.
Miracles happen—not often, but they do. And miracles don't shine on just one person forever.
Your rivals, your greatest challengers—every one of them steps onto that track with a heart set on victory. How could you be sure a miracle wouldn't land in their lap?
The Triple Crown offers just one chance. The margin for error is vanishingly small.
In the world of Uma Musume racing, powerful Uma Musume are like stars scattered across the night sky, each with her own legend and brilliance.
Yet those who have actually seized the Triple Crown remain few and far between.
To win it, strength alone is not enough.
Chizuru Haibara knew Dream Weaver had potential. She had already shown it in another world, facing Orfevre—the very one who would later break the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe curse—and still managing to snatch two victories from her.
That record alone made Chizuru believe Dream Weaver had a chance at the Triple Crown.
But it was only a chance. And never mind what price the Dream Weaver of that other world had paid to defeat Orfevre… Just look at the races she'd run so far.
From Kasamatsu to the Japanese Derby, they were all middle-distance. She hadn't run a single long-distance race like the Kikuka Sho.
Chizuru was familiar with Dream Weaver's capabilities, knew the limits of her range.
That was why she, more than anyone, understood what three thousand meters would mean for her.
Though, the Dream Weaver she was familiar with was the one from the Kasamatsu days.
Seeing Chizuru hesitate, clearly wrestling with how to respond, Dream Weaver cut straight to it.
"Don't believe in me again?"
She was referring to their first attempt to challenge Orfevre in this world back in Kasamatsu.
Back then, Chizuru would only believe in a single chance at victory, just as she now only believed Dream Weaver could win the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby.
"That's not it at all!"
Chizuru jolted at the words, responding loudly almost on reflex.
She looked at Dream Weaver, took a deep breath to steady the turmoil inside, and spoke seriously.
"I understand…"
"It's just the Triple Crown, right? We've beaten Orfevre before. What are these challenges compared to that?"
Chizuru placed a hand on Dream Weaver's shoulder, her reply firm.
The Chizuru of that other world had been too weak.
She hadn't noticed Dream's troubles right away, just stayed put waiting for Dream to pull her up with hope instead of taking action herself.
But now everything was different. Having been given this second chance, she was determined to take flawless care of Dream this time.
She would ensure nothing like last time happened again, all while pushing their training forward!
I'm not that useless loser who just holed up in Kasamatsu watching anime anymore.
Now, I'm an elite trainer at Central Tracen Academy. I will lead Dream to a better ending!
With a gaze full of resolve, Chizuru declared to Dream Weaver, "Your debut race just ended. You've only run the Niigata Junior Stakes. The Satsuki Sho next year is still seven or eight months away."
"In that time, I'm going to train you to be even stronger than you were in Kasamatsu!"
Honestly, I'm already stronger now than I was in Kasamatsu without any extra training, Dream Weaver thought to herself.
But she didn't want to dampen Chizuru's current fiery spirit, so she just gave a slight, approving nod.
"Good! Now that the goal is set, let's start right away!"
"Come on, we're heading to the training field. I need to see your current physical condition so I can tailor the perfect plan for you!"
With that, Chizuru grabbed Dream Weaver's hand and broke into a light jog toward the track.
Just this morning, she'd been like her other-world self, waiting in place until Dream Weaver led the way.
But now, Chizuru was the one taking the initiative, clasping Dream Weaver's hand and shouldering the responsibility for the Triple Crown.
"But I have morning homeroom soon—"
Dream Weaver started from behind, but her words were cut off by the figure pulling her along.
"That stuff doesn't matter! If the homeroom teacher gives you trouble, just tell them my name!"
"Chizuru Haibara?"
Dream Weaver was puzzled. Was Chizuru that influential here at Central Tracen?
"Of course not! Tell them you're with the Chizuru-gumi leader!"
"What on earth is that?!"
The Kasamatsu Uma Musume Appreciation Club—that was the official name.
But on Tracen's shadowy underground forums, it was generally known as the Chizuru-gumi.
Its leader, Chizuru Haibara, commanded a roster of formidable talents.
The two top enforcers, Oguri Roman and Nanno Sumire, were both formidable on the track.
The strategist, Artisan Bell, was a theoretical genius.
Even the group's uniforms were designed with help from Kobayashi Kaze.
Rumors even said they had support outside the school—not just local connections in Kasamatsu, but whispers of a mysterious, powerful figure overseeing regional education backing them.
According to a certain unnamed tricycle enthusiast on the forums, the Chizuru-gumi had become one of the dominant forces on campus!
But for Dream Weaver, who had absolutely no time to browse and see these boasts, all she could say was, "What the heck is that?"
Chizuru didn't respond.
Riding her wave of enthusiasm, she dragged Dream Weaver all the way to the training field and, from who-knows-where, produced a set of training clothes and shoes, thrusting them into Dream Weaver's hands.
"Go on, then. Let me see what you're made of now!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.