"Tokai Teio! Tokai Teio is closing in!"
"Is she about to show the spirit of a Derby Uma Musume?"
"Tokai Teio! Biwa Hayahide! Tokai Teio! Biwa Hayahide!"
"Tokai Teio is fighting to catch up, striving for her comeback, but Biwa Hayahide isn't giving an inch!"
"But Tokai Teio has done it! Tokai Teio takes the lead!"
"Tokai Teio! Tokai Teio! Tokai Teio!"
"Tokai Teio! A miraculous return!"
"How could such a thing happen in this world! After a year away, Tokai Teio comes back and wins!"
Watching "Uma Musume Season 2" on his phone, Yao Lie's eyes welled up with tears. Grown man though he was, he was crying in a way that might've seemed almost comical.
Crying over a cartoon—it was probably hard for anyone else to understand. But Yao Lie was genuinely moved by the characters in "Uma Musume Season 2." That pure, driven spirit and relentless determination were something he yearned for—something he himself could never possess.
Yeah, Yao Lie couldn't be like that. He hadn't just given up on persevering; he'd never even had anything to give up in the first place.
His childhood was mostly a blur, leaving him with only the outcome: he could no longer move freely. Medical treatments requiring heavy doses of hormones had weakened his body.
Strenuous exercise was out of the question—even walks had to be strictly timed. The rest of the time, he had to stay in bed, undergoing test after test.
Yao Lie's entire world came through the internet, but it was just information—it never felt real to him. He'd never had friends and didn't know what it was like to truly connect with someone. Most foods were off-limits, so by now he could only remember the taste of a handful of ingredients.
Leaving the house was restricted; his understanding of the outside world came from news and conversations. As for exercise… he'd probably long forgotten what it felt like to break a sweat or feel muscle soreness.
Yao Lie wiped away the tears blurring his vision and looked at the characters dancing on the screen, feeling a spark of motivation for the first time in ages. 'Maybe I should try a little harder? At the very least, I can't just lie here numb anymore.' His eyes shone with a clear light. 'I want to be like Tokai Teio—tenacious, unyielding, chasing miracles.'
Lifting a hand, he gently pressed it against his chest, feeling his heart beating a little too fast. Struggling, he pushed himself up, bracing his hands against the edge of the bed to sit upright.
"So hard."
Just sitting up was a massive effort for Yao Lie. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his breathing grew ragged, but he persisted until he was upright.
"Huff… huff…" Sitting on the edge of the bed, Yao Lie panted heavily, but excitement glittered in his eyes. "Alright… next, I'll try walking with the wall for support…"
His words cut off. A numb sensation spread from his brain. Everything in front of him seemed to sway; the world twisted and swirled like paints being mixed together. The light in his eyes flickered out.
Yao Lie died. He died just before he could start chasing his miracle, leaving this world that had been so full of suffering for him—unnoticed and unknown.
"Poor child, it seems like you were cast aside by your own world. I wonder how much hardship you endured to drift all the way here. I hope my world can offer you some comfort." A gentle woman softly cradled the faintly glowing orb, stroking it lightly while murmuring to herself. But soon, she noticed something unusual.
"This feeling… it's a blessing… I see. So you weren't cast aside by your world—you were loved and sent on a voyage, weren't you?"
The woman, whose face remained unclear, gazed in wonder at the soul in her hands, feeling briefly at a loss. But she quickly collected herself and began stroking the presence in her hands even more tenderly. "It seems I can't have you call me Mother, but 'Big Sister' is a wonderful title too. Am I about to have a little sister?"
Voices called out from a distance. Two women with similar appearances arrived and looked in amazement at the soul's faint glow. "Byerley Turk, this is…"
The woman called Byerley Turk smiled and spoke in a mysterious tone. "This… might be some mother's treasured gift." The other two women glanced at each other, confused for a moment before understanding dawned.
"You mean this child is blessed? That's truly rare—a world-crosser bestowed with blessings."
"Hehe, Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian, what do you think about raising this little one here?" The dark-haired woman gently stroked the glowing light, her voice soft.
The two blonde women looked at each other. Both saw tenderness and anticipation in the other's eyes and immediately knew their answer. "We have no objections. In fact, we're also looking forward to this child's future."
"Nothing could be better. Come, child, begin your new journey." The dark-haired woman crouched down slowly, cradling the glow. She opened her hands gently, and the light drifted downward, touched the ground as if it weren't there, and continued to fall, faster and faster, like a shooting star.
The three women watched as the light transformed into twin meteors streaking into the distance, silently sending their blessings.
Child, may you embark on your own journey and behold the radiance at its end.
In a small town near Kasamatsu, there was a well-known Uma Musume. She wasn't famous for outstanding achievements on the track but was deeply respected for her acts of kindness.
She maintained an orphanage, devoting her precious years to taking in and raising countless children, asking for nothing in return. Everyone in the area held this Uma Musume in high esteem.
Today, another little one arrived at her orphanage.
"Thank you for bringing this child here. I really appreciate it," the young Uma Musume said, holding an infant in her arms as she expressed her gratitude to the elderly man before her.
"Don't mention it, Komori! What are you saying? If I see a baby left by the roadside, of course I'd bring them here. It's so cold out—any longer and this little one could've gotten sick."
The white-haired old man waved his hands dismissively. Though much older than the Uma Musume, he had no intention of pulling rank based on age.
Komori sighed, holding the child a little tighter. "I'll take care of this baby—it's my duty, after all. I just don't get what kind of heartless parents would do something like this."
Her gaze fell on the horse ears atop the baby's head. Their pale golden fur shimmered under the sunlight, and for some reason, the name she'd thought of earlier suddenly felt hard to say.
"Hmm, what should I call you?"
As she pondered, a faint laugh seemed to drift down from the sky above. A whisper, unheard by anyone else, echoed briefly in Komori's mind before fading, leaving only a faint ripple of an impression.
Her eyes lit up. She turned to look at the bright sunlight outside—a rare warmth in winter, hazy and enchanting. She held the child up into the sunlight, as though wrapping the baby in a gown of light.
"I've thought of a good name," Komori said, turning to the white-haired old man with a gentle smile. "How about calling her Nearl?"
--+--
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.