Oguri Cap's expression remained mostly neutral, just a faint nod in response, but then her features began to twist with visible internal struggle. After a long pause, she finally seemed to resolve herself.
She pulled out a rice ball the size of a human head from the large bag at her feet and handed it to Nearl.
"For you."
Nearl stared at the absurdly oversized rice ball, then glanced up at Oguri's conflicted, reluctant, almost pained expression, and couldn't help a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Thank you for this, Oguri," Nearl said, not refusing.
She first reached out and patted the dapple-gray Uma Musume's head, then carefully, with both hands, accepted the ridiculous rice ball as though receiving a trophy.
"Mhm," Oguri Cap replied softly, watching as Nearl ate the rice ball with refined but swift bites. The reluctance on her face quickly faded, leaving only a faint, gentle smile.
To her, a friend accepting her gift without hesitation was the best response to her feelings.
'Even though it kinda hurts to let it go…'
Oguri Cap knew she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. She didn't really know what Nearl liked.
So for this meeting, she brought what she herself considered the best possible gift. Nearl accepting it so directly felt like approval.
'See, I picked the right gift!'
Nearl quickly finished the large rice ball—a much-needed source of energy for her right now.
Feeling the pleasant fullness in her stomach, she turned to the slightly clueless-looking Oguri and asked:
"Oguri, shouldn't you be at Central Tracen training for your next race? What brings you back here? If there's something you need help with, I won't turn you down."
But Oguri Cap shook her head.
"I'm doing fine at Central Tracen. The food's plenty and delicious. The dorms are big and comfortable, and the turf feels great to run on. There's nothing I need Margaret to help with."
"Then why come all the way here to wait for me? Central's not exactly close, and you wouldn't come back for no reason. I know you well enough—you're not the type to dwell on the past."
Nearl was a little surprised; she couldn't figure out why Oguri Cap was here.
Hearing that, Oguri fell silent for a moment before lifting her gaze to meet Nearl's eyes, her expression serious.
"Margaret, I remember you're old enough to officially debut this year."
"Yes, I'm fourteen now. I can already register for the Twinkle Series," Nearl nodded in confirmation.
"Your plan?"
Oguri's question was brief, but Nearl understood.
"I plan to start locally, challenge races step by step, and eventually make my way to Central—just like you did back then."
"But Margaret, you could go straight to Central. I could take you to Tracen Academy, introduce you to Symboli Rudolf. Just run one lap in front of the Student Council, and they'll enroll you directly."
Oguri Cap didn't understand her choice and insisted she could help Nearl transfer to Central immediately.
Nearl shook her head firmly, declining the offer.
"I don't plan to do that, Oguri."
"Why? Did you promise someone you'd race with them locally?" Oguri Cap recalled her own past promise with Fujimasa March about the Tokai Derby, and her mood dipped slightly.
That sense of loss came both from the memory of breaking her own promise and from the disappointment that this very important friend wouldn't be coming to Central soon.
Seeing the dapple-gray Uma Musume's ears droop, Nearl reached out and gently patted her head.
She felt sorry for disappointing Oguri, but she had her reasons.
"No, I haven't made any promises about races with anyone. Not even many know I'm a decent runner. I want to start locally because of my own goal."
"Can you tell me? That goal of yours."
"I want to become a role model for the local Uma Musume. I want to be their goal, to bring them hope."
Nearl spoke her mind seriously—this was an ambition she'd kept hidden in her heart, never sharing it with anyone before.
For a moment, there was silence.
Oguri Cap's face was practically screaming, 'I don't get it.'
Nearl didn't mind. She knew her idea wasn't easy to grasp, so she continued.
"You've been transferred to Central for a year now, Oguri. How do you find the atmosphere there?"
"It's comfortable. Everyone's really friendly. Running feels more satisfying, and my speed has improved too."
"How does it compare to when you were local?"
Hearing that, Oguri Cap fell into deep thought, but after a while, she still couldn't give a detailed answer.
"Sorry, Margaret, I can't really explain it. I just know Central feels a lot better than the local scene."
Nearl wasn't bothered. She knew that with Oguri's way of thinking, this kind of vague answer was all she could expect.
That silly head of hers was probably 40% food, 40% running, 10% mom, 9% friends, and the rest was everything else.
Put that way, it all made sense. Typical Oguri, bless her heart.
Nearl didn't let her dwell on it further and gave her own answer.
"It's the atmosphere, Oguri."
"Atmosphere?"
"Yes, the atmosphere. In Central, the Uma Musume you meet—some are strong, some are less so—but as a group, they're the ones at the very top. Their strength, mindset, and talent are all top-notch. Most importantly, they never stop pushing themselves."
"For Central Uma Musume, daily training is just part of life. Even those who keep losing deep down believe that one day they'll win."
Here, Nearl glanced at Oguri, whose expression had shifted, and went on: "But local Uma Musume are different."
"You started out locally too, Oguri. You know what the atmosphere is like there."
"It's true that some lack natural talent, but what's worse is how they use that as an excuse to stop trying. Some even need their trainers to supervise them during practice."
"How can anyone improve like that?"
"That kind of lax atmosphere is demoralizing all on its own. Even if some Uma Musume want to work hard, without support from others, it's hard to keep going. Only those with a truly competitive spirit can push themselves to train every day."
"But Uma Musume like that are too rare locally. If they can't even find rivals, how can they break through and improve? Daily training just maintains their current level at best."
Nearl held out her hand, studying the lines on her palm, then slowly clenched it into a fist.
"So let me become their goal. Let me show them what a truly dedicated Uma Musume should be like."
"I want to break this current local atmosphere. Through my running, I'll show all the spectators, trainers, and local Uma Musume that even if the local stage isn't as glamorous as Central, the light they emit when they run with all their heart can still bring dreams and emotion to the audience."
"That's why I'm staying local. I will do something to change this place."
Nearl silently vowed to herself:
I will live up to the honored name of Margaret Nearl.
I will do what a Radiant Knight should.
--+--
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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.