At the station entrance, people flowed in and out incessantly.
In this highly modernized nation of Japan, only a handful had idle time to spare—most were busy just living their lives.
The subway or trains were often their best choice: fast, covering extensive routes, and above all, affordable. After all, commuting costs were no joke.
For these very reasons, subway stations ranked among the highest-traffic locations. Yet unlike other places, people here never lingered.
It was in this setting that the sight of a cute young girl standing beside luggage nearly one and a half times her height seemed glaringly out of place.
"Ugh, I know my getup looks a bit ridiculous, but still! Being stared at like this is so uncomfortable!"
Her ears were pinned back, and Tamamo Cross was truly on edge now.
Her sharp, imposing aura made many passersby who had considered asking if she needed help think twice—and retreat.
That retreat wasn't a mistake. In fact, it spared them a scolding from Tamamo Cross, who was, after all, famously known as an easily irritated Uma Musume.
"If a few more folks come up asking if I'm an elementary schooler, I'm really gonna lose it."
Seeing a wide, empty circle cleared around her, Tamamo Cross felt a little of her tension ease.
"Ahhh, Nearl, hurry up and get here already… I'm begging you…"
Logically, she knew it hadn't been long since she'd called, and even if Nearl flew, she couldn't possibly arrive so quickly. Yet in her heart, Tamamo still clung to that hope.
Still, there were a few things that lifted her spirits—like the appearance of a little fan.
"It's the White Lightning! Mom, I want her autograph!"
A child's high-pitched voice rang out from behind, followed by the rapid tap-tap-tapping of small leather shoes. One could easily picture just how lively this kid was.
"Ah! Don't bother her, dear. See all the luggage around her? It's not a good time."
Along with the child's footsteps came a mother's gentle admonition. Clearly, this was a polite, well-mannered family.
While some might dislike children, Tamamo Cross was different. Having grown up as the eldest sister caring for her family, she had an unexpected soft spot for kids and knew just how to get along with them.
'Well, since Nearl won't be here for a while yet, I might as well grant this little wish.'
Her ears relaxed and perked up as Tamamo turned and waved to the child.
"It's alright, I've got some time to spare. At the very least, I can manage to give one autograph."
--+--
By the time Nearl arrived, she found Tamamo chatting amiably with two or three children, her face wearing such a gentle, smiling expression that she seemed like an older sister to them all.
"So anyway, in my races against Oguri Cap, even if the record looks pretty even, there's no doubt I was the stronger one. No question about it."
Patting her chest, Tamamo struck a triumphant pose, as though every word were absolute truth.
The children, of course, had no way of knowing any better. Completely taken in by her stories, they applauded with delight.
A few adults in the background were clearly fans of Oguri Cap and looked ready to argue the point—but seeing how happy their kids were, they ultimately let it slide.
"And back when I—"
"Tamamo-senpai, I'm here."
Seeing Tamamo so engrossed she might've gone on forever, Nearl felt compelled to step forward and announce her arrival. Otherwise, it seemed Tamamo had no intention of winding down.
"!"
"Ne-Nearl… how long have you been there?"
Even though Nearl had announced herself openly, Tamamo's tail puffed up instantly. She turned her head with exaggerated slowness, an awkward flush spreading across her cute face.
"Just how much of what I said… did you hear?"
"Hmm~~ Not much, really."
"Don't laugh! That just makes me nervous! Come on, show me your usual calm and steady self!"
Blushing fiercely, Tamamo yelled loudly—probably hoping volume would drown out her embarrassment.
Naturally, this exchange caught the attention of the nearby children, who all gathered around.
"Pretty big sister!"
"Are you an Uma Musume too? But your tail is so big! Can I touch it?"
Kids will be kids. They couldn't grasp more complicated thoughts, so it never occurred to them how much their sudden shift in focus might sting the Tamamo Cross standing right beside them.
"Ah… they all ran off… Well, of course. Nearl's so mature, always smiling, her personality clearly way better than a firecracker like me. Obviously, that's the kind of sister everyone prefers…"
Alright, let's just ignore the real "big sister" now squatting off to the side, pitifully tracing circles on the ground.
And it wasn't just the kids. A whole crowd of adults swarmed over as well.
"Is that Nearl? It really is! I never thought we'd see her today—can we take a photo?"
"Miss Nearl, you've got to give it your all in the upcoming Japan Derby! Our whole family are your fans. We know you can achieve the Undefeated Triple Crown!"
"Absolutely! If there's anything you need, we'll help however we can."
At first, they'd only been drawn by the children's excited shouts. But once they realized who was standing there, the chatter simply wouldn't stop.
As a rising star capturing widespread attention, Nearl carried the dreams of countless spectators.
And it wasn't just the fans. Many industry insiders, hoping Japanese Uma Musume could catch up to world standards, placed even greater expectations on Nearl.
They were willing to adapt strategies to suit her temperament.
After all, Nearl was incredibly sought-after right now.
Yet despite her fame, it was notoriously hard to find any promotions or interviews with her—the sole exception being a special arrangement made only because she was entering a major race.
It perfectly aligned with Nearl's preference for staying out of the spotlight.
Ironically, that only made her fans' enthusiasm build up with nowhere to go, which explained their unusually fervent reaction upon seeing her now.
"Whoa! This is bad, really not good."
Tamamo Cross didn't have time to sulk anymore. Watching the swelling crowd multiply before her eyes, she could only clutch her luggage tightly.
"I should've just left with Nearl right away. How are we gonna handle this now?"
The thought mirrored exactly what was going through Nearl's mind in the center of the crowd.
'Sigh, next time I really should wear that motorcycle helmet. I forgot it this time.'
Still, she couldn't possibly voice that to the supporters surrounding her. Until station security arrived to manage the situation, Nearl's only choice was to satisfy their hopes for autographs and photos.
"Everyone, please quiet down a little. If anyone disturbs others, I won't be able to give them an autograph, okay?"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! 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.