What is a hero?
Is it someone who stands above everyone else? A paragon that others look up to; an image the people deem as sacred and holy?
Is it someone who stands when no one else can? One who may not have the strength nor the grit, but chooses to stand against the tides anyway?
Or maybe it's someone who charges ahead regardless of what may await? A pioneer venturing towards the future, carving a path for others to follow?
Me? Well, personally I think--
"Star!"
I blinked, and looked up to see someone quickly approaching. Their gray hair flailed wildly as they ran at speeds no human can ever reach, their every step causing the dirt beneath them to tremble, as if the planet itself was cowering under the steps of a giant. Their prominent horse ears flicked atop their head, eyes twinkling bright as they stared right at me.
Or, to be exact, staring at the bento box on my lap.
I smiled as I stood up. "Good morning, Oguri."
Oguri Cap nodded as they abruptly stopped in front me, sending a small cloud of dust towards me. I sighed internally as I closed my eyes, letting the cloud of dirt pass through me harmlessly. I quickly wiped my face from any dirt as I coughed. "How many times have I told you not to do that?" I reprimanded, giving her my best unimpressed stare.
Oguri wilted slightly, but her stomach quickly made itself known by growling loudly. "Sorry." She said as she put her hand on her stomach. "I got hungry."
I sighed again, but handed the bento box over. Oguri smiled brightly as she opened the box and saw the assortment of meats and vegetables packed inside. "Thank you, Star!"
I waved it off. "It's fine, it's fine. Mom said we gotta find a way to use up the ingredients anyway."
I sat back down on the small grassy hill, and Oguri joined me, quickly wolfing down the contents of the bento box as if there was no tomorrow. I smiled slightly as I watched her, marvelling at the incredible circumstances that'd brought me here.
This is a world filled with Umamusume; girls adorned with features and the strength of horses, their names gifted from legends of another world. Here, they could once again run to their heart's content, and so it didn't take long before Umamusume Racing became the top sport across the entire world.
Maruzensky, Symboli Rudolph, Tamamo Cross, Special Week, T.M. Opera O; this is a world that carries such legends and many more.
And next to me sat Oguri Cap, the Gray Monster—the Cinderella of Kasamatsu.
As for me?
Well, my past doesn't really matter anymore.
Whatever the case, after my passing in that other world, I found myself reborn here as an Umamusume. Both my parents were just normal humans, and so it was quite a surprise for everyone involved. Still, despite being different, my parents always treated me well, showering me with love and no matter what.
Perhaps this kindness too was a blessing from the Three Goddesses.
Regardless, it'd been years since I was first reborn. I didn't really have anything I wanted to do, and I was perfectly content with inheriting the little Izakaya my parents owned.
At least, until I met a certain hungry Umamusume nearly a month back.
It was funny, really. I'd been sitting on this very hill I now sat, writing in my diary as I did before Oguri interrupted me, when someone suddenly sat down next to me.
For some reason, Oguri Cap had sat down next to me, staring deeply into my eyes. At first I thought I must've done something wrong, before my brain caught up and realized who it was staring at me. That, and the fact that she wasn't actually staring at me but the still-wrapped onigiri I held in my hand. I was testing out a new onigiri recipe, and I'd forgotten to eat it due to my writing.
One shared onigiri later, Oguri became a returning patron of my cooking.
"It was a feast." Oguri whispered as she clasped her hands together, the bento box emptied in practically record time.
I smiled wryly as I handed her a water bottle. "Don't forget to drink, Oguri."
She blinked, and then nodded. "Thank you." As usual, she drank the entire bottle in one go.
Seeing that she'd finished the meal, I quickly packed the emptied bento box and placed it back into my bag. From the looks of it, it was another successful cooking attempt. Then again, I was fairly sure Oguri would literally eat anything. Her other self did start eating his own bedding after all.
"Star."
I turned and blinked when I saw Oguri actually staring at me and not at food for once. "Yes?"
"I'm going to attend Kasamatsu Tracen soon." She said. "Will you?"
My lips twitched. There it was. Oguri had asked the exact same question just yesterday. I hadn't managed to answer her yesterday, too caught in surprise due to the suddenness of it all. Was entering a Tracen really that easy? I mean, I know Kasamatsu Tracen wasn't the most glorious school in all of Japan, but surely it wasn't as if anyone could just enter, right?
When I asked my mom about it last night, my family excitedly thought that I was finally getting serious about something, and before I could stop them, they applied me to Kasamatsu Tracen, just to see if I would be accepted.
As it turned out, it was that easy. I got the acceptance, and all I needed to do was to accept.
But I found myself hesitating still. Because the moment Oguri asked that, something appeared.
[The prophesied Fate has finally appeared]
[The blessing of the Three Goddesses shines down upon you!]
[The "Umamusume Hero" System activates. Authorization completes once the User begins their first step towards becoming a Hero]
Though vague, I understood what the System asked of me.
Join Kasamatsu Tracen with Oguri Cap, and involve myself in the legendary journey that Oguri had once taken. After all, this was the Era of no Heroes, the gulf that still aches for someone to step forward and claim the glory that Symboli Rudolph left behind once she retired.
But it's just-, I don't know. Wouldn't Oguri be more worthy of having something like this. Why would the Three Goddess favor me of all umamusume? Me, who had never been a legendary horse like the others back in that other world. Me, who was nothing more than a fan of the story of these Umamusume.
Yet,
Yet…!
Doesn't everyone dream of becoming a Hero once in their life? To be more than what they are and reach for glory?
"Star?"
I pursed my lips. Blossom Star is my name. Blossom, because I was born just as peach blossoms began to bloom. Star, because my bright blue eyes almost seemed to glow like a star when in the dark of night. And maybe there really was nothing else more profound to my name, but,
In this age of no Heroes, perhaps I too could become a Shooting Star, soaring across the heavens.
"I'll attend." I said solemnly, as if sealing a promise. "Mom applied me to Kasamatsu Tracen when I asked, and I'll tell her to accept." I turned to Oguri and smiled. "No backing out now, okay?"
Oguri's eyes were wide as she nodded fervently. "Of course!" She suddenly stood up, shaking with excitement as she shook her head. "Mm! I wanna run now!" She turned to me and smiled. "Let's meet at Tracen then!" And before I could say anything, Oguri took off into a run, each step sending bursts of dirt behind her.
I blinked, and then laughed wryly as I watched her disappear into the distance. "That's just like her." I whispered as I turned to the floating screen only I could see.
[The User has finally taken their first steps towards becoming a Hero! The "Umamusume Hero" System can now be accessed!]
[Name: Blossom Star
Speed: 79 (G+; Entry)
Stamina: 101 (F; Beginner)
Power: 81 (G+; Entry)
Guts: 88 (G+; Entry)
Wits: 86 (G+; Entry)
Skills: -
Domain: -]
I hummed. From a first look, my attributes seemed somewhat consistent with what I've noticed about myself. I wasn't the fastest umamusume around, but if there's one thing I have, it's stamina. It's probably something I've slowly accumulated due to making trips all around town to deliver food to people.
[Mission: Prepare for Entry!
The User has now began their journey towards becoming a Hero! And so the User cannot afford to slack off! A Hero's first appearance must be grand!
Task: Get all 5 Attributes to to F-Rank or above before attending Kasamatsu Tracen (1/5 Completed)
Reward: {Competitive Spirit ○}
Failure: None]
…Damn it.
I sighed harshly as I hung my head. My first day at Kasamatsu Tracen was just a week away, and my System was asking me to raise all my Attributes to at least Beginner-level before I entered?
Well, nothing else to do but to get to it, I suppose.
Taking a deep breath, I stood up and began my job back home.