A week later,
"And remember! Being polite is important, but if someone starts bullying you, stand up for yourself. Even if Tracen complains, then I'll-!"
I smiled wryly as I placed my hands on my mother's shoulders. "Mom, I'll be fine." I said for the fifth time, silently glancing at my father for help. He shrugged in defeat, knowing that there was little he could do to stop my mother from being so worried. Nothing that wouldn't immediately get him sleeping on the couch for the night at least.
"But-" She began, before she stopped and sighed. "No, no. You're right." She smiled gently as I ruffled my hair. "You've grown up so well."
"Ah geez, so embarrassing." I blushed slightly as I shook off her hand. My mother just giggled. "Alright, I'm off." I gave my family one last glance. "I'll be back!" And saying that, I left my house, letting the door close behind me.
I took a deep breath, but just as I prepared to jog to my new school, I heard my mother whisper. "She'll be fine, right?"
My father huffed. "She will. You've seen her this past week. She's never exercised so hard like that." He chuckled. "She's all grown up now."
…
I took a breath through my teeth, and silently wiping my eyes, I began my jog to Kasamatsu Tracen. Though I should be clear that my 'jog' would probably look like a sprint to most humans. I jogged across the roads alongside the occasional cars and motorcycles, and yet I could easily match their speed even though I ran just below the speed limit.
Such is the power of umamusume, and that only makes them scarier once that speed limit is lifted on the race track.
It's why umamusume racing is so wildly beloved. There's nothing more adrenaline pumping than watching an umamusume race across the track at speeds faster than most cars.
Before long, I made it to the gates of Kasamatsu Tracen, and there standing at the gates was a familiar figure.
I smiled as I called out to her. "You're early."
Certainly a surprise. I remember in the original Cinderella Gray that Oguri was practically late to her first day at school.
Huh. I guess our friendship had changed something after all.
Hearing my voice, Oguri Cap turned to me, and a smile lifted her lips. "Star!" She quickly ran up to me. "You're here!"
I huffed. "Promised, didn't I?" I said, and then smiled wryly as I looked at the clothes she wore. Even after enrolling in Kasamatsu Tracen, Oguri still wore the usual tracksuit she usually wore on her morning runs, unlike me who'd changed into the standard student's uniform before leaving my house.
I sighed. "Oguri." I began. "I know you like your tracksuit and all, but you can't always come to school wearing this, you know?"
She tilted her head. "Hm? Why?"
Why, she asked? Maybe it had something to do with the fact that her tracksuit was still caked in dirt due to all the dirt her steps shot up, or maybe it was her badly damaged shoes, caked in dirt and also carrying a few tufts of grass. She looked nothing like a student, and more like some hobo.
Ah, but Stego was more fitting of that term, so I'll have to find another one.
I shook my head. "Nevermind." I said, knowing I couldn't really convince her. At least she'd finally change into a standard uniform once she joined Central, but that was still far away. "Anyway, let's head in."
She nodded, and then I quickly snatched her by her collar as she started heading for the Tracen's track instead. "Eh? We're not going there?"
"Opening class first, then we'll check out our dorms. Our first test race won't be until tomorrow." I sighed. "Didn't you read the schedule at all?"
"I forgot." Oguri said dully.
…Right. Oguri might be a monster on the track, but she was rather helpless when it came to anything else. No wonder she relied so heavily on Belno Light; Oguri would've probably gotten kicked out of Tracen Central if Belno wasn't there to help her with studying.
"Oh well." I smiled as I patted her back. "Come on."
"Mm!"
And so we entered, heading towards our classroom. Thankfully we'd been enrolled in the same classroom, though that probably had more to do with the fact that both Oguri and I were last-minute additions to the school roster. Since we arrived early this time, there were fewer people who saw us enter, but as expected, they began staring when they saw the disheveled state Oguri arrived in.
Our first day in Kasamatsu Tracen went on without much fanfare. Oguri kept drawing attention, but that was quickly forgotten as the day went on. And since this was only the first day of school, nothing too interesting happened throughout the day. The fact that this was nothing more than a local Tracen didn't help in that regard.
Though I did get to witness Oguri triumphing over the Kasamatsu Tracen's cafeteria, and her dejection once the staff rejected giving her more food once she emptied their pantry.
Oguri's stomach truly works wonders. Maybe I should take her to the hospital one day, just to see if her stomach really was a black hole like some people theorized back then.
If there was one change, it'd be the fact that Oguri and Belno Light didn't have their first interaction today. Since I'd also attended last-minute, both Oguri and I were now roommates, so that confrontation with Oguri's three bullies/fans didn't happen this time around. It seems I'll have to find another way to introduce Belno to Oguri some time in the future.
But that wasn't important, because the second day arrived, and with it, our first test race.
"Fujimasa March, 50.8 seconds!"
Chatter immediately followed as March slowed down. The trainers were quick to approach, asking if they could become her trainer. The only one who didn't join was a lazy-looking uncle, who sighed tiredly as he leaned his chin on the railing he stood behind.
"She's amazing…" Kitahara Jo whispered as he lowered his binoculars. "As expected of a scholarship student." He smiled wryly. There was no point in asking if he could become her trainer—he knew what he looked like. There was no way someone like her would accept him.
Before he could think further, the next group of students were called up, and immediately he noticed something.
"Oi, oi…" He said, eyes widening as he saw Oguri stretch. "Isn't that too flexible?" He whispered as he saw her roll her shoulders back.
"And not only her…"
My ears twitched slightly, and I glanced to see that Kitahara had turned his binoculars towards me. I subtly turned away from him to hide my strained smile, surprised that I could catch his attention. "This is embarrassing…" I whispered, before quickly shaking my head as I headed for my gate.
The runners were familiar. Oguri Cap, Belno Light, and two of the Oguri's bullies/fans. I gulped slightly, feeling some fear rising. But as I saw Oguri shaking her head in excitement, I decided to copy her in hopes that it'd dull my growing fear. It surprisingly did, even if I felt somewhat embarrassed as I heard one of the bullies whisper, "What're you two doing?"
"Nothing." I answered back, before I gave the smaller bully—Mini the Lady—a chilling smile. Her hand stopped just inches away from Oguri's shoe laces, and she quickly stood back up. I smiled 'gently' as I turned back to face the race track, though I could see her glancing at me here and there.
"Star."
"What's up, Oguri?"
She stared at me. "Don't hold back."
I blinked. "Eh?"
Oguri didn't say anything else, but she didn't need to. Somehow, it seemed she could tell that my strength had grown since last week, and I could only chuckle as I bent my knees. As expected of the Oguri Cap; her senses were truly monstrous, being able to pick up my improvements with just a glance.
[Name: Blossom Star
Speed: 107 (F; Beginner)
Stamina: 122 (F; Beginner)
Power: 100 (F; Beginner)
Guts: 107 (F; Beginner)
Wits: 101 (F; Beginner)
Skills: {Competitive Spirit ○}
Domain: -]
Honestly, even I'm surprised by how much I've grown. I mean, most of my 'training' was just copying the usual gym routine I did back in that other world, slightly amped up to match my umamusume physique. Sprints for speed, calisthenics for Power, long jogs for Guts, and a few study sessions to better acquaint myself with racing for Wits.
It was probably my System amping me up. There was no way I could've achieved this on my own. I wasn't like Oguri who had monstrous talent.
"On your marks…!"
Enough pondering however. The test race was about to start.
I took a deep breath, and I let the world around me fade as my gaze remained fixed on the finish line in the distance. Oguri wanted me at my best, and while I was confident I couldn't catch up to her speed, I'd do my damned hardest to try.
"Ready…!"
Unseen by me, Oguri cast a glance at me, her eyes shining as she felt the new pressure I exuded. She didn't know what training I did during the previous week, but it made her blood pump. The usual happiness she felt for running was sharpened to a fine blade, and a feral grin began unconsciously growing across her lips.
The other three suddenly felt cold sweat running down their necks. "What the…?" Rudy Lemono whispered, pupils shrinking as she felt the pressure I and Oguri carried.
Mini the Lady gulped. She was in the gate between Oguri and I, and finally realized she was trapped between two monsters.
"Amazing…" Belno Light whispered, before she too turned towards the finish line in the distance. "I have to try my hardest too!"
Silence fell.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three-
"Go!"
The gate shot open, and two blurs shot forward like shooting stars. Rudy Lemono, Mini the Lady, and Belno Light were immediately left in the dust as Oguri and I charged forward. "So fast…!" Belno gasped as she saw both of us vanish into the distance, eyes straining as she did her best to watch.
"That's-!" Kitahara whispered, a wide grin on his face. He knew those two girls were species when he first saw them, and he felt his heart beat against his chest as she saw the two of us race. And in his heart, the flames of an old dream began glowing once more.
Fujimasa March, freed from the questions due to everyone's surprise, narrowed her eyes as she saw what was happening. "Those two…" She whispered, eyes sharp. "Dangerous."
As for me?
I grit my teeth as I ran. Oguri was a full length ahead of me, and she was slowly inching forward as we raced for the finish line. It was inevitable—my Speed and Power weren't all that great, and my high Stamina meant nothing in this short 800m dash. The only reason I was even keeping up was because of my newest Skill.
{Competitive Spirit ○}
Slightly increases Power when faced with a great challenge.
It was different than what I remembered from the game, but that didn't matter right now. It didn't specify what the skill actually meant, but now that I was racing, I could keenly feel the improvement. My previously lackluster acceleration had been amped just enough that I could barely keep a length between Oguri and I.
Then, suddenly, Oguri sped up even more, and that one length difference stretched further. I could only grit my teeth as she sped up, knowing that my own Speed couldn't make full use of the increase in Power.
Eventually,
"Oguri Cap, 48.2 seconds!"
"Blossom Star, 50.9 seconds!"
I forced myself to a stop once I passed the finish line, and I gasped as I took a slow breath. 50.9 seconds—nerly three seconds behind Oguri Cap. Of course, to others, that time I achieved already put me as someone of interest, with my first record nearly trying Fujimasa March's.
But that didn't matter to me.
"Fast." Oguri said as she turned to me. "You're faster now."
To most, her words might seem rather condescending. But having been friends with her for a month now, I knew those dull-toned words were the highest of praise. "And you're just as insanely fast as usual." I said jokingly, before standing back up and extending a fist towards her. "Good job on your first victory."
"First victory…" Oguri whispered, before she smiled and bumped my first with her own.
Maybe to others this moment would seem rather inconsequential—nothing more than a test race.
But to us, this would be the start of our journey.
Then, suddenly,
"W-Wait, you two-!" Before the person could finish speaking, the sound of something smashing into metal rang, and both of us turned to see Kitahara Jo whimpering as he laid on the dirt. He had a nosebleed from the sudden impact, but that didn't affect him as he quickly stood up, smiling widely.
Oguri blinked. "Ah, you're…Kitahara Jones?"
Kitahara blushed. "F-Forget about that!" He shouted, silently wishing he didn't use such a stupid name when he met her. "You! What's your name?"
Oguri tilted her head, before she answered plainly. "Oguri Cap."
"Cap…" He smiled. "That's a great name!" He then turned to me. "And you?"
My eyes went wide. Kitahara was even extending the offer to me? "How bold." I said in my usual joking tone, before steel filled my voice. "Blossom Star."
"Star…" He whispered fervently. "The limit, and the stars…"
He grinned widely. "Will you two join me and take over the world!?"