"Uma Musume"
They were born to run.
Born with the names of those from another world — names carrying fates both strange and glorious — they inherit those souls and race forward.
That is their destiny.
No one knows the results of the future races of the Uma Musume who live in this world.
They simply aim for the goal that lies beyond their gaze…
— From the anime "Uma Musume Pretty Derby" Season 2, Episode 1
---
At the very least, that was the world of the mobile game Uma Musume Pretty Derby that I knew — a fictional world where these girls shouldn't exist in reality, visible only through games, anime, or comics.
A world where "Uma Musume," girls who inherit the souls of real-life racehorses, are trained by the player as their Trainer, racing on turf or dirt tracks, shining brightly as we spend three years together in this beloved series.
I loved this game.
I wasn't what you'd call a hardcore fan, but in between my busy job, with a bit of money spent and the few support cards I'd managed to gather, I cherished watching those Uma Musume girls sparkle like first-magnitude stars, chasing their dreams.
When I failed at work and felt down, they cheered me up.
When I suffered from workplace harassment, they gave me courage.
When the doctor diagnosed me with ADHD, I felt like they were rooting for me.
And even when I was hit by a drunk driver's truck on the way home to recover at my parents' house—
Well… the one small mercy was that I didn't feel any pain.
As I lay there, my limbs growing numb and my vision fading, the last thought I had was gratitude toward the Uma Musume…
and a small, foolish wish — to see their sparkling selves just a little longer.
It was an embarrassing thought for a grown adult to have, but with that, my consciousness and vision went dark.
I died there.
Or at least…
That's what should have happened.
---
"…I mean, seriously, reincarnation? Or rather, possession? What the heck is going on here?"
Apparently, I had been reincarnated into the world of Uma Musume.
If this was the gods — the Three Goddesses — granting my final embarrassing wish, then honestly, I couldn't complain.
"…Still, I didn't think I'd end up possessing Nice Nature, of all people. I mean, she was my favorite, so I'm happy, but still!"
Yeah.
Of all possibilities, I had possessed Nice Nature — the semi-main character from Uma Musume Pretty Derby Season 2.
Back when I was alive, I used to think, "If I ever got reincarnated, maybe I could be some nameless background girl at Tracen Academy so I could watch my favorites up close…"
But actually becoming Nice Nature herself — my absolute favorite — had my brain on the verge of meltdown.
---
"Nice Nature"
A humble, down-to-earth Uma Musume from the lower town.
She considers herself a supporting role and tends to shy away from excessive expectations, often finishing just shy of victory.
Her upbringing made her self-reliant — she tidies up, cooks, and does laundry whenever she has free time.
Beloved by the locals — especially the grannies and old folks — she's a well-known girl around her neighborhood.
(—Excerpt from the official profile)
In both the mobile game and anime, she often talks about herself as a "side character," calling her classmate Tokai Teio a "sparkling protagonist."
But despite her self-deprecating tone, she never gives up on trying to win.
Many Trainers thought her glow was brighter than anyone's — and I was one of them.
In real life, the original racehorse Nice Nature had a record of 41 starts and 7 wins — including 4 graded races — with total earnings of ¥626.89 million.
In fact, she earned more prize money than Tokai Teio, a G1 champion and her anime rival.
She's most famous for finishing third in the Arima Kinen three years in a row (1991–1993).
Fans nicknamed her "Bronze Collector" and "Fighter of Good Battles."
Even after retirement, she's been adored as "the horse who was too filial to her owner," maintaining huge popularity despite never winning a G1.
In 2022, during her birthday donation campaign organized by the Retired Horse Association, thanks in part to the Uma Musume boom, fans donated over 54.1 Million yen— surpassing the prize money of the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (a G2 race).
At age 34, the oldest living JRA graded race winner, she essentially "won a G2" again — a truly legendary horse.
I'll say it again: she was amazing.
Not someone who should ever be dismissed as a mere "supporting role."
She's rightfully the face of the Retired Horse Association.
---
My thoughts were spinning out of control, but… yeah.
I'd be okay.
Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I looked around — and saw upperclassman Uma Musume watching me with gentle smiles from a distance.
Apparently, as a newly enrolled student at Tracen Academy, I had made quite the entrance… by tripping spectacularly in front of the Goddess Statue during the ceremony.
To them, I probably just looked like an overexcited freshman who stumbled on her first day.
…Which, I mean, wasn't wrong.
A wave of embarrassment hit me.
Feeling my cheeks burn, I bowed politely to the seniors — and some even waved back.
Ah, kind senpai are truly a blessing.
"…Alright then. What should I do next?"
Thankfully, it seemed like I hadn't lost any memories, nor had I overwritten or erased Nice Nature's soul.
It felt more like I'd fused with her — the result being Nice Nature-me.
If I had erased her soul, I'd probably be hanging myself from guilt by now.
…Good thing that wasn't the case.
But then another question surfaced in my mind:
"Which timeline am I in?"
If Team Sirius existed, then this must be the game version.
If I found any of the teams — Spica (led by Okino), Rigil (led by Hana), or Canopus (led by Minamisaka) — then it would be the anime version.
And if Trainer Rokuhei was around, then it'd be the Cinderella Gray (manga) version.
"…Honestly, if it's the game version, I'm in trouble."
Because in the game version, for some reason, Kaichou (Symboli Rudolf) appears during Nice Nature's Classic year, and the "Golden Generation" (like Special Week) also shows up — it's a chaotic free-for-all of characters from every era.
It made sense in the game, sure…
But if this world worked like that in reality, I'd be submitting my withdrawal papers to Tracen Academy tomorrow.
…Pathetic, I know.
"Alright, no use overthinking it. Let's go exploring and see what we find."
Today was the entrance ceremony, and homeroom had ended early — it was still early afternoon.
If I remembered right, we were told to return to the dorms and unpack, but a quick check wouldn't hurt.
Standing up from the Goddess Statue's pedestal — which I'd been sitting on like a bench (a major sign of disrespect, in hindsight) — I bowed deeply.
(Three Goddesses, I don't know what you've done or what you want me to do… but thank you for giving me a new life. Also, sorry for sitting on you!)
After a full ten-second bow, I decided to head toward the training grounds.
There should be some upperclassmen practicing there — and with a little luck, maybe even a Trainer.
That might tell me which timeline this world belonged to.
The academy map was printed in the pamphlet we received during homeroom, and it looked like a straight path from here.
I probably wouldn't get lost… unless Gold Ship showed up.
"Well then— time to go exploring!"