"The rain certainly came out of nowhere." Taking shelter under the racetrack's eaves, Hayakawa Tazuna looked up at the gloomy sky.
"And how does Ms. Tazuna plan to get back?" Standing beside Hayakawa Tazuna, who was dressed in her emerald green uniform, was a beauty with shoulder-length short hair and a pair of charming, almond-shaped eyes.
Wearing high heels and a uniform, she had the efficient, capable look of a secretary.
This was the Uma Musume known as the [Empress] — Air Groove.
True to the title, Air Groove carried an air of stern seriousness. Even the slightest upturn of her lips couldn't soften her tightly knit brows, which made her look as if she were always on the verge of a reprimand.
"Thanks for your concern, but I have my own ways." She gave a slight wave to Air Groove. "Compared to that, I'm a bit more worried about President Rudolf."
"Really, we've caused you trouble, making you come all this way for something like this."
"Not at all, please don't mention it." Air Groove crossed her arms, offering Hayakawa Tazuna a smile as cool as ice water.
"President Rudolf would absolutely take something like this to heart. After all, that's just the kind of person she is."
"And that child... her talent is truly astounding. Judging by her footwork, she's probably never received any formal training before, right? But her sense of timing seems etched into her very genes."
"Her body is the same. At a glance, it doesn't look like a body honed through grueling training, yet it contains such terrifying explosive power. Ms. Tazuna, you've really found a promising sprout this time."
"I don't wish to talk about bloodline theory, but with talent like this... perhaps she truly has the blood of a goddess flowing through her veins."
Hearing Air Groove praise Platinum so highly, the smile on Hayakawa Tazuna's face grew wider and wider, as if it were her own child being complimented.
"However—" Air Groove's tone shifted, "Talent alone isn't enough."
"Ms. Tazuna understands this, right? In this country, the only training institution for Uma Musume that can be called world-class is the central Tracen Academy, built with the collective strength of the nation."
"In other words, all the nation's geniuses are gathered in this one academy. And in this academy, the one thing we are never short of is those called 'genius'."
"Between genius and champion lies a vast mountain range."
"At Tracen Academy, she will face the most formidable trials."
—Of course, these trials weren't because Tracen was some militarized institution. On the contrary, the academic demands at Tracen were relatively relaxed.
Hayakawa Tazuna certainly understood what Air Groove meant.
Eclipse First, The Rest Nowhere—Here, the most difficult trial to endure was having one's innate confidence as a genius slowly shattered, coming to terms with one's own ordinariness.
Only the one who ultimately emerges first will be remembered by all.
Just as Hayakawa Tazuna was about to say something, a blinding bolt of lightning split the sky, momentarily illuminating both their faces. A few seconds later, a terrifying clap of thunder roared across the entire land.
"The storm is here," Hayakawa Tazuna murmured, looking out at the sky beyond the eaves.
"Yes, the storm is here."
--+--
—————"Oof."
Agnes Tachyon tightened her grip on the teacup in her hand.
"Honestly, it's all because of that sudden thunderclap, I almost dropped my cup... If only there was a cup that wouldn't spill even if you let go."
"Such a thing... probably doesn't exist..." Sitting on the bed nearby, holding a pillow that covered half her cheek, Agnes Digital said sheepishly.
"Hahahaha—True enough. But who can guarantee such an invention won't appear in the future?" Hearing Agnes Digital's words, Agnes Tachyon burst into loud laughter.
"...Ultimately, wouldn't it be better to just place the cup on the table?"
--+--
The sound of hurried footsteps ceased. On the grassy racetrack, Mihono Bourbon looked up at the grey, overcast sky and stretched out a palm to catch the raindrops beginning to fall.
"Weather change detected."
Maintaining an utterly unchanged expression, Mihono Bourbon spoke in a monotone, robotic voice.
"Precipitation... may impact physical performance."
"Setting new objective: [Seek Shelter]."
Without a moment's hesitation, Mihono Bourbon ran towards the spectator stands. There were shelters there to keep off the rain, and her change of clothes and water bottle were stored there.
The squall arrived swiftly. By the time Mihono Bourbon reached the shelter, her tracksuit was already half-soaked, clinging tightly to her body.
Bending over, she pulled a towel from her backpack and began drying her hair. It was then she noticed a dark figure moving in her peripheral vision.
Following the direction of the movement, sitting far away from Mihono Bourbon, was Rice Shower, draped in a black raincoat.
Rice Shower covered her face with both hands, pulling down her hat brim as if trying to hide her very existence.
After a brief glance back, Mihono Bourbon averted her gaze. So the two of them sat far apart under the shelter, watching the torrential rain pour down on the empty racetrack.
--+--
"Boo... I hate thunder." Seiun Sky stood under a bridge, holding a water bucket, squinting at the grey sky.
"Finally managed to sneak out, and then I run into weather like this... I even checked the forecast..." Pursing her lips, Seiun Sky swayed unsteadily with her fishing rod on her back.
"Ahh... As soon as it rains, I feel all weak and limp, no energy at all."
"Let's head back once the rain stops."
--+--
Special Week held her phone close to the screen.
"Suzuka, did you see it? That was such a — huge — bolt of lightning! How's the weather over there? Is it raining?"
Leaning by the dormitory window, Special Week craned her neck to look outside.
"Not here. It's a sunny morning."
The gentle voice of Silence Suzuka came through the phone.
"Eh— Suzuka, are you planning on a morning run?"
"Mhm. The race day is getting closer, I want to get my condition adjusted as soon as possible. The opponents are all quite formidable."
"Okay, if you say so, Suzuka—"
Before Special Week could finish her sentence, another clap of thunder exploded in the sky. This one was so sudden it made Special Week jump.
--+--
"What's with the weather today... It's almost like it's foreshadowing something..."
Tokai Teio gazed into the distance. A pure white lightning bolt streaked from the ground upwards, connecting heaven and earth.
She shook the rainwater from her umbrella, standing at the dormitory entrance, lost in thought as she watched the white lightning.
Uma Musume are sprites bestowed by the heavens. Sometimes, things happen to them that defy ordinary understanding.
For instance, some can see spirits, some can hear the voices of departed relatives, some can divine fortunes.
And others... can sense the subtle flow of fate itself.
The moment the lightning struck, those Uma Musume known as 'geniuses' seemed to feel a summons and lifted their heads.
Another of their kind had appeared... What kind of waves would this new Uma Musume bring?
--+--
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!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.