A new environment always brings excitement.
And me? I'm pretty simple.
I've enrolled into Tracen Academy!
Wide! Beautiful! Packed with all kinds of equipment!
It really is the best place for an Uma Musume.
I think I managed to enroll just fine despite not having a prestigious family background.
Since then, I've been thinking about a lot of things.
I'm the same age as Mr. C.B., which means I'll always be racing alongside her. If she has the same talent as her namesake from the previous life, then C.B.-chan might win the Triple Crown.
Will I get in the way of that?
Of course, I don't take CB-chan lightly.
I won the Unregistered Match, but it was close. Her future growth might not be explosive, but I don't think she'll fall behind either.
Still, if I'm going to race—I'll race to win.
So… will I win the Triple Crown and become a hero?
I can't say for sure. Not when C.B.-chan is my rival.
In the end, I couldn't come up with a clear answer.
First of all, there's CB-chan.
So I thought the Twinkle Series would be exciting with both of us in it.
But that's not enough.
Only two Triple Crown Uma Musume have ever been born so far.
That's not enough to truly ignite the Twinkle Series.
We need something more. Something overwhelming.
At the very least, I have to become a truly dominant Triple Crown horse girl.
I was worried, but with no solution in sight—I decided to just focus on adapting to school life.
And as fate would have it, I was placed in the same class as CB-chan.
I felt a wave of relief when I saw her smile—like a mischievous cat.
I guess I'd been more nervous than I realized.
"C.B-chan, long time no see."
"It's been a while, Rack. How've you been?"
"Somehow surviving. I'm so healthy that I got scolded—told I couldn't be a proper horse girl if I kept entering amateur races."
"Ahahaha! I don't think it's a bad idea, but once Rack shows up, the game's already decided."
C.B-chan murmured like she hadn't even been looking for me.
I'd been chasing prize money, but the cost of horseshoes had gouged my budget so I was in a pinch.
"Horseshoes… I wonder if the school covers those?"
"Only after you get a trainer or join a team, I think."
"Yeah, makes sense…"
"Want me to help?"
"I'll pass. I don't lend or borrow from friends—but thanks."
"Hmm, fine. But you'll have to pay for your competition uniform yourself. If you can't, don't come crying to me."
"Yeah… Wait—competition uniform?"
"Competition clothes."
"Not just uniform?"
"You think you can race in a school uniform?"
"Uh… I guess not."
It's true. Everyone in the race videos wore dazzling outfits.
Looks like I'll need to order something like that.
"I wonder how much it'll cost. Should I just get one on the spot?"
"You can't show up to Winning Live wearing just uniform after all so yeah."
"…What's Winning Live?"
"Eh?"
"What's Winning Live?"
"Winning Live, huh?"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
C.B-chan explained it to me—slowly, like she was teaching me that 1 + 1 = 2.
Shocking revelation: Winning Live is just as important as racing. It's a post-race performance where you sing and dance like an idol!
"You seriously didn't know?"
"I didn't have a TV growing up. I only researched racing…"
"But you've done grass races and sang at the Unregistered Match, right?"
"I thought it was just a 'Yay, the race is over! Let's sing and dance!' kind of thing…"
"Did you think you were a pirate celebrating finding treasure?"
Turns out it was legit.
I only remembered the songs because A-chan used to sing them. If not for that, I'd be totally lost at that time.
So now I have to be like an idol?
Maybe horse girls are more idol than athlete? Or maybe half-and-half…?
Well now I've got to worry about money—for uniforms, singing, dancing.
Too many problems appeared suddenly...
"Well, time to start practicing properly. You've already got a reputation."
"Eh? I haven't done anything yet—what reputation?"
"You seriously forgot? Everyone knows you said you'd easily win your makeup debut. My classmates think you're full of yourself."
"No, I said I didn't have the money. So if I could win my debut, I'd use the prize money to pay tuition. I meant I'd work hard with that determination."
"Ahaha, sounds like you're defending yourself—but you still mean the same thing, don't you?"
"T-true…"
What do I do?
School life was already complicated.
"C.B-chan… are we friends?"
"What's with that death-stare face? I would say we're friends—because if I called you a rival, you'd probably die from stress."
"C.B-chan…!"
I hugged her tightly.
She laughed and hugged back.
"There'll be a lot of problems ahead. But first, we need to find a trainer in the selection race, right?"
"Yeah… yeah."
Wait..a trainer?
Until now, I had always done things on my own.
I wonder what kind of person I'd end up with. Ideally, someone kind, experienced, and maybe even rich. Gender didn't matter.
A few weeks later, the first selection race was held.
Also, since C.B-chan said, "You don't have to use any formalities" I decided to just call her CB from now on.
The selection race is basically a self-promotion event. Only if you catch a trainer's eye here can you earn the right to race officially.
There are two types of selection races:
- One is a class-based race where trainers observe students.
- The other is a team-sponsored race, usually hosted by a well-known racing team.
The team races are more popular since they come with prestige and proven track records. But I wasn't interested.
Joining a team meant less time with a personal trainer, and I wanted flexibility. I was aiming for a dedicated trainer—someone who'd focus on me. Even a rookie would be fine, as long as they had the ability.
By the way, CB had already been scouted before even entering the school. She said it wasn't because of her family name, but… well I'm not so sure still I didn't ask for the details.
There was one downside to the selection race..with it being it offer no prize money.
Still, I wanted to win and get a trainer—fast.
(After the race)
I won.
And… no trainer.
What!?
I won, didn't I!?
Why is everyone pretending I'm invisible!?
It was a solid race, too!
I ran a few more selection races. Still no trainer.
Feeling down, I found CB surrounded by trainers like bees to honey. Apparently, she slipped away whenever she gets the chance or before they try to surround her.
For some reason, even she hadn't picked a trainer yet.
"I can't tell if the trainers are too busy chasing you so none came to me"
"Wrll that rumor of yours runs deep after all" she replied.
"But for me I feel more comfortable without a trainer."
"You're avoiding me aren't you!"
I flailed my arms dramatically, but she dodged with ease.
"This is bad," I groaned. "This is my last horseshoe. I'm not confident I can win the next race."
"You wore them out that much?"
I lifted my leg to show her then she bursts out laughing.
"Ahahaha! You won with that!? There's like 1mm of sole left! You're not running on horseshoes—you're running on hope!"
"Shut up! It's hard to maintain them! I've been repairing and reusing the same pair!"
"Moo~ I can't believe I lost to a kid like this."
"I was perfect that day."
CB finally stopped laughing after a few minutes.
"So, what about your trainer?" I asked.
"I've been approached by a veteran so I'll probably decide after they or the team make a move."
"Must be nice to have options."
"Well, it's rare to win and still get ignored. That's you, Rack!"
"Damn it! At this point, I'll take anyone! …Well, not really. But if they'll help me win, I'd prefer someone who'll spend everything on me."
"That's…"
"Hey, Black Traitor."
A voice cut through our conversation.
I looked up.
A man in a sharp, intimidating suit and sunglasses stood there. A trainer badge gleamed on his chest.
"Who…?"
He was so intense, I instinctively hid behind CB.
"He's a trainer." she said.
"You're Black Traitor, right?" he asked.
"…Yeah."
"…CB?"
"What?"
"Did he just say my name??"
"I didn't know you have bad hearing...?"
"Hey! I always got 100s on my tests!"
"You slacked off."
"You're the one who scouted me!"
"…So?"
"…So?"
"…Is it really me your looking for..?"
"Yeah."
Me!?
I jumped out from behind CB and grabbed his hand.
He was scary, but up close… he looked like an angel.
Were those… halo rings? Feathers?
"Nice to meet you! I'm Black Traitor!"
"I heard you the first time."
"Are you scouting me exclusively!?"
"I'm not with a team."
"So that was a lie!?"
"I have no plans to join one."
"…Do you not know the rumors about me?"
"I know. You stirred up the school with your big mouth and said you wouldn't pay tuition."
"No, but—!"
"I don't care."
"Looking forward to working with you! I'm Black Traitor!"
"…Yeah. Likewise."
(Trainer: acquired.)
"CB! I got a trainer!"
"I mean… technically, he got you."
...True.
"Alright, let's sign the contract!"
"Wait."
"What? You're not backing out, are you?"
"I don't need it. Are you sure about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've heard bad rumors about him."
I turned to the trainer. He stared back.
"What kind of rumors?"
"That he treats horse girls like tools and overworks them."
"That's… not entirely wrong. But the overworking part depends on the horse girl."
"Well, I'm fine with it."
"Are you sure? He might be lying."
"I'm the same way. But he still chose me."
"…Fine. But thanks, CB."
I turned back to the trainer.
"Let's make this official!"
"Alright, alright. What's the rush?"
"If I can get away with being your trainee, maybe you'll buy me new shoes and horseshoes."
"You're surprisingly bold…"
We walked together.
After a while, I asked, "So, why did you scout me?"
"You were fast."
"That's it? Trainers just scout fast girls?"
"Mostly, yeah."
"So I'm just 'mostly'?"
"…No."
He sighed.
"You said 'anyone.'"
"I did not!"
"You said, 'If they'll let me win.'"
"I can let you win."
"…Then you're right. So?"
"…I hate the Twinkle Series."
Whoa. That's a statement.
"I won't say why. But more specifically—URA. I want to drag all those smug suits down. That's why I want a horse girl who can win. Preferably one I can treat like a tool."
"…I see."
"So?"
"Huh?"
"Want to cancel the contract?"
"Wha—!? Why!? Are you abandoning me!?"
"…Were you even listening?"
"I was kidding! Okay, I'll be honest too."
I took a deep breath.
"I'm from an orphanage. I didn't have money. I have two goals: one, to support the orphanage. Two, to change the Twinkle Series."
"Change it?"
"Yes. Some girls can't even enter training school because they can't afford it. Some can't race even if they have the talent. It's suffocating. I want to change that."
"Will that break you?"
"Maybe. But there's something else."
"What?"
"Half the rumors about me are true. I haven't paid tuition. If I win my makeup debut, I can pay. If I lose, I'm expelled."
"You only get one makeup debut."
"I know. That's why I said I'd take anyone who could help me win. But I'm strong. I'll win. I don't expect much guidance. You can cancel the contract after that."
"Hey."
"But if you make me stronger, I'll stick with you! Let's destroy the Twinkle Series together!"
"…So you want to change it?"
"Well, yeah. Change it, destroy it, rebuild it—same thing."
The trainer muttered, "I didn't really mean it like I want to destroy it…but okay."
"Well then, let's do this."
"Yes!"
"…Also, you don't have to use honorifics with me."
"Got it! Let's go, partner!"
And that's how I got my trainer.
He had a serious face and a suit.
But maybe—just maybe—he was the right one.