"Wow—"
The girl's face was almost pressed against the train window, looking at the rapidly passing scenery outside and exclaiming in surprise. Her tail wagged back and forth, ears on top of her head also twitched in excitement.
This girl is a Uma, a special existence in this world.
They possess physical abilities far exceeding ordinary humans, yet are more like natural spirits focused solely on running. Those who run on the racecourse are called Uma Musume.
Uma Musume races can be said to be world-class events, not because the whole world is perverts who want to see Uma Musume sweating, but simply because of the hope and dreams brought by Uma Musume's running.
Well, to put it simply, it's not scientific at all.
Looking at the excited young Uma, Zero's eyes also held a hint of curiosity.
Her own arrival in this world was completely an accident. After all, no one would expect to be struck by lightning on a bright sunny day while walking down the street, right?
Later, in the explanation from the system, which seemed to be the three Goddesses of this world, she understood that her accident was entirely due to the Three Goddesses' squabbles and mishaps.
Even though she was filled with resentment, she still had to live. After arriving in this world, she was nominally adopted by an elderly couple who have now passed away. In reality, that house was in far remote in the mountains, and she was the only one there. The couple was also an identity specially arranged for her by the Three Goddesses and didn't exist at all.
She was 5 years old when she arrived here, and with the help of the system, aka the three Goddesses, she underwent her training. Her food was also managed by herself with the special ingredients and cooking techniques provided by the Three Goddesses.
It seems the Three Goddesses initially felt guilty towards her, but gradually they started treating her like a development game: (Uma musume: raising your little filly!).
Afterwards, she did some self-studying of the corresponding race courses, and then with the help of the Three Goddesses, she enrolled in Central Tracen Academy, joined a team called Spica, and began her journey as an official Uma Musume.
At first, it was false to say that she didn't have any resentment towards the Three Goddesses, but after staying in this world for so long and being meticulously cared for and trained by them, her attitude couldn't help but soften.
And then she became tsundere (not really).
Anyway, getting back to the point, she was currently on the train because the vacation the Uma Musume Association had privately arranged for her was over, so she was just returning to school from her Hometown.
As for why they privately gave her a vacation... After her official debut, although she didn't win her debut race due to an accident, she quickly won her first G1 race — the "Hopeful Stakes (a G1 race providing a base popularity of 7000 in late December of the first year)" — then, with an invincible stance, she won the Satsuki Sho (turf 2000m), NHK Mile Cup (turf 1600m), Japanese Derby (turf 2400m), Yasuda Kinen (turf 1600m), Takarazuka Kinen (turf 2200m).
Sprinters Stakes (turf 1200m), Kikka Sho (turf 3000m), Queen Elizabeth II Cup (turf 2200m), Japan Cup (turf 2400m), Champions Cup (dirt 1800m), and Arima Kinen (turf 2500m) trophies. Among them, the NHK, Derby, Yasuda Kinen, and Takarazuka Kinen were scheduled consecutively from early May to late June.
She participated in these races like a monster, winning without any signs of fatigue. She originally wanted to participate in the Japanese Dirt Derby (dirt 2000m) in early July, but Symboli Rudolf, the Student Council President, forcibly rejected her application and dragged her to the training camp for a joint training session.
Although that training camp ultimately involved her training alone under the exasperated gazes of her Trainer and other teammates, and immediately after the camp, starting with the Kikka Sho (after October), she set a new record with five consecutive wins in the Queen's Cup (before November), Japan Cup (after November), Champions Cup (before December), and Arima Kinen (after December).
She was then forcibly escorted to her hometown by the Student Council and her entire tea, then given the order: "Forbidden from participating in any races until the Osaka Cup (after March), and forbidden from returning to school until February."
(So, is there anything special about that child?) Her gaze fell onto the curious and excited Uma.
[Yes, there is. Do you want to be friends with that child?]
(Well, I'll take my chances.) After all, becoming friends isn't that simple, is it?
[Not necessarily, you know? (Light chuckle)]
(So why is she writing her expression in parentheses?)
Closing her eyes and chatting with the Three Goddesses in her mind, she naturally didn't notice the Uma Musume across from her looking over.
====================
My name is Special Week, and I'm a Uma Musume from Hokkaido!
Today, I left my second mother and am finally about to embark on the path to becoming the best Uma Musume in Japan!
This vehicle called a train is so amazing, and the feeling of the scenery rushing by is great!
This is such a big city... So many windows! And signal towers! Things I've only seen in textbooks!
I don't know why, but I keep feeling a gaze over me. Is it that kind of... perverted look my mother always wanted me about!?
No, the city is too scary!
But when I turned towards where the gaze came from, I saw a cute Uma Musume.
Compared to my own brown short hair, this child's hair was almost pure black and long, but there were also some silvery-white strands naturally falling on both sides of her head. It didn't look like highlights; it must be natural, right?
She looked quite a bit smaller than myself in height. Is she a child? But why is she sitting alone? Where are her parents?
Although it's not good to speculate about others, because there wasn't a single Uma Musume near my home when I was little, I'm very curious about this child!
This is my first time seeing an Uma Musume outside of video tutorials and race broadcasts!
====================
When Absolute Zero opened her eyes, she met the gaze of the Uma Musume across from her directly, which startled her.
She didn't know why, but looking at the other party's eyes full of curiosity, a thought that could be described as impolite surfaced in her mind.
Is this kid... a bit goofy?
"Th-that! My name is Special Week! Please to meet you!"
After staring at her for a while, the other party might have felt shy, blushed a little, and then closed her eyes and loudly announced her name.
Then she was warned by the train attendant. "Please keep quiet on the train."
"Wuwuwu..."
Looking at the other party huddled up, Absolute Zero also smiled slightly.
"Absolute Zero, returning to Tracen Academy after the holidays."
"Huh? She looks so small, but she's a senior!?"
"'Small' is unnecessary, you know?"
"Yes!" Seeing the other party's expression, which was smiling but suddenly clouded with displeasure, even Special Week felt a sense of dread and immediately complied with her wishes.
Being 'small' was a lifelong pain for Absolute Zero.
Her actual age was a bit younger than her peers. Although she had already debuted, it was mainly because she had hit her maturation too early. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to participate in races at her age.
Maturation is a special phase of growth… for Uma Musume? Anyway, the Three Goddesses said so.
After an Uma Musume reaches a certain age, she will experience extremely rapid growth. Once she grows to her most suitable form, she will stop growing and will remain in that appearance for the rest of her life. The body shape and timing of maturation for each Uma Musume are different.
It sounds wonderful, as it's like eternal youth, but what if this time was set to her 14-year-old appearance?
And what if her 14-year-old appearance (148cm) was only a few centimeters taller than her 12-year-old self (143cm) at the time?
In short, she would be stuck with this loli height and figure for the rest of her life, making it a lifelong pain.
"Hmph, so you're a new student?"
"Ah, I'm a transfer student!"
"I see, well..."
[The next stop is Fuchu. Passengers wishing to alight, please prepare to exit.]
"Ah!"
"?"
"It's time to get off!"
"???"
She was pulled off the train by the other party with a bewildered expression.
"Phew, that was close, almost missed it." Looking at the other party's relieved expression, Absolute Zero thought for a moment and decided to let this child understand reality.
"I say, if you're going to the school, the next stop is the one, you know?"
"Huh?"
Zero was given the: 'You're lying to me, right?' Kind of look. To that, zero gave her own 'Understand it yourself' kind of look
"..."
"!!!"
"Ah, she's petrified..."
So this child really is a goofball... Absolute Zero also confirmed her impression of the other party.
==========
I'm a newbie translator and wanted to add more uma fics for more people to read. if there are any errors, let me know.
The credits and orginal story is: 传奇马娘想好好谈恋爱 and belongs to: 起始之零