"And the winner of the race is…!"
The television, which had been broadcasting a race, turned off at the exact moment the winner was about to be announced.
Silence reclaimed the room while the person watching TV just stayed there, lounging lazily on the sofa, his eyes showing nothing but boredom.
"Two weeks…".
The person on the sofa murmured as he placed the TV remote on the nearby table.
Two weeks had passed since he had been staying at home, and the monotony had already overwhelmed him.
"What should I do?".
He questioned himself with a sigh and walked over to where a white envelope now rested.
It was clearly a letter sent by someone.
The names?
They were important, which was precisely why it was better not to read that letter that had been sitting there for several days.
He simply walked to his room, changed his clothes, and returned to the living room after picking up the letter and putting it in his pocket.
"Oh well, let's go visit that place…".
He sighed heavily and simply left his home, locked the doors, and stepped out onto the streets of his city.
There was a special area on the sidewalk dedicated exclusively to the movement of something different from bike lanes.
As he walked along the sidewalk, a small gust of wind made his unruly hair sway violently as a blur of brown hair passed by his side.
It wasn't that fast, certainly.
He just sighed and began brushing the dust off his clothes.
"I'm sorry!".
He stopped his cleaning and looked up.
His blue eyes looked at the girl in front of him: chestnut hair, brown eyes almost yellow, and what stood out the most at first glance.
Those ears protruding from her head.
"I'm running late to the academy and couldn't stop in time."
She bowed to him and apologized.
"No problem, just be more careful next time."
He sighed while shaking his head.
"Do you need to go to the hospital?".
The girl still hadn't left and now seemed to be panicking, which only made him burst out laughing.
"Hey, don't worry so much."
He patted his chest with a smile directed at the girl.
"Not even a god could send me to the hospital; you just passed by me at a high speed."
The girl seemed amused by the black-haired man's joke and said goodbye.
"Alright, my apologies again, but I have to go."
The girl didn't chat any further with him and simply ran off towards the academy.
"Uma Musume."
He murmured as his smile faded and was replaced by a grimace.
He didn't feel contempt for them, he just... hadn't gotten used to the sudden change his entire social life had undergone.
But for other people, this was actually... normal.
Uma Musume had already been part of everyday life for many years; infrastructure and society were now made up of humans and Uma Musume.
Was it annoying?
Yes, but not because he had racial superiority complexes—although he did have a superiority complex—that wasn't important.
The reason this was annoying was what the letter he had received contained.
"Well, shall we go to Tokyo?".
He questioned himself while putting his hands in his pants pockets.
His city wasn't an important hub for professional Uma Musume concentration. Although there were academies focused on them, they weren't as prestigious as the one in Tokyo.
Thinking this, he took out his phone and entered his friends and family group chat.
Calmly, he wrote a message, then put his phone away and walked calmly to the bus station.
His next destination awaited, and even though it was a completely improvised trip,
a smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
Something about all this felt exciting.
———————————————————
"How boring…".
The black-haired man yawned and stretched after the long trip to Tokyo.
He should have taken better alternatives, but it was too late.
Now he just needed to find a place to stay and then go visit that Uma Musume academy.
"If I'm not mistaken, I need to meet the requirements to aspire to be a trainer."
He snorted while walking through the crowd of people, lost in his thoughts.
But well, he didn't have a title like Uma trainer.
"Everything was going so well, and now I have this problem."
He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and looked up at the sky.
"Well, the underworld has everything…".
———————————————————
In life, there was always something certain.
Where there was prosperity, there was decay.
Neither could exist without the other.
The same happened in big cities.
Tokyo was no exception.
He walked quietly through the dark place, using a hood he had bought so no one would easily recognize him.
"The path is still the same as I remember."
He murmured as he finally arrived at Tokyo's black market.
Most people walked around with hoods or masks to hide their identities.
Some only wore masks covering their mouths; these were usually people belonging to the local mafia in charge of the market.
He simply walked up to one of them, took out a business card, and handed it over with a small smile.
"Can I see your boss?".
The yakuza member on guard duty looked at the card and then lifted his gaze to the subject who revealed nothing but his smiling mouth.
"Let me verify."
He had no choice but to nod as that guy went to verify if he could meet the boss face to face.
It took no more than five minutes, and the guard returned with a somewhat confused face.
"Follow me."
He said nothing more and motioned for him to follow. He didn't object and followed the guy through many parts of this market, which was bigger than expected.
It was a three-minute walk, and when he finally arrived in front of a door, the sound of gun safeties being released was heard.
"Tsk."
He clicked his teeth just as the door opened, revealing a black-haired man with several scars on his face looking at him severely.
"Your business card is very real, but I want to make sure."
He spoke coldly while playing with that card in his hands.
"Mission success rate record, even that."
The hooded man let out a groan while gesturing with his hands in protest.
"One failed mission, one not taken due to lack of information."
There was silence, then a mocking laugh followed by an order.
"Lower them."
The weapons were lowered on their leader's orders, and he simply turned around.
"Dismissed."
All the subordinates nodded and then withdrew, leaving only the hooded man and his leader.
"You want fake identities, right?".
The hooded man nodded while walking behind the yakuza.
The room they entered had many luxury furnishings; several wine bottles were displayed on a shelf.
There were also various appliances, looking more like a living room/kitchen than what one would expect to see in a black market in the underworld.
"Want a drink?".
The yakuza offered, but the hooded man just shook his head while closing the door, removing his hood, and revealing his black hair and blue eyes that silently watched the older man.
"Kiyoshi Ishikawa. I also want something that recognizes me as qualified to be a trainer."
The black-haired man spoke calmly while the man simply poured himself a glass of wine and then sat in one of the chairs.
"Trainer?".
The yakuza tilted his head and then snorted.
"That's a very big change for you, the great son of the president of…".
The yakuza stopped when the black-haired man frowned.
"Alright, I'll stop."
The older black-haired man sighed and took a sip of wine.
"I have jobs that might interest you, but it seems you have other interests."
"Shut up, I don't need that anymore. My sister is already in university, and I've been what I am now for several months."
"I heard you dropped out of university over some matter."
"That's more complicated."
Kiyoshi dismissed it with a wave of his hand as he sat in the other chair in the room.
"It's better you don't know; it's way out of hand."
The black-haired man gave a dry smile and looked through that huge glass.
His eyebrow rose as he saw what was a track.
"If you want money to improve it, just ask."
Kiyoshi said dryly while noting that the track wasn't in such good condition.
"If this weren't the black market, I'd spend more money, but... not everything is very good."
The older black-haired man frowned and squeezed the glass in his hands with a bit of force.
"I'm in so deep at this point that doing something public is bad. No matter how hard I try with the black market, keeping this place secret will only be temporary."
The black-haired man looked at Kiyoshi with calm eyes.
"At this point, I think I'll just have to find a successor."
"Don't count on me."
Kiyoshi snorted as he watched how, little by little, several girls dressed in black clothes and with some objects to hide their identity began to enter that track.
Each of them had a number on their clothes as they lined up at the starting line.
"Especially with that."
Kiyoshi snorted while crossing his arms. Meanwhile, the yakuza took his phone and made several calls, then looked towards the track.
"Tomorrow I'll have your identification."
He informed Kiyoshi, who only nodded.
"How much would it be?".
The room fell silent after that question. The yakuza just took a drink of his wine as the race on the track began with the sound of a bell.
"I want to know what happened for everything to be like this."
Kiyoshi, who was about to steal one of the yakuza's cookies, stopped, his eyes opening in surprise as he turned to look at the yakuza.
The man just smiled calmly, as if nothing was happening.
"You think I would know something like that?".
Kiyoshi took the cookie and then ate it as if nothing happened, just watching the Umas run with great passion, even if it was illegally.
"I understand."
The yakuza nodded and watched the race in silence.
"But I won't die until I find out."
He declared with seriousness; his eyes shone with intensity as he looked at Kiyoshi.
"Screw you, you damn lunatic, take your pills."
Kiyoshi snorted while taking another cookie.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"The moon is very beautiful."
"Yuck."
"Don't you dare confess to me, you sick bastard. I'm a grown man with refined tastes."
Kiyoshi jumped up and accused the yakuza, who merely shook his head.
"Forget it, I'll find out someday."
Kiyoshi sat down again while murmuring homophobic insults at the yakuza, who just drank his wine and enjoyed the illegal race taking place in the black market.
In the end, the winning Uma was number seven, who celebrated with great happiness.
"Their interests are very simple; they're like little children."
The yakuza stood up and looked at Kiyoshi while giving him a credit card.
"Use it while you receive your new identity. Also... protect them, help them, and make me a lot of money."
A smile appeared on the face of that mobster. It was a genuine smile, not the one of the mobster Kiyoshi remembered from the past.
"A human protecting an Uma? I stand by it; take your pills, old man."
Kiyoshi took the card and simply stood up.
"We'll see each other in the future, and... I'll always call you for bets."
Kiyoshi waved his hand and simply left the room.
"My name is Kenji."
The yakuza told him his real name.
"I already knew."
Kiyoshi let out a snort and finally left the room.
"Hehehe, a young man like you... so extraordinary and mysterious."
Kenji shook his head as the glass in his hands shattered after suffering so much pressure.
"Number four, go get those documents for tonight." He made a call and after giving his order, hung up.
After putting away his phone, he took out that business card.
"The Silver Flash."
He murmured and squeezed that card.
"Thank you for making me regain hope."
—————————————-
"Eh? Is it night already?".
Kiyoshi wondered as he looked at the night sky.
"Phew, I'm tired."
He ran his hand through his hair, let out a sigh, and began to walk.
He certainly didn't expect so much cooperation from Kenji, but he didn't even ask for money and even gave him money.
That was weird, but if that question was asked, that guy knew a lot of things.
"What a nuisance."
He complained and simply walked in the direction he remembered.
It was a fifteen-minute walk until he stood in front of an apartment complex area.
He walked silently until he stopped at apartment number 77, searched for the key under the doormat, and simply opened the door.
The apartment was spacious enough to have everything necessary, but he didn't pay it much mind and simply went to find the bed and sleep.
——————
The next day, an envelope was outside the apartment.
He didn't overthink it and simply took out what he needed.
"Efficiency is the best. Maybe I should start doing more serious deals with Kenji."
He sighed and simply put away his new identification.
"Now what?".
——-
"Damn exams, how I hate them."
Kiyoshi complained as he left the office where he had taken an exam imposed by the academy for all those aspiring to be trainers at the academy.
"At least the documents are valid."
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
He had a trainer's license, and he knew that with the score he would get on the exam, he could enter.
"All this movement just for this."
He sighed and simply walked through the academy hallways.
Today was Saturday, and although it was a day when classes were held, the staff were still there, making it easier for him to move around.
He met the academy's director.
"She's a loli."
He snorted while remembering his brief chat with the director of Tracen.
"But I feel something's off."
Kiyoshi murmured as he left the building and walked through the academy campus.
He walked aimlessly, lost in thought, and only stopped once when his eyes caught something of interest.
It was a statue.
Three figures, each with those horse ears protruding from their heads.
Each of them held a jug from which descended a stream of water that fell into the fountain adorning the campus.
"This…".
Surprise shone in his eyes, and he simply walked closer to the statues.
"Hmmmm."
He put his hand to his chin and looked at the statues.
After a few seconds, he joined his hands and said a small prayer.
Unbeknownst to him, two people were observing him from somewhere, with the smaller figure holding a piece of paper in her hands.
"It's strange, isn't it?".
The small figure asked while watching Kiyoshi pray to the three Uma goddesses.
"His license is illegal."
Her secretary sighed beside her, and the small one nodded.
"But all the answers...".
She looked at that exam from the guy who appeared out of nowhere and presented himself as someone who wanted to serve as a trainer at her academy.
"He passes with the minimum score, but when he reached the required score, his answers were completely wrong."
She turned her gaze back to Kiyoshi, who now held his head as if suffering from a headache and then walked away complaining.
"And although his license is illegal, it's not fake. It was actually issued legally, but he never attended any academy for it. Even his age seems fake if we compare it to his appearance."
Her secretary murmured while stroking her chin.
"What do you plan to do, Director?".
She looked at the academy director, who was now stroking her chin.
Thinking seriously about what to do with this guy who appeared out of nowhere.
"We should test him."
She declared and smiled a little.
"Maybe he's someone like me, who just wants to see the Uma Musume achieve their dreams."
The secretary looked in the direction where Kiyoshi had left and slowly nodded.
"He seems to have many connections, but how will we test him?".
The small one smiled and played with that exam.
——————————
"How damn annoying."
Kiyoshi complained as he looked at the letter he had received on Monday morning while getting his things ready.
Had he gotten into Tracen?
Yes, but due to some matters, he was sent to a probationary period...
At the Tracen Academy of Kasamatsu for an indefinite period.
A grimace appeared on his face as he clenched that paper.
"Come on, relax, you're a totally rational person."
He turned around, entered his own apartment, and sat in the chair that was there.
The letter sent by the director was crumpled, but he still didn't throw it away and just let it drop onto the table.
With his hand, he searched through his pockets and then pulled out that letter he had received a long time ago.
With a sigh, he finally opened it and began to read it slowly.
"Dear ****, we deeply regret that we have to communicate through this medium, but meeting in person at this time is impossible."
Kiyoshi stopped for a moment and then looked at the rest of the content.
Due to the language it was written in, if translated into Japanese, it would be more than four pages of a normal book.
"They're completely crazy."
He snorted and put the letter away again after skimming the rest, and once again stored it in his pockets.
"Be that as it may... I'm bored, so fulfilling those women's wishes isn't an impediment for me."
He stood up and took the card Kenji gave him.
"Let's buy some clothes and embark on this journey like a Pokémon trainer!".
End Prologue.
Well, this is the prologue of the fanfic, and if you find any mistakes in the English, it's because it's not my first language and I don't yet have full enough command to say it's completely correct.
As I hinted in the prologue, Kiyoshi has many connections in the black market, as well as other knowledge, though I won't delve too deeply into dark themes like large-scale sabotage.
I also want to clarify that Kiyoshi will not be Oguri Cap's trainer (though I'd personally love that), but my friend says that's already been overused, so I'll go with another Uma instead.
There will be several changes to the Uma Musume canon, since I initially considered making Kiyoshi the trainer of "X" Uma, but there are a lot of timeline differences between certain events. Although, of course, these changes will also be justified.
And sorry for not having a cover yet—I wasn't allowed to use some of the ones I liked best, so I'll keep looking.
Anyway, I hope you liked the prologue. Depending on the support the fic gets, I'll update more frequently.