"You've been very quiet since the race."
Alice said as she looked out the car window.
"It's normal."
Toshi, being the driver, said dryly.
"Finding out what's going on isn't very hard."
Toshi looked in the rearview mirror at the person sitting in the back seat.
The horse ears moved nervously, as if they both wanted and didn't want to listen to their conversation.
But with her senses, it was hard to ignore even a whisper.
"Those two UmaMusume are incredible, right, Tamamo?"
Toshi asked with a smile, and both ears perked up completely, as if she hadn't expected the question.
"Really, yes... both of them were surprising on that final stretch."
The white-haired UmaMusume said in a slightly shy voice.
At the end of that strange exchange, Kiyoshi had offered for Toshi and Alice to drop her off where she and her trainer were staying.
She clearly couldn't refuse, because even though she could walk or run to the place without any problem, she didn't want to risk losing what they had given her.
"Without a doubt, they will be great rivals to beat in the future."
She finished her observation, now a little more relaxed.
"I don't think so."
Toshi let out a sigh of relief while Alice and Tamamo were just curious to know what the black-haired man meant.
"Can I know?"
Alice questioned, and Toshi glanced at her, then let out a mocking laugh.
"You're barely in elementary school and you want to jump to the university for the gifted?"
Toshi was direct and quickly let Alice know he wouldn't tell her anything.
"That's annoying."
The girl pouted; surely Kiyoshi would tell her if she insisted more.
"That guy has weaknesses for his loved ones."
Toshi seemed to predict her thoughts.
"But he also knows he shouldn't say those things so lightly."
Tamamo was now completely confused.
What were they talking so much about? Why all the secrecy?
"Forget about this."
Toshi said as he stopped the car and waited for pedestrians to pass.
"Changing the subject... why did you suggest that? Kiyoshi wasn't going to ask you for anything."
Toshi now looked directly at Tamamo, who gave a doubtful look and then seemed to remember.
"I can't accept something totally for free."
Tamamo said seriously, and Toshi looked at her for a while, then turned his gaze back to the road.
"You're naive."
He stepped on the accelerator and continued the drive.
"Naive? It's just my way."
Tamamo retorted.
"That's respectable, but didn't you read who that guy really is? Even though he acts like a good person and tends to be kind, he's a complete bastard in business. If you give him the slightest chance to be his slave, he'll fill your pockets with money and give you a good life in exchange for extreme overwork."
"Aren't you describing your own situation?"
Tamamo asked doubtfully.
"Yes..."
"Then it's not so bad..."
Tamamo murmured dryly.
She didn't have a great interest in finances beyond covering basic needs.
But apparently the black-haired man was just exaggerating about the "overwork" he received from Kiyoshi.
"Anyway, we're here."
Toshi cut off Tamamo's thoughts.
She took a quick look and verified they were indeed at the lodging place.
"Thank you very much."
She said gratefully as she opened the car door.
"It's something small, you don't need to thank us."
Alice said while giving her a smile.
"And don't forget what you discussed with Kiyoshi."
Toshi turned and gave Tamamo an amused smile as she carried both briefcases in her hand.
"I am Tamamo Cross."
The UmaMusume lifted her chin proudly.
"I will definitely return this favor."
——————-
"You really did a great job."
Kiyoshi chuckled as he watched Oguri Cap dance more fluidly while performing in her winning live.
"You're really despicable with her."
Norn murmured dryly, only to receive a pat on the head from Kiyoshi, who seemed happy.
"I've never been mean to Ogurin. Maybe the only ones I've been a little mean to are you and March."
Kiyoshi said calmly while the reddish-haired UmaMusume just gave him a doubtful look.
"Is it me or..."
Mimi was silenced by Rudy, who made a face, quickly indicating it was better not to speak and to ignore the two boys chatting beside them.
"By the way, where did March go?"
Norn changed the subject, and Kiyoshi had no problem with that.
"She went to buy some snacks."
The black-haired man shrugged.
"Seems like she's been very hungry lately."
The three UmaMusume stared intently at Kiyoshi, as if a mistaken idea had taken root in their minds.
"You're really creative to jump to that conclusion."
Kiyoshi snorted, obviously aware of the UmaMusume's thoughts.
"No umapyoi?"
Rudy raised an eyebrow and asked seriously.
"No umapyoi."
Kiyoshi said dryly.
He wouldn't do that with March for several reasons.
The first was obviously that he was a damn romantic.
He wouldn't do those kinds of things with someone where the closest thing was friendship.
"Were you talking about me?"
The four turned to look and found the UmaMusume they were talking about.
But now, she was different, wearing different clothes.
Something that clearly caught the attention of the three UmaMusume.
"Isn't it too feminine for what she usually wears?"
Rudy asked quietly, and her two friends just nodded.
It was strange to see March in a dress.
Although they wondered why it had to be a traditional Japanese one.
"Where did you get that?"
Kiyoshi was more direct, making the three UmaMusume roll their eyes.
"Hmm?"
March tilted her head and then looked down.
"A girl with orange hair invited me to try some things on. They took many photos of me and then gave me all the clothes I had tried on."
March smiled shyly.
"I noticed it was late, so I ran to leave the other outfits and came with the last one I had tried on."
Kiyoshi rolled his eyes and wondered if March hadn't actually been bewitched to so easily accept doing things that weren't in her personality.
"Does it look good on me?"
March asked, and the four exchanged a quick glance.
Any answer could be counterproductive in the UmaMusume's opinion.
"It looks good on you."
But Kiyoshi didn't seem to care, turning his gaze back to Oguri's Winning Live.
Clearly ignoring the smile that appeared on March's face as she began to eat the small carrots she had bought.
"He's such a jerk..."
Norn murmured, and the group continued watching Oguri's winning live, giving occasional comments or also consoling Norn, who imitated a proud mother.
Something that drew a laugh from Kiyoshi as he thought of Norn being a great mother in the future.
"That brat..."
Arthur murmured while crossing his arms and making a face.
"Why is he relaxing so much?"
"What are you talking about, Your Majesty?"
The orange-haired girl asked while finishing sending the photos she had taken of March.
"Do you have the crown?"
Arthur asked a strange question, but the orange-haired girl just shook her head.
"Then there's no point in telling you."
Arthur snorted while fixing his gaze on Oguri Cap.
"I heard from Xiao that you were helping UmaMusume, and to some extent, low-income people."
The orange-haired girl nodded.
"Souji started using Kiyoshi's personal accounts, giving small amounts, paying bills, or even paying tuition for many UmaMusume in Japan. Then, Kiyoshi's younger sister started doing the same, but in England, while at the same time trying to create a monopoly in both medicine and training equipment for UmaMusume."
Arthur looked silently at the girl and then back towards Oguri.
"Do you know any way to translate ten percent of my treasure to help with this?"
"Your Majesty... I think sometimes you are a little unaware of your own wealth."
The orange-haired girl said dryly; something that had no end didn't have a percentage.
"Tsk, then, ten mountains of gold the size of Everest."
"Do you want to cause a global economic collapse, Your Majesty?"
"Yes."
———————————————
"Chukyo Hai?"
March asked while looking at her trainer.
A week had passed since her last race, during which her trainer had let her rest.
Something she clearly didn't do.
"Yes."
Kiyoshi nodded while spinning in his chair.
"The person above me wants you to run in that race."
"And weren't we going to Kyoto?"
March asked, and Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow.
"Do you care more about going to Kyoto than running in Chukyo?"
"Yes."
"Well, I don't know why you're worried; the race is on October 14th."
Kiyoshi smiled, and March made a face.
"Don't you want to run?"
March shook her head. As an UmaMusume, what excited her most was running.
Simply.
"This wasn't your decision, was it?"
The UmaMusume asked, and Kiyoshi just unwrapped a lollipop and put it in his mouth.
"Tomorrow we'll leave for Chukyo. You should prepare everything you want to take."
Obviously changing the subject. It was so obvious that March knew it was better not to ask and just started getting ready for training.
For his part, Kiyoshi was about to give the readers a flashback.
Five days ago, Kiyoshi's temporary residence.
"Annoying."
Kiyoshi cursed as on his back a sleeping Aurora only snored softly while her arms wrapped around the black-haired man's neck.
"I don't know why you wanted to be in that meeting so much."
Kiyoshi murmured as he continued walking towards his house with the extra weight.
"Although... you should start getting used to them, Ruoxi."
"Mmm."
The person on his back let out a groan, but then calmed down and continued sleeping with her head resting on the black-haired man's shoulder, who sighed.
"I don't know why it bothers you so much to use your real name..."
Kiyoshi didn't continue talking; talking to himself wouldn't fix his babysitting situation...
After several minutes, he finally arrived at his temporary residence and simply pushed the open door.
"You're two hours late."
"You should be sleeping instead of counting how long I take outside."
Kiyoshi responded dryly to the accusation from the teenager who sat in a chair while seemingly waiting for him.
"Ha, if this were before, I'd clearly be like Aurora."
The teenager pointed with a mocking smile at the purple-haired girl who was beginning to murmur things while asleep.
"But I've gotten used to your rhythm."
"Not sleeping can interrupt your growth. I doubt with your complexes being a short woman is a good thing."
Kiyoshi walked over to the teenager, who now frowned with annoyance.
Akari, the fourth.
A teenager with a superiority complex who had been placed under his care these past few days by that bastard Xiao.
"Your uncle Arthur is very annoying."
Kiyoshi changed the subject, and just as he was about to take out something he had obtained at the meeting, his ringtone started to sound.
Changing plans, he quickly searched his pants pocket and took out his phone.
"That loli is calling me at this hour?"
Akari raised an eyebrow and stood next to Kiyoshi, who didn't let her see his phone and simply answered the call.
"It's midnight, what do you want?"
"You're really still awake?"
Kiyoshi made a face; obviously, the other party was surprised.
"You called me at this hour hoping I'd be asleep? You're crueler than I thought."
Akari beside Kiyoshi just raised an eyebrow while taking Aurora's body in her arms; Aurora complained while seeking comfort.
Something she didn't achieve after Akari gave her a small hit in the stomach, although that earned her a cold look from Kiyoshi.
"Every rational person silences their phone when they're going to rest."
He had to agree.
Although he always kept his phone volume on.
"Ugh... anyway, do you need something?"
Kiyoshi asked while indicating to Akari to leave, and he began walking towards the dining room.
Yayoi on the other end hummed while looking for some things on her desk and then began to talk about the real reason for her call.
"Chukyo Hai, I want March to run in Chukyo."
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow while opening the refrigerator door.
"Still not convinced about March for the nationals?"
"Are you joking? Oguri Cap and March are possibly two UmaMusume who should never have stayed in the regionals in the first place. I'm only making this request so she can start adapting to the turf tracks."
Yayoi snorted while looking at the latest volume of the manga she was following.
"Someone important will also be there that day, so besides meeting us there, you might make a good impression on that person."
"Eh? You'll actually leave Tokyo?"
Kiyoshi said surprised while turning on his stove.
"Obviously. I'll personally invite March and Oguri, although I already have all the documents listed so they can run in the classic races... I still don't understand how they were so flexible."
The director said the last words thoughtfully.
"Alright, I'll fulfill your request."
Kiyoshi sighed with slight disappointment.
"What's wrong? Weren't you thinking of adapting her to turf tracks?"
"I was thinking of going to the US, thinking that after the Junior Crown you'd be convinced."
The other party was incredulous upon hearing Kiyoshi's words.
"You wanted to make her run abroad when she hasn't even run in the Japanese nationals?"
"Do you think I'm crazy? I just want her to meet Secretariat."
The other party was incredulous at Kiyoshi's words.
Not only because of the name he mentioned, but because he only wanted March to "meet" that UmaMusume.
"Do you have the influence to even seek out that UmaMusume that even in her own country no one knows where she's hiding?"
Yayoi now sounded serious as she asked, but Kiyoshi just remained silent while watching the piece of meat cook.
"You really hold me in high esteem."
Kiyoshi smiled amusingly.
"But you're not wrong. Want to meet her?"
Yayoi was surprised again.
"I'll take that offer in the future."
The director remained silent for a few seconds, just staring into space.
"We'll see each other on October 14th at the Chukyo Racecourse."
The call ended, and Kiyoshi just glanced sideways at his phone, which he had put on speaker.
"Am I exposing myself too much?"
Kiyoshi wondered as he flipped the meat.
"Ha, what does it matter."
Kiyoshi crossed his arms.
"I always end up being someone sentimental who, without them needing to know about me, ends up involving them."
He didn't know if that was funny or sad, but that was basically the summary of what would happen.
Back to the present.
"And... it's just a transition race, but you should still win it."
Kiyoshi said as he stood up and turned to look at March.
"Clearly."
March closed her eyes and gave a smile.
"I won't lose my next race, even if you're being forced."
"It won't happen again."
"Something tells me this won't be the only time you do this."
The next day.
After a trip to Chukyo, March and her trainer had finally arrived.
But...
"I still wonder why we came days early."
March turned to look at her trainer, who was currently looking at his cell phone.
"Training."
"We're not in Kasamatsu for you to have a training place available."
March's ears moved a little, a clear sign that her emotions were changing.
"I already took care of that."
Kiyoshi put away his phone and started walking, followed by March.
There was no more talk the whole way.
The trainer walked ahead while the UmaMusume grew impatient following him.
Their walk after several minutes finally ceased.
"A hotel?"
"Yes, we'll stay for a few days, so I've booked a room."
March looked at Kiyoshi and raised an eyebrow.
"Will we sleep together?"
March questioned, and Kiyoshi looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
March seemed more and more out of her original character.
"Do you want to that badly?"
Kiyoshi asked in response as he entered the building.
"It just seems strange to me that you only wanted one room."
March followed her trainer and found that he already had the room keys and was walking towards the rooms.
"That was too fast..."
March looked around and noticed the employees were a bit tense. She quickly ignored it and followed her trainer again.
When her trainer finally stopped in front of a door and opened it, March finally sighed.
"Why did it take us so long?"
"I didn't think the elevator would be under repairs."
Kiyoshi shrugged, opened the door, and let March in.
She just entered and then turned to look at her trainer.
"This is a room?"
"Obviously."
Kiyoshi walked in and looked around.
"It's very small."
Kiyoshi touched his chin.
"Is that why it only has four stars?"
Kiyoshi shook his head and then looked at his assigned UmaMusume.
"If you want, take a bath. We'll go to the Chukyo Racecourse; it's not that far."
Kiyoshi approached the window and looked for the racecourse while March watched him incredulously.
"Do you really have that much money?"
"Not much."
Kiyoshi clenched his fists with anger.
"Those bastards Chaoxiang and Arthur have more than me."
March sighed as she began to look for her gym clothes.
"I thought you'd name someone from the billionaire list."
Kiyoshi turned to look at her and silently mocked her.
"Marchi."
He called, and the UmaMusume turned to look at him, noticing how her trainer opened and closed both palms until both became fists.
"What does that mean?"
"They're mere specks of dust."
Kiyoshi gave a mocking smile.
"I don't like to compare myself, nor sound arrogant, but my phrase when I want something and can't buy it is..."
Kiyoshi struck a dramatic pose.
"I haven't offered enough."
March just started laughing with amusement.
"Why do you pose like the JoJos?"
"Some have the necessary drama."
Kiyoshi returned to normal and began searching through his belongings, then took out a black card with no data on it.
"I didn't want to associate some things with myself, but since I told you that, there's certainly no turning back."
Kiyoshi extended his hand with the card to March and looked at her seriously.
"Use it carefully."
March hesitated and just took the card and put it away.
"I'll wait for you outside."
And without waiting for questions from her, her trainer simply left the room and left her alone.
"No turning back?"
March wondered as she looked at her sneakers and gym clothes.
"You're more mysterious now, but scarier..."
——
"So... you rented the entire racecourse."
March looked incredulously at her trainer, who was stretching on the turf track.
"Yes, I contacted the managers directly, and after negotiating, they agreed."
Kiyoshi smiled.
"So now... start with stretches and then you'll run on the track."
Kiyoshi crossed his arms and continued explaining.
"You have three days to practice on this. I've heard that Oguri will also be in this race."
"You surely knew that information beforehand."
March pointed out expressionlessly, and Kiyoshi neither denied nor accepted it; he just continued stretching.
At the end of the day, both March and Kiyoshi competed on the track, and the trainer paid extra for the damage caused by March's shoes to the track.
That was the routine the UmaMusume and trainer repeated on the remaining days before the race, while during break times, both did sightseeing in the city.
——————
"A nice day, isn't it?"
Kenji asked as he sat next to Kiyoshi.
"Fuck you. I'd be at home if it weren't for that loli director."
Kiyoshi complained while looking at the yakuza who had lied about not being able to show his face in public.
"Eh? Is she really here?"
Kenji began searching for the Tracen director with his eyes, and Kiyoshi just pointed to the place where obviously important people were.
"Symboli Rudolf is also there."
"I remember you like older women."
Kenji turned to look at Kiyoshi and gave a smile while stroking his chin.
"The Symboli family isn't bad in Japan, although obviously in the future they'll be left behind by the Golds."
Kenji murmured while Kiyoshi just looked at him with annoyance.
"Jesus was hated for telling the truth."
Kenji defended himself.
"Don't use your dirty mouth to talk about that guy."
Kenji raised an eyebrow and didn't try to bother the young man further, just looked towards the track.
"Lately, the moon is more different."
"When you hear the horn, just shut up and don't think about me."
"Horn?"
Kiyoshi snorted.
"Just remember it."
Kenji made a face and complained mentally.
This guy, always being mysterious since he left the underworld and became that guy's heir.
"I hate you."
"I'm just giving you a bit of my kindness."
"Thanks."
——-
"It's a 1200-meter race."
March took a deep breath.
She had been training for the last three days with her trainer.
Enjoying both the places in Chukyo and special training where surely her trainer had spent a lot of money.
"This time I'll beat you, Oguri Cap."
March turned to look at the UmaMusume, who only made a strange face at March's sudden declaration.
"I don't plan on losing either."
Oguri took a while to respond with a smile to March's declaration.
'Although it's strange that she's also competing against me this time.'
Oguri thought, remembering having chatted with Kiyoshi about March's future.
And obviously, he had mentioned not making her run until late November or December.
'Was it March's insistence to run here?'
Oguri looked silently at March, who had already taken her position at gate seven.
"Fujimasa March."
Oguri spoke loudly, surprising the UmaMusume who were concentrating.
"Don't think I'll let myself be beaten again. Like last time, I'll eat that carrot dessert again!"
March, who was silently listening to Oguri's declarations, just started laughing out loud.
"The Devourer of Hope... she really wasn't wrong that day."
"All UmaMusume are now at the starting gate."
Both ash-haired UmaMusume finally fell silent and concentrated.
"Everyone ready..."
Both took a breath and their muscles tensed.
"And they're off!"
At the same time the gates opened, all the runners shot out.
Quickly the positions settled, and March and Oguri ran close to each other while sharing positions in the middle of the other runners.
Both totally aware of the other's proximity, but without giving it much thought.
"The runners are entering the first corner!"
'It's not time to start the real race yet.'
March thought as she began to take a slight lead over Oguri Cap and entered the inside lane without needing to commit a rules violation.
It was only twelve hundred meters.
The difference from her previous race was the track.
Her shoes sank a little into the grass as she continued running.
'I'm in fifth position.'
March took a breath as small drops of sweat began to run down her face.
"The runners are entering the second corner!"
The second corner.
"It's a short race..."
Oguri murmured while fixing her eyes on March, who was ahead of her by at least three lengths.
"There's still a little way to go before entering the final stretch."
Like her rival, Oguri Cap was beginning to prepare for the final stretch of the race.
"Ardent Love leads the race as they enter the second corner, behind her, number six C.B. Kygnus!"
The runners remained focused on the race, occasionally observing their closest rivals.
All with the idea of winning this race.
——
"Now I certainly feel great curiosity."
Kenji said while interlacing his fingers, thoughtfully watching the race that was entering its final stage.
"Do you know anything about Sunday Silence?"
The yakuza questioned Kiyoshi, who was eating a dango.
"I still don't fully understand the timeline of the UmaMusume."
Kiyoshi said while playing with the keys Kenji had given him.
"But it should appear in two years if we go by originality, right?"
Kenji smiled amusedly while lifting his gaze to the sky.
"UmaMusume are different. Tokai Teio..."
Kenji stopped when he noticed a cold look from Kiyoshi and then continued with his words.
"Rudolf's child, but I haven't heard that she had a premature pregnancy."
Kenji didn't continue his words because there were many people, but he felt that not so many were needed for the person beside him to understand.
"UmaMusume don't adhere to a chronology; they simply exist with a certain continuity."
Kiyoshi said while looking back at the track.
"Possibly we'll see Stay Gold sooner than we expect, right?"
Kenji smiled, and Kiyoshi nodded.
"The pension debtor, hehehehe."
"It's a joke only you understand, right?"
"Yes."
"Oguri Cap accelerates and overtakes Fujimasa March!"
Both turned their gaze to the race and noticed how the favored UmaMusume took the lead and left the former leaders behind.
"Now the leader is Oguri Cap, closely followed by Fujimasa March, and in third place is Ardent Love!"
Kiyoshi smiled amusingly as he relaxed in his seat.
"Will I ever know more than you know?"
Kenji questioned as they continued their previous conversation, and Kiyoshi looked at the sky for a few seconds before making a joke.
"You'd have to be blessed by an existence comparable to Lady Chaos."
Kenji let out a small laugh as incredulity invaded his mind.
You didn't have to know much about mythology to know about Lady Chaos, the being who rose above all in Greek mythology.
"That's the level..."
Kenji sighed.
"I'll die before even meeting a real God, and you want me to be blessed by an entity of that level?"
Kenji shook his head. He was already in his forties, his body was beginning to deteriorate, and he could barely keep fighting when required.
"Anything is possible in life if you're lucky."
Kiyoshi said with a playful smile, something Kenji could easily recognize as something he hadn't seen in this kid since he'd met him.
"Are you being sincere?"
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Kenji smiled.
"I thought it was just an act from you."
"For some reason, I feel like I should hit you."
———-
"The runners enter the last four hundred meters!!"
"Oguri Cap leads the race, Fujimasa March follows closely along with Ardent Love!"
'We're close.'
March smiled a little as she glanced at the sign indicating the remaining meters.
'We're entering that stage I trained so much for these days.'
She felt excited.
Oguri Cap, her rival, an extraordinary UmaMusume.
Something that wasn't just an opinion from her trainer, but also an opinion she held about the UmaMusume who currently usurped the race lead.
'This time.'
"The runners enter the final straight!"
"I will win!!"
With great determination, her feet sank into the ground while a sensation of electricity invaded her body.
Crack!
The sound of glass resonated in her head as she quickened her pace and rapidly closed the distance with Oguri Cap, who opened her eyes in surprise upon seeing March pass by her side at great speed.
For some unknown reason, she felt a little out of place.
Although that only lasted a little while as she clenched her fists and, with a sigh, replicated her opponent's actions.
"Fujimasa March and Oguri Cap have accelerated!"
Now the race lead had changed.
Although the difference was minimal, March led while Oguri Cap just continued striving to close the distance.
Unlike Oguri, the rest of the UmaMusume could only watch incredulously as the distance between them and the two leaders gradually began to grow.
"Three hundred meters!"
The present crowd began to get excited; shouts of support began to resonate in the venue.
Some anxious, others holding their heads while thinking about the money bet.
And in the highest place, there were only looks of genuine interest, with a pinch of incredulity while an uncomfortable emotion began to emerge in their hearts.
'We're close to two hundred meters.'
Oguri thought while looking at March, who was running just a few centimeters ahead of her.
Two hundred meters was already a short distance.
Closing the distance against March was now a duel of endurance between the two.
'I can win.'
The ash-haired UmaMusume looked with renewed determination; the path ahead was clear, she just had to be faster.
'No... I must win to eat that dessert again.'
Her strength seemed to briefly renew as she increased her speed.
"Oguri Cap has a second wind and closes the distance with Fujimasa March!"
"Both UmaMusume are tied before the two hundred meters!"
"Those girls..."
Both UmaMusume continued running equally as the distance to the goal gradually became shorter.
At some point, both stepped on the grass at the same time.
"The UmaMusume enter the last two hundred meters!"
"Are they really close to that place?"
Crack!
Oguri Cap opened her eyes in surprise as she watched Fujimasa March again take the lead by a small distance.
'What?'
She felt the ground beneath her feet become unstable.
But at no point did her movements falter; her pace didn't decrease, but the distance to March...
"Fujimasa March takes the lead again!"
'What happened?'
The pace didn't change; Oguri Cap and Fujimasa March continued running with all their might.
"Come on!!"
March growled as she kept running.
'Almost there.'
She could feel the pressure as the distance between her and the goal shortened in milliseconds.
"Fujimasa March and Oguri Cap keep fighting; neither wants to lose!"
Seconds seemed to become eternal as the audience and announcers watched both UmaMusume approach the goal equally.
"Fujimasa is still ahead!"
Even the announcer felt there was little time to describe any possible situation in these few seconds.
The audience leaned forward as both UmaMusume entered the final meters.
Fujimasa March and Oguri Cap.
Both had a brief moment in which their gazes met.
Their eyes shone with determination.
"I will win!"
As if wanting to clarify something to the other, both UmaMusume shouted as they seemed to increase their speed one last time before crossing the finish line.
"Fujimasa March, Fujimasa March approaches the finish line!"
"Fujimasa March!"
"And the UmaMusume to cross the finish line first is Fujimasa March!"
"Fujimasa March takes victory over Oguri Cap!"
The crowd immediately erupted: happiness, sadness, despair, and even hatred, all those emotions exploding simultaneously among the public as the race winner was announced.
But the person who should react the most to the result...
For his part, he just nodded and then took a sip of his coffee while turning to look at the person beside him.
The perplexed look only made him give a half-smile and mock.
"Surprised?"
"Second place, Oguri Cap; third place, Ardent Love."
"No... not really."
Kenji shook his head with a smile as two men dressed in black approached them.
While the announcer called the runners by their position.
March just stood there, looking at the sky while her chest rose and fell as she caught her breath.
"I won..."
She murmured, in a trance.
She had won.
As her trainer had said, she could win this race against Oguri Cap.
She didn't know how to describe the feeling she had at this moment.
"Did you see! I really won!"
March turned towards the crowd, exclaiming loudly, but when looking for her trainer, she didn't find him, which only disconcerted her.
"That brat."
March frowned as she turned to look at the rest of the UmaMusume catching their breath.
There were looks of certain admiration directed at her, which certainly made her feel a bit shy.
"Why is he always so disrespectful?"
'Again?'
March thought as her gaze finally fell upon Oguri Cap.
The UmaMusume was watching her, her fists clenched, surely frustrated by losing, a feeling she could perfectly understand.
"Ill-mannered brats, always being rebellious when they discover these things."
For some reason, March's gaze lowered to Oguri's shoes.
"Why is there a broken thread?"
The question was a bit silly, but in front of her opponent's shoes lay a large red thread, completely split in two.
The voices that had whispered before fell silent.
"Congratulations..."
Oguri seemed to set aside her frustration and congratulated March, who looked up again to see Oguri Cap's smiling face.
"Next time... I'll win."
The grey-haired UmaMusume with two ponytails said while extending her fist towards March, who just looked at her in silence before giving a smile, the annoyance at her trainer's absence finally disappearing.
"I won't let you fulfill your words, Oguri Cap."
March said confidently.
She wouldn't waste this minimal advantage she had gained over Oguri Cap; she would extend it as far as her legs would take her.
And while both UmaMusume declared war for their next race...
The trainers of both simply looked up and observed with different emotions the person who stood before them, several staircases above.
While Kitahara was nervous and intimidated by the aura of the UmaMusume before them...
Kiyoshi only observed the UmaMusume in detail, then set his gaze on the other two people of interest.
Director Yayoi Akikawa and the one who seemed to be her assistant, Tazuna Hayakawa.
"Rudolf is a younger version of her grandmother. Certainly, nothing to envy between them thanks to being UmaMusume."
The Emperor's ears moved a little as she managed to catch a bit of the black-haired trainer's whisper as he turned his gaze back to her and then bowed.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Empress."
Kiyoshi was polite.
"I am Kiyoshi Ishikawa, trainer of Fujimasa March."
Kiyoshi looked up again; this time, his eyes meeting Rudolf's.
"May I ask what matter you wanted to discuss with me?"
End of Chapter.
And here is the ninth chapter of the story.
After three weeks, I finally managed to finish the chapter, although I think it's more because I got hooked on the MOBA and the lack of real inspiration.
But anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, which has many details that some of you might already know what they refer to.
But well, a topic I think I didn't mention before is the issue with UmaMusume from other countries (Secretariat, Sunday Silence, Frankel, and many other renowned horses from Japan).
But what I mainly want to touch on is the topic of Sunday Silence, since he is basically the father (ancestor) of all the great current runners in Japan. However, the problem comes with the character of Manhattan Cafe, because if I'm not mistaken, her friend is actually the ghost of her father (Sunday Silence).
Who, as you read, debuts in Oguri's classic year, and well, I want to assume that UmaMusume have a lifespan like humans, and basically the math with Manhattan Cafe doesn't add up.
But that's another topic, since I also wanted to have the Uma's races correspond to their respective years, but I want that to be a decision made more with your help.
In future chapters, I'll be asking more questions regarding the topic of Sunday Silence, since he is a very important character in my opinion within the UmaMusume cast.
If you have any questions, I would certainly appreciate it if you'd comment them.
I think I don't have much more to clarify, so...
See you next time!!