A/N: Sorry for the delay. There is no reason for the delay tbh, just me being a lazy bum.
I kowtow before the readers! I'm sorry for being such a lazy bum!
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Two Days Before the Race, 7:00am - Nakayama Racecourse
The track is empty at this hour... Just me and Luna.
"Alright, one more lap. Same pace as before. I want to see how you handle the turns when you're already warmed up."
Luna nodded and took her position.
I checked my stopwatch.
"Ready... Go!"
Click.
She took off smoothly, her form perfect from the start. The corner work was flawless—racing line locked in, body position ideal, speed retention going in and out of the corner she has lost only about 11% of her speed! Yes, you heard that right, for a rookie, her speed retention is amongst the very top tier, like 0.119% even amongst Japanese Racehorses. Like for example, Mr. CB, the triple crown winner of this era lost 13% of her speed when entering a corner. Those measly 2% is like heaven and earth to Umamusume.
Europe is the forefront for corner speed retention since the curriculum for every trainers there will always emphasize on having everything under control. That's why US trainers and Uma racing enthusiasts across the globe often mock G1 races across Europe as "Some of the most boring races they have ever laid their eyes upon."
Unlike the American's obsession with power and physicality, and Japanese's obsession with Home Stretch duels. Their focus on spatial awareness and race tempo borders near fanaticism. And it had lead to some of the most absurd race tactics like "Parking the bus." Made by Trainer Carlo Maurice, where you, as an overall underdog will be in-front of the favorites by over 1 horse lenght, and your job is just to deny the favorite an avenue to accelerate. This will psychologically impact the favorite by making her feel caged, and making her waste precious energy trying to shake you off. It has seen so much success that you will often see 3 underdog Umamusumes gang up on the favorites and deny them every avenue of acceleration.
In it's creator's words, it's a "Tactic tailored specifically for mediocre Umamusume, and have them have the chance to topple geniuses." Due to the immense popularity of this tactic, some purist European fans often calls this tactic "Race Killer" because according to fans it removes the "Magic of Umamusume Racing."
Anyways, sorry for rambling but this is just me trying to say just how important speed retention is, that European racing doctrines focus on them.
Anyways, by now Luna has did everything to squeeze every last drop of Speed Retention through her subconscious use Professor of Curvature.
...
She crossed the finish line.
Click.
"*Yawn...* 1:58.1... Nice, it borders elite Umamusume time."
She jogged back, breathing evenly.
"How does the track feel now?"
"Better than two weeks ago. I have been familiarized by the short homestretch. And the uphill doesn't eat up all my energy like before." She nodded at herself.
"Nice... That's what I would like to hear."
I then told Luna to do 2 more laps. And she did 2:01.58s an and 2:00.32s. A fairly consistent time after giving her all in the first 2000 meters.
...
Walking back to Tracen, Luna glanced at me.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Minami."
"What?"
"Your eye bags are getting deeper."
"Wait, is it?" I slightly touched my eyebags
"Why? Are you stressed about something?"
The lie came out smooth and practiced.
"I'm running out of ideas for that light novel Dober and I are working on. Been losing sleep over it, sorry." She looked at me for a long moment... Her eyes piercing through me..
But instead of pushing, she just sighed.
"Seriously trainer, you need to take care of yourself more nowadays, I don't want my trainer to drop dead on me." She jokes
"I will, Promise."
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One Day Before the Race, 5:00am, Minami's House.
I still can't sleep damn it...
Not a wink did I sleep.
I tried so hard, but every time I do, I just wake up 40 minutes later.
Luna was supposed to be an undefeated Triple Crown winner. That was her destiny in the original timeline. But damn it, I'm really overthinking things...
The price of knowing the future is really crushing. People in my world often say that they don't want to know the future, and back then, I thought it was dumb, but seeing my situation now, I am finally seeing the vision why they thought of it...
With Karen, it had been different. She hadn't come with expectations from me since I really don't know her backstory. I just did everything in my power to succeed, and it did thankfully.
But Luna? Thanks to the game, I know her story...
By 6:00 AM, I gave up on sleep and dragged myself out of bed.
I took a bath, hot shower, to try and wake myself up—and and groggily went downstairs like a zombie from "The Walking Dead".
On the kitchen table: a cup of black coffee, steaming. Breakfast laid out neatly. And a bento box.
I haven't really been a fan of black coffee, now I kinda like it now, but I usually put 3 cubes of sugar in it to remove the bitterness.
Mom was in the garden, tending to her tomato plants.
"Morning," I mumbled while yawning.
"You look like you've been through something." she said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah..."
"Seriously, Minami. You've been looking worse every day. What's going on?"
I sat down and took a sip of the black coffee.
Ah, still too bitter.
I grabbed a cube of sugar from the bowl and dumped them in.
Waited for them to dissolve...
"Better," I said out loud.
Mom came inside, wiping her hands on her gardening apron. "You didn't answer my question."
"Luna's debut race is tomorrow."
"And?"
"I'm just nervous and feeling pressured."
Mom sat down across from me.
"Your father often tell stories about his first Umamusume and how he felt like that back in New Mexico."
"Really?"
"Yep. He told me he barely slept for two weeks leading up to her debut. He was so anxious, so paranoid that something would go wrong." She smiled slightly.
"Thankfully, after the debut race, everything went back to normal. The pressure eased. I saw some post about it on Umastagram, but I forgot what it's called..." She thoughtfully recalled, but failed.
"Anyways, what i'm saying is that worrying won't change anything. Trust the training both of you went through."
She reached over and squeezed my hand. I continued to drink the black coffee thoughtfully...
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Miho Dorm Entrance - 7:30 AM
Luna was already waiting.
A uniform almost without crease, her hair smooth and cascading back, her expressioned furrowed that scared off any students near her.
"Morning," I said yawning.
"Morning, Minami."
We walked toward Circuit 20, making small talk to pass the time.
"Your grades came back, right?" I asked. As a trainer, it is also my responsibility to help my charge study. Well, It isn't in the JURA clause or even the URA, the international association for Umamusume racing of what a trainer should do. But its like a unsaid agreement among trainers around the world to help your charge study to foster relationship. And sometimes, this "Fostering of relationship" just... It works but sometimes it works too well... You get what I mean.
Especially since if I remember correctly, Mihono Bourbon is born from a relationship between a trainer and his charge Umamusume.
"They did. Perfect scores again." She puffed out her chest proudly.
"Bragging already?" I raised my eyebrow.
She smiled, smug and satisfied it kinda remind me of her younger self. "It's not bragging if it's true."
"It's still annoying though." I said with mock annoyance.
"You're the only person who makes me want to brag about my grades," she said, and there was something almost teasing in her voice. "In all my years at school, no one else has made me competitive academically. It was only you who made me this competitive."
I laughed despite myself.
The memory of those early days, competing over test scores, comparing exam results, playfully insulting each other's answers, washed over me.
Its really nostalgic thinking about it that a part of me wished to be hit by a truck to be taken back to my childhood days here... But of course, it's just wistful thinking.
By the time we reached Circuit 20, we'd been talking for eight minutes straight.
"Alright, just warm-ups today," I told her. "Nothing heavy. You need rest before tomorrow."
"Understood."
She began to jog, her stride easy and relaxed.
I sat down on a bench watching Luna rhythmically jog on the turf.
And as time pass, watching Luna jog made me sleepy... Incredibly sleepy. I tried to fight it. But key word is tried... Not to mention the cool air permeating through the surrounding... I'm really sle...py...
My eyes closed.
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1st Person POV of a random bush near Circuit 20.
'Hi, my name is Agnes Digital. I'm 8 years old. My house is in the west section of Tokyo at Shibuya ward, where all the rich CEOs live. My father is the CEO of Nakayoshi, one of the biggest Shoujo and Josei manga publisher. I am a student of the Tokyo Tracen Elementary School, I get home 4PM at the latest with the help of our butler, Shino-san. I also don't smoke, and drink. After going home, I will read 50 chapters of Shojo and Josei, usually Umamusume Yuri manga for 6 hours. I'm in bed by 11 PM, and make sure I get eight hours of sleep, no matter what. After having a glass of warm milk and doing about twenty minutes of stretches designated to me by a trainer my father hired before going to bed, I usually have no problems sleeping until morning. Just like a baby, I wake up without any fatigue or stress in the morning. I was told there were no issues with my mental health nor body during my last checkup. Look, if you don't get it, what's im trying to explain is that I'm a person who wishes to live a very quiet life, stalking umamusumes. I take care not to trouble myself with any enemies and troubles that would cost me my time of reading mangas and stalking others. That is how I deal with this rotten 3D society, and I know that is what brings me happiness.' After doing her self monologue, Digital then asked to herself.
She'd been following Minami Laurent for three days now.
You might be wondering why im stalking the sleeping trainer right? Well...
Flashback
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Dober, my pen pal and bestie from Tracen has suddenly spent less time hanging out with me. So I did what any friend worried would do. I stalked her home to ask her why she has not been hanging out with me. But I lost her in Minato ward, thankfully, my sense of smell is good and I memorized Dober's bodily smell, so I used my nose to sniff out where Dober went and surprisingly she didn't continue towards Minato ward and instead went towards the highschool division of Tracen Academy. There he met with a trainer.
3 hours later.
Digital, in a dark room with a single bulb illuminating a chair and table threw a file in the table it was the Minami's file. Minami Laurent, a Japanese-American Male, 21 years old, currently a trainer in Tracen Academy and famously the de-facto ex trainer of Seattle Slew and having a legendary father named Martin Laurent. A 46 year old man. Martin Laurent is married to Chika Laurent, 44 years old, formerly Chika Amanatsu, an actress who started her career as a child actor, slowly being well known, and began to act in famous hit dramas such as "My legal wife", "Under the Sakura Tree", and her biggest work yet, "Boys over Flowers". Of course there are a lot of hit dramas she starred in but that's not the main point.
Why? Because her best friend Dober had suddenly started spending less time with her, and Agnes needed to know why.
Digital sat in the chair and coldly recites the information in the file.
"Martin and Chika met when Martin went to Japan for the Japan Cup. It is well-known also at the time that Chika is a big Umamusume fan so she went in Japan Cap hoping Japan wins, but she was horrified to discover that Martin's charge at the time defeated the favorite to win Japanese horse by 20 lenght. She cried at the VIP section and drank her sorrows away. Then when she was drunk as hell, and by chance, Chika and Martin met at a garage. Martin's charge at the time went away to play, and seeing Martin's charge at the time filled Chika with intense anger so she stormed towards Martin and berated him on how she hated him and his uma. Martin of course didn't back down and also began to argue with Chika. They were finally broken apart when a couple in the garage called security after seeing 2 people screaming at each other.
The news of Chika drunkingly berating Martin went public and exploded in popularity. People supported Chika's action. To hell with being defeated by foreigner in their turf, the people of Japan are tired! Of course, there were no bad thing that happened, it was just people supporting Chika in how they felt being defeated in the Japan Cup. Infact, JURA at the time took stray after people began to publicly say that they are the reason why Japanese Racing degenerated to this degree.
Meanwhile Chika herself is being chewed out by her manager. Chika still having the effects of alcohol in her system angrily ask what's the reason she is mad at her for screaming at a foreigner. Turns out, just before the race, Martin got called by the director of the drama she's starring at the time, "Love in Turf" where she portrayed an Umamusume trainer, for more in-depth help in terms of training, they called this expert to supervise it. Chika realizing the situation was not scared at first, but after finally sobering up, she realized her mistake and when they met in the shooting area for the series, Chika even though she is flushed in embarrassment and anger began to say sorry to Martin. Martin was nonchalant about it and just wave it off. In the 4 weeks they spent together, eye witnesses said that Chika and Martin always fight, like a cat and dog, but as time went on, it became more teasing. It was unknown when they fell in-love to each other, but one day, before Martin goes to the states, according to Chika's manager at the time, she called Martin and said while crying that she was promised to another man for an arranged marriage. She directly told Martin the wedding date, which is one week from that day and where it is held, the manager then heard Chika mutter three things. "Please save me."
At the day of the wedding, just before the vows, and when the priest ask if there are anyone who objects. Martin came barelling in towards the church, screaming that he objects. He then confessed how she loves Chika. He was captured by the guards, but the damage is done. Due to this scuffle, the wedding got moved in a later date. And Martin, spent his night in prison. The nest Day, he was visited by Chika which bailed him out, they then ran together towards the states, where Chika later changed her last name to Laurent and they got married." Digital finished. She is currently flushed, her mouth drooling.
"What a melodramatic story!" She screamed while flushed and wiping out her drool. "N-No! Goddamn it, I'm here to investigate why Dober met up with this guy but there are no other explaination..."
That's it! I must stalk him to know his reasons!
____________________
*Current day*
The investigation had led her here, to Circuit 20 of Tracen Academy, where she'd discovered Minami Laurent... sleeping.
'What an Irresponsible guy! As a trainer, you should take care of your beautiful trainee with the best of your powers!' she thought, scoffing internally.
Through her binoculars, she watched as the jogging Umamusume, Symboli Rudolf, according to her research, she is an Umamusume born from a prestigious family that has also birthed to a lot more legends of the racetrack, the most latest being Speed Symboli. She watched as Rudolf slowed to a walk and approached the sleeping trainer.
Rudolf's expression was gentle. You can even say very tender.
And then she did something that made Agnes's face flush bright red... She lifted his head gently and created a lap pillow.
Agnes nearly dropped her binoculars.
'A lap pillow?! Isn't this a Christian manga? Why doing such lewd things?!'
'With a trainer also?' You must note that Agnes Digital is an Avid Uma x Uma shipper herself. Though she isn't averse to Uma x Trainer, since a lot of Uma x Trainer are forbidden love, her views with this particular subject is very... Ahem, you get the point.
She zoomed in closer, watching as Rudolf gazed down at Minami's face with an expression Digital had only seen in those cheesy Shoujo manga.
Affectionate, Care and...
'Shit' She muttered internally while stopping her bloody nose from nosebleed.
'This will certainly give me diabetes when I grow up...' She smiled and made a creepy laugh before focusing on the pair.
They stayed like that for twenty minutes.
Twenty. Minutes.
Agnes was tired at this point. She was expecting something to happen, and indeed, from Rudolf's face, she seemed to be hesitating, but it's already 20 minutes! She expected more from Rudolf but.. How indecisive!
Digital is biting her nails at this point. She wants to go home and call her investigation a day, but she is too invested in this! Ain't no way I'm leaving myself into a cliffhanger ending!
She watched more, steeling and hypnotizing herself that something will happen.
Then, and this is where things got interesting Rudolf's face started getting flushed.
Agnes tilted her head in confusion.
Its already 20 minutes, is she still tired?
Rudolf looked around, making sure they were alone.
When she was satisfied, she leaned down.
Her hair covered her face. And her lips moved toward Minami's. Agnes's nose erupted like a fountain. Did they KISS?! No! Why is her hair in the way?!
In her excitement, she disturbed the leaves. The rustling sound was loud enough to alert Rudolf.
Rudolf's body who is looking down at Minami's sleeping face became rigid and immediately looked at the bush where the sound originated.
Her eyes are like hawk, scanning for prey.
Agnes was frozen behind a tree, one hand clamped over her mouth, the other plugging her nose.
I have a mouth and I must not scream!
As Rudolf began to slowly put down Minami's head to check it out, it disturb the sleeping Minami who then woke up...
And Rudolf's attention snapped back to him, her blush returning full force.
Agnes took that moment to run. She bolted from her hiding spot, moving as quickly as her eight-year-old legs would carry her. Her eyes are filled with tears as she ran.
'Thank you Minami-san, perhaps i treated you too harshly.' She monologued.
"Minami... I will never forget that name as long as I live!" She ran towards the distance like a movie ending of a cowboy film.
____________________
1st Person PoV: Minami.
"Good morning..." I groggily said.
And then Rudolf's flustered response: "G-Good Morning trainer!"
I woke up to the sensation of something soft underneath my head. My eyes opened slowly.
I was lying in Luna's lap. The soft cotton of her stocking brushing on my cheek. And I was directly facing her stomach.
(A/N: Jackpot!)
I could feel my entire head getting hotter.
I sat up quickly... The remaining sleepiness is gone, I'm now alert as a soldier!
"Thank you," I said, not meeting her eyes. "For... letting me rest."
"Sorry for not waking you," Luna said, her voice flustered. "You slept so soundly, and you seemed like you really needed it, so I... didn't want to interrupt."
"Right. Yeah. Thanks."
I looked away, toward the track. Anywhere but at her face.
I didn't see Luna's face and I hope she really isn't laughing at me..
"I really needed that rest," I finally said. "So... thank you."
She nodded silently.
An awkward silence stretched between us.
Then I slapped my cheeks, trying to inject some energy back into the situation.
"Yosh! With that rest, I'm feeling much better. Let's get training!"
I stood up quickly and grabbed my clipboard.
Luna followed, still blushing slightly.
Training went smoothly after that.
Luna's form was sharp, her times were consistent, and her focus was laser-sharp.
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Tracen Student Council Room
3:00 PM. 3rd Person PoV.
Luna headed to the Student Council room, she is blushing slightly at the memory of what she has done. But she quickly removed that thought, and resolutely walked inside the Student Council Room.
Luna arrived to find Maruzensky and Mr. CB waiting.
"I'm going in~~" Luna announced formally.
Mr. CB's face lit up.
"Good afternoon! Rudolf-chan! Are you ready for tomorrow?!"
Luna nodded seriously.
"The members of the Student Council, including our seniors, will watch the race to support you," CB promised, practically vibrating with excitement.
Maruzensky pinched CB's side.
"Ow!"
"Stop doing that," Maruzensky said, though her smile was warm. "Rudolf, don't mind what she said, if you feel pressured to our attendance, just tell me."
Luna considered the question carefully.
"No," she said finally. "Feeling pressure would be like betraying the trainer's time and training. He spent two months preparing me for this. I won't dishonor that by being afraid."
Maruzensky's smile widened.
"That's the spirit," she said approvingly.
Mr. CB bounced excitedly and smiled triumphantly at Maruzensky.
"We'll all be cheering for you tomorrow. That's final!"
Luna bowed slightly.
"I'll do my best."
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End
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Omake: Meeting with Digi-tan!
Dober and I are currently going to a Light Novel publishing company to try and pitch the idea of my light novel to them but...
"Hello, Minami-senpai. My name is Agnes Digital, nice to meet you. I'm Dober's friend."
Why is Agnes Digital here?
Also, why the heck does she know my name, and better yet. Why is she using my first name even though we aren't close?
Better not ask unnecessary questions...
"Hello, Digital-chan. My name is Minami Laurent." I greeted.
"I know." What's with this overtly familiar way of talking? What type of creature is this girl?
"I'm sure, as Dober's only male friend that you would have been an Otaku. I'm 100% sure that you have had a Lively discussion on anything manga or anime related." She continued.
"Wait... I haven't discussed anything with th-..." I stopped Dober. I'm gonna do something what the masses call a "Pro Gamer Move".
"Its funny how you think we would talk about Otaku stuff when there are more important matters we discuss at hand." I huffed. "Don't mistake me for your average degenerate Otaku. I have risen."
"Wait a minute is that a DBZ A--" Digital's eye widened.
"You are hmmm... No no no. Not cunning. What's the opposite of cunning Minami-senpai?"
"Um. Retarded?!"
"That's it. Thank you!"
"Can you lot stop quoting DBZ Abridged like a bunch of mentally impaired children?!" Dober finally snapped.
"Hmph. A worthy opponent it seems." Digital smiled. "Let me show you the true color of my degenerateness."
"Before that, Digital. How do you feel about Incest mangas?" I posed a question to Digital.
"Wait, this is a curve ball, everyone knows that incest are--" Before Dober continued, she was stopped by Digital who was shouting.
"You don't get it!" Dober was startled and she looked at Digital who was teary eyed. "You know how much a those incest main characters have to sacrifice for their forbidden love?! You don't get it!"
Even Minami was startled by how passionate Digital was interms of this "niche" genre of ACGN.
"Paint the picture alright. They have been together for their whole life, basically like childhood friend. The whole world is against them and yet... And yet... They do not back down! They will go against even the world and the Goddesses just to pursue the forbidden fruit. Isn't that the most gut wrenching romance?! Right?! I hope you get me Minami-senpai."
Minami looked at Dober.
"I'm not associated with this girl. Don't look at me like that." Dober said.
"Alright. I see the vision Digital alright. As you can see, I'm also a big imouto fan. Infact, one of my favorite animes are My L*ttle Sister Can't be this cute!"
When I said the title, Digital looks at me in disdain like I'm some sort of trash in the sidewalk.
"What's wrong. I thought I have someone who symphatizes with my taste, what's with that look?"
"Well, thank you for sharing your views Minami-senpai, but I'm more of a Yuri incest girl."
...
"Can you tell me what's your gateway to the weird side of ACGN?" Minami asked patiently.
"Its a comic from CL*MPS." She confessed.
"Oh, the guys who made C*rdcaptor Sakura? I don't think there are any weird things in C*rdcaptor Sakura..." At this point Dober chimed in. Oh, how Innocent...
"No... I read their earlier works. The J*jo doujin."
"J*jo? You mean J*jo's Bizzare Adventure? They collabed with Ar*ki?!" Dober is shocked. She covered her mouth. HOW DOES SHE NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS?!! C*RDCAPTOR SAKURA AND J*JO ARE LIKE HER FAVORITES!
"No, it's porn. Jojo and Kakyuin Yaoi." At this point, Minami joined in to not give Dober any false hope.
"Oh."
Minami then faced Digital. "Now I see. So you have a thing for forbidden romance... To be honest, I admire your taste Digi-tan..." At this point, Minami now calls Digital as Digi-tan.
"But where were your parents? Why are they allowing a child like you read something like that?"
"They were being your typical anime parents. They love me that they spoil me so much, but they are just too damn busy that they don't show themselves." Digital mentioned.
"And look! Even in my backstory their face face is obscured!" She passionately shouted until she was out of breath.
*Huff huff*
"Am I the main character because I'm Digital, or am I Digital because I'm the Main Character..." Digital looks at her hand like she saw something new in them.
"That's the most narcissist use of the quote I have ever heard. Please refrain from doing that thing again." At this point Dober's face is covered in black line.
Meanwhile, Minami is silent... Digital looks at Minami before speaking.
"Since you know my most darkest secret Minami-senpai..." She made a deep breath.
"PLEASE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR ACTION, MASTER! AND MARRY ME IN THE FUTURE!"
Oi, stop saying such weird things! Do you know how many people just looked at me like I'm a piece of trash? And what's with the use of the term "Master" you were totally calling me "Senpai" back then?
"Please don't say such things Digital-san, look at Minami, he looks like a person who realized that his social life might be over.
And indeed. Minami's social life might be over...
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A/N: I have been slowly but surely lessen my authors note mid chapter because I was told that it might ruin's people's immersion. I don't have a problem with it because I really only do that to show how I felt writing that chapter and to also prove that I didn't use AI or scarcely used one. If you want to have more funny author's note in the middle of chapters, just tell me. Tbh, I really don't mind.