Chapter 31 - The Birth of Team Altair
Kaiya Sora had one undeniable skill: he could take a talented Uma Musume and push her to her limits. Conditioning, pacing, stamina, and motivation, he had it all down. But there was one thing he could not do: navigate the rules. How to officially register a horse for races, how to file the paperwork, how to meet the Trainer Academy's bureaucratic requirements, how to deal with PR, how to deal with licensing, or even submit the smallest form correctly, to Kaiya, it was an impossible puzzle.
That was the problem. He could turn raw talent into a champion, but without someone who knew the system, all of his work could never officially compete. It was frustrating, maddening, infuriating, and, in his mind, an absolute waste of talent.
And that's why every day, Kaiya found himself shamelessly begging Fumino Nase.
At first glance, Fumino was untouchable. The other trainees called her the "Prince of Trainers" because of her aloof, composed demeanor. She moved with precision, her posture immaculate, her gaze always analyzing and measured. Most people avoided her; most people were intimidated. Kaiya didn't care.
To Fumino, the first time she encountered him outside her dormitory, he looked like… a very strange combination of aggressor and suitor. He had practically fallen onto his knees in her path, waving his arms like a man on fire, shouting about horses as if the world itself depended on it. She had instinctively tensed, certain he was attempting some kind of assault or worse, a bizarre confession.
"What… what are you doing?" she asked, one eyebrow raised, her voice calm but sharp. She instinctively took a step back. Her clipboard was clutched tightly against her chest.
"I… I need your help!" he blurted out, almost tripping over himself in his urgency. "Please! You're the only one who can train them officially! I need your talent, your authority, your skill!"
Fumino blinked. His desperation, the way he nearly toppled onto her feet, the flailing limbs, the intensity in his voice, it was chaotic, absurd… and completely inappropriate for someone she didn't know. Her first impression of him was hardly flattering. He looked like a man either attacking or confessing, and neither scenario was particularly appealing.
"And you are…?" she asked, voice cool and measured, though a subtle tension had entered her posture.
"Kaiya Sora! Trainer! I know how to train these horses to be champions! I can handle everything physically, emotionally, and strategically! But I have no idea how to enter them into official races! That's why I need you!"
Fumino's brow furrowed ever so slightly. A boy bold enough to kneel outside her dormitory daily, shamelessly, persistently, without any sign of embarrassment, despite being unlicensed himself? Most people would have laughed him off the first day, embarrassed and ashamed of the spectacle. But here he was. The earnestness in his eyes, the desperation that wasn't self-serving but aimed entirely at the horses… it was impossible to ignore.
"I see," she said, voice calm, regal. "And you expect me to… take responsibility for this, despite being unlicensed?"
"Yes!" he shouted, throwing his arms wide, nearly crashing into the ground again. "I can feed them! I can care for them! Heal them if needed! Motivate them emotionally! I can make them ready to perform! But without you, they can't compete officially! I need your skill, and your judgment! Please, just take a look!"
Fumino's eyes flicked over him. The chaos of his behavior contrasted sharply with the clarity of his words. Beneath the exhaustion of being begged every day, beneath the shamelessness, there was a rare honesty. He knew his limits. He knew exactly what he could do and what he could not. That level of clarity, that fearless, almost foolish persistence, was oddly compelling.
For days, she watched him. Every morning, he would kneel outside her dormitory, shouting, gesturing, confessing his failures, his limitations, and his hopes all at once. Other students whispered that he was insane, or worse, trying to charm her through sheer volume and force of will. To Fumino, it sometimes felt like he was both assaulting her patience and confessing to her daily, and she could not decide which was more vexing.
But gradually, the absurdity faded beneath the weight of sincerity. The boy wasn't doing it for attention. He wasn't trying to impress anyone. He was begging for her help because he recognized that without her, his work was meaningless. That realization softened her aloof guard. She crouched slightly, the first crack in her princely composure.
"You're shameless… and persistent," she said softly, her calm voice hiding a flicker of amusement. "But I suppose… if you're truly this committed, I'll see these girls of yours."
Kaiya nearly toppled over in relief, scrambling upright. "Thank you! You won't regret it!"
That moment marked the origin of Team Altair.
Fumino assumed the role of founder and main trainer, providing official training, structuring practice, and ensuring all horses were legally eligible for races. Kaiya became co-founder, manager, and assistant trainer, focusing on recruitment, logistics, and hands-on care. Together, they formed a system: Kaiya's expertise with the horses combined with Fumino's authority and skill created a complementary unit capable of turning potential into official results.
It wasn't just a team; it was a solution to a problem that no one else could solve. Kaiya's energy and persistence balanced Fumino's calm and disciplined approach. She was the mind that ensured every horse could compete; he was the heart and hands that pushed them to their limits.
From that moment forward, Team Altair became known not only for producing champions but for its unique origin: a boy who knew horses inside and out but couldn't navigate the rules, and a trainee who had the talent but lacked opportunity to break out of her father's shadow. Together, brought together by persistent, shameless begging and undeniable talent, they created a team that would lay the foundation for future champions and legendary races.
Name: Fumino Nase
Parentage: Daughter of Hidehito Nase, canon prodigy Uma Musume trainer
Notable Achievement: Trained an underperforming Super Creek into a top competitor
Nickname: "Prince of Trainers"
Personality: Aloof and composed on the surface; compassionate and insightful underneath
Trainer Type: Tactician, excels at analyzing races, planning strategies, and applying conventional methods to overcome even extraordinary horses ("monsters")
Strengths:
Highly analytical; reads horses and competitors with precision
Can craft race strategies that exploit every advantage
Calm under pressure; commands respect from both horses and humans
Weaknesses / Limitations:
Initially unlicensed; cautious about taking responsibility
Relies on conventional methods; less adaptable to unconventional or chaotic situations without support
Role in Team Altair: Main trainer, responsible for official race entries, structured training, and tactical guidance
Dynamic with Kaiya Sora: Complements his hands-on, energetic, sometimes chaotic approach; she provides authority, strategy, and oversight while he manages recruitment, care, and emotional motivation