.
.
.
Shhh-rit... shhh-rit.
Snap.
"Done" I made sure my shoe laces are tied strong.
"Yawn, huhh? You woke up already? " My father lets out a yawn as he looked at me already wearing track suit.
"Yes, summer is on the way so the air has gotten a little bit warmer. I want to run a little bit"
"I see. Be careful out there. I will make sure there will be warm food for when you come back" He gives a thumb.
"Thanks, Dad. I won't be long"
Zzzt... click.
Without further ado, I zipped my jacket and headed outside.
.
.
.
Inhales...
Hahhh...
I always like the morning air in the countryside. So clean and fresh.
I start by stretching my body. After doing some exercises, I realized that my body is extremely flexible. My mother's body is also flexible but mine is on the another level.
It's kind of a good thing, but also a little bit scary.
Anyway, time to start running.
Gravel crunched softly beneath my shoes as I began at an easy jog, following the familiar dirt road that curved past rice fields and sleepy houses.
After my legs are warm enough, I started to accelerate.
The scenery began to slide by more quickly. The cold air brushed against my cheeks, tugging gently at my hair which tied into a ponytail.
This body really was different.
Back in my old life, running even a few hundred meters would leave me gasping like a dying fish.
Now?
I can keep running for kilometers. Now, I understand, I'm an umamusume/horse girl, which means I'm basically... well, a horse. What a strange world. Instead of horses they got horse girls.
This world's history is not much different from my earth. In fact, this is still earth. Just with horse girls instead of real horse. Yes, Napoleon has a horse girl companion.
Back to running.
I passed the old vending machine near the shrine without noticing.
I passed the wooden bridge.
I passed the narrow path that led toward the hills.
Only when the houses disappeared behind me did I finally slow down.
I bent forward, putting my hands on my knees, slightly tired.
In my previous life, this would've been the point where my lungs felt like they were on fire and my legs begged for mercy. Right now, though, my muscles only felt pleasantly warm. My heart wasn't pounding out of my chest. If anything, it felt like my body was asking:
Is that all?
My ears twitched atop my head, picking up distant sounds: wind brushing through rice stalks, birds calling somewhere beyond the trees, even the faint hum of a kei truck far away on the main road.
...Right.
Horse ears.
Still not used to that.
I glanced down at my legs.
They were slim,but firm. Even if it looks nothing like the legs of professional human runner, it packed a lot of power, like coiled springs waiting to be released.
So this is what being an Umamusume feels like.
Born to run.
"...Heh."
A small laugh slipped out.
Being reincarnated as a horse girl was ridiculous.
I turned around and started heading back home.
Dad said there'd be warm food waiting.
Can't miss that one
.
.
.
CLICK
"I'm back"
"Welcome back!" Mom called from the kitchen. "Perfect timing. Go wash up, breakfast's almost ready."
"Got it." I slipped off my shoes at the entrance, placing them neatly by the door and go to the bathroom.
Click.
The light flicked on.
I leaned forward over the sink and splashed some water onto my face.
Cold!
I look up to the mirror where I can see my reflection.
I was small to begin with, with only 148cm tall, I have a hard time reaching high places.
My hair is black with a white streak stretching from the top of my head to the bangs. It's weird at first, but I've seen a lot of horse girls with the same thing on their hair so I guess it's normal.
My eye color is also not normal, at least for my standard. It was a mix of yellow in the outer layer, and yellow that deepens into red in the inner.
I grabbed the towel and dried my face, then paused for a moment with it pressed against my cheeks.
As I stepped out into the hallway, the smell of breakfast hit me fully.
Rice.
Miso soup.
Grilled fish.
Eggs.
My stomach responded immediately.
From the kitchen, Mom peeked out.
"You done?"
"Yeah."
"Come sit. Before it gets cold."
I walked over and pulled out my chair.
Dad was already seated, holding his chopsticks.
"Good run?" he asked.
I sat down.
"Like always"
"Itadakimasu." The three of us said it together.
Steam rose from the miso soup. The rice was still fluffy and warm. I took a bite of grilled fish, letting the salt spread across my tongue.
Simple, but satisfying.
I ate faster.
Running always made me hungry.
Mom watched me between bites of her own food.
"You eat more every month."
Dad chuckled. "That's normal for an Umamusume."
"Then it's normal for you to work harder so you can feed your umamusumes~"
"A-ah, that... I'll try my best... " Dad scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
I couldn't help letting out a small laugh.
Seeing them like this is really awkward for me.
I stood up, carried my dishes to the sink, and rinsed them quickly.
"Already done?" Mom asked.
"Yeah."
She blinked. "You really do eat fast."
Dad grabbed his jacket and keys. "I'm heading out! "
"Be safe " Said mom.
I wandered into the living room and dropped onto the floor in front of the low table and picked up the remote.
Click.
The TV flickered to life.
At first, it was just morning news.
Weather.
Traffic.
Some local event.
I flipped channels absently.
Click.
Click.
Then...
"...and today's race, I bring you to the Tokyo Racecourse!..."
I stopped.
The screen changed to a wide shot of Tokyo Racecourse
"It's a cloudy sky and a muddy track as the eighteen umamusumes move one by one toward the gates" The camera showed the umamusume contestants walking towards their respective gate.
"With their rival who exceeded the speed of light gone from the track, which of these umamusume will take the title of their generation's strongest? "
Hmm? Who is the commentator talking about? I don't really follow the competition so I have no clue about that person. Should I replay the Satsuki Sho?
Just as I get lost in my mind. I noticed the crowds has gone quiet.
"Oh, it's the Derby!" Mom's voice came from behind me.
I turned my head just in time to see her stepping into the living room, wiping her hands on a small towel.
She walked over and sat beside me on the floor. Her long hair was tied loosely behind her, a few strands slipping free around her face. Just like me, she had a white streak on her bangs, so I guess it's just genetic.
"The racers are in position! " The commentator spoke again. Bringing our attention back to the screen.
"With the dreams of every umamusume riding on this race. Tokyo Yushun, Japanese Derby"
...
...
...
"And they're off!" The gates burst open with a metallic clang, and all eighteen umamusumes surged forward in a blur of color and flying mud.
"Now then, who will take the lead?"
"From the inside, Kabushino Route, Li Meli. Minami Pitcher's also moving up from the outside. Oh it looks like she's seizing the lead! Will she able to keep a comfortable lead? "
"Hmm... "
"What's wrong mom? "
"I feel like this year's pace is a bit faster than the last one."
"Hmm... It is fast," I agreed, my eyes glued to the screen. Even through the flat broadcast, the sheer kinetic energy was palpable.
"Minami Pitcher's quickly widening the gap. Behind her is Kabushino Route, followed by Li Meli, then Ujidawaranoiro. "
"The pace is high, but look at the middle of the pack," Mom pointed out.
"Perry Steam and Jungle Pocket are right in the middle of the pack. Looks like she's making her way up behind Jungle Pocket."
"Dantsu Flame is in front of the two"
"Now the racers are entering the other side of the track"
On the screen, the camera panned to show the backstretch. The sound of the crowd was a rhythmic roar that pulsed through the TV speakers. I found myself leaning in.
Somehow I found this exciting.
"As before, Minami Pitcher's leading by about ten lengths. Will she able to keep the lead? Take a look at the gap!"
"Here comes the exciting part" Said Mom.
"Now, Perry Steam is making her move! She presses the attack as we round the fourth corner. Dantsu Flame and Jungle Pocket are still hanging back!"
"We are crossing the 600 meter line! Now comes the homestretch! Minami Pitcher is still in the lead, but the gap is shrinking!"
"Li Meli is now leading the race! But Perry Steam is moving ahead from the center! She's going strong! Will she be the one to claim this year's Derby?!"
But what caught my eyes is two umamusume approaching fast from the middle of the pack. That umamusume...
"Jungle Pocket! Here comes Jungle Pocket! And from behind is Dantsu Flame! They both are closing the gap!"
The camera pointed at the two umamusumes making their way up.
I leaned in so close to the screen I could see the individual clumps of mud being kicked up by their spikes. Jungle Pocket's face was a mask of sheer, raw determination.
"Perry Steam can't stay ahead! It's now just the two of them! It's a battle of wills! Jungle Pocket! Dantsu Flame! Jungle Pocket! Dantsu Flame!"
"Go...!"
"It's Jungle Pocket! The gap is one length, two lengths! Jungle Pocket in the lead!"
"Jungle Pocket! Jungle Pocket!!!!!!"
The roaring stadium, the screaming commentator, it all vanished. In that silence, I watch as she crossed the finish line.
Then, the sound rushed back in like a tidal wave.
"Jungle Pocket takes first! "
"She won..."
The screen cut to a close-up of the winner. Jungle Pocket was drenched in sweat and mud. And then...
"HRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!"
She let out a scream of pure triumph
"Oh my, is Jungle Pocket letting out a roar to mark her victory?"
"It's her first time winning a G1, at the Derby, no less. It must feel cathartic, I'm sure"
"Wow," I breathed, finally sitting back. My heart was still pounding hard. "That was... something else."
Mom stood up. "That's the Derby for you. It's where everyone gives everything they have"
I stood up slowly. "Mom, when they run like that... do they see something Something I don't?"
"Do you want to know the answer?" She looked at me straight in the eyes.
And so, I too faced her. "Yes"
"The you must found out yourself" Then she just turned back toward the kitchen.
"Find out... myself."
I looked down at my hands. They were trembling. It wasn't fear, it was a buzzing sensation, like an electric current hummed right under my skin, centering in the soles of my feet.
"I'm going out again," I said.
"You just got back," Mom called out over the sound of clinking porcelain. "And you haven't even helped with the dishes."
"I'll do them later! Double! Triple!" I was already halfway towards the door, slipping my feet back into my running shoes and just slammed the door.
I didn't start with a jog. I skipped the warm-up, my body already primed by the adrenaline of the race I'd just watched. I hit the dirt road at a sprint.
The world narrowed. The green rice fields on my left and the houses on my right blurred into a continuous, vibrating smear of color. The only thing that remained sharp was the road. The path ahead of me.
"HRRRRAAAAAA!" The sound tore out of my throat. I felt the heat in my eyes flaring as I pushed into a speed that felt like it would tear my body apart.
Suddenly, a pain from my left calf forced me to realize I was redlining a body that hadn't been properly conditioned for this output.
I skidded to a halt, my sneakers smoking slightly as they dug into the dirt, sending a plume of dust into the air. I bend down and put my hands on my knees, steam literally rising from my shoulders in the humid air.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
I turned around to see the scenery from the top of the hill.
"Find out for myself, huh..." I muttered. A small, jagged smile spreading across my face.
"I can't wait"