Chapter 130: Crime Deserves Punishment, and Punishment Deserves Forgiveness

Recently, something has truly sunk in for me: in order to carry out my duties as a trainer efficiently, both mental and physical health are critical.

If you don’t eat, hunger dulls your thinking. Before long, stomach cramps and pain consume even more of your mental energy. If you don’t sleep, your concentration falters, and you lose the ability to think from multiple angles. If stress builds up, you might start responding carelessly to your trainees—and once that happens, the trust between you can begin to crumble.

We aren’t athletes who run ourselves. We’re trainers who exist to raise those athletes.

Which means we, just like them, must maintain ourselves in peak condition.

…Or at least, that’s what I’ve come to believe.

Truthfully, that realization is fairly recent.

Up until last year, I cut away as much of my own time as possible, trying to devote every spare moment to doing something—anything—for their sake. Meals and sleep were neglected. I didn’t feel it much at the time, but I’m sure the stress piled up. Even my older brother, whom I spoke with occasionally, was constantly worried about me. Looking back, I really owe him an apology.

Well, last year Wilm was in unbelievably good form, and I was completely overwhelmed. I was still inexperienced and pushed myself far beyond my limits. You could say that’s precisely why I’m now able to handle things more smoothly. In hindsight, it might have been for the best that I only changed my approach starting this year…

Anyway.

Since the beginning of this year, I’ve changed the way I work as a trainer.

…More accurately, various circumstances forced me to.

Unlike last year, I now eat properly, sleep properly, and even devote time—occasionally—to personal hobbies unrelated to training. I’m living what you might call a culturally healthy, thoroughly human lifestyle.

Well, that “hobby” happens once a month. Twice at most.

But being an Uma Musume trainer is an extremely demanding job. That much can’t be helped. If you’re doing it properly, there’s hardly time for a serious hobby. You practically have to make the job itself your hobby just to keep your life functioning.

Even the hobby I do have exists purely to organize and reset my thoughts so I can dedicate myself fully to training. In the end, everything converges back into my work as a trainer.

If you’re constantly immersed in training duties, your thinking inevitably stagnates.

When it’s time to rest, you have to truly rest.

Even in the middle of the hellishly busy G1 season.

---

A few days had passed since we finished Wilm and Bourbon’s strategy meeting for their next races and held a mock race for the first time in a while. Wilm’s final workouts heading into the Tenno Sho had begun.

Then, unexpectedly, a day off arrived with absolutely nothing scheduled.

It was Wilm’s final rest day before the Tenno Sho, and Bourbon wanted to go out with her, so we adjusted the schedule and gave them both the day off. With both of the Uma Musume in our camp resting, the tasks we trainers needed to handle naturally decreased as well.

On top of that, the work we usually handle while they’re away—reviewing and processing their incoming job offers, analyzing other camps’ strengths, preparing various reports and documents, coordinating with stakeholders—had, by sheer coincidence, already been completed.

Spring’s G1 season is peak business for Uma Musume racing.

Especially with our two trainees currently generating massive buzz, the number of requests we’ve been receiving has been substantial.

But peak season also means one thing: it’s busy.

For the two of them, racing in a G1 roughly once a month, this period must be devoted to fine-tuning their physical and mental condition. We can’t accept many job requests—aside from official ones from the URA, most have to be declined.

As a result, the burden from their outside work is actually lighter now than immediately after the season ends. Though, admittedly, the number of confirmation documents increases considerably.

And when there’s less work to tackle, that means there’s time for other things.

We’d already finished as much investigation and paperwork as we could.

Masa may still technically be a newcomer, but she comes from the prestigious Horino trainer family, so she already understands the fundamentals of the job.

As for me, I have my “App Reincarnation” cheat—an ability that lets me instantly read an Uma Musume’s status at a glance.

The time I need for research and data organization is drastically shorter than that of other trainers.

Just yesterday, I personally reviewed Wilm’s rivals for the Tenno Sho.

The two to watch are Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio.

Wilm has beaten McQueen before—but that was over 2000 meters, a distance where McQueen couldn’t fully display her strengths. At 3200 meters, she becomes a threat that absolutely cannot be ignored.

Tokai Teio, on the other hand, falls slightly short of McQueen in raw ability. However, compared to the Osaka Hai, both her stamina and grit have improved, and she’s acquired several recovery skills. There’s no doubt she’ll come into the Tenno Sho with everything she has.

Which means that, outside of those two, there are no real threats in this Tenno Sho.

The race strategy is already prepared. All that remains is to keep Wilm in peak condition until race day.

So.

With our trainees absent and most of our tasks completed…

It was an exceedingly rare day with absolutely nothing to do.

Lately, on about half my days off, Wilm ends up inviting me out somewhere. But today she was going out with Bourbon instead. After one last check of my email folder—two messages, both handled in about ten minutes—

By 9 a.m., I had completely run out of things to do.

Masa and I are technically working adults employed by Tracen Academy.

However, while we’re hired under the framework of maintaining the “academy” structure, in reality we function more like independent contractors. We can shift days off, work when we want, even rack up overtime fairly freely.

Well… if we overdo it, Tazuna-san or the Chairwoman will scold us. But that’s the life of an Uma Musume trainer. Not working would be a problem—working too much is practically inevitable.

So then, how much vacation have I actually taken this year?

"This year I’ve earned 119 days of leave, plus 14 paid days… I’ve already used three paid days. That leaves 112 days of regular leave."

Tazuna-san insists I use my paid leave proactively, so I have been. But overall, my leave usage hasn’t been great.

Including the paid days I used at Wilm’s request, that’s ten days in roughly four months.

At that rate, I might manage about thirty days in a year.

Compared to last year—when I practically had no days off at all—that’s a big improvement…

…Actually, thinking about it calmly, thirty days might be unrealistic.

Summer means overseas expeditions. After that, knowing Wilm, she’ll want to race again. And even if she doesn’t, winning means a surge of job offers.

Bourbon’s training for the Kikuka Sho will also intensify.

Unlike the relatively calm stretch up until now, there won’t be much time left to take leave.

Realistically, I’ll be lucky to use twenty days this year.

…When I file my report, I’d better make sure Tazuna-san doesn’t notice. Worst case, I could get summoned by the Chairwoman for a fiery lecture.

Honestly, managing Wilm and Bourbon at the same time and expecting to take proper vacation? That’s wishful thinking.

One is only the second undefeated Triple Crown winner in history—and now a seven-time G1 champion, tied with the Eternal Emperor for most domestic wins. A once-in-a-generation front-runner.

The other is a Satsuki Sho winner closing in on her own undefeated Triple Crown—young, gifted, and expected to overcome immense barriers of pedigree and aptitude to claim the classic Triple Crown.

The two I manage have maxed-out ability, potential, and public attention. Naturally, the workload scales accordingly.

On top of that, I recently realized something: my approach to gathering information is apparently far more cautious and extensive than that of other trainers.

When talking with friendly colleagues from my cohort, I sometimes felt we weren’t quite on the same wavelength. Apparently, most trainers don’t conduct strength analyses for races a year in advance.

…Doesn’t that make them anxious? I’d be extremely uneasy without a long-term plan.

In any case, Masa and I are perpetually busy, barely taking vacation throughout the year.

Which is precisely why, when time like this opens up, we should step away from race-related thinking and properly reset.

That said, outside of work, I only have one hobby.

On days off, my options are cleaning my apartment, physical conditioning, sleeping—or that hobby.

Cleaning and organizing are done. I’ve slept enough.

So perhaps today really is a day for my hobby.

---

Just as I was thinking that, a voice called out.

"Brother, I’m done over here."

Masa—my younger sister, who supports our two trainees as a sub-trainer—placed a stack of documents on my desk as she spoke.

I’d assigned her a few tasks, and it seems she’d finished them.

I skimmed through the papers. …Yes. Properly processed. I’ll examine the details tomorrow, but there’s no major discrepancy.

I gathered them into a file and smiled at her.

"Good work, Masa. That’s it for today. You can rest now."

"Roger."

She let out a quiet sigh, looking slightly fatigued.

She’s been working nonstop this past week. A while back, she would’ve been on the verge of collapsing—but as expected of Masa, she’s already adjusting to the trainer workload.

She transferred to Tracen at the end of last August. That makes this her eighth month as a sub-trainer.

Honestly, she’s progressing faster than I did at the same stage.

Well, I suppose having a senior like me to guide her—and pushing her with just-barely-manageable workloads—has helped.

Still… finishing this in just a few dozen minutes.

She’s becoming truly comfortable with the job. At this rate, she could handle a graded-stakes Uma Musume on her own.

In autumn, it would probably be best to have her remain here and support Bourbon. After that… depending on what she wants, she could either continue as a sub-trainer or go independent.

As I was thinking that, I noticed Masa staring at me as if she wanted to say something.

With our trainees absent today, she was wearing glasses instead of contacts. From behind them, she directed a faintly uneasy gaze my way.

"Hm? What is it? If it’s about tomorrow, we’ll start again at eight—"

"Brother, what are you going to do today?"

Caught slightly off guard by how quickly Masa leaned in to ask, I answered honestly.

"Huh? Uh… I’m planning to go fishing."

It was a vague reply—one given without fully grasping what she was getting at.

Her response, however, was something I genuinely hadn’t expected.

"...Hey, can I come with you?"

---

My one and only hobby at the moment is fishing.

Well, I only go about once a month, and I’m not particularly good at it. Actually, from what Sky tells me, I’m pretty terrible. It’s not like I’ve invested enough time into it to proudly call it a hobby.

Still, there’s something calming about sitting there absentmindedly with a line in the water, reflecting on recent events. It’s quiet. Unhurried. Peaceful.

If I did it too often, maybe it would lose its charm. But at a once-a-month pace, it’s the perfect slow ritual.

On top of that, there’s the experimentation—buying better gear, trying techniques Sky mentioned, preparing better bait. Through all that trial and error, I’ve definitely started catching more fish than before. That gradual sense of improvement is part of the appeal.

…Well. Even now, I’m lucky if I catch two or three in a day. And they’re usually small.

So that day, too, I came to the sea to cast my line.

I just hadn’t expected Masa to join me.

"So, what’s up?"

The sea stretched out beneath a pleasant—if not perfectly clear—sky. Holding a spare rod and facing the water just like I was, Masa stood at my side. I asked her gently.

As her brother, I can say this with certainty—Masa isn’t the type who enjoys quiet, still moments like this.

She’s always been that way. Ever since we were kids, she’s preferred movement, change—something active. On her days off, she’s more likely to throw herself into her own hobbies than spend time quietly in her room.

And to admit something admittedly pathetic… judging by her usual behavior, I don’t think she likes me all that much.

It’s not that she lacks familial affection. But as a person, I suspect I rank somewhere around “questionable older brother.” That sort of evaluation.

Which is exactly why I couldn’t understand why she’d bother spending her day off tagging along with me.

"...Well, a few things. I just… had something I wanted to tell you."

"Something you wanted to tell me?"

It’s rare to see ever-cheerful Masa hesitate like this.

When I echoed her words, she nodded.

Her lips were pressed tight. Her brows slightly furrowed.

…That’s odd.

She’s not depressed.

She’s nervous?

That’s unusual. Even before important exams or big events, she usually hypes herself up and acts bold.

As I was thinking that, she shot me a brief sideways glance.

And then she said something that genuinely surprised me.

"I’ve never told anyone this before, but… I can see spirits."

Spirits.

A cold sensation ran down my spine.

Spirits? As in a sixth sense? Psychic sight? That kind of spiritual ability?

"...I see."

That was all that slipped out.

Honestly, what kind of reaction was I supposed to have?

It felt like a close friend suddenly confessing, “I’ve never told anyone this, but I’m actually the king of some country.”

It had zero sense of reality. I almost asked, "Are you serious?"—then stopped myself because that would’ve been rude.

People usually say things expecting some kind of reaction. But when someone drops something this abrupt, this impactful, and this difficult to interpret… it’s hard to respond properly.

Still… spiritual sight.

First and foremost, I want to believe her.

Horino Masa is someone incredibly important to me.

She’s my precious family. My adorable younger sister. My partner as a sub-trainer. The only person who knows—and believes—the truth about my past life.

That’s precisely why I want to believe her words.

Even if they sound outlandish. Even if they feel like a joke.

…But.

Even so, it was just too sudden.

Spiritual sensitivity.

A supernatural sense that allows someone to see or feel things ordinary people cannot.

Of course, I’ve never possessed anything like that—neither in my previous life nor this one.

Well, if you count my “App Reincarnation” ability—being able to perceive status information at a glance—then perhaps I do have something akin to it.

Even so, hearing someone calmly say, “I can see what you can’t,” makes you instinctively brace yourself.

Still, my desire to believe her isn’t a lie.

So for now, I decided to simply listen.

"...So, what exactly can you see?"

"Strange things. Some of them used to be alive. Some weren’t. And… I can see the color of a person’s soul."

"Let’s set the ‘strange things’ aside for now. The color of someone’s soul, huh? What’s that like?"

"Yeah. It’s like… each person has their own unique color. Humans and Uma Musume all have different shades—no two are the same. Oh! And when an Uma Musume opens her Domain, there’s this flash of light."

"Oh, I see."

Yeah. I get it.

This is the real deal.

The Domain is a phenomenon caused by the Uma Soul—in other words, the soul inherited from a horse in the world of my previous life.

Well, it’s not like it was ever explicitly stated that way. And it’s been a long time, so my memory’s fuzzy. But I distinctly remember hints that suggested as much.

However, people in this world can’t perceive that.

The Uma Musume’s Uma Soul hasn’t been scientifically explained, and no one even knows that this world is connected to my previous one. As a result, the ability to generate a Domain is understood purely as a racial trait unique to Uma Musume.

How can I put it simply…

Cheetahs are fast. Dolphins use echolocation. Bees have venom.

In the same way, the public believes that Uma Musume running at incredible speeds—or opening something like a Domain that humans can’t even perceive—is just another species-specific characteristic.

And honestly, since it’s not something science can currently explain, I can’t blame people for thinking that.

But just now—

Masa said “soul.”

The Unique Skill Domain and the Uma Soul—two concepts that should never connect unless you possess knowledge from my previous life.

The moment she linked them together, it became undeniable: she’s sensing something ordinary people can’t.

Because I have memories of my previous life—because I understand, at least to some extent, the nature of an Uma Musume’s soul—I know she’s truly seeing it.

…Ah.

That’s a relief.

Now I can truly believe her.

---

"...I’m sorry."

"Huh? For what?"

The apology slipped out before I could stop it. Masa’s voice sharpened slightly—part irritation, part unease.

Maybe she thought I was about to say, "Sorry, but I can’t believe that."

That’s not it, Masa.

That’s not what I’m apologizing for.

I turned away from the sea to face her and bowed my head again.

"I didn’t notice at all. That you had spiritual sight… I should have realized."

At that, she made a complicated expression—relieved, maybe. Or annoyed. Or suspicious.

"I was hiding it. Of course you wouldn’t notice. No one else ever did either."

It’s true. Masa is good at keeping secrets.

It’s not that she wears a flawless mask like Wilm. It’s more that she’s perceptive about other people’s emotions—and because of that, she knows how to maneuver without drawing attention to herself.

Meanwhile, as you’re well aware, my communication skills are… lacking.

If Masa deliberately tried to hide something, it would be hard for anyone to notice.

Even so—

"No. I’m the one who should have noticed.

I have memories of a previous life. I know what it’s like to be different from everyone else. I know how painful it is when no one believes you.

And you believed my secret. You shared that burden with me.

That’s exactly why I should have noticed yours—before you had to tell me. Since you helped me, I should have helped you too.

So… I’m sorry. For not realizing. For letting you carry it alone."

"…………"

Still… spiritual sight.

In fiction, it’s often portrayed as something that puts you in danger—being able to see things others can’t.

"Though this might be a shallow question, are you okay? I mean… I’ve heard stories where just being able to see that kind of thing can be dangerous."

"...Well. It’s hard sometimes."

"I figured. If there’s ever anything you need help with—or even if you just want someone to listen—tell me. I’ll do what I can."

Masa has supported me in so many ways.

Not necessarily in obvious, tangible ways—but believing in something as absurd-sounding as my memories from a previous life? That meant more than I can put into words.

Because of that, I feel like I should be the one supporting her now.

I should believe in her spiritual sight. And if she ever struggles, I should help however I can.

"...Huh. You really believe it that easily? Spiritual powers and all?"

"I believe it. And more than that… it’s your word, Masa. Of course I believe you."

"Hm. Well. Fine, I guess."

She glanced at me briefly, then turned her gaze back to the sea.

Her expression was hard to read.

She looked pleased. Or irritated. Or maybe embarrassed.

I’m not exactly gifted at reading people, so I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

But…

Her face seemed just a little closer to her true feelings than usual.

---

Right around then, I felt a tug on my rod. I reeled it in—only to find a tiny fry. I released it back into the water.

After that, Masa spoke again, more deliberately this time.

"Then there’s one thing I’d like to ask you about, Brother."

"Yeah? What is it?"

I answered as lightly as I could so she wouldn’t feel pressured, but at the same time as sincerely as possible.

Maybe she’d gotten entangled with something troublesome. If that were the case, perhaps I should reach out—through the Horino family’s connections—to some specialist in that field. Or maybe my knowledge from my previous life, or even what I know about reincarnation, could help somehow.

Determined to be of use to her, I quietly braced myself.

But—

The words that left her mouth were nothing I could have imagined.

"Wilm Hoshino’s parents… they’re still here, right?"

It took me a few seconds to process what she’d just said.

If she truly had spiritual sensitivity, then this should have been something I could have anticipated.

And yet… I hadn’t considered it at all.

My thoughts spun uselessly in place. I blinked more than usual, then finally forced out a hoarse whisper.

"...You mean, Wilm’s parents are really here?"

"They are. They’re not here right now, but… they’re probably still watching over her from a distance."

"…………Sorry, I’m a little confused. I can’t wrap my head around it right away."

"I think that’s fine. For now, just know that it’s true."

With that, Masa gently rocked her fishing rod and murmured, almost to herself:

"At first, I thought it served them right… but those two, they’re seriously regretting it. They’re filled with remorse. They can’t even get close to Wilm Hoshino, and yet they’ve stayed in this world, watching over her from afar, wishing for her happiness.

"And if things stay like this, the relationship between Wilm Hoshino and her parents will just end in sadness. You wouldn’t like that either, would you, Brother?

"So… in about two or three months, I’ll probably be able to talk to them. When you think the timing’s right, I want you to deliver some kind of message to her.

"What those two did to Wilm Hoshino was awful. The worst. But still… they regret it so deeply it’s like they can’t even rest in death. If that’s the case, then at least letting them send her a few words—that much should be okay."

…So that’s it.

The reason she told me about her spiritual abilities—it was all for Wilm. For her parents.

"...You’re as kind as ever, Masa."

"It’s not about being kind or anything. I just—ugh, whatever."

Looking faintly annoyed, Masa reeled in her line for a moment, checked that the bait was still secure, then cast it back into the sea with a smooth whoosh.

She’s always been bad at accepting compliments.

That part of her hasn’t changed since we were kids.

And honestly… it’s still kind of adorable.