Chapter 131: Seconds are welcome, too!

If someone asked, "What’s your favorite spot at Tracen?" about half of the Uma Musume enrolled here would probably give the same answer.

"The cafeteria!"

Uma Musume—well, with a few exceptions, of course—generally love to eat.

There’s a proper reason for that.

Our builds are similar to humans, but the level of physical activity we perform far exceeds theirs. The reason we can sustain that intensity is thanks to the mysterious, Uma Musume–exclusive power that even Ayumu-san cannot fully explain. Still, no matter how incomprehensible that power may be, it is not a perpetual motion machine.

The calories—the energy—we burn must be replenished through food.

As we train and the energy in our bodies depletes, we receive clear signals demanding more nutrients. Simply put, we get hungry. Our stomachs growl.

And as the saying goes, hunger is the best seasoning.

Food tastes sharper and more vivid when you’re starving than when you’re full. When something delicious hits your tongue in that state, loving food becomes inevitable.

Put it together and the formula is simple:

"Uma Musume run a lot" → "We get very hungry" → "Food tastes amazing" → "We love eating."

That system applies to me as well—even though I was reincarnated into this world as an Uma Musume.

Before and after training, I get ravenous. And meals at those times taste absurdly good.

It’s a little frustrating. No matter how reincarnated I may be, I can’t defy my species’ instincts.

Ugh. But I’ll eat anyway. Munch munch.

And so today, inside the lively, bustling cafeteria, I placed my order with one of the staff members.

"One Super-Satisfying Mixed Fry Plate A Set, extra-extra large rice, milk for the drink, miso soup for the side. And separately, a carrot hamburger steak, meat-and-burdock udon, a seafood bowl, and some inari sushi, please."

"Okaaay. That’ll be 2,320 yen."

"I’ll pay by card."

"All right… confirmed. Please take a number and wait for your order."

I picked up the ticket, unable to stop myself from smiling at the thought of today’s feast.

Ah. The staff member just made a slightly strange face. I should probably dial back how openly excited I look.

The Tracen cafeteria menu ranges widely—from modest portions for human staff with light appetites to absurd, ultra-mega-gigantic servings for big-eating Uma Musume.

Altogether, what I ordered would count as quite a lot even by Uma Musume standards.

I may not look it, but I’ve always had a big appetite.

…Well, I try not to overdo it in front of Ayumu-san. It’s embarrassing.

There’s that saying, "I like a girl who eats a lot," but that only applies if she doesn’t gain weight. There’s always that unspoken footnote.

Still, just over 2,000 yen for all this is incredibly reasonable.

Nutritious, properly delicious, and still this cheap? Honestly impressive.

I used to live alone in Hokkaido, so I know. A meal like this would normally cost at least twice as much.

How are they sourcing ingredients this cheaply? Even factoring in labor, there’s no way this breaks even. Maybe the cafeteria runs at a loss and makes it back through Twinkle Series race revenue.

Either way, for us Uma Musume, it’s something to be deeply grateful for.

As I silently gave thanks for this absurdly cost-effective meal, someone called out from behind me.

"Wilm, you’re eating as much as ever."

The slightly exasperated voice belonged to my best friend, my rival, and currently a racehorse Uma Musume on hiatus—Nice Nature.

We’re in different classes and different camps, but we often eat lunch together. Being rivals and being school friends are separate things. In fact, racing often strengthens friendships rather than weakens them.

So while we clash head-on without holding back on the track, inside Tracen Academy—especially during morning classes or meals—we sometimes spend time together.

Today, neither my trainer nor Bourbon-chan nor Rice-chan had called for me, so I decided to eat with Nature.

"I eat a lot for… honestly, kind of a pathetic reason. I lost my parents early and was buried in debt before coming to Tracen. Being able to eat lots of delicious food makes me happy."

"Whoa. That got heavier than I expected."

"Well, now that I’ve won multiple G1 races, my assets are actually ridiculous. Enough to live comfortably without working."

"And now you’re flexing harder than I expected."

"But more importantly, is that really enough for you? You’re still training, right?"

On Nature’s tray was less than a quarter of what I had ordered—just a large plate of curry rice, carrot stick salad, and milk tea.

Not much, even for a human man.

For an Uma Musume who runs as much as we do, it seemed… light.

When I asked, Nature frowned and gave me an evasive smile.

"W-Well… since there’s no point hiding it from you, I’ll just say it. My weight, okay?"

"Ah. You’re on injury break, so your training’s lighter. And you mentioned the café had a bunch of new desserts recently. Did you overdo it?"

"Ugh. That was a mistake… I gain weight pretty easily."

"That’s rough."

Honestly, I wouldn’t know.

In both my past life and this one, I’ve never worried about weight.

In my previous life, I didn’t care much about my appearance and had little interest in food, so I never ate enough to gain weight. In this life, I eat a lot for training—but apparently, I just don’t gain.

"Seriously though, how do you eat that much and not gain weight? You eat like this every day."

"Apparently I have a body type that doesn’t gain easily. Ayumu-san says my basal metabolism is extremely high, so it probably burns most of it off."

"You eat that much and still don’t gain!? That’s cheating!"

"…Well, the tradeoff is I don’t grow sideways—but I don’t grow taller either."

Nature might envy me, but I suspect this metabolism is also why I never grew taller. Maybe the nutrients meant for growth get burned instead.

On the bright side, the high metabolism keeps my hands warm. During winter, that’s my excuse to hold Ayumu-san’s hand as much as I want, so it’s not all bad.

Still, once full maturation hits, your body basically locks in.

With a petite frame like this, it’s hard to catch an adult man’s interest. I wish I’d grown at least ten more centimeters…

"Sigh… I want to slim down."

"Sigh… I want to grow."

We both sighed, for entirely different reasons.

---

Complaining wouldn’t move the conversation—or the food—forward.

We picked up my order and sat at a nearby table.

Naturally, we’re fairly famous Uma Musume. Me, standing alongside President Symboli Rudolf as an undefeated Triple Crown winner with the most domestic victories. And Nature, who may not hold a G1 title but is a rival I personally acknowledge.

Of course we draw looks. But we’re used to curious stares. By silent agreement, we ignore them.

"All right, let’s eat."

"Let’s eat!"

We pressed our hands together in unison.

Today’s spread looks incredible.

The mixed fry—shrimp, pork cutlet, and more—is freshly fried. I can almost hear the crispness through my chopsticks. Add sweet-savory sauce or tartar, pair it with this literal mountain of rice, and happiness is guaranteed.

When the richness grows heavy, there’s the thick, juicy hamburger steak skewered with sweet carrot and glazed in demi-glace.

Then the seafood bowl—tuna, scallops, salmon roe—waiting for soy sauce and a generous bite.

After that, udon steeped in savory broth to cleanse the palate, and finally, a calm finish with miso soup.

And of course, milk—for the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, I’ll grow taller even after my prime.

Just imagining it is unbearable. Time to dig in.

"Hehehe."

"Wilm, you’re grinning."

"Oops."

I quickly adjusted my expression.

Lately, I’ve been slipping at keeping my mask in place.

I started wearing it to avoid being hated by my father. Later, after losing my parents, I kept it on to survive alone—to avoid being deceived or exploited.

But I know now I’m not alone.

Ayumu-san, who saved and raised me. Masa-san, who has supported me for over half a year. Rivals like Nature, Teio, and McQueen-san. My adorable juniors—Bourbon-chan, Rice-chan, and Souri-chan. Beyond them, my late parents, Ayumu-san’s family, my rivals’ trainers, and the many fans who cheer for me.

I am supported, protected, encouraged.

That chain of mutual support—that is what creates a world. A life.

Realizing that may be the happiest thing of all.

That’s why I don’t need to be so guarded anymore.

Ayumu-san and Masa-san watch my blind spots. There are people who will help me.

Even if I show a little emotion, I doubt anyone would hate me for it. Lately, Ayumu-san actually looks happier when I drop the mask.

So honestly, I don’t need it anymore.

But suddenly changing my entire personality would confuse people, wouldn’t it?

So I keep wearing it out of inertia.

Without necessity, though, it has become far more fragile than before.

Anyway, we begin eating.

For a girl our age, this amount of food might be questionable—but eating delicious food in abundance is happiness.

I used to think food was just fuel.

Life really is unpredictable. You never know how you’ll change.

As I repeat the motion of pairing crispy, juicy fried food with slightly firm white rice, Nature suddenly asks:

"By the way, how’s it going lately?"

"How’s what?"

"The race. The race. The Tenno Sho’s only a few days away, right? All set?"

Normally, asking that right before a race can be sensitive.

Nature is usually careful about that sort of thing.

"Well, it’s us we’re talking about."

Extra consideration like that would almost be rude.

"Let me ask you this instead—do you really think I’d slack off in my preparations?"

"No, not at all. …Honestly, if you did slack even a little, I might actually have an opening."

"You say that, but if I actually did, you’d look down on me at least a little."

"Yeah, well… that’s true."

We run in the same series. If we line up in the same race, we each give everything to surpass the other.

But what we truly want to overcome isn’t the person—it’s their full power.

A rival who has gone through relentless training, sharpened her focus to its peak, and steps onto the track with absolute conviction of victory—that is the opponent worth surpassing.

That applies to me. And it applies to Nature.

She may come off detached—maybe even a little cynical—but I know better than anyone how fiercely passionate she is underneath.

A rival who isn’t fully committed to the race? That’s the biggest buzzkill imaginable.

Our racing lives are short. The number of races we can run is limited.

Even with Nature—my rival—we’ve officially raced only three times.

That’s why, when those rare chances come, I want us both to go all out.

Otherwise, it’s such a waste.

"Seriously though, what’s the Tenno Sho looking like? You’re up against Teio and McQueen-san, right?"

Her words pull me back to reality.

The Tenno Sho is only days away. My rivals: Teio and McQueen-san.

"Yes. There’s no question they’re ones to watch. Though I don’t have even a fragment of intent to lose."

"I’m sure they feel the same. Everyone shows up intending to win."

"Hmm…"

"Hm? What’s up?"

I slurp my udon, swallow properly, then answer.

"Teio, last time… she gave off this feeling. Like, ‘I’ll win at the Osaka Hai, no matter what.’ It felt non-negotiable. Absolute victory."

"So because she lost there by a hair, you think she can’t win at Tenno Sho, where it favors you more?"

"No, not at all. If anything, my instincts say Teio is the one I should be most wary of. But that’s from my perspective as someone who recognizes her as a rival. I’m just wondering how Teio herself feels after that narrow loss at Osaka Hai."

"Ah… But there hasn’t been any talk about her skipping Tenno Sho, right?"

"No. Which makes it harder to read whether she’s truly coming to win… or what her angle is."

"Yeah… I haven’t talked with Teio much lately either."

"Considering she used the Arima Kinen as part of her adjustments, I’m sure there’s some kind of aim or strategy behind it. The question is how she intends to play it."

Even Ayumu-san had tilted his head over that one.

Nature—sitting here calmly sipping her milk tea—is relatively easy to read strategically. She goes straight for the optimal route toward her ultimate goal.

But Team Teio is different. Unpredictable. Flexible. Difficult to forecast.

Ayumu-san admitted it himself—he simply doesn’t mesh well with them.

Well.

Trainer and Uma Musume run as a pair.

If Ayumu-san struggles against someone, then I’ll handle it.

Leave it to me. I’m a reincarnated, cheat-level, undefeated Triple Crown, domestic G1 record-holding Uma Musume, after all.

…Honestly, my self-introductions are getting longer and longer.

---

After about twenty minutes of steadily working through our meals, we finished lunch.

Well—Nature probably stopped at about eighty percent full.

…All right.

Now that things have settled.

It’s probably time to bring it up.

"Actually, Nature. There’s something I wanted to ask you today."

"Oh? Wilm asking for advice?"

Yes.

Today, I fully intended to consult Nature about something.

Something extremely important to me.

"If you’ll hear me out, I’ll treat you to cake."

"Ugh… I’m on a diet, though…"

"One slice won’t change much. Think of it as cake falling from the sky. You didn’t order it yourself. Eating it would be better than letting it go to waste. So even if you eat it, you’re not doing anything wrong. Right?"

"Urgh…! …Fine. I’ll listen!"

"Thank you, Nature. As expected of my best friend."

"‘Best friend’ is way too cheap a word coming from you!"

We waited until the nearly 300-yen slice of cake arrived before I spoke again.

"I’ll say this first—this is a serious consultation."

"…Oh. A serious one from you? That’s honestly a little intimidating."

"It should be. It’s that important."

Yes.

What I’m about to talk about is the most important matter in my life.

Something that could overturn the very foundation of who Hoshino Wilm is.

Without realizing it, I lowered both my gaze and my voice.

"I’m telling you because it’s you, Nature. You understand what that means, right?"

"…Yeah. I do. Go on."

Her expression tightened, turning fully serious.

I’m so grateful. Because she’s this kind of friend, I can tell her anything.

Even things I can’t tell anyone else.

I take a slow breath in.

Exhale.

Then begin carefully.

"It’s about Ayumu-san. My trainer.

Recently… I noticed something. Or rather, I started wondering if maybe—just maybe."

"Mm."

"This hypothesis could shake the foundation of our relationship. And it’s something Ayumu-san absolutely cannot know that I’ve realized.

But… if it’s true, then it would mean he feels the same as I do. And the thought of that makes me… really happy."

"And that hypothesis is…?"

When Nature prompted me, I—

Pressed down on my pounding heart, steeled myself, and forced the words out.

"Maybe… maybe Ayumu-san likes me…! And if that’s true, then maybe we’re… you know… mutually in love…!! I’ve been thinking that…!"

I—I said it. I actually said it.

Not my biggest secret… but definitely my second biggest.

My feelings for Ayumu-san.

My cheeks burned hot, and I cupped them with both hands. Even if it’s Nature—my best friend—this is mortifying.

I-I’ll be fine, right? Nature’s tight-lipped. She won’t blab to the other girls, right? But what if she reacts with, "Wait, seriously!?" I might genuinely bolt from embarrassment—

Ugh! What was I thinking? Someone with a romance aptitude score of three attempting a love consultation?! This was doomed from the start! Five seconds from now I’m going to turn bright red and run away and it’ll be completely Nature’s fault for reacting too strongly—

"…Well, I figured as much."

"Wait, what!? Th-That was my all-in confession! I worked up so much courage! I only managed it because you’re my best friend!!"

Her reaction was far calmer than I’d expected. My legs, which had been ready to launch me into a sprint, nearly gave out instead. Thank goodness I was sitting—otherwise I might have collapsed face-first onto the table.

Wh-why!?

Your best friend just confessed the love of her life! Shouldn’t there be a bigger reaction!?

"I’ve known for a while that you like Trainer Horino."

"Ehh!?"

Wha—how!? How did she know!?

There’s no way that leaked! I was careful!

While I flailed internally, Nature rested her chin in her hand and looked at me with open amusement.

"Anyway… you think Trainer Horino might like you back? That Trainer Horino?"

"Y-Yeah… um, that’s what I was thinking. I mean, it’s possible, right? It wouldn’t be strange if he had at least a little of that kind of feeling? Or at least… there’s no way to prove he has absolutely none, I suppose…"

The more I talked, the less confident I sounded.

And if I’m being rational… the idea that Ayumu-san likes me does feel unlikely.

He’s exactly the type who separates work from personal life. Even if he’s said he’s no longer just "Horino the Trainer," would he really develop romantic feelings for his own trainee? I can’t quite picture it.

"I talk to Trainer Horino sometimes during joint training," Nature said. "I can’t really imagine it. Anyway—what made you start thinking that?"

"Well… a little while ago, he acted kind of… you know. Like that."

"Mm… Couldn’t that just be special affection toward his trainee, rather than romantic feelings?"

"Ghk!!"

Direct hit.

I clutched my chest.

Honestly… I had considered that too.

The line between affection and romance is as hard to distinguish as the sex of a baby chick. Especially for someone with basically zero love experience like me.

So yes. Maybe what I felt that day was simply an extension of fondness. I had thought about that possibility.

But still…

"So… you think that’s probably it…?"

"Hey. Don’t slump like that. Nothing’s decided."

"Right!? There’s still a chance, right!?"

"Whoa, that was fast. Mood swings much?"

But I did feel something that day.

That whole comment about not needing a separate room anymore… implying that Ayumu-san—who already has one—might remain by my side as my partner. That sort of implication. That sort of… thing.

I definitely felt our relationship shift forward.

Yes. Even if Nature is right and it’s only affection for now… that doesn’t mean it will stay that way forever.

Our relationship is progressing. Probably.

So I won’t give up. I’ll keep making my move on Ayumu-san.

…Within reason! Not so boldly that I combust from embarrassment and run away!!

"Good grief. Young girls in love sure burn bright. It’s blinding for someone like Nature over here."

"Huh? What are you talking about, Nature? You like your own trainer romantically too, don’t you?"

"Wha—!?!"