Chapter 180: A Night of Hidden Love

The world’s greatest race—and Japan’s long-cherished dream—the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

…The day after it ended.

During the daytime, Wilm was busy dealing with the press, negotiating with the local race authorities, and handling the aftermath of the Arc.

Meanwhile, I had a mountain of work to do as Wilm’s contracted trainer—and as one of Japan’s trainers.

Analyzing the abilities of Understandible, Nedrika, and Witch Evening, who finished fourth.

Studying their explosive growth and awakenings during the race.

And examining how those changes influenced the race itself.

In the Arc, our strategy had fortunately worked perfectly.

…but both Understandible’s growth and Nedrika’s sudden awakening had gone far beyond what I had predicted.

We won because we built a large buffer into our plan—but even that victory depended heavily on Wilm’s absurdly high stats, her ridiculously powerful skills, and above all, her ability to boost her own thinking capacity.

On one hand, we successfully trapped Understandible and Nedrika with our strategy.

On the other hand, they both exceeded our expectations.

When it came to my contribution to the victory… those two factors probably balanced out to about even.

Of course, that kind of situation isn’t ideal.

In the extreme, the ideal scenario would be for us trainers to cover any mistakes our Uma Musume might make during a race.

Which is exactly why I felt we needed to deepen our research into racing even further.

…Though to be honest, I’ve been thinking that for a while now, and I’m still nowhere close to reaching that level.

So.

I used spare moments to rewatch the race footage.

I compared the Uma Musume’s stats from before and after the race.

During travel time and waiting periods for work, I also conducted interviews with Wilm about the Arc.

But in the end…

the thing that shocked me the most was hearing Wilm’s words—spoken from her own firsthand experience.

Clinging to my left arm in full clingy mode, Wilm explained the Domain that Understandible had used.

"...A Domain that copies the opponent’s Domain and turns it into a superior version…?"

"Exactly. Seriously, that thing is ridiculous. No matter how strong the opponent’s Domain is, it always surpasses it. It’s basically the kind of ridiculously overpowered counter ability you’d only expect in fiction."

…What the hell is that?

A Domain is an Uma Musume’s trump card—the ultimate expression of her individuality.

And it copies that… and then surpasses it?

…So Understandible really was a monster.

Well, that part wasn’t exactly news.

"And there’s more. Let me think how to explain this clearly.

I think it’s probably not exactly ‘copy the Domain that’s currently open and upgrade it before opening it yourself.’

It’s more like ‘take the effects of whatever Domains are currently active, upgrade those effects, and make them the effect of her own Domain.’"

For a moment, I couldn’t quite grasp what she meant.

But after a short delay, the horrifying implication hit me.

Opening multiple Domains at once is something nearly impossible for most Uma Musume—except for Wilm.

Even Symboli Rudolf had to downgrade it to the level of a skill and compress it into a fleeting instant just to barely manage a double Domain.

But…

what about opening a single Domain that combines the effects of multiple Domains?

Wouldn’t that be possible for other Uma Musume?

"...Wait a second. So what you’re saying is—if, for example, three Domains were open around her, and Understandible activated her Domain…"

"It would effectively become a triple Domain deployment—surpassing even my double."

"And if you had opened two Domains during this race…?"

"We might have witnessed a god-slaying spurt—one that leaves even mythic bursts of speed in the dust!"

I buried my face in my hands.

This wasn’t just a monster.

This was a bug character born into the world.

The level of shock was the same as when I first saw Wilm.

Seriously—what the hell is that girl?

"That’s way beyond ridiculous…"

"Hey, Ayumu, your tone’s getting rough. Though… honestly, I kind of like that side of you too!"

"Ah, sorry. Around you, I tend to relax more than I should."

"W-Well… I’m happy about it… actually."

As a trainer, it probably wasn’t appropriate.

But after spending so much time together, she was both my comrade-in-arms and my beloved horse girl.

Sometimes I couldn’t help letting my guard down.

Even close relationships require courtesy.

Shaking my head lightly, I returned to the topic.

"But what kind of mentality could produce a Domain like that…?"

"In short… I guess you could call it the vessel of a hero.

Understandible seems to have an incredibly large capacity.

An overwhelming vessel capable of accepting and using anything—basically raw talent.

That’s why she can accept other people’s power, feelings, even something like their souls—and turn them into her own strength.

She can relive their lives and reproduce the way they use their power.

…Though since her world is still incomplete right now, it’s basically just copying someone else."

"...Hold on. The way you said that makes it sound like her second Domain will be even more outrageous."

"I mean, a completed hero’s power would probably be amazing, right?

Can you even imagine Understandible unlocking a new Domain that isn’t ridiculous?"

"...Is this hell?"

Understandible’s biggest weakness—her ignorance of the threat posed by hardworking ordinary people—was almost certainly exposed during this race.

Meaning that tactic wouldn’t work again.

And yet her threat level was apparently still going to rise.

…What the hell do we do?

If she races against Wilm again, how are we supposed to counter that?

"Oh right, speaking of which… I kind of promised her we’d race again. That’s okay, right?"

"...I-I’m sure it’ll be fine."

…Well.

Tomorrow’s problems are tomorrow’s Ayumu’s responsibility.

Yeah.

Just like Understandible will keep getting stronger, Wilm will continue to grow stronger too.

Her true peak is still about two months away.

But there’s still room to refine her technique—and research into Domains is far from finished.

Tomorrow will bring tomorrow’s wind.

Probably.

Hopefully.

Maybe.

At this point, I have to believe that.

Otherwise I might lose my mind.

"So then… what about Nedrika, the runner-up? Especially her Domain."

"Hmm… I didn’t connect with it as deeply as I did with Understandible’s, and the shape felt a little strange, so I can’t say for sure."

Wilm tilted her head slightly as she spoke.

"In short, it’s something like a Domain closer, but it’s different from Rudolf-senpai’s.

Rudolf’s ability is like… shooting an arrow that pierces and closes a Domain.

Since she’s a late-running Uma Musume, races for her involve surging forward from behind, right?

So naturally she shoots arrows forward.

Which means… maybe she can’t close the Domains of closing sprinters behind her. Probably."

She hesitated slightly.

Perhaps because we both suspected that if it were Rudolf, she might be able to shoot through both front and back with a single arrow.

After all—she’s the Eternal Emperor.

Breaking logic wouldn’t be surprising.

"But Nedrika’s Domain is different.

It doesn’t give her any advantage—and it even closes her own Domain.

But in exchange, it shuts down every Domain in the entire race.

When she uses it, the race stops being a supernatural Domain battle and turns back into a simple running race."

"...That’s… troublesome in its own way."

Domains are massive factors—powerful enough to reshape the entire flow of a race.

If they’re forcibly shut down, the nature of the race changes instantly.

Especially in the Prix Foy, where Wilm practically destroyed everything using Domains.

If you built a race plan around Domains, this kind of ability would be a natural enemy.

"Also, if someone forcibly closes your Domain, your condition drops, right?

During this race, almost every Uma Musume except you fell into poor condition.

Understandible even dropped into terrible condition."

"Yeah?"

"...You said earlier it didn’t benefit her, but forcing every other Uma Musume into bad condition sounds like a huge advantage."

"...You’re right!"

I see.

Wilm dominates through overwhelming superiority with simultaneous Domain deployments.

But that makes her vulnerable to Understandible, who can copy Domains.

Understandible, who relies on Domains, is vulnerable to Nedrika, who can shut them down.

And Nedrika, who has that power, is vulnerable to Wilm, who can counter Domain closure.

In the end, Wilm’s judgment and ability secured the victory.

But in terms of matchups, the three of them formed a perfect rock-paper-scissors relationship.

"...Once again, Uma Musume racing really is unpredictable."

"That’s why it’s fun!"

"True enough."

As a trainer, I often feel like I’m constantly being dragged around by the overwhelming power these girls possess.

…and yet, it’s so unbelievably fun.

Trainers truly are strange creatures.

---

Anyway.

I wanted to hear more from Wilm and deepen my understanding of the race based on the information she provided.

But once the sun dipped below the horizon, I decided to stop for the day.

Right after a race is when memories are freshest.

If you want passionate, instinctive impressions, that’s the best time to ask.

But when it comes to logical analysis, it’s better to wait until things settle.

We could discuss that on the flight back to Japan—or after returning.

There was no need to ask everything right now.

…Though that reasoning existed.

The real reason I stopped was simple.

Talking about races all the time would probably exhaust Wilm.

Everyone knows she absolutely loves racing.

But even then, constant exposure would eventually wear anyone out.

Everything is best in moderation.

Right now, Wilm’s satisfaction with racing was high.

Pushing the topic any further wouldn’t be good.

And more importantly—she had just fought through another fierce battle.

A simple “welcome back” and a head pat wouldn’t be enough.

The real victory celebration would happen back in Japan.

But she deserved at least some kind of reward for now.

So.

Personally, I’m the type who thinks gifts don’t need to be surprises.

Masa insists surprises are what make them special.

But I believe the most important thing is giving someone something they actually want.

So I asked her directly.

"Wilm, I’ve got time tonight… is there anything you’d like?

Today is basically a cheat day. You can eat whatever you want or do whatever you like."

In this world, Uma Musume racing is unbelievably popular.

Even if you combined the popularity of every other sport, it still wouldn’t match racing.

Japan had failed at the Arc again and again.

Three years ago, El Condor Pasa—hailed as Japan’s strongest—challenged it in perfect condition and still fell just short.

For Japan now, winning the Arc was truly the nation’s dream.

For the strongest runners, challenging it was almost a destiny.

And Wilm had just won it.

She had finally fulfilled Japan’s long-cherished wish.

Honestly, she probably deserved not just a cheat day—but a cheat year.

She could spend an entire year playing around and no one would complain.

…Though Wilm herself wouldn’t want that.

And as someone who wants to see her reach even greater heights, neither would I.

Still, at the very least, she deserved half a day of freedom.

Even warriors need rest.

Even if they’re living myths.

So I wanted to give her the thing—and the time—that would bring her the most peace.

"...In that case… I do have a request."

"Hm?"

Wilm, unusually for her, fidgeted with her mouth and hesitated as she spoke. Seeing that, I tilted my head.

"Um… would you like to relax together?"

At those words, I tilted my head even further.

If my knowledge is correct, children are generally full of energy and tend to want to move their bodies.

This tendency is especially noticeable during the elementary and middle school years.

It’s not uncommon to see kids bouncing around and playing without any particular reason—boys and girls who simply enjoy moving their bodies.

Uma Musume are no exception.

In particular, my beloved runner Wilm shows this tendency strongly. If she has even the slightest chance, she wants to run, stretch, or do strength training. At this point, moving her body has practically become her life’s work.

And yet she was the one who suggested spending time relaxing.

Using the incredibly precious “free time” she had.

I had honestly expected something like, "Let’s run all across France!"

So in a way, it felt a little anticlimactic.

At the same time, learning about this side of her that I hadn’t known before filled me with a small sense of happiness.

"Still… relaxing together, huh."

The phrase felt strangely fresh.

Ever since my previous life—well, to be precise, since I only remember things from around middle school onward—I’ve lived as if something were constantly chasing me.

Even after being born into this life, it was the same. Being someone of little talent, I tried to discipline myself, spending day after day studying and training.

For a while after becoming a trainer, various things happened and I abandoned that way of living.

But that didn’t mean a peaceful life suddenly began.

If you’re the trainer of Hoshino Wilm and Mihono Bourbon, naturally the work never stops. There’s never much time to rest.

Because of that, “spending time leisurely” is something I’ve experienced only a handful of times, as far as I can remember.

At most, maybe a few New Year’s holidays spent talking with Wilm over the phone… or a few fishing trips.

First, I prepared dinner for the two of us, ran the bath, and washed the dishes—taking care of household chores while chatting with Wilm.

After finishing all that…

"Alright then… let’s go, Ayumu-san."

Together with Wilm—whose expression looked both happy and a little embarrassed—I headed toward the bedroom.

---

Of course, I had no intention of doing anything strange.

What Wilm had asked for was something close to what had recently become our usual routine: sleeping side by side.

The two of us on the bed, chatting until we naturally drift off to sleep. That’s all.

What was different this time was the purpose.

Up until now, when we slept side by side, it was mostly to help her feel calm in the unfamiliar environment of a foreign country so she could face the next day in the best condition.

In other words, it was purely to help her sleep well and prepare for the next day’s race.

This time, however, it was a reward for Wilm.

Not something meant to lead into tomorrow—but simply to enjoy this moment.

They may sound similar, but the difference is actually quite large.

After all… considering Wilm’s age, it’s not exactly ideal, but tonight she can fall asleep whenever she likes. We could even talk all night without worrying about the time.

Tomorrow, once we finish our remaining plans, we’re scheduled to return to Japan immediately.

From France to Japan is about twelve hours by plane. Just like the trip here, we booked a suite room—but even so, it’s not like Wilm can run there, so she can simply sleep during the flight.

Tonight is one of those rare moments where a racing Uma Musume like Wilm is allowed to stay up late.

There’s no need to rush to sleep.

No need to think about tomorrow.

We can keep talking, or surrender to sleep whenever we feel like it.

For someone like her, living both as an athlete and an idol, even such small freedom is something difficult to obtain.

That’s exactly why this small moment can serve as a reward.

"Uheh… uhehehe…"

My beloved runner entered the bedroom wearing a completely satisfied expression.

She had just come out of the bath, her hair still slightly damp.

Wrapped in loose white loungewear, she stood there fidgeting with her arms folded in front of her chest.

Just looking at her like that, she seemed like an ordinary girl.

But appearances are deceiving.

She holds the record for the most wins domestically—and is the first winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Japanese history.

Thinking about that, the pressure and pride radiating from her should be overwhelming…

"Waaah! Fluffy…!"

…Nope.

Watching her dive onto the bed, hugging the soft blankets and enjoying the fluffy feeling like an excited kid, I wasn’t sensing much of that majestic aura at all.

In the end, Hoshino Wilm being a top athlete is just one side of her.

At the same time, Wilm is also an ordinary girl.

She lights up when dinner includes hamburger steak with sautéed carrots.

After a bath, she sits in a chair with a relaxed expression while drinking carrot milk.

And before bed, she gets excited over a fluffy futon—and sometimes falls asleep in two minutes.

I’m probably the only one who knows all these “ordinary” sides of her, after spending the last two months together.

…Feeling happy about that might be a little embarrassing, though.

"Ayumu-san, hurry! Hurry!"

Wilm lifted the blanket and patted the space next to her repeatedly.

Trying not to burst out laughing, I walked over.

"'Hurry,' huh."

"It feels amazing!"

"Well of course it does. I dried it in the machine and then let it sun-dry for half a day."

"Thank you as always!"

Smiling wryly at her boundless energy, I climbed into the bed as well.

…When I thought about it again, the question briefly crossed my mind—why am I so naturally getting into the same bed as an underage girl?

But thinking about it is a losing battle.

If I dwell on it, I’ll just hate myself, so I forcefully shut down that line of thought.

As soon as I lay down beside her, Wilm naturally wrapped her arms around me.

Her body temperature is usually on the warmer side, but fresh out of the bath she’s even warmer than usual. Even in the air-conditioned room, it almost feels a little hot under the blanket.

"Hehe…"

Wilm looked up at me from near my chest.

Her face was melting even more than cheese held over a flame.

No, actually—she was melting so much her facial outline seemed to blur.

Is this a gag manga or something?

"...You’re cute, you know."

"C-Cute? I’m cute?"

"Objectively speaking, of course you’re cute… and from my perspective too, you’re very cute."

"Uhehehe… hihihihi…"

"But sometimes your laugh is a little creepy."

"Wah!?"

Actually, that slightly creepy grin of hers has been appearing less and less lately.

Which probably means she’s simply laughing more often.

That thought makes me feel both happy… and strangely a little lonely.

About two years ago, by the way.

When we had a bit of free time, I didn’t know what to talk about with Wilm. In the end, we even played word-chain games just to pass the time.

…Though it seemed like Wilm enjoyed it at least a little, so it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

But now things are different.

"And then, and then! The day before yesterday, Nature said something during our call. She said, 'Summer training camp is your chance to play at the beach with your trainer! Oh right, Wilm, you’ve never joined a camp before, have you? lol.'

Can you believe that!? She deliberately teased me about something I secretly care about! Her personality is the worst!"

"Well, last year you had a broken bone and were in rehab, and this year you came here instead of going to camp.

…Though personally, there’s a small part of me that feels relieved."

"Huh? Why?"

"…This is an extremely personal feeling, so please don’t tell anyone else, and forget it by tomorrow.

But… the idea of anyone else seeing you in a swimsuit bothers me a little."

"Ahf."

"Oh, she short-circuited.

…Well, you wore a swimsuit for work last year anyway, and you’re also an idol. I know logically I shouldn’t worry about it."

"I-I… um… I won’t show my real swimsuit to anyone except you, Ayumu-san… okay?"

"Eh, nice. Maybe this year is impossible, but I’ll look forward to next year."

"Yeah… this person really is missing the emotion called embarrassment, isn’t she?"

When I'm with Wilm, the conversation never runs out.

Normally, I’d expect a conversation like this to dry up halfway through… but somehow, we could probably keep talking all night.

Usually I can’t spend my time like this, but just for today… maybe it’s okay to lazily chat the night away.

"So if you were stranded on a deserted island and could bring only one thing, what would it be?"

"For me… Ayumu-san, of course! Kyah!"

"I definitely wouldn’t bring Wilm."

"Could you maybe say something with a little more atmosphere or sentiment?"

"No, because I wouldn’t want to drag you into my misfortune. I want you to keep running happily."

"Muu… I guess I understand that feeling. But personally, if Ayumu-san were unhappy, I’d want to carry that burden with you.

Didn’t I say it before? We’re partners."

"Wait, does that concept apply here too? In that case…"

"So it’s me after all?"

"No. I’d bring 'Japanese Uma Musume racing'—including the racetracks and URA—and raise you there."

"That suddenly escalated a lot! This isn’t even about a deserted island anymore!"

"It can’t be helped. That’s my greatest wish."

"Isn’t the point of this game figuring out how much you can scale that wish down before bringing it?"

"Then I guess Wilm is fine."

"What do you mean ‘I guess’? Please say you want me!"

"...I want Wilm."

"Eek! Don’t suddenly whisper in my ear like that! You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!"

The lights in the room were off.

Only the faint glow of the streetlights filtered through the curtains, filling the room with a dim, gentle darkness.

Within it, Wilm and I spoke in hushed voices, quietly laughing together, sharing a moment that felt somehow secretive… even a little forbidden.

"Sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened if I’d never met you.

I’m sure I would’ve… broken down by now. Because Hoshino Wilm existed, I’m still here. I’m still able to work as a trainer."

"...Yeah. I think the same.

If it hadn’t been you, Ayumu-san, I probably wouldn’t have made it this far either.

Somewhere along the line, I might’ve had a terrible accident… maybe even during the Takarazuka Kinen, and ended up retiring."

"I’m glad I met you under that moonlit sky. That meeting changed my fate."

"Same here. Meeting you that day, having you become my trainer… I’m really glad."

"...Though thinking about it now, wasn’t 'I offer you my life' a little too dramatic?"

"Stop! Don’t remind me of that embarrassing little black-history moment I’ve only recently managed to stop cringing about!"

"I do think it sounded cool, though. In reality, trainers really do hold their runners’ lives in their hands, so your words weren’t exactly wrong… but when you look back on it later… well."

"That careful way you’re putting it hurts the most! Why don’t you realize that?!"

"But those words are why I’m here today. That’s the truth. Thank you, Hoshino Wilm, for saving me."

"...Th-that goes both ways, like I said earlier.

Wait… is this weird rhythm of putting me down and then lifting me up just how you naturally are, Ayumu-san? If that’s true, does that mean I’m going to be dragged around by you for the rest of my life?!"

"For the rest of your life?"

"Uh… i-is that not okay?"

"It makes me ridiculously happy. I’d want to stay together for life too."

"Huh? Is that a proposal?"

"So when should we register the marriage? Do you want a Japanese-style or Western-style ceremony? Could you start making a list of friends to invite?"

"Have you ever seen someone refuse to back down even one step in a situation like this?!"

Even while joking around, we didn’t bother hiding the affection we felt for each other.

Lying in bed, we quietly shared each other’s warmth.

Just recently, Hoshino Wilm had become the world’s greatest racing Uma Musume in both name and reality.

And I was her trainer—the one supporting her. A trainer who, at least to some degree, considered himself fairly capable.

We were always busy. Our days constantly chased by work that needed to be done.

Spending our time like this might even seem wasteful.

...But still.

Maybe it’s okay to have days like this once in a while.

Wilm may be a racing Uma Musume, but she’s also just a normal girl.

And I may be a trainer, but I’m also just a normal human being.

"So let me ask directly—Ayumu-san, you’ve never had a girlfriend before, right?"

"That sounds less like a question and more like a conclusion. ...But honestly, I have."

"Huh?"

"Back in university, a female classmate confessed to me. I figured it was probably some kind of punishment game, but if I rejected her outright it would’ve put her in an awkward position, so I accepted."

"Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?"

"Vocal warm-ups? ...Anyway, she eventually told me, 'I can’t keep up with you anymore,' and we broke up after a month."

"Whaaaaaaat?!"

"I confessed honestly and still got this much anger?"

"I’m not angry! Of course someone as capable and handsome and rich as you, with literally no flaws except having a ridiculously dense trainer brain, would be popular with women! Sure, sure, I’m just the second woman in your life anyway!"

"No, I don’t think I was popular. That’s basically the only relationship I’ve had, and we didn’t even go on a single date."

"Wait, really? In an entire month?"

"Well, you see, back then I spent almost all my waking hours locked in the university library, obsessively reading papers and books. Honestly, I didn’t have any time to devote to a relationship."

"...Wow. I suddenly feel really bad for that woman."

"...Thinking about it now, I feel like I treated her pretty terribly too."

I placed my hand on her hair and gently stroked it.

She smiled softly, her expression melting into a relaxed, happy grin.

That warm gaze… the feelings behind it… made me happy.

Even though I knew it probably wasn’t a good idea, I couldn’t stop myself from continuing to stroke her head.

...It started with me acting like a father figure.

Yet before I realized it, I’d begun feeling something like this.

What a sinful person I am.

"So in the end, we barely ate any of the French food."

"Yeah… it just doesn’t really suit my palate. I’m not used to it. Honestly, the best meal for me is still the food you cook, Ayumu-san.

...I’d like to eat it every day."

"For me, cooking every meal would make managing your nutrition much easier. I’d like that too."

"Wow, what an unromantic answer."

"By the way, I’m also good at housework and laundry, so you can leave managing the house to me."

"...Wait wait wait wait? Huh? What do you mean?"

"Heh."

"Hey! You were teasing me, weren’t you?! Geez!"

"But seriously. After you graduate from Tracen, you’ll live in that house, right?

If that happens, I’ll handle the housework—including the cooking."

"...Um… is that really okay? After I graduate from Tracen… you know…"

"You’re planning to join the Dream Trophy League, right? Then I’ll just continue being your trainer there too. Don’t worry—I’ve already been studying so I can handle things properly on that side as well."

"So… what happens after that?

When I retire… um… I know this is a bit of a mean question…"

"...Heh."

"Y-you laughed again! I can’t believe you’d laugh at a maiden’s pure feelings!"

"N-no, sorry. It’s just funny to think you’re still stopping there."

"Stopping there? What do you mean…?"

"I don’t know exactly what you’re thinking, but…

As long as you want it, I’d like to stay by your side. …Regardless of any contract."

"!!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

W-wait, huh, you—what?! So that means—like—what?!"

"I can’t say any more than that. The 'current' me is still your trainer, and the 'current' you is still a middle school student. I can’t make careless statements.

But even if that’s true now, it won’t always be. In the future… I’ll be able to say other things."

"N-no, wait—this isn’t a joke or a misunderstanding, right?! You’re serious, right?! You can’t take that back! Absolutely not! You can’t just forget about this tomorrow or pretend it was a dream or something, okay?!"

…Honestly.

Even if we both have memories from our previous lives, thinking about someone this young…

Yeah, there’s no escaping the accusations of being a lolicon now.

---

Wilm and I spent our final night in France quietly together.

…Well, aside from the occasional moment when Wilm would suddenly start flailing around, but overall it was fairly peaceful.

Naturally, by the time dawn began to approach, Wilm started getting drowsy.

As a stoic athlete, she normally never stays up late.

She usually falls asleep around nine or ten at night, wakes up around four or five in the morning, spends a little time waking up, and then goes out for a run.

Because of that, her internal clock is incredibly precise.

So if she stays awake this long, an overwhelming wave of sleepiness eventually catches up with her.

She was probably caught between wanting to keep talking and the sleepiness that was steadily growing stronger.

Burying her face against my chest, Wilm murmured in a slightly hazy voice.

"Also… yeah. I’m glad I won… the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe."

"Did you have a fun race?"

"Yeah. But it’s not just that."

Wilm lifted her face from my chest.

Through eyelids that were only half-open, she looked up at me with a soft, melting gaze…

And then she said something I hadn’t expected at all.

"Ayumu-san, it was your birthday, right? The day before the Arc."

"...You knew?"

Ayumu Horino’s birthday is October 3rd.

This year, it fell the day before the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

I almost never tell anyone about it.

Partly because it felt unnecessary for a grown trainer to be celebrated by students—especially young Uma Musume girls.

But more than that, this time of year is right in the middle of the G1 racing season. There simply isn’t any time to spare for something like that.

This year in particular, the Arc was right around the corner.

There was no way I could take time away from Wilm, who was fully fired up for the race, or Bourbon, who was pushing hard in preparation for the Kikuka Sho.

Since I was in France—and right before the Arc—only a few messages came in from fellow trainers, senior colleagues, and my family.

Otherwise, it was just an ordinary day.

And as far as I remembered, I’d never told Wilm about it either.

She hadn’t said anything before, so I assumed she didn’t know.

Maybe she heard it from Masa. Or maybe she saw it somewhere in a profile.

"I… don’t really have anything else I can give you, Ayumu-san. And for my birthday this year… you gave me something incredible… a house and everything.

So at the very least… I wanted to make it so that people could say you’re the best trainer in the world too… That’s why… I wanted to win the Arc and make you the first Japanese Arc-winning trainer… whoa…"

…From my perspective, just being able to stand beside this girl already felt like I’d been given more than enough.

But apparently, Wilm had been thinking something similar.

Still, the Arc… the very pinnacle of the racing world.

Even if she meant it as just a birthday present, that’s one unbelievable gift.

"So I’m really glad I won… I could give something back to you…

And once again… happy birthday… I’m glad… I got to meet you…"

With those final words, her head suddenly went limp.

Her eyelids closed.

Her expression looked a little sloppy, but happy… completely relaxed.

Not even the slightest hint of tension remained.

As I gently stroked her head, I quietly closed my own eyes as well.

"...Honestly.

You really are the most devoted runner a trainer could ask for. There’s nothing that makes a trainer feel more fulfilled than this.

Thank you, Wilm. That was the best birthday present I could’ve received."

"Hehe… Ayu…mu…"

It seemed she had finally reached her limit.

Her words faded away before she could finish them.

A quiet night.

A fleeting moment no one else would ever witness.

Holding the runner who changed my life—my most precious partner—

"...I love you, Wilm. In every possible sense."

Whispering that secret into the darkness, I drifted into a brief sleep.