Chapter 197: That body was made of infinite possibilities.

I—Understandible—am known in the West… or rather, to the public at large, as something like a “heroic princess.”

It’s not like I ever tried to build that kind of image, though…

I just kept running, chasing after my idol, Hoshino Wilm—what you’d call an “oshi” in Japanese—and, just as my trainer predicted, I racked up G1 wins one after another. That’s what earned me such a high evaluation.

Well, “high” might be underselling it… To be blunt, people tend to see me as second only to Hoshino Wilm.

—

But honestly?

None of that really matters.

Of course, fans are important, and entertaining them is part of our role… but in the end, all I can do is run. How people perceive me is just a result of that—not something I can directly control.

At most, I can try to act in a way that matches whatever image people assign to me—but whether I can influence that image itself? No.

You can’t mix up cause and effect. We Uma Musume don’t run for the sake of an image—the image is what remains after we run. Probably.

So rather than worrying about that kind of thing, I think it’s far more important to run in my own way—and to enjoy it.

…Up until the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, I did try to stay somewhat aligned with that image. But that race really deepened my understanding of what it means to be a racing Uma Musume.

Or rather… that girl, and Neddy, drilled it into me. By force. With overwhelming power.

I had been ignorant—underestimating Uma Musume—and I ended up learning quite a lot about their strength, and what they truly are.

…Apparently, in Japanese culture, there’s a term for this: “wakaraseru.” It’s mainly used when dealing with girls like us—children, apparently.

—

That said, I pride myself on being pretty smart—good at understanding things—but I genuinely don’t get why combining characters like “logic,” “reason,” or “to solve” somehow ends up being read as “understand.”

I mean, one character can have four meanings and eight readings, and there are thousands of them. Isn’t Japanese just ridiculously hard? It’s like… dozens of times harder than a G1 race.

—

Anyway.

Lately, I’ve been trying not to think too much about my image…

But regardless of how I act, the fact remains that I’m seen as the strongest, most beautiful “heroic princess.”

And when someone like me came to Japan, the thing that surprised me the most was—

—

"Trainer, look at this! Look! Cup noodles actually taste good! And they’re supposed to be preserved food!"

—

The depth of the food culture.

—

In my hands was a single cup of preserved food.

Dried noodles—you pour hot water over them and wait a few minutes—but the flavor was intense, almost addictive.

"Cup noodles aren’t really treated as preserved food here. They’re more like quick, convenient meals."

"No cooking effort, cheap, and actually tasty! This is amazing! The pinnacle of corporate innovation!"

Of course, cup noodles exist in my home country too. Walk into any random supermarket and you’ll find plenty of them—Pot Noodle and the like.

But… how should I put it? The broth is thin, the noodles are soggy—it really feels like they’re meant to be emergency rations.

Compared to that, Japanese cup noodles are incredible.

Maybe not the healthiest… but they go far beyond what you’d consider merely “acceptable” as actual cuisine.

From an athlete’s perspective, the unbalanced nutrition is a downside—but otherwise, I could honestly live off these for a while.

—

As I sipped the salty broth, my trainer watched me with an amused, almost fond expression—like I was some small animal.

Hey, come on, Trainer—are you underestimating this?

This is seriously good. Around a pound, just pour hot water, and you get this flavor? That’s beyond a bargain—it’s absurd.

"So it’s really that good?"

"It’s not just good… it’s more like—wow. Japan’s food culture is incredible."

Back in my homeland—Britain—the food situation is… well…

It’s not that it’s bad, exactly, but overall it’s mild and not very elaborate.

The staple is usually mashed potatoes, with bread or meat on the side.

Lunch might be sandwiches or lightly fried fish, but compared to food abroad, the flavor always feels a bit… lacking. Mostly just salty.

Ah—though the French cuisine I had before the Arc was also on the lighter side.

But that was delicate seasoning, right? A harmony dancing on the tongue.

Daily meals in Britain aren’t like that—it’s more like, “Salt! Ketchup!” Kind of rough, I guess…

Meanwhile, Japanese food is… how should I put it… “deep” feels like the most accurate word.

I don’t know exactly what’s different, but there’s something layered behind the flavor—something carefully crafted.

It’s like parts of my taste buds I’ve never used before are reacting—tingling. A completely fresh experience.

"The fancy restaurant you took me to the other day was amazing too. Honestly, this feels like a difference in how much importance a culture places on food… no, to be blunt, it feels like my home country is behind. That’s kind of sad."

"There are delicious places over there too, you know."

"Yeah, but the average is low. Everyday food just doesn’t compare."

"I felt it in France too—but beyond technique, maybe it’s the ingredients, the seasonings, or the attention to detail in preparation that just doesn’t quite match up?"

"Maybe historically, food just wasn’t as prioritized? Not sure."

"You’re saying all that without even going to a supermarket or watching how it’s made. That’s very you, Understandible."

"Hm? I think anyone could tell this much."

I love my country, and I’m proud of it—but if something is objectively lacking, it’s better to admit it.

In the end, it’s just a difference in how long cultures have developed and what they focused on. I’m sure there are areas where my homeland excels too.

Like cityscapes and land use… honestly, I think we can compete with Japan there.

—

By the time we finished talking, I had finished my meal.

I set my fork down. "Thanks for the meal."

"Whew. Meals like this are nice once in a while. Adds some variety."

"It’s packed with salt and fat, so as an athlete, you can’t eat it often."

"True. Even my body’s telling me this would be bad long-term."

"Convenience and taste come with their risks. Honestly, I think my homeland’s simple, mild, but nutritionally balanced meals suit me better."

"Which is exactly why something like this is nice once in a while."

I handed the empty container to my trainer, and he took it with a wry smile.

Really, just winning a few G1 races gets you a handsome guy who waits on you like a butler… being a racing Uma Musume has its perks.

…That said, if you’re going to enjoy luxuries like that, you have to fulfill your responsibilities too.

Can’t forget your main duty.

"Well then, sorry to keep you waiting… shall we start talking about the race?"

"Yeah. The Japan Cup—and the recent Tenno Sho."

---

Understandible’s next race would be the Japan Cup in Japan—a place nearly halfway across the world from her homeland.

The reaction to that announcement was… intense.

Mainly from racing officials—and shipping fans.

Fans back in Britain were like, "This is your revenge! Show them, Heroic Princess!"

Japanese racing fans responded, "You won over there? No way we’re losing here!"

And the shippers went, "Wilm × Ann… nice."

I lost at the Arc because I underestimated Neddy and the others—but it’s still an undeniable fact that I’m extremely strong.

To be honest… it might sound arrogant, but in terms of raw talent, I’m probably one of the very few who can even compare to Hoshino Wilm.

So while I don’t quite match her, the whole world is watching what I’ll do next.

And now I’m heading to Japan, practically shouting “revenge”—of course it’s going to draw attention.

Well, Hoshino Wilm withdrew, so we won’t get our second direct clash at the Japan Cup…

But instead, I’ll be facing the absolute emperor—the only one in the Twinkle Series to have ever stood on equal footing with her.

You could say this race will determine the relative standing of Britain and Japan.

The world wants to see this Japan Cup…

They want a conclusion—East versus West.

Though personally, I feel like the Arc already settled that—but it’s hard to accept defeat, right? People back home really want to prove themselves.

…Oh, right. According to Trainer Horino, there’s a Uma Musume at Tracen who once beat Hoshino Wilm in a mock race?

If that’s true, then Tokai Teio isn’t the only one who’s stood on equal footing with her.

Might be interesting to meet her sometime. Fluke or not, anyone who’s beaten Hoshino Wilm must have something special.

—

Anyway, back on topic—the Japan Cup, and also…

"Still, the Tenno Sho (Autumn)… that was incredible."

"Yeah. It really was."

My trainer and I nodded in agreement.

The Tenno Sho (Autumn)—a G1 race held in Japan just recently.

Since my stay in Japan had been publicly announced, watching from the general stands wasn’t really an option, so we viewed it from a reserved area provided by the race organizers.

And well…

To put it simply, that race shocked me almost as much as the food culture.

"Nice Nature… she’s transformed."

I leaned back on the sofa, hands clasped behind my head.

The winner of that race was Nice Nature.

She beat Mejiro McQueen by a length and a half—a decisive victory.

—

Nice Nature.

Alongside Hoshino Wilm and Tokai Teio, she’s one of the “third-tier stars” of their generation.

To be honest, I had underestimated her.

I mean, she didn’t look particularly strong.

Hoshino Wilm is absurdly strong.

Her very existence feels different—like she came from another world. A monster beyond all standards.

Honestly, even if I give it everything, I might not catch up to her. She’s just that far ahead.

As expected of my idol, my inspiration, my rival—and my friend.

And Tokai Teio, her greatest rival, is also quite strong.

You can tell at a glance—she’s incredibly smart, and her body has outstanding natural ability.

She’s not as fundamentally “out of spec” as Hoshino Wilm, but she’s still one of those rare, singular talents.

It seems she’s spent a long time refining that risky running style, too. Aside from Wilm and me, there probably aren’t many who could stop her.

Then there’s Mejiro McQueen.

Maybe not quite at Teio’s level, but she’s exceptional too.

Especially over long distances—honestly, unless it’s Wilm, me, or Teio, I don’t see anyone beating her.

That seemingly infinite stamina is a serious threat. There’s no way to win by trying to exhaust her.

Well… I could probably beat her physically, though. I mean, it’s me.

—

On the other hand, Nice Nature—Wilm’s most fearsome rival…

Hmm.

Well… how should I put it?

I thought she was just… an ordinary Uma Musume.

Not a monster like Wilm. Not uniquely gifted like Tokai Teio.

Just someone with above-average talent—ordinary, through and through.

Even someone like that—could she really stand alongside Hoshino Wilm, Tokai Teio, and Mejiro McQueen?

Yeah… that’s a stretch.

No matter how hard an ant runs, it’s not catching up to a human sprinting at full speed.

Even Neddy, as strong as she was, still possessed world-class talent—if not quite on the level of me or Hoshino Wilm.

So someone with talent that’s merely “common,” even by Japanese standards… I didn’t think she could quite reach that level.

It’s a cruel truth, but the power of an Uma Musume is largely decided at birth.

Your growth rate, your ceiling—and even your floor.

That’s why, having been born with superior talent, I could never find meaning in competing with others.

If I ran seriously, I’d win. And what’s fun about a match where you already know you’ll win?

…Well, that arrogance is exactly what got me tripped up—and led to me getting thoroughly “taught a lesson” about the true power of Uma Musume. Which, admittedly, was a pretty amazing experience!

Still, even if Uma Musume possess mysterious, limitless potential… could Nice Nature really reach those three?

My instincts said no.

They’re just built differently.

The fate she was born with shouldn’t have allowed her to win.

…Or so I thought.

Right before my eyes, Nice Nature shattered that wall of fate.

Not through destiny. Not through the power of her soul. Not through innate talent.

But purely through her own effort.

—

"Ann, do you think you could copy what Nice Nature did?"

"Nope. No way. Not happening."

I answered my trainer immediately.

"That’s not a single technique—it’s her entire way of running… ugh, this is hard to put into words."

"Take Hoshino Wilm or Tokai Teio—their running is like an actor on stage. Their expressions, their gestures. It’s difficult, sure, but if you study it for a few weeks, you could manage a rough imitation."

"But what Nature does is… different. It’s like the performance starts before she even steps on stage. Like her entire life is part of the role. Even after she leaves the stage, she’s still acting—like she’s been fighting that battle her whole life."

"She’s not relying on a single skill or trump card. Her attitude, her mindset, the way she moves—everything is carefully tuned, all to create the optimal race plan."

Not a single technique, but a complete art form.

All of her strategies, skills, and her very way of running intertwine to form “the running of Nice Nature.”

"Even if I tried to replicate it, I’d have to lower my physical specs and become a ‘weaker version of Nice Nature.’"

"And if I only tried to copy parts of it, figuring out what to take and what to leave would be insanely difficult. Even if I managed it, the individual pieces wouldn’t amount to much."

"Her real strength is the combination—the way everything fits together. That overwhelming synergy, the almost obsessive level of design that turns it into something artistic—that’s her true threat."

"…And honestly, I don’t think I could push myself that far. That’s a style only she can achieve—because she’s weak, yet strong."

In theory, her techniques could be reproduced.

But considering my mentality—and whether it would even be worth it—it’s practically impossible.

That’s why Nice Nature’s running… is something even I, Understandible, cannot copy.

A truly one-of-a-kind existence in this world.

Something neither Hoshino Wilm nor Tokai Teio possesses.

And that… terrifies me.

"She’s not cheating or anything."

"Her natural talent is nowhere near mine or Hoshino Wilm’s."

"And yet… she accomplished what neither Wilm nor Teio could. She faced Mejiro McQueen head-on and surpassed her—proving her strength."

"The same potential I saw in Neddy… Nice Nature is its very embodiment."

—

Strong Uma Musume win. That’s obvious—almost an obligation.

Average ones perform well. That’s normal—everyday reality.

Weak ones lose. Unfortunately, that’s also natural.

That’s why, to me, it was all unbearably boring.

Because I can gauge strength, there’s no surprise in any race.

The world—the races—their outcomes—already determined.

The strong defeat the weak. On a merit-based stage, that’s only natural.

Running simulations where the result is already known—what’s the point?

That’s what I used to think.

But Hoshino Wilm—and Neddy—showed me that this world holds unknown possibilities.

Uma Musume can sometimes surpass logic, natural law—even the fate they were meant to follow.

Even with the same conditions, a simulation can yield different results.

That is the potential of the Uma Musume I love.

And Nice Nature is the ultimate example of that.

A girl that weak—someone who shouldn’t even be able to secure a G1 victory—

defeated Mejiro McQueen head-on,

and now… threatens Hoshino Wilm—the ultimate anomaly.

She has stepped beyond the tracks of fate and into an unknown future.

Ah… it’s truly terrifying.

Terrifying—and… I can’t stop trembling.

"They call that ‘battle tremors’ in Japan, you know."

"A warrior’s tremble, huh? That’s a nice phrase!"

Nice Nature…

Ah, someday, I’d love to run against you too.

When I’m at my absolute best…

would you be able to defeat me as well?

---

"Still, it really makes you wonder—what’s going on with Japanese Uma Musume?"

"Hoshino Wilm goes without saying, Nice Nature is a bundle of potential, Mejiro McQueen has physical ability that rivals mine, and even the next generation has cyborgs, dual-personality assassins, new leaders… it’s just packed with fascinating runners."

"It’s hard to believe this many stars gathering in one place is just coincidence, don’t you think?"

I tilted my head.

Isn’t Japan just a bit too stacked with elites?

I mean, we’ve got Neddy and Witch back home too—but the overall depth here is on a completely different level.

Even the junior class this year had quite a few promising talents, just from a glance.

As I thought that, my trainer placed a hand on his chin and replied.

"…It’s just a theory, but they say that when one Uma Musume stands far above the rest, the ones around her start to awaken in response."

"In fact, if Hoshino Wilm hadn’t existed, you wouldn’t have ever run seriously either, right?"

"Ahh… I see. Yeah… that makes sense."

—

The back of a runner far ahead of you—so far you don’t even know if you can catch her.

I understand that feeling well—how it sets your heart on fire.

So that’s it… Hoshino Wilm flipped the switch on the world.

No… more precisely, Racing Uma Musume Hoshino Wilm. In other words, her—and Trainer Horino.

Those two—monsters who exist beyond the world’s limits—met each other, and that alone decisively warped the fate of this country… no, the entire world.

…Honestly, that’s terrifying.

Because the one I’m about to face next is someone who was already breaking the rules of Uma Musume—and then fully awakened thanks to Hoshino Wilm.

—

"So… about the Japan Cup. Think you can beat Tokai Teio?"

My trainer asked it so casually.

Tokai Teio—the “second star” of that generation.

A monster worthy of standing beside Hoshino Wilm and Nice Nature, already transcending the boundaries of an Uma Musume.

And facing someone like her, I—

—

"Yeah. I can win."

I answered instantly.

—

The Tenno Sho the other day made it clear—racing isn’t just a simple comparison of raw ability.

If it were, no one would ever beat Hoshino Wilm. Trying to surpass cheat × cheat with pure specs? Even for me and my trainer, that’s asking too much.

In that sense, Nice Nature has honestly risen to a threat on the same level as Wilm.

I can’t read her—not even with my eyes.

Not knowing what she’s thinking or how she’ll run means I lose in strategy—and that means I’ll fall right into her trap.

I’ve never experienced a race where I couldn’t predict how I’d be beaten. Can I win for sure? …Honestly, I’m not confident.

But… compatibility matters.

I may not match up well against Hoshino Wilm or Nice Nature—

but against Tokai Teio, I have excellent compatibility.

…Or rather, maybe it’s more accurate to say there’s no compatibility at all.

—

"Because Tokai Teio is essentially a lesser version of me."

"She can understand anything, do anything—that’s her strength. But that’s true for me too… and I’m simply stronger."

Compatibility only exists when directions differ.

But Teio and I are extremely similar in direction—so much so that I even feel a sense of kinship.

And if that’s the case, then compatibility doesn’t exist between us.

What remains is only strength—the magnitude of our vectors.

In other words, unlike the Tenno Sho, the upcoming Japan Cup is something very simple.

Understandible versus Tokai Teio.

Whichever is stronger—that alone will decide the winner.

And when it comes to pure strength, I’m confident I won’t lose to anyone except Hoshino Wilm.

…Well, okay, I did lose to Neddy in a race—but I’m talking about raw Uma Musume specs here.

As long as I approach the race with the right mindset and the right physical condition, there should be no way for me to lose—

—

…Or so I would’ve said before the Arc.

Yeah. That race taught me very well that Uma Musume aren’t that simple.

—

"…If this were me before the Arc, I would’ve said that without hesitation."

"Back then, when I said ‘I can win,’ I meant ‘there’s no chance I’ll lose.’ But now… I mean it as ‘I have a strong chance of winning.’"

"As long as there’s a possibility that Tokai Teio might break through that wall, I can’t claim absolute certainty."

I’m not an idiot. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

My trainer smiled and nodded.

"Mm-hm. That’s a good change."

…Scary. He’s seriously scary.

After all, during the Arc, he deliberately let me walk into a losing battle—just so I’d understand how terrifying Uma Musume can be.

—

Back then, he had already recognized Neddy’s threat.

A trainer with eyes like his wouldn’t miss how perfectly Neddy was performing.

And yet… he never once warned me.

The only thing he said before the race was, "Go win like you always do."

What a dangerously reassuring thing to say.

I trust my trainer.

If my instincts clash with his judgment, I won’t reject it outright—I’ll ask for his reasoning. And if it makes sense, I’ll accept it.

That’s how much I trust him.

So if he had told me, "Be careful of Neddyrica," I would have listened.

Maybe… I could have won the Arc.

But he didn’t choose that path.

The reason was simple.

—

"If you lose here, then that’s all you were worth…"

"And if you hit the ground once, you’ll become stronger in the end."

—

That’s what he told me afterward.

That I’m a genius, so I don’t understand the struggles of ordinary people—the hardships, or the strength gained from them.

That I needed to fall to my knees once, to broaden my perspective.

I mean—seriously? That was the Arc.

The pinnacle of the world. A direct clash with that mythical dragon.

And he used that opportunity—the greatest honor a trainer could achieve—for that?

When I asked if he was worried about backlash, he just said—

"Even so… if it’s for your sake."

…Honestly, he likes me way too much.

—

…Thanks to that terrifying trainer of mine, you could say the word “complacency” has completely disappeared from me.

There’s no such thing as a “guaranteed victory” in this world.

If your opponent is an Uma Musume, then logic, reason, natural law, common sense, limits, calculations—any and all of them can be overturned.

And at the same time—

since I, too, am an Uma Musume…

I might be able to surpass all of that as well—even my own supposed limits.

And that… heh.

I can’t wait.

—

"Heh… this is good. Really good. Fighting strong opponents—fighting someone who might even surpass me—is the best."

"Body, strategy, judgment, ideas, tactics, technique, worldview, emotion, mentality, movement, running style… there’s no end to it."

"No end to how much I can grow. No end to how much stronger I can become."

"Tokai Teio—the absolute emperor who reached Hoshino Wilm’s level."

"I’m looking forward to it… I’m sure facing her will give me new power!"

"…Yeah, you’re less a hero and more a berserker. Maybe even a demon lord."

My trainer gave a wry smile.

…Heh. You think I wouldn’t notice?

Behind that expression—

he’s genuinely, deeply happy.

Happy that Understandible… will grow stronger and stronger, beyond even this.