Chapter 23: Guts, of course…! Guts solves everything…!

Time is a cruel thing. No matter how badly you want it to wait, it marches on regardless. It feels like the Satsuki Sho ended just the other day, yet between daily training and constant communication with Hoshino Wilm, I realized—with a start—that there was less than a month left until the Derby.

Today is her long-awaited mock race. Well, “long-awaited” might be an exaggeration, considering it’s only been about a month. A left-handed turf course, 2400 meters. Eighteen participants. Naturally, everything about it is designed with the Japan Derby, now just one month away, firmly in mind.

"Hoshino Wilm, how are you feeling?"

"I believe I’m in top condition. Since you arranged this mock race for me, I’ll make sure to run properly."

The usual question earns a reply that’s just a little more verbose than normal. My assigned Uma Musume is as expressionless as ever today… though the faint smile she can’t quite hide is what makes it so charming.

Since the Satsuki Sho, something between us has changed—just a little. At some point, I think Hoshino Wilm opened up to me one step further. It’s subtle, but she smiles more often now. She’s also started initiating conversations herself, telling me about cute things her roommate senpai does, about going out to play with Nature, or about small, recent happenings.

…Of course, along with that increase in communication came a sharp rise in requests for mock races and extra self-training, which is a separate problem entirely.

"To be honest, considering leg fatigue, I wanted to avoid a mock race."

"I-I’m sorry. And thank you very much."

"No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. I wanted to avoid it, but if you want to run, that takes priority. So just like I told you before—go run however you like."

"Ah—uh—y-yes."

…And there she goes again, turning her face away.

Our relationship deepening is something to be happy about, but at the same time, a slightly troublesome issue has cropped up. She’s started suddenly turning her face away mid-conversation, or even bolting from the spot entirely. When that happens, telling her to look this way or stop is pointless. She always comes back on her own within ten minutes at most, so the correct response is to do nothing and wait. Like an overheated car, really.

This time, she’s only turned her face away. Her tail is swishing high and energetically, so at least she isn’t upset. …It’s not that my breath smells bad, right? It’s fine, right? Remembering that day when I kept failing at scouting, I’ll admit it’s a little scary.

Why did someone who used to be so straightforward start turning her face away or running off like this? Looking back through the Horino family data, something does come to mind. …Yeah, it’s an awkward topic.

Uma Musume mental structures aren’t all that different from human girls’. An adult man who sincerely listens to their worries, guides them, and then shares in their joy—it wouldn’t be strange at all for them to feel admiration, or frankly, even romantic feelings.

However.

In my case, with my assigned Uma Musume, that is impossible. It’s about as likely as Hoshino Wilm secretly being a reincarnator.

After all, I’m a Horino trainer. I have—let’s say—considerable experience with the collapse of trainer–Uma Musume relationships. I’d probably get smacked by my ancestors for phrasing it that way, but the data was abundant. Naturally, I’ve taken proper countermeasures.

The relationship between a trainer and an Uma Musume is extremely delicate. Being disappointed in is bad. But being admired is also bad. You have to be relied on—but you can’t be depended on. Being distant is bad, but being too close is, of course, also bad.

We trainers are neither their guardians nor their romantic partners. A “trainer” is simply someone who trains them and sends them into races. If you don’t properly understand that… in the worst case, it can escalate into assault incidents or so-called “umapyoi situations.”

But I’m a reincarnator. By the time you’re on your second run through life, you learn just how many landmines exist in human relationships. That’s why I didn’t neglect countermeasures for this problem.

…Yes. This expressionless, unfriendly mask I wear at all times. It’s a deliberate measure to manage distance with my assigned Uma Musume. No Uma Musume would fall for such a cold, ruthless, hardcore trainer. And if one did, that level of confusion would warrant a visit to a mental clinic.

In other words, by wearing this mask, I can ensure that no romantic feelings ever arise. No matter how much I empathize with their hearts or devote myself to their future, I’ll never be more than a partner. Perfect distance maintenance.

Honestly, it’s a flawless plan.

…If only I had a bit more acting talent, it would’ve been perfect.

Anyway, as things stand, it’s impossible that Hoshino Wilm harbors any affection for me. I’m just an unfriendly, ruthless trainer who stopped her when she nearly caused an accident that day, ended up signing a contract by chance, taught her aptitudes she didn’t understand, raised an undefeated Uma Musume since the selection race, patted her head, competed with her, listened to her painful past, greeted her parents, and tried to help her enjoy passionate races.

…………Huh.

When I lay it all out like that, it kind of feels like it wouldn’t be strange for her to like me.

Objectively speaking, haven’t I stepped way too far into her life…?

N-no. Still, there shouldn’t be any romantic feelings. I have the mask on. What she directs toward me is trust, not something so fleeting. To even harbor doubts about Hoshino Wilm as an athlete—and about the relationship we’ve built—would be disrespectful.

But if that’s the case, then I really don’t understand why she keeps turning her face away. Could she be giving off some kind of intensely foul smell that humans can’t detect…? No, it’s hard to imagine Hoshino Wilm being shaken by something like that. A rebellious phase…? She’s not really at that age. Her mental age without the mask is a bit childish, but at her core she’s honest, kind, and a good kid.

Hmm…

She really is a complex, mysterious Uma Musume. Just trying to understand her isn’t going to be easy.

Well, neither humans nor Uma Musume can understand each other so easily. We’ve only been together for one year and five months—not even halfway through the so-called “first three years.” If I keep facing her properly, then one day, I should be able to truly understand her.

…At least, I hope so.

While I was absentmindedly letting my thoughts wander, Hoshino Wilm finally rebooted. Looks like it’s about time to get back to discussing the race.

"Let’s go over this race again. As for strategy—there isn’t one. This is practice for improvisation in the Derby, so run using what you think is the optimal solution. As for the Uma Musume you need to watch out for…"

I flick my gaze toward the various teams entered in the race.

The first to catch my eye is a chestnut Uma Musume deep in conversation with her trainer. Her body looks thoroughly tuned—impressive enough that you’d never guess she’s just returning from a break. You can see both outstanding talent and the fruits of relentless effort. She shouldn’t be a named character, but she’s clearly named-tier in strength. Maybe she’s a later addition from after I quit the app.

"First up, Rionatal. She secured her Derby berth by winning the Aoba Sho. Her basic tactic is front-running, but in the Aoba Sho she missed the start and still won by closing from the very back. That finishing kick is razor-sharp. She might go for the lead, she might sit near the front, or she might come from behind. Be careful."

"That girl… this is the first time we’ve seen her, right?"

"Apparently she was on break from around the end of last year through March. That’s why she couldn’t make the Satsuki Sho. Among the Uma Musume slated for the Derby, she’s second only to Tokai Teio in strength. Listen for her footsteps—and remember them."

Next, my eyes move to the ever-energetic blue-haired twin-tailed Uma Musume. Hm… still the same speed-skewed training policy. Having less than 200 stamina at this stage is dangerous. But then again, her guts are over 300. A guts-focused build. She’s way ahead of her time… maybe too far ahead.

"Unfortunately, she finished ninth in the Aoba Sho and missed out on the Derby. The runaway specialist—Twin Turbo."

"My master, right?"

"…Yeah. Master. As you know, she’s a catastrophically reckless runaway type. Winning or losing aside, she exists to throw the race into chaos. Last time she missed the start and ran without issue, but if she gets a clean break this time, she might fight you for position. If you burn stamina there, it’ll come back to bite you later."

"Just being ‘Master’ already makes her someone to watch out for."

"Ah… yeah. That’s true."

And finally—

Damn it. I want to avert my eyes from reality.

Stretching silently on the turf is a chestnut closer—probably the Uma Musume closest in ability to Hoshino Wilm. The moment she enters my field of view, my “app reincarnation” instinctively and accurately grasps her strength.

Nice Nature.

Speed D 320
Stamina D+ 384
Power D 333
Guts D 349
Wisdom C 460

Yeah, if you just look at the numbers, they seem reasonable.

…No. They don’t. Not at all.

It’s ridiculous. Why are her stats on par with Tokai Teio’s at the time of the Satsuki Sho, when Teio is a literal bundle of talent? This is genuinely Nice Nature. At this level, she’d swat aside any non-named Uma Musume without breaking a sweat.

And then there’s the further problem—or rather, the real problem.

Her skills.

"Slipstream," which tucks in behind another Uma Musume to reduce wind resistance.
"Bewitching Whisper," which unsettles and confuses other runners.
"Sharp Gaze," which applies pressure and shakes them.
"Trick (Rear)," which further rattles an Uma Musume trying to seize control of the race.
"Short Break," which conserves energy in the middle pack.

Since that three-way mock race, she’s undergone an outrageous evolution. A schemer who layers debuffs and seizes control of the race itself. From Hoshino Wilm’s perspective, she’s the most terrifying kind of opponent.

…But even that isn’t the biggest issue.

Among the displayed skills is a truly horrifying string of words.

"Surely, Beyond That…! Lv 1"

…That’s a unique skill.

A familiar sight from my past life with the app—a unique skill. As the name implies, these are abilities unique to individual Uma Musume. They activate under strict conditions, exert effects far stronger than ordinary skills, and can rewrite the entire flow of a race in a single instant.

Nice Nature had acquired one.

Unique—

Or, in this world’s terms, a Domain.

To be honest, its existence had been confirmed for a long time. The Horino family had even passed it down orally. Still, I’d always heard it was something only Uma Musume with extraordinary talent awakened after being pushed to their absolute limits.

And yet the Satsuki Sho just ended. It’s way too early for that.

…So why did Nice Nature open her Domain?

Apparently, it was the result of participating in that recent mock race with Symboli Rudolf and Tokai Teio. Ggh… our schedules didn’t line up, so I passed on it—but maybe I should’ve forced my way in anyway.

Just the other day, Student Council President Symboli Rudolf suddenly summoned me to the council room. While I was sweating bullets wondering what I’d done wrong, she calmly explained how both Teio and Nature had opened their Domains. Then she said, “It wouldn’t be fair to explain it to only one side,” and proceeded to teach me about Domains as well.

Her explanation was peppered with jokes and four-character idioms, making it oddly difficult to follow. But to summarize: in this world, unique skills are called Domains—or Zones.

The term “Zone” rang a bell for me. The hyper-focused mental state athletes enter when pushed to their limits—the classic “the ball looks like it’s standing still” phenomenon. It seems that Uma Musume Domains are similar.

…But theirs are a cut above.

When pushed into an extreme state beyond their limits, Uma Musume pour everything they have into the race before them. Past the point they believed was their limit—past even their true limit—they go further still. Their senses sharpen, and accompanied by a sensation like being reborn, they can exhibit performance far beyond their usual level… or so it’s said.

At that moment, they also experience a hallucination of the inner landscape of their heart. Within that personal world, they run freer than anyone else. Hence the term “Domain.”

That said, as the word “hallucination” implies, if it ended there, it would be little more than a delusion born of extreme stress.

Rudolf didn’t go into detail, but this phenomenon is probably deeply tied to what’s known as the Uma Soul. Because of that, when someone opens a Domain during a race, it affects not only their own Uma Soul, but also those of nearby Uma Musume, resonating on the same wavelength.

As a result, other runners can catch glimpses of the same scenery.

When powerful contenders who have opened Domains clash, their expanding Domains grind against each other. In that process, their worlds mix slightly, and they may even come to understand each other’s feelings. That mutual understanding further heightens the heat and accelerates the race.

…Is this a sports manga or something?

No—right. This is supposed to be a game world. Or at least, a world born from a game. In that case, phenomena like this can probably happen. Either way, it’s not something I can observe as a mere human without an Uma Soul, so there’s no point in complaining about it.

In short, the “unique skills” from my past-life app are called Domains in this world, and they’re treated as phenomena with solid underlying logic. The flashy activation effects from the game apparently appear quite clearly here as hallucinated visions.

That said, there are differences from the game.

Even named Uma Musume haven’t acquired a Domain at the time of enrollment. To obtain one, a girl must reach it herself at some point during her active career. But in reality, only a tiny handful among racing Uma Musume possess the talent required to do so. Those without it will never open a Domain, no matter how much they train.

…At least, that’s the prevailing theory.

And even having talent doesn’t make it easy. To open a Domain, some kind of special condition must be fulfilled. Tremendous effort, a worthy rival, exposure to another’s opened Domain, a scorching race that draws out one’s limits—various theories exist, but the exact conditions remain unclear. Rudolf speculated that “perhaps the conditions differ depending on the Uma Musume.”

Hearing that, I was honestly happy.

Compared to the unique skills in my past-life app, Domains in this world are downright vicious. The difference between having one and not having one is incomparable—to the point that they sometimes produce results that defy physical laws. …I mean, the Dream Trophy League has everyone wielding Domains. No wonder those races are incomprehensible.

And now, one clear goal had emerged.

If Hoshino Wilm acquires a Domain, she’ll become even faster.

I was determined to uncover the conditions no matter what… but then—

"There is one condition that is clearly understood. That Uma Musume must enjoy running."

I’m screwed.

You’ve got to be kidding me. How can something be so precisely designed to exclude only Hoshino Wilm?

…Yeah. Making her enjoy running really is essential. Until now, my actions focused on her heart and her future—things that didn’t directly affect her win rate. But now, at last, it can be said to be the goal in every sense.

My final hesitation vanished.

No matter how harsh the battle may be, Hoshino Wilm should be entered in the Takarazuka Kinen. Sky—Seiun Sky, that trickster—should be able to make her enjoy herself.

…Um. By the way.

Let’s set aside, for a moment, the fact that this president’s stats are absurdly high. Something about her skills is… off.

"Behold the Divine Might of the Emperor Lv 9"

This president is a complete monster.

That’s weird. Unique skills are only supposed to go up to level 6, right? Level 9? What even is 9? If you keep racing past the “first three years,” does it turn into something this insane?

Rudolf’s unique skill was already powerful even in my past-life app. Now it’s become a Domain in this world, with effects beyond measure. And on top of that—it’s level 9.

Yeah… this really is the Eternal Emperor, Symboli Rudolf. The strongest Uma Musume alive—someone I can’t imagine ever beating.

"Trainer? …Trainer!"

"Whoa—what? What is it?"

"You were staring at Nature-chan with a level of blankness I’ve never seen before. Is something wrong?"

"…No. Sorry. It’s nothing."

Crap. Between all the shocks, my focus wandered completely. Honestly, I was half-escaping reality.

Okay. Back on track.

"Lastly—and you’re obviously already marking her—Nice Nature. …She’s the one you truly need to fear this time. Even though it’s just a mock race, there’s something demonic about her. I’ll be frank. Whether you can beat her this time… I don’t know. She’s already reached that level."

"…That much, huh. Nature really is a terrifying Uma Musume."

She really is.

If I were to draft a strategy, Hoshino Wilm’s chances of winning this race would be… unknown. Even being extremely generous, maybe 90 percent. Realistically, closer to 85.

This mock race has conditions stacked heavily in Nice Nature’s favor. First, the track condition is good. Second, unlike last time, Uma Musume who can pressure Hoshino Wilm—Twin Turbo and Rionatal—are participating. Third, Nature herself is clearly awakened right now. And finally, she’s acquired a Domain—something that can’t be measured in numbers.

To have the path to victory lined up this perfectly, you’d suspect the Three Goddesses were playing tricks.

…No. That’s not it.

The conditions didn’t happen to align—they were aligned. Nice Nature’s camp prepared meticulously for this day, bringing her to completion with near-perfection. Then luck, the final missing piece, clicked into place.

And there’s more.

This time, to train her judgment—her tactical eye—I haven’t given Hoshino Wilm a strategy. How far can she fight the current Nature using only her own decisions? …Even if she loses, that defeat will surely become nourishment for her.

"…Let me say this again. If you win, I’ll praise you like crazy. But even if you lose, I’ll be waiting right here, and I’ll comfort you. So don’t overthink it—go out there and enjoy the run."

"…Yes. I can’t promise I’ll enjoy it, but I’m off, Trainer!"

Yeah.

Seeing my usually expressionless trainee start smiling more often really does make me happy.

---

The Uma Musume begin their stretches.

I watch them from outside the course, alone and a little forlorn.

…Normally, around this time, Nature’s trainer would strike up a conversation. But apparently, he has some business he absolutely couldn’t miss today and isn’t here.

Which means that someone like me—who was never very rich in friends to begin with—

"…………"

Ends up like this.

Alone.

It’s not like I feel lonely at this point. I’ve basically been a perpetual loner forever.
Still, what is this sense of discomfort?

Usually, I’d be talking while watching the race. Now I’m just silently observing.
And somehow, that feels… off—like my rhythm has been thrown completely out of whack.

I guess talking with someone who shares a certain baseline of understanding really is important.
Organizing your own thoughts as you speak, picking up insights from a casual comment the other person makes…

Honestly, watching races while exchanging opinions with that guy is far more productive than brooding alone like this.

Haa… isn’t there anyone around who’d be good to talk to?
Someone who wouldn’t mind my unfriendly demeanor, who has a decent grasp of racing, and can exchange rational, thoughtful opinions.

…Actually, at this point, I’d even settle for someone who’d just listen.
But there is one non-negotiable condition: passion for racing.

Whether they enjoy races casually or study them seriously, they need to genuinely care—some motivated trainer or Uma Musume.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone like that just came over from over there and talked to me?

Hahaha… yeah. As if someone that convenient exists.

"Nice to meet you, Horino Trainer. I would like to make a request. May I sit beside you and watch the race together?"

…Wait. That actually happened?

Startled by the familiar-sounding voice, I turn around—

And there, standing before me, is an Uma Musume gazing straight at me.

Long, rich chestnut hair.
A ring-shaped earring attached to her right ear.
Her emotionless blue eyes are fixed precisely on mine.

Somewhere… no—I've seen her before. Definitely.

She’s the front-running Uma Musume known for recording terrifyingly precise lap times—so precise she was once called a cyborg.
Her name is Mihono Bourbon.

…No way. That actually happened!?

"Mihono Bourbon…?"

"Yes. Mihono Bourbon."

Oh wow. Seriously? You can just randomly run into a named Uma Musume like this?

Mihono Bourbon is a named Uma Musume from my past-life app.
Emotionally subdued, expressionless, with a slightly peculiar way of speaking—almost robotic.

She wasn’t exactly one of my mains, but since she had relatively good inheritance compatibility with Sky, I trained her a fair number of times.

I only researched Sky’s real-life history in depth, so I don’t know all the details, but the real racehorse Mihono Bourbon was also an absolute monster.
She smashed through her aptitude limits, going undefeated through the Satsuki Sho and the Japan Derby—a true elite who overcame pedigree barriers through sheer effort.

In short, she’s a brilliant, absurdly strong Uma Musume with a shining future practically guaranteed.

Naturally, her abilities were recognized early, and she already had a trainer before the selection races…
But recently, I heard she terminated her trainer contract after a dispute about her future.

…Probably a clash between her pedigree and aptitudes, and the dream of the Triple Crown.

Still, she’ll be fine.
Standing by your trainee’s dreams is the most basic duty of a trainer.

There are over a hundred trainers at this academy—there’s no way she won’t find one who can truly support her.

But still… why come talk to me, of all people?

If I remember correctly, my evaluation among Uma Musume as a trainer was abysmally low—low enough to punch straight through the ground.
Those days when every scouting attempt failed are still borderline traumatic.

Would you normally approach someone you disliked?
Or maybe she’s a bit airheaded and just doesn’t know those rumors?

I’m glad she talked to me, but… if she’s seen with me, it could negatively affect her bright future.
As an adult, maybe I should gently tell her, “You might want to avoid me—people will gossip.”

"Why come over here? You could just watch on your own."

"Is there a problem with that?"

Well, not exactly a problem, but…

"I just find it an odd choice. If you’re looking for a trainer’s commentary, then the trainer over there with Tokai Teio would be a better option. He’s a veteran with experience."

I gesture toward the trainer currently holding a flag.
Tokai Teio’s trainer is one of the most famous figures at this academy.

After all, he’s the ‘Emperor’s Staff’—the man who once guided Symboli Rudolf to an undefeated Triple Crown.
His ability as a trainer is beyond question.

He apparently only believes in handling a single trainee, and since he’s assigned to Teio now, scouting her is probably impossible—but if all you want is race analysis, there’s no one better.
Even aside from that, having a connection with Teio’s famous trainer would surely benefit Bourbon’s future.

Thinking about her prospects, she really should go talk to him.

So why… isn’t she moving?

"…Is my presence beside you a nuisance?"

"It’s not a nuisance."

"Then, I look forward to working with you."

She bows deeply. Great—now it’s hard to refuse.

Still… she’s oddly persistent. Was she always like this?
I’m happy to have someone to talk to, sure—but without a trainer, she should be networking at times like this…

And judging by that expression, nothing I say is going to change her mind.

Could it be… she has some specific reason for wanting to interact with me?

"…Sigh. Fine. Then stand next to me. The race is about to start."

"Understood. Beginning mission: ‘Race Observation.’"

This isn’t how I expected things to turn out, but Hoshino Wilm’s race is about to begin.
Alright—forget Bourbon’s intentions for now.
Top priority is my trainee. Focus on the race in front of me.

---

Now then, the Uma Musume line up at the starting gate.

There are eighteen runners. Among those scheduled to run in the Derby, both Hoshino Wilm and Rionatal are participating.
Left-handed turf, 2400 meters—conditions close to the Derby—so plenty of camps are likely watching those two closely.

As for their condition…

Only two are in top form: Hoshino Wilm and Rionatal.
Twin Turbo is normal.
…And Nice Nature is in an awakened state.

Man, Nature’s got that look—completely locked in.
I suspected she awakened during that mock race the three of them ran together, but today she’s on a whole different level. You can practically feel her determination to win radiating off her.

What’s scary is that she’s also executing off-track tactics perfectly.
How does she completely seal away that pressure and then casually wander over chatting like nothing’s wrong?

Wait—can she actually turn that aura on and off?

…No, hold on. If she can switch it on and off, then maybe right now she’s deliberately projecting that intimidation.
Yikes. She’s aware of how she appears from the outside and is actively using it. As a strategist, that’s the scariest type there is.

As I shudder while watching Nature, Bourbon beside me speaks up.

"Will Hoshino Wilm-senpai win this race as well?"

"Hard to say.
From where I’m standing, the odds are… seven for Hoshino Wilm, three for Nice Nature."

"Unexpected response detected. Status ‘Confusion’ triggered.
Searching data. Nice Nature-senpai has never closed the gap to within less than eight lengths of Hoshino Wilm-senpai so far."

"You’ve done your homework. …But the Uma Musume of yesterday and the Uma Musume of today are completely different entities.
Even if you won in dominant fashion yesterday, there’s no guarantee you’ll win today."

That’s genuinely true.
From one day to the next, track conditions, conditioning, and form—everything changes.

Even the stats and condition I’m looking at are just base values—mere indicators.
There’s no guarantee anywhere that higher numbers translate into an automatic win.

As we speak, Teio’s trainer lowers the flag.
Watched by the crowd, all eighteen Uma Musume burst forward.

"…Alright, they’re off. Hoshino Wilm got a clean start. Rionatal and Nice Nature follow."

"Will Rionatal-senpai run as the frontrunner again today?"

"No—if my prediction is right… there it is. She’s dropped back into the middle of the pack."

Right from the start, Hoshino Wilm pulls ahead.
Meanwhile, Nice Nature and Rionatal ease back, settling into their own pace.

"According to past logs, Rionatal-senpai has consistently used a front-running strategy. Why has she fallen back this time?"

"Nice Nature’s doing.
With Twin Turbo in this race, there’s no need to force another front-runner to push ahead and wear Hoshino Wilm down.

What’s needed instead is a windbreak for the latter half, when Nice Nature makes her move forward.
That’s why, just before the race, she likely planted the idea in Rionatal’s head and guided her into position."

"…Status ‘Astonishment’ detected. Are you able to predict the thought patterns of Uma Musume who aren’t even your trainees with such accuracy?"

"If you follow logic to its conclusion, even well-hidden intentions become clear.
Think about the optimal strategy for Nice Nature, and her plan reveals itself."

If this race only involved Nice Nature and Rionatal, Hoshino Wilm would have had nothing to worry about.
But today, there’s one more runaway front-runner in the field.

Twin Turbo, who got off to a slightly slower start than the others, charges forward at full throttle.

Hoshino Wilm is currently setting a middle pace.
At this rate, Turbo will catch up—but how will she respond?

The gap steadily closes… five lengths, four lengths, then—

"…She’s been closed down to three lengths, but no further.
She matched Twin Turbo’s pace—or rather, was forced to raise it."

"Is this also part of Nice Nature-senpai’s operation?"

"No, this one should be hands-off. Twin Turbo will always go all-out on her own, no matter what anyone says.
If Nature had time to interfere, she’d use it to manipulate other Uma Musume instead.

…Which means she absolutely anticipated this outcome. In that sense, everything is unfolding exactly as she intended—squarely within her grasp."

It’s terrifying.

Back in February, I compared Nature’s use of other Uma Musume to guns and bullets.
But that analogy doesn’t hold anymore.

The current Nice Nature could turn the surrounding Uma Musume into any weapon she wants.

Bullets to rattle Hoshino Wilm.
Swords that close in alongside her, applying pressure.
Or shields that block the wind when she charges forward.

"While Turbo goes for a runaway lead and drains Hoshino Wilm’s stamina, she hides in Rionatal’s slipstream, avoids the wind, and applies pressure from mid-pack to steadily close the gap to the front… then in the closing phase—no, probably around the 300-meter mark—she plans to overtake.

Judging by Rionatal’s expression, she understands she’s being used, but she’s decided this gives her the best chance to win. She intends to pass Nature at the very end.
But that won’t be sustainable. Her stamina won’t hold, and she’ll likely fade and drop down the order."

"…………Capability exceeding projections confirmed. Evaluation update complete."

Evaluation? …Ah, Nature’s.
Yeah. She doesn’t look like a powerhouse based on her usual demeanor, but in truth she’s a terrifying opponent—on par with Tokai Teio.

Once you actually see her controlling a race like this, it makes perfect sense that your assessment would change.

…Yep, this is about where Turbo starts to fade. That’s the limit of sub-200 stamina.
But—Hoshino Wilm, having already spent a great deal of stamina, shows a faint trace of impatience behind her usual blank expression.

Meanwhile, Nice Nature—having executed a flawless race setup—slots in behind Rionatal and has already closed the gap to just over ten lengths.
At this point, you can hardly call it a safety lead anymore.

"One thousand meters to go… now, this is the decisive stretch."

"…Question raised. Decisive for whom?"

"For my trainee. The key is how calmly Hoshino Wilm can handle this.
She no longer has enough stamina to launch a long sprint from this distance.

But if she waits until the final 200 meters to kick, Nature will cut her down.
Probably… starting a gentler acceleration slightly before Nature does—around the 400-meter mark—would be the most effective move. The question is whether she’ll realize that."

"…Inquiry. Are trainers truly capable of reading race developments to that extent?"

"Hm? Oh, sure. If you’ve got past data and enough material to analyze the current runners—their abilities and personalities—anyone can figure it out."

After all, the Horino household possessed an enormous amount of data. We even had an entire large room devoted solely to storing materials.
…For some reason, no one really tried to make use of it, but for me, it was an unparalleled place of learning. I’d often hole up there during my free time, forgetting to eat or sleep, worrying my family.

I caused my parents and older brother plenty of trouble, but thanks to what I studied back then, I can support Hoshino Wilm now.
Truly, I have nothing but gratitude for those who came before.

On top of that, I can see the Uma Musume’s stats and condition—purely as reference, but still useful.
From there, if you research the other camps, grasp their quirks, running styles, strategic tendencies, and personalities, predicting race flow becomes almost inevitable.

As for this whole “reincarnated from an app” thing, I don’t really know—but when it comes to knowledge and information, there are surely other trainers who possess just as much.
I’m certain there are plenty who can predict developments and devise strategies at a level far beyond mine.

The central trainers are a highly capable bunch.
It’s not like I’m especially exceptional.

As we talk, the race continues.

Rionatal and Nature gradually close the distance to Hoshino Wilm, passing the other front-runners…
And by the time they reach her, the gap has shrunk to seven lengths.

"Alright, 400 meters to go… she doesn’t notice?"

Hoshino Wilm maintains her middle pace, anxiety creeping in without breaking her rhythm.
Is she sticking to her old strategy—pouring everything into the final 200 meters?

For someone like her, who isn’t adept at complex racecraft, that probably feels like the simplest and most reliable approach…

But the current Nice Nature isn’t kind enough to let you escape that way.

"Estimate. 322 meters remaining."

At last, the moment arrives.

Nature slips past Rionatal in an instant and launches herself toward the front.

…No—this isn’t right. This isn’t just a sprint.

"Too fast. She’s entered the zone."

I murmur under my breath.

Nature’s speed has crossed into the absurd.
The pace up to now has already been brutal—and yet she’s accelerating even further.

Given her stamina, that shouldn’t be possible.

Nice Nature has gone beyond her limits.
She’s trying to force a miracle that shouldn’t exist.

"I’ll pass you here—right here, I’ll surpass youuu!"

Shouting desperately, sweat spraying like shattered glass, utterly herself to the very end, she drives forward—forward.

Hoshino Wilm senses the abnormality of the zone swallowing her and tries to sprint in response…

But it lacks her usual sharpness.

Pressed by Turbo earlier and crushed under Nature’s pressure, she hasn’t been running as she normally does.
Her remaining stamina is critically low. She wants to sprint—but she can’t.

"Hoshino Wilm…"

…Normally, the “cool” Hoshino Wilm is strong against pressure from others.
But she’s weak to the fear of defeat.

The fear inside her—the thought that she might lose—is her greatest weakness.
If that fear erupts and spirals out of control… then she has no chance in this race.

…But the Hoshino Wilm of now will be fine.
I believe in her, and I watch.

The distance to the finish line and the distance to Nature both shrink rapidly.

And then—100 meters remaining, the gap dropping below two lengths.

…I felt like our eyes met—Hoshino Wilm’s and mine.

"…I don’t want to lose!"

For just an instant, her face twists—then she forces the mask back into place and continues sprinting at the same speed.

…No.

Not the same.

There’s no way she has any stamina left to spare.
Even that mask can’t hide the agony contorting her face.

Hoshino Wilm has already given everything she has.
Anyone watching would think the outcome is inevitable—that she’s going to lose, and there’s nothing she can do about it.

And yet… Uma Musume have one final power they can rely on, right at the very end.

Cornered as she is…

Hoshino Wilm accelerates—just a little.

"…So it really was grit, not mental strength."

A finishing kick born of sheer guts—burning her soul, exhausting everything that remains, and still refusing to stop.
That tiny burst of acceleration halts Nice Nature’s unstoppable charge.

The gap between them… will no longer close.

In the end, perhaps that was all this race came down to.

The final, stubborn resolve she revealed for the first time—her true rock-bottom limit—after never once running herself completely dry before.
Neither I, her trainer, nor Nature, her rival, nor her fans…

None of us knew what Hoshino Wilm’s real limit was.

First place: Hoshino Wilm.
Second place: Nice Nature, one and a half lengths behind.
Third place: Rionatal… far behind.

"…Looks like the Kikuka Sho will be interesting too."

Right now, she’s collapsed on the turf, tasting frustration…

But Nature will grow even stronger.
So strong that by the time they reach the chrysanthemum stage, it wouldn’t be strange to see these results reversed.

…Thank you, Nice Nature.
The Uma Musume who first gave Hoshino Wilm heat.

Because of you, Hoshino Wilm will surely come to enjoy racing.

---

Now then, just as I’m about to climb over the outside rail to speak to Hoshino Wilm—who’s breathing harder than ever—

A voice calls out from behind me.

"Horino Trainer, I submit a request.
Would you please… enter into a contract with me?"

…………Huh?