Chapter 24: Wilm Wants You to Confess

I, Hoshino Wilm, don’t have much experience with luxury.

My father earned a high salary, but he was extremely frugal. Frugal enough that he’d take cushions that had gone completely flat, pull them apart, and try to reuse them as towels.

As for meals—when my mother was still alive, my father cooked at home most of the time. After she passed away, he began relying on cheap boxed lunches bought in bulk.

In short, there are two types of rich people.

The kind like my father, who prioritize saving money and barely spend it in their daily lives.

And then there’s the kind represented by the house belonging to Horino Trainer, sitting right in front of me now—the type who spends money properly to gain real experiences.

"...Hm. What’s wrong, Hoshino Wilm?"

The trainer pauses his meal.

The way he sits with perfect posture, the smooth motion of lifting his knife and fork, the ease with which he brings the appetizer to his mouth—and above all, the air of complete familiarity he has with this place.

Everything about him is refined and elegant, without a single wasted movement. I find myself staring before I even realize it.

Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing.

I really don’t belong here.

Not beside the trainer, and not in a place like this.

That evening, after finishing training, Horino Trainer and I had come to a fairly high-end restaurant near Tracen Academy.

"Hoshino Wilm?"

"No, don’t worry about it. I was just thinking how natural it all looks on you."

"When you’re born into a distinguished family, social obligations are unavoidable. Dining etiquette, hosting, party manners—those things are drilled into you."

"I’m a little jealous. I’ve never had anything to do with that sort of world."

"Then would you like to study it? It’s not that difficult. If you approach it with motivation, you could pick it up in about a month."

"...And when you say ‘motivation,’ exactly how much are we talking about?"

"Using all of your free time."

Yeah, that’s impossible. I need my free time for extra training… ah, right, that’s something I’m not supposed to say.

Even if he’s going to find out eventually, breaking a promise by openly admitting it just feels wrong.

Even among close relationships, manners still matter. My personal philosophy is to do my extra training properly without getting caught—and then get scolded later.

Still, the trainer really is stoic… or rather, earnest to an almost ridiculous degree.

He doesn’t seem to have hobbies, and it feels like he’s barely experienced any kind of leisure in his life.

I probably shouldn’t say this, but… is that kind of life actually fun? What has he been living for all this time?

…Though if I did say that, he’d probably reply with something like, "Supporting you is my purpose now."

Honestly, what an embarrassing thing to say. You natural heart-stealer…

"Well, I suppose admiring it from afar is as far as I’ll go. I’ll give up on table manners."

"Hmm. I think that’s fine. You’re an Uma Musume—you should focus on running. I’ll take care of all the troublesome details."

"Thank you for always going to so much trouble."

"That’s my role."

As we’re talking, a staff member—wait, is that the right term? Someone from the restaurant—comes over carrying soup.

Oh… it smells sweet and delicious. Potage, maybe.

"Thank you very much."

The trainer gives the server a small bow.

Is that what you’re supposed to do in situations like this—express gratitude?

I always imagined rich people staying completely unfazed when dishes were served. Maybe that’s just my own prejudice.

…Though now that I think about it, the trainer once said something like, "Gratitude is important, so I try to say thank you often." That’s probably just his personal principle.

Meanwhile, the server, after returning the trainer’s polite smile—

She looks at me. Again. And again.

It seems like she recognizes me. She keeps glancing my way while setting down the plates.

Ah… the so-called fame tax.

I’ve gotten used to it lately—waving lightly, putting on a smile, returning fan service.

So I give her a gentle smile, and then… huh? She makes a strangely conflicted expression. Why?

Hmm. Was she actually hoping for an autograph instead of a smile? There’s no way I can read that much from a glance.

After the server leaves, I turn back to the trainer.

"Still, eating this much while following proper table manners is going to take quite some time."

The dishes placed in front of the trainer and the ones in front of me are both roughly circular, but… the size difference is enormous.

His is a soup plate.

Mine looks more like a small washbasin.

Because this restaurant is near Tracen, it also offers courses specifically for Uma Musume.

And those courses are on a completely different level—both in quantity and price—compared to the ones for humans.

"Uma Musume need to eat more than humans. With higher physical performance comes higher calorie consumption—it’s only natural. Even among them, some eat lightly while others have huge appetites… and you’re definitely on the hearty-eater side."

"Ugh…"

"From how you handled the appetizer, I could tell your appetite was strong. After all, you finished that generous serving of vegetables almost at the same time I did."

"...W-well."

"Hmm. That’s excellent. The more you eat, the more you can move. An appetite that doesn’t lead to weight gain is nothing but beneficial for an Uma Musume. I don’t often get to see that sort of thing firsthand, so I was a little worried—but seeing it with my own eyes puts me at ease."

"...If you could stop around there, I’d really appreciate it."

"Stop…?"

Well, you see.

I’m a girl who’s in love with you.

And as a girl, you know?

When the guy you like says, "Wow, you really eat a lot, huh?" it kind of hits you right in the heart.

You get it, right? This desire to act cute.

Of course, I know there’s no ill intent behind your words.

From a trainer’s perspective, having a trainee who isn’t a picky eater is probably reassuring.

But still.

In my previous life, I was just an ordinary girl. I still carry those values with me.

I’d really like to avoid getting branded with the image of a big eater, if possible.

…Maybe using my reward ticket on "having dinner together" was a slight miscalculation.

Would it have been safer to just give him a suit or something?

But then we wouldn’t have gotten nearly as much time to talk.

"...Still, thinking about it again—would you at least let me pay for my own share? Asking to treat you to dinner as a ‘Satsuki Sho reward’ feels like I’m using it wrong."

"No. You said you’d listen to anything I asked, right? This time, let me treat you."

"But you had debts, didn’t you?"

"You know I paid them all off with the prize money from the Satsuki Sho."

"Being treated by my own student really digs into my pride as a working adult…"

"But I earn more than you do."

"…Please forgive me around there."

"Hehe."

Counterattack successful.

That’s what you get for teasing me about eating too much.

Uma Musume racing is a global form of entertainment.

Racing Uma Musume are mostly students, but at the same time, they’re professional athletes.

Frankly speaking, depending on talent, they can earn far more than most ordinary jobs.

Winning races brings popularity. Popularity leads to merchandise. And the better that merchandise sells, the more royalties you receive.

On top of that, you get a share of race admission fees, a cut of ticket sales based on your position in winning live performances, and if your popularity really explodes, temporary income from commercials and advertisements.

As a matter of fact, I recently filmed a commercial for the upcoming Japan Derby.

When I say filmed, all they told me was, "Please stand with a dignified presence, completely unfazed by the camera!"

Then I stood there in my race outfit for about a minute, getting blasted by wind from something that looked like a giant electric fan.

In the finished commercial, they treated me like I had this "aura of absolute dominance."

Meanwhile, what I was actually thinking about was the glazed carrots I’d eaten the day before.

And as for the pay… yeah, it was incredible. Seeing the amount deposited made me feel lightheaded.

Getting paid that much just for standing still for one minute—what even is labor anymore… gnnn…

And so, after earning money like that—

Up until a year ago, I was drowning in debt, and even at my best there were only five digits in my bank account.

Now, my passbook has a number printed in it with so many digits that I can’t tell at a glance how many there are.

At this rate, my annual income might end up measured on the same scale as lifetime earnings. Actually, it already is.

Even in my previous life, I only made it as far as university, and I’m terrible at managing things like this. I don’t have a guardian who can handle it for me, either.

So after the Yayoi Sho, I left everything related to my finances to the trainer…

Apparently, he sorted out all my debts properly, and I managed to finish repaying them without a hitch.

I really did rely on my relatives back then. Thank you very much.

In that sense, the bill here is also being paid from an account the trainer manages, so it’s hard for me to really feel like I’m the one treating him.

It’s supposed to be my money, but when the numbers get that big, it doesn’t really feel like it belongs to me.

"If you keep winning like this, you could probably live without working for the rest of your life."

"I wouldn’t call that a particularly healthy mindset, but you’re not wrong. If you keep selling merchandise, doing commercials, and answering interviews, then if you manage to win the Triple Crown, you’d probably save enough to live modestly."

"...It really is an incredible world. Just two years ago, I was worrying about how to make dinner as cheap as possible."

"It’s good to be aware of the power that money gives you and to use it to put your life in order, but don’t let yourself be swept away by it. Just because you have money doesn’t mean you need to change how you live. Be yourself."

I nodded at that very adult piece of advice.

Powerful forces can change people. I need to be careful not to let this money control me, too.

"By the way, Trainer—if you were buying something, which would you choose: real estate or stocks?"

"Wow, look at you, completely dancing to the spell of money’s power! I’m so glad I stopped you at this stage!"

"I'm joking."

Seeing the trainer’s mask crack in surprise, I felt the corners of my mouth lift just a little.

Really, it’s exactly things like this.

On the surface, he’s an emotionally reserved, blunt but highly capable trainer.

But his true nature is that of an ordinary person.

He’s surprised by things, gets confused, feels joy, and gets hurt.

An ordinary man—but far kinder than most.

And that kind of person is the one who saved me.

Of course I’d fall for him.

This is just my own theory, but—

When people show concern for others, most of it amounts to nothing more than superficial words.

Someone who truly worries about another person from the bottom of their heart—someone who’s willing to open themselves up and share that burden—is incredibly rare.

For example, say I told people that I’d once been neglected by my mother.

The people around me would probably respond with something like, "That’s a terrible mother," without much thought.

…but that’s just their impression.

I don’t hate my mother. I don’t think she was a terrible person.

They might be saying it out of concern for me, but in the end, they’re simply expressing their own opinions.

Other people are just that—other people.

Not me. And because they aren’t me, ultimately, they don’t really matter.

What matters isn’t what others think, but what you think yourself. Prioritizing that is what normal people—normal Uma Musume—do.

To see the other person as the same as yourself, to grieve just as much as they do, and to shoulder wounds you never needed to carry in the first place—

People like that… are truly kind, and extremely rare.

The person standing in front of me now is one of them.

The day he stopped my recklessness and told me he’d handle things properly himself.

The night he confessed, in visible pain, that he wanted me to enjoy running.

The helpless, wry smile he showed when I reached out for warmth without really understanding why.

The promise he made to visit that place together again next spring.

…and finally, the utterly decisive words telling me to always come back to his side.

He may put on a mask at times, but he’s always cared about me sincerely.

With no lies, by his own will, he thought of me. He saved me.

Even if that’s all just concern for his assigned Uma Musume, it doesn’t matter.

The fact remains that he gave warmth to someone who was all alone in this world.

…Well, I lined up a lot of complicated words there.

To put it simply, Horino Trainer is a "supadari."

A super darling. It’s a bit different from the original meaning, but to me, he’s the perfect man.

For the sake of his honor, I’ll say this—I don’t think I’m especially easy to win over.

Any girl with a normal maiden’s heart would fall if someone whispered exactly what she wanted to hear and stood by her with pure, genuine sincerity. Probably.

…But at the same time—

I’m not a normal girl.

I’m a reincarnated person, carrying memories from a previous life.

Even if falling in love was inevitable, well—

From here on out, I plan to proceed rationally, like a proper reincarnator should.

Heh heh heh. After all, this Hoshino Wilm is quite the advanced-level player when it comes to romance.

I watched an absurd amount of romantic comedies in my previous life, so I’m extremely experienced.

Realizing you like someone, getting embarrassed, and then avoiding them out of shyness.

Letting your feelings spiral out of control and pushing yourself onto them so hard they get creeped out.

Using your overwhelming strength or authority to forcibly make them yours.

I’m experienced, and I’ve got cheats. I won’t make such basic mistakes.

Those kinds of actions just aren’t logical.

Avoiding someone you like only gives them a bad impression.

Creeping them out does nothing but lower their affection.

And even if you overpower them, you’ll never win their heart.

Whether human or Uma Musume, impulsive actions almost always lead to massive opportunity loss.

Someone once said, "Love is the Derby—2,400 meters."

Suppress the urge to go all out too early, act appropriately based on a long-term plan—that’s what leads to victory.

So then, how do you end up with the person you like… no, wait, "end up with" is too much, isn’t it? That’s a bit too fast.

How do you… get all lovey-dovey with the person you like?

The answer is simple.

There’s no other way than getting them to like you.

In romance, slow and steady wins the race. Probably. I think. Don’t quote me.

Therefore, I won’t rush.

So that someday, with the trainer… um, that, uh, lovey-dovey? Mutually in love? Something like that?

To reach that kind of relationship, I’ll steadily advance my plan!

Even treating him to an expensive meal today using my reward ticket is part of that plan.

On the surface, it’s framed as a way to express my everyday gratitude, but… the real goal is different.

Ah—wait, no, it’s not that I’m not grateful! I’m extremely grateful.

But I think the proper way to repay that gratitude is by winning races.

So today’s purpose lies elsewhere.

Yes, that purpose is…!

To make him understand just how strong my financial power is—and get him to see me as a premium catch!

To begin with, I’m an Uma Musume. If I may say so myself, I’m an absurdly beautiful girl.

My facial features are neatly arranged, with a cool, sharp look and no unnecessary visual noise.

My voice is clear—honestly on a professional voice actor’s level—and my enunciation is pretty good, too. My speaking style might not quite measure up, though.

If I had to name one flaw, it would be my height—145 centimeters—and the emptiness of that first number in my measurements being 71.

It’s a size that makes you wonder whether the trainer would even consider this body as a romantic option.

Well, I mean, right now my build is fixed because I’ve fully matured, but once the "first three years" are over, I might suddenly grow, right?

Maybe the trainer would be startled by how much I change after that?

Seriously though, please grow, my body. I don’t want to live my entire life stuck at kid-size.

…Anyway. Just looking at my face, I’m extremely blessed.

On top of that, I can earn huge amounts of money easily, and I’m willing to spend it generously on you.

I don’t fully understand how men think, but I feel like that image has to be pretty high-rated. Personally, as a girl, I’d be thrilled.

Hehehe… beauty, financial power, and speed.

With all of that combined, can the trainer really withstand my charms?

I may have lost the first bout in love, but next time, I’m definitely winning!

"...Honestly. Joking about money like that is in poor taste."

"You were that worried about me?"

"Of course I was. How could I not be? You’re the most important person in my life right now. The idea of you going mad with money or power is nothing but a nightmare."

…………

"I’m sorry, I need to step out for a moment."

"O-oh. …Again, huh."

Without listening to another word from the trainer, I bolt out of the private room and rush to the restroom.

When I look in the mirror… ugh, yep. My face is completely red, and my mouth is slack with a smile.

There’s no way I can let the trainer see this face.

"...Seriously, seriously! ‘Most… m-most important,’ my ass!

Saying something like that so casually is just unfair…!

That’s a cheat! Absolutely a cheat! You’re using a cheat that deletes your own sense of embarrassment! Some kind of anti-blush system!"

Once again today, the Derby of Love ends in consecutive losses.

Apparently, my romantic defense stat is extremely low.

---

By the time the trainer dropped me off at the dorm, night had already fully fallen.

It’s fine since I got proper permission, but otherwise this would’ve been a straight-up curfew violation.

"...I’m a bit tired."

Enduring the trainer’s natural heart-stealer attacks takes a lot of mental energy.

Actually, I can’t endure them. One sudden strike and my mask is almost shattered instantly.

Letting him see my bare face would be too embarrassing, so I have no choice but to quickly look away or run off, buying time until my mask’s durability recovers.

And if you repeat that over and over, of course you get tired.

Still, it’s fun… and it makes me happy, so it’s fine.

Thankfully, Ritto Dorm has a pretty relaxed atmosphere. Mealtimes, bath times, and lights-out are fixed, but aside from that, things are mostly free.

It’s not even 9 p.m. yet, but maybe I’ll just go to bed today.

Even if I wake up early tomorrow, doing some self-training will make it time to head to school in no time.

…Or so I thought, as I headed toward my room.

But then a junior-class Uma Musume who was buying juice in the cafeteria noticed me and jogged over.

"Wilm-senpai! Are you back from training?"

Hey, hey, you’re energetic as always, junior.

That cheerful Uma Musume with semi-long pink hair is one of the kind underclassmen who often talks to me.

Just the other day, she was beaming as she told me, "My full bloom finally kicked in! I’m going to work really hard from now on!"

"Yeah, pretty much. Training. Something like that."

"As expected! That’s your final workout menu before the Derby, right?"

…Sorry, that’s a lie. I went out to eat with my trainer.

I’m doing my workouts properly, so please forgive me for going out once in a while.

"Are you going to go for a long solo breakaway again in the Derby?"

"Hmm, that’s something I can’t say."

"Oh! Sorry! Of course—you can’t reveal your strategy."

Ah—ah—wait, don’t make that face. The guilt is killing me.

You look cute when you smile, so don’t make such a dejected expression.

Um… what should I say to make you smile again…?

"Sorry. …But I promise I’ll win. So look forward to it."

It seems the words I chose were the right ones, because my junior smiled brightly.

"Yes! I’ll definitely come watch!"

Yeah, yeah—she really is adorable.

I don’t quite understand why saying something bold fires them up so much, but it works amazingly well on my juniors.

"Well then, see you next time."

"Ah—senpai! If you’d like, please take this!"

"Really? Thanks."

Saying that, she handed me the juice she’d just bought.

It’s one I like, and I really appreciate it, but…

Lately, what’s with juniors getting unusually friendly with me, or giving me juice and candy all the time?

Is it like, “She’s a future Triple Crown Uma Musume, so worship her for good luck”?

Is this juice… an offering?

…Am I being treated like a Jizo statue or a Buddha or something?

After parting with my junior, I dumped my stuff in my room and took a quick shower.

When I got back… my roommate, Meek-senpai, wasn’t there.

Maybe she hasn’t returned yet. She said she’s running in the Yasuda Kinen in June, so maybe she’s still training.

"…Yeah, I should sleep."

I brushed my teeth, got ready for tomorrow, and slipped under the covers, but…

I just couldn’t feel sleepy.

I am tired, but… maybe it’s still too early.

It’s not like I’m the type to get nervous just because the Derby is coming up.

Ah—maybe it’s the coffee after dinner?

Shoot… well, if I just keep my eyes closed for a while, I’ll probably fall asleep on my own…

---

I’m in a dark world.

…Why am I here again?

Why am I running?

Thud—heavy footsteps.

Someone is behind me.

"I’ll overtake you here—right past your back."

I hear a voice.

A light stretches out toward me. Her path.

…She’s passing me.

Am I going to lose? Here?

No.

I don’t want to lose.

Our eyes meet.

With the person who’s always been watching me.

I…

Because I want that person to praise me…

Because I want to become an Uma Musume worthy of that person…

Yes—so that’s why…

I…

---

The sound of a door opening makes me open my eyes.

…Was that a recollection? Or a dream?

Ah… I feel a little hazy, but not like I just woke up.

Maybe my sleep was too shallow, and I was seeing something that wasn’t quite a dream.

"…Ah, did I wake you up?"

"Mm… no. I wasn’t sleeping anyway, so don’t worry about it."

Meek-senpai, who just came into the room, wears her usual subdued expression, but… her brows are drooping, and her ears are slightly lowered too. She looks apologetic.

Living together means inconveniencing each other sometimes.

I often listen to Meek-senpai’s worries, and I ask her for advice about extra training, too.

This really isn’t something to worry about.

…Still.

I didn’t expect to see—or remember—that dream again.

About three weeks ago, on the day we had our first mock race in a while.

That dark world I saw near the end… the world Nature spread out.

According to the trainer, it’s something called a "Domain."

To summarize his explanation—

It’s that super-focused state you always see in sports manga, when an Uma Musume awakens under extreme conditions.

An Uma Musume who opens a Domain displays running far beyond her usual limits, within a hallucinated vision of her own inner landscape.

On the other hand, even though the logic isn’t well understood, the other Uma Musume seem to share that vision as well.

At the same time—and this isn’t something the trainer told me, but something I know from firsthand experience—you instinctively understand whose Domain it is, and what kind of world it represents.

What I saw back then was the Domain that Nature opened.

Nature’s Domain is probably a world created for the sole purpose of surpassing me.

A quiet, dark place with nothing else to rely on, where she runs straight ahead toward a single gray star.

Her objective… her dream… or perhaps, her wall.

Throwing everything she has into challenging that one thing—it’s a Domain that feels incredibly like Nature.

…Though, I have to admit, it’s a bit embarrassing that the “wall” wasn’t Teio-chan, but me.

It was incredible. Truly incredible.

The moment when the world was repainted from behind at overwhelming speed.

Understanding that this was Nature’s full, uncompromising resolve—and that it was all aimed at closing in on me.

A shiver ran down my spine.

I knew that if things stayed like that, I would lose.

If I hadn’t mustered up the resolve to think, “I don’t want to lose,” at that moment, I think she would have barely passed me at the line.

Even though she was nearly out of stamina, she was still faster than my sprint—the one that had never lost to anyone before.

Nature is amazing. And she keeps updating just how amazing she is.

That girl who gave me that burning heat really is the greatest Uma Musume.

Especially that Domain.

The power to set her sights on a single goal and pour everything she has into winning.

Honestly, I’m really envious. I hope I can master it someday too…

Ah—wait, that’s right.

Since I have such a senior right here, I should ask her.

"Meek-senpai. You know about Domains… right?"

"…Oh, Wil-chan, did you see a Domain?"

"A friend of mine has mastered it. I haven’t yet."

"…Ah, figures."

Meek-senpai nods.

That reaction stings a little. I feel like, at least in this life, I’m pretty quick to pick things up.

"So, Meek-senpai… you have a Domain too?"

"…Yes. But I can’t tell you the conditions for using it."

"There are conditions to use it?"

"…Hmm… well, I guess it’s fine if it’s you, Wil-chan.

…Either way, it’s something you kind of understand once you open a Domain."

After closing her eyes slightly to think, Meek-senpai nods once and answers.

"…Even if we master a Domain, we can’t use it unless we’re extremely focused.

…And to focus like that… um… how should I put it… we need to form our ‘usual shape.’"

"Our usual shape…"

Hearing that, something clicks.

For example, the kanji copy drills we were forced to do back in elementary school—homework that felt unbearably tedious now that I’m living my second life.

To get through those quickly, you had to enter a state of concentration so deep that background noise and other people’s voices faded away.

By repeating the same action over and over, you engrave it into your body and mind, until you can do it without consciously thinking.

Maybe a Domain is something like that—or something close to it.

You find the orthodox, winning way to run, engrave it into yourself as your guaranteed pattern—your “usual shape.”

And then, the moment all the conditions line up during an actual race, you snap into an ultra-focused state, and the Domain opens… something like that.

Well, I won’t really know unless I open one myself, so it’s just a hypothesis for now.

"I see. That’s very helpful.

Thank you for explaining it to me."

"…No. My trainer said this year’s Classic generation is very precocious, and quite a few Uma Musume have already experienced Domains.

…And among them, Wil-chan, you’re working very hard."

I’m a little surprised by those unexpected words.

People often call me a genius, or the strongest—but being told I’m working hard…

Aside from my trainer, this might be the first time anyone’s said that to me.

"…I can tell. You’re a good girl, Wil-chan, and you really are doing your best.

…So I’ll give you a little bit of advice."

"Advice?"

"…Yes. After the Japan Derby, you’re planning to run in the Takarazuka Kinen, right?"

"That’s the plan."

Meek-senpai sits down on the bed and raises one finger.

"…Then remember this one thing.

Don’t let Seiun Sky take the lead after the third corner.

If she’s free to run away on her own terms, that means you’ve already lost."