Chapter 90: The Type Who Comes to Fill in the Moat Themselves

Members of prestigious families possess great power—wealth, influence, and a solid foundation—and at the same time bear a certain level of responsibility. You could call it noblesse oblige.

Or rather, to begin with, what we call a “prestigious family” is often a clan that once banded together and concentrated power in order to fulfill some kind of duty… but, well, let’s put that aside for now.

Nobles—what you’d call prestigious families in Japan. Even in the modern age, where their authority has waned, it hasn’t changed the fact that such families shoulder responsibility alongside their power.

Masa and I, as members of the Horino family, are no exception. We’re obligated to return to the main house on a regular basis to submit various reports and records.

This “regular basis” usually means about once a year… but since I hadn’t gone home for a long stretch of a year and a half last time, my mother told me, “I’d be happy if you came back more often. Your father would be happy too.”

My mother is the absolute authority in the Horino family. If she says crows are white, then they’re white—and if she says I should come home more often, then I need to come home.

…Well, this one actually had nothing to do with the responsibilities of a prestigious family.

It was just a parent making a request, and a child granting it. A scene you’d see in any ordinary household.

And so, in late January, before preparations for the URA Award Ceremony began, I planned to return to the Horino main house, bringing Masa along.

…Or at least, that was the plan.

"Wilm, I’m going back to my parents’ place on Saturday the 25th, so while I’m gone—"

"Huh? Going home? Your family home? Th-then I’ll go too! I’ll come with you!"

For some reason, she ended up tagging along as well.

---

"Wow… so this is how deep in the mountains your family home is."

As we climbed the family-owned mountain trail, Wilm followed behind Masa and me, looking around with open curiosity.

…No, seriously—she really did come along. She actually came.

While I watched her with complicated feelings, Masa leaned over and whispered,

"…Hey, are you sure it’s okay to bring Hoshino Wilm along? There won’t be anyone left near Bourbon at the academy."

"For now, I’ve left Bourbon in the care of Nature’s trainer. I also told her to train over there and wait…"

"And?"

"…She said, ‘Then I’ll seriously ramp up my independent training.’"

"You totally caved to a threat…"

Yeah. That’s exactly it.

At the end of the day, Horino trainers are weak against Uma Musume demands.

The philosophy of prioritizing their hearts above all else essentially means absolute obedience when they say, “I want to do this.”

Which is why, when your assigned Uma Musume says “I want to go,” you can’t exactly refuse.

…That said, it’s been a long time since I stopped being a Horino trainer in the strict sense.

I do have the option to prioritize necessary actions from a broader, more strategic perspective over their impulsive wishes.

I do… have that option.

But whether I can actually ignore what they want is another matter entirely.

Can and want are different. Even if it’s possible, I just don’t feel like doing it myself.

I can’t refuse Wilm’s request.

I wonder why. When she looks up at me with those clear, sparkling eyes, I just want to give in. Even without being threatened, I genuinely want to make her wish come true.

She might actually have a talent for winning people over. The juniors adore her, too.

…While I was thinking that—

"Um, you do remember how good Uma Musume hearing is, right? I can hear everything.

…Well, I am sorry about threatening you a bit, but come on, it’s just one day. Things have been pretty hectic lately, so think of it as a change of pace."

Wilm puffed out her lips slightly and looked away.

Judging by how guilty she looked, she knew she’d been a bit forceful.

Why she wanted to come to my place despite knowing that is still a mystery, but…

For now, I don’t really like seeing her make that face.

"Well, I think it’s fine. When Uma Musume travel far, it’s not unusual for their trainer to accompany them. You can think of this as part of that."

"No, but isn’t it kind of bad optics for an assigned Uma Musume to go to her male trainer’s family home…?"

"!!"

"? …Ah, I guess that’s one way to look at it. Well, in that case, we can just say Masa’s accompanying us."

"…Sigh."

Uma Musume are female by gender, and considering their idol-like image, walking around with a male trainer can leave a bad impression.

And it’s not just a casual outing nearby—going to the trainer’s family home could invite misunderstandings of that sort.

That said, Wilm’s assigned trainers aren’t just me; Masa counts as well. If we frame it with her as the main point, it shouldn’t become a major issue…

"No, that’s not the issue. I’m saying what if the media catches wind of it?"

"Hoshino Wilm’s legs require adjustment due to the intense running she did last year. Since she herself isn’t from a prestigious family and has no relatives she can rely on, she used her contracted trainer’s connections to undergo treatment at the Horino family’s specialized facilities."

"You’ve already got an excuse ready. So you’re fully prepared, then?"

Of course.

If your charge wants to go, you let them go—and solving the problems that arise from that is part of a trainer’s job. I’ve already put multiple layers of preventive measures in place.

…Well, my own public image might take a hit, but compared to her wish, that’s trivial.

Wilm’s disguise. Cover stories. Thorough counter-surveillance.

With all that, we probably won’t be found out… and even if we are, I’ll make sure it doesn’t escalate into a major problem.

Money, power, connections, intimidation. A fool and a pair of scissors are all about how you use them—and adults use whatever they can.

While I was thinking such slightly dark thoughts, the forest that had stretched on endlessly finally broke.

Before us appeared a massive wall and gate, bathed in warm winter sunlight.

"Well then, welcome to the Horino main house. We’re glad to have you, Hoshino Wilm."

As I said that and turned toward her—

"O-oh… th-thank you for having me."

Unexpectedly, she was more flustered than I’d ever seen her.

…Why is she more nervous about a simple visit than official races, G1s, or classic races?

Hoshino Wilm really is a difficult Uma Musume to figure out…

---

It feels almost silly to say it now, but the Horino family home is my home ground.

After all, I spent over twenty years here after being reincarnated. Of course I’m used to it. Of course I’m attached to it.

Lately, I’ve grown fairly accustomed to the trainer’s office at Tracen Academy as well, but still, the place I feel closest to is here—the Horino main house.

…Or at least, it should be.

"…?"

After passing through the opened gate and leading the two of them toward the main residence, I tilt my head slightly.

Something feels off.

The last time I came here was about half a year ago. It hasn’t been that long.

And yet, right now… I feel a kind of unfamiliarity, almost a sense of novelty.

I scan the garden, but nothing in particular has changed.

The grounds and turf are as meticulously maintained as ever. It’s winter, so there’s less color, but the familiar aesthetic is still there.

And yet, something about it feels unsettling. Unfamiliar.

As I ponder why… it suddenly hits me.

Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve really looked at this place like this.

Throughout my life, I’ve been driven by the goal of becoming a trainer.

I worked hard, kept pushing myself, always striving to become a better trainer—to be a better trainer.

So while I’ve looked at this place to understand its layout, I don’t think I’ve ever just gazed around aimlessly like this.

I’ve let my guard down… or, as Sky would put it, the tension has drained from my shoulders.

Maybe that change in me is affecting how I take in the scenery.

"Hmm…"

It’s a strange feeling.

Honestly, I don’t have a strong sense that I’ve changed that much. I knew I’d been a bit lax lately, but I didn’t think it was on the level of my values or perspective shifting.

And yet, looking at things through these external cues, it does seem that I’ve changed quite a bit from before.

And what’s more… I apparently find that change in myself pleasant.

As a trainer, it’s probably not a good change.

Part of me still thinks, “If you can’t devote yourself selflessly, what kind of trainer are you?”

But even so… right now, instead of thinking “I must support Wilm and Bourbon,” I find myself thinking, “I want to support them.”

And that feels better.

There’s no real logic behind it—just an instinctive feeling that this is the right way to be.

I wonder why that is. Why I feel that living more like “myself” is better.

While I was lost in those thoughts and trying to calm Wilm, we arrived at the entrance of the main residence.

I reached out toward the intercom button—

And just before I pressed it, the door opened.

A presence behind me flinched sharply. Masa and I were used to this sort of thing, so it was obviously Wilm.

…No, isn’t she a little too tense? She’s more nervous than when we visited her parents’ graves the other day.

Ah—well, the Horino main house is pretty big. Maybe she just feels out of place.

Even if we call it a prestigious family, it’s not that different from an ordinary household. There’s really no need to be nervous.

That said, more importantly right now, I needed to deal with the person in front of me.

The door that had suddenly opened revealed a single woman.

…No, “revealed” isn’t quite right. “Came barreling out” would be more accurate.

By now I was used to it, so I accepted her embrace without much reaction.

"Welcome home! I’ve been waiting~!"

Along with the words came a fairly earnest collision from a small, soft presence.

Honestly, this woman never changes, no matter how many years pass. If I were the type without a heart, I might’ve said something like “act your age,” but…

…Well, considering that youthful face—probably the source of Masa’s baby-faced looks—she doesn’t actually feel that out of place visually. Which is its own kind of terrifying, but I’ll put that aside.

I patted her shoulder lightly, signaling that it was about time she let go.

She might be a bit airy, but she’s not someone who can’t read the room, nor someone who forces things on others.

Sure enough, she released me immediately.

Now that our faces were apart, I could see her properly: a woman with reasonably well-defined features—though she couldn’t compete with an Uma Musume—who looked like she might be just entering her thirties.

Unlike Masa, she was on the shorter side, but their facial features were quite similar. …Though Masa always wears a stern expression, while this woman was constantly smiling softly, so the impressions they gave were very different.

Then she looked at the three of us and spoke again.

"Oh, I’m sorry, I got a little excited.

Welcome home, Ayumu, Masa. And welcome to you too, Hoshino Wilm…"

Her gaze moved from one of us to the next—

And then stopped on Hoshino Wilm.

For a moment, she wore an expression of surprise, rare for her. Then her eyes flicked back and forth between me and Wilm several times, as if weighing something in her mind…

"I see. So we’re having sekihan today?"

That’s what she said.

---

If I had to describe her in one word, “invincible” would be the most accurate.

The Horino family’s mother. The absolute authority of this household—the highest rank, top tier, the apex of the pyramid.

She isn’t exceptionally skilled as a trainer like Father.

She isn’t mentally outstanding like my older brother.

She isn’t unbelievably earnest and forward-facing like my younger sister.

She simply… always has a sense of leeway about her.

For example, even when Masa is blowing up at me at the dinner table.

Or when my brother is spectacularly messing up his love life.

Mother always keeps a smile, watching over our arguments, failures, and successes with gentle amusement.

If that were all, she’d just be a laid-back mom—but as expected of the woman who has preserved peace in the Horino household, it doesn’t end there.

Mother is… terrifyingly perceptive, and quick to understand.

Facing us at the entrance, she smiled warmly—almost fondly.

"So that means Hoshino Wilm has helped you a great deal, Ayumu. You’ve relaxed so much—you’re just like your father was when he was young.

Thank you, Hoshino Wilm. I’d be happy if you’d continue supporting this boy from now on."

"…No, Mother. ‘That means’ or not, I haven’t explained anything yet. It’s been ten seconds since we reunited."

There’s a saying: hear one thing and understand ten. It fits Mother perfectly.

No—just from our expressions alone, she’d already grasped most of what had happened over the past few years. It felt less like ten and more like she understood a hundred without asking anything at all.

As I gave a wry smile at her usual speed and tempo, she placed a hand against her cheek, as if struck by a thought.

"Ayumu’s been tense ever since he was born, so I was a little worried… but yes, Hoshino Wilm should be just fine. I’m so relieved.

But you know, getting close isn’t the same as crossing the finish line, okay? Don’t let your guard down?"

"Eh—ah—um!?"

Behind me, Wilm reacted with a sharp jolt to Mother’s deliberately vague wording.

"Wilm, you can ignore about half of what my mother says. I won’t ask you to get used to it… but I’d appreciate it if you could just think, ‘Ah, so this is what she’s like.’

And Mother, I’m not asking you to stop entirely, but you might be standing a little too close to an Uma Musume you’ve just met. Perhaps you could choose your words a bit more carefully."

"Huh? Oh… maybe you’re right…"

Mother looked surprised. …But not genuinely so. It felt like she’d already anticipated me calling her out.

That’s really her problem. Why does she always speak as if “I understand it, so of course everyone else does too”?

Before I could think of what else to say, Masa let out an exasperated sigh beside me.

"Mother, please don’t get carried away in front of a guest.

And that lack of communication is exactly what keeps causing my brother’s chronic under-explaining. I’ve told you before—please clearly state your reasoning and thought process."

"Oh, Masa-chan, that’s wonderful for you then. Now you can rest easy too, right?"

"Ugh—this woman… Just stop talking already!"

"Ehh? But I want to talk more~"

This is what my mother is like.

Invincible, in a word. No matter what you say, she never seems shaken—as if she’d already seen it coming. She reads your intent with frightening accuracy, then responds several steps ahead, or sometimes with words that feel like they came from an entirely different direction.

Her absurd perceptiveness and unique sense of timing inevitably pull you onto her pace just by engaging with her.

It might sound like I’m making excuses, but when Masa says my lack of communication skills is partly Mom’s fault, I honestly think she’s not wrong.

After all, my mother—no, my entire family—is extremely good at reading between the lines. Even if you don’t spell things out, they understand anyway. If that’s the environment you grow up in, it’s only natural that you end up speaking less and less.

…Still, that explains it. But what exactly was Masa relieved about…?

Ah—could it be what happened at the end of last year? When I got hit by that car?

The gentle Masa wouldn’t fail to worry about a close family member lying in a coma.

…Wait.

Hit by a car?

"Ah."

…Right. That did happen.

So much has happened lately that I’d completely pushed that incident out of my mind.

First things first, I needed to apologize for worrying everyone and causing trouble because of that.

"…Um, about that—"

"It’s fine, Ayumu. Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just happy you woke up safely."

She took my hand, looking at me with eyes full of affection.

…Yeah. I really can’t win against this woman.

As expected of the mother who stopped Masa when she was on the verge of going down a bad path, who’s quelled the Horino household’s many storms time and time again.

When it comes to caring about others, I don’t think I could ever beat her.

"Then… at the very least, let me say thank you. For taking care of someone like me all this time."

"! …Hehe, it’s fine! Come on, come in, come in! And you too, Hoshino Wilm—don’t just stand there!"

Mom said that with the brightest, happiest smile I’d seen from her in a long time, ushering us inside once more.

---

That day ended up being incredibly busy.

While Masa and I submitted reports to Father and discussed various matters with him, it seemed Wilm was left alone with Mom, having some kind of conversation just between the two of them.

Then, when we reunited with Wilm—who was somehow still tense even after an hour, and for some reason bright red in the face—we all sat down for lunch. When I formally introduced Wilm to Father, both of them inexplicably froze up like statues.

…Or so I thought, until Wilm surprisingly loosened up with Father quite quickly, and before long the two of them were deep in discussion about racing theory.

Meanwhile, Masa, who’d been stuck dealing with Mom alongside me, muttered, “…It’s been a while, but yeah… she’s still exhausting.”

Since it was already getting late, we went straight into dinner, during which Mom casually dropped, “So then? When’s the wedding planned?” and caused yet another round of chaos.

…It really was a hectic, noisy day.

Mostly because of Mom… no, thanks to her. Before we knew it, the hours had flown by.

---

"Well… um… that was certainly an impressive family."

Around sunset, in my private room, Wilm let out a long, exhausted breath.

…No, not “as if” she were exhausted. She definitely was exhausted.

Physically speaking, she has absurd stamina.

She’s a racing Uma Musume, after all—an undefeated Triple Crown winner, a top-class athlete by any standard.

She could probably keep running nonstop for one or two hours at around fifteen kilometers per hour. That’s how far beyond human her physical endurance is. Well, “beyond human” isn’t quite right—she isn’t human to begin with.

But mentally, she’s just a middle school–aged girl.

Given her lack of past experience, she’s probably not used to warm family interactions in the first place.

Being suddenly thrown into a completely unfamiliar household would wear anyone down through nerves alone.

"Thanks for sticking it out, Wilm. Sorry my mom’s like that."

"N-no, not at all! I wasn’t tired or anything… I mean, it was actually really fun."

"You’re the one who suggested we ‘take a short break and talk for a bit,’ though."

"…Yes. Sorry, I lied. Honestly, I was a little tired.

But I really did have fun. …Even if I was just a guest, it’s been a long time since I felt that kind of family warmth."

"…I see. I’m glad you enjoyed it, then."

Sitting beside me on the sofa, Wilm leaned in slightly, as if trying to draw my attention, so I gently patted her head.

Maybe because she’d just bathed, her hair felt especially nice. I’d heard that Uma Musume have naturally beautiful hair even without special care, but… could it really be this smooth and silky without doing anything?

My own hair’s pretty stiff by comparison. …Though maybe comparing humans and Uma Musume in the first place is unfair.

Wilm, whose tail had been swaying happily, leaned her head closer and spoke again.

"And, um… your mother. I like her."

"Oh? Is that so? Then I’m glad."

There was something slightly odd about the nuance, but I decided not to press it.

Some people simply can’t handle being around my mom—she has a way of disrupting your rhythm just by existing—and end up rejecting her outright. The fact that Wilm wasn’t one of those people was probably a good thing.

…Wait. Was it really that fortunate?

Objectively speaking, a trainer’s family getting along with their assigned Uma Musume isn’t all that important. They don’t interact that often, after all.

…But still.

Seeing people you care about get along with each other does make you happy.

Yeah. The fact that Wilm seems to mesh well with my parents really is a good thing.

As I reached that oddly roundabout conclusion in my head, Wilm suddenly spoke up.

"Um… s-so, by the way… is it, well… expected? That trainers and the Uma—uh, people—they might one day spend their lives with… should learn proper etiquette and manners and things like that?"

"Hm?"

Her face was red as she asked, maybe because she’d just gotten out of the bath. I tilted my head slightly.

Why was she asking something like that? Was there ever a reason she’d need to think about that?

…Ah. I see.

She must be worried about how she acted during lunch and dinner.

Wilm comes from a fairly ordinary background, so formal table manners aren’t exactly her strong suit.

As a result, she’d struggled a bit with the meals at our place.

But that’s just because she never had the chance to learn. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.

I’d already told her not to worry about it since she was a guest.

In the first place, while the Horino family is undeniably prestigious, we’ve adapted over time to be closer to an ordinary household.

Of course, education in etiquette, dignity, and Uma Musume training methods is still passed down—but it’s rarely forced, and no one is compelled to become a trainer.

So even if a guest slips up on manners, no one would fault them.

And if that guest happens to be a family member’s assigned Uma Musume, earnestly trying her best to follow unfamiliar rules, all the more so.

People would praise her sincerity and effort, not frown at her mistakes.

Still, how others see things and how you personally feel about them are two different matters.

Wilm probably felt embarrassed about her missteps.

And so she asked this question to cover that embarrassment… something like that.

Heh. I guess spending time with her has sharpened my own ability to read between the lines a bit.

If answering this helps ease her mind, then I’m happy to do so.

"Hmm. Well, if you’re inviting someone from outside the family’s usual circles, they’d probably be taught some basics. Prestigious families carry power, and with power comes responsibility.

…That said, it’s also true that such rigid ways don’t really suit the modern era. I don’t think anyone would push that kind of education to an extreme."

…Though, honestly, it’ll be a long time before I ever have someone like that anyway.

Right now I’m too busy with my work as a trainer—watching over Hoshino Wilm and the others. I don’t have the luxury to think about anything else.

And to begin with, imagining myself with a wife… it’s hard to picture.

I’m already in an environment I’m satisfied with—maybe not “perfect,” but more than enough.

As Hoshino Wilm’s trainer, and Bourbon’s trainer, supporting them together with Masa as a sub-trainer.

If some other woman were to wedge herself into that relationship and demand my time… I feel like “that’d be a hassle” would come to mind before anything else.

There’s no way I could take on a spouse in that state.

Just like in my previous life, I’ll probably keep living with my work as my partner for a while.

…Well, then again, as last year proved, you never know what life will throw at you.

Maybe I’ll meet someone I truly click with. Or maybe I never will.

Either way.

Faced with such an uncertain future, my words ended up a little vague…

But for some reason, Wilm grew even more tense instead.

"S-so, yeah. …Okay! I’ll do my best!"

…Huh? Do her best? At what?

…No, wait.

If I think about it calmly, there’s only one possible answer.

"Yeah. But you won’t be doing it alone. We’ll do our best together. Right?"

"Hyaeh!? Ah—y-yes!? …Wait, really? Seriously?"

That’s right. Hoshino Wilm is a racing Uma Musume.

If she’s going to do her best, then that means racing—nothing else.

To make sure she can focus fully on her races, I’ll do my part adjusting schedules and training plans.

As I reaffirmed my resolve, Wilm, for some reason, shrank in on herself beside me.

---

Incidentally—

The fact that the two of us had completely misunderstood each other that day wouldn’t come to light until much later.