Extra: Alpha

It was my first day off in a while. Out for a morning stroll along the riverbank, I tugged down my scarf—it was unusually warm for late February.

"It's kind of hot today."

The word "hot" in summer and "hot" in winter feel like they're twenty degrees apart. Coming from a snowy region, even 10°C in winter is enough to leave me stunned. That’s “crazy hot” level for me.

And today, it’s apparently 12°C. No wonder my ears didn’t feel numb. I unbuttoned my coat, figuring I didn’t need much winter gear today.

Still, I had no intention of taking off the ear warmers or scarf he gave me. Especially the ear warmers—I never take them off, no matter the season. I want to keep them with me at all times, because he gave them to me.

To be honest, after wearing them all the time, it feels kind of embarrassing to take them off now. Like, exposing my bare ears feels a little too intimate. That’s part of it too.

“Let’s snap a quick morning pic.”

I adjusted the camera angle and took a selfie from my best side. I even buried my nose into the scarf for that extra cutesy look. I caught myself thinking, Ugh, you’re doing that, huh? But hey, everyone does it. Of course you want to look cute and pretty. And someone on my level? I can get away with a little calculated cuteness. It’s still cute.

Edits were quick and minimal—just enough to look natural. After spending time with the gyaru crew and Curren Chan, I’ve picked up a few tricks here and there. Once it's part of your routine, it’s no big deal.

While reflecting on my mood today and the plans for my next race, I prepared a post for Umatter and Umastagram.

It’s become routine to start nearly every day with a “Good morning!” on social media, but today I added something extra to that line.

"Guess what... it's my birthday today!"

A lot of Uma Musume have birthdays clustered in winter and spring. That’s just how horse breeding works, so it can’t be helped. Around this time of year, birthday announcements flood social media.

But I’d never posted a birthday message—not as a junior, nor a senior. Or rather, I couldn’t post one. And the reason is...

Because today is February 29th. A leap day.

That’s right—my official birthday only comes around once every four years.

“Since it’s a once-in-four-years kind of birthday, I’d be super happy if you celebrated four years’ worth!”

I added a line like that and tapped the post button as I headed back to the academy.

Right away, the devoted Uma Musume fan accounts “Minami” and “Masuo” were the first to reply. Then the gyaru crew and Curren Chan boosted it, and the responses exploded.

Even though it was still early morning, before the sun had fully risen, the spread was already massive. The internet really is something else.

“Happy Birthday!”

“Hope Apollo-chan has another injury-free year!”

“A leap day birthday? That’s so cool.”

“My birthday’s on 2/29 too, but I only got presents once every four years (crying emoji)”

The comments were flooding in. I had to laugh at that last one—totally relatable. Same kind of pain as people born on Christmas.

After the Japanese comments came a wave of messages in other languages. English ones were expected, but for some reason, even Chinese comments showed up.

One translated to: *“Apollo, go conquer China’s pride—the 8000-meter race!”* I nearly burst out laughing. I’d heard of that race before. Running double the distance of the Gold Cup or Prix du Cadran? That’s hell.

Others jokingly suggested things like the 1000-kilometer Mongol Derby or Australia’s 400-kilometer Shahzada race—just more new levels of hell. I closed the app tab. You could dig forever trying to find the world’s toughest races.

It was my first birthday post, and I’d already been in the game five years. Honestly, I’d considered posting on March 1st instead, but I missed the chance in both my Classic and first Senior years... so here we are, in my third Senior year.

By this point, there aren’t many Uma Musume left from my generation. Spe-chan, Grass-chan, El-chan—most of them have retired from the Twinkle Series. A new generation’s rising fast.

Now, it’s pretty much just Sei-chan and Guriko from my cohort. Kinda lonely.

Well, Guriko’s a rare long-lasting sprinter-miler, but for stayers like us, things take longer to develop, so generational shifts come more slowly. It makes sense that Sei-chan and I, both “classic stayers,” are still around. There’s also Angely-chan, still tearing up those ultra-long-distance races, and the usual crew (sorta?) still showing up in Grade races and G1s.

But with a long racing life comes pressure—like people want me to hurry up and move on to the Dream Trophy League. I’ve only been racing in Spring Tenno and Arima lately, so maybe I’m just barely dodging that bullet.

I am a veteran now, after all. By the time the next February 29th comes around, I’ll probably be in the Dream Trophy League.

Still, there’s one thing that worries me. For some reason, in my fifth year, my stamina’s been growing out of control. I’m starting to feel like even Arima Kinen’s 2500 meters might not be long enough for me anymore...

Tachyon-san is absolutely fascinated. Says it proves Uma Musume have infinite potential.

“Hmmm-hmm-hmm~♪”

Back at Tracen Academy, I headed straight to the trainer’s office. I wondered if he was already there. Probably. If so, what kind of expression would he have?

With that little spark of hope I always carried, I opened the front camera and fixed my bangs. Brushed and adjusted them with my fingers over and over—but still couldn’t quite get it right.

Any breakouts? No? Of course not—I take care of my skin every day. But even so, if I’m going to show myself to him, I want it to be the absolute cutest version of me.

Oh, and just because we see each other every day doesn’t mean you can slack on the details, okay?

"Hmm... Maybe I should’ve gone back to my room to redo my hair."

As I stood in front of the door, groaning to myself, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.

"Morning, Apollo."

The sudden voice made both my tail and my heart jump.

"Ah—don’t scare me like that, you dummy!"

"Haha, sorry, sorry."

I turned around and gave him a few playful smacks on the chest. My trainer, Tomio Momozawa, just chuckled and lightly patted my head.

"Happy birthday."

"Ah..."

I had so many things I wanted to say—like, "You messed up my bangs," or "You were watching me without saying anything?"—but the moment he stroked my head, all of it stopped mattering.

"Thanks... eheh."

His warm smile melted me, and I couldn’t help but grin back. Seeing me like that, Tomio said, "Let’s head inside," and opened the door. The room was already heated, and as soon as I sank into the sofa, the comfort almost made me melt.

After setting down his things, he sat next to me. The couch dipped under his weight. It reminded me how our size difference was something I could never close. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since we just chatted like this in the trainer’s room. How many days has it been since we sat together like this and talked?

After a while of soaking up the moment, I looked up at him with expectant eyes. Maybe sensing something, Tomio reached into his bag. "I was going to give this to you later this afternoon, but I’ll give it to you now," he said as he pulled out a neatly wrapped small box.

"Here you go. Birthday present."

"Wow, thank you! This looks super fancy... Is it okay if I open it now?"

"Sure."

I opened the plush, black-lacquered box to find a necklace—also clearly high-end—curved into a delicate circle.

"It’s beautiful..."

It was a feminine necklace. The kind with a gemstone-set ring on it. Elegant and clearly expensive—probably something I could treasure for life.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at him. He was sweating a little at the collar. I didn’t point it out, but he looked really nervous. It must’ve cost a lot.

...Hehe. He really does care about me, huh? Like, there’s no way I wouldn’t be happy getting a present from him, but he’s still all sweaty and weirdly tense. He’s so cute, seriously.

Still, something was bugging me. That necklace... It’s the one I thought was the prettiest during our Europe trip.

But the people who went into that store with me were Lumos, Double Trigger, and Angely. Tomio had gone somewhere else at the time.

...Did Lumos or Double Trigger snitch on me?

Or wait—maybe it was that? Did Tomio ask them to check out the store for him? That would be such a roundabout way to go about it. I mean, sure, surprises are fun, but picking something out together would’ve been fun too...

"Birthday comes once every four years, after all. I splurged a bit."

"No way, I’m seriously happy."

"Glad you like it."

Ah—right. That store. Lumos got the idea to go there because she had just won the Cartier Award for Best Stayer three years in a row. She said something like, "Since we’re here, let’s check out a shop sponsored by the Cartier Awards!" and dragged us all along.

Thinking back, there were a lot of weird things. The staff were overly eager, kept showing us tons of options, and kept asking which ones I liked.

...Don’t tell me the sponsor picked up on our relationship and decided to give us a push?

Haha, no way.

...No way, right?

"Hey, try it on. The necklace."

"Okay."

Pulling myself together, I turned my back to him. Brushing aside my slightly grown-out hair, I exposed the nape of my neck. He hesitated a little but managed to fasten the necklace around my neck.

When he quietly said, “All done,” I turned back to him with a mischievous little smile.

“…How is it?”

“As I thought, Apollo, you’re beautiful.”

When this guy compliments me, it’s honestly shocking how fast he answers. And because there’s no trace of embarrassment or exaggeration in his tone, it hits hard. Way too hard.

And so, I lost again. A wave of warmth ran through my cheeks, and I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes. Seeing me like that, he gave a gentle smile.

“You’re seriously unfair.”

“Huh? What is?”

“That kind of thing.”

How many times have we had this same exchange? No matter how many years go by, I’ll never get used to it—and I probably never will.

“This necklace is lovely, but I don’t think I can wear it while I’m at the academy.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

“But today’s a day off, so I’m wearing it all day long~!”

“Haha.”

My birthday had only just begun, but already I wondered how I’d survive if I kept spending it like this with him. If this keeps up, I might actually die from a mix of happiness and embarrassment.

“Oh, that’s right! Let’s go buy a birthday cake later!”

“Yeah, let’s. We can eat four years’ worth.”

“That’ll totally make me gain weight~!”

We giggled together.

Ahh, I’m so happy it’s overwhelming…

“Oh, by the way.”

“Hmm?”

“When’s your birthday, Tomio?”

“Ah—come to think of it, it’s today.”

“What!? Of all days, today!?”

I’d asked because I was trying to remember when Tomio’s birthday was, only to be hit with a shocking truth. I couldn’t believe I, his own assigned Uma Musume, hadn’t known something so important.

If I had to make an excuse, I’d say it’s because I’d been pouring everything I had into the Twinkle Series. Outside of big public events like Christmas or Valentine’s, I barely had the bandwidth to care about anything else. With training, overseas races, interviews, TV appearances… even getting a day off was a rare luxury.

Still, I’ve never cursed myself as much as I did today. I puffed out my cheeks in frustration.

“You should’ve told me! That’s important!”

“I honestly just forgot… Once you get to this age, your own birthday kind of stops mattering, you know?”

“Well I care! And you’re off today, right? Let’s go buy you a birthday present right now! Like, something huge! I’ve got plenty in savings!”

“Wait, what!? Right now!?”

Thanks to winning so many races, my savings were in a ridiculous state. I hadn’t touched them at all, so they just kept piling up. If I don’t use them on a day like today, when would I?

“We’ve got to celebrate four years’ worth of birthdays for you too!”

And with that, I grabbed Tomio’s hand and dashed out of the trainer’s office.

The sun was high in the sky now, and not a single cloud dotted the brilliant blue. We weren’t running at Uma Musume speed—had to match his pace—but the world glittered around us as we ran together.

“Oh! I’m a bit late, but I have something to say too!”

“Hmm?”

“Happy birthday, Trainer! Let’s stay together forever, okay?”

Hand in hand, we ran into the light. Our smiles sparkled, the ring around my neck caught the sun, and everything ahead of me seemed even brighter.

We’d taken off on a whim, without any destination in mind. Was it the shopping street? The mall? Maybe the station?

Eventually, though, we slowed down, leaning gently into each other for support, and began to walk—together, step by step.