August 30th — Heavy Rain.
The day that would determine the success or failure of Shuta An's summer vacation had finally arrived.
Although the race wouldn't begin until evening, after Oguri Cap finished lunch and took a short nap, Shuta An led her and Berno Light to Mombetsu Racecourse.
Some Uma Musume from Team Rigil wanted to join the excitement and had already bought tickets in advance. Others, less fond of moving around or disliking the downpour, chose to stay behind at the hotel and watch the live broadcast. Thus, when Shuta An departed with his team, Tojo Hana and several members of Team Rigil followed close behind, creating quite a striking procession.
However, upon arriving at Mombetsu Racecourse, Shuta An realized that the local Uma Musume had also brought along plenty of supporters of their own.
"The VIP viewing area is pretty spacious," Tojo Hana said, scanning the surroundings. "At least we won't have to squeeze in with the other Uma Musume's families. It'll save us a few arguments later."
"It wouldn't go that far, would it?" Shuta An's lips twitched. "Everyone's just here to cheer for their own team. You think they'd actually start fighting?"
"Similar things have happened before—though only in local races," Tojo Hana replied with a shrug. "After that, the URA Association issued an official notice banning that kind of behavior. Said it goes against the spirit of the Twinkle Series."
"I still don't get it," Shuta An sighed, glancing up at the clock on the display board. "Anyway, I'll step away for a bit. Oguri Cap's mother is coming today—it's her first time here, so I'd better pick her up before she gets lost."
"Oh? You've already met her parents?" Tojo Hana's eyes gleamed. She muttered under her breath, "Then the other Trainers can forget about poaching her."
After Mrs. White Narubi arrived and was escorted to the VIP viewing area by Shuta An, the Central Uma Musume, having already learned who she was from Tojo Hana, all greeted her warmly.
"Oguri's strength has truly been recognized by the Central Uma Musume," Berno Light thought quietly as she watched.
Yet she didn't feel that Oguri Cap had grown distant from her. Oguri's battlefield was on the track, and her recognition by Central peers merely reflected her talent. Berno Light, meanwhile, worked behind the scenes—her efforts were seen only by Shuta Trainer and Oguri herself. How the Central girls viewed her didn't matter.
White Narubi folded her umbrella, her expression tinged with worry. "The rain's really coming down hard. Is it really okay to race in this weather?"
"Its fine. Afterward, we'll definitely need to get back to the hotel and rest to prevent catching a cold," Shuta An answered honestly. "But withdrawing isn't an option. Unless the organizers call for a postponement, we're running—rain or not."
"This is also a challenge Oguri Cap has to face," Tojo Hana added. "Rain, snow, fog—those can't be trained for. You just meet them head-on."
"I know." White Narubi sighed softly. "Since she chose to be an Uma Musume, she can't back down just because of a little rain."
"After the race, I'll have her soak in a hot spring and rest a few days, just to be safe," Shuta An said quickly.
"Shuta-kun, please take good care of Oguri," White Narubi bowed slightly. Shuta An flusteredly stepped back.
Unlike the previous two races, Oguri Cap now had her own private lounge.
"So this is what they call a regional exchange major race…" Oguri murmured, glancing around. "There's air conditioning, a TV showing the track, even a refrigerator…"
Her gaze lingered on the refrigerator, and she bit her lip.
'If I open that, I'll want to eat something. And if I eat too much, it'll affect my performance.'
Forcing herself to look away, she sat down and focused on the TV instead.
"It's a good thing Berno prepared rain-special shoes and horseshoes for me—reinforced for grip, so they won't slip easily," Oguri said to herself, gently touching the shoes beside her. "Trainer really thinks of everything… Honestly, the regular pair would've been fine for me."
"And Mom…" Oguri sat upright, her voice softening. "She'll be here."
Her body trembled—not from fear, but focus. The shiver coursing through her was proof of her determination.
Outside, the rain still poured, the sky growing dimmer. As the clouds refused to part, the track lights flickered to life, illuminating Mombetsu Racecourse in the storm.
The Hokkaido Shimbun Hai (G3) parade was about to begin.
From the innermost gate, Oguri Cap was the first to step onto the parade stand. She offered a simple wave to the stands before walking off. The crowd applauded, but the sound was faint—far quieter than the cheers for the local favorites that followed.
"She's not very popular here," White Narubi murmured worriedly.
"It's fine," Shuta An replied calmly. "We're challengers from Kasamatsu. Most of the audience are locals—they'll naturally cheer for their hometown racers."
"Popularity doesn't win races," Tojo Hana added confidently. "With Oguri Cap's ability, she has a high chance of victory. Mrs. White Narubi doesn't need worry too much."
"It'd be wonderful if Oguri could win," White Narubi said softly, glancing at Shuta An. "That would be the best way to repay all of Shuta-kun's training."
"This race isn't the end of her career," Shuta An shook his head, eyes fixed on the rain-slicked track glowing under the floodlights. "It's the starting point—the moment Oguri Cap becomes known across Japan."
As if on cue, the parade concluded. The eight Uma Musume lined up at the starting gates.
"In just five minutes, Mombetsu's strongest rising star of the year will be decided here!" the commentator's voice boomed over the storm.
The words made even the most carefree of the spectators fall silent. The atmosphere in the stands grew tense.
"The 'strongest rising star'…?" the chestnut-haired Uma Musume next to Taiki Shuttle murmured. "So basically, whoever wins might become the 'Queen of the Region'? That sounds amazing."
Shuta An and Berno Light stood side by side as Oguri Cap stepped into the innermost gate.
"Even with this rain, Oguri's condition doesn't seem affected," Berno Light whispered.
"It's just rain," Shuta An said calmly. "What matters isn't how she looks before the start—it's the result at the end."
"Yes," Berno Light nodded, following his thought. "For us, winning this race is everything."
Normally, Shuta An would've reminded her, 'We must win honorably' But this time, as he watched the filly he'd trained with his own hands step into her first major race gate, only one thought filled his mind—
Please win.
White Narubi's gaze lingered on her daughter, full of love and worry. She didn't understand racing, but she understood this much: if Oguri won, her future would brighten.
'If only I could take her place'… she prayed silently.
Tojo Hana, meanwhile, remained calm. Oguri's performance didn't affect her directly. She was here to support, not to suffer. The real tension belonged to Shuta An and his team. When the last Uma Musume took her place in the outermost gate, Shuta An's heartbeat quickened. The race was about to begin.
Even through the heavy rain, visibility from the VIP stands was clear. The starter stood on his raised platform, flag in hand. Beneath the eaves, the Sapporo high school band began the fanfare.
All eyes were on the track.
"It doesn't matter if the start's perfect or not," Shuta An muttered. "We're running a mid-pack strategy anyway."
He knew it logically, but emotionally, he still wished everything would go smoothly for his gray filly.
The clatter of the gates opening was muffled by the rain—but the Uma Musume didn't miss a beat.
All eight shot out like arrows loosed from a bow.
Oguri Cap, sticking to the plan, held back, settling into a rear position instead of joining the others in their frantic sprint for the lead. Her strategy immediately drew attention.
"Is Oguri Cap, the Umamusume from Kasamatsu, struggling with the rain? She's already more than four lengths behind the leader!" the commentator cried.
"Is that really okay?" Tojo Hana glanced at Shuta An. "You said mid-pack, but this looks like a chase from the very back."
"No problem," Shuta An said evenly. "The others are just overreaching. With seven of them charging for the lead, Oguri naturally looks farther back. If even one or two hadn't gone all-out, she'd be mid-pack right now."
His words weren't just for Tojo Hana—they were meant to reassure Mrs. White Narubi too.
At Mombetsu's 1800-meter track, the first turn came 270 meters from the start.
Happy Green, the early leader, was the first to enter it.
The moment Shuta An saw the formation, a slow smile spread across his face. As the pack followed into the curve, his grin widened; his shoulders trembled. He looked as if he could barely contain his laughter.
"Has he already spotted the key to victory?" Tojo Hana thought.
White Narubi, alarmed, leaned closer. "Shuta-kun, are you feeling all right?"
"Yes" he said quickly, shaking his head. "I just saw something I expected. Our odds of winning just went up."
As Oguri Cap entered the turn, Tojo Hana's eyes narrowed. "Something's off. She could've taken the inside to overtake—but she's following the outside line. Isn't that wasting energy?"
Elsewhere in the VIP stands, the Trainers of other participants sighed in relief.
"It seems we don't have to worry about that girl from Kasamatsu," one murmured.
From their perspective, Oguri Cap's turn speed was unremarkable, and her position—so far behind—made victory seem impossible.
"But honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing more Uma Musume come all this way to compete," another Trainer said, half in jest. "We could use more like her—brave but harmless."
They spoke too soon.
At the front, Don Fortis, running in second, suddenly surged forward, challenging Happy Green for the lead.
"The pace is already fast—but Don Fortis is accelerating here? Isn't she afraid of burning herself out?" the commentator exclaimed.
Both Shuta An and Tojo Hana understood instantly.
"She believes her raw strength is the best here," Tojo Hana murmured. "She's trying to drain the others' stamina."
"It's not a bad idea," Shuta An said softly, eyes glinting. "As long as Oguri Cap isn't one of those 'others.'"
He narrowed his gaze, locking onto the two dueling frontrunners.
"When it comes to stamina… the strongest in this field isn't you, Don Fortis."
Meanwhile, Oguri Cap began to accelerate, her powerful strides cutting into the four-length gap ahead.
"I'm perfectly fine with this pace," she whispered, the rain cascading off her mane.