After an extra day of rest, the calendar finally turned to the 24th.
Early that morning, Shuta An knocked on Oguri Cap's room door. "Time to record the chase-up video! No sleeping in today, Oguri."
"Emmmm…" Berno Light, already awake, opened the door and yawned. "Oguri's still asleep."
"Eh?" Shuta An blinked, surprised. "Why is she still in bed? Didn't I tell you two to rest early yesterday?"
Berno Light sighed. "Oguri got nervous thinking about today's chase-up. For us, being filmed during training is a first."
Berno puffed her cheeks slightly. "When we raced at Kasamatsu, no one ever mentioned this 'one-week pre-race chase-up video' nonsense."
"No choice. Only Japan does things like this." Shuta An shrugged. "The URA Association says it helps fans understand the Uma Musume's condition better and feel closer to them."
He stepped past Berno Light and called, "Oguri~ if you don't get up, the sun's going to—"
Before he could finish, Shuta An froze. It was the first time he had ever seen Oguri Cap sound asleep. The Gray Uma Musume lay sprawled across her bed, her pajamas disheveled—her top had rolled up to reveal her slender waist, and the waistband of her bottoms had slipped slightly. Shuta An immediately turned his gaze away, cleared his throat, and placed his hands on her shoulders to shake her gently.
"Wake up~~~~" he said, shaking her again. "You can eat breakfast after we finish recording!"
At the word breakfast, Oguri Cap stirred.
"Breakfast?!" She rubbed her sleepy eyes. "Trainer, is it time to eat?"
"Not yet." Shuta An smiled helplessly. "We'll record the chase-up first at the Tokyo Racecourse training grounds, then come back for breakfast."
"Ugh—" Oguri Cap groaned and sat up weakly. When she noticed her rumpled pajamas, she quickly fixed them. "Trainer, please wait outside."
Shuta An wisely retreated. Berno Light, waiting by the door, wrinkled her nose a little, as if trying to detect what scent might have clung to him.
"Berno, why didn't you come in with me earlier?" Shuta An asked casually.
"I couldn't exactly be a third wheel," Berno pouted. "Oguri's sleeping posture is kinda bad. If I went in, it might've spoiled the view."
She trailed off, but Shuta An understood perfectly.
"When we go to Tokyo Racecourse later, Berno, you're coming along." He adjusted his cap. "Use your phone to record Sakura Chiyono O, and Dicta Striker's chase-up sessions—focus on their starts and acceleration. The URA's official videos won't show that part." (Dicta Striker, this guy isn't a real racehorse. The IRL counterpart should be Soccer Boy, some fic in webnovel even name her as Dido Shooter :v)
"Mhm, mhm!" Berno Light nodded eagerly. Ever since she had mastered her phone's camera, she'd loved this kind of reconnaissance work—just like last summer at Mombetsu Tracen Academy.
"This info will help Oguri win more easily," she said proudly, determined to fulfill her support role.
When they arrived outside Tokyo Racecourse, Berno split off from the group to find the best filming spot for observing the rival teams.
"Since we're already in tracksuits," Shuta An told Oguri, "no need to change. Head straight to the training ground, warm up, and I'll check the recording order."
"Okay!" Oguri stretched her arms. "I'll go warm up now?"
"Go ahead," Shuta An replied, patting her shoulder. "Don't be too stiff with the Central Uma Musume either. If they talk to you, just talk normally."
Oguri nodded quietly and jogged off. Watching her go, Shuta An turned toward the URA staff area. He wasn't very familiar with Japan's pre-race procedures—everything here felt different from America and Europe. There was still much to learn. When he entered the staff tent, everyone looked up. As the man responsible for Oguri Cap, his unfamiliar face drew attention.
"Good morning, everyone," he greeted politely. "I'm Oguri Cap's Trainer. I'd like to ask—does the chase-up recording follow any specific order?"
The staff exchanged glances. A few of the female staff whispered among themselves.
"So he's Oguri Cap's Trainer…"
"He's way younger and more handsome than those guys from Central."
Shuta An heard them, but ignored the chatter. He was here for answers.
"No specific order," one staffer finally replied. "Just tell the field cameraman when you're ready."
"I see—real-time filming, then." Shuta An gave a small bow. "Thank you very much."
"Bye, Trainer~!" the women called cheerfully as he left.
Stepping back into the crisp morning air, Shuta An spotted Oguri Cap across the field—surrounded by several Central Uma Musume. At first, his body tensed, fearing they might be mocking her. But as he got closer, he realized the looks directed at Oguri weren't hostile. They were curious—evaluating her, studying her.
"For them," Shuta An murmured under his breath, "a local Uma Musume from Kasamatsu daring to challenge a Central major race—especially a Classic prelim she's not even meant to enter no wonder it's such a spectacle."
He exhaled quietly and stopped rushing. This, too, was part of Oguri's challenge.
The Brown-Haired Horse Girl in a hooded windbreaker narrowed her eyes, quietly observing Oguri Cap, who was fully absorbed in her warm-up routine.
"Judging by her outfit, she must be that local Uma Musume who signed up for the Yayoi Sho," she murmured. "I shouldn't underestimate her as just any local runner."
Standing beside her, a red-haired Uma Musume with clear blue eyes tilted her head, equally intrigued.
"Her warm-up's a bit different from what we do in Central," the redhead noted softly. "She's focusing a lot more on waist and leg mobility. I've never seen stretches like those before."
"Interesting." The Brown-Haired Girl shifted her gaze to the redhead. "Sakura Chiyono O, what did you notice?"
"Nothing?!" Sakura Chiyono O jumped as her name was called, hurriedly backing away with both hands waving. "I didn't see anything! Really!"
Oguri Cap glanced up at the commotion, then went back to her exercises without a word.
Just as she finished, Shuta An arrived at the field. He immediately noticed the familiar faces among the spectators—Sakura Chiyono O and Dicta Striker, both key rivals for the upcoming Yayoi Sho.
"So they're here too," he muttered. "Have they already realized Oguri's different?"
A faint grin tugged at his lips. "Doesn't matter. Even if they have, Oguri can still beat them fair and square."
But before he could finish his thought, Sakura Chiyono O's ears twitched. Her sharp senses caught something—the faint trace of a familiar scent or tone. Her eyes widened. Under the astonished gazes of the other Central Uma Musume, she hurried straight toward him.
"Thank you so much, Shuta Trainer!" Sakura Chiyo O exclaimed, bowing deeply.
The shout drew everyone's attention—including Oguri Cap, who paused mid-stretch and looked their way in confusion.
"Eh?" Shuta An blinked, caught off guard. His mind turned rapidly before landing on a possible connection. "You and Sakura Star O are…?"
Sakura Chiyono O nodded eagerly. "Star O-nee-san is my mentor! We met when I was still a child at the 'Victory Club'! I'm really grateful to you for telling her to rest back then—if not for that, last year's Arima Kinen could've been…"
Shuta An waved it off. "It's nothing. Even if my advice wasn't taken, she might've lost her racing form at worst—but her life would've been safe."
Sakura Chiyono O shook her head firmly. "That's not how it works. For us Uma Musume, losing the ability to race is no different from dying."
"...That's true," Shuta An admitted after a quiet pause.
Oguri Cap stepped closer, her tone curious. "Trainer?"
"Hmm?" Shuta An quickly composed himself. "If you're done warming up, shall we start recording?"
"I'm ready!" Oguri Cap declared with determination. "My body's all warmed up!"
"Good." Shuta An smiled, glancing briefly at Sakura Chiyono O. "And as for you—you don't need to thank me. I was just doing what a Trainer should. I have work to do… and, well—never mind."
He turned to leave, heading toward the URA Association staff to arrange the recording session.
Sakura Chiyono O watched him go, her expression thoughtful. His half-finished words lingered in her mind.
She quickly filled in the rest herself. "After the Yayoi Sho you won't be thanking me anymore."
Her gaze sharpened as she turned toward Oguri Cap. "Do you think I'll lose to the Uma Musume he's training?" Her blue eyes glimmered, cherry blossom petals faintly reflecting within them. "I won't lose."
The Yayoi Sho—held in early spring, when the cherry blossoms begin to bloom.
At that moment, the camera crew prepared for Oguri Cap's solo chase-up. Since Shuta An only managed her, the session would be a 6F individual timed run.
The signal was given.
Oguri Cap launched forward, beginning with a steady 400-meter acceleration section before adjusting her rhythm. From the sidelines, several Central Uma Musume gathered near the cameraman, watching her every stride with focused eyes.
Shuta An, however, stood with his back to the track, scanning the area. "Now… where's Berno planning to film from?" he muttered, his voice almost lost beneath the pounding of hooves.
The sound grew louder, sharper—until Oguri Cap thundered past him, kicking up a spray of dust and wood chips.
"The footprints are so deep," Sakura Chiyono O murmured, eyes tracing the track. "She's really putting power into every stride."
Across from her, Dicta Striker's golden eyes glimmered. "It's probably because she trains mostly on dirt tracks. Her stride power's incredible."
Her expression turned fierce with excitement. "That girl she's not just some local runner. She'll definitely be one of my strongest opponents."
Meanwhile, Oguri Cap focused solely on her Trainer's instructions. She maintained 80% effort through the entire run—steady, powerful, efficient.
As she crossed the finish line of the timing zone, Shuta An stepped behind the data staff, quietly observing as they input her lap splits:
"6F81.9 – 66.0 – 50.8 – 35.9 – 22.7 – 11.3"
"Not bad," Shuta An murmured. "At this pace, Oguri's progress over the past two months has grown remarkably."
It was the first time since the Kasamatsu Grand Prix that he'd seen her push herself in earnest.
The staff hesitated before marking her performance as 'full effort'.
Shuta An frowned but didn't correct them.
"…Forget it," he sighed, turning away. "Arguing won't change anything. With a 3F of 35.9 and the last furlong at 11.3, calling it full effort is understandable."
On the sidelines, Sakura Chiyono O didn't yet know Oguri Cap's times. But watching her run—smooth, balanced, and fierce—was enough.
In that instant, the proud Central star silently acknowledged the truth. The gray umamusume from Kasamatsu was no ordinary challenger. She was a threat.