The office was quiet, save for the soft rustle of paper and the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock. A warm, yellow glow from the desk lamp spilled across stacks of documents that had long since piled up around Principal Sato's workspace. One hand absentmindedly flipped through paperwork while the other rested near a tablet propped against the side of his desk, the device broadcasting a race replay at full volume.
The commentator's voice filled the room, brimming with an energy that felt almost visceral. "—KISEKI LEADING BY NINE LENGTHS AT THE FOUR HUNDRED METER MARK! HAS SHE GONE TOO FAST TOO EARLY?!"
On screen, the race unfolded at blistering speed beneath the roar of the Tokyo Racecourse. Feet pounded against the turf as Kiseki charged fearlessly ahead, her lead massive even this deep into the race. But behind her, the field was surging.
The camera shifted.
"GLORY VASE AND ALMOND EYE BEGINNING THEIR CHALLENGE—HERE COMES CONTRAIL SWINGING WIDE! DARING TACT MOVING TOO!" Principal Sato's eyes narrowed. The familiar intensity of high-level racing reflected in his glasses. Glory Vase pushed from the inside rail while Almond Eye advanced beside her with frightening smoothness, every stride elegant yet explosive, her jeweled eyes fixed forward with unwavering focus.
Then, the momentum shifted. "AND HERE COMES CONTRAIL! CURREN BOUQUETD'OR ALSO FLYING HOME!" The crowd's roar swelled through the speakers. Contrail surged from behind, rapidly eating away the distance with terrifying momentum. For a heartbeat, it looked possible.
But Almond Eye responded. A sharp sparkle ignited within those jewel-like eyes, catching the stadium lights. Her stride shortened not from fatigue, but from devastating acceleration as another burst of speed exploded from her frame.
In an instant, she was gone. "ALMOND EYYYYE! IN A BLAZE OF GLORY, SHE'S TAKEN THE LEAD!" The replay zoomed in on the frontrunners. Almond Eye surged past both Kiseki and Glory Vase in one overwhelming motion, her brown hair whipping violently behind her. Contrail remained on her tail, pushing desperately, but she simply could not find another gear to match her.
The commentator was practically screaming. "WHAT A GOODBYE! ALMOND EYE, IN HER FINAL RACE, WINS THE JAPAN CUP! CONTRAIL SECOND—AND IT LOOKS LIKE A PHOTO FINISH BETWEEN CURREN BOUQUETD'OR AND DARING TACT FOR THIRD!"
The finish line flashed past. The camera lingered on Almond Eye. That brilliant sparkle still remained in her eyes, but now tears gathered there, shimmering under the lights. Her expression was a heartbreakingly beautiful blend of pride, relief, exhaustion, and joy.
Principal Sato watched the paused frame in silence. Knock, knock. The sound at the office door broke the spell. He tapped the screen to pause the replay before leaning back in his chair. "…Come in," he called calmly.
The door creaked open, revealing a familiar silver-haired girl peeking her head through the gap before stepping halfway inside. "Excuse me, Sato-ojisan…"
Principal Sato blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected Lunar to visit his office this late in the day. A small smile formed as he pushed himself up from his chair. "Well now," he said warmly, adjusting his glasses. "What business does little Lunar have with this old man?"
Lunar stepped fully into the office and closed the door behind her with a polite bow. When she straightened, a hint of excitement danced in her eyes. "I just wanted to talk to you about the races I want to participate in," she explained.
His interest was piqued. He looked at her more closely, his expression shifting. "…Oh?" he hummed. "So you're planning to race already?" There was genuine surprise in his tone. He knew Lunar had originally intended to take things slowly and wait for formal approval to compete within Central. In truth, Sato believed her current capabilities were already absurd for her age and he suspected she could overwhelm even some Central graded races if she ran seriously.
Lunar rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Well…" she began awkwardly, glancing aside. "…I kinda got impatient." She let out a small, honest laugh. "Seeing everyone else going to races and having so much fun… it made me change my mind. I just want to race too."
Principal Sato looked at her for a moment, a warm, approving smile spreading across his face. "…Good," he said simply. "An Uma Musume should always have the desire to run." The words carried no pressure, only quiet understanding. Then, his expression turned thoughtful. "Although," he added, folding his arms, "I assume you're aware there aren't any nearby junior races left this year until after winter passes."
Lunar nodded, a troubled little wrinkle forming between her brows. "I only found out yesterday," she admitted with a sigh. "Apparently everyone else already knew except me."
Principal Sato chuckled. "That certainly sounds like you."
Lunar puffed her cheeks slightly before her excitement returned. She took a few quick steps toward his desk, her tail swishing eagerly. "But!" she announced brightly, "I already found another race I can register for!"
Principal Sato raised a brow. "Oh?"
"There's a junior race being held in Misuzawa!"
"…Misuzawa?" he repeated, leaning back. "That's quite a distance from here."
Lunar nodded enthusiastically. "Mhm! But transportation won't be a problem. I already asked Ray and Lena if they could pick me up and bring me back afterward."
Principal Sato let out a soft sound of understanding, a faintly amused smile returning. "Ah… yes. Those two young bodyguards couple of yours."Principal Sato simply shook his head in fond amusement, realizing the girl had planned this out more thoroughly than he had imagined. He gave a nod of approval. "Then which race are you planning to enter? And on what date?"
Realizing she had his blessing, Lunar's expression brightened. "The race card on December thirteenth!" she answered immediately.
Principal Sato blinked at the specificity of her answer. He turned back to his desk, reaching for a stack of printed schedules and pulling a tablet closer. He scanned the NAR listings for the date she mentioned. "December thirteenth…" he murmured. He glanced back at her with curiosity. "You already know the exact date?"
He had expected something vague, a general timeframe. Instead, she sounded like she had an itinerary.
Lunar looked sheepish again, scratching her cheek. "…Via-chan helped me," she admitted. "She basically searched through every possible race I could still participate in and made me a whole list," Lunar explained. "She did it all in one night somehow…"
Principal Sato stared at her for a second before chuckling. "…Yes," he sighed fondly, "that certainly sounds like something Via would do."
The image of the quiet, aloof girl spending an entire night organizing race schedules with terrifying efficiency was perfectly fitting. After locating the correct schedule, Sato adjusted his glasses and skimmed the details. "Are you planning to bring anyone with you?" he asked casually.
Lunar blinked. "…I can?"
He smiled. "Of course. Students traveling for races are required to have at least one adult accompanying them. Usually, that would be their trainer, but any trusted adult approved by the academy is acceptable." He paused. "And racers are permitted to bring one additional student along as a support Uma Musume."
Lunar's thoughts came to a screeching halt. *A support Uma Musume.* Almost instantly, names began flooding her mind.
Sakura-chan would definitely want to come…
Via-chan had already helped her organize everything…
Speedy-chan didn't even have proper classes yet, so her schedule was the most flexible…
Hiro-senpai had mentioned racing at Misuzawa in the past…
And then there was Rickey-chan…
Lunar's grey ears twitched. She hadn't expected the decision to be this difficult. Because now that she thought about it—there were far too many people she wanted beside her for her first race.
Principal Sato watched the conflict play out across Lunar's face, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. He could see her brain working overtime, weighing the value of her friendships against the fear of causing a rift. "Is it so difficult to choose?" he asked, his tone teasing yet gentle.
Lunar looked up at him, her expression pained, her eyes wide and pleading. "I just… I don't want to play favorites!" she admitted, her voice dropping to a small, distressed whisper. "If I pick one, the others might feel left out. What if Sakura-chan thinks I like Via-chan more? Or what if Rickey-chan feels forgotten?!"
Principal Sato let out a soft, melodic chuckle. He reached out, resting a heavy, warm hand atop her head and rubbing her hair with a fond, paternal warmth that made Lunar's ears flatten slightly against her head.
"If it's truly that difficult," he suggested, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses, "how about going with someone more neutral? Someone who isn't a student, so no one can feel singled out."
Lunar tilted her head, her ears twitching in confusion. "Someone neutral? But... who would be neutral enough for that?"
—
The world outside the car window was a blur of shifting greens and greys, the scenery of the countryside rushing past. Lunar leaned her forehead against the cool glass, watching the distant mountains roll by, her mind drifting in a hazy daydream.
A sudden, firm tap on her shoulder snapped her back to the present. She turned to find Principal Sato leaning toward her, a small, wrapped rice candy held between two fingers. "Here," he said with a wink. "A little something for the road."
"Thank you, Sato-ojisan!" Lunar chirped, taking the treat with a bright, beaming smile.
As she popped the candy into her mouth, the sweetness triggering a memory, she recalled the moment in the office. When she had struggled to choose a companion, Sato-ojisan had simply shrugged and offered to go himself.
"I'm an old man with far too much free time," he had joked. "If you don't want to hurt any feelings, I'll be your companion. I can be the 'neutral party' you need."
Lunar had nearly jumped out of her skin with excitement, her tail whipping back and forth like a metronome. Not only did it solve her dilemma, but she was traveling with a Sato-ojisan! Since she didn't have a formal trainer of her own yet, He was essentially stepping in as her stand-in, providing her with the kind of guidance and prestige that any uma would give anything for.
However, the aftermath of that decision back at the academy had been anything but "neutral." The moment she had shared the news, the classroom had erupted. Rickey had been the first to react, practically collapsing into a heap of tears.
"Lunar-chan! How could you!" Rickey had wailed, clutching Lunar's sleeve with a grip like iron. "I would have carried your bags! I would have cheered so loud the whole racetrack would hear me! Please, please, please let me come!"
Lunar had panicked, waving her hands frantically. "I-I'm sorry, Rickey-chan! I just—!"
Thankfully, Via had stepped in. With a sigh and a steady hand, she had gently pried Rickey's fingers off Lunar's arm, guiding the sobbing girl away with her usual, quiet efficiency. "Now, now, Rickey-chan. You're making a scene," Via had murmured, though her voice lacked its usual sharpness.
As Lunar had looked at Via, she noticed something. For a fleeting second, a faint, melancholy shadow had crossed Via's eyes—a flicker of longing that vanished as quickly as it appeared. Via hadn't asked to come, nor had she complained, but there was a quiet, aching sense that she wanted to be by Lunar's side, yet felt she shouldn't impose.
The rest of the class had been far more relaxed about it all. A wave of congratulations had washed over her, and even the class president, Ryuno Amazoness, had stepped forward to congratulate her. Amazoness had crossed her arms, her expression stern as always, but her eyes held a glimmer of respect.
"A debut in Misuzawa, huh?" Ryuno had said, her voice deep and commanding. "It's a bold move, Lunar-chan. But with someone with your caliber of strength, I expect nothing less than first place."
"I-I'll do my best, Kaichout!" Lunar had squeaked, feeling a rush of pride at the recognition.
And then, there was Sakura.
Sakura was currently sitting beside her, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her lower lip jutting out in a massive pout. She was pointedly looking outside the window, refusing to even acknowledge Lunar's existence.
"Sakura-chan…." Lunar had whispered, leaning in close. "I can bring you some treats from Misuzawa! I'll get you the biggest cake they have!"
Sakura had let out a loud, dramatic *"Hmph!"* and turned her head further away, her pink ears twitching in annoyance. "I don't want cake!" Sakura had snapped, though her voice trembled slightly. "I just wanted to be the one to cheer for you!"
Lunar had spent the next hour trying her best to persuade her, offering everything from cute stickers to extra snacks, but the girl remained steadfast in her silent treatment.
Sighing softly, Lunar leaned back against the seat. She felt a twinge of sadness, knowing her friend was hurting, but she realized there was nothing more she could do for now. With a heavy heart, she decided to give Sakura the time and space she needed to move past her pout.
While the rest of the class continued to buzz with conversation, Sakura remained in her own private world of indignation. She sat rigidly at her desk, her arms crossed so tightly she was practically hugging herself, her gaze fixed firmly on that birdnest resting on the tree branch. Every few seconds, her ears would twitch, scanning the classroom for any sign of Lunar's reaction to her silent treatment. She wanted Lunar to keep begging for her forgiveness.
The tension was suddenly shattered as the classroom door swung open with a sharp, authoritative THUD.
Standing in the doorway was Validissimus. She commanded the room instantly, her tall, wild, and strikingly handsome presence filling the space. With her sharp features and an aura that bordered on predatory, she looked less like a student and more like a force of nature that had accidentally wandered into a school.
The moment her mismatched eyes found Lunar, her gaze locked on. Validissimus strode across the room, her movements fluid and confident.
"Valid-chan!" Lunar greeted her with a beaming, genuine smile.
The effect was instantaneous. The fierce, intimidating aura that usually surrounded Validissimus, the one that made other students subconsciously step aside—simply evaporated. Her eyes softened, and the firmness in her shoulders dropped. In a heartbeat, she went from a wild wolf stalking its prey to a tamed companion, her expression easing into something unexpectedly gentle. She had been tamed, and by Lunar alone.
Sakura, still pouting, felt a surge of irritation. She shifted her gaze, watching the interaction from the corner of her eye. She wanted to step in, to reclaim her spot as the center of Lunar's attention, but her pride held her back. I'm ignoring her, Sakura reminded herself stubbornly. I can't just jump in now. So, she remained frozen in her seat, her ears twitching aggressively as she eavesdropped on the conversation.
Validissimus stopped in front of Lunar, looking down at her. "Is it true?" she asked, her voice low but clear. "That you're racing in two days?"
Lunar blinked, looking up. "It's true! But… how did you know?"
Without a word, Validissimus reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She flipped the screen around, pointing to a group chat that was currently scrolling at a dizzying speed. The screen was a wall of text, and as Lunar leaned in, she saw the source of the leak.
Rickey had been spamming the chat for hours. "LUNAR-CHAN IS GOING WITHOUT ME!!!" one message screamed in all caps. "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! MY HEART IS BREAKING!!!" another read, followed by a string of sobbing emojis.
Lunar perked up, her eyes widening. "Ah….I didn't know. I don't have my phone in class since I left it at the dorm!"
Validissimus tucked the phone back into her pocket, but her expression remained slightly guarded. She looked Lunar in the eye, her gaze searching. "Tell me. Was the decision to go with Principal Sato your own? Or were you influenced by him in some way? Did he pressure you into it?"
Lunar looked surprised by the question. She thought back to the office—the warmth of Sato-Ojiisan's hand on her head and the gentle way he had offered to be the "neutral party." "The suggestion was definitely Sato-ojisan's," Lunar explained honestly, "but I didn't feel any pressure at all! I just thought it would be good to have him with me for my first NAR race."
Internally, Lunar added a mental footnote, And I didn't want to make anyone feel left out. But she kept that part to herself, not wanting to overcomplicate the conversation.
As Lunar spoke, the last remnants of tightness in Validissimus's face completely vanished. She exhaled a long breath, her posture relaxing completely. "If that is the case," Validissimus said, her voice softening, "then I have nothing else to say. Just… run as much as you want. Enjoy it."
Lunar blinked, momentarily stunned. Out of everyone—from the sobbing Rickey to the pouting Sakura, she hadn't expected Validissimus to have the most mature and calm reaction of them all. She felt a surge of appreciation for the gesture.
Without thinking, Lunar reached out and grasped one of Validissimus's hands in hers, squeezing it gently. She looked up with a radiant, innocent smile. "I will! I'm definitely going to enjoy it! Thank you so much Valid-chan~!"
To Lunar, it was a simple, friendly gesture of gratitude. But to Validissimus, the contact felt like an electric shock.
The tall girl froze. Her eyes widened, and a deep, sudden shade of crimson rushed up her neck and flooded her ears. She stared down at their joined hands, her heart suddenly hammering against her ribs. She had faced down the fiercest competitors on the track without flinching, but this simple, innocent touch left her completely flustered, her mind momentarily going blank as she struggled to maintain her composure.
Sakura had reached her limit.
Watching Lunar's hand clasp Validissimus's had been the final straw. The sight of that cute, innocent smile directed at the tall, flustered girl snapped something inside Sakura. Forgetting her vow of silence, she practically launched herself from her seat.
With a sudden, aggressive burst of movement, Sakura leaped forward and snatched their joined hands, forcibly prying them apart with a sharp tug.
Validissimus blinked, her face still flushed crimson, and frowned. She looked down at the petite girl who had just invaded her personal space. "What are you doing all of a sudden, you—?"
Lunar looked back and forth between the two, her head tilting in genuine confusion. "Sakura-chan?"
Sakura had opened her mouth to let out a scathing remark—something likely involving a very colorful description of Validissimus's face and personality, but she caught Lunar's curious gaze. Realizing she was in the presence of the "innocent" Lunar, she quickly suppressed the vulgarity.
Instead of speaking, Sakura reached out with a sudden, decisive movement and grabbed Validissimus by the collar.
Without a word of explanation, Sakura began to drag her toward the door. Because of the staggering height difference, Validissimus was forced to bend awkwardly, her tall, muscular frame folding as she was hauled along by the much smaller girl. "What is up with you, you crazy b-bitc—girl!" Validissimus sputtered, writhing around in Sakura's grip, her face a mixture of confusion and irritation.
The entire classroom fell silent, the students watching in sheer amusement. The visual contrast was absurd: the imposing, "strongest" girl in their year being hauled away like a misbehaving puppy by the petite, pouting Sakura.
Lunar watched in silence as the door slammed shut behind them, the two disappearing from sight. She blinked, her ears twitching. *Why did that happen?*
"Squeee!"
The sudden sound came from directly in front of her. Neia, who sat at the desk ahead of Lunar had practically jumped out of her seat, her face flushed with excitement. "Did you see that?! How scandalous!"
Lunar leaned forward, her brow furrowing. "Scandalous…?"
Beside Neia, Quenya let out a nervous laugh, waving her hands in an attempt to defuse the situation. "Haha, it's nothing, Lunar-chan! You don't have to pay attention to—!"
"Don't you think they look like a perfect couple, Lunar-chan?!" Neia interrupted, her voice booming across the room. She was far less shy than Quenya, and her eyes were practically sparkling with shipping energy.
Lunar's jaw dropped slightly. "Ehhh??? Couple??"
Quenya sighed, looking resigned as she leaned back in her chair. Neia, however, was just getting started. She leaned in close to Lunar, counting off points on her fingers.
"Think about it! The contrast is just perfect!" Neia explained enthusiastically. "The 'Prickly Cherry Blossom' and 'The Strongest Creature'! Their enemies-to-lovers trope chemistry is through the roof! It's a masterpiece of a dynamic!"
Lunar paused. For a moment, she was genuinely intrigued by the nickname. The Strongest Creature? she wondered. She didn't probe further, though; her mind was too occupied with the second part. "Enemies to lovers? Everyone is shipping them?!"
Neia nodded vigorously, confirming the theory. "Their interactions lately have been so close! It's obvious to everyone!"
Lunar thought about it. Now that she was actually considering it, she realized Neia wasn't entirely wrong. Validissimus and Sakura *had* seemed closer recently. They shared a burning passion for Umadols, and they spent a significant amount of time together during their studio training, often arguing—which, in the world of "shipping," was basically as good as flirting.
Suddenly, a voice drifted in from the back of the room.
"I can't believe my eyes," Iyasaka murmured, her face a mask of utter disbelief. As Sakura's roommate, Iyasaka had a front-row seat to the chaos of their living quarters. "Just a couple of days ago, Validissimus showed up at our dorm specifically to ask for Sakura. And then… they both went out together at night."
The effect was instantaneous.
A collective, thunderous "OOOOOOOH!" erupted from the rest of the class. The students leaned in, their whispers turning into a roar of speculation. The evidence was now undeniable in their eyes. The "scandal" was real, and the mystery of the two girls' relationship had just become the most interesting topic in the room.
Lunar sat there, blinking, feeling as though she had accidentally walked into a movie. She looked at the closed door, then back at her classmates, wondering if she was the only one who didn't realize what was actually going on.
Neia wasn't finished. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a dramatic, conspiratorial stage-whisper that carried across the entire room.
"And think about it!" Neia pointed out, her eyes wide with excitement. "Sakura was totally minding her own business until Lunar took Validissimus's hand. That was the trigger! Sakura must have been consumed by jealousy and dragged Validissimus away to… relieve that jealousy somewhere hidden from prying eyes!"
The implication hung in the air for a heartbeat before the classroom erupted. An even louder, more scandalous "OOOOOOOH!" swept through the room, accompanied by cheers and giggles. Neia had successfully painted a vivid image in everyone's minds—a secret, passionate encounter between the prickly blossom and the strongest creature—and the entire class was eating it up like a five course meal. That is until…
THUD! A loud, heavy sound cut through the cheers, followed immediately by a sharp, "Ouch!"
Neia jumped forward, clutching her back. She had just been delivered a swift, corrective slap by the class president. Ryuno Amazoness stood over her, shaking her head with a look of profound exasperation. "Stop spreading baseless rumors and theories in the middle of class," Ryuno scolded, her voice stern. "You're distracting everyone. Focus on your studies, not the imagined love lives of your classmates."
Neia whimpered, leaning forward while Quenya gently rubbed her back, trying to soothe the sting. "Sorry, President…" Neia mumbled, though she still looked like she was daydreaming about the "scandal."
As the noise died down, Lunar sat in silence, a small frown forming on her face. She felt a twinge of guilt, a quiet sadness settling in her chest. How could I not notice? she wondered. Sakura-chan and Vali-chan are two of my closest friends, and I had no idea they were feeling this way about each other.
She made a silent mental note to be more mindful in the future. She didn't want to be oblivious to the feelings of the people she cared about. Lunar was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone approaching until she felt a gentle poke against her cheek.
"What's wrong?"
Lunar blinked and looked up. Via was standing right beside her desk, her expression calm as always, but her eyes were searching Lunar's face.
"You seem a little off," Via added softly. "Your expression is… troubled."
Lunar felt a flicker of surprise. She had forgotten just how observant Via was, the girl could read her like an open book. Lunar sighed, answering truthfully. "I just feel a little bad. I didn't notice what was going on between Sakura-chan and Vali-chan. I feel like a bad friend for being so oblivious."
Via stared at her for a moment, her face remaining neutral, but internally, she was screaming. How is she this gullible? Via thought. That rumor is absolutely fake. Via recalled the actual dynamics. As close as Sakura and Validissimus had become, they were still like cats and dogs. They bickered constantly, especially when it came to who got to be the primary "mentor" during their dance training at the studio. To Via, it was glaringly obvious: they weren't into each other. They were both simply competing for Lunar's attention and affection.
Via opened her mouth to correct her. She wanted to tell Lunar that she was overthinking it and that she shouldn't believe everything Neia said. But just as she was about to speak, Lunar spoke first.
"I think…" Lunar said, her voice thoughtful, "I should be more wary of having physical contact with them both now. If I'm too affectionate, it might make the other one jealous, right? I don't want to cause any fights between them."
Via's mouth froze.
She processed the information. If Lunar believed this "couple" theory, she would consciously limit her hugs, hand-holding, and general clinginess toward both Sakura and Validissimus to avoid "interfering" in their relationship.
Wait… Via thought, a small, opportunistic spark igniting in her mind. That's actually a jackpot. Immediately, Via shifted her tone. The correction died in her throat, replaced by a soft, agreeable hum. "Ah, is that so~?" Via said, her voice becoming honey-sweet. "I suppose it can't be helped. We wouldn't want to intrude on their privacy, after all."
Via felt a wave of contentment. She decided that a little misunderstanding wouldn't be harmful—in fact, it was beneficial. If Lunar was less "cuddly" with the other two, there would be more room for herself.
Stepping closer, Via leaned in and wrapped her arms around Lunar in a sudden, warm embrace, pulling the smaller girl close. "It's okay if you can't be all cuddly with them," Via whispered, her voice possessive yet tender. "You still have me!"
Lunar giggled at the sudden embrace, the warmth of Via's hold instantly lifting her mood. She leaned back into the hug, returning it with enthusiasm and nuzzling her face happily into Via's stomach, completely unaware that she had just been "maneuvered" into a more exclusive cuddling arrangement.
—
Principal Sato glanced sideways at Lunar. She was staring off into the distance, her gaze fixed on the blurring line where the gray horizon met the winter sky. She looked distant, her expression unreadable, as if she were seeing something far beyond the window. "What are you thinking about, Lunar?" he asked softly.
The sound of his voice snapped her out of her trance. Lunar blinked, her ears twitching as she returned to the present. She looked at him, a small, slightly embarrassed smile forming on her lips. "I was just… thinking about the others," she admitted. "About everyone back at the academy."
Principal Sato let out a small, deep chuckle—a sound that carried a weight of fondness. "Still thinking about them, are you? How kind of you."
Lunar blushed slightly, looking away as she fell silent again. She didn't want to admit how much she missed them already, or how the thought of their reactions to her race was weighing on her.
Sato remained quiet for a long moment, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He seemed to be weighing his words, choosing the right moment to steer the conversation toward something more critical. Finally, he spoke. "Tell me, Lunar. What do you think of the race?"
Lunar looked at him, her head tilting in confusion. "The race? I mean… I'm excited, I guess."
Principal Sato's tone became more precise, more like a trainer. "I mean, specifically. What do you think you will achieve in this race? What placement are you aiming for? How fast do you want to go? Do you know who you are going up against? Do you have a strategy for the track?"
Lunar went speechless. She opened her mouth to answer, but as she searched her mind for the responses, she found... nothing. There was no calculated plan. No target time. No analysis of her opponents. Her mind was a complete blank.
Principal Sato caught the look on her face and let out a soft, knowing sigh. "You really just wanted to have fun and run, didn't you?"
Lunar let out a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of her head. She nodded slowly. "I guess so. But…" she paused, her expression hardening with a sudden, quiet intensity. "I don't plan on losing. I just want to run however fast I want to in that moment... and win."
The answer caught Sato's eye. He glanced at her, his gaze sharpening. "Is that so?" He let the silence hang for a moment before posing a question that shifted the entire atmosphere of the car.
"What if you lost?"
Lunar's eyes went wide. The question hit her like a physical blow, knocking the wind out of her. She opened her mouth to answer, but no words came. The very concept of losing felt alien, almost impossible to articulate.
Sato watched her reaction, his expression thoughtful. "You've never pictured losing as a possibility in your mind, have you?"
Lunar was stunned. For a second, she couldn't breathe. She had spent the past few years being the fastest, the strongest, the one everyone looked at with awe. She had a history of victory that felt as natural as breathing.
Slowly, she lowered her gaze, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I guess I haven't. I've never really thought I would lose to anybody." She paused, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. "Especially since I've never lost a race before… well, not in real life, at least.
As the words left her lips, a sudden, jagged image flashed through her mind.
It wasn't a memory of a track or a crowd. It was a vision of a void—a vast, oppressive darkness. And there, running away from her, was a figure. A black-clad Uma Musume, her form a silhouette against the emptiness, galloping further and further into the distance.
Lunar didn't remember the exact details of that image, but she felt the emotion attached to it: a crushing sense of inferiority, a gap that could never be closed, and a loneliness that came from being the one left behind.
She blinked, and the image vanished, leaving her feeling cold despite the heater in the car. She didn't tell Principal Sato about the vision. Instead, she gripped the fabric of her sweater, her heart hammering a new, uncertain rhythm.
Principal Sato remained silent for a moment, his gaze now stayed onto Lunar's smaller frame, though his expression had grown solemn.
"Listen closely, Lunar," he began, his voice carrying a weight that commanded her full attention. "As much as you must prepare yourself to win, you must also prepare yourself to lose. That is the part most racers ignore. They treat victory as the only option, and in doing so, they make themselves fragile."
He glanced at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "For some, a single fall is all it takes. Even the greats can stumble into a never-ending despair, a void where they become forever stuck in place. Once that happens, some are never able to get back up, and they spend the rest of their lives staring at a height they can no longer reach."
Lunar fell into a deep silence, her mind churning. There was something haunting about the way he spoke about it, a sense of lived experience that went beyond mere textbook advice. She sensed a hidden grief, a ghost of a memory lingering behind his words.
"Sato-ojisan…" she started, her voice small and tentative. "Were any of your former trainees like that too?"
For a split second, the mask of the calm, composed principal cracked. It was barely a flicker—a momentary shadow in his eyes, a tightening of the muscles around his brow, but it was there. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, replaced by his usual serene expression.
He began to speak, and as he did, his voice shifted. It became warm, saturated with a profound affection that made Lunar feel as if she were listening to a cherished story.
"I've had the honor of guiding many wonderful uma musumes," he said. "There was Golden Wave. Together, we fought through the mud and the wind to win the Tokyo Yushun. And Tokino Chikara… a girl of unmatched spirit. Winning the Tenno Sho Spring with her was one of the proudest moments of my life. And then…"
As he spoke of their names and accomplishments one by one, a smile spread across Principal Sato's face. It was a youthful smile, one that defied his age and radiated a pure, unadulterated pride. Every word he used to describe them was a compliment, every memory a testament to their strength and beauty. Lunar watched him, feeling a wave of warmth. She had never seen him look so alive.
But then, the atmosphere shifted. The smile didn't disappear, but it changed. It became bittersweet, almost pained. His face scrunched slightly, as if he were recalling a memory that was both a treasure and a scar. "But there was one girl…" he murmured.
Lunar could feel the change immediately. The air in the car felt heavier, the mood shifting from nostalgic to something more poignant.
"Tokino Minoru," Sato said. "Of all the Uma Musume I have had the honor of training, she was the greatest. The most talented. Truly, there was no one like her."
Lunar's pale yellow eyes snapped open in awe. To hear Principal Sato—a man of such high standards and legendary status as a trainer confidently declare that this girl was the most talented he had ever encountered was staggering. She wondered if such an uma even existed.
"She caught my eye the moment she stepped onto the track as a rookie," Sato continued, a small, nostalgic smile returning. "She was so effortless, so precise. I used to joke with her about it—I even nicknamed her 'Perfect.' And in a moment of silliness, I registered her under that name for her debut race. And then… she won by eight lengths. Funny, isn't it?"
Lunar's heart hammered against her ribs. Eight lengths? That wasn't just a win; that was a massacre.
"She was truly perfect," Sato whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and sorrow. "A Double Crown winner. She took the Satsuki Sho and the Tokyo Yushun with a grace that left everyone breathless. In ten professional races, she never lost once. Not a single time."
Lunar's jaw dropped. The terms hit her like a series of lightning bolts. "Undefeated?!" she gasped, her voice rising in shock. "Double Crown?! Why have I never heard of her! Did she not race in the Kikuka Sho? Is that why she didn't get the Triple Crown?"
Principal Sato's expression fell, the warmth of nostalgia replaced by a deep, haunting mourning. He didn't look at Lunar; he looked through the windshield, as if seeing a ghost in the distance.
"As high as she soared," he began, his voice dropping an octave, "one injury was all it took. A single, cruel moment of misfortune. In the blink of an eye, she was brought crashing back down to earth."
Lunar felt a chill run down her spine. She realized now that this was the root of everything Sato had said earlier. He wasn't just giving her a warning, he was sharing a scar.
"She was the first Japanese hope for the Triple Crown," Sato continued, his voice sounding hollow. "The world expected her to be a goddess of the turf. But when the injury struck, she was reduced to a mere bystander in her own life. She vanished from the public's mind, erased by the very world that had once worshipped her. She became a 'phantom' of a Triple Crown—a ghost that only a few of us from that old era truly remember."
Pity swelled in Lunar's chest. She imagined the loneliness of being a legend that everyone had forgotten. "Where is she now?" she asked softly.
Principal Sato gave a sad, fragile smile. "The injury was one thing, but the broken dreams were too much to bear. She simply disappeared one day. I never saw her again."
Lunar felt her heart ache. The thought of someone so talented, so "perfect," simply vanishing into the void because the pain of losing was too great was heartbreaking.
Sato reached over and gave her head a gentle, reassuring pat. "That is why I tell you to always be prepared, Lunar. Not just to lose in a racing sense, but to lose in general. To lose someone. To lose something you love. To lose your own feelings. Losing is a part of life as much as—and sometimes even more than winning is."
Lunar fell silent, her mind drifting. She thought of her mother. She thought of the void and the silence that had followed. Is that considered a loss, too? she wondered. She was so lost in the depths of her own thoughts that she didn't notice Sato watching her. Seeing her drift, he reached out and playfully booped her nose.
Lunar jumped, snapped back to reality. She looked at him, blinking, as Principal Sato stared at her for a few seconds. He seemed to be arranging his thoughts, ensuring his next words were exactly what she needed to hear. "As talented as Minoru was," he said, his voice regaining its strength, "Lunar, you are much more talented."
Lunar's eyes widened in sheer surprise. She immediately waved her hands in front of her, shaking her head. "No way! I'm not that talented! I can't compare to someone like her at all!"
Principal Sato let out a hearty laugh, brushing off her humility. "I'm not saying this just to boost your confidence, Lunar. I am reminding you of the ability you possess. I want you to be aware of it, to embrace it, but never to rely on it for everything. Because talent is only one of the many pieces of the puzzle." He paused, his expression becoming profoundly serious.
"To become a legendary Uma Musume, you need hard work. You need knowledge. You need desire, and you need luck. But most importantly..." He placed a hand firmly over his own heart. "You need HEART. The heart to keep running no matter what. No matter the result, no matter the pain, no matter the chatter, and no matter the reason. A heart that beats only to run. That is what makes a legend, and that is what I see in you... something that Minoru lacked."
Lunar was dazzled. The words felt like a benediction, a confirmation of something she had felt deep inside but could never name. She pressed her own hand over her heart, feeling its steady thrum. *Is my heart truly like that?* she wondered, a feeling of awe washing over her.
Sato seemed satisfied with her reaction. He finally pulled his hand away from her head and leaned back. "Think about that more for yourself during this journey," he advised. He slowly leaned his head back against the seat cushion and closed his eyes. "Now, you should sleep too... there is still a long way to go."
"Uhn!" Lunar replied, copying his position. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, letting the rhythm of the car lull her. But not even a few seconds had passed before she opened one eye. "Uhm... Sato-ojisan?"
"Yes, Lunar-chan?" he replied, his eyes still closed.
"I have one final question," she whispered.
"Ask away."
Lunar hesitated, then asked softly, "Do you think Tokino Minoru-san would have liked me? I mean... would she have at least... talked to me?"
The car fell silent for a moment. Then, a deep, raspy chuckle escaped from Principal Sato, his shoulders shaking slightly. "She would have definitely liked you," he answered, his voice warm and certain. "Very, very much."
"I see…thank you Sato-ojisan…" As Lunar drifted back toward sleep, a thought echoed in the silence of the car. a thought that Sato didn't say aloud, but one that lived in the truth of the universe.
She already does, Lunar-chan. Tazuna certainly adores you.