Umamusume. They are born to run. They inherit the names of horses from another world, whose histories were sometimes tragic and sometimes wonderful, and run ever forward. That is their fate. No one knows how the races waiting in the futures of these Umamusume will end. But they will continue to run, aiming only toward the goal in front of them.
Umamusume are unique in this world. They appear human, however have a few outstanding traits that make them different. They possess horse-like traits such as pointed ears atop their heads and long hair tails that protrude from their lower back. They lack human ears and often cover that with long hair. Alongside these visual traits, they possess a physicality that far exceeds any human being, able to lift hundreds of kilograms and run faster than cars with ease.
The biggest common factor among all Umamusume is that they are all female. That being said…
Northerly, an Umamusume, sits in a train as it speeds through Japan's underground. His Tracen Academy uniform, drawing curious glances from other passengers. It sports baggy winter sleeves, a nice skirt and some tights underneath. All in pleasing shades of purple and white. All that is topped by a large scarf in much the same colour, which covers the lower half of Northerly's face. It contrasts well against his long, earthy maroon hair and tail.
His ears, which sit atop his head, move to follow nearby conversations about who the new Tracen student could be and how she will fare in the Twinkle Series?
The twinkle series is a three-year-long swathe of various races that Umamusume from around Japan come to participate in for glory, fame or whatever else may drive them. It is considered the most important years of an Umamusume's racing career and has created legends recognised even on international stages.
Northerly has been wondering how he would fare in the Twinkle Series ever since he was a child, and as Tracen approaches, he knows those wonders are going to be a reality very shortly.
Tracen Academy is the most prestigious Umamusume training school in Japan, and its reputation is felt all over the world. It has created some of the greatest Uma's to ever walk the earth. Fortunately, for Northerly, it accepts international exchange students. Unfortunately for Northerly, this will make his life much more difficult.
Umamusume are, by definition, horse girls; they are all female. This has always been the case. Here lies Northerly's problem. Maybe it was fate, maybe a genetic mutation or maybe something completely incomprehensible, for whatever reason, Northerly is a male Umamusume.
A male Umamusume who has had minimal human contact for his entire life is now entering the most prestigious, densely populated Umamusume school in Japan.
Blending in is already hard enough as a foreigner in a place you don't understand, but the added pressure of being one of a kind Uma, made it even harder.
Northerly was already aware that the press attention here for regular Umamusume was a lot to deal with. He had spent countless hours watching press interviews on TV. They are always prying into every aspect of the racers' lives.
On top of that, what would his classmates think? Northerly didn't really know how anyone would react; he had never been to a real school before, and now he was staying at one in a foreign country.
His anxieties were running rampant in his mind, but he did his best to push them away. He wasn't ready for people to know what he was just yet. If he let his feelings get the better of him, people would notice; it's a well-known fact that an Umamusume's ears and tail can give away their emotions.
He had to hold it together.
Before he had a chance to think any farther the train came to a halt, and a calm, ladylike voice echoed over the intercom.
"Congratulations to new Tracen students! We have arrived at your stop. We wish you all the best in your racing endeavours!"
That's right Northerly is not the only Umamusume to be starting at Tracen today. All the new junior years have also begun their journey into their Twinkle Series careers. It's a relief and a challenge as Northerly stands and begins towards Tracen, ready to greet his future friends, classmates, and rivals.