The August monsoon swept across the asphalt, thick with humidity. The earth simmered under the oppressive heat.
Sunlight pierced through the blue sky, bright and warm. A gentle breeze carried the faint, refreshing scent of flowers.
Kasamatsu Town, Hashima District, Gifu Prefecture.
Kasamatsu Tracen Academy.
This was a training center established to guide and nurture Uma Musume competing in regional entertainment races and local series.
Uma Musume. Girls who inherited the names and souls of legendary horses from another world.
They bore horse ears and tails, blessed by the Three Goddesses from birth. Their physical constitutions far surpassed humans, possessing extraordinary leg strength.
They craved the run. They loved the run. It was as if they were born into this world solely for the sake of racing.
Alongside them existed the profession of Trainer. They were responsible for supervising and guiding the Uma Musume.
According to the rules of the Uma Musume Association, a girl could only participate in official races after being invited into a Trainer's team.
"The training is so lax. There's no competitive spirit at all. It really matches the atmosphere of this school."
A tall, black-haired young man in a white tracksuit leaned casually against the fence. He watched the training field, where Uma Musume were yawning and chatting with each other.
He was handsome, with sharp, well-defined features that gave off an air of grit and determination.
"It can't be helped. Kasamatsu is just a small countryside town, after all."
Kitahara Jo sat on a bench behind the youth, laughing self-deprecatingly.
"Compared to Central Tracen, we aren't even in the same league when it comes to talent or facilities. But I say, Yuzuki... you've been here for two months. Why haven't you invited any Uma Musume to join your team yet?"
Yuzuki turned toward Kitahara.
When he first joined Kasamatsu Tracen Academy, Kitahara Jo had been very welcoming, introducing him to the school. Yuzuki had received a lot of help from him, and the two had become friends.
"I'm just an ordinary rookie trainer who recently joined Kasamatsu. I've been on the job for less than three months and have zero experience training Uma Musume. I'm the newest of the new. No Uma Musume would want to join my team."
"Oh? An 'ordinary' trainer?"
Shibazaki Koichi, dressed in a black suit, walked over slowly. His eyes twinkled with a teasing glint.
"From what I know, there are plenty of Uma Musume in this academy who would be more than willing to let you be their trainer."
Shibazaki was Kitahara's colleague and friend. He was one of the few people Yuzuki was familiar with in Kasamatsu.
"Exactly," Kitahara added, looking sluggish as usual. "Not only that, but you've given a lot of advice on the daily training plans. Thanks to you, Oguri Cap and Fujimasa March have been in incredible form lately."
He squinted at Yuzuki.
"Honestly, we're the seniors here, yet we're the ones being looked after. Your methods are too skilled, and your knowledge is too deep for a rookie. Yuzuki, you aren't from Central, are you? Did you come to a place like Kasamatsu just to smurf on us?"
"Why would a Central trainer be bored enough to do that?" Yuzuki said, speechless.
He wasn't from Central Tracen. He wasn't even from this world.
In his previous life, he was just an ordinary physical education student. On the day before his exams, he was targeted by a hardworking truck driver and forced to join the glorious ranks of transmigrators.
When he woke up, he was an orphan in a Kasamatsu orphanage.
He only realized what world he was in when he saw an old television reporting on an Uma Musume winning a Graded Stakes race.
He hadn't been idle during his years here.
Perhaps due to the transmigration, his learning ability had improved significantly. He graduated smoothly and obtained his trainer's license.
Through news and newspapers, he researched the famous Uma Musume of this era. He realized he had arrived before the start of the Cinderella Gray manga.
The "Gray Monster," Oguri Cap, hadn't gone to Central yet.
Yuzuki had planned to come to Kasamatsu to "pick up" Oguri Cap and live an easy life.
Unfortunately, plans couldn't keep up with reality.
Because he didn't know the exact date of her enrollment, he arrived too late. Oguri Cap had already joined Kitahara's team.
Since he didn't have his own Uma Musume, Yuzuki could only work as an assistant trainer, helping official trainers with their sessions.
The academy didn't keep freeloaders. This was a measure to prevent trainers from slacking off.
However, he constantly wanted to complain. The level of trainers in Kasamatsu was so low he wondered how they even graduated.
Many lacked basic training common sense. Watching them use clumsy theories on their Uma Musume was painful.
As a former PE student, Yuzuki simply applied some scientific training techniques and theories, which was enough to shock Kitahara and Shibazaki.
"Anyway, stop talking about me. The Golden Junior Cup is in two days. Kitahara, are you really going to let Oguri Cap go to Central?"
Yuzuki shifted the topic.
"'If you win, you go to Central. If you lose, you stay in the region.' To be honest, that's not something an elite trainer should say."
"If you don't explain yourself clearly, your Uma Musume is going to cry."
Not long ago, Oguri Cap's performance in the Chukyo Cup caught the eye of the legendary Uma Musume from Central, Symboli Rudolf.
Symboli Rudolf had forcefully "persuaded" Kitahara to let Oguri Cap transfer.
Caught in a dilemma, Kitahara gave Oguri Cap that ultimatum.
According to official regulations, if a runner intentionally lost a race, they would be permanently disqualified. Oguri Cap had no choice but to give it her all.
"Oguri is a genius. Even though I've never been to Central, I believe her talent would shine even among the elite gathered there."
Kitahara's voice was firm.
"She shouldn't be held back in the regions because of me. Her future isn't limited to this place. Going to a higher level to compete and be tempered is what she needs most. I'm certain of that."
"Don't worry, Kitahara. The victory won't be handed to you," Shibazaki interjected, a confident smirk on his face. "The winner of the next race will definitely be Fujimasa March!"
Because of the situation, Oguri Cap's mental state likely wasn't at its best. In contrast, Fujimasa March was in peak condition. Her chances were high.
Yuzuki didn't argue. Knowing the original story, he knew Fujimasa March would still lose to Oguri Cap.
He turned to look at Fujimasa March training in the distance. The girl ran along the wide track with light, rhythmic steps.
Her long hair fluttered with her speed, drifting through the air alongside her sweat.
'Her talent might not match Oguri Cap's... but her drive to fight for her dreams is second to none,' Yuzuki murmured.
Fujimasa March still had many flaws, but if she could receive more scientific and systematic training, she might just be able to break free from her fate.