Kagura had thought the race she watched in Niigata last time had already been absurd enough. Now, it seemed she had still underestimated the scale of the fans. This was Tokyo, after all, so there were naturally even more of them.
"Maybe once you start running on the track, little sister, you'll have even more fans than this?"
"Mm... I'm not a dazzling genius like Miss..."
Kagura took Maruzensky's words as nothing more than a joke. She felt she wasn't someone like Rudolph Symbol, who could shine so brilliantly both on the track and on the stage.
Kagura did indeed have plans to enter races. She had heard that even if an Uma Musume didn't come in first, finishing in the top five could still earn her quite a substantial prize. Although she had no confidence that she could definitely win, after watching Rudolph Symbol's opponents, she felt that with enough effort and training, making the top five shouldn't be a problem.
After finally making it to Fuchu Station, Kagura quickly jumped out of the crowded train car. She watched the people behind her file out as well, and it took her quite a while to find Toujou Hana, who had been swallowed up by the crowd.
Tokyo Racecourse was packed so tightly that not even water could pass through. If Kagura and the others had arrived only a little later, they probably wouldn't even have been able to reach the entrance. Fortunately, the racecourse always reserved a special passage and viewing area for Tracen Academy's students. After squeezing her way to the entrance, Kagura got inside quickly.
Rudolph Symbol was still waiting in the entrance passage. She soon spotted Kagura, who had slipped in first. Rudolph Symbol looked to be in excellent condition today, suggesting that she had slept particularly well the night before.
"Morning, Kagura. I fell asleep again without realizing it last night, didn't I? Sorry for troubling you with looking after me again."
"No, no. If it helps you be in good shape today, Miss, then a little trouble is nothing."
"Want me to take you out for a meal after the race?"
Rudolph Symbol made the habitual suggestion.
"I don't mind, but didn't you say earlier that you wanted to eat something I cooked myself?"
"Uh... That's true. The restaurants nearby aren't as good as Kagura's cooking."
Only after Kagura reminded her did Rudolph Symbol realize that there was no real need to find a restaurant. As long as she troubled Kagura a little, she could eat food of the same quality.
"Isn't there anything special you want?"
Rudolph Symbol always wanted to do something to repay Kagura and Toujou Hana for the meticulous care they had given her over the past few months. But when she thought about it, she realized that both of them seemed almost completely without desires. Kagura especially—Rudolph Symbol didn't know her hobbies, her birthday, or even what she liked to eat, because Kagura almost never revealed such things.
"There's nothing I want. Seeing you finish your race properly, Miss, is what I want most."
Kagura shook her head and smiled as she gave Rudolph Symbol a thumbs-up of encouragement.
"I agree with Kagura. Rudolph, I'm looking forward to seeing you return victorious as well. Bringing back a victory would be the best news for Kagura and me, the people responsible for looking after you."
Toujou Hana finally arrived in the entrance passage. She had also heard Kagura and Rudolph Symbol's conversation. As a trainer, she naturally agreed with what Kagura had just said.
"Kagura... and Trainer..."
Rudolph Symbol was speechless for a moment. She crouched down and gently hugged Kagura, then stood up and hugged Toujou Hana as well.
Looking at their encouraging smiles, Rudolph Symbol straightened her expression, placed a hand against her chest, and replied solemnly:
"I'll bring back a glorious victory for both of you. I won't let your expectations down. Please watch me carefully."
"Do your best, Miss."
"Go on. Run to your heart's content."
"Miss Maruzensky, where did you hide just now? Aren't you coming to see Miss?"
After watching Rudolph Symbol enter the racecourse, Kagura walked back toward the front of the passage. She saw Maruzensky waiting there, gazing from afar at the entrance.
"I'm fine standing here. That atmosphere you had... It'd be hard for me to fit into it~"
"I don't understand..."
"It's nothing~ Don't think about it too much, little sister."
Maruzensky smiled and stroked Kagura's head. A trace of envy and regret could faintly be seen in her eyes as she watched the entrance.
Toujou Hana raised a hand and patted Maruzensky on the shoulder. Maruzensky said nothing, merely giving a helpless smile.
Go, Rudolph. Carry my dream with you... and run.
The race announcer was describing today's track conditions and the details of the race. Kagura, Maruzensky, and the others also returned to the spectators' seats.
Maruzensky's spirits had risen again. She hugged Kagura and kept gently rubbing her cheeks, looking thoroughly pleased.
Miss Maruzensky seemed a little strange just now.
Kagura wasn't so oblivious that she noticed nothing. She had seen Maruzensky's envy toward Rudolph Symbol, as well as Toujou Hana's helplessness. But she didn't know what was behind it. Why would Maruzensky envy Rudolph Symbol, who was about to enter the race? Why did Toujou Hana look so helpless?
"Miss Maruzensky is already racing too, right?"
"That's right. Why?"
"Do you have any dreams, Miss Maruzensky? About your career?"
After thinking it over, Kagura decided to probe a little and find out.
Maruzensky froze when she heard Kagura's question. After a brief silence, she spoke:
"A dream... I suppose winning the Classic Triple Crown and competing against powerful opponents in the Triple Crown races counts as a dream."
"The Classic Triple Crown..."
Kagura remembered that the Triple Crown Race consisted of three races. An Uma Musume who won all three in the same year could earn the title of Triple Crown Uma Musume. But winning those three major races was far from easy. Luck, ability, and effort were all indispensable.
Maruzensky fell silent when she mentioned the Triple Crown races. Her brief depression just now seemed to be related to this, but Kagura still couldn't understand why.
Miss Eclipse, do you know why Miss Maruzensky envies Miss when she mentions the Triple Crown races?
—I'm looking at a perfectly healthy child. She doesn't look unable to race, either. You won't get an answer by asking an ancient foreigner like me about this! How would I know what people living in this era and place are thinking?
Eclipse replied quickly. Her message flashed across Kagura's phone screen, indicating that she didn't know the reason either.
"Clack!!"
While Kagura was thinking in confusion, the crisp sound of the starting gates opening pulled her and the distracted Maruzensky back to reality.
The race had begun.
43. The Meaning of Logistics
"All the competitors have completed their introductions smoothly. At the front is..."
Rudolph Symbol adopted her usual frontrunning strategy. After leaving the gates, she steadily held a position just behind the leader. She wasn't in a hurry to overtake her, simply following behind and observing.
The other competitors in this race seemed far more determined than those in her debut race. Although Rudolph Symbol's performance was even better—and more despair-inducing—than it had been in her debut, the other Uma Musume also gritted their teeth and ran desperately.
This was a 1,600-meter race. For Uma Musume running at full speed, it would take no more than two minutes. There wasn't much time for the competitors to open up a gap.
Rudolph Symbol maintained her forward position, looking for a chance to break out from the front group. She could see that, just as her trainer and Kagura had analyzed, no one in this race was her opponent.
The track at Tokyo Racecourse did indeed have quite a few rises and falls, but all of them were covered by the countermeasures Kagura had suggested. Running along this course consumed almost none of her strength.
What a shame...
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the seats reserved for Tracen Academy's students. She knew her friends were all watching her from there. Kagura and Maruzensky would naturally be among them as well.
If only you were on this track too.
Winning the championship was certainly gratifying, but the process had been far too easy—and truly boring. Rudolph Symbol hoped to encounter opponents like Maruzensky and Kagura, who could make her feel threatened. But for now, Maruzensky probably wouldn't be able to meet her in the important races to come for certain special reasons, while Kagura was still far too young to stand on the track.
"Damn it...! Rudolph Symbol... Don't think you can pass me so... easily!!"
The gritted voice of an opponent beside her pulled Rudolph Symbol's gaze back. She saw that the other Uma Musume had caught up to her on both sides without her noticing. Although both looked to be struggling desperately at the limit of their strength, the determination in their eyes hadn't wavered at all.
"You have time to get distracted while running... You're awfully relaxed!"
Another Uma Musume also forced her way up from behind and joined them beside Rudolph Symbol.
Rudolph Symbol realized that briefly losing herself in thought had been somewhat disrespectful to her opponents. Watching them burn with all their might, she felt strangely moved.
"I apologize. I was indeed being discourteous just now. Everyone is burning so brilliantly. I should return your efforts with equal respect."
Although the Uma Musume catching up from behind tried their utmost to form a surrounding wall, their condition was ultimately too strained. The moment they entered the final straight from the last turn, they could no longer maintain their high speed alongside Rudolph Symbol. Their formation split open with a huge gap, and Rudolph Symbol naturally wouldn't let the opportunity pass—
"—I'll defeat you with everything I have!"
In an instant, Rudolph Symbol burst through the gap in the front group. The frontrunners, who had barely managed to establish any distance in the first place, were overtaken almost in the blink of an eye. Once she entered the final straight, Rudolph Symbol began an astonishing acceleration sprint with unstoppable momentum.
"Rudolph Symbol has broken through!! How fast! How fast!! Rudolph Symbol doesn't look tired at all!! The slope at Tokyo Racecourse hasn't hindered her stride in the slightest!!"
The announcer's excited voice and the spectators' cheers erupted the moment Rudolph Symbol broke free. The Uma Musume she had passed were powerless to catch up and could only do their best to reduce the distance by which they were falling behind.
—At the last turn, those girls will definitely be unable to hold their formation and expose an opening. That child will surely break through at that point too. If the leader hasn't opened up enough distance by then, it's over.
Eclipse had assessed the race's situation long ago. Things unfolded exactly as she had predicted. Rudolph Symbol broke through at the last turn, then charged toward the finish line with all her strength.
Rudolph Symbol continued accelerating and charging without showing the slightest fatigue. From the distant spectators' seats, Kagura could hear only the deafening cheers around her. Apparently, most of the people who had come today really were Rudolph Symbol's fans.
"She's incredible, incredible! Too strong!! The finish line is right ahead!! No one can close the distance to Rudolph Symbol!! Her condition today is perfect!!"
"She's crossing the line!! Rudolph Symbol has displayed overwhelming strength!! She has won the race by a huge margin!!"
The final straightaway sprint was completely without suspense. Rudolph Symbol, in peak condition, charged straight across the finish line. Kagura also saw the results board above.
"Nine lengths... Even more despair-inducing than her debut race."
Kagura saw the glaring red "9" between first and second place on the results board and couldn't help sighing with emotion.
"Of course. Rudolph's condition was terrifyingly good today. Little sister, you've taken such good care of her lately. She doesn't stay up late anymore, she eats nutritious food, and her three meals are regular. Damn it, I want a logistics Uma Musume like this too!"
Maruzensky enviously rubbed Kagura's little cheeks. Toujou Hana had told her how comfortable Rudolph Symbol had been lately. Not only did Kagura, an excellent cook, take care of her meals, she also kept Rudolph Symbol's room neat and tidy, massaged her whenever she was tired, and even devised special countermeasures for dealing with the conditions on the track.
Kagura had effectively eliminated every concern Rudolph Symbol had outside of training. All Rudolph Symbol needed to do was focus on following her trainer's training plan and completing her races. It was practically the same as Kagura personally entering the race and running for her.
"You're... incredibly strong..."
After the finish line, while Rudolph Symbol waved to the spectators, the opponents she had just overtaken also came over. Although they had lost the race, they didn't look particularly dejected. There was some helplessness on their faces, but even more relief.
"Sigh... When I think about losing to you, I suppose there was nothing we could do."
"You were all wonderful as well. It was a splendid race. The track shone because of your burning spirits."
As she spoke, Rudolph Symbol extended her hand and shook hands with the Uma Musume who had chased her with all their strength.
"Hey, enough with the splendid race talk. A loss is a loss. You won so convincingly."
"You'd better not lose later after leaving me so far behind! Otherwise, I'll look so embarrassing!"
Rudolph Symbol, who had always been somewhat proud, was trying to listen to her opponents for the first time. This was also a small suggestion Kagura had given her recently. Getting along with her opponents wasn't a bad thing, and Rudolph Symbol had discovered that even weak opponents could shine brilliantly when they burned themselves with all their strength.
Listen to what your opponents have to say. Maybe it'll help you understand how to interact normally with people your age, Miss.
That was what Kagura had said. Thinking about it now, Rudolph Symbol felt that Kagura's suggestion made quite a lot of sense.
After saying goodbye to the spectators, Rudolph Symbol headed through the exit passage. She still had to prepare for the winners' stage, but when she entered, she saw Kagura already waiting inside with a towel and water.
"How do you feel, Miss?"
"Very good. The running strategy you gave me was extremely useful as well. I have you and Trainer to thank for taking such good care of me lately."
She took the water from Kagura and drank several sips. It was still lukewarm—not hot enough to burn her mouth, yet not cold enough to chill her stomach. Clearly, Kagura had deliberately controlled its temperature.
"Speaking of which, where's Trainer?"
"I'm here. I was walking a little slowly... Kagura is an Uma Musume, after all, so she's much faster than me."
Toujou Hana appeared from behind a moment later. Kagura was still wiping the sweat from the crouching Rudolph Symbol's face.
"Congratulations, Rudolph. You won beautifully. Your ability to observe the situation was outstanding."
"I was able to win so easily thanks to the training and care you've given me lately, Trainer."
"I only made your training plan and set your physical standards. You should really thank Kagura. To make sure you ate well every day without disrupting your nutritional intake, she practically lived in the cafeteria during this period. She's been taking care of every aspect of your daily life."
Quite a few of those tasks would normally have been the trainer's responsibility. But with a logistics Uma Musume like Kagura around, Toujou Hana's workload had been greatly reduced, and she was very grateful to Kagura as well.
To be honest, Toujou Hana found Kagura's capabilities almost unbelievably strong. No matter how professional the Symbol family's training was, Kagura was still only an eleven-year-old child. It was difficult to believe that she could achieve this level of ability.
"I agree. Kagura, is there really nothing you want?"
"There isn't anything I urgently need..."
Kagura did have a few ideas, but none of them could be resolved in a short time. Buying alcohol to make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, or renovating the shrine she had refreshed and enshrining Eclipse there—neither was a goal that could be completed quickly. So Kagura didn't plan to trouble Rudolph Symbol with them.
"...After the winners' stage, I'll go back and prepare something for you, Miss—"
"Stop, Kagura. You're resting tonight! We're eating out this time!"
Before you continue