There's Something Wrong With You, Logistics Uma Musume

Because Rudolph Symbol, who's currently the talk of the town, also announced that she would be coming to watch, the attention on this trial race has been raised to an unprecedented level. Akikawa Yayoi even had to temporarily move bleachers over to expand the viewing area just to barely seat everyone.

"Don't be nervous, Quality. I've investigated your opponents' situations. No one can threaten you in this trial race. Believe in yourself, but don't underestimate them. Just run like we did during our special training."

In the waiting area for the racers, Inari Kagura was giving Nice Nature her final pre-race tips and guidance, mainly to stabilize the nervous Nice Nature's mentality. Kagura, having entrusted Toujou Hana to investigate the opponents, believed that as long as Nice Nature could perform calmly, winning this race would be no problem at all.

"I understand... To be honest, I... can't make myself as calm as Kagura. If Kagura wasn't by my side... even if I signed up, I'd probably be scared away..."

"Don't think so much, Quality. You just need to know that right now, I'm by your side. Believe in yourself. You can definitely do it."

Saying that, Kagura hugged Nice Nature and patted her back. Nice Nature also nodded and reached out to hug Kagura. She felt that reassuring aura from Kagura, which calmed her down a lot.

"Nice Nature, for the 2000-meter race, please prepare to enter!"

The announcer's voice came from outside. Nice Nature realized it was time, so she let go of Kagura. She saw Kagura smile at her.

"Quality, good luck!"

"Okay... I'm going!"

Nice Nature nodded to Kagura, turned around, and resolutely walked onto the entrance path.

--Oh my, you really care about that child. Having a friend like you is truly a great blessing in that child's life.

Miss Eclipse's words appeared on Kagura's phone screen, then slowly disappeared.

'Miss Eclipse, what are your thoughts on this race?'

--What else is there to think? You've already investigated the participants. They're all just kids still studying at school, without even trainers. What are they going to use to compete with that child? Unless a true genius unexpectedly appears, there's really no way to lose, right?

Originally, if Nice Nature had encountered that rumored genius, it might have been a bit suspenseful, but right now, the students on this field probably haven't even run a few training races, and they don't even have trainers. Miss Eclipse couldn't imagine how these students were going to compete against Nice Nature, who had been professionally trained.

After watching Nice Nature leave, Kagura also left from where she came in and entered the audience seats. She thought about where to watch the race. Nice Nature's cheering squad was in the middle section of the race. Although Kagura originally wanted to go there, after thinking it over, she decided to squat near the final straight.

'It's been so long, I don't think I've ever officially cheered for anyone before... I wonder what I should say...'

Nice Nature walked from the waiting area onto the track.

For Uma Musume, 2000 meters is still a relatively difficult distance, so generally, most trial race contestants are in the short-distance to mile races. The 2000-meter race is relatively rare. This time, there's only one 2000-meter race, which is the one Nice Nature is participating in.

Nice Nature didn't recognize any of the participating racers. Her social circle at school was actually quite small. Besides her classmates, she only knew Kagura. Currently, Kagura was really the only one she could call an acquaintance or friend.

'Since I came to Tracen Academy, that means I have a little bit of talent, right? This time... I should be able to do it, right!'

Nice Nature looked at the finish line and thought silently in her heart.

Whether it was due to some kind of curse, she would always strangely get third place in exams and races, as if she had some kind of karmic connection with the number 3. She didn't remember how long this strange third place had lasted. She had lost confidence because of it, and she no longer pursued first place, until that afternoon--

--Thank you for helping me move things~ My name is Inari Kagura, and I'm a maid from the Symbol family.

The Uma Musume she met by chance painted the ordinary world in her eyes with brilliant colors and was constantly trying to take her to see even more colorful scenery. It seemed that the turning point in her life, from getting into Tracen Academy to standing on the trial race track today, was inseparable from this Uma Musume.

"The weather today is really quite good, and this 2000-meter race is taking place on a good track..."

The commentator's voice explaining the track conditions came from a distance, but Nice Nature didn't really care.

'Where is Kagura?'

She had already seen her cheering squad, but she didn't see Kagura anywhere, but she believed that Kagura must be watching her somewhere in the audience seats.

Following the instructions, she walked into the gate. Nice Nature concentrated her mind and stared intently ahead.

"Click!"

Along with the crisp sound of the gate opening, Nice Nature completed the break smoothly and steadily followed behind the leading Uma Musume according to the tactical decision Kagura had given her.

"Very good, all the students have completed the break smoothly. This race is also the only 2000-meter race in this trial race. I hope all the students can perform at their best."

Listening carefully, Nice Nature realized that Rudolph Symbol was actually commentating on this race. No wonder the voice sounded familiar. She subconsciously looked at the commentary box, but she didn't see the person she was looking for.

'That's not right, Kagura said that you can't be distracted during the race, you have to concentrate on paying attention to your opponents, you have to respect your opponents, and you can't underestimate them!'

Having glanced around and suddenly realizing that she was distracted, Nice Nature quickly pulled back her attention and focused on the situation around her.

The leading group of Uma Musume were running very loosely. Nice Nature could easily find a very good breakthrough route, as long as they maintained their pace unchanged.

As for the chasing group behind her, Nice Nature hadn't yet found any Uma Musume trying to accelerate and catch up with her. Currently, she was at the very front of the chasing group.

"The leading students are fiercely competing for the lead position. Is this really a good decision?"

Rudolph Symbol saw that the leading Uma Musume in front were fighting back and forth very intensely. Although competing for the lead also occurs in professional races, the students' stamina doesn't really support this kind of continuous, long-term competition, especially in a distance like 2000 meters.

"Oh my, it feels like the leading children are a bit overexcited. I hope they can find a chance to catch their breath."

Another commentator—Maruzensky, a girl full of youthful energy—had also seen the problem with the leading group and shook her head helplessly.

'The leading group is restraining each other, consuming too much energy, and has already become less of a threat. The student that Kagura has been taking care of has already lost three opponents.'

Rudolph Symbol, having judged that the leading group would stall halfway, had already crossed those three leading Uma Musume off the list of potential winners. Her gaze moved backward a bit, and she quickly found Nice Nature at the very front of the chasing group.

Frankly speaking, Nice Nature's performance was the one she was most satisfied with in this race. The leading group in front was running in a chaotic mess, and the chasing Uma Musume behind seemed to be suppressed by Nice Nature, unable to find an opportunity to break through. Nice Nature had been firmly occupying the top spot in the chasing group, and was biting very closely to the leading group.

'With such a loose formation in front, if I were in that child's position, I could easily break through at the third turn, as long as I avoided the stalling leading Uma Musume...'

Rudolph Symbol speculated on the tactical strategies that Nice Nature might use. After all, the chasing tactic that Nice Nature was using was actually what she usually taught Kagura during training. Kagura, who originally only knew how to run escape, certainly couldn't teach that child to run a grand escape. She probably took her set of running methods and modified it.

The race was halfway through, and all the Uma Musume had passed the second turn. Nice Nature heard her familiar voice amidst the noisy cheers of the crowd:

"Go, Kosu!! Charge ahead!!"

"Quality Leader!! Go for it!!"

Ah, it's Mom! And everyone from the shopping street!

Nice Nature felt a surge of emotion. Kagura had already told her how to run the uphill and downhill sections of this track to conserve energy, so she still had plenty of stamina. Seeing that she was approaching the third turn, she was judging whether to make her move here.

"Oyster—!"

As she approached the turn, just as Nice Nature found her position and prepared to break through, the Uma Musume in the leading group suddenly let out a sound that shocked her. She glanced at the movements ahead and smoothly avoided the exhausted Uma Musume who were being overtaken, just as Kagura had taught her. But she also lost her chance to break through on this turn.

That was close! Good thing Kagura said this might happen... Damn, at this rate...

The formation of the leading group had changed due to the slowdown of the leading Uma Musume, and it didn't feel as loose as before. Nice Nature needed to find the next opportunity to break through.

I have to break through before that point, or it'll be difficult later...

Nice Nature focused her gaze on the last turn in the distance. The front was a mess, and she had to break through as soon as possible. Otherwise, if everyone maintained their speed on the final straight, she would be in trouble.

Slightly increasing her speed to shake off the trailing group and prevent any Uma Musume from suddenly surging forward, Nice Nature observed the situation ahead, continuing to accelerate in preparation for a breakthrough. Just as she approached the fourth turn, she caught a glimpse in the corner of her eye of a figure she had been searching for for a long time, standing beside the track on the final straight—

"Quality Onee-chan~! Go go~!!"

It's Kagura!!

The small, black-haired Uma Musume waved her arms, standing on tiptoe and calling out to her with a smile like a real child. Her voice wasn't loud, but Nice Nature still clearly heard her voice. That clear and soft voice, like a silver bell, made Quality's heart skip a beat.

An inexplicable surge of emotion welled up from the bottom of Nice Nature's heart. She seemed to feel a surge of power, and the urge to compete made her instinctively lower her stance—

I'm carrying the expectations and hopes of so many people... I can't lose... and I absolutely won't lose here!!

"Right here... I'll surpass you all!!"

On the stretch of road just before entering the fourth turn, Nice Nature found a somewhat risky opportunity, suddenly accelerating and breaking through directly through a gap that had accidentally appeared in the leading group, rushing out cleanly.

"Are you kidding me!?"

Nice Nature heard the surprised voices of her opponents, but she didn't care anymore.

"Wow!! Nice Nature is accelerating sharply! In one fell swoop... Nice Nature has broken out of the leading group!! Taking the lead into the final turn!!"

Rudolph Symbol's commentary followed promptly. Although the timing of Nice Nature's breakthrough was slightly different from what she had expected, her breakthrough action and choice of opportunity were already very good for a rookie Uma Musume.

"Now leading is Nice Nature!! Her stride shows no fatigue! She's still accelerating!! She has entered the final straight and is starting her sprint!"

"Even someone ordinary like me... can do it sometimes—!!!"

Nice Nature let out a spirited roar, once again greatly increasing her speed!

"Six lengths, seven lengths...!! So fast! Too fast! The gap is still widening!! No one can catch her!!"

"There's no chance left for the other students to catch up! Crossing the finish line!! Nice Nature has shown her overwhelming strength, dominating the race with an absolute advantage!!"

As Rudolph Symbol's announcement ended, the scoreboard next to the track also showed the results. Nice Nature, who had just crossed the finish line, didn't stop. While waving her arms at the audience to respond to their cheers, she looked at her score.

—A nine-length difference from second place. If she had broken through and accelerated a little earlier, the display might have shown a huge gap.

"Haa... haa—I did it... I did it!! I did it!!"

Panting, Nice Nature couldn't bother to catch her breath. She couldn't hold back her excitement and raised her hand to the sky, letting out an excited roar.

At this point, the shadow of 3, which had plagued Nice Nature for several years, finally dissipated completely from her mind.

62. I knew it was Mom ()

"Nice Nature! Nice Nature!!"

The cheers for Nice Nature still echoed in the stadium. Her wonderful performance impressed everyone on the field. Not only the audience, but her opponents also sincerely expressed their admiration for her.

"Thank you for your support!! Thank you very much!"

There was no subsequent winner's stage segment in Tracen Academy's selection race, so what Nice Nature had to do now was to withdraw from the field, rest for a while, and then prepare to welcome a large wave of trainers.

"Congratulations on winning the selection race, Quality Onee-chan~"

"Ah!"

Just as she withdrew into the departure channel, Nice Nature saw Kagura, who had been waiting here for a long time. Kagura also fulfilled her pre-race promise and changed her address to Nice Nature.

Bliss...

Listening to Kagura call her Onee-chan in that soft, nuonuo voice, Nice Nature couldn't help but let out a sigh in her heart. She felt full of power again, as if she could go up and run another 2000 meters.

Nice Nature's selection race finally came to an end, and the stone in Kagura's heart also fell to the ground. Nice Nature won this victory magnificently. Her performance could be said to be very perfect. This 9-length difference was enough to prove how strong she was.

"Kagura, can... can you say it again?"

"Hehe~ Of course, Quality Onee-chan."

"That's great—"

Listening to that cute voice, Nice Nature felt her heart melt. If she wasn't all wet, Nice Nature estimated that she couldn't help but hug her.

"Okay, okay, you still have to meet the trainers. Think carefully about what kind of trainer you want to choose. Toujou-san said she recommends a trainer named Nanban. You'd better observe it yourself."

"Yeah! Why don't you come with me, Kagura? I'm afraid I can't handle so many trainers alone."

"I was planning to go with you anyway. I don't trust you, silly child. I need to see for myself what kind of person you choose. I don't want you to be delayed by some irresponsible guy."

Inari Kagura tapped Nice Nature on the head with her little notebook. She planned to go along not only to check out the person on the spot, but also to hand this notebook over to Nice Nature's trainer. Although she couldn't guarantee that it would be completely useful, it should be a good reference.

"Okay~!"

Nice Nature happily led Kagura out of the waiting area. Before they could take two steps, a large wave of trainers had already surrounded them, and the area immediately became lively.

Kagura listened carefully and heard that they were all asking Nice Nature if she intended to find a trainer. This was the first time Nice Nature had encountered such a situation. She subconsciously wanted to ask Kagura for help, but she raised her hand and then lowered it. She hadn't forgotten that she was the "older sister," and this was something she would have to face alone sooner or later. She couldn't always rely on Kagura to take the lead for her.

--So many trainers are running to recruit that child. Your goal has been perfectly achieved. Congratulations! Can you finally rest?

'Not yet. I can only rest when she's found one.'

Kagura saw Nice Nature trying to maintain a calm expression on her face, communicating with the trainers who were crowding around. Although Kagura didn't directly help Nice Nature respond, she kept gesturing to remind the trainers to be careful not to rush forward all at once, partly to prevent stampedes and partly to reduce the number of trainers that Nice Nature had to deal with at the same time.

'How come I remember Tracen Academy being short of trainers? Today, it's so crowded they're practically bursting through the doors. Are they really short?'

Looking further back, Kagura also saw her old acquaintances Nishizaki Ryu and Toujou Hana. Nishizaki Ryu was still craning his neck from the outer perimeter, while Toujou Hana was standing beside him with a helpless expression, shaking her head. Judging by the density of the crowd, Nishizaki Ryu probably had no chance of squeezing in. She wondered if the trainer that Toujou Hana recommended, Nanban, had come to see Nice Nature's race.

Listening in, Kagura roughly summarized what the trainers were saying. In fact, the content was quite uniform and easy to understand. It was nothing more than promising Nice Nature a championship or saying what kind of training conditions they could provide. Although she knew that trainers meeting her for the first time could only say this much, Kagura felt that the trainers she had seen so far didn't seem very reliable.

Those who promised championships right away, and those who patted their chests and said how high their coaching level was, all revealed a sense of urgency. They didn't seem like the kind of people she thought were suitable for Nice Nature. Kagura had seen so many different kinds of people in her work, and she had a certain ability to discern a person's character.

Therefore, Nice Nature hadn't agreed to anyone yet, partly because she hadn't received the secret signal from Kagura behind her—if Kagura thought someone was suitable, she would poke her twice from behind—and partly because Nice Nature herself hadn't found someone she thought was suitable. She also felt that these trainers weren't suitable for her and that they didn't have good chemistry with her.

What made Nice Nature a little dumbfounded was that, in addition to the trainers who came to recruit her, some trainers even wanted to pull Kagura behind her over to their side. Apparently, Kagura had already gained some fame among the Logistics Uma Musume. Some trainers who had Logistics Uma Musume in their teams or knew Logistics Uma Musume wanted to find a reliable Logistics Uma Musume for the Uma Musume in their teams, so they also tried to invite Kagura. Naturally, Kagura didn't agree.

More and more trainers crowded around, but the trainers who came later were clearly not as anxious as the ones in front. After Nice Nature politely refused those unreliable trainers, the loud voices of those impatient people disappeared, and Kagura gradually heard the voices from the back.

--Such a strong child. If she doesn't win the championship, it will feel like the trainer's incompetence...

This kind of comment was more common among the trainers who came later, which made Kagura feel a little unsure how to evaluate it. This situation sounded a bit familiar to her, because she had heard that Rudolph Symbol was like this during the selection race. Rudolph Symbol, like Nice Nature, had left her opponents far behind, which scared the surrounding trainers so much that they didn't dare to approach easily.

After a few more cautious trainers backed down, Kagura saw a handsome young man walk up. From Kagura's aesthetic point of view, he was indeed a veritable pretty boy, with a face that girls liked very much. Moreover, she thought this person looked quite kind, and he spoke politely and slowly, without the urgency of the few hairy monkeys in front or the timidity of those who came later.

'Hoh, this person seems to have something... His personality is also good. He seems like a steady older brother.'