Writing a Song to Gather Fans for the Competition

As Hokubu Genkoma hummed, Yamato Akagi nodded thoughtfully.

"I see, Trainer Yasui wants to increase Xiao Bei's popularity this way?"

Yasui Makoto nodded.

"Perhaps my training data wasn't outstanding enough, and I'm still too young. Even though Xiao Bei won her debut race, her fan growth wasn't significant, only a little over 10,000 fans right now.

"I've already entered her into this month's condition race, which requires 24,000 fans.

"Although the race is still over three weeks away, if she doesn't gain enough fans, changing the schedule will be quite troublesome, and there's also a late entry fee.

"I don't plan to affect the overall schedule, so this auxiliary method is my only option."

Hearing this, Yamato Akagi silently nodded.

Her pre-debut training results were excellent, and her contracted partner Trainer was very famous.

Her subsequent race results were also outstanding, with 8 wins and 4 second-place finishes in 12 career races.

A career like hers naturally didn't require worrying about fans, but others weren't as fortunate.

Poor pre-debut training results, an unknown Trainer, losing key races, focusing too much on a specific type of race, and many other miscellaneous factors can all affect fan numbers.

Many races have strict fan requirements, especially the more important ones.

Races like the Takarazuka Kinen and Arima Kinen, in particular, require direct fan voting. Only the Uma Musume with the most votes can participate, unlike most G1 races which have preliminary rounds.

To gain more fans, besides striving for better rankings in races, many Uma Musume and Trainers arrange other methods.

For example, participating in festivals, volunteering, or appearing on interview programs.

Or holding street concerts, forming bands, or taking on collaborations with magazines or other entities.

All of these are within the scope permitted by the URA Association and the Academy.

Looking at the current situation, Hokubu Genkoma's training results are not outstanding, her Trainer is not well-known, and she's facing some pressure regarding her fan count.

To address this, Yasui Makoto chose to write a song himself.

In Yamato Akagi's memory, it wasn't unheard of for Trainers or Uma Musume to think this way in the past.

However, daily training and races consume a lot of time, and writing a song is not an easy task. There were hardly any who could manage both.

Moreover, if the song wasn't good, it might even have a negative effect.

So, in most cases, Trainers and Uma Musume who wanted to gain fans through singing would usually find a way to pay for existing music from the industry.

However, after spending some time together, Yamato Akagi felt that Yasui Makoto acted calmly and had strong convictions. Perhaps even if the song he wrote wasn't exceptional, it wouldn't be too bad, so there shouldn't be any cause for concern.

Furthermore, Hokubu Genkoma was already humming the rhythm, seemingly enjoying herself, so it would be difficult to dampen her spirits.

With that in mind, Yamato Akagi casually said, "It seems Trainer Yasui is very meticulous. This must be the auxiliary method you mentioned on our first meeting?"

Without overthinking it, Yasui Makoto nodded.

"I still need over 10,000 more fans. This song should be enough.

"Xiao Bei also has great musical talent, so I don't think there will be any problem having her sing this song.

"Of course, as I said earlier, if Xiao Bei feels there's anything wrong with what I've written, she can change it directly. I have no objections."

Hokubu Genkoma, who was softly humming, paused.

"I don't think it'll be necessary... Although I haven't formally studied singing with my grandfather and the others, I can tell that the song the Trainer wrote is very good!"

"Is that so?"

Yasui Makoto smiled.

"Then when we go to karaoke tonight, you can try singing it. Afterward, tell me what your friends think."

"Mhm! They'll definitely be surprised that the Trainer could write such a good song!"

Hokubu Genkoma nodded excitedly.

Yamato Akagi became curious and, at the same time, doubted her previous judgment.

She knew very well that this junior's family was incredibly talented in music.

Especially her grandfather, who was a regular at the "Kohaku Uta Gassen."

The Kohaku Uta Gassen was like the top G1 of the "Sparkling Series," where only the industry's top singers were invited.

As a regular at such a grand event, it could be said that Hokubu Genkoma's grandfather represented Japanese music.

With such a family background, even if she didn't pursue a musical path and instead became an Uma Musume, Hokubu Genkoma believed that any song deemed good would definitely not be bad.

...So, he not only possessed astonishing abilities in training but also outstanding talent in music?

What... what kind of genius is this?

Overwhelmed by curiosity and surprise, Yamato Akagi couldn't help but lean closer to Hokubu Genkoma, examining the contents of the paper carefully.

At the same time, she asked, "If Xiao Bei praises it so much... what is this song called?"

"Oh, right. I was so focused on the lyrics, let me see..."

Tapping her head in belated realization, Hokubu Genkoma quickly looked at the top of the paper.

Then, she and Yamato Akagi murmured in unison.

"The song title... Uchiage Hanabi?"

Nighttime, in a KTV room in the Harajuku district, a black-haired girl held a microphone, singing a cappella with rapturous emotion.

"pa tto hi ka tte sai ta

"ha na bi wo mi te i ta

"ki tto ma da o wa ra na i na tsu ga

"a i ma i na ko ko ro

"wo to ka shi te tsu na i da

"ko no yo ru ga tsu zu i te ho shi ka tta"

She was singing Uchiage Hanabi, which Yasui Makoto had given her, specifically the climax of the ending.

When the song finished, she tossed the microphone, stepped aside, bent her knees, and with a rather dashing flourish, bowed to the people opposite her.

Opposite her, two Uma Musume who looked similar to each other stared in amazement.

"That's amazing... Both your singing, Xiao Bei, and the song your Trainer wrote are incredible."

Rizumu Hikari exclaimed, clapping her hands.

Satono Crown, beside her, also clapped and said in disbelief:

"Your Trainer... is he really 18? And... did he really write this song?"

"Sister..."

Rizumu Hikari shot her a slightly reproachful look.

"Ah, I'm sorry..."

Bowing to Hokubu Genkoma, Satono Crown clasped her hands together.

"I didn't mean anything by it, I was just... I was just so surprised.

"I don't understand music as well as you do, Xiao Bei, but I imagine writing a song must be very difficult, right?

"18 years old... such good training skills, and he can even write such an outstanding song...

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't believe it for a moment...

"Anyway, Xiao Bei, your Trainer is truly excellent."

"Hehehe, it's okay."

Stepping down from the stage, Hokubu Genkoma immediately returned to her usual dazed demeanor. She scratched her head.

"Actually, I was surprised too.

"When I first got the song, I just felt the lyrics were good, the simple notation was fine, and the rhythm and rhyme seemed okay.

"But when I actually sang it, it was so good that I almost couldn't believe the Trainer wrote it."

"So you thought the same way, Xiao Bei..."

Satono Crown felt a sense of relief, then disbelief once more.

"A song this good must have taken a long time to write... and your Trainer just wanted to help you gain some fans?"