A Song to Pick Up Some Fans and Qualify for the Race

As Hokubu Genkoma hummed, Yamato Akagi nodded thoughtfully.

"So that's it. Trainer Yasui, you're trying to boost Xiao Bei's popularity this way?"

Yasui Makoto nodded.

"Her training results aren't especially impressive, and I'm too young. Even though Xiao Bei won her Debut Race, her fan count didn't go up by much. She's only got a little over ten thousand fans now.

"She's already entered this month's qualifying race, and she needs twenty-four thousand fans to qualify.

"The race is still more than three weeks away, but if she doesn't get enough fans by then, changing her schedule would be a real hassle. We'd also have to pay a late-entry fee.

"I don't want to disrupt the overall plan, so this is the only other option."

At that, Yamato Akagi nodded silently.

Before her debut, her training results had been excellent, and her trainer had been quite famous.

Her later race results had been outstanding too. She'd won eight of the twelve races in her career and finished second in the other four.

With a career like that, there was naturally no need to worry about fans. But not everyone had it so easy.

Poor training results before debut, an obscure trainer, losing an important race, focusing too much on a single type of event, and all sorts of other things could affect a Uma Musume's fan count.

Many races had a strict minimum fan requirement, and the more important the race, the more likely that was.

For the Takarazuka Kinen and Arima Kinen, Uma Musume had to be voted in by the fans. Only those with the most votes could compete, unlike most G1 races, which had qualifying rounds.

To gain more fans, many Uma Musume and trainers did more than simply strive for better results in races. They also arranged other activities.

For example, they might take part in festivals, volunteer work, or interview programs.

Or they might hold street concerts, form a band, or take on magazine features and other collaborations.

All of these were allowed by the URA Association and the academy.

It seemed that Hokubu Genkoma's training results weren't particularly impressive, and her trainer wasn't famous either, so she was under some pressure when it came to her fan count.

To deal with that, Yasui Makoto had chosen to write a song himself.

Yamato Akagi recalled that trainers and Uma Musume had thought of doing this before.

But training and racing took up so much time, and writing a song wasn't easy. Hardly anyone could manage both.

Besides, if the song turned out well, that was one thing. If it didn't, it might even backfire.

So most trainers and Uma Musume who wanted to attract fans through singing simply paid people in the industry for songs.

But after spending some time with him, Yamato Akagi felt that Yasui Makoto was steady and decisive. Even if his song wasn't outstanding, it probably wouldn't be bad. There was no need to worry.

Besides, Hokubu Genkoma was already humming the tune and seemed to be enjoying herself. It would be awkward to spoil her mood.

With that in mind, Yamato Akagi casually remarked, "Trainer Yasui, you really are thoughtful. Is this the supplementary measure you mentioned when we first met?"

Yasui Makoto nodded, not giving it nearly as much thought as Yamato Akagi had.

"She still needs more than ten thousand fans, and this song should be enough.

"Xiao Bei has a real talent for music, too. I don't think there'll be any problem with her singing it.

"Of course, like I said, if she thinks anything needs changing, she can change it herself. I don't mind."

Hokubu Genkoma, who had been humming softly, froze.

"I don't think that'll be necessary... I never studied singing properly with my grandpa and the others, but I can tell this song Trainer wrote is really nice!"

"Is that so?"

Yasui Makoto smiled.

"Then let's go to karaoke tonight and have you give it a try. Afterward, tell me what your friends think of it, too."

"Okay! They'll definitely be amazed that Trainer wrote such a great song!"

Hokubu Genkoma nodded excitedly.

Yamato Akagi's curiosity was piqued, and she began to doubt her earlier judgment.

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

Her grandfather in particular was a regular at the Kohaku Uta Gassen.

The Kohaku Uta Gassen was like the top-tier G1 of the Shining Series. Everyone invited to perform there was among the best singers in the industry.

As a regular at such a prestigious event, Hokubu Genkoma's grandfather could practically be said to represent Japanese music.

With a family background like that, even though Hokubu Genkoma had become a Uma Musume instead of pursuing music, any song she considered good couldn't be all that bad.

So he's not only astonishingly talented at training, but at music, too?

What kind of genius is he?

Curious and incredulous, Yamato Akagi couldn't help moving closer to Hokubu Genkoma to inspect the writing on the paper.

At the same time, she asked, "If Xiao Bei's praising it this much... what's the song called?"

"Oh, right! I was so caught up in the lyrics that I forgot to look. Let me see..."

Slapping her forehead as the thought finally struck her, Hokubu Genkoma hurriedly looked at the top of the page.

Then she and Yamato Akagi murmured the title at the same time.

"The song's called... Uchiage Hanabi?"

That evening, in a private room at a karaoke place in Harajuku, a black-haired girl held a microphone and sang a cappella, her voice dreamy and heartfelt.

"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, the song Yasui Makoto had given her, and she was at the climactic ending.

When she finished, she raised the microphone, stepped to the side, bent her knees, and bowed to the people across from her with a touch of flair.

Across from her, two Uma Musume who looked alike stared in amazement.

"That was incredible... Both your singing, Xiao Bei, and the song your trainer wrote are amazing."

Satono Crown applauded as she praised her.

Beside her, Rizumu Hikari clapped too, looking astonished.

"Your trainer... is he really only eighteen? And... he really wrote this song?"

"Big Sis..."

Rizumu Hikari gave her a reproachful look.

"Ah, sorry..."

Bowing slightly to Hokubu Genkoma, Satono Crown pressed her hands together.

"I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just... really surprised.

"I don't know as much about music as you do, Xiao Bei, but I imagine writing a song must be difficult, right?

"He's eighteen... and he's so good at training, yet he can also write such an outstanding song...

"Sorry, I just can't believe it right away...

"Anyway, Xiao Bei, your trainer really is amazing."

"Hehehe, it's okay."

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

"Honestly, I was surprised too.

"When I first got the song, I just thought the lyrics were great, and the sheet music looked fine. The rhythm and rhymes seemed fine too.

"But when I actually sang it, it was so good that even I could hardly believe Trainer wrote it."

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

Satono Crown looked relieved, then quickly became incredulous again.

"A song this good must have taken a long time to write... and your trainer only did it to help you pick up some fans?"