A month flew by, with the Tryout Races rapidly approaching. Everyday, Kurofune took to the track, getting as much training as he could for the upcoming event. He knew that people would be underestimating him, with him being a male Uma and all.
Why are male Uma typically looked down upon when it comes to racing?
It wasn't because they were any slower than the females. It was because male Uma generally were harder to train, due to their bodies inherently being frailer than females. This left them extremely vulnerable to injury, which turned off plenty from believing that they could even race.
However, this belief is rather unfounded.
Why?
Because not all male Uma actually had such frail constitutions. Or, at least the frail constitutions that would prevent them from being able to race competitively. However, it was such an ingrained societal belief that the few male Uma that exist typically didn't try to go against this societal norm.
Many tried to drag down Kurofune because of this, but he knew better. Ever since he was young, he knew that he didn't fall into that frail category. However, just because he knew this fact, doesn't mean that others would believe him.
'But I'll prove myself to them! I'll win, and leave them no choice but to accept me!'
After a good day of training, Kurofune returned to his apartment, which was paid for by the Academy since he wasn't able to live in the dorm for obvious reasons. It wasn't too far from the Academy, so it wasn't like it was much of an inconvenience being outside of campus.
"Tomorrow is the day of the Tryout Race. I hope I'll be able to be scouted."
If he were to be honest, he was scared.
What if he flunked the race?
What if he didn't flunk the race, but nobody chose him because he was a guy?
Doubts like those plagued his mind. As much as he tried to shake off these thoughts during the day, they would always end up resurfacing at night.
"Tomorrow, I just need to go out there and run. That's all."
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Hundreds of spectators filled the stands, all of them here to witness one thing—the Tryout Races. Trainers and Uma alike gather around to witness this event. On the track, Kurofune could be seen stretching as he braced himself for his upcoming race.
He suddenly feels someone tapping his shoulder. When turns to see who it was, he's surprised to see it was Tap Dance City.
"Hey, how're you feeling?" Tap Dance City asked.
"Alright…I guess," Kurofune replied with a bit of unease. "What about you?"
"Confident," Tap Dance City declared with a smile. "Winning at these tryouts is my first step to making a lot of money, so I'll give it everything I've got!"
"The money's for your dream right? About the castle?"
"You remembered?" Tap Dance City was a bit surprised.
"Of course. Why would I forget something like that?"
"Well, most people just brush off my dream by calling it impossible, so I didn't expect someone to actually remember it."
"I'm not like that. My dream was also pretty out there, so I have no right to put down other people's dreams."
"Speaking of dreams…you've never mentioned what your dream was," Tap Dance City remembered.
"My dream?" Kurofune fell into deep thought for a moment. "I'm not too sure to be honest. I kind of already achieved it."
"Huh?"
Now she was really surprised.
"My original dream was mainly to get into Tracen Academy in the first place. Since I'm here now, you could obviously guess that I achieved it."
"Surely you have a bigger goal than that. Something else that you want to achieve, or prove."
"..." Kurofune was silent for a moment.
'Something else I want to prove…what would that look like?'
What did he want to prove more than anything else?
…
'Wait, I got it.'
Kurofune pointed to himself as he confidently declared, "I want to become the first male Uma to win a G1 Race."
Tap Dance City smiled.
"That's more like it. I'm sure you'll be able to achieve that dream someday."
"Likewise," Kurofune replied. "I'd love to see that massive castle of yours someday as well."
Shortly after, Agnes Digital had arrived with Air Shakur, who was currently dragging the bubbling by the back of her collar.
"Wait, Shaky!" Agnes Digital shouted. "Let me go! I want to watch the other Uma, not run!"
"First, I told you not to call me that," Air Shakur stated. "Second, obsessing over others while at a school designed for your improvement is illogical."
"...You're so cruel…Shaky," Agnes Digital looked defeated.
"Yo, Shakur. Digi-chan," Tap Dance City greeted the two. "Glad to see that the two of you made it on time."
"No thanks to this otaku," Air Shakur sighed as she tossed Agnes Digital in front of them. "She was deadset on skipping the tryouts just to watch the other Uma like some weird obsessed stalker."
"I'm not that weird!" Agnes Digital denied. "I respect Umamusume-chan's privacy, so I only watch them from a distance that wouldn't make them uncomfortable."
"So, like a stalker?" Kurofune commented with a deadpanned look.
"It's not weird, I swear!"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Kurofune shrugged.
"Anyway," Tap Dance City cut in to change the subject. "Digi-chan, do you know what group you're supposed to be racing with?"
"Yeah…" Agnes Digital reluctantly answered. "I'm racing in Group C."
"Group C…" Tap Dance City then turned to Kurofune. "Isn't that the group that you're racing in as well, Kurofune?"
"Mhm," Kurofune nodded.
"What about you, Shakur?" Tap Dance City asked.
"Group A," Air Shakur simply answered.
"A shame, I was hoping I would get to race at least one of you three," Tap Dance City sighed. "I got Group B."
"First call for Group A! First call for Group A!" A female trainer with a megaphone shouted.
"Guess that's my cue," Air Shakur stated before beginning to walk off.
"Good luck out there, Shakur!" Tap Dance City shouted.
Air Shakur paused for a moment, glancing back.
"I don't need any luck. Parcae had already told me that I was going to win this race."
With that, she walked off to join the rest of the Uma in her group.
After getting them all in line, the first Tryout Race shortly began. The crowd of spectators cheered as the Uma began racing around the track. Air Shakur could be seen near the back of the pack, seemingly waiting for her opportunity.
'A sit-and-kick style, huh?' Kurofune watched thoughtfully. 'Risky, but also extremely rewarding when done perfectly. Seems fitting for someone as analytical as her.'
Once the runners made it to the final corner, that was when Air Shakur made her move. She moved out of the pack and began accelerating to stop speed, leaving the other runners in the dust as she burst her way towards the front. On the final straight, the gap between her and the previous lead running only grew more and more, until she eventually won by an entire four lengths—a dominant showing.
The crowd cheered as Air Shakur was declared the winner of Group A.
"She's quite the formidable Uma. She might be a good one to scout."
"Though I heard her personality is quite rebellious."
Countless trainers began discussing with each other about Air Shakur's performance, with many being impressed by how dominant her victory was. On the track, many Uma began swarming her to ask questions, but Air Shakur dismissed all of them, quickly trying to flee the scene.
Air Shakur returned to the group with an aloof expression.
"That was such a pain," she commented. "Maybe I should've just gotten last? The sheer number of eyes looking at me feels suffocating."
"Too late to take it back now," Kurofune stated. "Besides, all of the attention is warranted. You're running there was pretty impactful."
"Mhm!" Agnes Digital nodded excitedly. "And you managed to catch the attention of all of those Uma!" She then placed both of her hands on her cheeks as she began fantasizing. "Hah…I'm getting excited just thinking about it! If I win, all of those beautiful Uma eyes will fall on me!"
"You speak as if the race had already been decided," Kurofune sighed. "I'll be the one winning our race, not you."
Agnes Digital shot a nasty glare his way, startling Kurofune a bit due to her sudden change in demeanor.
"I will not let you take my moment of glory away by stealing the attention of all the Umamusume-chans!" Agnes Digital declared before pointing at Kurofune. "That's it, from now on, we're rivals!"
"Rivals—?"
"Yes, rivals!" Agnes Digital doubled down.
"..."
Kurofune looked confused, but decided to not think much about it. He smiled confidently before declaring:
"I'd like to see you try. We'll prove on the track who's more worthy of all the attention."
'I'm definitely in this for a completely different reason than her, but that's fine.' Kurofune thought. 'Competing against her like this will only benefit the two of us in this upcoming race.'
"Ahahahahah."
Tap Dance City began laughing.
"All of this energy is getting me excited," Tap Dance City stated as she began dancing.
"Shouldn't you be conserving your energy?" Air Shakur placed a hand on her hip as she asked. "If you tire yourself out, you'll only end up doing bad."
"I can't help it," Tap Dance City replied. "And don't worry, it'll take more than this to tire me out."
That statement…was a lie.
When it was Tap Dance City's time to go out, she ended up getting ninth place on her Tryout Race. She had led the pack for the first 1200 meters, but began falling down the ranks after the final 400 meters, ending up second-to-last.
Air Shakur couldn't help but facepalm.
"That idiot."
Tap Dance City looked rather disappointed at her performance, but didn't stay feeling down for long as she immediately bounced back to that positive mindset of hers. Kurofune couldn't help but respect her mindset, vowing to do the same no matter the outcome of his upcoming race.
"First call for Group C! First call for Group C!" The same female trainer from earlier with a megaphone shouted.
"That's our cue then," Kurofune stated as he began walking over to the starting line.
"Mhm," Agnes Digital nodded as she followed closely behind.
It was finally time. His first race since joining Tracen Academy.