"In terms of experience, Kitahara, you've already been a local trainer for some time, and you've had guidance from someone as outstanding as Mr. Roppēi, a top Central trainer. You're far ahead of juniors like Komiyama and me, who haven't even formally obtained our trainer licenses yet."
"In terms of actual results, Oguri Cap's 10 wins out of 10 races, and Belno Light's 2 wins out of 2 — everyone has seen this with their own eyes. Those results speak for themselves and are beyond question."
"As for character, I think after spending this time together, everyone here trusts Kitahara, right? I agree with something Komiyama said before — Kitahara lives like an old man, barely any entertainment outside of training. I think a trainer like that — there's no reason not to trust him."
"As for ambition — Kitahara, you set your sights on the entire world long ago. You even said you hoped our racehorses could stand at the top of the world. That…"
"…Well, to be honest, when I first heard that, I didn't quite believe it. But thinking about it now, it wasn't that I doubted you — it's that I shrank back in the face of that grand vision. I should have believed in you. If it's you, Kitahara, you can definitely do it."
"So I hope that if we all agree to form a team, then Kitahara, you must be our core — our leader."
"Next January, when we all get into Central, you'll lead us to achieve our shared dream."
While Kitahara and the others were discussing the team, Oguri Cap and the other horse girls were chatting as they ate.
Unlike Kitahara's group, which had a single table to themselves, these girls had taken over an entire row.
In the center sat Oguri and her closest teammates.
On the tables to either side, food was stacked up in towering piles — seven or eight trays stacked over a meter high.
Belno Light aside — her appetite was fairly average for a horse girl.
The other four? It wasn't that each could eat more than the last — it was that each could somehow eat even more than that.
"Oh? Plans for when we get to Central?"
Cheeks puffed full, Oguri somehow spoke clearly through a mouthful of food.
"I haven't thought that far ahead. Stuff like that, Kitahara usually thinks about. Once he's figured it out, he tells me, and I just follow through seriously."
"Hah, must be nice having a trainer like Uncle Kitahara. Though our Komiyama isn't half bad either… slurp, slurp—"
After slurping down two mouthfuls of clear-broth udon, Tamamo Cross thought for a moment.
"Then let's talk about the upcoming races."
"We've already confirmed we're entering the Naruo Kinen on December 6. Oguri, Inari — your 'Shiwasu Special Cup' is on that same day, right?"
Inari One was also busy slurping udon.
"Eh? Tama-chan, why don't you put soy sauce in your udon? It's way too bland like that! Want me to pour some in for you?"
She picked up the soy sauce bottle beside her and eyed Tamamo's bowl, clearly eager to commit culinary crimes.
The purist Tamamo quickly lifted her bowl out of reach, glaring at Inari in protest.
"Hey, hey! Who puts soy sauce in udon? Udon's supposed to be enjoyed with pure broth! Soy sauce would be just weird!"
"You're the weird one. Without soy sauce, it's just watery soup and noodles — what's so good about that… oh whatever, if you don't want any, I'll just add some to mine. It could use a bit more flavor anyway."
After adding soy sauce to her own bowl and stirring it with her chopsticks, Inari finally answered the earlier question.
"Yeah, my match with Oguri is also on December 6. Funny coincidence, huh?"
Then she looked a bit regretful.
"But honestly, I'd love to race both you and Oguri at the same time."
Tamamo froze mid-slurp, her bowl halfway back to her mouth.
"Race both me and Oguri together?"
"Yup."
Nodding, Inari went back to slurping noodles and mumbled through a mouthful:
"Oguri's strong — no need to even say it. I thought I was hot stuff with my 7 wins out of 7, but Oguri's even more impressive — 10 wins out of 10. She's basically a monster!"
"Tama-chan, you're strong too. That… something-p-skin thing of yours isn't fixed yet, but I can tell you're really strong."
"My dream, you see, is to challenge every strong racehorse girl out there — let the whole world know the great Inari One of Ōi!"
"I'm carrying the hopes of my big sis, Ararō, and everyone back on the streets. I'll make sure the name of Edo's daughter rings throughout the land!"
Fired up, she pumped her fist — which happened to be the one holding her chopsticks — sending them pointing straight at Tamamo Cross.
"Tama-chan! I can feel it — we're destined to meet on the track!"
"Hey, hey, hey! The soy sauce! You just flicked soy sauce from your chopsticks into my bowl!"
Tamamo hurriedly moved her udon aside, scowled — then burst out laughing.
"Fine! When you make it to Central, I'll tell Komiyama to set us up in the same race!"
"I'm carrying the hopes of the old man, Komiyama, and all my little brothers and sisters!"
"I won't lose to you!"
Mimicking Inari's gesture, she pointed her chopsticks at her — then turned and pointed them at Oguri Cap.
"And you! Oguri!"
Oguri, in the middle of chewing fried noodles, almost choked when her name suddenly came up.
"Mmph… huh?"
She'd been too focused on eating and hadn't followed the conversation at all. When she saw Tamamo's chopsticks pointing her way, she thought for a moment.
"Here, Tama-chan — yakisoba."
She grabbed a big plate of fried noodles from the table beside her and offered it over.
"I've already eaten this one, but you can have it. If you don't mind, you can even take my portion — there's plenty more over there anyway."
"Aaaagh, you blockhead! I wasn't talking about fried noodles!"
Clutching her head in exasperation for a moment, Tamamo rolled her eyes.
"I meant a race! A race!"
"A race? That's not on the cafeteria menu…"
Halfway through the sentence, Oguri's eyes suddenly sharpened, her aura rising in an instant.
"Alright. I don't really get what's going on, but if it's a race — I'll take you on!"
"Hahaha! That's the spirit!"
Tamamo waved her hand grandly, about to continue — when Inari suddenly cut in.
"Hey, hey, hey — order of challengers, alright?"
She quickly interjected: "Even if we're talking races, I go first with Oguri in the Shiwasu Special Cup."
"If Tama-chan wants a race, you'll have to wait in line behind me!"
"Come on, Oguri! We're both local girls — let's see if it's me ending your 10-for-10 streak, or you ending my 7-for-7!"
Oguri Cap had, at some point, already put down her chopsticks and plate.
"I… won't lose."
She clenched her fist.
"Mom wants me to become an amazing Uma Musume. Kitahara says I can definitely become an amazing Uma Musume. Light, March, Norn — everyone in Kasamatsu is counting on me…"
"I won't lose to you, Inari One."
Like flames igniting, invisible fire rose over the dining table.
"…So nice…"
A flash of envy flickered across Super Creek's eyes as she pursed her lips. Under the table, her hand unconsciously caressed her thigh, her gaze drifting down toward her ankle.
"I wish I could start my debut race soon… run on the track alongside all of you…"
Murmuring softly, her expression suddenly clouded with a small worry.
"Oh no — just realized, all three of your races are on the same day, but at Kasamatsu and Hanshin. How am I supposed to cheer for all of you?"
At that, Oguri, Tamamo, and Inari all froze for a moment, their fiery auras dampened by the same logistical headache.
All this time, Belno Light had been quietly smiling, watching from the side — now she finally spoke.
"Don't stress about it, Creek."
Beneath the table, her hands, resting on her knees, slowly clenched into fists.
"They'll carry your spirit — and all the practice time you spent with them — onto the track."
And I'll do everything I can to help them shine even brighter on race day.
She silently reaffirmed it to herself in her heart.
(End of this chapter)