This year's Satsuki Sho was held on April 24th, and the Japanese Derby would take place on May 29th. By the time Dream Weaver finished all her interviews and commercials in Tokyo and returned to Kasamatsu, it was already early May.
With less than a month left, Dream Weaver had to push herself even harder in training. Even though her base stats—except for Guts—were locked and couldn't improve, she was determined to use this final stretch to sharpen her skills.
After their talk, she had lit a fire in Orfevre—there was no doubt the other filly would unleash terrifying power in the Japanese Derby. Facing overwhelming base stats and rival techniques, Dream Weaver had to find a path to victory in this one short month.
Thankfully, she already had a plan. She wasn't lost or anxious about the coming race—instead, she poured everything she had into preparing for this final showdown.
But it seemed like not everyone saw things the same way.
In a hidden corner of Kasamatsu Tracen, away from Dream Weaver's notice, everyone else had quietly gathered.
As if mimicking some kind of secret ritual, each of them wore a thick black robe with the hood pulled up, hiding their faces in shadow and giving the whole scene a mysterious vibe.
"The Japanese Derby is almost here, but seeing Little Dream train day in and day out... I can't help but feel a little uneasy," said one of the robed figures, whose noticeably round belly made his identity clear—Principal Haibara.
"It's always best to balance work and rest. At the central Tracen campus, they often take the Uma Musume to train by the beach during summer. It helps them relax and offers a different kind of workout."
"Too bad we don't have those kinds of resources," replied a younger robed figure standing beside Koutarou Haibara. From his familiarity with the central campus, it wasn't hard to guess this was Kitahara Jo.
"If we don't have the means, we create them! Little Dream defeated Orfevre with her own strength—are we, as her teachers, just going to sit back and do nothing?"
"With the prize money from all our past wins, the donations Little Dream made to the school, and the support from local fans here in Kasamatsu... Can't we organize one little trip?"
"The Japanese Derby is right around the corner—we have to take this seriously."
Another robed figure stepped forward, pointing toward someone lazing off to the side.
"Satou! Get your car ready and go buy what we need. We can't let Little Dream keep pushing herself like this. Before the Derby begins, we have to help her unwind."
After Chizuru Haibara finished speaking, she promptly dragged Koutarou Haibara and Kitahara Jo away with determined energy. It looked like she was going to scout for nearby places where they could relax and have fun.
Once the teachers were gone, the remaining Uma Musume glanced at each other. One of them shrugged helplessly.
"So... why did we have to dress like this again?"
Hearing the question, one notably shorter figure piped up proudly.
"Because it's cool!"
That was none other than the playful and mischievous Gold Ship. When she heard everyone was gathering to talk about Dream Weaver's recent condition, she'd enthusiastically produced a stack of oversized black robes from who-knows-where and handed them out.
Everyone humored her and went along with it, which led to that mysterious scene earlier.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'm heading out. I'm on duty today," said another Uma Musume, raising her hand. As the tallest in the group, her identity was unmistakable—Nishimoto Makusa.
Just as everyone was about to disperse, one of the Uma Musume mused aloud:
"Chizuru-nee said we're going on a trip... Does that mean we're going to the beach? I wonder what kind of swimsuit Little Dream will wear."
Maybe it was the influence of the loose robe, but she'd accidentally spoken her thoughts out loud.
As soon as the words were out, the scene fell silent. Every Uma Musume stopped in their tracks at the same time.
Aside from Gold Ship and Nishimoto Makusa, most of the Uma Musume present were around the same height. With the bulky robes on, it was even harder to tell who was who.
So no one could be sure who had said it. If they'd listened more carefully and analyzed it, they might have figured it out, but for some reason, everyone silently chose to ignore that possibility.
"If it's Little Dream, I feel like she'd wear something conservative... maybe like a racing swimsuit?" one of the Uma Musume ventured after a moment of silence.
"A racing swimsuit, huh? That does sound nice. It suits her... how should I put it? Efficient vibe?"
"More than efficient, I'd say straightforward. She says things even when she knows she might regret them later."
"But for some reason, that side of her feels kind of gentle, doesn't it? Maybe a simple white two-piece would suit her too."
Before they knew it, the Uma Musume had launched into a discussion. In this environment where no one knew who was who, topics that were usually hard to bring up suddenly became possible.
"I think red would be better! Little Dream's ribbons and cape look like a shooting star on the track—it's so cool! Like a Red Comet or something!"
"You just don't get it! Red is fierce and cool on the track, but it's totally different for a swimsuit!"
Gradually, the discussion grew more and more heated. Even Gold Ship, who tried to jump in, was lightly chopped on the head and shut down.
In the end, since no one could convince the others, the argument temporarily died down, and the scene fell silent again.
It was then that Gold Ship, who'd just been knocked on the head, raised her hand.
"Since no one can agree, how about we prove it with facts!"
All eyes turned to Gold Ship. Proud of what she believed was another stroke of genius, she put her hands on her hips and declared:
"Everyone can pick the swimsuit they think Little Dream would wear, and then wear a matching one themselves! Then it'll be obvious who understands her best!"
The moment Gold Ship finished speaking, the atmosphere went from silent to electric. The Uma Musume scattered with renewed determination, each vowing to prove during the upcoming trip that they were the one who understood Dream Weaver best.
Finally, Nishimoto Makusa, who'd watched the whole scene unfold, patted Gold Ship's still-smug head before leaving.
Her size made her too recognizable to join the earlier discussion, but that didn't mean she wasn't interested in proving she knew Dream Weaver best.
"When Little Dream helped out with farm work before, I noticed something—she's the type who won't complain even when things get tough. So I already have a pretty good idea!"
With that, Nishimoto Makusa left with resolve, leaving only a pleased Gold Ship behind. She had no idea what she'd just set in motion.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.