"How did the slope training go?"
After Oguri Cap and Fujimasa March had calmed down, Ginjirou tapped his cane on the ground.
"It was exhausting. My legs felt like they couldn't move anymore."
As soon as training was mentioned, Oguri Cap's expression turned serious. She held nothing back and told Trainer Ginjirou exactly how she felt.
"Hmm, it seems the training was a success." Trainer Ginjirou nodded thoughtfully, but soon snapped out of his reflection.
"Alright then. Since you have friends visiting today, I'll give you half the day off. The main goal of today's training has already been achieved anyway."
"Really? Thank you, Uncle Ginjirou!"
Hearing the good news, Oguri Cap jumped for joy.
"Dammit! It's Ginjirou, not Uncle Ginjirou!" the trainer snapped angrily, though it was clear there wasn't much else he could do.
"Oh."
Sure enough, Oguri Cap responded with complete indifference, then grabbed March by the arm and walked off, leaving the trainer fuming by himself.
"Tch, that clueless girl," Trainer Ginjirou grumbled, pressing a hand to his hat in frustration.
"But if she only wore out after that long on the slope, it means her adaptability for middle to long distances isn't bad. At least we don't have to worry about her stalling out over the 2400 meters in the Japan Cup."
"Still, that's not enough on its own. That Tamamo Cross is a true middle-to-long distance specialist—she doesn't even break a sweat in the Tenno Sho Spring. Just having the adaptability isn't going to cut it."
Trainer Ginjirou walked off toward the training room with a headache. He still had more adjustments to make to the training plan.
But none of that mattered to Oguri Cap right now. All she cared about at this moment was spending time with her friends.
Holding the food that Nearl had taken out from her luggage, Oguri Cap chewed happily with a blissful expression, which only made Fujimasa March next to her look more concerned.
"Oguri, are you feeling okay? Why are you eating so slowly?"
Oguri Cap, her face dotted with grains of rice, looked up from her chopsticks with a puzzled expression.
"No? It's just that Margaret's cooking always fills me up after just a little. I don't know why."
Hearing that, March's gaze toward Nearl shifted entirely—it was full of awe, as if she were looking at some kind of saint. Her eyes were so reverent, she seemed on the verge of bowing in worship.
"Nearl, you actually managed to fill up Oguri Cap's stomach. That's nothing short of a miracle."
Feeling a bit awkward under March's teasing, Nearl coughed lightly and changed the subject.
"Never mind about me. What do you think about the upcoming Japan Cup, Oguri? Feeling confident?"
"..."
Oguri Cap fell silent. She quietly set down her chopsticks, her expression not exactly optimistic.
"To be honest, I'm not really sure."
"Oguri, you…" March, who was sitting beside them, felt her heart clench at Oguri's demeanor.
As Oguri Cap's rival from Kasamatsu, she had never seen this somewhat discouraged look on Oguri's face before.
"The competition's tough, isn't it, Oguri?"
Nearl quietly reached out to reassure March, then turned back to ask Oguri Cap.
"It's alright. You can talk to me. Trainer Ginjirou is an authority figure, but we're peers. Some things are hard to say to authority figures, but there shouldn't be any barriers among peers."
"Margaret..."
Oguri Cap looked directly at Nearl, into those eyes that had gradually taken on a golden hue, and felt the urge to open up welling inside her.
She shifted slightly to the side, leaning in and resting her whole body against Nearl's chest.
Sensing Oguri's vulnerability, Nearl silently became her pillow, wrapping her arms around her and doing her best to mimic the comfort of Oguri's mother.
"I'm actually a little scared," Oguri Cap whispered. "I recently met another dapple-gray Uma Musume like me. Her name is Tamamo Cross. She's really strong."
"Tamamo Cross? That monster who won the spring and autumn double? The one you lost to?" Fujimasa March, who was sitting nearby, clearly knew a thing or two about the current strongest in Japan.
"Yeah, I lost. But it wasn't because I'm weaker than her," Oguri Cap said, sounding confused.
"I could feel that my physical condition was better than hers. I had more stamina. But I still couldn't win. There's something between us that I just don't understand."
"Oguri Cap..." March looked at her, not knowing how to offer comfort. She hadn't reached that level yet.
Nearl, however, seemed deep in thought.
"What should I do? I know better than anyone that this half-hearted attitude won't cut it."
Restless, Oguri Cap squirmed a little, burying herself deeper into Nearl's embrace.
"Oguri, let me meet this Tamamo Cross."
Suddenly, Nearl spoke up. Her tone was so calm that both Oguri Cap and Fujimasa March were caught off guard.
"Margaret?"
Oguri Cap looked up from her position, a questioning gaze in her eyes.
"After all, if I haven't even seen this 'White Lightning' with my own eyes, how can I possibly offer any useful advice?"
Under their combined gaze, Nearl remained unflustered. She even took a moment to gently ruffle the dapple-gray head nestled against her.
"Okay, I'll arrange a meeting with Tama," Oguri Cap agreed. Or rather, Oguri Cap would agree to pretty much anything Nearl suggested.
"Tama? You're on nickname terms already?" Fujimasa March, sitting to the side, suddenly picked up on that.
"I guess... but her full name is too long, and she's so small. Tama just fits better."
Oguri Cap stared blankly for a moment before giving an answer that didn't really explain much.
Heh.
Nearl smiled, watching Oguri Cap with a knowing look, not stopping the gentle motion of her hand rubbing Oguri's head.
"Margaret, March, how long are you planning to stay at the Central district?"
Lying in Nearl's arms and enjoying the petting, Oguri Cap sounded almost lazy as she reached out to tug on Nearl's sleeve, asking about their plans.
"I'm not sure about March, but I'll be here for a week."
Nearl gave a clear answer, though she seemed to be pondering something as she spoke.
Hearing that, Fujimasa March grew restless.
"Nearl, you're staying a whole week? Why so long?"
Although Oguri Cap was happy to hear that Nearl would be staying that long, she shared the same curiosity as March.
"Want to take a guess?" Nearl smiled, raising a finger to her lips with a playful look.
Oguri Cap's expression went blank, and March shook her head, indicating she had no idea.
"Because the Central Trainer Exam is in the next few days. I still need to take the test."
Seeing the two of them looking so clueless, Nearl didn't drag it out. She shook her head and straightforwardly explained.
"Central Trainer..."
"Exam..."
"Wait, what?!"
Oguri Cap and March's exclamations of surprise echoed across the grounds, loud enough that even some Uma Musume far away could hear them.
"What's Oguri Cap yelling about now?" muttered a brown-haired Uma Musume in a hoodie over her school uniform, frowning slightly.
--+--
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!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.