Several months later.
It was the day of the Central Trainer's exam in the first half of the year, and Nearl had accompanied Kitahara Jo to the testing site.
"Haha... Nearl, my legs suddenly feel a bit weak."
Standing at the entrance, Kitahara took a deep breath, feeling his legs tremble uncontrollably.
"Even after all this preparation—shelves full of practice problems, notebooks crammed with notes, mastering all your guidance—failure shouldn't even be possible..."
He punched his trembling thigh hard, forcing a smile onto his weathered face, though it came out more like a grimace.
"I understand, Trainer. You're not afraid of the exam itself. You're afraid of letting down Oguri and the others."
Nearl soothed Kitahara's nerves, guiding him to a bench and pulling a bottle of water from her bag.
"Here, take big gulps. The cold will help calm your nerves."
"Thanks. Glug, glug, glug..."
Kitahara tilted his head back and chugged nearly half the bottle before stopping.
"Gwah! Hah!" He shook his head vigorously and let out a long, relieved sigh.
"That really works, Nearl. How'd you come up with that?"
"It's something I've used myself. Handy, right?"
Nearl took the bottle he handed back and carefully tucked it into her bag.
"Yeah, my mind feels crystal clear now."
"Still hesitant?"
"Can't say it's completely gone, but..."
Kitahara stood and looked at Nearl. Bathed in the noon sunlight, the smile he managed to summon was strikingly clear.
"But I've got to do it, right? Oguri Cap is already charging toward her future. As her prospective trainer, it's time I took my own step forward."
"Well said."
Nearl rose from the seat, meeting the gaze of her partner of the past six months, her first trainer.
"Then let's go, Kitahara. Face your future. May the wind be ever at your back."
From this moment on, Nearl stopped addressing Kitahara Jo as 'Trainer.'
"Hahaha, Nearl, do your best out there. I'm off."
Adjusting his beloved cap, Kitahara turned and strode confidently into the examination hall. This might have been the most self-assured moment of his life.
Watching him enter, Nearl smiled and smoothed her wind-tousled long hair.
'He'll pass for sure. Oguri and he will be reunited at the central circuit. As for me... it's time I walked my own path.'
Yes, that was why she had stopped calling him 'Trainer.'
Nearl was certain that Kitahara, with his renewed mindset, would clear this exam. The promise he made with Oguri Cap back then was about to be fulfilled.
But once he moved up to the central circuit, he naturally couldn't remain her trainer.
'But that's fine. Isn't this exactly why I got my trainer's license? From now on, I'll plan my own races.'
She pulled a beautifully packaged magazine from her bag. The 'NO.1' in the corner clearly marked it as a debut issue.
The most captivating part was the Uma Musume on the cover.
She wore simple standard track gear, a large number bib pinned over her well-developed chest. Her pure golden hair, shining with a soft luster, was tied simply behind her head.
On the cover, she held her right fist triumphantly high. A few drops of sweat traced lines down her face. Her smile wasn't exuberant, but it radiated genuine, heartfelt joy.
'Seriously, this is from my debut win? How did the President even dig up this record? And it's so embarrassing...'
She flipped through the pages. Much of the content introduced local customs, behind-the-scenes anecdotes of races, and cultural tidbits.
Another section featured profiles and stunning photos of various Uma Musume. Overall, it was an exceptionally polished publication—almost too refined for a mere magazine.
'President Rudolf really put her heart into this. It strikes a perfect balance between education and leisure. This must have cost a fortune.'
After reading it thoroughly, Nearl carefully placed the magazine back in her bag. She suddenly realized she had a rare moment of free time.
'Time to plan this year's race schedule.'
She gently closed her eyes, sinking into a brief rest. Even as she drifted toward sleep, her mind was busy mapping out her races for the coming year.
"..."
"Nearl?"
A familiar male voice reached her ears, pulling her consciousness back from its wanderings.
"Kitahara, are you finished already?"
No grogginess, no fuss. By the time her eyes slowly opened, she was fully alert.
"Yep, all done."
He scratched his head, a proud grin spreading uncontrollably across his face.
"Saying this might invite some hate, but the questions felt really easy. You're amazing, Nearl. You covered so many of the key points."
"Because I'm an Uma Musume. I can think from another perspective about what a trainer needs. That makes it easier to identify the essential knowledge."
Standing up, Nearl and Kitahara began walking out.
"Kitahara, the results will be out within a month at most. You should start preparing all the documents and things you'll need for the move to the central circuit."
Nearl broached the subject as they walked.
"Transferring as a trainer is even more complicated than for an Uma Musume. Your goal is Oguri, right? She's a top-tier Uma Musume now, but you're still a rookie trainer. The pressure will be immense, enough to suffocate you."
She fixed a serious gaze on the unassuming, middle-aged man beside her, who didn't exactly radiate authority.
"You need to be mentally prepared."
"Don't worry, Nearl. My uncle, Roppei, is still a trainer at the central circuit. He'll look out for me. No need to fret."
In contrast to Nearl, Kitahara seemed completely nonchalant.
"Mr. Musaka? I'd forgotten he's your uncle. That's good then. Seems I won't need to ask President Rudolf to keep an eye on you after all."
Nearl spoke with relief, but the name she mentioned made Kitahara flinch involuntarily.
"Ahaha... The Emperor? Honestly, I can't handle her. It's like meeting my natural predator."
"That's because you're too soft, Kitahara. Faced with someone as strong-willed as the President, you'd be overwhelmed instantly."
"But you can't avoid her. The President's approval is needed for Oguri's trainer transfer."
"Such misfortune~~"
Just recalling those icy, weighty words and that dominating gaze made Kitahara Jo instantly feel...
"Maybe I should just stay as your trainer, Nearl. The central circuit is too scary."
--+--
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.