"How's your legs feeling, Oguri?" I began as we continued walking down the hall, our conversation punctuated by the rhythmic clacks my crutches made as I walked. "Your sprain didn't get any worse, did it?"
"I feel good." She made a quick hop into the air, though she was careful to soften the impact of her fall. "Doctors said I still need to rest, but everything's good." She puffed her chest out in pride. "Musaka said I can begin training again in a couple months!"
"Nice~" I said, though I couldn't clap since I had to hold onto my crutches. "That's good. At least compared to me." I smiled wryly, stopping for a moment to wave one of my crutches. "I'm gonna be stuck with these boys for a lot longer."
She tilted her head slightly. "Do you want to be carried?" She repeated the suggestion she gave a week back.
I rolled my eyes. "I'm good. That'll be a bit much." I said, though I couldn't hide my shy smile, nor could I stop my tail from wagging slightly.
Oguri nodded, oblivious to the way her suggestion made my heart skip a beat.
We continued walking. "But we're really lucky~" I smiled gently, remembering the tears of relief I heard from my mother when she called me after the interview I held. "The fact that we'll be able to run again eventually is incredible."
It wasn't just us. Obey Your Master, Tony Bianca—both of them had been injured as well, but they too would fully recover, though their recovery would take much longer compared to us. And Tamamo Cross was the complete opposite; she experienced a new wellspring of youth and strength after awakening her Domain.
A race that could've easily forced four umamusume to retire due to injuries, had instead settled with a relatively happy ending.
It truly was incredible.
"By the way, have you seen Obey Your Master lately?" I asked, and when Oguri shook her head, I frowned slightly. "Haiyah, so she's really trying to avoid us, huh~?"
I wanted to talk with her a little, but I hadn't been able to find her at all after the [Japan Cup] ended. I knew she was still around Tracen Central somewhere, but I just couldn't find her. I had a suspicion that Director Akikawa was keeping her hidden due to the recent storm regarding the URA and stuff, but who knows?
"Maybe she's taking a vacation?" Oguri said.
I shrugged. "Maybe."
We fell into a short quiet as we walked out of the building, continuing to walk down a path towards a destination neither of us knew. A few other students greeted us as we went, and I returned a playful wave whenever I could. Eventually, when the path we walked on became a little more quiet, our conversation resumed.
"There's been a lot of new people lately." I said casually.
Oguri tilted her head, blinking in confusion. "Why?"
I smiled. "I mean, you've seen it, right?" I stopped and quickly jabbed a thumb back towards where we came from. "There's been a lot of juniors coming in recently. It's closing in on a new year, so a lot of umamusume have been scouting Tracen out to see if they want to enroll."
She blinked. "Ooh. So that's why." She hummed, though her eyes sharpened slightly. "Is there anyone strong?"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Of course that was the first thing Oguri asked. "Don't know. Haven't really taken the time to look around." I hummed. "But I think there's a few."
The first that immediately came to mind was that brown-haired umamusume, her hair tied in puffy pigtails. She looked normal enough from afar, but once I saw that distinctive fox-mask hanging from her waist, I immediately recognized who she was; Inari One—the future third member of the Big Heisei Trio.
Oguri nodded, her eyes gleaming bright. "Good."
"Mhm." I nodded, before I smiled wryly. "Man, it makes me feel old though~" I shrugged lazily. "I mean, I know our racing careers aren't that long and all, but to already see juniors popping up here and there is just-, y'know?"
Oguri stared at for a moment, before she tilted her head. "I guess so." But she then smiled. "But growing old with you makes me happy, Star."
Thump.
My smile twitched, and my cheeks grew red. "G-Geez. Come on." I quickly turned away, discreetly taking deep breaths to calm myself. "So sappy." I said, though my swaying tail betrayed my feelings.
Ugh, stupid tail.
But my embarrassed smile soon turned into something softer. "But I don't dislike it." I gazed fondly at her as we continued walking. "After all we've gone through, I don't think I can ever imagine a future without you in it."
She nodded. "Nn. Me too." She said softly, before she discreetly stared at her own legs. "I'm happy we met."
"Yeah. I'm happy-, oh." I smiled slightly. "Well that's convenient."
Without neither of us realizing, we'd somehow made it to the fountain, adorned with the statues of the Three Goddesses. There was no one around us, giving the area we were in an undeniable tranquility, especially with the gentle afternoon sun hanging in the sky.
I slowly made my way to the fountain, careful to keep as quiet as I could. Oguri followed along, and though she was confused as to why I was being so careful, she also softened her steps. And soon, we both stood before the statues of the Three Goddesses.
I looked up at the statues, and I couldn't help but smile a little.
In the end, I still didn't know why I was brought into this world. I was no legendary horse, nor some famous jockey like Yutaka Take. I was just an ordinary person, occasionally indulging in the umamusume franchise to pass the time.
But regardless of the reasons,
"Oguri."
"Nn?"
I smiled at her. "Thank you." I said softly, gently wrapping my hand around hers. "Thank you for saving me. Thank you for being with me." My eyes softened. "Thank you for running with me."
Oguri smiled. "Nn. Don't worry." She closed her eyes as she took a step forward. The distance between us shrunk. "I am happy. I've never felt as happy as I am now."
I smiled, and after a small breath, I finally said the words I hadn't managed to say for so long.
"I love you, Oguri Cap."
Oguri's eyes widened, her heart thumping loudly against her chest, but a gentle warmth coursed through her as she smiled back. Gently, she cupped my hands and brought it to her cheek. "And I love you too, Blossom Star."
I could feel the tears building in my eyes, but I forced them back as best I could. "I love you." I repeated shakily, and with a small breath, I smiled. "So let's keep running together, Oguri. Whether here or elsewhere, from now and until forever."
"Nn." She leaned forward, pressing our foreheads together. "From now until forever."
I smiled shakily as tears finally fell from my eyes. "Until forever."
Until forever.