While I was waiting at the traffic light, I suddenly heard a crash and the screech of tires, and before I knew it my consciousness faded. When I came to, I couldn't breathe properly, I couldn't control the crying coming out of my mouth, my vision was blurry, and I couldn't grasp what was happening at all—it was all just incredibly terrifying. After a while, I cried myself to sleep.
…That's what happened to me just the other day. I'd say this explanation recreates just how confused I was back then. If you don't understand what I'm saying, that's fine. I didn't understand what was happening either.
Anyway, to put it simply and in familiar terms, this bizarre experience I had was probably "reincarnation." Apparently, I passed through a birth canal and let out a healthy cry, so that's how I came to that conclusion.
I have another reason for thinking so. This may sound spiritual, but… I can feel it clearly even now—the existence of something like a soul. My soul keeps shouting for attention from inside my chest. I understand now that all the thoughts and memories happening in real-time aren't preserved by my brain but are deeply connected to something like a soul. Otherwise, I'd just be a few-days-old baby thinking logically and holding memories that shouldn't exist, which would make zero sense.
To briefly introduce myself, in my previous life I was your average high school boy you'd find working at a convenience store or fast-food place. I was never someone who believed in spiritual stuff. My special skill was pen spinning. I was a toast-for-breakfast person. If I had to mention something unusual, it'd be that my parents died in a car accident when I was little, and I lived with my uncle and his wife. I remember that clearly.
So far, I haven't experienced anything like my memories fading. If anything, it's the opposite. I can recall even trivial forgotten events or every single word of casual conversations from my daily life if I try. I'm not entirely sure why, but since I can remember things that a brand-new brain shouldn't possibly have retained, it's probably because they're engraved in the soul or something like that.
When you think of reincarnation, you think of cheats. Or rather, reincarnation equals cheats—probably. In my case, being able to remember my past life accurately might be the cheat. I see, it's definitely convenient. I don't remember ever talking to a god, but maybe this is a gift from a god to me, who died young.
For now, I'll just be grateful. Thank you, God… No, as a Japanese person who believes that gods reside in all things, I should thank everything. Thank you, Eight Million Gods. Thank you, current-life parents whose faces I can't see yet because my eyes aren't developed enough to see more than light and dark.
Thinking about all this is making me sleepy… Ah, I can't fight it…
◆
These days, my senses have finally developed, and I'm starting to vaguely understand my surroundings. My current-life mother walked in, saying something like, "Mommy's here~," and picked me up. I was blown away.
She's got animal ears. And a fluffy tail too. When I focus, it seems like I also have animal ears and a tail. Are these… horse ears and a horse tail? So, does this mean I'm in another world!? I thought for a moment, but then I noticed the lights in the room were fluorescent, and my mother spoke perfect Japanese, so I got even more confused. While I was thinking about all this in her arms, I heard a voice.
"Such beautiful dark bay hair… Ah, how adorable. I'm sure you'll be given a wonderful name."
—At that moment, electricity ran through me!! Well, I mean, I just connected a bunch of memories (probably) engraved in my soul and came to a conclusion, so I don't know if electricity really ran through me. But that doesn't matter. The point is, I figured out what world I'm in.
This is the world of Uma Musume. And I am an Uma Musume.
Uma Musume Pretty Derby. A hugely popular franchise with an anime and a mobile game. Girls with horse ears and tails inherit the names and spirits of famous racehorses that once ran like the wind across turf and dirt tracks, and they race just like the real horses did… That's what it's about. And now I'm probably living in that world.
"May you grow into a splendid Uma Musume… One day, I want to see your name at the top of a G1 race leaderboard…"
Yep, that's a full house. She said it. Uma Musume. I heard it. Animal ears and tail. The term "aoge" (blue-black coat), a term only used for horse coat colors. The concept of "being given a name." And then straight-up "Uma Musume."
Then, could this soul-like thing I've been feeling since birth be what they call a Horse Soul? What an amazingly high-performance soul.
So, I died suddenly and now I'm an Uma Musume. …Now what do I do?
◆
Over time, I've started to understand myself and this world to some extent. I said "Now what do I do?" but in truth, I already know what I want to do.
I'm going to enroll in Tracen Academy. If I was born as an Uma Musume, then I'll run. I'll run and win races. That's probably the best way to make my mother proud. But more importantly—my real reason is completely selfish.
I want to meet my favorites!!!
Of course I do! My favorite characters! In the same world! Alive! And I'm also an Uma Musume now, which means I can enroll in Tracen Academy just like them! Then I have no choice but to do it! I'll say it again and again: Thank you, Eight Million Gods!
"Seeyu~! Yaoyoro~!"
Oops, I couldn't suppress the passion rising within me and made a sound.
"Hehe. My, how lively you are."
Ah, I shouldn't move too much or I'll worry my mom. Gotta restrain myself. Still though, my mother is insanely beautiful. All Uma Musume have refined features, but she's on a whole other level. Well, I haven't seen any others yet. Maybe it's just family bias. Ah, she's patting me… feels good… oh no, I'm sleepy…
◆
They say time flies, and it's true. I'm now three years old. A normal child wouldn't feel that way. Everything would be new and exciting, and they'd spend endless time exploring driven by curiosity. But I'm not a normal child. Everything is familiar to me (Well, those special Uma Musume phones did catch my interest a bit. ), so I don't feel curious. I'm just growing up as a very easy-to-handle child… or not exactly.
From the day my body became strong enough, I started running like crazy every day. Not just aimlessly, but using training knowledge I secretly gathered when my parents weren't around. By the way, my memory cheat applies to this life too—meaning I have perfect memory. Thanks to that, I can train efficiently. Horse Soul Memory, you're too good.
Anyway, whether it's thanks to this soul thing or just the rapid growth of a child's body, I can feel my skills and stamina improving every day, and it's really fun. Plus, the feeling of cutting through the wind while running, the sensation of pushing off the ground to accelerate—it's all so exhilarating that training is a joy. I've been training so much that recently, my mother said to me in a very worried tone:
"It's okay to be more clingy with Mommy, you know…?"
I'm sorry. …Yeah, I get it. A three-year-old who doesn't ask for affection, shows no interest in anything else, and just keeps running—that's definitely something to worry about.
Since then, I've tried to communicate with my parents more. My dad is often away for work, so I've been spending a lot of time with my mom instead.
I heard that my mom used to be quite well-known at the local Tracen, even though she didn't achieve any major records. So, I decided to deepen our bond as mother and daughter by having her teach me training.
…I should've done this from the start. Having someone teach me in real-time definitely helps me improve faster. Also, training while looking at her beautiful face is the best. No, seriously, she's so cute and beautiful… Uma Musume really are the best! …As I spent these days, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
…My body is, biologically, a real Uma Musume. In other words, a girl. I'm still a child, so aside from the ears and tail, the differences from a male body aren't very obvious, but when I look at where that used to be, it hits me. Honestly…
It's the best. Because I'm an Uma Musume—guaranteed to be a beautiful girl. But my heart is male. My romantic interest is still in girls. In other words, I can get excited just by looking in the mirror. I was a former Uma Musume-loving high school boy, after all. A little gender-swap reincarnation isn't going to stop my desires. Don't underestimate an otaku. …Yeah. My future is secure. Probably. Maybe. Probably.
◆
I grew up without experiencing any big events, and before I knew it, I started going to elementary school.
Sunny days, cloudy days, rainy days, snowy days—I kept running, and my dad even nicknamed me "Running Freak." …I'd probably get along with a certain quiet front-runner.
I wanted to run on both turf and dirt, so I begged my parents to take me to different places. Whether it was roads, riverbanks, mountains—I just kept running everywhere. Thanks to that, my physical abilities are far beyond other Uma Musume my age. The price I paid was having no friends. Well, it can't be helped. It's hard for someone with the mind of an adult to blend in with first-graders. Maybe the fact that I use "boku" and have a boyish personality also has something to do with it. I didn't put much thought into it… No, actually, I did think "Being a bokukko is a major moe trait, right?"… but anyway, I kept using "boku" at home and school. My mom said, "Maybe she got it from her father… Well, it's cute, so it's fine," so I guess it's genetic. She likes bokukkos.
My mom worried that I didn't have any friends, but I told her that I enjoy training now and will probably always feel that way, so I'd rather keep running than force myself to make friends I don't connect with. She silently nodded. I worry her so much. What should I do? I want to enter Tracen Academy as soon as possible so I can put her at ease. I thought that, and trained even harder than before… which made her worry even more. What should I do? Well, I'm sure it'll work out somehow. Probably. I don't know.
◆
Twelve years have passed since I was born as an Uma Musume. I've spent my days running and running and running. Next year, I'll finally be old enough to enroll in Tracen Academy.
At twelve, you'd think I'd start becoming more aware of being a girl… but no. If anything, I'm even more mentally male than in my past life. I've spent so much time alone, thinking, and I'm so frustrated from not being able to meet my favorite Uma Musume yet.
When it comes to social relationships, now that I'm in upper elementary school, people somewhat understand what I say, but I still don't have any close friends. In my class, I'm "that kind of amazing but weird person."
Even the teachers were worried about me, but when I told them my running-freak stories, they turned a little pale and left. I haven't even gotten to the part where I ran into a bear at night. Also, because I remember everything perfectly, there's no point in attending classes. So I spent most of class time reading training manuals, and none of the teachers scolded me for it. …To be left alone in compulsory education… as expected of me.
There are a few other Uma Musume in my class, but I don't know their names, so they're probably background characters. Still extremely cute, though. None of them seem to aim for Central Tracen. They all plan to go to middle school and then attend the local Tracen.
Central Tracen Academy values both academics and athletics. They require not only racing ability but also high academic performance. So most of its students come from prestigious families. In my past life, I didn't know much about horse racing, so I don't know the details, but the Uma Musume in the game and anime mostly inherited names from legendary racehorses with amazing achievements and bloodlines. Even the background girls are probably from prestigious families. And yet, my parents didn't deny me when I said I wanted to go to Central—they supported me. I can only be grateful. They're saints.
◆
Under the warm sun, while new life begins to sprout from the soil and the lingering scent of winter subtly drifts through the evening breeze—there I was, an Uma Musume praying with desperate hope. The other day, I finally submitted my application to the academy that will decide my future. And today, I'll find out the result. My desire to know quickly and my fear of failing are clashing inside me, and my mental state is a disaster.
"Please…! Let me pass…!"
"It'll be fine… You've worked so hard, right? Effort never betrays you."
Ah, Dad. Effort never betrays you. True. But if your effort was lacking, it'll definitely bring bad results—that's also what effort does. Sure, I spent almost all my time since birth training, but all Central Uma Musume are top-tier in both talent and effort. And they're super cute. If I have no talent, and if I should've tried even harder… the more I think about it, the more anxious I get.
"You'll be fine. After all, you're our pride and joy."
Ah, right. I'm this goddess' daughter. I've already won. Or have I? Central's Uma Musume are also goddesses… Maybe I did fail…
"Uuh… I'm so scared…"
"…It's okay. Don't worry. You passed."
Ahh, my mom's voice is soaking into my whole body. I can't live without this… It's addictive… She's truly a goddess.
"Hmmm… I see… This is…"
"Dad? What's that?"
While I was ascending to heaven from my mother's divine words, my father was looking at a document and murmuring, so I asked him.
"Hm… Heh, want to see?"
He handed it to me with a suppressed smile… Wait, this is…
"…Ac…ceptance… noti…ce…? An acceptance… notice…?"
"I've been telling you. It's okay."
"Ah… ah…"
Wait, was that "It's okay" earlier meant in that way? Does this mean… I can go to Tracen?
"Congratulations… Truly… You really are our pride and joy."
"I passed…? I can go to Central…?"
Did they know from the beginning? And they teased me a little just for fun?
"…When did it arrive…?"
"While you were in the bathroom earlier."
"Hehe… Just once, I wanted to see you surprised like this… Sorry… hehe."
So this was my mom's idea. She's adorable. Born to such a cute inside-and-out mother, and accepted to Central— I'm so lucky…
"Hehe… hehe…"
I passed. Just thinking that, happiness starts bubbling up. Ahh, I can't stop smiling.
"Oh my, your face is melting with joy… But I'm just as happy. For my daughter to go to Central! …Well then, let's celebrate tonight!"
"Oh dear… She's too happy to even hear us."
Hehehe… Central Tracen… hehe… I'll meet my favorites…
◆
The trees and plants were starting to turn vibrant colors, and the refreshing spring breeze could be felt—today was the academy's entrance ceremony.
…But looking back on my life as a horse girl on a day like this isn't very interesting. Let's think about the future that's about to begin—in other words, about my favorites.
From checking the news and such, I've learned that I'm lucky enough to have been born in the same generation as the horse girls who appear in the game and anime.
That means I can meet them…! I can actually meet them. I can meet my absolute favorite…!
My absolute favorite.
She's someone who works hard at what she loves, cares about others, and yet is humble, cute, and cool.
The reason I decided to run on both turf and dirt tracks is because she's an all-rounder horse girl who runs on both.
Her name is Agnes Digital.
Among horse girl players, she was called things like "Deji-tan," "the crazy one of the Agneses," "pervert," and "us." She's a horse girl otaku who enrolled in the central Tracen Academy just so she could see horse girls up close, and she even shouted, "I'm so glad I was born a horse girl!!" That's basically me, right? I'm planning to do that thing in the hollow of that big tree too. The horse girl fans who called her "us" were right.
…My goal is to "make her realize that she is a precious existence."
All horse girls are beautiful girls, and naturally, her looks are perfect too.
But she's a pure-blooded horse girl otaku. She keeps saying things like she's just a fan, not someone who is admired, but someone who admires others.
Back in my previous life, when I, who adored Agnes Digital—Deji-tan—heard her say that, I thought:
"You're precious too!!"
Now, Deji-tan and I truly exist in the same dimension. That means—I can finally tell her. Those words I've wished to say since my past life!
Final check. My mission is to absolutely win a G1 race and repay my mother. And to make Deji-tan realize that she herself is precious!
…Alright, briefing over. I'm fully ready.
Having steeled myself, I stomped the floor with the brand-new shoes my dad bought me the other day and reached for the doorknob.
"…Well, I'm off."
"…Take care."
From now on, I'll be living in the dorms. I probably won't hear her say "Take care" for a while. So I burn that voice into my memory.
Without looking back, I ran toward the nearest station.
…So my mom wouldn't see the extremely creepy grin I couldn't wipe off, just from thinking too much about my favorite.