Uma Musume: Rising From the Countryside to Legend!!

[Do you wanna pick up the fandom of the next fanfics!!? A poll is on P@tr3on for free to everyone that wants to have a chance to choose the next fanfics!]

Before long, the day arrived for the opening leg of the Classic Triple Crown—the Satsuki Sho.

Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture. Nakayama Racecourse was completely overrun by a sea of people today.

The grandstands were packed beyond capacity, the roaring cheers surging like literal waves, crashing over everyone's eardrums again and again.

At one side of the audience seating, Kuroha sat with his four Uma Musume in a prime viewing spot, watching the Classic-year young fillies limbering up on the turf.

As expected, Oguri Cap wasn't on the list for today's Satsuki Sho.

Originally, Kuroha hadn't planned on coming. Fujimasa March didn't qualify for the Turf Classic Triple Crown, Inari One was a Senior-year Uma Musume, and the two little ones—Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen—still had over a year to go before entering True Blooming.

Most importantly, there wasn't a single entry in this race like Oguri Cap—someone strong enough to truly threaten Kuroha's end-of-year plans to advance his team to the Central circuit.

Whether it was Yae no Muteki or Sakura Chiyono O, they were strong, yes—but not top-tier.

Having spent some time in Tokyo, Kuroha could now clearly tell that his training skills were on a completely different level from the rest.

So why did he come in the end…?

Kuroha couldn't help but recall what had happened after training yesterday…

"Trainer! Take me there, please! I don't wanna watch from the TV!"

Tokai Teio tugged on Kuroha's sleeve, her ocean-blue eyes full of longing. Her whole body rocked side to side as if trying to shake Kuroha into submission.

Beside her, Mejiro McQueen didn't make a fuss, but there was a faint glimmer of expectation in her gaze.

Looking at the two adorably clingy girls before him, Kuroha could only smile helplessly.

And so, he brought along Fujimasa March, Inari One, and the two lively little ones to see the event live.

It was a once-a-year spectacle, after all—not a bad deal to be here.

...

"Wow… There are so many people!"

Tokai Teio's eyes sparkled as she scanned her surroundings, her tail wagging excitedly behind her.

She tiptoed to get a better look, soaking in the overwhelming energy that could practically sweep someone away.

Mejiro McQueen, on the other hand, remained calm. She just sat quietly, but her amethyst eyes trembled slightly—betraying the unrest in her heart.

Well, it was to be expected from girls who hadn't even entered their True Blooming yet...

Kuroha exchanged a glance with Fujimasa March and Inari One—and they all shared a small laugh.

"Still, this really is more spectacular than I imagined."

Kuroha gazed around the entire Nakayama Racecourse. The nationwide spotlight, the immense pressure that carried countless dreams and expectations—it was a taste of the Central G1 stage's glory and cruelty all at once.

The grandstands were jam-packed, a black ocean of people rippling with motion. The thunderous cheers were deafening, as if to lift the sky.

The race was being broadcasted across numerous TV stations—every channel abuzz with predictions and analyses of the Satsuki Sho. The sheer scale and intensity of it left a deep impression on Fujimasa March, Inari One, and especially the two younger girls, experiencing this world stage for the first time.

As the announcer's passionate commentary rolled out, all the participating Uma Musume were finally lined up at the gates.

"G1—Satsuki Sho, 2000 meters on turf, begins now!"

The gates flew open, and the crowd's cheers reached a fever pitch. All the girls accelerated cleanly and steadily. Their conditioning was top-class, and their rhythms in sync—every stride bursting with power, not a single wasted movement.

They had clearly been through brutal training.

"So strong…"

Fujimasa March watched them with a grave expression.

Kuroha turned toward her and asked with a smile, "What do you think, March? These Classic-year Uma Musume from Central?"

Fujimasa March narrowed her eyes and observed a little longer, running simulations in her mind, then responded:

"If the girls at the upcoming Haneda Hai are at this level… I don't think I'll win easily."

Her tone was serious but fearless—if anything, her fighting spirit had grown even stronger.

Not that I can't win—just that it won't be easy?

That might sound cocky, but it carried undeniable confidence.

And rightly so. Not a single one of the girls on the track had awakened a [Domain]. How could they possibly match Fujimasa March?

But wait...

Suddenly, Kuroha furrowed his brows and looked sharply at the racecourse. A faint white glow flickered in his eyes.

The race had entered its final phase. The runners began to spread out.

Those in front pushed their limits, bursting forward with everything they had. The chasers gritted their teeth and fought to overtake.

The audience roared with all their might, shouting out the names of their favorite Uma Musume.

Amid the chaos, Kuroha's eyes locked onto one girl—Sakura Chiyono O.

While all the other girls were clearly squeezing out the last drops of their stamina, throwing themselves into the final sprint, Kuroha noticed something unusual.

Her physical stats… were still climbing—slowly but surely!

Her muscle definition sharpened with each step. Every stride seemed more powerful than the last. A faint aura, imperceptible to the average eye, began to surround her.

Her body—during this very sprint—was undergoing a transformation. Not just acceleration. It was something deeper—an internal evolution, a true metamorphosis.

True Blooming… is accelerating?

Kuroha's mind stirred. The shift was so subtle, only someone with [Body and Breath Perception] like him could even notice it.

But it had started far too late, and didn't last long enough.

Just as her power finally ignited and began to rise, it hadn't fully blossomed yet—and Yae no Muteki, who had launched her final sprint earlier and more steadily, crossed the finish line first.

"Victory! Yae no Muteki wins! She takes the first crown of the Classic Triple Crown—Satsuki Sho!" the announcer declared.

Sakura Chiyono O hadn't won—but that visible transformation in her final sprint etched her deeply into Kuroha's mind.

"Sakura Chiyono O…"

Kuroha muttered, combing through his memories about her, trying to match what he just saw with what he remembered from before.

If he recalled correctly, Sakura Chiyono O was supposed to be this generation's Derby winner.

Could it be that the immense pressure she felt during this race, combined with her burning desire to win, had acted like a catalyst—forcing her into an early True Blooming?

And that was what allowed her to awaken her potential and, at the Japan Derby, unleash a performance beyond the limits of her body and seize the crown?

Kuroha shook his head. His knowledge about accelerated True Blooming was still too limited.

Outside of Sakura Chiyono O, the only other case he'd witnessed was Aoblaze Soleil during the Keihin Cup.

Way too small of a sample.

Still…

Kuroha looked at the post-race screen. Sakura Chiyono O's face filled it—unwilling to accept defeat, but her eyes still burning with unyielding determination.

He let out a quiet sigh.

Accelerated True Blooming didn't only bring power—it came with a heavy burden.

Historically, Sakura Chiyono O had fractured a bone after winning the Japan Derby. She spent an entire year in recovery.

And when she returned for the next year's Takarazuka Kinen, she was completely crushed by the Eternal Big Three—Inari One.

Thinking of that, Kuroha instinctively reached out and ruffled the little head of Inari One beside him.

Caught off guard, Inari One didn't resist. She just puffed her cheeks and muttered, "W-what are you doing…?"

"Nothing. I just… felt like it." Kuroha replied with a grin, turning her face bright red.

"True Blooming…"

There were still so many secrets hidden within the bodies of Uma Musume.

(End of Chapter)

[Get +20 Extra Chapters — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]

[Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]

[Thanks for Reading!]