Uma Musume: Rising From the Countryside to Legend!!

After everyone exchanged contact information, Kuroha escorted the two big shots to the door.

"Well then, see you next time, Kuroha Trainer~"

Maruzensky gave a playful wink as she passed by Kuroha, then followed Symboli Rudolf out of the preparation room.

Watching the two legendary Uma Musume leave, Kuroha finally let out a sigh of relief and closed the door.

Inside the room, his two girls also collapsed at once, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

"Phew… haa… truly worthy of the title 'Emperor,' that pressure was something else."

Inari One handled it a bit better than Fujimasa March—after all, she was also a second-step [Domain] Uma Musume—but she still had to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.

"Speaking of which, that was so like you, Trainer~"

Leaning in close, Inari One teased in a whisper, "Facing two legendary seniors, you still said something that bold and cool!"

Bonk!

"Yowch—!"

Kuroha lightly tapped the girl's head, and she exaggeratedly cried out in mock pain.

"What else could I do? As your trainer, when it's time to fight for something, I have to step up."

The two Uma Musume watched their trainer's busy figure as he packed personal items on the desk, both of them staring absentmindedly, lost in thought.

Before long, Kuroha had everything he needed and slung his satchel over his shoulder.

"Let's go. There's still the Winner's Stage!"

He walked up to Fujimasa March and pulled her to her feet.

The young Classic Year filly had already spent all her energy resisting Symboli Rudolf's invitation earlier, and after just finishing the Haneda Hai, she was still soft and weak all over.

Seeing her like that, Kuroha couldn't help but chuckle, tapping her forehead lightly.

"Once the Winner's Stage is over, when we get back to the dorm, let's have a little home party to celebrate!"

"This is the highest-grade graded race 'Chasing Light' has ever won since we formed, March—you've done us proud!"

Fujimasa March's eyes lit up at his words.

A banquet… celebration…

And also—

'If you win the Haneda Hai, anything you want!'

She subconsciously recalled the promise Kuroha had made to her that night, and her energy spiked, making him wonder what was going through her head.

But those words drew an immediate protest from a certain little fox.

"What do you mean 'highest-grade race'? I won the Tokyo Crown last year, you know!"

The Tokyo Crown was the final jewel of the South Kanto Triple Crown.

Last year, during Inari One's Classic Year, Tatsuko Yuzuhara, for some reason, hadn't let her run the full Triple Crown, only entering her in the final Tokyo Crown.

With Inari One's overwhelming power over the local circuit, as long as the going was good, victory was a given!

"I said our team. Last year, I didn't even have my trainer's license yet."

After calming the sulky little fox, Kuroha smiled.

"Come on, March, get changed—time to meet your Winner's Stage!"

...

Ōi Racetrack — Winner's Stage

The music thundered in everyone's ears, while the cheers of the crowd—no, of the fans—blew the roof off!

Fujimasa March, Seiran Nichirin, and Hōzan strode out with powerful steps, dancing to the beat and brimming with the youth and beauty of maidenhood.

The Haneda Hai was already among the highest-class graded races in the local circuit.

Naturally, the winner would be center stage in the post-race performance.

Although Fujimasa March stood in the C-position, the other two mostly serving as backup dancers, the scene was dazzling nonetheless.

Kuroha couldn't help but admire the stamina of Uma Musume.

For Seiran Nichirin to recover from that drained state—she had been barely able to walk—back to most of her form in just half an hour was astounding.

Still, he could tell her condition hadn't truly improved. To fully recover, she'd need at least two months of rest.

That would likely force her to miss the South Kanto Triple Crown's second leg—the Tokyo Derby—in June.

Even though she wasn't as strong as Fujimasa March, without her, there would be almost no one left in the local circuit who could challenge March in the next two legs.

Watching the girls smile so brightly on stage, Kuroha's heart stirred, and he pulled out his phone to capture the moment.

South Kanto First Crown — Winner's Stage: GET!

When the Winner's Stage was over, Kuroha headed to the Ōi Racetrack's office again.

This was his third visit here.

Like a cash machine, every trip filled his wallet to the brim!

As Ōi's highest-grade race, the Haneda Hai's first prize money surpassed even Inari One's recent Tenno Sho haul—

A full 25 million yen!

With this windfall, plus the victory and securing the training rights to his two fillies, Kuroha was over the moon.

It felt like he'd already reached financial freedom.

"With this much money, I can splurge a little more from now on!"

Until now, Fujimasa March and Inari One's running shoes, horseshoes, and training gear had been high-end but not extravagant.

Now that the budget was bigger, it was time to go full luxury.

When they returned to the Ōi Tracen Academy, Kuroha told the girls to wash up in their dorms first, then come to his room later.

As soon as Inari One got home, she flopped onto her bed and let out a blissful sigh.

"Mmm~ my own bed is still the comfiest!"

She rolled around in her blanket a few times before peeking out and asking,

"March, were you nervous about today's race?"

Fujimasa March, holding her change of clothes and about to enter the bathroom, froze, then answered honestly, "Aside from Seiran Nichirin, not really…"

"…March."

"What?"

"Certified by the great Inari One—you're now the highest-level local-circuit Uma Musume in the country!"

The sound of running water soon filled the room.

Then Fujimasa March's slightly resentful voice drifted out:

"Wasn't that exactly what Symboli Rudolf-senpai said…?"

"Hmph, when I say it, it's just as authoritative!"

A moment later, March stepped out of the bathroom, steam curling around her, bathrobe loosely tied at the waist.

Droplets clung to her hair, sliding down her pale collarbone and into the folds of the robe, hinting at her slender yet perfectly balanced figure.

Inari One covered her eyes in mock shock—though her fingers were spread wide—and made a playful "pfft" sound.

"Whoa! March, coming out like that is cheating! Skin so smooth, figure so good… the trainer would get a nosebleed for sure!"

March glanced down at herself, then at Inari One, clearly puzzled. She simply grabbed a towel and began drying her damp hair, stray drops falling to the floor with each motion.

"I just finished showering… Inari One, you're exaggerating."

She moved to the wardrobe to pick out something to wear to the trainer's room.

"I am not exaggerating!"

Inari One bounced off the bed, circled March like a curious little fox, and said, "This is the lethal charm of a peerless young maiden! That blockhead trainer might not bleed on the spot, but his heart will definitely be pounding! Right? Right?"

She poked March playfully in the side, smirking.

March froze for a second, the tips of her ears flushing pink.

Trainer… blockhead?

She recalled moments with Kuroha—especially those times when she had certain "naughty" thoughts and he still responded to her proactively.

The corners of her lips curved upward.

"He wouldn't… And Inari One, you'd better go shower—it's getting late."

"Yes, yes~"

Dragging out her reply, Inari One finally stopped teasing her and started digging through her own wardrobe.

As she turned away, she muttered with a pout, "Still a blockhead…"

(End of Chapter)

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