April 23, overcast skies at Kyoto Racecourse.
Fujino Makken O, Merci Stage, and Star Man sat together in the spectator seats, their eyes fixed nervously on the track. Over the past several months, from last year to this, they had each competed in various races, yet never again shared the same stage as Narita Brian.
Still, they hadn't given up. Cheering each other on, they kept training and following every one of Narita Brian's races.
Today was no different—they'd even arrived at the venue a full half-hour before the race was set to begin, back when the stands were still mostly empty.
"I can't believe Narita Brian entered the Tennō Shō Spring right before entries closed. Didn't she just win the Hanshin Dai Shōten?" Fujino Makken O remarked with a serious tone.
Not long ago, Narita Brian had triumphed in the Hanshin Dai Shōten by a staggering seven lengths.
Watching the gap between herself and Narita Brian grow wider, Fujino Makken O had thrown herself entirely into training after that race. If her two friends hadn't dragged her along today, she might not have even come.
"You didn't hear? They say Northern Dreams also entered the Tennō Shō Spring, so Narita Brian followed her here."
Beside her, Merci Stage looked over in surprise. She knew her friend had been focused on training, but she hadn't expected her to miss such big news.
"Northern Dreams, huh…"
"Back in the Kikuka Shō, she really was stronger than Narita Brian. But it's been a while, and Narita Brian has grown a lot since then. Fighting her way through waves of talented Uma Musume, she's won both the Arima Kinen and the Hanshin Dai Shōten in a row—she must be much, much stronger now."
"And Northern Dreams… she hasn't set foot on a track since the Kikuka Shō, has she? From last November to this April, that's almost half a year without a race. Can she really regain her competitive form?"
Fujino Makken O trailed off, lost in thought. Unlike Narita Brian, who kept racking up wins, Dream Weaver had been absent from the racing scene for a long time.
For Uma Musume, racing regularly was the best way to stay sharp. After such a long break, just how much of her edge could Dream Weaver possibly retain?
What's worse, Narita Brian was now chasing her down with all the momentum of a winning streak. Their auras had clearly shifted—one rising, the other fading.
"But… I heard a rumor recently that Narita Brian got injured. Apparently, her trainer didn't want her running in the Tennō Shō Spring—she entered herself against his advice."
"If that's true, then it's still anyone's race."
Though Merci Stage said this, her expression showed a hint of worry.
Even though the Uma Musume of their generation had always been overshadowed by Narita Brian, as fellow competitors, they understood the pain of injuries better than anyone.
"Injured, huh…"
Fujino Makken O rested her chin in her hand and thought for a moment.
"I don't believe that monster would ever get hurt. At her level, how could she get injured on the track? And during training… even less likely."
She shook her head, deciding to ignore the floating rumors and stick with her own judgment.
"But neither of them is really at their peak, right? Northern Dreams hasn't raced in half a year, and Narita Brian's been competing nonstop, plus there are those injury whispers."
Merci Stage paused, glancing toward the distant competitor entrance before continuing slowly.
"And don't forget—the Tennō Shō Spring has other strong contenders. If those two aren't in top form, they might just end up as extras in someone else's show."
At that, Fujino Makken O blinked blankly.
"Who?"
Merci Stage shot her friend an exasperated look. She hadn't expected her to come without even checking the race lineup.
Faced with her disbelief, Fujino Makken O simply puffed out her chest as if to say, 'Well, you two dragged me here, after all.'
Just as Merci Stage sighed and prepared to explain the field for this year's Tennō Shō Spring, Star Man—who had been quiet all this time—suddenly cut in.
"It's Rice Shower!"
Ignoring their surprised looks, Star Man gave a proud hum and went on.
"One Kikuka Shō win, one Tennō Shō Spring title—my youth has been spent watching Rice Shower race!"
She even tugged at the front of her shirt, which had a rice grain design printed on it, showing it off to her friends.
"Rice Shower only debuted a few years before us—how is that your whole youth?"
Merci Stage's mouth twitched as she stared at the rice emblem on Star Man's chest.
"I don't care! I grew up watching Rice Shower's races!"
Star Man brushed that off, her words growing even more exaggerated.
"Ri—Rice Shower? Wasn't she third in last year's Arima Kinen? Is she really that strong?"
Fujino Makken O didn't bother correcting Star Man's scrambled timeline. Instead, she looked at her curiously.
When Fujino Makken O first debuted, her goal had been to catch up to Merci Stage beside her. During her classic year, she aimed for Narita Brian. Beyond that, she only really knew Star Man and Dream Weaver.
During the Arima Kinen, she'd been so focused on Narita Brian in first place that she hadn't paid any attention to Rice Shower—only remembering that Rice Shower had lost to Narita Brian.
Hearing the question, Star Man's eyes lit up. As Rice Shower's devoted fan, she was always happy to share her idol's legendary feats—especially when someone asked.
"The Arima Kinen's distance is 2,500 meters—a bit tight for Rice Shower! What she really excels at are the long-distance races!"
"And the Tennō Shō Spring is the perfect stage for her!"
Before Fujino Makken O could fully process that, Star Man eagerly continued.
"And not only that—both of her G1 wins came from defeating super strong rivals!"
"In the Kikuka Shō, she beat the then-undefeated dual classic winner Mihono Bourbon, and in the Tennō Shō Spring, she defeated Mejiro McQueen—the very one who achieved the Tennō Shō Spring and Autumn double!"
After finishing in one breath, Star Man puffed out her chest with a proud hum, as if her idol's glory were her own.
It was only then that Merci Stage cut in, sounding puzzled.
"Did Mejiro McQueen really complete the Spring and Autumn double? I thought she was disqualified in that Tennō Shō Autumn and dropped to 18th place?"
Star Man returned a strange look.
"Wasn't that just a classic joke? Everyone said she was this close to a foul—like in another world she might've been disqualified or something."
"If she hadn't won both the Spring and Autumn Tennō Shō titles, how could the Mejiro family's prestige be so high now?"
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T/N: Mihoyo x Multiverse Fanfic Up!
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! 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.