"McQueen, Suzuka, what are you doing here? You both race next week. Didn't I tell you to do anything but training?"
"Uuh… You did, but I want to run."
"We're Umas. We need to run."
Suzuka looks up to her trainer with puppy eyes, while McQueen tries to fight for them with reason. Today is Haru Urara's race day, and the young man planned for the entire team to watch her race, but Urara fights against it.
"Urara can take care of herself!! Urara has plenty of mini–fans that she can depend on to support Haru Urara during the race!! Trainer and the rest should focus on training!! Didn't big sis McQueen aim for the triple crown?"
Being kicked in the balls is painful, but being checkmated by Haru Urara is more painful. The young man can fight back against her argument, but if he did, Urara would hate him, and there's nothing worse than that. Truly, that pink-haired Uma had the young man in a chokehold.
"Look. I understand that Umas are compelled to run, but by running, you run the risk of wearing yourself out. I can't have you experience an accident a week before your race. Especially since both of you will be running in G-three races."
"Kuh!"
"Mmuuuhhh…"
Unlike in the game version, where it is based on how many fans the Uma has, in this world, the JRA uses a point system to classify who can attend what race. Possibly because it's harder to count fans objectively. The point system is awarded to Uma when they starts and wins a race. Starting a race, regardless of the grade, will grant Uma a 0,5 point.
As for winning, each grade grants a different number of points. Winning a debut race grants 0,5 points. Winning a pre-open race grants 1,5 points. Winning an open race grants 2,5 points. Winning a G3 race grants 4,5 points. Winning a G2 race wins 6,5 points. And winning a G1 race grants 9,5 points.
To attend a G1 race, an Uma usually needs to have 5 points under her belt, which is why the young man tasks McQueen to run in a G3 race. Winning one means that she'll have enough points to try for the classic triple crown. As for Suzuka, the young man needs money to pay for Tachyon's salary. Why did he ask Suzuka to run too when McQueen will be running and have a chance of winning the prize money? That's because he assigned McQueen to run in a G3 long-distance race. So for McQueen, his first intention is to test her stamina stat and money, second. As for Suzuka, money first, stats second, that's why he assigned her to medium-distance rest.
"You didn't do it with Goldship!"
Goldship couldn't be seen around the track. Usually, that's because she is a weirdo who would do anything except for training, but it's different today. The alien had promised the young man that she would win a G1 race for him, and to even attend one, she would need the point. So, on her own accord, the alien is now running in an open long-distance race. A predicament that shocked the young man that he thought the rapture was coming.
"You want me to look at you the same way as I look at Goldship?"
"Mmmuuu… Noo…"
"Right! Now, be a good girl, change your clothes, and relax."
"Ahaha… Trainer got mad at you."
Teio is the only Uma trainee who is training today, so she got his full undivided attention. Feeling his eyes on her skin, his stare on her soul, and his desire on her heart. For the Monarch, the predicament that she is in is nothing short but heaven. He is hers for now.
"It's now my private time with trainer!"
Hearing the Monarch proclaim proudly made the noble lady and otherworldly front runner's hearts ache. They also want to have his eyes for themselves. They have to share, as much as they hate it, his attention with everyone on a normal day, but today, Teio has all of it. Their jealousy grows even more when the young man shooes them away.
Not fair… Why does the world line up so perfectly for Teio?
Maybe I should pluck his eyes out of their sockets and keep them in a jar so they'll always be looking at me.
"Who told you you can stop running again?"
The young man grabs Teio by her skull and tries to squeeze her. The difference between their strength becomes more evident when Teio barely registers her trainer's effort.
"Eeeehh?!? But I'm helping you shooing away the pes–naughties!"
"I'm able to do that by myself, thank you very much."
So the only way for him to be dependent on me is if he becomes disabled, huh? Got it! I should stage a crash that would cut his limbs!
"Pant… Pant…"
"This angelic panting… It can't be!!"
"Hmm? What's wrong with you, trainer?"
The young man quickly handed over his tablet to McQueen when he heard a particular panting noise. His head then turned around like a radar trying to lock onto an incoming jet fighter. After rotating in place for a few turns, the young man finally stopped when he saw his target.
A small Uma with long, dark hair that flows in gentle waves, framing a face that seems carved from serenity itself. Even when she was sweating and panting from running, her otherworldly cuteness didn't waver. A true mark of absolute cuteness. Her eyes, shaded in violet, hold a quiet depth and fascination for the world, as if they've watched an untold number of dreams. A blue hat rests atop her head, adorned with an impossible blue rose and a feather that dances with every motion, adding a touch of poetic flair to her ensemble.
"RICE CHOWER!!!"
"KKKYYYYYYAAAAAAHHH!!!! A WEIRDO!!!"
The small, petite Uma was in the middle of her lap when a weirdo with red hair screamed her name. Naturally, she was startled and froze in place. Her body trembles as the weirdo comes closer to her at an alarming rate.
"Please… Don't come closer… Rice will do anything… Please… Sniffle…"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
*BUMP*
Seeing her trainer running toward the frail Uma, McQueen moves in to the rescue. With her trained legs, she runs at her trainer and body checks him. The young man feels like he has just been hit by a truck. Luckily, the truck doesn't send him back to the three goddesses.
"GAH!! What the hell, McQueen?! What is wrong with you?!"
"What is wrong with me?! What is wrong with you?! Why did you suddenly run toward Rice Shower?!!"
"Because she is cute!"
You didn't do that with me!!! Am I not cute to you, you manwhore?!!
"Gah! Tch! You get dirt on me now! You ruin my first meeting with Rice Shower, McQueen. You'd better pay for this."
"Hmph! Who cares! Go die!"
"Awawawa~~ Who–Who are you?"
"Ah!"
The young man quickly stood up and dusted his body as clean as he could. He then stares straight into little Uma's eyes and kneels in front of her. He grabs her hand, holds it up, and with the voice of a prince, he says.
"Rice Shower, please give me the honor to grant you unending happiness."