"A G1 race, the first G1 of my life, and a graded stakes one at that. Shouldn't I be acting a bit more awestruck and humble?"
Pink—pink mixed with green. Such simple, almost girlishly fussy colors, yet she wore them perfectly.
Should one call it girlish charm, or say her bright, straightforward aura simply overpowered what could have been a cloying combination?
"But too bad. All I can feel right now is excitement and honor."
Her right hand tugged at the sports cap on her head, then flicked it sharply, fully revealing her sharp gaze. The smile she couldn't suppress was the best reflection of her mood.
"Mom and my little sisters... they're proud of me for running. It's the first time I've known that just me running could make them feel happy and comforted. Really, what was I doing all this time before? What was I so worried about?"
"Run, just run! Let them see how I've grown with these passionate strides!"
"But still, I really want to thank Nearl for her advice. Is this what they call 'the onlooker sees most clearly'?"
"I was convinced Mom would be disappointed if I didn't come in first, but she could see right away that my family didn't actually expect me to always lead."
"How to put it... the sharpness of someone who grew up in an orphanage?"
"Still, I'm going all out in this race. Consider it the highest respect I can show my admirable friend."
At the face in the mirror—less beautiful and dazzling than those of young lady Uma Musume—Ines Fujin grinned, her clean, neat teeth looking utterly adorable.
"Let's go!"
She sprang to her feet. Even restrained by her racing silks, the ample bust bounced rebelliously, a degree of exaggeration that was the lifelong dream of a certain 'radish spirit' far beyond reach.
"Ah, crap, it's messy again."
Seeing the fabric riding up a bit from the bounce, Ines Fujin hurriedly smoothed it back down.
Racing silks are a strange thing.
Off the track, their only difference from ordinary clothes is that they don't wear out; otherwise, they're the same.
But once on the course, their existence becomes absurd.
It's as if they become a second skin, perfectly conforming to the Uma Musume's movements, completely unaffected by physical laws—utterly baffling.
Some Uma Musume wear daring silks that attract many voyeurs, but no matter how they try to sneak shots, they only capture darkness.
Yet, playful scuffles between friends aren't blocked. It's all quite mysterious.
"Whew, the silks are beautiful, and I do like them, but is this design really what I wanted in my heart? I never thought about having my waist and stomach exposed like this... Good thing there's no flab here, from all the usual training, I guess?"
"And this skirt, it's way too short. Calling it a miniskirt is an understatement. Thankfully it came with safety shorts, otherwise just standing still would flash my underwear without even moving."
Trying to tug the skirt down a little for psychological comfort, a sudden thought flashed through Ines Fujin's mind.
'I wonder if Nearl's racing silks are this embarrassing too? Honestly, I'd like to see.'
Pushing open the lounge door, Fujin strolled down the hallway. Perhaps it was opponent synergy, but the door next to hers opened at that moment.
"Ines? What a coincidence."
"Ah, Ryan. You look great too, very dashing, isn't it?"
"Haha, don't tease me. This lack of femininity can't compare to you at all."
As she spoke, Mejiro Ryan secretly gave Ines Fujin's silks a quick up-and-down glance, heart filled with yearning and envy.
'Hmm... I'd like to wear a girly-colored skirt like that too. I'm a little jealous of Ines, but I'd still be too shy.'
"Hey Ryan, have you seen Nearl? I haven't spotted her at all on my way here."
"Mmm~"
Mejiro Ryan shook her head, giving her roommate a helpless look.
"You saw I just came out too. When would I have had time to see where Nearl is? It's not like she'd be in my lounge, right?"
The blunt remark made Ines Fujin blush slightly. She subconsciously rubbed her cap.
"Haha, I'm just a bit excited. And aren't you curious what kind of racing silks someone with Nearl's personality would come out in? What if it's a little skirt like ours?"
Hearing her roommate's whisper, Mejiro Ryan couldn't help but imagine Nearl in a skirt.
"No, I can't picture it at all. Someone as proper as Nearl wearing a skirt that shows her waist and legs like yours... it just doesn't fit."
"...Maybe you're right."
After thinking it over, Ines Fujin nodded in agreement.
"Alright, we've chatted long enough. Time's tight, let's pick up the pace."
"Right. In this race, I'll go all out too. It's the spirit and honor of the Mejiro family. Even in defeat, we must never give up."
"That's the spirit. But Ines today is in perfect form. I'll show you the fury of a storming finish."
Faced with such confidence from her roommate and rival, how could she back down?
"Don't let that boast burst."
The two shared a smile.
--+--
"She's here! The raging storm, the hurricane! Ines Fujin has arrived today. Though her performances in the last two races weren't at her best, her expression shows it won't affect her run today at all!"
"Third in popularity! Ines Fujin!"
Amidst the full stadium's cheers, Fujin stepped onto the display platform with a radiant smile, waving.
Her stunning figure and energetic, cute demeanor made many in the audience gasp instantly, camera flashes incessant.
"Next, the young lady of the Mejiro family, a sharp-finishing formidable opponent—Mejiro Ryan! Her sprint speed is well-known."
"She fairly and squarely defeated Ines Fujin in their last race. What kind of sparks will fly between these two rivals this time?"
Mejiro Ryan walked onto the course with a smile. Though not everyone liked her tomboyish style, it gave her inexplicably high popularity among women.
"Ryan, do your best!"
"Ryan-nee, go for it!"
At the edge of the spectator stands, the younger generation of the Mejiro family had also gathered neatly to cheer.
And in the lineup now, Mejiro McQueen had surprisingly grown quite tall, a world apart from her childish appearance before.
It seemed her honkaku period was nearly complete, at most within a month.
And with that maturation, her once-boisterous childhood temperament had mellowed. Now, she was a young lady who could rival Ardan.
--+--
T/N: 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.