The journey to Misuzawa had been a long, blurring odyssey. Four hours of winding roads had stretched into a haze of shifting landscapes, broken only by the small talks and the occasional stop for fuel. Then came the ferry, the slow and unmoving state lulling Lunar into a deep, dreamless sleep. And then, of course, another three hours of driving, completing the total of the nine hour journey.
Lunar had spent most of the trip in a state of semi-consciousness, drifting in and out of sleep like a petal on a stream. She had napped several times, her head lolling against the window, only to wake up with a start, blinking away the sleep as she engaged in quiet, curious conversations with Ray and Lena. She had asked them about their lives together, listening with wide-eyed fascination as they shared stories of how they had fallen in love, their voices always softening whenever they recalled the small, tender moments that had bound them together.
In between her bouts of sleep and storytelling, Lunar had retreated into the digital world of her phone. Her screen was a constant flicker of notifications, a lifeline to the world she had left behind.
Saiya had messaged her, bubbling with excitement about her own recent enrollment in the academy over there, her messages filled with exclamation points and a nervous energy that Lunar found endearing coming from her dearest friend. Then there was the chaos of the other, Persian had sent a triumphant photo of herself beating Namawa in their recent sprint race, followed by a series of messages from the group chat explaining that Namawa had been sulking for an entire day. The others were still trying to bribe her with snacks to get her out of her mood, a cycle of apologies and treats that made Lunar giggle into her palm.
Via-chan, ever the diligent one, had sent updates on their ongoing practice. She shared a photo of the setup Lunar had provided, confirming they were following the plan to the letter. But it was the second photo that caught Lunar's eye. It was a candid shot of Sakura and Validissimus sitting side-by-side, eating lunch while engaged in a heated discussion.
"Pfft!!!" Lunar couldn't resist. She had sent back a laughing emoji and a pair of lovebird stickers, a little secret joke to herself about the on-going scandal between the two. Then there were the messages from Oscietra, who had sent a heartwarming selfie of her and her mother on vacation in New Zealand. The background was a breathtaking expanse of green and blue, and Oscietra's smile was radiant as she wished Lunar the absolute best of luck
Whenever the phone was put away, Lunar found herself talking with Principal Sato. They drifted through a wide array of topics such as random anecdotes about legendary Uma Musumes, to more detailed things like the intricacies of racing tactics, and towards even the more subtle psychology of uma musumes themselves.
By the time they finally arrived in Oshu City, the day had vanished. It felt as though the hours had simply dissolved, leaving her in a state of disoriented exhaustion.
Now, Lunar lay alone on a cool tatami mat, the scent of dried grass and old wood filling the room. The silence of the traditional inn was a stark contrast to the grandness of the racecourse she had envisioned. She lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling, her body heavy with fatigue but her mind buzzing with a quiet, electric energy.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow, she would run her first race in Japan.
As she lay there, the image of her mother drifted into her mind. She imagined Momma's reaction. She could almost see the gentle curve of her smile, hear the softness of her voice as she congratulated her. "I'm so proud of you, little moon," she imagined her saying. "No matter what the result is, I will always be supporting you."
A small, bittersweet smile touched Lunar's lips. The imagery was so vivid, so comforting, that for a moment, the loneliness she felt vanished. She felt a warmth in her chest, a sense of being watched over by a love that transcended distance and time.
Slowly, Lunar closed her eyes, the shadows of the room closing in around her. She didn't pray for victory, nor did she wish for fame. Instead, as she drifted toward sleep, she made one silent, heartfelt wish.
I want to see you again, Momma... just for a little bit.
As the darkness of the room dissolved, the world around Lunar began to shift. The smell of old wood and tatami vanished, replaced by the intoxicating scent of wild grass and rain-drenched earth. The cold winter air of Oshu City was gone, replaced by a breeze that felt like a warm embrace, carrying the sweetness of spring. Lunar blinked, and suddenly, she was no longer lying. She was running.
Her bare feet pounded against a familiar, emerald-green field—the vast, open plains behind her childhood home. The wind whipped through her hair, and the world was a blur of vibrant color. But she wasn't running alone.
Beside her, in perfect synchronicity, was her mother.
Lunar's heart leaped. She didn't need to look over to know she was there, she could feel the rhythm of her mother's stride, a steady, powerful beat that matched her own. She glanced sideways and saw her mother's face…. a face she had been missing ever since that day, once more appearing alive and full of that unconditional love she remembered.
Her mother wasn't racing her, she was running with her, like she always did. She looked at Lunar with a fond, knowing smile, her eyes shimmering with a pride that felt as tangible as the wind on Lunar's skin. In this moment, there was no pressure, no expectations, and no fear. There was only the two of them, the endless green of the field, and the pure joy shared between them.
"Momma!" Lunar cried out, her voice filled with a longing that had ached in her chest for years. She wanted to reach out, to grab her mother's hand, to tell her everything she had achieved. "Momma, look at me! I'm going to race tomorrow! I'm going to—!"
But as she turned to speak, the world flickered.
For a heartbeat, her mother's image blurred, as if she were a reflection in rippling water. Lunar reached out, her fingers grazing the air where her mother's shoulder should have been, but the touch was empty.
Then, the green vanished.
In a terrifying instant, the vibrant plains were sucked away, replaced by a sudden, oppressive vacuum. The sunlight died, the wind ceased, and the earth beneath her hooves dissolved into a null void, turning into a vast, featureless expanse of obsidian darkness.
Lunar skidded to a halt, her breath hitching in her throat. She spun around, frantically searching for the woman who had been beside her only a second ago. But her mother was gone. And when she looked forward, her eyes widened. Because there, in the distance of the void, was a familiar figure.
It was Eclipse.
The figure was running, a dark and gold silhouette cutting through the obsidian emptiness. Eclipse didn't look back, she simply galloped further and further away, her stride effortless and terrifyingly fast. Lunar felt a surge of desperation. She began to run, pushing her legs to their limit, her heart hammering against her chest.
I have to catch her! I have to!
But no matter how hard Lunar pushed, the gap only widened. The distance between them grew, and the realization hit her like a physical blow. She wasn't fast enough. She would never be fast enough.
In her panic and desperation to close the distance, Lunar's focus wavered. Her foot caught on between themselves mid-stride, causing her balance to vanish.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Lunar screamed as she felt herself plummeting, the world spinning violently around her as she fell into the bottomless dark...
"...AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-HAH?!?!!!" Lunar snapped awake, sitting bolt upright in her mattress with a sharp, desperate cry. She was back in the room. The dim light of the inn filtered through the screens, and the silence of the night rushed back in. She was shaking, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts, and her heart was still racing as if she had just sprinted a thousand miles.
She lay there in the stillness, the residue of the dream clinging to her like a shroud. The joy of the run with her mother had been replaced by the terror of the fall and the haunting image of Eclipse.
-
Lunar sat in the passenger seat of the car, her gaze fixed on the blur of the passing scenery, though her mind was miles away. Why now? she wondered, her brow furrowing. Why that dream, and why now?
It had been years since she had seen her mother, the figure of Eclipse, or the void in her sleep. Her dreams had become quiet, practically empty up until last night. The sudden return of those images, the fleeting joy of the run and the crushing despair of the disappearance, felt like more than just a memory. It felt like a summons. It was as if something was trying to tell her something….but what could it be?
Principal Sato, glancing over, noticed the distant look in her eyes. He could see the gears turning, the way she chewed her lip in a rare moment of uncertainty. "Are you alright, Lunar?" he asked, his voice soft.
Lunar snapped back to the present, blinking rapidly. She forced a small, reassuring smile. "I-I-i'm fine, Sato-ojisan!"
Principal Sato didn't look convinced. He could tell she was hiding something, something that's clearly bothering the usually bright and cheerful little filly, but he was a man who respected boundaries, so he didn't want to probe too deeply if she wasn't ready to share. Instead, he shifted the conversation toward the technicalities of the day.
"Is that so… Then tell me," he began, his tone shifting into that of a seasoned trainer, "do you actually know the details of the race you're running today, Lunar-chan, or are you just winging it?"
Lunar let out a light, airy giggle, glad to have something else to think about. "Of course I know! It's a right-handed mile dirt race. Twelve participants, and I'm in gate twelve." She added a little flourish to her voice. "The widest one!"
Principal Sato nodded in satisfaction. He was relieved to see that Lunar had actually studied the race card. Knowing her starting position and the track conditions was the bare minimum for a professional, and it showed she was taking this seriously.
"And what about the other contestants?" he asked. "Do you know who you're racing against? Any threats you've identified?"
Lunar paused, searching her memory for the names she had seen on the list, but none of them sparked any real interest. She shook her head. "Uhm, not really... I wasn't very concerned about them."
Principal Sato felt a flicker of worry. He knew her ability was absurd, especially compared to the foals and fillies in this junior race, Lunar was simply in a different league. In terms of previous experiences and raw ability, she was like a giant amongst children. But seeing the look on her face, he realized the problem wasn't a lack of ability—it was a clear lack of focus.
He had always noticed that Lunar wasn't looking at the other girls, nor was she looking at the finish line. She was looking at something much farther away, like she was chasing a ghost beyond the horizon.
Principal Sato knew that if she ran with that mindset, treating the race as a mere formality, she might miss the very essence of what it meant to compete. As such, he wanted to bring her back to the present, to ground her in the grit of the turf. "Tell me, Lunar," he said, his voice taking on a curious edge, "what running style do you usually prefer?"
Lunar tilted her head, thinking. She had never really thought about running styles, she simply just ran with all that she had. "I guess... I just like running when there's nothing in my way…?" she answered honestly. "So, I suppose I'm a front-runner?"
A glint appeared in Principal Sato's eyes, and a small, mischievous smile played on his lips. "Is that so?" he murmured. He paused for a beat, then added, "Then how about we change things up for a bit today?"
Lunar blinked, her ears twitching in surprise. "Change things up? What do you mean?"
Principal Sato glanced at her, his expression a mix of challenge and guidance. "How about this? Today, I want you to run as a closer."
Lunar stared at him, her mouth slightly agape. "A... closer?"
She felt a wave of confusion. To her, the best thing about running was about the freedom of the open track, the thrill of the wind hitting her face without anything blocking her path. Being a closer meant starting at the back, weaving through a crowd, and fighting for every inch of space, so it was the complete opposite of her natural instinct. "But why?" she asked, looking up towards the elder. "Why suddenly change my style now..?"
Principal Sato didn't answer immediately. He leaned back in his seat, his expression extremely playful for someone his age. "Oh, it's nothing serious," he replied airily. "Just a silly little challenge I thought of. I was just wondering if you could handle a different tempo."
Then, he shifted his tone. He looked out the window at the passing trees, his voice becoming casually dismissive. "But then again, perhaps it's too much for today. If you're worried that changing your style might make you lose... that's perfectly fine. You don't have to do it. We can just stick to what you're comfortable with."
The word lose acted like a spark to a fuse.
Lunar's competitive side, usually buried under her polite and shy demeanor, flared to life. Her tail whipped sharply behind her, and she sat up straight, her pale-yellow eyes flashing with a sudden, fierce intensity. "Wait?! I'm not scared!" she declared, her voice firm. "I can definitely do it, Sato-ojisan! I'll show you that I can win no matter where I start!"
Principal Sato didn't look at her, but a small, triumphant smile touched his lips. Gotcha, he thought. He had known exactly which button to press.
His reasoning, of course, wasn't just about the challenge. He had noticed that Lunar tended to run away from the world, her eyes always fixed on a distant, unreachable horizon. So, by placing her at the back, he was forcing her to engage with the race. He wanted her to feel the heat of the other uma musumes, to hear the rhythm of their breathing, and to sense the desperation in their strides. He wanted her to stop chasing ghosts and start seeing the reality of the turf.
"Very well," Principal Sato said, his voice returning to a warm, instructional tone. "Since you're so confident, here is the plan. I want you to have a slow start. Stay at the very back. Don't rush. I want you to truly think about when to move. For the first time, I want you to watch your opponents, REALLY watch them. You're usually the one dictating the pace, Lunar. Today, I want you to learn how to read it."
Lunar echoed his words, her voice a mix of confusion and determination. "Slow start... watch the opponents... read the pace..."
Principal Sato looked at her warmly, seeing the spark of focus finally igniting in her eyes. He turned his gaze back to the window, his expression turning pensive. I can't wait to see what you do, Lunar-chan. He thought to himself.
As he spoke, the scenery changed, and in the distance, the massive, towering silhouette of the Misuzawa Racecourse appeared on the horizon, its grandstands looming like a fortress of dirt and glory. The time for talking was almost over as the time to run had arrived.
The car came to a smooth stop, and the doors opened to the bustling atmosphere of the Racecourse. Ray and Lena stepped out first, naturally taking the lead and guiding the way through. Lunar walked beside Principal Sato, her eyes wide as she took in the scene.
The venue was teeming with people. Attendees in warm stylish and casual wear milled about, their voices blending into an excited ocean of noises. There were many race cards scheduled for the day, and Lunar's was the sixth out of the nine available ones. She felt a strange mix of anticipation and restlessness, the energy of the crowd acting like a current pulling her toward the track.
As they moved deeper into the course, passing through security checkpoints and checkpoints, Principal Sato led Lunar toward the registration counter. "Next!" the counter lady called out, her voice crisp.
Sato stepped forward, guiding Lunar along. "Confirmation for the sixth race, please," he said calmly.
The registration clerk didn't look up immediately, her fingers dancing across the keyboard with practiced efficiency. When she finally lifted her gaze to Lunar, her expression was a mask of professional neutrality. "Name and card number, please."
"Lunar Light. Card number twelve," Lunar answered. Her voice was soft, yet it carried a clarity that cut through the surrounding chatter.
The clerk checked the system, a quick blink of the monitor confirming the entry. She nodded, reaching for a laminated lanyard. "Everything is in order. Here is your pass for the locker room access."
Lunar took the pass and looped it around her neck, the plastic clicking softly. "Thank you very much!" she said with a bright, genuine smile.
The lady paused, her expression softening as she looked at the silver-haired girl. A warm smile broke across her professionally crafted face. "Oh, you are just precious! You're very cute. I'll be supporting you today, little one!"
A soft, rosy hue dusted Lunar's cheeks. She wasn't accustomed to such direct affection from strangers, and the compliment caught her off guard. "T-thank you! I'll do my best to make sure you don't regret supporting me!"
Beside her, Principal Sato let out a low, teasing chuckle. He glanced down at his pupil, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, look at that. You've barely stepped foot on the track and you've already acquired a fan."
Lunar pouted, a small, playful gesture, though her smile remained. She gave the lady one last, polite bow before following Sato back toward Ray and Lena.
"Did you get the pass, Lunar?" Lena asked as they converged, her voice laced with a gentle, maternal warmth.
"Yeah!" Lunar chirped, hoisting the lanyard up for Lena to see.
Lena nodded, then extended a hand, pointing toward a series of bright, colorful signs. The arrows were bold and oversized, accompanied by the phrase "Participants over here!!" written in a goofy, high-energy font that seemed to vibrate with excitement. The sheer enthusiasm of the signage made Lunar giggle, the tension in her chest loosening.
"Now that you have your pass, follow those arrows," Lena explained. "That'll take you to the waiting area for the Uma Musumes."
Lunar paused, looking at the three adults. A sudden realization hit her—this was the point where she had to go on her own. "Am I going alone? Where will you guys go?"
"We'll be sitting right at the front of the stands Miss," Ray answered with a wink. "We're going to be right there, cheering the loudest until your race comes up."
Principal Sato reached out and gave Lunar's shoulder a supportive pat. "Go on. And while you're at it, try to make some friends. It's always better to know who you're running with than to be a stranger in the pack."
Lunar nodded, her determination returning. She stepped away from them, turning back one last time to wave goodbye to Ray, Lena, and Principal Sato, who returned her wave just as enthusiastically.
With a final wave and smile, Lunar turned and began to jog toward the destination the arrows pointed to. As she moved further away from her guardians and deeper into the heart of the racecourse, she felt a spark of curiosity. She wondered what kind girls she would meet in the waiting area, whether they would be friendly, arrogant, or perhaps just as nervous as she had been a few hours ago.
-
The air in the winter around here felt far too thin for the ginger-haired, young trainer. Every step felt like she was walking toward her own execution. Her hands were shaking so violently that the tablet she clutched was rattling against her chest, and her heart was hammering a frantic, irregular beat.
She was a mess of raw nerves, her breathing shallow and erratic. Every step she took felt like a descent into a waking nightmare, the air around her thickening with a pressure that made her chest tighten. She felt as though she were the one about to step into the starting gate, her mind a chaotic whirlpool of doubt and apprehension.
Beside her, however, was the eye of the storm.
Her trainee moved with a graceful, fluid motion that seemed to glide over the concrete rather than walk upon it. Her long, straight black hair flowed behind her like a curtain of midnight silk, and her posture was impeccably straight. A poise that didn't just suggest nobility, but commanded it. She appeared entirely unbothered by the electric tension of everything, as if she were merely taking a leisurely stroll through the gardens of a private estate.
Unable to contain the surge of panic, Alexa finally broke. "Oh goodness S-sage! I just—I can't believe we're actually here!" she stammered, her voice trembling, the words tumbling out in a frantic, disjointed rush. "What if the track is too soft? W-wh-what if the other girls are u-u-sing s-stratergies I am not familiar with?!?? I c-can't believe this is actually happening!"
The black-haired girl stopped.
She turned toward her trainer, her diamond-jeweled eyes reflecting a calmness that felt otherworldly. She didn't look annoyed by the outburst, nor was she stressed. Instead, she looked at the woman as if she were observing a particularly curious specimen, her gaze analytical yet patient.
"Calm down and breathe, Trainer," the Uma Musume said. Her voice was a smooth, velvet anchor, cutting through the noise of the woman's anxiety. The girl reached into her bag and produced a thermos and a cup. She poured a stream of steaming tea with precision, the amber liquid swirling perfectly into the cup. Without a word, she extended it.
"Thank you, Sage...." Alexa sighed, her voice cracking. She took the cup with shaking hands, the warmth of the tea seeping into her palms and grounding her. She took a few long, slow sips, and as the heat traveled down her throat, the suffocating tightness in her chest began to loosen. The world stopped spinning, and her breathing finally returned to a steady, human rhythm.
As they resumed their walk, a wave of quiet gratitude washed over the trainer. In theory, she was the mentor, the one meant to provide the mental scaffolding to guide her athlete through the crushing weight of a debut. But with Sage, the roles were perpetually reversed. Sigh... I really need to improve myself...
As they continued toward the waiting area, a figure appeared in the distance, walking toward them. She was small, her presence marked by a shimmering cascade of silver-grey hair and an expression of such pure, guileless innocence that she seemed to exist in a different dimension entirely.
The trainer slowed, her own anxiety momentarily forgotten. Woah…she's absolutely beautiful, she thought, momentarily dazzled. The girl possessed an ethereal quality, a brightness in her eyes that felt almost other-wordly. She looked like a porcelain doll brought to life, something far too delicate to be cast into the gritty, suffocating reality of this dirt track.
But as the girl drew closer, the trainer felt something happening beside her, making her stop in her tracks. Sage was… staring…?
Normally, the girl was a fortress of indifference. She moved through the world as if it were a blurred background, paying no mind to anyone who didn't serve a purpose in her own orbit. But now, her blue diamond eyes were locked onto the silver-haired girl with an intensity that Alexa had never seen from her before.
As the girl passed by them, moving with a lightness that seemed to defy gravity, Sage didn't look away. She remained frozen, her gaze tracking the girl's every movement with a focused and morbid curiosity. It wasn't the look of a competitor, it was the look of someone who had found something rare and was trying to decipher its essence.
A small, smug smile touched the trainer's lips. She had never seen Sage this captivated. Sensing a rare opportunity to crack that stoic shell or perhaps simply wanting to see where this sudden spark would lead, the trainer reached out and gave Sage a playful nudge with her elbow.
"Hey~ She's probably heading to the locker rooms, too," the trainer whispered, her voice humming with a trace of mischief. "Why don't you go introduce yourself?"
Sage didn't blink. She didn't even hesitate as she simply gave a slight, elegant nod. "If you'll excuse me, Trainer," Sage murmured. Without another word, the black-haired girl turned and began to move, fast-walking with a purposeful, sleek stride, disappearing after the silver-haired girl.
Alexa stood there for a moment, basking in a rare sense of satisfaction. She had successfully nudged her unreachable trainee toward a social interaction, and for a fleeting second, she felt like the master of the situation.
Then, reality crashed back in.
She looked around the bustling corridor, realizing with a sudden jolt that she was now completely alone. The absence of Sage's reliable presence left her feeling exposed and fragile once again. With a heavy sigh, she curled into herself, clutching her cup and tablet tight to her chest as she began to scan the crowd for a quiet corner where she could hide from the world.
Lunar continued her light jog, her eyes scanning the corridor for any sign of her destination. After a few moments, she spotted a small cluster of foals—one with striking red hair, another with black, and a third with brown all standing in a disciplined line. At the head of the line stood an older mare, acting as a guard, her eyes focused as she meticulously checked passes.
Found it! Lunar thought.
She slowed her pace, transitioning from a jog to a simple walk as she approached the queue. She stepped in behind the girl in front of her, her mind drifting back to the flutter of excitement in her chest.
Then, without warning, a sharp chill raced up her spine. It was an instinctive reaction, a sudden, primal feeling of being watched by something. Lunar abruptly spun around to see what had caused the sensation, freezing at the sight.
Standing directly behind her was a girl who looked as though she had stepped out of a high-fashion editorial. She was a cold beauty in the truest sense, possessing a sharp, refined elegance and a height that put her nearly a head above Lunar. She was standing far too close for comfort, her piercing diamond-blue eyes boring straight into Lunar's soul with an intensity that felt almost electric, as if she were trying to read every secret Lunar held.
Lunar felt herself instinctively lean backward, her heart fluttering in a chaotic mix of intimidation and curiosity. Gathering every ounce of her courage, she let out a small, shaky greeting. "H-h-hi…?"
The girl remained silent for a heartbeat, her expression unreadable. Then, she blinked, her gaze softening just a fraction as she returned the greeting. "Greetings," she replied, her voice smooth and melodic, yet carrying an innate authority. "May I ask for your name?"
"O-oh! I'm Lunar Light!" Lunar answered, her voice regaining some of its brightness. She paused, then tilted her head. "And... what is your name?"
"I am Chevalier Sage," the taller girl answered. "You may refer to me as Sage." Before Lunar could respond, Sage reached out and gently took Lunar's hand. In one fluid, aristocratic motion, she brought Lunar's hand to her lips and pressed a light, lingering kiss to the back of it.
Lunar froze, her face erupting into a deep crimson. She panicked for a second, her mind racing. W-w-was this normal?—but seeing how calm and composed Sage remained, she realized this was simply the other girl's way of greeting.
"L-likewise!" Lunar managed to squeak out, her voice an octave higher than usual. "You can just call me Lunar!"
Sage released her hand, nodding with a slight, enigmatic smile, a look that suggested she found Lunar's flustered state endearing. "I would love to continue this conversation inside," she murmured, giving Lunar a gentle nudge toward the front of the line.
By then, the other girls had already been admitted. The guard was waiting patiently for them to step forward and present their passes. Lunar, still flustered and slightly dizzy from the interaction, scrambled forward. "Sorry! Pardon me!" she stammered, her voice a flurry of apologies as she practically tripped over her own feet to reach the counter.
The guard looked at the silver-haired girl and gave a small, amused huff. "It's fine, dear," she said, verifying the pass.
Lunar stepped inside the waiting room, but she didn't move further in. Instead, she stopped right at the entrance, turning back to wait for Sage. She remembered Principal Sato's advice—try to make some friends while you're at it, and Sage seemed like the perfect target.
Not only was she striking, but she had clearly taken an interest in herself for some reason. With a determined nod to herself, Lunar waited, hoping that this new acquaintance would be the start of a new friendship.
Sage soon glided through the checkpoint with a poise that made the act of presenting a pass look like a royal decree before settling naturally beside Lunar, their shoulders nearly brushing.
As they walked further into the facility, Lunar found herself overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the environment. The waiting room was a sprawling space, filled with the noises of a hundred different conversations. Everywhere she looked, there were uma musumes. Some were engaged in rigorous stretching, their muscles coiled like springs, others were huddled in small groups, whispering small talks or sharing nervous laughter; and some simply sat in a heavy, meditative silence, staring blankly at the walls. It was a cluster of strangers, a sea of faces and colors that Lunar didn't recognize, making her feel like a small fish in a very large, very intimidating pond.
Sage noticed the way Lunar's eyes darted across the room, the subtle, hesitant flutter of her movements. The locker room was a cacophony of noise, a humid pressure of competing egos and nervous energy, yet Sage remained a cool breeze in the center of it all. "Is this your debut race?"
Lunar shook her head, her silver hair swaying with the motion. "Technically, this is my third," she explained, her voice regaining a flicker of its natural brightness. "But it's my first time racing in Japan. My previous races were all in Australia."
The admission immediately piqued Sage's interest. She slowed her pace, turning her head to look at Lunar with a gaze that was no longer merely curious, but assessing. It was the look of a strategist weighing a new variable. "I see. Are you of foreign blood as well?"
Lunar nodded. "My mother is Australian," she began, her voice softening, an old warmth surfacing. "And my other mother is… well, I don't exactly know."
As the words left her lips, a shadow of hesitation clouded Lunar's expression. She didn't want to dwell on the void of her family history, and Sage, possessing a keen emotional intelligence, caught the flicker of discomfort instantly. Without pushing, Sage deftly pivoted the conversation, offering her own history as a bridge to close the gap.
"I am also of foreign descent, though only half," Sage murmured. "My mother is of British blood, and my father is Japanese. Both of them are humans."
Lunar's eyes widened, a spark of genuine interest igniting at the prospect of someone similar.. "Really? Did you race outside of Japan too?"
Sage shook her head. "No. I have lived in Japan my entire life. All my races have been here." She paused, her expression turning pensive, as if recalling a long, arduous road. "This will be my fourteenth race. My second time here at Misuzawa."
Lunar stopped walking, her jaw dropping in sheer disbelief. "Fourteen?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. "How is that possible? I mean... how old are you?"
"I am sixteen," Sage answered simply, her tone devoid of boastfulness. "I am in my second year of racing."
Lunar was stunned. The sheer volume of experience Sage possessed was staggering. To have faced the starting gate fourteen times in such a short span was a testament to a drive and a hunger that Lunar found deeply admirable. "So many…" she whispered, her voice trailing off.
"I like keeping my schedule busy," Sage explained, a ghost of a smile touching her lips.. "And I am still searching for my first win. I feel that this place, Misuzawa, is where it will finally happen. In my last race, I took second. It was my best finish, and I am aiming to finally claim the top spot today."
Lunar looked at the tall girl with a newfound sense of respect. There was something about Sage's resolve that felt magnetic; she spoke of her struggle not as a failure, but as a dignified pursuit. She carried her "near-misses" like medals of honor, her pride as unyielding as her posture.
"What card are you racing under?" Lunar asked, her voice brimming with encouragement.
"The second race, you?" Sage replied, before returning the question to Lunar.
"Mine is the sixth!" Lunar replied brightly, her excitement bubbling over. "I'll definitely be watching! I'll be cheering for you, Sage-san!"
The stern-faced girl paused. For the first time, the cold mask completely vanished, replaced by a genuine, soft smile that reached her diamond eyes. "...Thanks," she whispered.
Overcome by a sudden surge of affection, Lunar did what she always did when her emotions overflowed. She reached out and grabbed Sage's hand, squeezing it tightly. It was a reflexive, innocent gesture of solidarity, a small bridge of warmth between two very different souls.
The moment was peaceful and strangely intimate, until it was shattered by a loud, sonic boom of a shout. "HEHHHH!??!?!?"
The shriek was so sudden and so piercing that both Lunar and Sage jumped. They whipped their heads to the right, where a cute filly around her height was practically vibrating with intensity. She had striking, pastel-colored hair, a whimsical blend of soft blue and pink and eyes that mirrored those same colors. She was pointing a finger directly at Lunar, her face a mask of utter shock. "Y-y-you! I-i-its you!!!" the pastel-haired girl shrieked.
Lunar blinked, her head tilting in confusion. She looked at the girl, then pointed to herself. "Uhm… i-its me…?"
Before Lunar could finish her sentence, the girl crashed into their personal space. She didn't just walk, she lunged, thrusting a smartphone inches from Lunar's face. On the screen was a photo, a selfie of Quenya, but the camera had caught herself in the background, mid-conversation with Sakura. It was a photo Quenya had posted to her socials a few days prior, one that the girl in the picture had shown to her prior.
"That's… me…?" Lunar whispered, recognizing the image.
The pastel-haired girl's eyes began to shine, practically glowing with a mixture of fan-girl euphoria and awe. She looked at Lunar as if she had just discovered a legendary creature in the wild. "T-that's you!" the girl exclaimed, her voice reaching a pitch of pure excitement. "Miss Fairy!!"