Kitachi Maito knew that gods existed in this world.
Every girl blessed by the gods would become an Uma Musume, and if they were lucky, those little fillies might even witness the gods descend once again.
Kitachi Maito had been one of them.
A long time ago, Kitachi Maito had a terrible personality. Everyone kept their distance from her, and no trainer was willing to take her in. She knew it was her own problem. She did not expect anyone to tolerate her awful temper, but without a trainer, she could not race. So Kitachi Maito prayed to the Three Goddesses, hoping to meet a trainer willing to sign with her. Anyone would do.
Kneeling before the statues of the Three Goddesses, she threw her most treasured necklace into the pool.
And then Kitachi Maito saw it.
The statues began to glow. A blue phantom stepped out from the stone and stood before her.
It was the first time Kitachi Maito had ever seen a true god.
She had been unimaginably sacred, unimaginably radiant.
That person said something, moving her lips softly, and then Kitachi Maito lost consciousness.
The next day, Kitachi Maito opened her eyes and found herself lying on a bench at school. Beside her sat a black-haired, black-eyed man who said he was a trainer from Japan, that he had just arrived in America for further study, and had happened to come across Kitachi Maito collapsed on the ground.
That was the day Kitachi Maito found her trainer.
His name was Fujiwara Zenya.
He was twenty-one years old, five years older than she was.
The Three Goddesses would help Uma Musume achieve their wishes in unexpected ways. Kitachi Maito had learned that long ago.
And now, today, she would experience it once more.
Listening to the explanation from the white-haired girl in front of her, Kitachi Maito held her in her arms.
Even though what the girl was saying was difficult to believe, even though if she told this story to almost anyone else they would laugh it off as some ridiculous fantasy and dismiss her to avoid wasting their time, Kitachi Maito could not do that.
There was a little habit Chiya had that Kitachi Maito had never told anyone about. Whenever she picked him up, his feet would always, without fail, end up resting against her calf and swaying there absentmindedly. Even though she had not carried him like that since he entered high school, the habit had never disappeared.
The proof was right here. The moment she picked Shirayuki up, the girl moved exactly the way Chiya had when he was little. Especially the way she drew her body inward. It was exactly the same as the boy in Kitachi Maito's memories.
Kitachi Maito believed her words.
Not only because of that perfectly accurate memory, but because this girl gave her a feeling that was impossibly familiar, something no stranger could ever create.
So this is the result of your wish to the Three Goddesses, Chiya.
What an extraordinary miracle.
"Why do you call yourself Shirayuki?" Kitachi Maito asked, stroking her ears. They were fluffy, soft, and felt wonderful in her hand.
"Because I'm an Uma Musume. I'm not the same as Chiya. He's a trainer."
"So you separated this 'you' from that 'you'?"
"The process was a bit complicated, but yes, we managed it."
"Then where is Chiya?"
"He went to the cafeteria with Dad... And Mom, can you put me down already?"
From the beginning, Fujiwara Shirayuki had been held in her arms, kneaded and fussed over like a doll. She did not dislike the feeling, but being treated like a child by her parents at this age was still deeply embarrassing.
"To be honest, I've still been thinking about what you said. A body created by the Three Goddesses, Chiya's consciousness, all of that... I still haven't fully sorted it out." Kitachi Maito breathed in Shirayuki's scent. "So I'm confirming whether you really are Chiya."
"Have you confirmed it yet?"
"I have. You're definitely my child."
"Then can you put me down already!?"
"We haven't seen each other in so long. Let your mother look at you properly. Chiya, you've changed so much."
"Of course I have! And my name is Shirayuki, not Chiya. We're two different people."
"I know... But I understand my son Chiya. I don't really understand my daughter Shirayuki. So let your mother get to know you, alright?"
Kitachi Maito smoothed down Shirayuki's hair, and Shirayuki's ears twitched from the ticklish sensation.
"What does it feel like, becoming an Uma Musume? Have you noticed where you differ from being a boy?"
"I have. Uma Musume are basically superhuman. Well, compared to humans, anyway. Compared to other Uma Musume... I don't think my physique is especially outstanding."
"That sort of thing depends on effort after the fact." Kitachi Maito smiled and gently instructed the child who had only recently become an Uma Musume. "Actually, before I retired, I was a pretty amazing Uma Musume. So if you ever have trouble, you can come to me."
"Really? How amazing?"
"Probably a little more amazing than you're imagining."
"Did you ever win a G1 race?"
"Of course."
Fujiwara Shirayuki's eyes widened.
It was the first time she had ever learned that her mother had G1 victories as an Uma Musume. Shirayuki had always known that her father was a trainer and her mother was an Uma Musume, but beyond that, she knew almost nothing. Her parents had never told her which runners her father had trained, nor what races her mother had run in.
Then again, Shirayuki had never asked.
To suddenly find out that her mother had once been a G1-winning Uma Musume shocked her.
In that case, didn't that mean her family should count as some kind of distinguished lineage? Then why had their household always looked so plain and broke?
"Yuki-chan—"
While the mother and daughter were talking, Grass Wonder came jogging over, calling Shirayuki's name.
She had thought Shirayuki was still beside her. She had been chattering away on her own for quite a while before realizing she had not gotten any response, and only then had Grass Wonder noticed that Shirayuki was long gone.
After looking around, she found Fujiwara Shirayuki by the flowerbed, along with a stunning, ageless-looking woman holding Shirayuki in her arms.
"G-Grass?"
"Yuki-chan, why did you run off over here?"
"Sorry, I forgot to tell you. I had... special circumstances."
And those special circumstances must be...?
"Nice to meet you. I'm this child's mother. Shirayuki is always in your care at Tracen." Kitachi Maito smiled with the serene dignity of a queen addressing her court.
Just as I thought. Someone who can hold Shirayuki like this can't be ordinary. Grass Wonder had originally assumed she was an older sister, since the woman looked so young, but she had not expected her to be Shirayuki's mother.
Good thing I didn't do anything rude.
Placing her hands neatly in front of her, Grass Wonder gave her most gentle, ladylike smile. "Nice to meet you, ma'am. I'm Shirayuki's best friend, and I'm the one who's usually being taken care of by Shirayuki at Tracen."
As she spoke, Grass Wonder subtly put emphasis on the word best.
"Yes, I watched the race between the two of you. It was an intense contest. If Shirayuki has a friend like Grass, then I imagine her future races will be very meaningful."
"Of course, ma'am. It's an honor for me to race Yuki-chan. From now on, I'll keep taking care of Yuki-chan." Grass Wonder this time placed subtle emphasis on from now on.
"Oh, and ma'am, is this your first time visiting the school?"
"I came a couple of times a very long time ago."
"I see. Then if you don't mind, would you allow me to show you around? Tracen has been expanded several times since then, so it should look completely different from what you remember."
Grass Wonder made the invitation with impeccable grace.
"That's too much trouble for you, child."
"Not at all." Grass Wonder bowed lightly. "You are Yuki-chan's mother, so I will treat you as family as well. Please come with me, ma'am."
After that perfect introduction, Grass Wonder began showing Kitachi Maito around the school, while Shirayuki followed behind them.
After a short while, Kitachi Maito quietly drifted over to Shirayuki's side and whispered in her ear, "Shirayuki, what do you think of Grass Wonder?"
"..."
Huh?
Meanwhile, Special Week, fresh off her own victory, ran into the stands looking for her friend.
"Special Week, congratulations on your win. It was a wonderful race."
"Suzuka, where's Shirayuki!?"
"Eh? I don't know. She's not over here. Maybe she's somewhere else..."
"What!? That damn Grass Wonder." Special Week clenched her fists. "I didn't hear Shirayuki cheering for me, so Grass must have dragged her away! I'm never forgiving her for this!"
With that, Special Week turned and sprinted out of the stands.
"Special Week?"
Silence Suzuka reached out a hand, but Special Week was already gone.
I was cheering for you just now too...
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A/n: Can someone help me verify whether Kitachi Maito is an OC character or if it is based on a horse cause the name sounds like a horse's name. Either that or this is a case of Tokino Minoru and Tazuna and her real name is not revealed yet.