Chapter Text
Umamusume.
They are born to run.
They inherit the names of racers from another world, whose histories were sometimes tragic and sometimes wonderful, and run ever forward. That is their fate.
No one knows how the races waiting in the futures of these Umamusume will end. But they will continue to run, aiming only toward the goal in front of them.
… or at least, that’s what should be the case.
The alarm on her bedside went off, rousing Oguri Cap from her slumber, her body covered in her heavy, comfortable blankets. It didn’t take much effort to get up; she was more than used to having to function at much earlier times than this. In fact, she would have set her alarm much earlier if it weren’t for Roppei being firm about it.
They had gone to the doctor’s after Oguri’s race at the Nakayama Kinen yesterday, her trainer and Belno still concerned for her health. The physician on hand couldn’t see anything wrong, which was good, but Roppei wanted to be safe and forbade the Ashen Beast from training for the next few days. She wanted to protest against it, but she trusted her trainer more than anything. He was the one who helped see her through all her races last year, along with Belno’s amazing help. If he wanted her to take it easy for the time being, she would.
She instinctively turned her head to the left, expecting to see her roommate, only to be greeted by disheveled blankets and an empty bed. It clicked for her rather effortlessly, where she could be. More than likely, she was out training on her own, either that or heading over to Tracen, seeing as classes were about to start soon.
With that in mind, she should start getting ready. If she stalled any longer, she would end up late to class. Pulling the covers off herself, Oguri stumbled towards her dresser, fishing out one of her many neatly laid-out school uniforms and laying it out atop the nearby desk. Heading into her restroom, she made quick work to comb her bed hair straight and brush her teeth. Admittedly, her roommate usually helped comb her hair, given how thick it was, but it wasn’t anything earth-shattering.
Her thoughts did begin to stir, however, as she stood alone in the dorm room she had come to know and love. Thoughts about her race were still ever-present on her mind, even after having gotten more than enough sleep.
Oguri Cap loved to run, more than anything. The wind in her hair, her feet stomping on and pushing off the ground, the thrill of leaning into the speed, and the fact that she could even do it to begin with.
But ever since she began her journey in nationals, and since she began attending Tracen, her races have become more than simply feeling the rush of running. She no longer felt isolated, whether she was training with her friends or pushing against her rivals. In Tokyo, she wasn’t just running ahead; She was running to stay ahead, no matter what. The eyes of her opponents behind her, the pressure she put on those ahead of her, and the sound of her own heartbeat in her ears. Without that, without the competition, the drive from her opponents to win, running just wasn’t as satisfying. She loved to run regardless, of course, but the Ashen Beast’s life had forever changed when she finally understood what made Nationals so special.
And it was because of that fact that she couldn’t help but feel a pit in her stomach.
It had only been one race, only two months after her Arima Kinen victory. By all accounts, she should’ve felt as fresh as a daisy; her brief return to running should’ve made her ecstatic. But that feeling of isolation, of being all alone on the track, that no matter where she was, no eyes rested on her back.
It had only been one race.
It only lasted a few minutes.
And she couldn't help but feel–
Ogrui stirred as her alarm went off, almost dropping her toothbrush into the sink below. She couldn't help but lean down, spitting the toothpaste out as quickly as she could, rinsing water through her mouth as she shook her head.
Her eyes closed, she took time to let herself breathe, free from her mind spiraling into a free fall. It was hard to believe something like this could get to her this much.
As she let the water and toothpaste run into the drain, she cupped her hands together, gathering the water in her palms, leaning in to splash herself in the face. And then again, and again, and again.
Oguri looked up at herself, her reflection. And her reflection stared back, eyes resolute, water dripping from her hair and nose. She wasn’t going to let this get to her, at least to this level. She had proven her strength time and time again, and she was determined to continue doing so.
The Ashen Beast left her restroom, dressing herself in the uniform she had laid out earlier, before facing the door ahead of her.
And walking out to greet a new day at Tokyo Tracen Academy.
“You know… I never thought I’d say this, but– I don’t think I’ve ever seen ‘ya eat this much, Oguri.”
The Ashen Beast leaned to the left of her mountain of tempura plate to look at her friend, Dicta Striker, seeing a perplexed look on her face. She wanted to speak up, but her mouth was still chock full of the fried shrimp and vegetables. Swallowing as much as she could, she set her plate to the side before addressing her friend. “Have I? It doesn’t feel abnormal…”
Dicta scoffed in surprise. “You’ve had, like, seven mountains of food! Normally, for you, I guess that’s not much, but it’s only been 10 minutes!”
Oguri blinked, looking at one of the many clocks on the nearby wall for reference. Sure enough, it had only been about 10 minutes since she had started eating with Dicta and Super Creek, who were sitting to the Beast’s right. She could really only muster up a quiet, “Oh,” before grabbing another bite with her chopsticks and putting it in her mouth. Dicta could only continue to stare perplexed, unsure of what to say, as Creek tried to continue the conversation.
“What Dicta-san means is, we’re just a bit worried. I know it’s normal for you, but at this pace you’re likely to get a stomach ache.” Her words of concern broke through to Oguri, as she stopped before reaching for another bite to look at her considerate friend. Not wanting to trouble the two of them, she put down her chopsticks as she slightly pushed the dish away, despite wanting to continue eating. Content, Creek let out a sigh of relief before continuing. “Is everything alright, Oguri-san? I wouldn’t want to pry, of course, but you’ve seemed rather spacey today.”
“Yeah, now that I think about it,” Dicta chimed in, leaning back in her chair as a realization struck her from Creek’s words, “You have been a bit off today. It’s not as bad by comparison, but the last time I saw you like this was after you raced in the Japan Cup. Everything alright?”
Oguri could hear the sounds of students passing and clamoring around her, the cafeteria murmuring ringing in her ears as she thought about how to respond. It wasn’t like she was trying to hide anything, more that putting it into words was difficult for her. “It’s nothing much,” She opened with, leaning forward onto her propped-up hand on the table. “I’ve just had, uhm… a weird couple of days, I guess? Eating helps me clear my head, so I thought this would help some. Sorry, I guess I got carried away.”
“Geez,” Dicta scoffed, letting out a sigh, “Don’t apologize for that, it’s not that big a deal. I just don’t wanna lose my appetite over seeing you all sick from eating too much.”
Creek couldn’t help but chuckle, relieved their table had recovered from the Beast’s almost frantic-seeming eating. But amidst the calm, her ears perked up, her eyes scanning the area around them. “... Weren’t there more people around us earlier? Where did everyone go?”
Creek’s realization perked up Oguri’s ears in turn, as she surveyed the area out of curiosity. Facing the southern wall from where they were sitting, it didn’t take long for her to realize what had gotten everyone’s attention. On the other side of the room, she saw countless umamusume flocking towards one of the many TVs in the cafeteria. The small crowd grew larger as more realized something was happening.
It didn’t take long to see what that something was.
On the screen ahead of her was a live press conference. She recognized it almost instantly, having been on a similar stand before when she first stood side by side with one Tamamo Cross. And the one holding the conference struck a chord with her as well, someone she had raced and won against in the Mainichi Okan months prior. She was hard to forget: her energy and confidence before the race, her tenacity on the field, her pure, raw, unfiltered prowess. But even far away from the screen, Oguri could see what she was feeling, something that didn’t fit her at all—a sense of defeat.
Sirius Symboli.
Just like everyone else, Oguri felt herself stand without thinking, her chopsticks dropping to the floor as she made her way towards the TV. She could hear Creek and Dicta calling after her briefly, before they both realized what was happening on the screen. She was sure their reactions quickly began to mirror hers, as she found herself standing amongst the crowd, gazing at the screen ahead.
The look on Sirius’ face– it was one the Beast had come to know well at this point. She just couldn’t understand why, of all umamusume, it was this prideful star that bore the same feeling as…
As…
Oguri could only feel her heart sink as she listened intently.
“Why the sudden decision, seeing as you just returned from the UK?”
“Have you suffered from some kind of major injury?”
“Are you potentially taking time to focus solely on training?”
Question after question from the surrounding reporters flooded the audio, each clamoring to understand the reason behind Sirius’s press conference. Oguri watched as she remained silent, almost as if shaken by how chaotic the queries had become. But as they all quieted down, waiting for any kind of response, she slowly raised her head to face the camera directly. It didn’t feel like she was looking at anyone in the crowd; it almost felt as if she was staring at any viewer watching the stream.
No. She wasn’t looking at just anyone. She was looking at someone, as if this whole thing was for them, her answers and words simply a letter for the recipient.
“I believe I’ve been quite clear already about this,” she stated, her prideful and arrogant energy from when the two had previously clashed missing from her voice. “As of this moment, I, Sirius Symboli, will be taking an indefinite leave from the racing scene. That’s all there is to it.”
“But why?!” A female reporter shouted from across the room, fast and loud enough to capture the attention of the other reporters and Sirius herself. “You have such a promising career! Can you at least give us a reason?!”
The cameras' shutters faded into silence, and murmurs from the crowd surrounding the TV slowly rose in volume, if only slightly.
She didn’t know her well at all, at least not as well as others. Oguri had only raced Sirius once, their paths diverging from that point. But that race had told so much about her, about her pride and determination to persevere no matter what. These words, they couldn’t be from her; they couldn’t be from the same girl she fought hard against in the Mainichi Okan. Even though they had barely spoken outside of the race, Oguri couldn’t help but hope she would take it all back in the next few seconds. She hoped that she hadn’t become the same as–
“I don’t know.”
Her words rang loud through the cafeteria hall.
All that filled the air was silence, and the voice of Sirius Symboli.
“I just don’t feel like trying anymore.”
And without a word, the once prideful star turned and left the press conference.
Oguri Cap stared up at the ceiling as she lay back on her cushiony mattress, her mind wandering. Normally, by now, she would be out training with Belno and Roppei, running her heart out as much as she wanted to. She wasn’t used to coming home this early, not when she could still see the sun outside, slowly setting into the distance. It wouldn’t really be all that bad normally; it’s not like she injured herself. In reality, the problem was that she was alone with her thoughts.
She was alone with her thoughts of them.
She was alone with the thoughts of the umamusume she raced against.
She was alone with the thoughts of Sirius Symboli.
No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried, Oguri Cap couldn’t stop thinking about any of them. The feelings they gave her, the looks on their faces seared into her memory, their voices and breaths drained of any strength.
Oguri was strong; she knew this. She had her faults– she was airheaded, gluttonous, and she wasn’t the best with words. But she also knew her strengths, her ability to persevere and look forward, her literal strength on the track, and her sociability. Oguri knew herself well, and she knew that barely anything scared her.
But this was something else. For once, as her thoughts began racing through her mind, Oguri could feel her heart pound in her chest. More than that, it felt light, as if a cold breeze was blowing straight through her– inside of her. Her eyes became irritated, a lack of blinking leaving them dry as could be. Her breathing, though controlled, became audible as she did all she could to keep it steady. She couldn’t understand why, but–
“Oi’, Ogurin!”
That voice...
Whatever built-up anxiety seemed to fade instantly upon hearing it, a long, calm breath escaping the Beast’s lips. She felt her strength return to her as she sat up effortlessly to look towards the door. Relief quickly took hold as she saw who it was.
That’s right, the reason she was absent all day was to see him in the hospital.
Standing before Oguri with a slight scowl on her face and hand on her hips was the Beast’s former rival, and now, full-time roommate.
Tamamo Cross.
“Geez,” she sighed, rubbing her free hand against the back of her head, slouching forward. “I ain’t used to seein ya’ back so soon, ya’ scared me. Especially layin’ all silent the way ya’ were a second ago… What’re ya’ doin in here instead of out there?”
Oguri let out a chuckle as she rubbed the back of her head. “Roppei wanted me to rest today, that’s all, given what happened out on the track yesterday. That includes my usual training.”
“Ah, yeah, that’d do it. “Tama responded, walking over as she collapsed on the bed opposite the Beast’s. “Ya’ scared the hell outta me when ya’ just collapsed like that, ya’ know. Seriously, don’ gimme a heart attack like that, ya’ hear?”
Oguri’s ears drooped, her gaze becoming downcast. That’s right, Tama was there watching her race in the Nakayama Kinen yesterday; She wanted to witness the first race of her senior year. She likely would’ve dashed out to Oguri the moment she collapsed if it weren’t for the paramedics already swarming her likely unconscious body. “S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to–”
“Oi, I’m just teasin’ ya’!” Tama interrupted, crossing her legs as she leaned back slightly into her bed. “I know it wasn’t your fault ya’ collapsed like that, I’m just glad it turned out bein’ nothin’.” Silence filled the room as Oguri sat there, her view still downcast. It didn’t take long before she heard her friend’s footsteps approaching her. “... For real, everythin’ okay? I know not runnin’ for a day isn’t ideal, but ya’ don’ look too good, Ogurin.”
The ashen-haired girl looked back up to see Tama sitting next to her on the bedside, a look of concern on her face. She was already feeling better now that her friend was home, but she’d be lying if she said the sinking feeling in her chest was completely gone.
“I’ve just had a bit of a weird day, honestly,” Oguri started, trying to find the right words. “I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s on the tip of my tongue, but I just…” The sinking feeling turned into frustration as she balled up her fists, trying to think of how to explain. “... Admittedly, I was looking forward to training today. Running helps me clear my head, which would’ve helped. But Roppei called it off to be safe, and it’s not like I blame him. It’s just, now my thoughts are stewing up, and I don’t know how to deal with it.”
Tama sat in silence as she listened to her friend, watching her clench the blankets beneath her. She reached over, wrapping her arm around the beast and catching her by surprise. “Yeah, I think I get it. If ya’ can’t figure out how to explain it, ya’ don’t gotta right now.” She gave her a big grin. “And hey, if ya’ need somethin’ to clear that empty head of yours, how bout I fix us up somethin’ nice to eat! We should have the ingredients for that Bean Sprout Okonomiyaki I made for ya’ a while back–”
The moment she said it, Tama jumped back as the Beast quickly turned in her direction, ears fully perked back up, and tail wagging eagerly. ”Y-You would?! It was so good the last time you made it for me, but you don’t have to if you’re too tired!” Her face clearly contradicted her words, her eyes almost looking as if they were full of stars.
“O-Oi! Geez!” Tama reacted as she tried pushing Oguri’s head away to no avail. “Keep actin’ like this and you’re stayin’ hungry all night, ya’ hear!” She let out a sigh as she stood up, making her way to the door across the room. She looked back at the ashen-haired girl, who was still staring with stars in her eyes and a fiercely wagging tail. “Just try an’ stay in one place, yeah? I’ll bring the dish up here so that ya’ don’ gorge yourself in the kitchen and ruin your appetite.”
Leaving it at that, Tama turned and made her way through the door, leaving Oguri alone once more. Though a part of her still felt uneasy, her friend’s support always lifted her spirits more than anything else.
The ashen-haired girl found herself staring across the room, towards Tama’s bed and wall decorations. Her gaze became fixed, as a smile formed on her face, pleasant memories rushing to the surface once more.
Though she had stopped racing, Tamamo Cross was still a student at Tracen, learning from the same courses as anyone else. After all, it’s not as if Tracen was only for running; There are programs for science, history, and training. It led Oguri to wonder at the time, after she raced in the Arima Kinen, would she leave the academy to chase other heights? Or would she take up a separate program similar to Belno?
She got her answer that same day when she came to her dorm room to find Tama inside, suitcase in hand, surprising them both.
The White Lightning had been living with her trainer, Masami Komiyama, for the majority of her time at Tracen. But upon her retirement from racing, it was her trainer who suggested that she move into the Tracen Dormitory. It was only by pure chance that she ended up in the same room as her famed rival, the Ashen Beast.
Naturally, things were a bit tense at the start, the pair not entirely sure how to interact with one another. But it didn’t take long for Oguri’s enthusiasm to rub off on the cross Tama. It was by becoming roommates that she learned more about her than the Beast ever could’ve realized: her siblings back home, what it was like living with Komiyama, and the ‘old man’ she made regular visits to in the hospital.
Of course, at heart, Tamamo Cross was still Oguri Cap’s rival. Whether she was still racing or not, that would never change. But through the two finally having the chance to bond, she felt more confident than before in calling the streak of Lightning her friend.
As she smiled to herself, however, the sound of their door opening roused Oguri from her reminiscing. Turning in its direction beheld…
“Tama?” Oguri opened, surprised by her friend’s sudden reappearance. “D-Did you forget something?”
“Nah, not that,” Tama replied, holding the door open as opposed to closing it behind her. “Kiseki sent me for ya’ as soon as I made it to the stairs. Apparently, ya’ got someone on the phone for ya’ from Kasamatsu–”
The second those words reached the Beast’s ears, she found herself moving before she could think, rushing past Tama and heading towards the stairs. “O-OI!” She could hear her friend behind her, “You’re gonna blow someone over runnin’ like that!” She’ll have to apologize later.
Kasamatsu.
It had been a bit since she last called her old friends, or Kitahara. It wasn’t like she was avoiding it; More so, she just couldn’t find a good enough time to. They did call to congratulate her on her win at the Arima Kinen, but that was roughly two months ago. The idea of being able to talk with them again after so long filled Oguri’s aching heart with excitement.
Making her way through their hall, Oguri quickly approached Fuji Kiseki, who was standing in front of their telephone. With a smile, she handed it off to the ashen-haired girl before making her way elsewhere. Quickly, she put the phone up to her ear, curiosity pulling at her as to who it could be. “Hello?”
…
“Oguri? Is that you?”
That voice...!
“March!” Oguri exclaimed, tail wagging furiously. Hearing the voice of her first rival, the one to help her understand what peak she wanted to reach, continued to lift her spirits even higher. She could hear a chuckle from the other side of the phone.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” March opened, “Someone sounds rather cheerful today.”
Oguri couldn’t help but laugh in response. “Honestly, it’s been a bit rough today…” She admitted, ears drooping slightly, “But, hearing your voice again helps! Are you well at all?”
“I should be the one asking you that,” March responded. Even though she couldn’t see her physically, Oguri could see in her mind’s eye the way March was standing. Back against the wall, arms crossed, a confident smile stretched across her face. “Do you have any idea how much of a scare you gave us in that last race of yours?”
“A-Ah–” It was clicking now; they must’ve seen her faint on television after the Nakayama Kinen. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry any of you.”
“Don’t be, it’s alright,” March responded. Oguri could sense her smile transforming from confident to gentle. “I’m just glad to hear you so energetic. I’m relieved.”
Oguri couldn’t help but smile. Even from what felt so far away, March was always there for her when she needed it. The advice she shared was always something the Beast could take to heart; her shoulder was always one the Beast could lean on. She couldn’t help but feel a question on the tip of her tongue as she spoke into the phone. “What about you, March? How have your races been?”
…
There was a brief silence, almost like the question had caught March off guard.
“Well, I’ve entered many since our last talk.” She began, “I even got revenge on the one who bested me in the Tokai Derby.”
“Wow! That’s great!” Oguri responded, excited to hear more about her friend’s races.
…
But the silence echoed again, as if something was holding the other back. It lasted for one second, then five, then ten, each echoing on longer than the last. Oguri was about to break the silence, worried the call might have been cut, when–
“If I can be honest,” March opened, “This is the reason why I called you. It didn’t feel right making this decision without letting you know first, considering… everything.”
This… This tone of voice…
“March? Is everything okay?” Oguri asked, her tail freezing in its place. “What about the rest of your races? How have those gone?”
…
“3rd.” March stated blankly, without any elaboration, pausing just for a second before continuing. “3rd, 5th, 4th, 7th… 11th. I pushed myself as much as I could, pushed myself to catch up to you again, but… No matter what I do, I can’t.”
Oguri remained silent, taking in March’s words one by one, processing their meanings, their truths. She was never great with reading others; social cues often flew right over her head. But at this moment, she found herself paying more attention than she had recently. But it wasn’t because she didn’t understand what she was saying– it was because she did.
“I’ve given it some thought, and… I think I’m going to stop–”
“You can’t!” Oguri screamed out, louder than she had all week, catching March off guard. It was likely enough to carry through the halls. She didn’t care much to worry about it. She didn’t want to hear her first rival like this… “Y-You said you wanted to race longer than me, right?!” March had brought up this idea before; maybe she could dissuade her just like she did then.
“Oguri…”
“S-Sure, things might be tough, but it’s like I said last time! If you quit now, you’d just be letting me win, right?!” So-”
“Oguri–”
“We promised each other to race longer than the other, r-right?! You can’t quit, March, you just can’t! I know if you keep pushing forward, you can–”
“Oguri!”
March’s commanding voice brought bitter silence, and Oguri flinched from its intensity. It was enough to put the Beast in its place, preventing her from trying to continue.
“... Trainer convinced me to hold off from making anything official and just taking a break for the moment, but I’ve already made up my mind. I’ll be making an official announcement whenever I’m able to.”
Oguri’s breathing became ragged, her heart sinking to the bottom of her endless chest. Thoughts were rushing left and right: Did she do something wrong? Was there anyone influencing March’s decision? Was she really going to let things end like this? Why did she sound so much like…
But above them all, only one question managed to escape her lips as she slowly descended into a spiral.
“I don’t understand… Why...?”
The silence in response was deafening. Oguri could hear as her heart pounded in her ears, sweat dripping from her forehead, eyes fidgeting and shaking left and right. It was as if she were at her limit on the race track, pushing herself too far before collapsing.
She was terrified, her words caught in her throat, suddenly unable to breathe in the suspense. March couldn’t be like them, she’ll say this was a joke, she’ll say she changed her mind after talking to her, she’ll take everything back, she won’t be like them, she–
“I don’t know.”
Her words rang loud through the Beast’s ears.
All that filled the air was silence, and the voice of Fujimasa March.
“I just don’t feel like trying anymore.”
Oguri’s mind blanked, her body froze, her voice stalled. Nothing else seemed to matter; nothing else seemed important to worry about. She could only manage to stand in disbelief, unable to find anything to say to her friend. And the moment she realized that, her heart sank.
“I won’t be able to fulfill our promise anymore, Oguri… And I wanted to call to apologize for that. But, I’m sure you’ll be a much better Uma Musume than I could ever hope to be. I wish you the best from here on.”
It was only then that her voice came back to her. “N-No, wait! March–!”
But there was no one left on the other side to hear her pleas. All that was there was Oguri and a soulless machine. Fujimasa March had hung up before Oguri could even speak.
Leaving the Beast all alone within the Dormitory Halls.