Chapter Text
Feburuary 14th
A day to express ourselves with all kinds of emotions—whether unspoken feelings or everlasting gratitude. Everything is given and exchanged through the finest, bittersweet fragrance of love. Here at Tracen Academy, today is no exception, for this is the day when the Umamusume share their innermost feelings—whether with their fellow trainers or friends.
But not everyone could feel that way.
A young man in a neatly pressed white shirt and black jeans sat alone on one of the public benches by the entrance. At first glance, anyone could tell he was a trainer. But a closer look revealed something different—restlessness etched into his posture, his features tightened into a deep, thunderous frown. Some might even say his glare could kill. It was the complete opposite of the dignified, calm, and professional image most trainers of Tracen were known for.
That “false” image earned him yet another round of wary glances from passersby. Still, he paid them no mind. It had always been this way. Since the beginning, people had feared and avoided him because of his expression. By now, those looks were nothing more than routine—just another part of his everyday life.
“Dammit, where is she? It’s already an hour late by now.”
The trainer finally speak something, but a with soft tone that give him just enough volume for himself to hear. Some passerby could say he is about to murder someone from his murmuring, but others speculate that he might just be anxious about something—
Or rather, someone.
But then, that someone got his attention. A red sport car coming at a distance, the roaring engine and its sheer speed still make it enough to draw any curious onlookers to their sights.
It was speeding toward the academy entrance, fast enough to make most students instinctively dash for the gates and rush inside. Yet the trainer stood his ground, unmoving. He seemed to know exactly who the so-called “reckless” driver was.
She stepped on the brakes and drifted smoothly into an empty parking slot nearby, showcasing her masterful cornering skills. At last, the red steel beast came to a halt. The thunderous roar of the engine faded away, and the driver slowly revealed themselves as she stepped out of the car.
“Ah, I made it!”
The driver hopped out and stretched briskly, one hand slipping behind her head as if she hadn’t a single worry right now.
Or that’s what she thought.
“MA…RU…ZEN…SKY!”
The voice came from behind, slowly calling her name.
It was enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine.
Low and heavy, the sound carried an eerie weight — almost inhuman, like something dragged up from the depths rather than spoken by a person. There was a dark, ominous edge to it, a tone that felt less like a call and more like a warning.
As if danger itself was standing right behind her, ready to strike at any moment.
“Oh h..hello Trainer. What are you doing here?”
“Don’t ‘what are you doing here’ with me!” He raised his voice— “You know why I am here! Where have you been and it is already an hour late for our practice, you know?” then gradually lower his voice back to a softer, yet concerning tone for her.
“I’m sorry, Trainer. I truly am.” Her ears drooped, showing the genuine remorse in her voice. “But—” her tone lifted again, firmer this time, “I have to do this now. It’s important to me… so please, try to understand.” Her eyes shimmered, no longer apologetic, but burning with quiet determination.
He had known Maruzensky long enough to understand one simple truth: once she set her heart on something, there was no changing her mind—even if it meant accepting the disadvantage that came with it.
“Alright.” He sighed, thus accepting her reasons. “Still, I know this is important for you so I won’t pry but please at least contact me if you are running late. You have a phone right?” he asked.
“Well, about that…” Maruzensky slipped back into her usual cheerful tone, though her fingers fidgeted nervously as she braced herself to confess. “There was this really trendy TV series on the Sunday marathon. It was so good that I couldn’t stop binge-watching it, and…”
Her voice gradually grew softer. “So I might have forgot to charge my phone.”
She kept twisting her fingers together, lowering her head mid-sentence, doing her best to downplay the real reason behind her late arrival that morning.
“Wait so when you went back to your bed, you could at least check on your phone right?” He asked again.
“Ahaha…” She didn’t respond to that question, only give him back her usual awkward laugh.
“Wait don’t tell me you fell asleep on your couch!?”
“Eeeh!” she squealed, her voice high-pitched and unexpectedly cute. “H-How did you know? I haven’t even said anything yet!”
“Because you make it painfully obvious,” he shot back. Then his expression tightened. “Look, I know you live alone and you’re not bound by the academy’s night curfew—but that doesn’t mean you can be careless about your routine, alright?” His voice rose without meaning to, worry spilling out as frustration.
“I’m sorry…” Maruzensky murmured, shrinking back into her earlier apologetic state.
He exhaled and softened. “No— I’m the one who should apologize for shouting.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I called you, but you didn’t answer. So I went to your place. Your neighbors said you’d already left, so I figured you’d be here by the time I came back.”
She blinked. “Oh, you were worried about me?”
“Of course I was. Training can wait—we can do that anytime. But what if something had happened to you and I wasn’t there to help?”
Her voice turned small. “You mean that?”
He met her eyes, firm but gentle. “Of course. I’m saying this not just as your trainer… but as your friend. I want us to stay safe—and to keep having fun together, that is the most important part about racing, right?”
“Hehe, you really are something else, Trainer. And such a sweetheart too~” Her eyes brighten up.
“Please don’t tease me.” Still trying his best to stay firm without getting flustered.
“I wasn’t planning to, but you are so cute when you are flustered~” But she already noticed that so she keep giving him her biggest grin.
“Alright, alright. C’mon, let’s do some training. Since you didn’t get enough sleep last night, I figured we’d keep it light today. I can call Spe to join us too, if you want.” He cut the topic short.
“Aww, that’s no fun~ I’m still feelin’ groovy today.”
“No, I can’t allow that. Your health comes first.”
“You’re always such a worrywart, Trainer. But thank you for always looking out for me.” A tease then an unexpected moment of gratitude.
He didn’t respond—not because he was still upset with her, but because of the strange sensation tightening in his chest. Every word she said, every playful tease, every note of gratitude—each one made his heart flutter and filled him with a quiet warmth he didn’t quite know how to handle.
“What is on the menu today, Trainer?” Maruzensky asked.
“Let’s see, how about—”
They started to walk side by side, chatting on with their everyday routine and teasing each other as usual until they vanished out of sight into the building.
The late afternoon sun washed the track in gold as the two of them lingered by the benches. The air had cooled, and the noise of the academy felt distant now.
Maruzensky stretched her arms above her head with a satisfied sigh. “That was fun.”
“Great work today.” A short remark to compliment her efforts.
She smiled — softer this time. “Thank you. So how did I do today?”
“Let’s see… 3 seconds less than your usual record.” He paused for a while, flipping through his notes and check through her previous training records to compare her results for today. “Even if you are not in your tip-top shape for today, you still manage to stay almost perfect as usual. Very impressive.” He continued.
“Really? Oh well, I’ve had my fun. Wouldn’t want to overdo it and make a certain someone worry about me~”
“Ha ha, very funny.” He didn’t look back at her, only give her a half-hearted respond back to her tease.
She didn’t press further, only smiled at him back and for a while, neither of them spoke.
The cool breeze of the late afternoon brushed gently against their skin, carrying with it the lingering warmth of the day. The sky had turned a vivid crimson, the last stretch of sunlight spilling across the track in soft, fading gold. In that fleeting hour between day and night, the world felt distant — leaving the two of them in a rare moment of quiet solitude.
But instead of savoring it, Maruzensky found her gaze drifting toward him.
He was still focused on his notes, brows slightly knit in concentration as he flipped through the pages, making sure everything from the day was properly recorded. Diligent. Reliable. Always looking out for her.
At all times, he made her feel like home — a place where she could be completely herself. Around him, she could laugh freely, tease without restraint, speak every thought that crossed her mind without fear of being misunderstood.
And yet…
Something was holding her back.
What is this feeling?
Why am I so nervous around him? That’s not like me.
Her chest tightened.
A faint restlessness crept under her skin. Every instinct urged her forward — to gather her courage, to choose her words carefully, to make every sentence count. Because somewhere deep down, she knew… this wasn’t something she could afford to say lightly.
She might not get another chance.
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
Then—
“By the way, Trainer… are you free after this?” She gathers her courage, speaking as calm and confident as she can.
Too focused on his notes, he almost didn’t hear her. Her voice pulled him back to reality.
“...You mean after today’s training? What’s with the sudden invitation?”
“Well… I need help carrying some boxes again. So… ehehe.”
“…You’re hopeless.”
She looked up at him with puppy-like eyes. “Is that a ‘no’?”
“I never said that. Besides, I don’t intend to abandon a lady in need.” He delivered the line with a poorly disguised attempt at humor.
“You really don’t know how to say no, Trainer. Hehe, that’s why you’re so cute.~”
She flashed him a radiant smile, her ears twitching and her tail swishing behind her with barely contained excitement.
“Well then, it’s a date!”
“Sure,” he replied, unable to hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. “Looking forward to it.”
She clasped her hands together, rocking slightly on her heels.
“And… one more tiny, teensy favor? Please?”
“What is it?” He answers almost immediately.
“Can you bring your game console today?”
“Hm? I guess I can bring it there, did you got a new game you want to try?” His voice raised, clearly surprised.
The trainer almost bewildered at her request. Maruzensky and “video game” are not something can be in the same sentence.
The last time he took her to the arcade and tried one of the racing games, she was convinced if she can drive a fast sportscar, she can ace the game.
But the harsh reality shown to him that she cannot handle the total pace and always got her car crashed into the walls in the most comical ways and soon enough, she totally down the dumps after that day.
Looking back, it was hilarious to watch and kind of cute in a way.
“Yes, um…something like that.” Maruzensky replied, clearly flustered.
“Are you sure though…? If you want I can bring some more games from my place, I will try to find anything that both of us can enjoy.”
“Um…yes, that will be lovely. Thank you.”
She looks nervous, is this about a new trendy game that she wanted to get into for her “lovely” juniors? He thought.
“Alright then. When do you want us to meet?”
“Huh—?!” She jolted slightly. His sudden question snapped her out of her thoughts. “Um…”
She lifted her index finger to her chin, pausing as if calculating something very serious.
“I guess… 7:30 should be fine.”
“That late?” He tilted his head slightly. “Do you still need to wrap up that thing from this morning? If you want, I can help with whatever’s left.” He smiled.
“Eh?”
Her eyes lit up again.
Without realizing it, her gaze shifted toward him — and she froze, caught off guard by his offer. She had known him long enough to understand that he would never refuse her requests. Still, he never failed to surprise her.
He always put her first.
So much so that he often forgot about himself.
And it wasn’t just because he was her trainer. It wasn’t duty.
It was something gentler. Something warmer. Something that made her heart feel unbearably tight.
“—Maru? Hello? Earth to Maru?”
She blinked.
Lost in her own thoughts again, she hadn’t noticed him calling her. But what made her heart skip wasn’t the teasing tone—
It was the name.
He had said it so naturally. So unconsciously.
She still remembered the day he had unintentionally called her that name.
It had slipped out during one of his absentminded mutterings after training. He hadn’t even realized he’d said it aloud — but she had heard it clearly.
“Maru.”
The moment he noticed what he’d done, he practically short-circuited. His face turned red in an instant, words stumbling over themselves as he apologized over and over again, flustered beyond belief.
Usually, she didn’t allow many people to call her by a shortened name. Only a select few she truly adored and trusted were allowed that privilege. Most simply called her “Maruzen” as a nickname, and that was more than enough.
But—
Maru.
It was the first time she had heard her name shortened like that.
She had been surprised, yes.
Yet she didn’t dislike it.
If anything, it felt… warm. Closer than she expected. The sound of it, spoken in his voice, settled somewhere deep in her chest — soft and familiar, like something meant only for her. And for a fleeting moment, she had felt as if she were walking on the nine clouds.
[...]
“I—I’m sorry, Maruzensky! I didn’t mean to call you that!”
“Eh!? Um… it’s alright.”
She paused, turning the name over in her mind as if trying to see how it got to her.
“Trainer…?”
“Yes?”
“Could you… could you call me that again?”
“Huh?”
“The name you called me earlier.”
He immediately raised both hands to cover his face, as though shielding himself from something dangerous.
“M… Maru…”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Hmm… I don’t think I dislike it.”
“What do you mean?”
He peeked through his fingers, clearly mortified.
“Ah, no—I was just surprised, that’s all. To think this is the first time someone has called me that… it’s a little exciting.”
“I don’t think ‘exciting’ is the right word here…”
She stepped a little closer, her smile soft but mischievous.
“How about this, Trainer? Could you call me that from now on?”
“What? Why!?”
“Why? Isn’t calling my full name all the time tiring for you?”
“No. I’ve never thought that. Your name is beautiful just the way it is.”
She blinked, then laughed lightly.
“You sure have a way with words. But flattery alone won’t get you anywhere, my dear Trainer~”
He groaned quietly.
“Why do you keep insisting? Most of your friends already call you ‘Maruzen.’ So why does it have to be me—and an even shorter version at that?”
Her teasing expression softened.
“…Because you’re not them, Trainer.”
He fell silent.
“You’re special~. And isn’t it trendy to give nicknames to the people you’re close to? Besides… we’re not strangers anymore. Let’s say this is our own little way of bonding. Something just for us. Outside of training.”
The air between them shifted — lighter, but warmer.
“…Alright,” he finally said. “But on one condition.”
“Pray tell~”
“We keep it private. I might actually die of embarrassment if someone else hears it.”
She laughed, bright and genuine.
“Ahaha, Trainer. You really are adorable, you know that? Fine. I accept your terms and conditions~”
He lowered his hands slowly, still flustered but smiling despite himself.
“I guess… that settles it.”
He took a small breath, as if bracing himself.
“Then let’s take even better care of each other from now on… Maru.”
For once, she didn’t tease him.
She just smiled — softer than before — and let the name linger between them like a promise.
[…]
“Ah no, I can take care of it myself. Thank you.”
He studied her face for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to press further. Then, as always, he chose the gentler path.
“…If you say so. But still, if anything happened, make sure to call me, okay?”
“Will do~” she replied with a smile.
The conversation faded, leaving only the quiet sounds of the late afternoon. Papers rustled as he returned to organizing his notes. The wind carried the faint scent of sun-warmed grass across the nearly empty track.
Maruzensky remained where she was.
Her gaze lingered on him again.
The way his shoulders relaxed when he worked. The way he occasionally tapped his pen against the clipboard when thinking. The quiet focus in his eyes, so familiar to her now that it felt like part of her daily rhythm.
This is dangerous, she thought.
Because the more she watched him, the harder it became to look away.
Her fingers curled lightly against her palm.
“Thank you.” She whispered to the final twilight before it fades completely away.
The night had fallen, but the streets were brighter than ever. Artificial lights were everywhere, illuminating the busy pathways for people going about their lives. Maybe they were heading to their next job, maybe they were returning home — alone or with their families.
But something felt different than usual.
There seemed to be more people on the streets than normal. Most of them were young couples, walking side by side with their hands held together, chatting as if the rest of the world no longer existed — their attention fixed only on each other.
“Oh… right. Today is Valentine’s Day.”
Buried in work and worries for a certain reckless girl, the Trainer had almost forgotten about the annual “lovefest.” Normally, he would rush through the streets as quickly as possible to get home. But this time, curiosity got the better of him, and he slowed his pace to take in the scenery around him.
Vendors, gift shops, and bakeries all seemed to be running special discounts. Display windows were filled with heart-shaped treats in all kinds of flavors, prepared specifically for the occasion.
Then, he stopped.
“Buy two sponge tiramisu chocolate cakes and get a chance to win one of our custom-made accessories for your loved ones!”
He stood there for a moment, staring at the large promotional sign placed neatly between the bakery and the gift shop.
“Maybe they’re running some kind of collaboration…” he murmured.
“Yes, we are!” A girl in a white bakery staff uniform smiled at him.
Where did she come from!?
He almost jumped at her sudden appearance, but he quickly composed himself, doing his best not to show any reaction.
“We’re running a very special campaign to celebrate the lovey-dovey spirit of Valentine’s Day. We might even help you get closer to a certain someone. And you, sir — you look like someone who needs a little closure with your significant other!” she said, pointing right at him.
“Um… sure?” he replied, confused and unsure of how to respond.
The bold-spirited staff member had made a rather intrusive remark.
But she wasn’t entirely wrong, either.
‘Closure with your significant other,’ huh? It’s not like I have someone like that—
Or maybe…
No, I shouldn’t—
“So, what do you say? Would you like to try your luck with one of the hottest deals this love season?” the clerk pressed, interrupting his train of thought.
More like the hottest scam… he thought. But those sponge cakes do look good. And that ‘trendy gal’ would probably love them.
Alright, then—
“Sure. Why not?” he answered with a half-hearted nod.
The clerk led him into the store. Inside, all kinds of Valentine-themed pastries were displayed neatly in glass cases. A line of customers had already formed at the counter, where orders were being taken.
He moved to the end of the line and waited. It wasn’t particularly long, but it didn’t look like he would be getting his order anytime soon.
He pulled out his phone to check the time.
6:30 already.
One more hour until their “cleanup date.”
Maybe the tiramisu wasn’t such a good idea after all…
Feeling slightly impatient, he took out his wireless earphones, put them on, and played the random shuffle. Normally, he would choose something specific, but today he wasn’t feeling like it. So the shuffle play, allowing the music to take him wherever it would.
The song began to play, and he glanced at the title.
Romulus 3.
A track from those classic racing games he played back in 1997 and 1998. It had been years since he last listened to it, yet for some reason the shuffle had decided to send him on a small trip down memory lane today.
The music carried a futuristic, funky energy — something you wouldn’t expect from a game made decades ago. Loud, upbeat, and pulsing with rhythm, it was the kind of track that made you feel like you were speeding down the road without a care in the world.
The perfect music for racing.
That kind of sound had long faded from modern games. You rarely heard this genre anymore, especially not in today’s racing titles.
As the melody flowed, old images surfaced in his mind.
The selection screen where he carefully chose his car.
The rough, slightly distorted engine noises — stock sound effects from a time before developers could record real engines.
The simple tracks.
And yet, it had felt alive.
He could almost see it again — racing through mountain roads, jungles, countryside highways, and quiet towns, sirens wailing behind him as police cars gave chase. The sense of speed. The freedom. The thrill.
Even now, the memory hadn’t aged at all.
For a brief moment, it reminded him of what life used to feel like. How he once started it as a simple interest shaped him into who he was today.
Then the song ended.
The images faded just as quickly as they had come, pulling him back into the present.
He blinked.
The line had moved forward quite a bit.
“…Huh.”
He stepped ahead automatically, slipping his phone back into his pocket. The display case was much closer now, rows of carefully arranged desserts coming into clearer view.
“C’mon…”
5 more minutes of waiting— then it’s finally his turn to order.
“Welcome—what can I get you today?” The staff smiled at him.
Heart-shaped cakes. Chocolate assortments. Strawberry mousse. And there—
The sponge chocolate tiramisu.
“2 of that, please.” He pointed to the board.
“Do you want to make this a gift for someone or you will be getting the normal wrapper?”
So the couple version or the loner version, huh? Someone was definitely murdered on the spot earlier. He thought
“Gift please.” He replied with a satisfied little smirk on his face.
“Alright then, that will be—Oh my!” The staff suddenly stopped mid-sentence as she checked his order.
“What’s wrong?”
The faint smirk on his face disappeared instantly. For a brief moment, he braced himself for bad news.
“CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE OUR 1000TH CUSTOMER TODAY!”
“…What?”
That was the last thing he had expected.
“A true Valentine’s miracle!” the clerk continued excitedly, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of nearby customers. “That means you’ve won our true special campaign prize!”
Before he could even react, another staff member hurried over, carrying a small decorative box tied with a ribbon.
“Along with your order, you’ll receive one of our finest custom-made accessories for your loved one with completely free of charge!” she said, presenting it to him with both hands.
He stared at the box for a moment.
“…Accessory?”
“Yes! Each one is handmade and unique. A small keepsake to make today even more special!”
For a second, he didn’t move.
Loved one… huh.
He glanced down at the neatly packed cakes, then at the ribboned box resting on top of them.
“…This is getting a little out of hand.” he muttered under his breath.
Still, refusing it now would only make things more awkward.
“…Thank you” he said politely, accepting the package.
The staff beamed “We hope it brings you closer to that special person!”
He chose not to respond.
A few minutes later, he stepped back out onto the evening street, the bakery’s warm lights fading behind him.
In his hands were:
Two sponge tiramisu cakes.
One small mystery accessory.
And a situation that now felt far more complicated than he had planned.
He walked a few steps before stopping under a streetlamp.
“…I should at least check what this is.”
Carefully balancing the cake box against his arm, he loosened the ribbon and opened the smaller package.
Inside was a delicate flower ring.
Thin and lightweight, it was crafted from soft metallic wire, shaped into the form of a small blooming red flower. Tiny colored accents at the center gave it a gentle, handcrafted charm — simple, elegant, and unexpectedly pretty.
He stared at it for a moment.
“…A ring?”
His first instinct was immediate.
“There’s no way I’m giving this to her.”
A pause.
He looked at it again.
It wasn’t flashy. Not expensive. Just something small and thoughtful.
The kind of thing she might call “cute” or “trendy.”
And somehow, the image of her holding it up to the light, smiling, came to mind without his permission.
He closed the box quickly.
“No. It’s just a promotional item. That’s all.”
Still, he adjusted his grip to make sure the small box was safely tucked alongside the cakes.
He checked the time.
6:50.
“Better be hurry…”
The steps gradually becoming faster, heavier as he heading towards to his apartment for the final preparation.