What is it like to face the potential malice of horse girls in a forest?
For Akira, this wasn’t the first time he had to deal with a situation like this.
It was approaching autumn.
The forest was still lush and green, but the lingering heat of late summer still hung in the air.
Because of this, no matter how well you hid, you couldn’t completely cover up the rustling sounds, nor the stark white Tracen uniform that stood out like a sore thumb against the green woods.
Called out, the petite horse girl let out a confident snort.
She hopped lightly from behind the tree trunk onto the dirt path, skillfully brushing the wood chips and green leaves out of her long black hair.
Putting her hands on her hips, she looked at a bewildered Akira with an impressed expression.
“Hmph, not bad.
You actually knew exactly where I was hiding.”
“Ojisan, you’re amazing!
You actually knew she was hiding there!”
“…”
(Are you two serious?)
Maybe the rule that Uma Musume need Trainers wasn’t just an academy regulation, but a biological necessity.
(Could these kids really grow up to be functional adults in the future?)
Looking at the two horse girls in front of him, for the very first time, Akira felt a deep sense of doubt about his resolve to become a Dark Trainer.
(TL:Bro should be ready for basement, it could happen anytime)
Taking a closer look, the petite horse girl who had jumped out didn’t look anything like the famous, distinctive horse girls Akira remembered from his past life.
She had no particularly eye catching features.
If anything, her long black hair and petite, adorable frame were her only defining traits.
But she looked far too small and slender, making one seriously worry if she could even survive on a racetrack.
The horse girl stretching in front of him was just too tiny.
By standard Uma Musume standards, her build looked undeniably weak.
Orfe was already a very petite horse girl who naturally curled up like a little ball.
Thanks to her fluffy chestnut hair, she looked a bit bigger, but her actual height was far below Tracen’s average.
Yet, the black haired horse girl in front of him was even smaller than Orfe.
He had never seen such a tiny Uma Musume—it was almost pitiful.
With her round, cute cheeks and small frame, calling her a horse girl who races on the turf felt strangely out of place.
Even horse girls who looked like elementary schoolers didn’t give off this bizarre sense of dissonance.
But she clearly didn’t think so herself.
After dusting the wood chips out of her hair and fixing her appearance, this eccentric horse girl cleared her throat and looked at the two of them.
“Well, since you’ve found me, I won’t hide it anymore.
You over there, you aren’t a Trainer, right?
What exactly is your relationship with Orfevre?
Confess honestly!”
“…Orfe, is she your friend?”
“N-No, no!
She’s not!”
Looking at the petite, long haired girl, Orfe shook her head violently like a rattle drum.
“She’s…
Black Tide’s little sister!
A real sister to a G2-winning Uma Musume!
Compared to someone like her, I’m way behind!”
“What do you mean by that?
Aren’t we both pitiful horse girls bound by the same fate?”
The new horse girl seemed very friendly.
Tossing her hair, she naturally leaned closer to Orfe, flashing a bright smile at the trembling golden dumpling.
“Isn’t your sister Dream Journey, a G1-winning Uma Musume?
Everyone’s expectations for you are way higher than mine!
Besides, looking at you gives me this inexplicable sense of closeness.
How should I put it…
it’s like looking at a sister who has no talent or qualifications…”
“But I never said I was like that!” Orfe cried out.
“There, there.
Keep your mouth shut.” The black haired girl patted her, then turned back to Akira.
“So, what’s your relationship?
Friends?
Family?
Siblings?
Or…
something else?”
“…Hehe”, Orfe suddenly giggled.
“…”
What are you ‘hehe’-ing about?!
If they actually had that kind of ‘special’ relationship, Akira would have been kicked out of Tracen Academy (or arrested) a long time ago.
Seeing Orfe scratching her cheek with a silly, happy smile, Akira couldn’t help but step forward and lightly chop her on the head.
“Don’t overthink it,” Akira said.
“Simply put, Orfe and I are just companions sharing the same struggles, trying to grow together.
She wants to become a proper, elegant Uma Musume, and I want to become a Trainer.
Since we both don’t have many friends, we decided to support each other.”
“Tch…” The black haired girl clicked her tongue playfully, then nodded.
“Oh, so that’s it.
She wants to be an elegant racehorse girl like McQueen-san, so she’s training hard in secret!?”
“So you guys aren’t just playing around.
Can I join in?
I’m not trying to brag, but I’m actually really good at studying and having fun!”
“No!” Orfe shouted.
“Sure”, Akira replied at the exact same time.
“Ojisan?!
Why, why???” (TL:Cute..)
“…”
Turning his head stiffly like a rusty machine, Akira was met with Orfe’s desperate, pleading gaze—as if she had just been shot in the heart.
He awkwardly averted his eyes.
How should he justify this?
Orfe just wasn’t a reliable benchmark.
He was a trainee who needed to learn how normal horse girls functioned.
Orfe was definitely a devoted and obedient girl, but he had only ever observed her.
Without a point of comparison, how was he supposed to know what a standard Uma Musume was like?
After all, the lives of horse girls were full of miracles.
Even Akira knew that the vast majority of Uma Musume were bound by the tracks of fate, and only their own raw strength and sheer willpower could break them free.
Deep Impact might seem a bit eccentric, but she actually felt very affectionate and outgoing.
Unlike Orfe, who had stage fright and trembled whenever she spoke, having a lively horse girl around as a stepping stone wouldn’t be bad for his future plans.
(…This isn’t a betrayal, Orfe.)
(After all, there’s nothing special between us—we’re just friends.)
(So, could you please stop looking at me with those desperate eyes like a housewife who just caught her husband cheating?
I’m just agreeing to let her join.
We’re only temporary partners anyway, right?)
“Oh, speaking of which, I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I?”
The horse girl who had emerged from the woods looked at Akira, clapped her hands together, and gave a brilliant, shining smile.
“I’m Deep Impact, a newly enrolled Uma Musume.
My older sister is Black Tide.
Please take good care of me!”
“I’m Kato Akira.
I look forward to working with you, Deep Impact.”
Looking at the cheerful and easygoing horse girl in front of him, Akira smiled and reached out to shake her hand.
And that exact moment would become Kato Akira’s biggest regret.
(TL:Let me guess….basement?)