"Argentine! Milord! Congratulations on your positive race results!"
Inside the team room, the Trainer's voice rang out in appreciation of our achievement. The others joined in, offering their congratulations as well.
The girl beside me wore her usual blank expression. Even though I knew she struggled to show her happiness, her first victory on debut probably left her unsure of how to react.
As for me…
I hadn't moved an inch since earlier.
My face remained lowered, drained after everything that happened in my race.
Losing is frustrating. I won't deny it, and I'm ready to accept the consequences.
But my hands clenched tightly when I remembered the result displayed on the Tote Board.
Seven lengths.
Yeah... I was beaten by that much. By the fucking bastard who toyed with me.
"Hm? What's wrong, Mi-chan?"
My sister must have noticed the change in my demeanor. Honestly, I didn't want her to see me like this. That crushing defeat made me feel like a complete loser.
"Nothing," I replied, turning my face away.
"Still thinking about your race?" the Trainer asked. "Regardless of the result, you did very well in your first national-level competition."
"…But I finished second," I answered quietly.
"I-It's okay, Milord-san! You'll still have plenty of chances to win the next race!"
I knew Salva was trying to cheer me up. But instead, my heart only burned hotter.
"So... don't wor—"
—'Baam!'
"It's pointless if it's not first place!"
The slam on the table and my shout instantly silenced Salva. The others behind her froze as well.
"…!"
I realized I had gone too far. I was about to apologize.
But then my eyes met Argentine's. The memory of her race flashed through my mind—the moment I was captivated by the gaze of a hunter in her eyes.
Damn it! Fucking damn it!
"Mi—Mi-chan! Wait!"
I ignored my sister's call and rushed out. I couldn't bear to face them any longer.
𓃗 𓃗 𓃗
[POV: 3]
"Mi—Mi-chan! Wait!"
"Sunny, stop!" the Trainer said.
"But—!"
"Let her go."
"…"
"I know you're worried. But let her win against herself in her own way."
Sunny lowered her head. "…Ya."
"I understand how Milord feels," the Trainer continued. "Competing at the national level for the first time, carrying such high ambitions, then losing so decisively. Reality dragged her back to the ground. She's going to meet and fight many horse girls like that."
"…But still, Trainer-san. That girl, Caraxes, is incredibly strong. Even in a major race like that, she looked like she was just playing around," Gavi said.
"Well, yeah. That child possesses many advantages. A well-proportioned body, dense leg muscles, long and sharp strides. As if she were truly designed to be the strongest Uma Musume. Even her instinct to dominate is overwhelming."
"B-But didn't you say Milord-san has a powerful burst in the homestretch? Wasn't that enough?" Salva asked.
"Ya. But unfortunately, Milord was already overwhelmed at the 800-meter mark. Her stamina was completely drained because her position was locked throughout the race."
"…Yeah. I suppose so," Sunny murmured.
The Trainer's eyes caught something—someone who had been silent the whole time, chin resting on her hand.
"Did you notice something, Argentine?"
"…That girl… wasn't there something strange?" Argentine said.
"Strange?"
"With that kind of power, she could have surged from the start. Her running style leans toward a typical front runner. But oddly enough, she lowered her pace. Like she was waiting for something."
Sunlight Nagari began to realize it too.
"Now that I think about it, you're right. Caraxes kept towing Mi-chan after the gate. She even tailed her when Milord overtook into third position. Then she took the inside before passing," Sunlight explained.
Hearing that, Argentine recalled the smirk on Caraxes' face when their eyes met.
"Senpai, do you know her?" Argentine asked.
"Hm? Why do you ask?"
"It's just a feeling. If she only wanted to play it safe, she should've stuck to someone with a better position, right?"
The Trainer's eyes widened. "Explain."
Argentine picked up a marker and began writing on the whiteboard.
"Milord—with her explosive burst, would definitely accelerate from the start. Unfortunately, she was in the outermost gate. Meanwhile, Caraxes was in a middle gate—an ideal spot to surge forward and take the lead."
"That's true."
Argentine nodded and continued.
"But... Caraxes held back and let the other five compete. After the intensity started to settle, she still kept trailing Milord. She should've pushed forward instead, right? In a 1000-meter race, there's no need to conserve energy that long."
"That's true…" Sunny murmured.
"What's even stranger is why she kept locking Milord-san on the inside," Gavi added.
Everyone fell silent in thought, replaying the race in their minds.
Among all the horse girls deep in thought, the Trainer smiled at Argentine. Before the silence could stretch further, a voice broke it—hands clasped tightly together.
"I-I remember. She approached Milord-san before the race started," Salva said.
"Eh?"
Gavi's eyes widened. "Don't tell me that girl…!"
"…She deliberately targeted Mi-chan."
On the other side, a calm voice drew everyone's attention. It wasn't the words that shocked them—but the expression on her face.
With clenched fists and sharpened eyes, Sunny tried to suppress her anger. It was completely different from her usual self.
"S-Senpai…"
Gavi tried to calm her, but her words caught in her throat as a dense aura filled the room.
An aura similar to the monster who had toyed with her little sister.
"It seems it wasn't a coincidence that Caraxes ended up in the same bracket as Milord."
The Trainer's words drew everyone's attention.
Sunny shot him an intimidating glare. "What do you mean, Trainer-san?"
"During registration yesterday, the leader of Onyx Team came to see me."
"The leader of Onyx Team? Kamaka Eclipse?" Gavi asked.
"Ya. He asked whether a new girl from Emerald Team would be participating."
"So you told him Mi-chan was racing?"
The Trainer smiled. "Yes, I did."
"Why?!"
Sunny's shout froze the entire room. Yet the Trainer remained completely unaffected.
"'Why'? Did you think I didn't realize someone was targeting your sister? Of course I knew."
"…!"
"I understood the direction of that girl's question, so I went along with it. I was curious who stood behind the leader of Onyx Team. Once I learned her name, I became excited. I wanted to see what Caraxes would do. I also wanted to see what Milord would gain if she were defeated."
Sunny still couldn't accept it. Her fists tightened further. "Why would you do that?"
"Making the horse girls we train stronger—that's our duty as Trainers."
"…!"
"Your lil'sister has extraordinary talent. But staying in a comfort zone of victory can make one complacent. What she needs is a strong enemy. They will force her to grow. You should know that, right? That's why you came here."
The Trainer's explanation silenced Sunny. Unable to argue further, she turned her face away, realizing anger wouldn't help her think clearly.
"…I'm sorry," Sunny said softly.
The Trainer smiled, stepped closer, and gently patted her head.
"I understand you care deeply about your sister. But right now, what you should think about is how Milord can learn to accept defeat wisely. You know her best. You can find the way."
"…Alright. I understand." Sunny still couldn't meet his eyes.
"Oh, about that girl. Do you know her? She's from North Sulawesi too, right?" the Trainer continued.
"I don't know much. But before I came here, I heard rumors about an incredibly strong horse girl in North Sulawesi. She's known for her long and powerful strides. After seeing her run just now, I immediately remembered that."
The Trainer pondered briefly, then turned to the girl beside him. "Gavi, check which Family she's from."
"Roger!"
Gavi pulled out her tablet. Her fingers moved swiftly across the screen, eyes scanning the registry listed in the Studbook of Academy.
Until she found what she was looking for.
"Found it! Caraxes Nagari. Onyx Team. August 27. Minahasa, North Sulawesi. Family… Djons?"
"Do you know that Family, Sunny?"
"Just a little. The Djons Family is a newcomer in the national horse girl racing scene."
"I see. Check again, Gavi. Before that, which Family was she in?"
Gavi searched again. It didn't take long.
Suddenly her eyes widened. Slowly, she turned to Sunny.
"What's wrong, Gavi-chan?" Salva asked.
She swallowed before speaking. "She… she's from the Bendang Family."
"…!"
As expected, everyone was stunned. And the most shocked of all, of course, was Sunny. She looked as though she couldn't believe what Gavi had just uncovered.
𓃗 𓃗 𓃗
[POV: Sunlight Nagari]
"Bendang? Wait! She's from Bendang?!"
"I know you're still in shock, Sunny. But try to remember—think back to the people who were there before you left."
I kept denying what I had just heard. I knew my family well when I was still in Bendang.
I'll admit it—Bendang Family was extremely strict when it came to producing the best horse girls. They kept regenerating their line, and because of that, many children only passed through, always feeling alone.
That was why I was there—to be someone they could lean on. Until a Family was willing to accept us as their own.
But… was she one of those children?
Why don't I know?
I understand that many left Bendang Family for regeneration. Mi-chan did too. But I don't remember the name Caraxes ever being in Bendang. And more than that… she carries the same family name as I do.
Then who is that child?!
Was there someone I never knew during my time in Bendang?!
I forced myself to remember. I kept digging—deeper and deeper into the very bottom of my memories.
And then, unexpectedly, a small memory surfaced from far beneath the past.
A little girl with short hair and a bright, cheerful face. An innocent smile always directed at me. Her tiny arms would hug me every time we met.
"Nagari! I added that name so I could be like you, Big Sis! I want to be as amazing as you!" —One sentence remains vivid in my mind—when she said it so happily to me.
"S-Senpai? What's wrong? Your face suddenly went paleme Gavi held my shoulder, but I was still frozen in place.
A shiver slowly crept through my entire body.
My heart pounded at the memories I should never have forgotten.
I still remember the face of a little girl trying to hold back her tears. In her hand, she held a single leilem—the flower she loved most.
And I… I could only stay silent and walk away.
Without realizing it, a quiet whisper escaped my lips.
"…That child… could it be…?"
---
𓃗 𓃗 𓃗
[POV: 3]
Crimson hues painted the horizon that day.
Shadows stretched longer and longer, following the footsteps of a girl walking alone. Her heart churned—caught between anger and guilt over the past.
"I left a gaping hollow." That was the regret she carried.
Alone in the school corridor, she traced the floor beneath the twilight glow, bathed in orange light filtering through the gaps of trees growing denser and deeper.
She wanted to see her little sister. Yet she was afraid to take another step, unwilling to explain what had truly happened—about herself and that child in the past.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans. The past arrived instead, without warning. From the opposite direction, she walked calmly, drawing closer.
Their eyes met. Sunny's hesitant steps came to a halt as she stared ahead—at the one who had destroyed her beloved sister, the girl who had come from her past.
"Yo, Sunny-senpai! Or should I call you… Big Sis?"
Sunny's gaze sharpened.
"…You've changed a lot since you were little. You even grew your hair out."
Caraxes stopped. "Yeah, I guess." Her eyes hardened. "Ever since you left."
"…"
"It's been a long time since we talked like this. We're in the same academy, yet you never once greeted me. I thought you'd forgotten."
"…"
"Hm? Why so quiet? Toothache or something? Ahahaha!" Caraxes joked, before her eyes turned sharp again. "Or… is it because I destroyed your lovely sister?"
"…!" Sunny's body stiffened. The anger in her eyes burned brighter.
"Ahaha! I knew it! It has to be that! Don't be so angry, my dear big sister. In a match, there's a winner and a loser. You should know that, right?"
"Oh? By toying with your opponent? So that's how you fight?"
"Well, what's the point if we don't have a little fun? Besides, I didn't break any rules. I didn't hurt anyone. For example… someone who suddenly left without a word."
"…!"
"What's wrong? Did that remind you of something? My dearest big sister?"
Sunny clenched her fists tightly. Her teeth ground against each other.
"Say it. Tell me you had a reason. Why did you suddenly leave without saying anything back then? You didn't care about how I felt, right?"
"If you're still angry, be angry at me. Don't drag anyone else into this."
"It's such a shame I don't want to hurt my beloved big sister. So I'm sorry! Ehe~!"
Sunny's fists tightened even more. With all her strength, she suppressed the turmoil in her chest—knowing full well that this was also entirely her fault.
And she couldn't deny it.
"Oh, one more thing," Caraxes continued. "I'll keep destroying the people closest to you."
Sunny's body tensed. "How long are you going to keep this up?"
"How long? Obviously until I'm satisfied! I don't care even if I have to sacrifice my own body. I'll keep destroying them all—so you'll understand the pain I've endured since you left."
"…!"
Caraxes began to walk again, moving in the opposite direction of the girl before her.
As they passed each other, Caraxes calmly said something that left Sunny frozen in place.
"See you… traitor."
𓃗 𓃗 𓃗
[POV: Caraxes Nagari]
Exhausted.
That's what I feel right now. Not just in body, but in heart as well. I remain still, lost in my thoughts. Restlessness shakes my resolve, as if everything simply happened without warning.
"Iwant to be like Sis! I want to be as amazing as Sis!"—my childhood dream haunts me again.
I almost forgot I once said those words. I was once that happy. Just an innocent child, in awe of an angel so breathtakingly beautiful.
I admired my sister—admired her more than anything. She was beautiful, extraordinary, the one everyone relied on.
I wanted to be like her. I wanted to run like her. I wanted to see the same sights she saw. Day or night. Now or tomorrow. Rain or shine. Sad or joyful. It was always that back I followed.
That sense of admiration kept guiding me. It was what made me refuse to give up.
Until everything passed—shattering the hope I held so tightly.
The Bendang Family continues its cycle of regeneration for us horse girls. We are required to train from a young age. And once we are ready, we are entered into races.
Everyone goes through the same process. Sis included. I know she wanted to chase her dream in the city—to become the greatest horse girl representing our contingent.
Then why did she leave us without a word?
Why did she suddenly change?
Not a single message. She never once asked how we were doing. Even so, I still tried to see her whenever she raced.
I brought the flowers she once gave me, hoping she would remember at least a fragment of me.
But instead of the warm smile she always showed me before, I was met with a cold gaze.
Sis is not the angel I once knew. Not the one who gave me those beautiful flowers—the same flowers that still adorn my hair to this day.
The dark silhouette at my feet begins to fade. The glass orbs along the roadside start to glow. I step into the dormitory building. Silence stretches along the corridor. Not a single soul in sight.
Calmly, I arrive in front of my door.
I press a card against the square panel beside it. The sensor glows green—a sign someone has already entered before me. I turn the handle and find a girl busy arranging various items on her vanity.
She notices my presence. "Ah, Caraxes! Just finished?"
Her shoulder-length jragem-colored hair sways as she turns. A star-shaped accessory sparkles on her left ear. She's dressed casually in a green top. A gentle smile greets me.
Sidney Allstar—my roommate and my new family in the Djons Family.
"Yeah. That's unusual. Getting ready to go somewhere?"
Sidney places a few cosmetics into her makeup case. "I'm going to the doctor."
My eyes widen instantly. "Eh? What's wrong?"
"Relax. I'm not injured. Just a routine check-up."
"Ah, i see…" I murmur in relief. "By the way, how was your race, Sidney?"
"Hm? Of course—absolutely perfect."
"Didn't seem like you had any trouble. Are you joining Series-2 later?"
"Not sure. I hopefully nothing gets in the way. But…"
"Hm?"
Sidney stands, lifting a small bag with a waruga pattern. Then she turns to me, still smiling.
"How long are you going to stay mad at your sister?"
"…!"
"I saw the two of you earlier."
I look away. "I'm not mad. It's just…"
Sidney doesn't seem satisfied with that answer. She waits as I avert my face. I don't want her reading too much from my expression.
"Well, as long as it doesn't affect your race later." Sidney heads toward the door. "Don't forget to lock the room."
"Yeah. Take care."
"Okay. Bye!"
"Bye."
The door closes softly, yet I continue staring at it.
My head feels empty. So many things churn within my chest. A sorrow that blankets the soul. The past that has taken root.
I know. I truly know.
A bond—none exists without leaving scars. We may love each other today, and hurt each other another day. No matter how hard we try to protect one another's feelings, fate will collect its due through time.
That is the nature of every human bond.
Even so, I still cannot erase this one lingering discomfort in my heart.
Loneliness.
※ ※ ※ (CHAPTER – 05) ※ ※ ※