What kind of girl was Oguri Cap?
By coat color, she was an "Ash-gray" Uma Musume—one whose hair starts as a mix of gray and blue-tinged tones but gradually turns to a brilliant silver-white as she matures.
In Japan, there has always been a persistent superstition that Ash-gray Uma Musume simply aren't fast. Consequently, when she was first born, the locals in Kasamatsu didn't hold high hopes for her potential on the track.
Even more critically, when she was born, she couldn't even stand.
If it hadn't been for her mother, White Narubi, and Fujimaru Ritsuka providing daily leg massages for years, she wouldn't have just failed to become an Uma Musume—she wouldn't have even been fit for the support staff. The racing world has no use for an assistant in a wheelchair.
Thus, the fact that Oguri Cap could stand at all was already a miracle. How could anyone expect more than that?
But Oguri Cap didn't care. To her, standing was enough of a wonder; to then be granted the even greater miracle of running freely—what more could she possibly ask for?
Eating well, running freely, and eventually becoming an Uma Musume was all it took for Oguri Cap to be content, and White Narubi supported her in that.
Yet, it was at this juncture that Fujimaru Ritsuka stepped forward. It wasn't that he wanted to be a "tiger parent," but he believed that without a clear objective, no matter how incredible a person's potential might be, they would likely idle their years away and fail to grow.
So, he requested a leave of absence for her and took her to see the Japanese Derby in person, to witness how the Uma Musume of this generation ascended to the summit of Japan.
Since Uma Musume were born to run, the best way to persuade or guide one wasn't through words, but through watching a race—and then running one.
Fujimaru Ritsuka had walked alongside many Uma Musume before. He had seen them trapped in the lowest depths and had guided them to the highest peaks. He was confident that his guidance for Oguri Cap would hit the mark.
Looking at it now, the effect was undeniable. A girl who had never even imagined the view of the future now possessed an upward drive that aimed directly for the highest peak in the country.
Watching the two of them, so full of vitality and sharp ambition, Sora Hayasaka quietly raised her camera. "Alright, to commemorate this momentous occasion... say cheese!"
The film crew at the next table caught the excitement as well and began to cheer. While Fujimaru Ritsuka was surrounded by the boisterous men, Oguri Cap quietly began her journey through a mountain of food.
If Fujimaru hadn't used the excuse of "getting some air" to pay the bill in advance, Uncle Hayasaka likely would have been clutching an empty wallet and weeping.
The "Legend of the Ash-gray Eater," already famous in Kasamatsu, was no joke.
With the dinner over, the Tokyo trip came to an end. Fujimaru Ritsuka had originally wanted to take Oguri Cap sightseeing, but she was already chomping at the bit to return to training. She wanted to draw her sword and march on the capital—to storm Tokyo!
Three days later. Hashima District, Gifu Prefecture. Kasamatsu Tracen Academy.
At 4:00 AM, the entire academy was still submerged in a deep blue nocturnal shroud, with only a few streetlights casting dim yellow halos on the road.
Fujimaru Ritsuka was already waiting at the base of the dormitory. In the darkness, his cerulean eyes were exceptionally bright.
Oguri Cap's voice soon rang out: "Trainer-san, I am here."
The silver-gray-haired girl had already changed into her training gear. Her ears twitched slightly, and her tail gave a few light swishes; her blue eyes sparkled with the light of anticipation.
Every inch of her radiated a restless, eager energy.
Thanks to Fujimaru Ritsuka's negotiations with the Chairwoman, Oguri Cap stayed in a single room, so there was no need to worry about her early morning workouts disturbing anyone.
The new day began with a ten-kilometer jog.
They ran out of the academy gates side-by-side, following a predetermined route. Fujimaru Ritsuka ran on the left, his stride steady and rhythmic; Oguri Cap ran on the right, her specialized running shoes and horseshoes striking the pavement with a crisp, rhythmic clack.
The first few kilometers were always the hardest.
At this stage, whether human or Uma Musume, the body and breath haven't yet settled into their optimal state. The accumulating fatigue swells like an incoming tide, and the strain can feel almost suffocating.
Fujimaru Ritsuka could clearly hear Oguri Cap's breathing becoming heavier, but he had no intention of slowing down. He knew that the key to breaking through limits lay in these moments of perceived agony.
"Focus on your breathing rhythm. In for two steps, out for two steps," he reminded her without turning his head.
Oguri Cap struggled to adjust her breath, her blue eyes instinctively drifting toward Fujimaru beside her. She knew she had to maintain high focus during training, but no matter how many times it happened, she couldn't help but feel bewildered.
Why is Trainer-san's stride so steady? Why is even his breathing so calm? A normal person clearly shouldn't be able to do this. Perhaps only veteran Uma Musume could reach this level.
But Oguri Cap was a simple girl. She didn't dwell on the "why." She only thought: It's wonderful that Trainer-san is so strong. With his teaching, I will definitely be able to reach the summit of Japan!
And why reach the summit? To make her mother and Trainer-san proud, of course—and then to eat a massive feast together. The prize money from winning races would surely let them live a life of daily banquets!
Thinking this, Oguri Cap grew excited, and her steps became even more vigorous.
By the time they finished the fifth kilometer, the eastern horizon was beginning to pale. The streets of Kasamatsu were slowly waking up; early-rising shopkeepers began preparing for business, and newspaper delivery motorbikes buzzed past. But none of it broke their rhythm.
The route Fujimaru Ritsuka had planned perfectly bypassed the breakfast stalls; no aroma of food would interfere with Oguri Cap's training.
"Final two kilometers. Let's pick up the pace a bit." With that, Fujimaru Ritsuka accelerated.
This wasn't the first time he had pulled this trick of a sudden tempo change. Oguri Cap didn't say a word; she simply gritted her teeth and followed suit.
Though the ache in her leg muscles returned with clarity and her lungs felt like they were being seared by fire, she didn't complain. This was the inevitable process of becoming stronger. If she wanted to stand at the top of her generation, she had to endure the loneliness, the fatigue, and the hardship.
There was another important reason: in Fujimaru Ritsuka's steady breathing, she could feel a firm conviction—a belief that she could do it, that she could surpass herself!
If her Trainer trusted her this much, how could she let him down?
"Twenty seconds faster than yesterday," Fujimaru Ritsuka said, pressing his stopwatch and showing her the result. "The progress is obvious."
Oguri Cap rested her hands on her knees, gasping for air, but her blue eyes were filled with a sense of accomplishment.
After a brief recovery, they moved on to flexibility and jumping drills.
Fujimaru Ritsuka placed great emphasis on this part because he understood Oguri Cap's strengths. He believed that her "wild" running style required immense body control to master.
"Watch your hip positioning, keep your center of gravity balanced," Fujimaru reminded her. "When jumping, don't just aim for height—focus on the stability of the landing."
"Yes!" Even though she was drenched in sweat, Oguri Cap focused intently on executing every one of Fujimaru's commands.
It had to be said that the girl's physical foundation and talent were truly exceptional. After a period of systematic training, her flexibility and explosive power had improved significantly.
As she stood now, winning her debut race would be no problem at all.
But in Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes, this was nowhere near enough. Since they were aiming for the Derby, they had to maintain this grueling training and, in the process, build up a reserve of tactics, master skills—and eventually, a Domain.
Otherwise...
If she were to encounter a Roaring Flame, a Thundering Bolt, or some other mental landscape that felt like the return of the Age of Gods on the track, the outcome would be anyone's guess.
Elite Uma Musume could, through years of training, master such "Great Thaumaturgy" and guide "Miracles" onto the track. In fact, once enough training had accumulated, at the exact moment their mind reached clarity, the miracle would manifest as naturally as water flowing through a channel.
What they could do now was learn and accumulate, bit by bit, searching for that moment where a lifetime of effort would burst forth!
By the time the jumping drills were over, Oguri Cap's training clothes were completely soaked. Strands of silver-gray hair clung to her forehead, making her look quite disheveled, but the light in her eyes only grew hotter.
Next came five sets of 1,000-meter sprints—the most grueling part of the morning session. There were only three minutes of rest between sets, and Fujimaru Ritsuka required her to maintain a perfectly stable speed in every single one.
Fujimaru Ritsuka asked: "Oguri, do you remember the rhythm I mentioned yesterday?"
In his view, one-sided instruction was for the mediocre—and it was irresponsible toward one's trainee.
A race is a mercurial thing. If an Uma Musume doesn't develop sharp, on-the-spot decision-making skills, she could easily be defeated by a sudden change in circumstances. To seize victory, one had to train not just the body and technique, but also observation, intellect, and judgment.
Oguri Cap answered decisively: "Don't go too fast in the first 200 meters. Maintain rhythm and conserve stamina between the 400 and 600-meter marks. Then, spurt in the final 200 to 400 meters. This is the tactic for the debut race—it's called 'Sashi' (Betweening)."
Though Oguri Cap was a bit of a space cadet, her mind actually worked quite well.
Normally, an Uma Musume's final spurt—the "maximum capture range"—is the final three furlongs (600 meters). But that applies to girls who have fully matured. Fujimaru Ritsuka wouldn't demand a full 600-meter sprint from her yet; that was a result to be tempered through race after race.
Moments later, Oguri Cap stood at the starting line. The moment Fujimaru Ritsuka gave the signal, she shot forward like an arrow from a bow.
First set: Her rhythm was a bit messy. She started too fast, leading to fatigue in the second half and a sub-optimal spurt. Second set: She adjusted her strategy, but her final sprint wasn't decisive enough, leaving her unsatisfied. Third set: This was the most ideal run; her performance was nearly flawless. Fourth set: Accumulated fatigue began to take its toll. She barely met the target. Fifth set: Fatigue reached its peak. Her breathing grew ragged, her steps became heavy, and she felt as if she were struggling through deep mud.
"Hold on, Oguri!" Fujimaru Ritsuka shouted from the trackside. "Remember why you are standing here!"
The words were like a shot of adrenaline. Oguri Cap recalled the fierce competition of the Derby, the soul-piercing roars of the girls desperate for victory—and her entire aura shifted.
In her final spurt, something like jet-black, roaring flames seemed to ignite within her cerulean eyes. It reminded Fujimaru Ritsuka of an old friend, and it allowed Oguri Cap to explode with a terrifying, unstoppable momentum.
"Excellent! Today's times were better than yesterday's. If you keep this up, the Derby is definitely within reach," Fujimaru Ritsuka said with a warm, encouraging smile as he clicked his stopwatch. "Keep tempering yourself, and you will reach the summit. Oguri, take a short rest and get ready for breakfast."
Fujimaru Ritsuka reached out his hand to her. As for things like "mental landscapes" or "flames of vengeance"... those could wait for the "culture lessons" in the evening.
Oguri Cap stood with her hands on her knees, gasping for breath, sweat dripping from her pale cheeks, but her eyes were blindingly bright—those churning black flames were still at work!
Of course, it might also be because she felt that food tasted best after a grueling workout.
Oguri Cap's ears instantly perked up, and her tail began to wag happily from side to side.
The cafeteria food was delicious—she loved it—but more importantly, she got to eat with her Trainer-san. This kind older brother would even cook for her sometimes. What a wonderful thing!
Oguri Cap firmly took Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand and practically pulled him toward the cafeteria.
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Uma Musume: Oguri Cap Grand Order (22 Chapters – Ongoing)
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