Kasamatsu Racecourse.
Most Umamusume in Kasamatsu made their debut here.
And today, Oguri Cap's debut race would be held here as well.
"Uh, there really doesn't seem to be much of a crowd."
Sakuraba Ryo glanced around. There were barely any people in the stands at Kasamatsu Racecourse.
"Well... it is a regional debut race. It naturally doesn't draw that much attention," Kitahara explained from beside him.
"If they were Umamusume from Tracen Academy, it'd probably get a lot more attention."
"Is that so..."
Sakuraba Ryo nodded, then turned back to Oguri Cap.
"Oguri, how are you feeling?"
At his question, the gray-haired girl curled her lips into a smile and answered excitedly, "I feel great! And the shoes you got me are really good...!"
Oguri Cap lowered her head to look at the black running shoes on her feet, the corners of her mouth lifting.
Those were the running shoes Sakuraba Ryo had asked Belno Light to pick out for her before the race, and the quality was excellent.
Oguri Cap had said she didn't need such expensive shoes, but Sakuraba Ryo had vetoed that idea on the spot.
How could he cheap out on running shoes for an Umamusume he was investing in?
Buy them.
Whatever was expensive, buy that.
A paying player never hesitated when it was time to spend.
Sakuraba Ryo had directly handed Belno Light 500,000 yen and told her to choose Oguri Cap's running shoes.
What he hadn't expected was that, although Belno Light had taken the 500,000 yen, she still ended up picking the pair Oguri Cap was wearing now.
"These are the most cost-effective shoes! For just 120,000 yen, you can get the best performance available on the market!"
"120,000 yen..."
When Sakuraba Ryo heard that, he was deeply disappointed.
He'd thought Belno Light would spend all of it. In the end, she'd only spent 120,000?
Seriously... why is this kid so bad at wasting money?
Of course, Belno Light had no idea what Sakuraba Ryo was thinking.
She had simply done her best to pick the pair of running shoes that suited Oguri Cap the most. Nothing more.
It wasn't as if there weren't more expensive shoes.
It was just that, in terms of value for money, this pair was better.
In any case, Oguri Cap's shoes were now basically top-tier.
At the very least, she wasn't going to lose a race because her shoes were holding her back.
Back to the present.
Sakuraba Ryo looked at the black shoes on Oguri Cap's feet, his feelings complicated.
He had bought her those shoes to lose money in the first place.
From his perspective, the best outcome would have been for Belno Light to buy some flashy but impractical pair.
Instead, Belno Light had chosen shoes that suited Oguri Cap perfectly, indirectly boosting her strength.
That was not good news for Sakuraba Ryo.
But it didn't matter!
The advantage is still mine!
At the end of the day, running shoes had only limited influence on the outcome of a race. What mattered most was the Umamusume's own ability.
A race was ninety-nine percent decided by the Umamusume herself!
It's fine. Fujimasa March is here!
She'll do it!
"Oguri, just run your race without worrying. Even if you lose, I won't blame you," Sakuraba Ryo said gently, patting the girl on the shoulder.
Oguri looked straight into his eyes and nodded seriously.
"I'll win."
Seeing that she had already made up her mind, Sakuraba Ryo said no more.
Then, at the edge of his vision, he noticed Fujimasa March stepping onto the track, and one brow twitched upward.
Yep, yep! Those long, powerful thighs look like they could kick me to death!
Absolutely packed with power!
For the sake of my money-losing plan, you have to win, March-dono!
...
The Umamusume entered the track one after another and began warming up.
At that moment, Fujimasa March spotted Oguri Cap stepping onto the track and walked over to speak to her.
"We finally get to have a real match, Oguri Cap."
Fujimasa March looked excited. The opponent she had longed to face was standing right in front of her—how could she not be?
She was certain of it.
If she defeated Oguri Cap in the debut race, her own strength would undoubtedly rise to another level.
And after that, she would be one step closer to achieving her dream—to race in the Tokai Derby and claim victory there.
"You are...?"
Oguri Cap looked slightly puzzled.
As far as she remembered, this was the first time she had met Fujimasa March.
"Oh? You don't remember me? Looks like Sakuraba-san didn't mention me to you..."
Oguri Cap's reaction caught Fujimasa March by surprise. So this girl really didn't remember that they had trained together before?
"It doesn't matter if you don't remember. You only need to know this: I, Fujimasa March, am the one who's going to defeat you next!"
Fujimasa March smiled with complete confidence as she said it.
But in the next second, a chill ran down her spine.
"Sakuraba-san... you know Ryo?"
Oguri Cap still looked as plain and unremarkable as ever. Her blue-green eyes were simply fixed on Fujimasa March.
That feeling just now was...
Fujimasa March narrowed her eyes slightly. Oguri Cap's attitude seemed just a little more serious than before.
But why?
Because of Sakuraba-san?
If mentioning Sakuraba-san provoked her a little, would she take this race more seriously?
"Yeah, I know Sakuraba-san."
"What, he didn't tell you?" There was a faint note of provocation in Fujimasa March's voice.
"...If Ryo didn't tell me, then he must have had his reasons," Oguri Cap said seriously.
"So what exactly is your relationship with Ryo?"
"Who knows? Maybe it's a closer relationship than the one you have with him."
Fujimasa March turned her head and looked toward the edge of the track, at Sakuraba Ryo in the distance.
"Closer than mine..."
Oguri Cap lowered her head and murmured the words to herself.
Oguri Cap was, in truth, a very simple Umamusume.
As long as she could eat her fill and run, that alone made her happy.
And now, one more thing had been added to her standards for happiness: the desire to repay Sakuraba Ryo.
She didn't think too deeply about complicated matters.
But that didn't mean she was slow or dull.
On the contrary, Oguri Cap was an unusually sensitive girl.
At the very least...
When she heard Fujimasa March say that her relationship with Sakuraba Ryo might be closer than Oguri's own...
Something in Oguri Cap's chest hurt a little.
And when something hurt, she wanted to let it out.
So...
"I'll beat you."
Oguri Cap looked at Fujimasa March and declared war with complete seriousness.
In this race, you're the one person I absolutely don't want to lose to!
---
T/N: they're so close that sakuraba runs his hands all over her body! NTR! anyway its okay oguri, march is gonna win anyways