12 hours ago, Chaldea —

"To think you'd actually consider using the island Dartz left behind to recharge the Millennium Bracelet with dark energy, Hoshino-chan... that's quite a bold idea."

Da Vinci, speaking to Hoshino through the control room screen, wore an unusually concerned expression.

Ever since that time the dark power of the bracelet had been used to summon Martha and split the sea, the Millennium Bracelet had seemingly gone into overexertion—unable to function. According to Da Vinci's analysis, it had likely overloaded from that excessive use.

"Even if Dartz is no longer around, the lingering Orichalcum altar still holds quite a bit of dark energy that can be tapped as a power source. But doesn't it creep you out a little to go to such a spooky place in the middle of the night, Hoshino-chan?"

Enjoying Mash's massage, Hoshino replied with a lazy smile.

"Of course it creeps me out... Ahhh~ right there, Mash, a bit harder~"

"Yes, Senpai."

"That's exactly why I'm hiding out here in Chaldea right now—because I'm scared.

Meanwhile, at the ritual temple on the island...

Using the Duel Disk's spotlight to navigate around the massive altar, Hoshino Alter wore the expression of someone who'd just been deeply betrayed.

"Damn it, aibo! You dumped this creepy job on me while you're off getting pampered by Mash's soft, delicate hands... I'm so jealous I could die!"

"Other Senpai, please be careful. If anything dangerous happens, I'll come support you~"

Mash's gentle voice brought Hoshino Alter a bit of comfort in the darkness.

Shortly followed by Hoshino's own completely carefree voice:

"What danger? Dartz is long gone. Aside from the leftover dark energy, it's just an abandoned ruin now."

Easy for you to say when you're not the one here.

If it's just a ruin, why didn't you come yourself?!

"Hoshino-chan," Da Vinci warned, "Because it's full of residual dark energy and no longer under Dartz's control, there's no telling what might appear."

Crrrkkk...

As if to confirm Da Vinci's words, the eerie clatter of bones echoed from the end of the dark hallway—slowly approaching.

Swallowing hard, Hoshino Alter froze, the spotlight on her Duel Disk trembling as she raised it toward the noise.

[Hoshino Alter has encountered the warm and welcoming people of Atlantis in the wild. Preparing for battle…]

"They're here! The undead of Atlantis!"

A blue skeleton wielding a long blade emerged—one of the monsters once revived by the Serpent's power that nearly plunged the world into chaos.

Though terrifying in appearance, their combat power was mediocre—barely at the level of a Dragon-Tooth Warrior. Back then, Kintoki had sent dozens flying with a single motorbike charge.

Still, meeting one of these undead in such a claustrophobic and dark place was enough to send shivers down the spine of the defenseless Hoshino Alter.

"Danger, Senpai, I'm on my—"

"Woof! I won't let this trash harm my master!"

A dark silhouette darted past Hoshino Alter and pounced on the skeleton.

"Anubis?!"

Hoshino Alter's voice lit up at the sight of the little black wolf furiously tearing into the undead.

The infamous Hoshino Alter simp Anubis—once known as the King of Destruction—was currently stuck in a basic form, yet still far beyond the level of these Dragon-Tooth-class undead.

Within seconds, the skeleton was torn to pieces. Now full and satisfied, Anubis wagged his tail proudly, looking up at Hoshino Alter with expectant eyes.

Rubbing his head, Hoshino Alter asked, "I thought you were gone, Anubis. Where've you been all this time?"

"Woof! I was sliced back into the Pyramid of Light by that terrifying old man with the greatsword. Ever since then, I've been silently watching over Master's form in the pyramid. Hiding in the shadows... quietly observing... admiring..."

"Oh, I see," Hoshino Alter said flatly.

Her tone turned ice-cold as she raised her foot and stomped hard on the creepy mutt.

"You perv! That's stalking! I thought I was alone in the Pyramid all that time—you freaky mutt, die!"

Pinned under Hoshino Alter's boot, Anubis barked with unholy delight.

"Awooo~ Yes! Punish me harder, my master!"

Back in the control room, Hoshino and Mash exchanged deadpan glances, the corners of their mouths twitching. Too stunned to speak.

The so-called King of Destruction had officially disgraced the entire Egyptian pantheon.

Still, no matter how shameless he was, with Anubis by her side, Hoshino Alter encountered no more "friendly" undead from Atlantis.

"This should be the place," she muttered.

"The altar where Dartz once sacrificed the power of the three Egyptian Gods and Duelist souls to revive the God of Orichalcos."

Looking around the all-too-familiar ruins, Hoshino Alter recalled how Hoshino had casually stolen the three God Cards meant as offerings… and even revved her D-Wheel right over Dartz's face while traveling through spacetime.

"Oh right, the D-Wheel!"

She quickly searched the area and, just as expected, found the D-Wheel that had been left untouched since returning—once ridden by Paradox—sitting in a corner of the altar.

The translucent, petite figure of the Evil God materialized and spoke with interest.

"That thing holds more secrets than just time travel. Why not bring it back with us? It might come in handy."

"Sure. Just send the bill to Kaiba. Right now, we need to recharge the dark energy."

Shaking the golden bracelet on her wrist, Hoshino Alter asked,

"So, how do I inject the dark energy into this thing?"

"The energy's already recharging, Senpai. Just stay still and don't move too much~"

Hoshino Alter let out a long yawn. Judging from the time she'd entered the ruins, it had to be well past midnight outside.

"Yaaaawn—this creepy dark place is torture… I wanna go back to the pyramid and sleep. Aibo, can you take my place?"

Although the body in Chaldea was only a spiritual projection, as Hoshino Alter recharged the bracelet's dark power, the Millennium Bracelet on Hoshino's wrist in Chaldea lit up in response.

"Sorry, other me. My real training is just about to begin~"

Stroking the bracelet on her wrist, Hoshino—now fully refreshed thanks to Mash's massage—was in peak condition.

"Mash, call over all the Servants in Chaldea who can use Reality Marbles. I want to practice how to initiate a Shadow Game!"

(***)

UMA Chapter 2

A short while later, at a bubble tea shop near the hospital…

"Two honey specials—one with extra honey, and one coffee. Thank you."

A small, lively-looking Uma Musume placed her order, then turned and made her way to a window-side seat. She crossed her arms as she sat down, exuding an air of dignity.

Seated across from her were Yasui, calm as ever, and Kitasan, who had her head down like a scolded child, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

The petite yet commanding Uma Musume cast a stern glance at Kitasan, then turned to Yasui with a softer, approving smile.

"It wasn't convenient to explain back at the hospital, but I came to see you, Trainer Yasui, because we've been in contact with the parents of the child you saved. They're very eager to thank you in person."

"The driver responsible for the accident has also been located. He's at the police station right now giving a statement. He admitted to driving while fatigued and has agreed to take full responsibility."

"Would you like to meet the parents or the driver?"

Yasui shook his head.

"No need. As long as the child's okay, that's all that matters."

"However, Kitasan offered to cover my hospital bill. I think that cost should fall on the driver instead. Is that alright, President?"

"No problem at all. I'll handle it."

The petite Uma Musume—Tokai Teio, Student Council President of both the Junior and Senior Divisions at Tracen Academy—nodded without hesitation. Then she turned a more serious gaze toward Kitasan Black, who still had her head lowered.

"Now then… Kitasan, do you understand what you did wrong?"

"Y-Yes! President!"

As if her tail had been stepped on, Kitasan jolted upright—but quickly shrank back again, unsure.

"My mistake… was trying to help Yasui-san save the child?"

Teio sighed and raised a hand to brush aside the crescent-shaped fringe of silver hair on her forehead.

"…It seems you still don't understand."

She crossed her arms and spoke with firm authority.

"Saving someone wasn't the issue. That was admirable. In fact, I've already drafted your commendation letter."

"The real problem is that you couldn't control your speed."

"Yasui-san managed to adjust his posture and avoid serious injury even in such a critical moment. But you—an Uma Musume—couldn't do the same."

"…Kitasan, I'm very disappointed."

At those words, Kitasan's ears drooped—a clear sign of dejection among Uma Musume. Her expression filled with regret and sorrow.

Yasui, meanwhile, was quietly impressed.

The girl before him was Tokai Teio, successor to the legendary Symboli Rudolf as Student Council President.

Her racing career had been just as spectacular—9 victories in 12 major races, including 7 consecutive wins at the start.

Since retiring and taking up council duties, she had proven just as capable off the track.

The incident had occurred only hours ago, yet Teio already had the full story, had tracked down the victim's family and the at-fault driver, and had arranged to speak with all involved. Her efficiency was impressive.

Even more striking was her incredible eye for detail.

Traffic camera footage was grainy, a far cry from race replays—yet from that, she'd pinpointed the exact moment of collision between Yasui and Kitasan. It wasn't just skill—it was instinct, sharpened by years at the top of the sport.

"…I'm sorry, President…" Kitasan murmured.

"There's no need to apologize to me."

Teio shook her head, arms still crossed. Seeing Kitasan glance hesitantly at Yasui, she shook her head again.

"Nor is there any point in apologizing to Yasui-san."

"What you need now isn't an apology—it's serious reflection."

"Racing is dangerous. And if this is the extent of your control over your speed and strength…"

She let out a long sigh and shook her head a third time.

"I was actually planning to introduce you to some Trainers… but seeing you now, I just can't."

"And this isn't just coming from me as the Student Council President. As your senpai, I believe you're not ready yet."

Yasui could almost see the color drain from Kitasan's face. A dark cloud of despair seemed to form over her.

And he couldn't disagree—Teio was right.

Back in his previous life, extreme stunts had always been dangerous. One slip could result in serious injury. That's why body control was everything—a lesson he'd carried with him into this world.

His flexibility and strength control, trained from childhood, often surpassed even most Uma Musume.

In contrast, Kitasan clearly struggled to control her power.

At race speeds exceeding 60 km/h, even a minor collision between horse girls could be catastrophic.

"I understand, President Teio…"

Kitasan's voice was quiet—but this time filled with gratitude and admiration.

"My dream is to become a legendary horse girl like you. But I know I'm not a genius."

"Many teachers and Trainers have told me I should focus on short-distance races instead of chasing a career like yours."

"But I still want to try. No matter what—I want to try!"

Suddenly, her energy returned, burning with determination.

"Watching you race has always inspired me! So I won't give up—not until the very end!"

"Even if no Trainer picks me, I'll challenge the Triple Crown you once conquered!"

Her passionate outburst drew the attention of nearby customers. Even Yasui looked at her, slightly surprised.

But Teio remained calm.

"Without a Trainer, you can't even register for those races. How do you plan to challenge the Classic Triple Crown?"

Her arms still folded, she spoke with composed certainty.

"Eh? I…"

Kitasan, who had just been so fired up, froze. She laughed awkwardly and scratched her cheek.

"R-Right… I forgot, hehe…"

"Honestly… what were you even doing in class? That's the most basic knowledge there is."

Teio sighed and gave her a mildly exasperated look before turning to Yasui, her expression shifting to something more serious.

"However—sitting right here is a Trainer."

"One who earned a National Trainer license at just 18 years old—an unprecedented feat."

"I've also noticed that since joining the Academy, Yasui-san has been searching for a trainee… but has been turned down multiple times."

"That's why I have a request."

"This isn't coming from the Student Council President, but from Kitasan's senpai."

"I'd like to ask—Yasui-san, would you be willing to take Kitasan as your trainee?"

When she heard Teio's request, Kitasan looked at Yasui in astonishment.

"Eh—? You want Yasui-san to be my Trainer? That's…"

Yasui didn't respond right away. Instead, he watched Teio thoughtfully.

After a brief exchange of glances, Teio turned to Kitasan.

"What's wrong? You think he's not good enough?"

"Don't let his age fool you—even if Yasui-san doesn't seem much older than you, he's an incredibly talented Trainer."

"Getting certified as a National Trainer at 18… that's completely unheard of."

"No—more than that, no one even imagined it was possible. It's like three Uma Musume crossing the G1 finish line at the exact same time—a complete miracle."

"With talent like his, I'm sure he can draw out your full potential."

"…My potential? You think I still have any?"

Kitasan lowered her head, lips pressed tightly together, her clenched fists resting on her knees.

"But… so many Trainers have told me that aside from being physically strong, I'm pretty average…"

"They say someone like me won't go far outside of sprint races…"

"If Yasui-san is really that amazing, wouldn't it be a waste for him to take someone like me—"

"Would you be willing to become my Trainee, then?"

"I-I mean, I would… Wait—eh? EH?!"

She had answered instinctively, only to freeze when she realized the one who had just asked was Yasui himself.

Her ears twitched wildly as she stared at him in disbelief.

Even Teio blinked in surprise and looked over at him.

"Well, looks like we've got no problems, then."

Yasui nodded toward Teio and said,

"I'm confident I can train Kitasan. She just agreed, so I'll leave the rest of the process to you, President."

"But I do have a question."

"Like you mentioned, I've been trying to find a suitable trainee for months now."

"But the girls I thought were a good fit didn't believe I was ready to train them."

"Even other Trainers suggested I start out as an assistant, learn the ropes for a few years before taking on a horse girl of my own."

"So why, President, are you convinced I can properly train Kitasan?"

Kitasan also looked toward Teio, curious.

Teio chuckled softly, then lifted her chin proudly.

"Because I believe Kitasan—like me—isn't the kind of Uma Musume who can be boxed in by common sense or tradition."

"And you, Yasui-san, aren't that kind of Trainer either."

"If you want to create a miracle, don't you have to throw all the rules out the window?"

"…Don't you both agree?"

"President…"

Eyes full of admiration, Kitasan clasped her hands together, her ears trembling from the emotion swelling within her.

Yasui silently nodded.

Everything Teio had said perfectly aligned with the impression he had of her.

She had won both the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby undefeated.

Despite suffering multiple injuries during her career, she kept coming back. Even after being out of competition for a whole year, she had miraculously claimed victory in her retirement race—ending her career as a true legend.

If anyone could be called a "miracle," it was Tokai Teio.

It made perfect sense that someone like her would ignore conventions. Maybe that's exactly what made such Uma Musume special—they were born to defy logic.

And perhaps… Kitasan Black was one of them too.

Extreme stunts had always been high-risk. Yasui had studied trick riding in his past life, so he knew a bit about racehorses.

And for some reason, many Uma Musume in this world had names matching famous racehorses from his old one—Tokai Teio being one of them.

Kitasan Black, too.

From what Yasui remembered, the Kitasan Black of his world had an outstanding career.

If a parallel existed between the two worlds, then this Kitasan Black likely held the same potential.

Still, in both worlds, she had been underestimated at first.

In the other world, it had been due to a supposedly weak pedigree. In this one, it seemed to be about her so-called "lack of talent."

Yasui hadn't been a jockey or stable trainer in his past life, so he didn't know exactly how that Kitasan Black had risen to become a racing king.

But he could guess why this world's Kitasan Black hadn't been acknowledged yet—because nobody else had the unfair advantage of knowing the "ending" like he did.

Of course, knowing the ending didn't mean knowing the path. That's where he came in.

Back in his old world, even if someone handed him a top-tier racehorse, he wouldn't have known how to train it.

But here… here, he had everything he'd spent over a decade building.

He had in-depth knowledge of both current and retired Uma Musume, as well as those about to debut—including Kitasan Black.

First, her strength.

During entrance exams, every student underwent physical evaluations. Grip strength, pushing force, leg power—Kitasan's numbers had ranked near the top.

Second, her health.

Like human athletes, Uma Musume endured intense training and fierce competition. Injuries were common.

Yet Kitasan Black, aside from the occasional cold, had almost no record of serious illness or injury—a rare trait.

Third, her explosive burst power.

That had already been demonstrated: first when she rushed to save that child, and again when she accidentally tore the hospital door off its hinges.

With those foundational traits—and Yasui's guidance—he believed she could match, or even surpass, her counterpart from the other world.

With that in mind, he nodded and said,

"As expected of Teio. Then, I'll do my best to create a new miracle with Kitasan."

"No—with Kitasan. Together."

He turned to her with a small smile.

"Is it alright if I call you Kitasan?"

"Mm-hmm! Of course!"

Kitasan shot to her feet, beaming, and gave a deep bow.

"I'll be in your care, Trainer-sa—"

Bonk!

"Ow!!"

She smacked her head on the underside of the table.

Yasui sighed quietly as he watched the wobbling table and the girl now clutching her forehead, eyes watering.

Looks like in addition to strength control, they'd have to work on her clumsiness too…

Seeing the two finally come to an agreement, Teio smiled without realizing it.

Just then, the server arrived with their drinks.

After thanking them, Teio passed the coffee to Yasui and handed one honey drink to Kitasan.

Raising her own extra-honey special, she grinned.

"Great! Then let's celebrate—Trainer finds his Trainee, and Kitasan finds her Trainer. Cheers!"

"Oh-oh! Cheers!"

A bit flustered but clearly overjoyed, Kitasan raised her drink high.

Yasui chuckled softly and lifted his coffee just a little.

.

..

...

Later that evening — Yasui's apartment.

"Trainer, here's the material President asked me to bring over. Do you need anything else?"

(*****)

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