"Secretariat… the American Triple Crown Uma Musume, the greatest…" I murmured.
"Greatest, huh?" Secretariat said. "That doesn't suit me. I know one Uma Musume stronger than me. You wouldn't know her, but my mentor—Hachiman's grand-mentor—Man o' War was stronger. With all due respect to today's racers, I can't imagine anyone matching her." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹~𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮~𝚗𝚎𝚝
"M-Man o' War is your grand-mentor!?" I said, turning to Hachiman. "I never heard about this!"
"Uh, sorry," Hachiman said. "She always shows up for your races and leaves right after, so I never got the chance to introduce you. It's not like I was hiding it."
"Calm down, Air Groove," Secretariat said. "There'll be time for introductions this time."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"This Japan Cup's drawing legends," Secretariat said. "America's Triple Crown winner Affirmed, Ireland's British Triple Crown champion Nijinsky, Britain's treasure Dancing Brave, and New Zealand's hero Horlicks. Each one's a national icon."
"Those are some names…" Hachiman said. "Wait, your name's not on the list, Sensei."
"You know why," she said. "I'm here to see you. It's a low-key visit."
"Got it," Hachiman said. "Guess I'll introduce the Professor then."
The world's most renowned Uma Musume, gathering in Japan. Is this year's Japan Cup that big?
"That's the deal," Secretariat said. "You'll meet my mentor too, Air Groove, so rest easy."
"Understood," I said. "If there's time, I'd appreciate it."
"…Hold on," Hachiman said. "Air Groove, why'd you come here? It's almost curfew."
"!" I said. "Right, I wasn't sure I'd get answers, but I was curious. Why are you so sensitive to injuries, Hachiman? Most trainers don't react much to lameness or bruising. Fractures, sure, but you're different. Even bruises set you off. Why?"
"…" Hachiman glanced at Secretariat.
"…" She stayed silent.
Why's he looking at her? Does she know something?
"That's a long story," Secretariat said. "Let's save it for another time. But I'll explain it myself. It's my fault, after all—I pushed my whims onto Hachiman."
"Sensei, that's not—" Hachiman started.
"No, it's true," she cut in. "After something like that, anyone would react this way. Or… they'd leave this world entirely."
"…Right," Hachiman said.
What's with her face? It's pained, tinged with sorrow.
"Air Groove," Hachiman said. "You've got a race tomorrow. Head back for now, okay? Talking about this in front of Sensei feels… wrong. She lived through it."
"…You're right," I said. "Curfew's close. I'll head out. Secretariat-dono, let's meet again tomorrow. Thank you for today."
"No, I should thank you," she said.
"Excuse me, then," I said.
Hachiman and Secretariat's faces… there's a heavy reason behind them. They wouldn't look like that otherwise. What happened?
"…Talk about coincidences," I said. "The Osaka Hai eve, and now the injury thing? You okay, Sensei?"
"I'm fine," she said. "…I owe you an apology too, Hachiman. My teachings made you carry that burden."
"Don't worry about it," I said. "After something like that, anyone would get paranoid about injuries. Honestly, it's almost traumatic…"
"Don't make that face," she said. "No, I guess that's impossible. Sorry."
It happened when Sensei was still racing. That incident made her hyper-vigilant about injuries. When I heard the story, it gave me chills—my spine froze. But she lived it. My discomfort's nothing compared to hers.
"You sure about telling her yourself?" I asked. "I could—"
"No," she said. "I owe her for the other day. I'll do it."
"Alright," I said. "I'll be there too. It'll be easier for you, right?"
"Yes, thank you," she said. "I might not make it through the story otherwise."
"Leave it to me," I said.
The Japan Cup's eve crackles with anticipation as legends like Affirmed, Nijinsky, Dancing Brave, and Horlicks descend, joined by the enigmatic Man o' War. Air Groove's curiosity unveils a shadowed past tied to Secretariat's injury sensitivity, deepening her bond with Hachiman. The Yahari crossover fuels their trust—what trauma haunts Secretariat, and can Air Groove conquer the global stage?
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