Standing before the gates of Tracen Academy, watching the Umamusume come and go, Sunset looked somewhat at a loss.
Today was the first day Sunset and Okino had agreed to train. After finishing her usual middle school classes, she had hurried over to Tracen Academy. On school days, she had little enough time left for training to begin with, so she had to save every moment she could.
The original plan was for Sunset to go to the academy’s Turf training grounds and find Okino there. Since there was a landmark, Okino did not have to worry about her getting lost.
However, when they made the plan, Sunset did not seem to have considered the possibility that she might get stage fright.
“Ah… It’s already been ten minutes…”
Watching the second hand tick by on the clock tower in front of the main gate, Sunset stood awkwardly frozen in place.
I’m wearing my middle school uniform. If I just walk into Tracen Academy like this, will people look down on me…? Little calculations like that kept clacking away nonstop in her heart.
As a result, she had never managed to take the decisive first step.
Until she heard a familiar voice.
“Huh? Sunset-nee? What are you doing standing here? That Trainer’s been waiting for you out on the Turf for a while now. Didn’t you say you were coming to train today?”
School was already over, and Nice Nature, who was passing by on her way back to the dorm, walked up beside the petrified Sunset with a helpless look and gave her a push.
Yesterday, Sunset had mentioned this to Nice Nature over the phone, so Nice Nature at least knew what she had come here to do today.
“Ahaha… I just don’t really know the way, so I got a little nervous.”
“Mou… Fine, I’ll take you to him.”
Knowing full well this older friend of hers had an old habit of getting stage fright, Nice Nature sighed and pushed Sunset into the campus.
“Thanks, thanks, you’re saving me! I’ll treat you to udon next time!”
The moment she heard the word “noodles,” Neicha gave a violent shudder, and her face immediately went a little pale.
“I’ll pass on the udon… I ate way too many noodles the day before yesterday. Now even seeing long, strip-shaped things makes me sick…”
Once they had reached a place where the Turf training grounds came into view, Nice Nature stopped.
“The Turf is just up ahead. Go on by yourself, Sunset-nee. Do your best. If we get the chance, let’s do side-by-side training together next time!”
“Side-by-side training? What’s that?”
The child with insufficient Wit tilted her head, completely unable to understand what Nice Nature was talking about.
“Forget it, I’ll start training first!”
Seeing Okino waving to her from a distance, Sunset hurriedly ran over.
…
Tracen Academy. Its full name was Japan Umamusume Training Center Academy. It was Japan’s most advanced Umamusume training school, aiming to train world-class Umamusume through comprehensive education in every area and specialized racing instruction.
The students admitted to this academy were all among the most talented Umamusume in Japan. With an outstanding level of education added on top of that, the vast majority of Japan’s G1 race winners were Tracen Academy students. Here, one could see countless star Umamusume who had already made names for themselves on the racecourse, as well as future stars who were still unknown, but steadily rising.
Under Tracen Academy’s educational policy, which places emphasis on Winning Live, Tracen Academy students possessed excellent qualities in both racing and song and dance, gaining a double boost in popularity as a result. One could say that the Umamusume who made their names here were not only stars on the racecourse, but important figures in Japan’s idol world as well.
On a campus like this, every Umamusume Sunset saw was someone whose name she knew.
“Ah, that’s Super Creek and Tamamo Cross, right? They look so close! Tamamo Cross buried in her chest is so cute!”
“Why can I hear Tamamo Cross calling for help…”
“Who’s that Umamusume sitting under the tree over there? She’s so pretty! Is she meditating? Is that some new training method?”
“Ah, that’s Gold Ship. She’s a very dangerous one. Don’t go messing with her normally, or she’ll distort your art style too.”
“Ahhh, I’m so nervous… That one over there! Is that Air Shakur? Her eyes look so scary—eek! She glared at me! Is she going to come hit me? What do I do, what do I do?! Is it too late to dogeza now?”
“Don’t puff up like that! She only looks scary. She’s not going to come bite you.”
Looking at Lord Sunset not far away, whose hair had puffed up from fright, Okino felt a little exhausted.
The temporary trainee under his charge seemed to have an imagination-defying enthusiasm for every corner of the academy. Enthusiasm was a good thing, of course, but he hoped that excessive curiosity would not interfere with the first day of his training plan.
Yesterday, after Sunset and Okino had established their temporary team relationship, Okino had given Sunset the training plan he had tailored specifically for her.
Though the plan would certainly have to be adjusted during the training process, for Sunset, who had not even received basic training yet, it was already more than enough.
Okino was confident that as long as he and Sunset stuck firmly to this plan and trained according to it, meeting the student council’s requirements would not be difficult.
However, while the theory was lovely, suddenly asking an Umamusume who had never lived at Tracen to throw herself wholeheartedly into training under everyone’s eyes did not seem to be a simple matter.
Though Sunset completed every task Okino gave her without missing a beat, her attention would drift now and then toward the Umamusume around her. When the gazes of the surrounding Umamusume fell on Sunset, even her breathing seemed to grow unsteady.
Even if it had no major effect right now, it would be bad if Sunset developed the habit of looking around during training. Okino had no choice but to watch Sunset’s every move carefully, quickly reminding her whenever something else drew her attention away.
What method should I use to focus Sunset’s attention on training?
Watching Sunset realize her mistake and put her focus back into training again, Okino sank into thought.
It’s not as if I can drive all the Umamusume around us out of the training grounds, right? If I did that, Gold Ship would probably kick me straight into the hospital on the spot.
Find Sunset an Umamusume training partner? Asking Hana might make it possible, but then I’d owe her a huge favor again. Besides, it doesn’t seem very good to bother Umamusume who already have their own training plans.
Raise the pressure of the training so Sunset won’t have the strength to pay attention elsewhere? It wouldn’t be very reasonable to overturn the training plan I just made. Gradual progress is the right way.
Okino fell into distress.
T/N: MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! also i want to be buried in creek’s chest…….. also i was gonna say som
OH AIR SHAKUR HOW I MISS YOU :SOB: PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I NEED MORE RAWS OF SOCIALL ANXIOUS
This is a fan translation of 迫于生计，赛马娘登上赛场！ by 扶风三尺 Rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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