It was another day after school.
Leaning against the wall by the school gates, Okino watched the Umamusume stream out. Those beautiful sprites laughed and played with one another, like something from the loveliest fairy tale in the world.
It was precisely because he adored these charming sprites, because he wanted to witness their dreams with his own eyes, that Okino stood here as a Trainer.
He wanted to see them run across the earth. He wanted to witness their youth. He wanted to see their smiles when they claimed victory. That was why he had entrusted his own youth to this academy.
All day today, he had been restless. If he had to describe it, it was like the tension of an Umamusume already in the starting gate, waiting for the race to begin. Once the gates opened, no one could say where the result would go.
He had chewed through several lollipops and already had a whole handful of sticks, but he still could not clear away the anxiety deep in his heart.
“I’m actually nervous. I really haven’t grown at all…”
Okino remembered that when he had invited Mr. C.B. to join his team years ago, he seemed to have been just as nervous. So many years had passed, and he was almost an old man now, yet he was still this pathetic.
“That’s why some people say those who keep their childlike hearts stay young longer, Trainer Okino.”
“If only that were true…”
Beside him, Hayakawa-san stood there as well, saying goodbye to each Umamusume who passed. The sunset shone on their faces, bright and vivid, yet not dazzling.
Hayakawa-san offered gentle blessings to every child, while Okino stood silently to the side, simply watching their interactions.
Only after there were no more younger ones around did Hayakawa-san turn to Okino, who was still quietly waiting for someone, and speak to him.
“Lord Sunset… Actually, I know that child too. To be honest, I’ve known her for three years.”
“Ah… Hayakawa-san, you knew I was waiting for her today?”
Okino’s mouth fell open in shock. He had not told anyone in advance about his promise with Sunset. Yet Tazuna Hayakawa before him seemed to know everything. Does she have the ability to see the future or something?
“To be honest, it’s because I’ve always had a strange sort of intuition. Perhaps it’s a blessing from the Three Goddesses, but when it comes to the Umamusume around me, I always have a kind of faint premonition. When I saw Lord Sunset this morning, I suddenly felt that she had formed a connection with Tracen Academy.”
Hayakawa-san smiled. “Trainer Okino, you can just treat this as nonsense on my part. But when I saw that child this morning, she truly did feel different from usual.”
“There seemed to be more hope in her eyes, and she was livelier when she greeted me too.”
Hayakawa-san recalled the scene from that morning, a warm smile appearing on her face.
“I heard about your agreement with President Symboli Rudolf, so I guessed that the Umamusume you mentioned might be that child. Just as you said, Trainer Okino, she truly is an exceptionally talented Umamusume.”
“In other words, Hayakawa-san, you knew about Lord Sunset’s talent, right?”
“She runs with a lot of strength, and her breathing is very steady. She really is an energetic child.”
Hayakawa-san did not deny it, offering her evaluation with complete sincerity.
“Right? My eye really wasn’t wrong after all…” Hearing Hayakawa-san praise Sunset, Okino borrowed her authority and smugly basked in it for a moment. Then doubt appeared on his face again. “But if you already knew about that child, Hayakawa-san, why have I never heard you mention it at the academy? You’re famous for having an eye for talent too. If you had recommended Sunset to the chairwoman, wouldn’t the chairwoman have made an exception for her?”
At the academy, though she was not a Trainer, Tazuna Hayakawa had always been praised as one of the racing world’s great judges of talent. The Umamusume she had once guided had all benefited greatly from her advice. There were also many Umamusume who, under her advice, had found the direction best suited to them.
Okino did not believe that such a warmhearted woman, one so beloved by everyone at Tracen Academy, would see a hidden gem and simply turn a blind eye.
“In everyone’s eyes, perhaps I really have provided the correct direction for many children… But there is a prerequisite for that. They must have truly found their own goals. I can only give them a push. If that child has not yet found her own goal, then even I cannot step in to help her.”
Seeing that Okino still had a look that said, What are you talking about? Hayakawa-san lowered her voice.
“Though this may be hard for you to understand, Trainer Okino, it truly is an oracle the Three Goddesses gave me.”
“The Three Goddesses…” Okino subconsciously turned his head. Before the campus gates, the statue of the Three Goddesses was still calmly spouting water.
“Though I can see the paths suited to them more easily than most, I also lost the chance to help them choose those paths. Only when they have made their own choice can I offer them the right advice.”
Looking at Okino, Hayakawa-san envied him from the bottom of her heart.
“Many people envy my ability, but I envy all of you even more—the talent to change fate, so long as you have the courage. I can only stand to the side and quietly watch over their futures. But you are different. You can change their fate. It’s far easier to help someone who’s already flourishing than someone who has nothing, but even if it were only once, I would want the power to change fate.”
“That child has always been bound by her own fate. I could see her pain, but I could change nothing. Trainer Okino, you were the one who gave her the strength to fight back against fate. Thank you for accomplishing what I could not.”
Receiving thanks far beyond anything he had imagined, Okino inexplicably felt a heaviness settle over him. He shrugged and put on a slacker’s expression.
“Hayakawa-san, what you’re saying sounds awfully mystical, but since you’ve brought up the Three Goddesses, I guess I can only believe you. Still, changing fate and all that is way too heavy… And thanking me is too much. I’m just an ordinary Trainer. Giving a talented Umamusume a hand when I see one is simply my job. If it were Hana, maybe she could have done it even better than me…”
“That may indeed be true. But right now, the one who changed that child was you. That fact alone is enough. From now on, please stay by that child’s side and keep walking forward with her. I’m very much looking forward to her future.”
Hayakawa-san bowed to Okino, then turned and went back into the campus.
“Aren’t you going to wait with me? Judging by the time, that kid should be here any moment. And besides, you haven’t heard anything, so why do you look completely certain Sunset agreed?”
“I don’t mean to brag, but my intuition is quite accurate sometimes. Also, when you have made a promise between two people, please don’t invite anyone else to join halfway through. For girls, that can sometimes be very important—” Hayakawa-san looked back and winked at Okino. “Please keep doing your best, Trainer Okino.”
Okino still wanted to say something, but he heard footsteps coming from behind him. The footsteps stopped at his back, and Okino could feel his heartbeat slow by half a beat. By the time he steadied himself, Hayakawa-san had already disappeared from sight.
He turned around and saw a girl smiling like a blooming flower.
“Sorry, sorry. My teacher kept me at school for a while. You weren’t waiting long, were you, BOSS?”
Though the girl kept apologizing, she did not seem the least bit remorseful.
“How should I put this… There aren’t even any students around anymore. How can you still have the nerve to ask whether I waited long?”
“Hahaha, the great BOSS is generous and forgiving. This humble one knows her mistake!”
Listening to the girl before him put on that ridiculous voice, Okino realized at some point that the nervousness in his heart had vanished.
“Then how are you planning to make it up to me?”
It had only been a joke, but Sunset looked as if she had taken it seriously. She thought for a moment.
“I’ll treat you to noodles. How’s that? You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“I haven’t eaten, but… are you serious?”
“I earned quite a bit of money from BOSS, so I can accept putting BOSS’s money back toward BOSS—”
Before Okino could refuse, Sunset half-pushed, half-dragged him into a nearby little noodle shop.
The small shop was filled with the simple, everyday aroma of noodles.
“Uncle, two bowls of udon! Oh, right, add extra meat to one!”
“Sunset? What a rare guest. I’ll add some extra noodles for you—”
“Ah, thank you! Right, BOSS, do you eat cilantro?”
Okino stared at Sunset, completely baffled.
“Why’re you looking at me like that? Are you wondering why I’m so close with Uncle? That’s because I helped out here before too!”
Sunset explained it to Okino with a proud look on her face.
“That’s not what I wanted to ask at all! I’m asking if you’ve forgotten why we made plans today.”
“Mm… What was it again? I can’t remember… But if you can finish your noodles faster than me, maybe I’ll remember!”
“You… Fine. If we’re competing, then we’re competing.”
Sunset looked at Okino with a mischievous grin, leaving him feeling a little drained.
The shopkeeper brought over two bowls of noodles, one with meat and one without. After handing the meat bowl to Okino, Sunset waved her chopsticks.
“Now then, take your marks—three, two, go!”
“How can you false start even here?”
Seeing Sunset’s noodles rapidly decrease, Okino hurriedly began trying to catch up.
But no matter how hard he tried to speed up, he could not match Sunset as an Umamusume, not to mention that his bowl had far more slices of meat than hers.
By the time Sunset finished eating, Okino still had nearly half a bowl left.
“Yeah! I won! First place!”
Seeing Okino’s sorry state, Sunset laughed with great delight. Faced with that smile, even though he was the one being messed with, Okino could not get angry at all.
After they finished their noodles, the two of them walked out of the shop. The sunset clouds on the horizon had already vanished, and the countless stars above had begun to gleam.
Sunset walked in front, while Okino quietly followed behind her.
Looking at the little river by the roadside, Sunset spoke softly.
“When I was little, I always thought I was very unlucky. I lost my mom and dad, who loved me dearly, and wandered through the city alone. Even after the director took me in, all I could do was live a poor life.”
“But later, I stopped thinking that way. Because the director and his wife gave so much for us, and all the uncles and aunties on the shopping street have always taken good care of me. My little brothers like me, and Kita-chan has gotten cuter and cuter too… Slowly, I started to feel that I was actually pretty lucky.”
Sunset lifted her head, and the starlight above reflected in her eyes.
“I grew up loved by my elders, and I want to repay that feeling. I also want to stand as the older sister of my little brothers and sisters, become the hero in everyone’s eyes, and bring them a better future.”
Sunset turned back. In her clear gaze, Okino saw the resolve hidden within.
“BOSS, I want to win. No matter how pathetic I look on the training grounds, I want to win beautifully on the racecourse. If it were only me, I could never do that even if I gave everything I had. So please, help me.”
She held out her hand, her fingertips still trembling slightly.
Looking at Sunset before him, Okino suddenly remembered a certain phrase.
No matter how hard others tried, the only one qualified to change a person’s fate would always be that person herself.
“Yeah. Let’s do our best together! Our goal is to become the strongest in Japan!”
Okino firmly took Sunset’s outstretched hand.
“You really dare to say something that big, huh?”
“I have a lot of confidence in you! My future life of rolling in prize money depends on you!”
“Heh-heh… Say whatever you want.”
The river of stars shone bright.
T/N: AWWWWWW
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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