Oguri Cap's story

Whew...

Thanks for running with me, Oguri Cap. Pffft, hahaha!

Hm? Why are you laughing?

Ah, my apologies, I did not intend to offend. It has been a long while since my time has been spent so productively.

I've heard many a tall tale about your amazing feats racing in your regional course, but I only now realize just how true they were.

You are second to none, Oguri Cap. I truly look forward to competing with you on the turf.

I see. Then how about a race next time?

Impressive. So that is the renowned Oguri Cap. It's not easy keeping up with the Emperor herself, and with such a cool head too.

And to so boldly challenge her to a race. She must truly be confident in her abilities.

Well, I must get going. There's a meet-up I need to attend.

Let's do this again sometime, Oguri Cap.

All right, then...

I wonder where she's headed? Perhaps she's going somewhere else to train in secret.

Could that be the key to her agility? If so, I most certainly need to watch this secret practice of hers.

Oh? Are you also interested in seeing Oguri's training? Why don't we all go and watch her together?

...Hm?

Is she not going to start training?

This is Oguri Cap we're talking about. I'm sure there's some meaning behind her actions... or inaction, in this case.

Hmmm...

She's back! But why?!

What a peculiar girl...

Hmmmmmm...

What in the world is going on in that head of hers? That's the fourth time she's circled around the same area...

Is this girl really second to none? I guess we'll have to see... Let's come back another day.

Ummm...

I'm not sure. I keep walking and walking, yet I end up at the same place.

Does this academy really have four identical locations?

Lost, you say... Perhaps so.

Who are you, anyway? I've never seen you around these parts.

A trainer here... Could you show me where to go?

I'm trying to get back to my dorm room. I would appreciate the assistance.

So that's where it is. Got it. Thanks for your help. See ya.

Huh?! I just saw a trainer who looks exactly like you! Are you some kinda doppelganger?

...So it appears. Now that you mention it, everything else is the same too.

It's a challenge telling what's what in the city. The buildings are all so close together, not to mention they look the same. Things were much simpler back home.

I knew my way around town. Turn right at Tome's field, and you could clearly see my school. The bus stop was to the left of Shige's large warehouse. So easy.

Whenever I passed by, Tome would give me some mandarins to munch on. They were the absolute sweetest. Really takes me back...

Sometimes, I guess. But I can't go back just yet.

Tome, Shige, Chiyo, and Yoshi... They all helped me get to central, to race with the best.

Everyone back home is cheering me on.

I cannot, will not, let them down.

Hm... It's about time I head back. The dorm was this way, right? I'm sure it's this way...

Hrmmm... I'm back here again...

Oh, it's you...

Sorry, could you show me the way again? I'm trying to get to the training course this time.

Sorry for the wait, Tama.

About time ya showed up, Oguri! A bit late, but I'm prouda ya, findin' your way here all by yourself!

I was worried you'd get lost again. And y'know, since I can't go 'round leadin' ya everywhere, I thought it'd be a good idea to try leavin' ya to your own devices...

I got here just fine. This trainer here showed me the way.

AND HERE I THOUGHT YA DID IT ON YOUR OWN!

Ugh, it's fine. Now that you're here, let's hurry up 'n' get this scrimmage started.

Sounds good. I'll go get ready.

A'ight. Me too.

Hey, did you hear the news? Tamamo and the new girl are gonna race over at the practice grounds!

Seriously?! You mean we finally get to see Oguri Cap in action? We gotta see this.

Hm?

It's awfully loud here. Is there some kind of festival going on today?

Is... that so? That's quite the crowd...

Hrmm...

Errr, well... I've never been watched by so many people around my age. It wasn't like this back home...

I'm not used to it... It's making me restless.

It's the same whenever I eat... The other girls are always staring at the mountain of food on my plate...

And it kinda bothers me, so I've been eating alone in my room lately...

Sorry for holdin' ya up, Oguri! I'm rea...

Whoa! The stadium's packed, yeah?

Um, Tama?

What? Don't tell me ya got butterflies, Oguri! How're ya s'posed to run in any of the G1 races?

I got just the thing for ya! All ya gotta do is imagine that eeeveryone watching ya is a piece of takoyaki!

Takoyaki, huh? Hm... I'll give it a shot.

Hrmmm... Now I'm hungry...

Ya sure are one peculiar gal...

Hnng!

I'll show ya what a girl from Naniwa's really made of!

Nngh!

I'm just getting started, Oguri!

Pant, pant... A perfect tie, huh? Not bad, Oguri.

You too, Tama. You're faster than I expected.

Heh. Right? But I'm gonna beat ya next time, just ya wait and see.

...Anyway! Now that I'm all fired up, might as well go for a quick run. Catch ya later, Oguri!

...

Ah, you were watching, huh?

It's weird. Doctors told me I had a steady heart. Even right after a race, my heart rate would go straight back to normal.

But... my heart's still pounding. And when I think about the race just now, my heart... it races even faster.

It's a strange sensation, but... I think I like it. Am I... excited? Is this what excitement feels like?

A rival... Huh...

I see. So this is what central has to offer...

Phew... Okay, just one more set!

Hm? Oh, it's you again.

Yep. I'm actually gonna be participating in the next tryout.

The deadline to apply for the race had already passed by the time I had transferred in.

But after the race coordinators saw the scrimmage between me and Tama, they decided to give me special permission to run in the next tryout.

If I do well during tryouts, I'll be one step closer to making my central debut. I need to push myself now more than ever before.

Oh right. Sorry to keep asking you, but could you show me the way one more time?

Anywhere near the school, as long as there's plenty of nature.

I didn't know there was such a vast forest behind the academy. This is perfect. Thank you.

Ahhh, yes. This is it. The forest air out here is just right. It cleanses my mind and calms my soul.

Back in the day, I'd always find myself running in these areas. Eventually, the folks back home started suggesting I run in an Umamusume race.

Yeah. It's thanks to everyone back home and their support.

I remember when I ran in my first regional race, the townsfolk made me a huge banner, even though they were really busy working the fields...

Whenever I had a race, everyone would gather at the end of the day and feast in my name, win or lose.

"What an amazing race!" "Watching you run is always a treat!" "Keep at it!" ...I was always surrounded by words of encouragement.

That's why... I love running so much.

And I love racing too. The bonds it makes. The joy it brings. I love it all.

Of course.

Everyone back home always says that seeing me race, seeing me run so freely and happily, means the world to them.

And my race with Tama was really fun. Just thinking about it gets my heart racing.

If debuting means I get to run alongside other amazing racers as strong and fast as Tama, then...

I want to debut as soon as possible.

Anyway, that's enough chitchat for today. I should get back to my training.

Thanks for bringing me here. I'll come to this forest to run when I need to clear my mind and remember my roots.

I'll be taking my leave. See you around.

Ah.

Hm? Why the sudden change of expression?

No... I'm fine. I just tore one of my shoelaces, that's all.

It's no big deal. All of my shoes wear out quite quickly.

Gotta go buy a new pair again.

Hmm, I see everything's as pricey as ever.

Oh, hey. You're that new trainer, yeah? The one always hangin' 'round Oguri?

What's with the long face? Ya tryna find somethin'?

Hm, I getcha. C'mon, how'd Oguri not notice anything till now? She sure can be a ditz.

Anyway! I'll help ya out. Tryouts are where ya go all out! It wouldn't be fair to the trainers or herself otherwise!

A'ight, we're pickin' the toughest shoes for her! Go big or go home!

No biggie. Always glad to help.

Besides, this isn't just for her. If she doesn't hurry up and debut, how am I s'posed to race her again?!

C'mon, let's get started! What's your budget lookin' like? Gotta know that before we can do anythin' else.

New shoes? For me?

...But why? I'm not even your trainee yet.

Tama said that? I see. So that's how tryouts work.

Got it. Thanks for the shoes. I'll break them in as I practice for the race.

Pant, pant... Huff, huff... Haha... Hahahaha!

This is amazing! My legs... are light as feathers!

Pant, pant...

Thank you again for the shoes.

They're... absolutely perfect. I'll take good care of them.

...

H-huh? What?

It's no big deal... I think. It's just... Uh...

What you said. It felt really... familiar...

It's nothing. Don't worry about it.

In any case, thank you one last time for the shoes. I promise to pull out all the stops come tryouts.

Wow. There sure are a lot of people here today.

You're right. Are tryouts always like this?

No, actually. It's quite unusual to have this large of an audience... I wonder if there's some celebrity here today.

A celebrity? That would explain the crowd.

Super Creek, please get ready for the race!

Yes, ma'am! I'll be right there! I have to go now.

See ya.

Wait, who even was that?

Oguri Cap is closing the gap! She isn't wasting a single second!

Almost there! She's taking the lead! But wait! Creek is speeding up! Will she be able to lose Oguri?! It's gonna be a close match! Who will win?! Oguri or Creek?!

Second place... Huh...

I got brand-new shoes... and ran as fast as I could... But I still got second...

This place really is something else. Once I debut, I'll be able to race even more rivals like Tama and Creek...

This is awesome... and exciting!

Nice job, Oguri Cap! You were amazing!

Indeed. Very impressive. I'm currently looking to recruit more talented runners to train under my tutelage, if you're interested...

Ah, right... I need to get scouted before I can make my debut...

Thanks, but... Sorry, I'll have to decline. Excuse me.

...Did you watch the race?

Th-thanks.

Um... yeah, it has to be you.

I have a favor to ask. Would you be my trainer?

The guidance you gave and your words of support... They felt genuine.

Praise or criticism, you're genuine like the folks back home. It feels nice. Really takes me back.

Even though I'm far from home, as long as you're my trainer, I feel like I can ease my mind and put my all into running.

So... how about it? Would you please be my trainer?

...Of course! I wouldn't want anything less. Let's do it!

All right. First things first...

...Let's grab something to eat.

I got these at the school shop. This should be enough to get me up and running.

One meal.

Well, almost one. I wouldn't be able to run on a full stomach, so I got just enough to keep me energized.

Whenever I go to the cafeteria, I end up eating way too much, so it's good to get lunch from the school shop every once in a while.

That was delicious.

Of course I did.

There are three rules to eating. Thank the hands that made the food. Eat respectfully. And make sure to chew, taste, and swallow. That's what Tome taught me.

The folks back home taught me everything important. To repay them, I need to succeed here at this academy.

That reminds me... Tome used to always give me stuff to munch on. The homemade rice balls were to die for.

They were perfectly round and wrapped in only the best-tasting nori. Like a cannonball, but edible.

Each rice ball would be packed with a different filling too. Fish, meat, veggies, you name it. They had it all.

Every bite had just the right mix of rice and filling, no matter how I ate it. Eating those rice balls was pure bliss.

Hm... Even thinking about them makes my stomach growl. I guess I didn't buy enough to fill me up.

Hmmmm... I could go back for some more, but... I don't know if I'd make it back on time...

Really?! If it's okay with you...

Hehe, I guess one more wouldn't hurt.

Thanks so much for the food. You made these yourself, right?

They remind me of the rice balls Tome would give me. They do more than just fill my stomach... It's like they warm my very soul...

Do you have some kind of special technique?

No special technique, huh? Then there's gotta be some other secret to your rice balls. I'd like to see how you make them if you don't mind.

I've missed the taste of home ever since coming here. I wanna make these for myself, so... would you mind teaching me?

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

Y'know, being around you reminds me of back home. It's very relaxing.

I'm so glad you're willing to be my trainer.

The nostalgic taste of the rice balls really hit the spot. I feel fully recharged, both mentally and physically. I'm gonna ace that scrimmage, just you wait and see!

Wow... That sea urchin's glistening like liquid gold over a plate of pasta... It looks more like treasure than it does food...

And those warm pancakes look like they'd go perfectly with that vanilla ice cream... Not to mention all the fresh fruit. Such an exquisite dish...

Ah, it's you.

Actually, I was looking for a place to eat on my next day off. There are so many options though. It took forever for me to decide...

I did. Apparently, it's some small, hidden cafe known for its pasta and pancakes.

It's just... The other day, I saw an ad for a similarly hidden ramen shop and thought I could find my way there...

But I got hopelessly lost, even though I used a map and everything. I could've sworn I had gotten on the right train...

I guess they aren't called hidden for nothing. It's no small feat finding your way there.

Wait... Could it be these shops are disguising themselves and hiding from public eyes?

Hmmm... Then why is it that I wasn't able to reach my destination? Truly a mystery.

Really?! You'd do that?!

With you by my side, I'm sure we'll get there without a problem. I'll gladly take you up on that offer, thank you.

So this is where it is... You sure know your way around town. Not even a single wrong turn.

...

It's nothing... I just feel a bit out of place... I mean, look around you! It's so fancy.

Is it okay for me to be dressed like this? I heard some restaurants in the city kick you out if you're dressed poorly...

I see... That's a relief to hear, but... I still feel like I'm somehow standing out...

Are you ready to order?

Ah, umm... Let's see... What was I gonna order, again?

Yeah, that's it. I forgot what they're called though... Some hard-to-remember names...

They were both in French, I think... One of them was a sea urchin pasta...

Ah, the "lumière dorèe" pâtes à la crème.

So you can order without knowing the dish's actual name... I see.

Sorry, but could we also get two servings of those pancakes topped with fresh fruit?

Two crêpes aux fruits. Very well.

Did you see that? I ordered something on my own!

That was delicious. So many flavors I didn't even know existed. Each bite was absolutely divine, but they'd last only a second...

Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we get seconds?!

Our meal ended too soon. I feel like I can eat some more, and since we're already here...

Something... else? Now that you mention it, that does sound nice...

The pasta and pancakes were both amazing. I'm sure everything else on the menu wouldn't disappoint.

The question is... What do I order next? A dilemma more difficult than any school exam...

Ahhh, I can't decide! Everything looks good! Looking at the menu just makes me want to order it all!

Wait... Maybe I'll do exactly that.

Let's order everything on the menu. What do you say?

Too much, huh? Then could you at least order for me? What are you feeling?

Hmmm... I've never tried that before.

All right, sounds good. Might as well try it while we're here, right? I'll order the food.

The pie crust is nice and crispy, and the balance of sweetness and acidity in the berry sauce is perfect! Not to mention the super juicy patty...

I'm so happy, I feel like I could be dreaming.

I wasn't too sure about eating meat with a fruity sauce, but this was better than I imagined.

Thanks for the recommendation. I would never have tried something like this if it weren't for you.

It's nice to get out of my comfort zone once in a while and eat what other people like!

Thank you for today. The food was fantastic, and I had a bunch of fun.

That's good to hear. This day couldn't be any better.

All right. On to our next destination.

I usually only go to nearby places when I'm alone, but since you said you'd show me around, I wanna make the most of it.

I highlighted a couple other shops that caught my eye while I was preparing for this trip.

It might not be lunchtime anymore, but judging by the state of my stomach, I could stop by at least 10 more spots.

Since we're going to spend the entire day cafe hopping, I'll be counting on you, Trainer!

Do you have a moment before we start training? I wanted to give you something.

Could you fill this out while I'm warming up? It shouldn't take long.

They're mostly yes-no questions, so you shouldn't have to think too hard about your answers.

You'll do it, right?

Thanks. I'll leave you to it then.

Thanks. I'll check your answers later tonight and see if there's anything to be avoided.

Yep, don't worry about it. You filled everything out, so I should have a pretty good grasp.

Let's focus on training for now. I need to be sure I'm prepped for tonight.

Work hard, play hard. I'll push through today's training and make sure I expend as much energy as possible.

Don't you know? Tonight is... Hmmm, wait a sec.

It's better I keep this a secret, right?

Hmm, certainly a dilemma. Well, I'll think about it a bit more after we finish training.

Pant, pant... Phew.

Is that the last of our regimen? I feel like I can do a bit more...

I guess you're right. I don't want to push myself too hard today.

I still have to go over your answers and get ready for later.

I took a peek at the paper earlier, but I've never done this before, so it's better to play it safe and have extra time...

Yeah, there's a place I'd like to take you. Let's wash up and meet in front of the training hall.

No. No eating.

Don't get me wrong. I just finished training. I'm starving. But as much as I'd like to eat, we can't. Not yet, at least.

The training hall is especially fragrant around this time. Dinner today is fried chicken and boiled vegetables, so I expect the halls to be especially aromatic.

But we must overcome this temptation. There's something we need to do. And if that means skipping a meal or two, then so be it.

So... Please, no eating.

Thank you.

...I think I'll make a quick stop by the cafeteria and ask if they can save me some food for later though.

In any case, I'll see you soon.

We're finally here.

Look at all these food stalls. Amazing, isn't it?

Yep. I just had to have dinner here.

As you can see, there are so many food options available to us. I'm sure you'll find something you like.

Eat as much as you like, my treat. I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me.

Yeah. I realized that you know way more about me than I do about you. It's only fair that I at least find out what your culinary likes and dislikes are.

In any case, you do so much to support me. I just wanted to return the favor in my own way. So dinner's on me.

Besides... whenever I'm with you, everything tastes great no matter what I'm eating. So I wanted to come here together...

Great. If you're happy, I'm happy.

All right, then. Shall we begin? We'll start with all the jumbo-sized foods.

Everything here is so big. "Jumbo" doesn't even cover it.

There's enough shaved ice to fill a bucket, and the okonomiyaki's big enough to serve as cushions. And the takoyaki? They're the size of baseballs.

You say that, but shaved ice is mostly water. And look at the okonomiyaki. It's all cabbage.

You couldn't call any of this a meal. This is more like... an appetizer.

Heh, I'm glad you're as excited as I am. I feel ya. I can't wait to start eating.

Excuse me, mister! Can I get two servings of shaved ice and four okonomiyaki?

Uh-huh. I want to try out the other stalls too, so we're starting off light. If you want more, we can come back later.

No need to hold back. Feel free to eat to your heart's content.

Whenever I need anything, you're always the first person to provide it. This is my way of saying thank you.

I've never done anything like this before, so it's kind of embarrassing... but please accept my gratitude.