Even as the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun drew closer, Fujimaru Ritsuka's demeanor remained exactly the same as always. He maintained his gentle smile, showing genuine care for Fujimasa March's daily life.
March, in turn, responded like a quintessential "trusting trainee." She answered every one of Ritsuka's questions seriously and was willing to adjust her routine based on his suggestions—even spending time on social interactions she usually considered meaningless.
Why did she find them meaningless? Because she had a dream. She wanted to win the Tokai Derby and stand at the absolute pinnacle of the Tokai region. To achieve this, she poured every waking moment into her training, regardless of the season, unyielding to heat or cold.
It was no exaggeration to say that Fujimasa March lived by a single creed:
"I have nothing left but running."
To her, socializing was a waste of precious practice time. She loathed the inefficiency, which was why she had always been a loner. Even during the period when Horse Girls and Trainers were choosing each other, she remained solitary. She had no desire to team up with anyone lacking talent; her eyes were fixed solely on the Tokai Derby.
For the sake of that dream, she was perfectly willing to be seen as an eccentric loner.
But one day, that conviction was shaken. She had witnessed a perfect pair: a gray-haired Horse Girl named Oguri Cap and a Trainer named Fujimaru Ritsuka.
Oguri Cap possessed immense strength and potential, while Fujimaru Ritsuka had unearthed that strength and was continuously helping her grow even more powerful.
How could March be so certain? Couldn't it simply be that Oguri Cap was a transcendent talent whose growth was as natural as water flowing downstream?
March couldn't even entertain that perspective, for she had witnessed Ritsuka's own "strength" early on. He could effortlessly catch a Horse Girl lunging at him at full tilt, and he had even managed to spot her while she was observing Oguri from the shadows. These were feats even a normal Horse Girl would struggle with, yet this young man named Fujimaru Ritsuka did them with ease.
That was proof enough of his power.
At the time, March had thought: He might be the most formidable person in the Tokai region—no, perhaps even in all of Japan. With him as a guide, Oguri Cap is incredibly lucky.
March envied Oguri Cap. She felt that if she had Ritsuka's guidance, her chances of winning the Tokai Derby would skyrocket.
Since the relationship between a Horse Girl and a Trainer was one of mutual selection, could she recommend herself to him?
March had considered it but quickly dismissed the idea. In her view, Oguri Cap was so strong that her goal was undoubtedly the highest peak of Tokai as well. Their goals were in direct conflict. If they were both under Ritsuka's wing, it would be a "clash of the palms"—a dilemma he shouldn't have to face.
March didn't want to put anyone in a difficult position. If it came to that, she would rather walk her path alone.
And yet, in the midst of those thoughts, Fujimaru Ritsuka appeared before her.
No—calling it a "chance encounter" would be more accurate.
That day, March had woken up early for training as usual and ran into Ritsuka near the vegetable market while he was helping a lost elderly person. She had given him a polite nod and intended to leave, but Ritsuka took the initiative to greet her and offered a piece of advice:
"Fujimasa-san, it might be better if you raised your center of gravity slightly while running."
The blue-gray haired girl had been stunned. She was in a phase of rapid growth where her physical condition changed by the day. She had felt a certain discord in her stride and was searching for a way to correct it. She never expected that Ritsuka, just passing by, would spot the issue at a glance and offer a solution.
After putting it into practice, March was shocked to find he was right. She ran more comfortably, and she ran faster.
Though she had to figure out the exact degree of the adjustment herself, Ritsuka had provided the direction. To see that with a single look... that wasn't just sharp observation. That was something only the world's greatest Trainer could achieve.
From then on, things became... "unstoppable" for March. She desperately wanted Ritsuka to be her Trainer and guide her daily sessions.
But if both their goals centered on the Tokai Derby, wouldn't that make things impossible for him?
March agonized over this. Finally, she made a difficult decision: she would stalk him.
Since Ritsuka could spot her from a distance when she was watching Oguri, he would surely notice her stalking him and develop a distaste for her. If he hated her, the "dilemma" would vanish.
This was March's test for herself; she truly didn't want to interfere with the perfect duo of Oguri and Ritsuka. By making herself look bad, she hoped to sever her own "unnecessary thoughts."
But she never expected that while Ritsuka did indeed notice her, his reaction was to engage her in friendly conversation. His first instinct wasn't that she had ulterior motives, but that she was troubled.
She remembered his reaction to this day.
The black-haired young man stood under a streetlight, a warm smile on his face as he said, "If you need a life consultation, I'm more than happy to help."
Whether it was because Ritsuka's smile possessed a special power or his words held some magical charm, March threw her original plan out the window and voiced her request.
Only afterward did she add, almost as an afterthought: "Fujimaru-trainer and Oguri Cap's goal must be the Tokai Derby as well. I'm sorry, that was rude of me."
Embarrassed, she wanted to flee, but Ritsuka caught her hand firmly. He validated her efforts and her dreams, and then he revealed his own ambition:
"It's not just the Tokai Derby. It's reaching the highest peak in Japan. To put it simply, we will achieve the Undefeated Triple Crown and show the world the radiance of 'Cinderella.' And then, we will reform the restrictions on Horse Girls in Japan, giving more girls the possibility to move forward."
In that moment, March was shaken to her core. She didn't doubt Ritsuka's dream for a second; she believed in it implicitly.
She thought: Only someone like Trainer Fujimaru could achieve something like that. Or rather, he is the only one who can change the world for Japan's Horse Girls!
And so, the two became a "shadow duo."
Ritsuka was willing to guide March and help her win the Tokai Derby. As for whether she would transfer to the Central circuit afterward, that was March's own decision; Ritsuka would only encourage and respect her, never choosing for her. Oguri Cap, meanwhile, would head to Central after being elected the Regional Horse of the Year to begin her ascent to godhood, and Ritsuka would always be with her. As for Fujimasa March...
Originally, March had no complaints, thinking this was the best possible arrangement. But after six months of training, her perspective had slowly shifted.
Perhaps it was because a Horse Girl's competitive spirit wouldn't allow her to yield, or perhaps it was something else entirely. Whatever the case, a thought took root in her mind—one she never dared say to Ritsuka: Oguri Cap? I could take her place.
Why did the one who accompanied Ritsuka to Central have to be Oguri Cap? Why couldn't it be another Horse Girl? If she became even stronger than Oguri, would Ritsuka invite her to Central again, rather than just smiling and wishing her luck at the Tokai Derby?
This was the first time March had ever entertained such an... "unauthorized" ambition.
A seemingly ordinary regional Horse Girl—a gray-hair who wasn't even highly regarded—thinking of shaking the foundations of Central and replicating the feats of "The Emperor"?
Yet, March didn't feel it was impossible. Perhaps it was because Ritsuka was so brilliant that he made the gap between the regional and Central circuits seem negligible. Or perhaps her devotion to him had simply overridden her logic.
Whatever the reason, March also set her sights on the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. She wanted to prove herself at the Kawasaki Racecourse; she wanted Ritsuka to see her in a new light.
On the day she decided to confess her intention to enter that race, she had prepared herself for Ritsuka's skepticism. She had even considered the possibility that he might hate her for it. But to her shock, Ritsuka was the one who brought it up first.
Ritsuka had even gone out of his way to reassure her: "Don't feel any pressure. Just give it your all and show your own style. Someone like you, March, would surely want to climb higher mountains and see the beauty of the world."
March was immensely grateful for Ritsuka's support. This gratitude solidified into a singular thought: I must beat Oguri Cap.
Because Ritsuka was willing to let her be the "assassin," launching a surprise attack on Oguri Cap at the most critical moment.
As for whether Ritsuka would use his own strategies to counter her and turn her "regicide" into a failed dream?
March felt that possibility was slim. When Ritsuka coached her, he gave his absolute all, specifically analyzing Oguri Cap's running style and quirks for her benefit. If he intended to sabotage her, he wouldn't have analyzed Oguri for her in the first place. March hadn't been confident in beating Oguri at all; it was Ritsuka's analytical guidance that gave her a chance and let her see the possibility of victory. If he didn't want her to win, he simply wouldn't have said anything.
Besides, they had worked together for so long that they had built a deep foundation of mutual trust. How could she doubt his intentions?
Even if Ritsuka's goal was to use her as a "whetstone" to sharpen Oguri Cap, she would accept it!
Under Ritsuka's guidance, March underwent "specialized training" targeting Oguri Cap once again, followed by her daily routine.
At the starting gate, her movements were meticulous. The power of every stride, the angle of her forward lean, the rhythm of her arm swings... it all reflected the beauty of mathematical precision. She was becoming a high-precision instrument, every movement perfectly calculated, every burst of power near-perfect.
"Don't let the specialized training affect your usual running style. When you're anticipating the gate opening, you can be a bit more decisive. Be more agile when finding your position." Ritsuka's voice was incredibly calm and unnervingly certain.
March didn't hesitate for a second. She bowed slightly to Ritsuka and answered with solemn gravity: "Understood, Trainer-san!"
After finishing her daily routine, March returned to her specialized training.
During the breaks, Ritsuka didn't let her come to a complete stop. Instead, he utilized every spare moment to teach:
"March, at the end of last month during that race in Kanazawa, you handled the final corner beautifully. You used your opponent's habit of cutting inward against her, taking the position first and leaving her with nowhere to go. It completely broke her rhythm."
After the praise came the areas for improvement. Ritsuka continued: "However, you were also affected by centrifugal force, which drained more stamina than usual. This made your closing speed after the corner less sharp than it should be."
Ritsuka wrote a series of figures on a whiteboard and drew a bird's-eye view of the track. "These are the characteristics of the corners at Kawasaki. Before the race, I need you to do specialized training focused on centrifugal force. We need to keep that closing speed as sharp as possible. The training plan is here."
Ritsuka handed over a sheet of paper filled with writing. March took it solemnly with both hands and read it with quick, confident eyes. A flash of realization and understanding crossed her face. "Understood, Trainer-san!"
The girl's response was powerful and ringing, without a hint of hesitation.
The interaction between the two was efficient and cool-headed, filled with an unspoken rapport. It highlighted a truth: this was not a teaching relationship formed overnight. It was one tempered by time. The way March said "Trainer" was perfectly natural, and Ritsuka's guidance went straight to the core, showing he knew everything about her.
March trusted Ritsuka, and Ritsuka appreciated her ambition and competitive spirit. It was as simple as that.
March firmly believed that Ritsuka had opened her eyes, showing her the way to the highest peak of the regional circuit and even the possibility of Central. Because of this, she envied Oguri Cap even more—and wanted to defeat her even more.
Ritsuka filtered through the races to find the ones that suited her best, analyzed the detailed data and habits of every potential opponent, and created the most efficient travel plans for her away races. He even personally accompanied her to watch footage of her rivals and provided on-site instruction.
What Ritsuka taught March wasn't just more sophisticated running or more versatile tactics. He taught her a mindset: how to face different opponents and tracks like a researcher, quickly finding the optimal solution for every race.
It was the embodiment of "teaching a man to fish rather than giving him a fish."
Under Ritsuka's secret guidance, March had become a sponge, soaking up knowledge and evolving at a breakneck pace.
She was still the same rigorous, serious top student, but her strength was no longer confined to the scale of Kasamatsu. Facing different tracks and opponents with varying styles, she was gradually revealing an astonishing adaptability and tactical execution.
She wasn't as naturally powerful or as full of raw potential as Oguri Cap, but through sheer effort, she had stood before the highest peak of the regional circuit, step by step!
She was going to the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun!
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Musume: Oguri Cap Grand Order (122 Chapters – Ongoing)
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