[Fanfic] Umamusume: My Number One, Daiwa Scarlet! (part 8)

Title: Umamusume: My Number, One Daiwa Scarlet!
Genre: Sports, Slice-of-life, rom-com
Previous: Chapter 7

==Chapter 8: Kyoto==

The Shuka Sho, the final leg of the Triple Tiara series. It is one of the most important G1 races for Umamusumes to prove their worth as champions. Set over a distance of 2,000 meters at the Kyoto Racecourse, this race was Daiwa Scarlet's last chance to secure at least a Double Tiara. However, for Akagi Noboru, it would be his first G1 race as a trainer.

For three weeks, Akagi shaped Scarlet to be stronger than ever. His surprisingly vigorous methods proved remarkably effective for her. Throughout the entire week, Daiwa Scarlet and Akagi Noboru worked seamlessly as a team, without a single shouting match or debate between them.

However, these past few weeks had impacted more than just Scarlet's physical condition and performance... they had affected her heart as well.

Whenever they were together, Scarlet would secretly steal glances at Akagi. Every praise and bit of care the trainer offered made her heart pound. Yet, as a professional athlete, she knew there were boundaries, reminding herself that she had a race to win.

Two days before the race, all the participants, including Daiwa Scarlet and her Team Emerald, arrived in Kyoto after a two-hour Shinkansen ride.

"This is it," Scarlet thought to herself. "Kyoto, the place where I'll finally claim that Double Tiara. I cannot lose to anyone... especially to her."

Scarlet's eyes narrowed as they landed on another group disembarking from the adjacent carriage. Team Icarus had also arrived, led by Kondo Mitsuba and, of course, Vodka, who caught Scarlet's eye and flashed a confident smirk.

"Scarlet..." Vodka muttered, clenching her fist as she stared down her rival. "I'm looking forward to our duel here at Kyoto. I'm the one who's taking that trophy. I'll show you how a true champion runs."

"NOBORUUUUUUUU!" Kondo shouted the moment he laid eyes on Akagi, his voice so loud it startled nearly everyone in the vicinity.

Vodka sighed while the other members of Team Icarus facepalmed. "Ugh... Not again!" Vodka grumbled. "Ah, we don't know this man..." she announced loudly to some passengers staring in their direction. "...We just happened to be on the same train, that's all."

Kondo marched straight toward Akagi with a wide grin. At last, Noboru," he declared, combing back his pompadour. "Our first true confrontation in an official race. Let's see whose runner is the-"

"Oh, hi, Pompadour Man! I didn't know we were on the same train!" Akagi greeted him cheerfully.

"SERIOUSLY?!" Kondo shrieked. "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU MY NAME IS KONDO MITSUBA?!"

"Hahaha, sorry, sorry. I mean, we rarely spoke to each other even during the trainer meetings", Akagi said innocently.

"Boss... please", Vodka whispered, her face burning with embarrassment. She practically dragged Kondo away from Team Emerald by his arm. "Let's just go to the hotel. You're causing a scene".

"Vodka's right, Trainer", Cesario crossed her arms. "You don't want Vodka to get disqualified just because you caused a scene here, do you?" she asked, while Kawakami Princess, Mejiro Palmer, and Daitaku Helios nodded in unison.

"Right... right..." Kondo took a deep breath. "Let's head to the hotel," he said, smoothing his pompadour. "Ugh, I think I need a beer the second we check in".

Scarlet, Akagi, and Team Emerald stood stunned as Team Icarus finally shuffled off.

"Well, I guess this is our new normal ever since the Trainer arrived, isn't it?" Curren Chan giggled. "I mean, Trainer Mitsuba is genuinely obsessed with our trainer".

"Meh, he's just a big idiot who can't move on from a silly high school grudge", Scarlet huffed, before narrowing her eyes at Akagi with a slightly flushed cheek. "...Though, to be fair, you're also a dummy who couldn't remember an old classmate's name".

Akagi chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh well, like I said, I was an introvert during my school years. I only spoke to a very few people when it was necessary. So yeah, I didn't have many friends back then".

Akagi glanced in the direction where Team Icarus had disappeared. "But... he also mentioned dropping out during our senior year. Maybe that's why I don't really remember him, aside from his eccentric delinquent phase".

A brief silence settled over the group.

"Machan thinks we should head to the hotel as well", Aston Machan suggested, breaking the quiet. "Also, Machan must remind you that Scarlet and the Trainer have a pre-race press conference tomorrow".

"Machan is right", Gentildonna agreed. "Let's not waste time standing around. Scarlet-senpai, let me help you with your suitcase".

"A-ah, thank you, Gentil..." Scarlet said, touched. "I appreciate it".

----

Meanwhile, a second train pulled into the station. Another team disembarked from a passenger carriage: Team Hestia, a C-ranked team consisting of three Umamusumes: Aurum Star, Frozen Sky, and the participant in this very race, the one who had openly challenged Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka: Rain Dance.

Rain's eyes narrowed as she spotted Daiwa Scarlet and Team Emerald. She clenched her fists. "Daiwa Scarlet, in this race, I'll be the one who crushes both you and Vodka. I'll show everyone that you two aren't the only Umamusumes in this fight."

"Rain," her trainer, a brown-haired man in his 30s wearing glasses, called out. "Are you alright? What's bothering you?"

"Oh, nothing, Trainer," Rain replied dismissively. "Let's just go to the hotel. I hate crowds."

"Very well", her trainer, Masao Karasuma, sighed. "Don't forget we have the press conference tomorrow night. I want you to rest and-"

"I know what to do, Trainer", Rain interrupted, cutting him off completely. "You don't need to say it twice".

----

"KON-CUREEEEEEENNNN!" Curren Chan's cheerful voice boomed through the hotel lobby. "Hey guys, now Curren and Team Emerald are already at the hotel!" She then aimed her camera at her teammates. "Hey guys, wave to the camera!"

Aston Machan waved with her usual warm smile, while Scarlet flashed a peace sign.

"Look, chat!" Curren panned the camera right to Scarlet. "The soon-to-be Shuka Sho champion! Senpai, say hi to the chat!"

"Oh, h-hi", Scarlet stammered nervously. "T-thank you for your support. I will do my best in the Shuka Sho and be Number One!"

The chat exploded with supportive comments like "DO YOUR BEST, SCARLET!" and "I AM ROOTING FOR YOU!"

Soon, Akagi arrived holding three hotel key cards. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Oh, chat, look, our super-duper handsome trainer is here!" Curren announced. "Trainer, Trainer, come here, say hello to the chat!" She pulled Akagi close to the camera. Akagi's face flushed slightly since he wasn't used to being on a livestream, and he offered an awkward wave.

"OH, THE GUNDAM GUY!" one viewer typed, followed by others who recognized him. More comments poured in, ranging from "I AM ROOTING FOR TEAM EMERALD" to "OH MY GOSH, ARE YOU SINGLE?", the latter clearly coming from an enamored fang.

"Alright, alright, that's enough!" Scarlet snapped, pulling Akagi away from the camera with a bright red face. "Curren, don't distract the Trainer even more. He's busy, remember?"

"A-ah, it's okay, Scarlet," Akagi chuckled. "We're just-"

"Hush!" Scarlet cut him off completely. "Now, since each of us already got our keys, let's head to our rooms instead of wasting time here, okay?" She grabbed Akagi's hand and pulled him toward the elevators, with Machan following closely behind.

The entire interaction was caught live on camera, sending the chat into absolute chaos. Comments from "DID SHE JUST GRAB HIS HAND?!" to "Girl is gatekeeping him hard!" started to appear.

"See, chat?" Curren whispered conspiratorially with a mischievous grin. "Our champion is feeling extra territorial today. Talk about forbidden ro-"

"CURREN, STOP LIVESTREAMING AND GET IN HERE!" Scarlet shouted from inside the elevator as she checked her own phone and saw the comments. "AND DON'T START SPREADING RUMORS, GOT IT?!"

"Oops, Curren's been caught!" Curren giggled. "Alright, chat, I think that's all for today. Don't forget to subscribe to Curren's Daily Livestream. Byeeeeee!" she said, cutting the feed.

---

October 13th.

One day before the Shuka Sho, the press conference hall was packed to the brim. Flashing camera bulbs illuminated the stage where the participants sat behind a long table. Microphones picked up every rustle and whisper as rows of sports journalists eagerly leaned forward.

Unsurprisingly, almost every single question from the press was directed at the two main stars, Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka.

"Daiwa Scarlet-san! People are calling this the ultimate showdown for your Double Tiara! How confident are you heading into tomorrow?" a reporter from Twinkle Monthly asked.

Scarlet sat tall, she smiled brightly for the cameras. "My condition is flawless," Scarlet answered, her voice carrying across the hall. "I've trained harder than ever, and I'm fully prepared to claim the victory and take that Double Tiara home."

"And Vodka-san!" another reporter shouted, turning toward Vodka who sat right next to Scarlet, drinking water. "As the Tokyo Yūshun winner facing Daiwa Scarlet-san once again, what is your strategy?"

Vodka grinned, leaning into her mic. "Simple. I'm going to leave everything on the track. Scarlet here bested me at Tulip Sho and Oka Sho, but the Shuka Sho belongs to me."

Murmurs of excitement rippled through the press corps as the reporters furiously scribbled notes, completely captivated by the back-and-forth between the two rivals. Flashbulbs blinded the stage again.

Sitting quietly near the end of the table was Rain Dance. Her eyes glared at the reporters. She assumed that the media only drooled over Scarlet and Vodka, treating the race like a private two-person duel between them while every other runner on the stage was treated as an afterthought.

A bitter, suffocating disgust surged in Rain's chest. "Idiots", she thought, her eyes narrowing into cold daggers as she stared at the flashing cameras. "They really treat this race as a two-woman show. They don't even see the rest of us."

"Ah, Rain Dance-san... I suppose just making it to another G1 race after trailing behind in the Oka Sho is a nice milestone for you to build some experience, right? Do you have any modest goals for just finishing in the middle of the pack tomorrow?" said another reporter who eventually bothered to throw a lazy, superficial question his way. 

Rain didn't answer right away. The entire hall fell into an abrupt, awkward hush. She slowly leaned forward, her sharp green eyes locking onto the cluster of microphones. "A milestone?" she repeated. Her voice was terrifyingly calm.

She stood up from her chair, towering over the microphone. "Is that all a G1 race like the Shuka Sho is to you people? A stage built exclusively to revolve around these two, where everyone else is just handed a participation trophy and told to aim for the middle of the pack?"

Scarlet and Vodka blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Rain swept her piercing gaze across the entire room, glaring not just at the stunned journalists, but casting a heavy, suffocating pressure over every single runner sitting at the table. "You media clowns can sit here and babble all day about your precious favorites," she declared, her voice carrying a controlled, razor-sharp edge that echoed sharply through the silent hall. "And these two can play at being queens of their own little world. But tomorrow, on that track, I am going to tear your expectations to shreds."

She turned her head, fixing an icy, predatory stare directly at Scarlet and Vodka, before letting her gaze sweep over the rest of the competing runners.

"And I am not here just to be a background character!" Rain declared. "Tomorrow on the track, I will crush Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka, and every single runner here, and make the whole of Japan remember my name!"

The press conference hall dropped into silence for three full seconds before cameras exploded into a frantic frenzy of flashing lights.

---

Backstage at the conference room, members of both Team Emerald and Team Icarus were also feeling the pressure from Rain's declaration. "Whoa... is it just me, or does that Rain Dance girl really have this supervillain vibe? fr fr!" Daitaku Helios said.

"She has a grudge," Gentildonna crossed her arms. "Underestimating everyone else just because the media only talks about Scarlet-senpai and Vodka-senpai is a mistake, but it's a strong motivation though."

"Let's see what her record actually is..." Curren pulled out her phone, checking stats "... three wins out of eleven starts. Mostly grinding through allowance races and trials without any big G1 titles yet."

"And when she eventually made her debut at Tulip Sho and Oka Sho, which were her first and only graded races thus far, she was bested by both Vodka-san and Scarlet-san," Machan said. "And the fact that both Scarlet-san and Vodka-san didn't remember her when we met at the cafeteria only deepened her grudge."

"I think... I understand what she feels," Mejiro Palmer said, her tone somber. "Being an outcast of the Mejiro family who often got underestimated and overlooked because you are just a small fry among giants..." She clutched her hands to her chest. "That kind of feeling is so... suffocating."

"She's been working hard race after race, but because the spotlight is always fixed on big names like Scarlet-san and Vodka-san, nobody in the media even acknowledges her," Cesario said with a tone that showed a sign of pity.

Meanwhile, both trainers, Akagi and Kondo didn't say anything. Their eyes glued on team Hestia and their trainer, Masao, who looked at Rain with sadness.

"She's right, you know", Kondo finally muttered, breaking the heavy silence among them. He watched Masao quietly console a fuming Rain Dance as she stepped off the stage. "When you're built up as nothing more than background noise, winning becomes the only way to make the world turn its head."

Akagi nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the distant figure of Team Hestia's trainer. "Tomorrow's race isn't just about the title anymore. It's going to be a battle of pride."

[To Be Continued]
Next Part: TBA