"So these are the favorites for the Japan Cup?"
Looking at the stack of profiles laid out in front of him, Sakuraba Ryo fell into thought.
Now that he'd steeled himself to play the traitor, he needed to pick a few Umamusume to support.
That said, based on what he'd looked into, Japanese Umamusume hadn't exactly done much winning in the Japan Cup over the past few years...
The Japan Cup was supposed to be Japan's stage for showing the world its strength...
But in reality, Japanese Umamusume had a record in this race that could only be described as brutal.
They'd barely won against the foreign Umamusume at all.
So in the Japan Cup, even without him throwing a wrench into things, it looked like Oguri and Tamamo still wouldn't have an easy time winning.
No, no, no...
What if?
What if Oguri and Tamamo suddenly popped off?
Sure, Japanese Umamusume hadn't really won the Japan Cup up to this point, but what if those two turned out to be the exception?
What if they really did win?
Was he supposed to just sit in the stands again and let the two of them stab him through the heart?
As if I'd accept an ending like that.
Damn it, my own ending ought to be in my own hands!
Thinking that, Sakuraba picked up the profiles spread across the desk in front of him.
All of them belonged to foreign entrants who would be racing in the upcoming Japan Cup.
The first was a purple-haired, red-eyed Umamusume in formalwear.
"Moonlight Lunacy. She ran in the Japan Cup last year too, but only finished fifth. Still, she's won two G1 races in Britain and France."
"If it's her, she ought to be able to put some pressure on Oguri and Tamamo..."
"But if it's only her, she probably still won't be enough to push those two into a corner..."
Sakuraba then picked up the next file.
The Umamusume in the photo on the second profile was extraordinarily tall, with an incredibly muscular build. Even her skin had been tanned to a healthy bronze.
"Michelle My Baby... whoa, she's tall as hell. Feels like she's almost one meter ninety..."
"America's representative, huh? Nine starts, nine placings... and she's got a G1 win too."
"With muscles like that, she ought to have a huge advantage in physical racing."
After Michelle My Baby, the next profile belonged to New Zealand's representative, Ellerslie Pride.
Her long pale-blue hair and the striking scar on her cheek gave the New Zealander a particularly sharp, imposing air.
"Holy crap, she won seven G1s in a single year? That's insane."
Some people are scary enough with six crowns to their name, and this Ellerslie Pride had seven.
Terrifying.
And aside from Ellerslie Pride, there was one more Umamusume being viewed as a top contender for the title in this race.
Sakuraba picked up the last sheet and let out a sigh.
"Italy's representative... Tony Bianca."
"The winner of this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe...?"
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was one of the world's premier turf races.
Any Umamusume who won that race would be recognized as genuine world-class elite.
Tony Bianca was the winner of the Arc, which meant she really was the real deal—a top-level Umamusume on the world stage.
Twenty-six races, fifteen wins, includingsix G1 victories.
Calling someone with a record like that the pinnacle of the world wouldn't be an exaggeration.
This is it.
This is really it.
Damn, with a top-tier Umamusume like that running in the Japan Cup, what was there for him to worry about?
Hah, so this is what it feels like to get carried by a big-shot.
This felt way too good.
Time to go make proper contact with them.
Decision made, Sakuraba immediately set out to find them.
...
"I don't need your help."
After Moonlight Lunacy said that to him, she turned and left without a shred of hesitation, leaving Sakuraba standing there with the corner of his mouth twitching.
No?
I hadn't even really gotten to the part where I explained how I was going to help you, so why are you already refusing?
Was it just because I mentioned you didn't win the Japan Cup last year?
...Man, how petty.
"Let's just try the next one..."
After getting such a cold reception from Moonlight Lunacy, Sakuraba had no interest in pressing his luck.
If this one was a bust, then he'd just move on to the next.
...
"Heheh, you want to work with me?"
"Then let's play some basketball together. Beat me, and I'll say yes."
Michelle My Baby, who stood a full two heads taller than Sakuraba, said that with a bright, cheerful smile.
Sakuraba couldn't detect any malice in her eyes at all...
That was some aggressively American energy.
So if he wanted to work with her, he first had to beat her at basketball?
Beat an Umamusume?
Me?
"Please excuse me."
Sakuraba silently bowed and withdrew.
"Huh? You're not gonna play...?"
Michelle My Baby sounded a little disappointed. She'd actually thought Sakuraba seemed pretty agreeable, and if he'd accepted, she'd been planning to go easy on him and throw the game on purpose...
But since Sakuraba had backed out, she wasn't going to stop him.
So instead, she leaped up and slammed down a dunk.
She really did love basketball.
...
"You think I'd lose to them?"
Faced with Ellerslie Pride's blade-sharp stare, Sakuraba could only smile awkwardly.
"Of course not. It's precisely because I think you can win that I came to seek your cooperation."
"If you think I can win, then why would I need to cooperate with you?"
"What benefit would there be in working with you?"
Ellerslie Pride said it all with a cold expression.
"I could... raise your chances of winning a little more, maybe..."
"Then I'm sorry, but I don't need that."
Ellerslie Pride shook her head and rejected his proposal outright.
"I have my own team to help improve my chances of winning, so I have no need for your assistance. That's all."
With that, Ellerslie Pride turned and left.
Sakuraba was left alone, staring at her retreating back in utter disarray.
No, but seriously, why are these foreign Umamusume all so hard to approach?!
"I refuse to believe it!"
With that in mind, Sakuraba went straight for the queen of the Arc.
...
"Tony Bianca-san, please work with me!"
Tony Bianca merely flicked her eyes over him once, said nothing, and turned away.
...Did she take me for some random creep bothering her?
...
"Honestly..."
"What the hell even is this..."
Wearing a speechless expression, Sakuraba let out a mournful sigh in his heart.
What was going on here?!
This was the first time he'd ever hit this many walls trying to recruit people.
"What kind of luck do I even have today...?"
Just as Sakuraba muttered that complaint under his breath, a hand lightly patted his shoulder.
"I heard you're looking for someone to work with~~"
A clear, lively voice rang out behind him. Turning around, he found an energetic girl with starry yellow eyes beaming at him.
"I'm Obey Your Master. Nice to meet you, Sakuraba-san."
?
How did she know my name?
---
T/N: obey your master can speak japanese btw!!! ALSO :sob: they're all so hot :sob:
i wish i was an umamusume so i can be supers trong