Chapter Text
Nature is walking down the halls of Tracen as she hears someone calling her name.
Going downstairs towards the source of the voice, she quickly finds out it's her trainer, his expression showing a frown, one that could only spell bad news.
"Oh! Trainer! You were calling my name, right?" Nature spoke, confused.
"Yes..there's something I need to tell you, can you come to our club room?"
"Got it, I'll be there in a sec!"
Minamizaka walked away, towards the club room, Nature couldn't help but wonder what exactly he needed to tell her and why there.
Taking a deep breath, she steps outside, making her way towards the room.
The scenery was nice this time of day, the sun shines brightly through the leaves of the trees, plenty of umas are enjoying their training, some simply going out on a walk.
The weather called for it as well, it was a sunny, cloudless day.
She puts her hand on the handle of the door, taking a breath in, and out.
She opens the door, the club room is as messy as usual, yet it's quiet.
Taking a glance at the room, she quickly takes notice of the others standing there, the rest of the team members, all of them bearing a frown, the silence quickly broken by their trainer.
"Nature, we've…made a decision." Mina began, his voice, hesitant.
Taking a deep breath, he finishes his statement.
"We've decided to kick you out the team."
Nature's heart sank.
That statement hit her in the stomach, and it hit her hard.
"W-why?" Fear grew within Nature, or rather, a mix of fears, her voice, shaky.
"Your race results haven't improved at all." Mina began his response.
"While that wouldn't be a problem with our team, you also don't contribute to it in a good way."
"I'm sorry, Nature, but this is for the better of our team."
Nature's heart rate quickened, as did her breathing.
Why? What has she not done? Is she just not good enough? Will she never be good enough?
These thoughts ran through Nature's mind, as her vision grew blurry.
The noises surrounding her turned incomprehensible, unable to make out if it was screaming, laughter, crying, or anything for that matter.
She feels herself tripping, falling straight onto the ground, until…
Silence.
Everything is dark.
She is no longer in the club room, perhaps she's in the infirmary?
She can feel herself breathing in a only slightly slower pace, though still quickly.
She pulls up her arm and swings it in front of her, making out a faint silhouette of it.
Gazing around the room, thanks to a dim light coming from the windows she realises where she is-her dorm.
Turns out this was just a bad dream.
Yet the dream couldn't help but leave her in thought, it felt so realistic, could it actually happen?
Some people (mainly Machitan and Fuku) believe dreams to be signs of the future, after all.
…
Perhaps it's better to not think about that.
Unable to go back to sleep, she decides to go out for early training, maybe that will help.
Walking down the halls of the academy, she quickly realises just how quiet it is this early.
Typically there would be someone running down the hall, someone pulling a prank, or just the noises from Fuku's and Machitan's dorm, yet, at this time of day, even their dorm is quiet.
Machitan- a truly special someone for Nature.
Walking down the hall, she began to think about their conversation.
Her smile always cheers Nature up. She doesn't know why, but her jokes, her face, there's something special about it.
Machitan often says she's average, but if anything, it's Nature who's the average one!
Machitan herself can do much more than her, after all.
And yet, thinking about her, Nature feels like she might just have a chance.
Canopus as a whole is a special group to her, even if they don't exactly win much, each member has their own charm.
Ikuno is smart and reliable, Turbo is energetic and brings the team up, Machitan has a special charm to her and yet…what does Nature have?
That question stuck in her mind.
She opened the doors as a gust of fresh, cold air struck her face.
The outside, just as the inside, is quiet.
It's nice to have a morning walk like this once in a while, where nobody can come and interrupt, just a quiet walk, only you and the wind, alone.
Though that would change when she noticed a famillliar face on the track.
Rice Shower.
An unusual umamusume, one known for her achievement of winning the Kikuka Sho against Mihono Bourbon, who was on the track to win the Classic Triple Crown, yet it's an achievement that was not taken well by the audience.
Though it sparked controversy, it has recently died down due to news of Rice and Bourbon getting closer to each other, the latter having convinced her to run in the Tenno Sho, which Nature could only assume she's training for.
Finishing her lap, she slows down to a halt and takes notice of Nature.
"Nature? Why are you up this early?" Rice asks as she approaches her.
"Oh! I couldn't really sleep so I decided to go for a morning run…" Nature responding, scratching the back of her head.
"What happened?"
"Just a bad dream…why are you running this early?"
"I…I have to get stronger." Rice began her answer.
"For…Bourbon…for…everyone."
"I must prove I'm not a heel…"
"I must prove that I'm a hero…just like Bourbon said."
"Ah! Sorry for dumping that on you…"
"Hey, it's okay, I sometimes say a lot myself…haha…" Nature reassured her.
"Though, can I ask you something?"
"What does being a hero mean?"
"A hero? Well…" Rice took a deep breath and started speaking.
"Ever since I was a little kid…my parents would read me picture books often."
"My favourite one, the one about a blue rose…it's a story about a rose that was different. Unnatural. Weird."
"People were scared of it, until one day, someone decided to take care of it, seeing it as a sign of good fortune."
"And good fortune it is, the rose gave them great luck, making them happy. Like a hero."
"When I first heard of it, I loved it. I decided to be like the blue rose. To bring happiness to others, to bring good fortune, rather than misfortune."
"When the Kikuka Sho finished and I didn't hear happiness, but hatred and anger at me…I felt broken."
"Did they not want to see me win..?"
"Did I cause misfortune to them?"
"Did…did I make things worse for everyone…?"
"I thought I ruined everything."
"Until Bourbon came and talked to me."
"She told me she wants me to run. I didn't believe her, but then…"
"She told me that, to her, I'm her hero. That thanks to her, after her injury, she managed to keep going."
"It was the first time I ever saw her happy."
"I think…a hero is someone who brings happiness to people. Someone you look up to, someone, like the blue rose."
"That's what being a hero is to me."
Rice's story left Nature unable to respond.
So that's what being a hero is.
A hero, a main character, someone important.
Could Nature be that…?
"Nature, are you okay?" Rice asked, snapping Nature out of her thoughts.
"Ah! S-sorry, I got lost in my head for a bit there."
"I..don't really know what to say but…thank you for telling me this."
"Of course! I love helping others without bringing misfortune." A smile formed on Rice's face, then on Nature's.
"Well, should we train together now?" Nature asked.
"Yeah!"
They eventually stopped training as Rice decided to take a break when Bourbon came and asked her to go somewhere with her, leaving Nature alone.
She's unsure on where to go, she doesn't have much energy to train by herself anymore and she isn't feeling hungry either.
Checking the time, she noticed some umas should be getting up by now, perhaps she could meet up with a teammate?
Well, she doesn't have to choose, as a teammate came to her.
"Natureeee!!!" A childish, familiar voice yelled out to Nature.
"Turbo? What are you doing here?" Nature turned to Turbo.
"I should be asking you that! You never get up early!"
"Well…I had a bad dream and couldn't sleep, so I decided to go out for a run.." Nature ended her response with an awkward laugh.
"Then don't worry! Turbo is here now! And I will help you achieve a speed faster than before! Maybe you'll even outrun me!"
"W-wait, I was abou-" Before Nature could finish, Turbo has already begun to pull her towards the track.
"Turbo wait! I said I was about to go take a break!"
"C'mon! Run with me! It's better to run with someone else than alone!"
"I wasn't even running alone.." Nature thought to herself.
"Fine, fine, I'll do one lap."
"Yay! Get ready, you might not outrun me this time!" Turbo declared with a brim of excitement, contrasting Nature's uncertainty.
They stand parallel to each other, ready to run.
"3…" Turbo begins the countdown.
"2…"
"1…"
"Go!"
In a matter of seconds, the umas burst off the ground and ran off, each in their own speed.
Nature has fallen several lengths behind Turbo, saving her energy, while Turbo made sure to go as fast as she can.
Rounding the first corner, not much changed in their positions, though rounding the second, Nature has slowly started to get closer to Turbo.
"I'm not gonna let you catch me!" Releasing a burst of speed, Turbo moves up further, creating more distance between her and Nature.
Though Turbo is filled with energy, Nature can't help but be lost in thought.
"Even if I'm running right now…"
"If this was a real race, I would have just gotten third again, wouldn't i?"
"Even if I outran Turbo, it would end up the same…"
"Is there a point in trying…?"
"Hey Nature! Are you gonna try to catch up to me or not?!" Turbo yelled out, snapping Nature back into the reality.
She's running. Training. This isn't a race, this is just training.
But she should do her best regardless. For them.
With all her force, she hits the turf with her leg and pushes off of it, releasing a burst of speed, the distance between her and Turbo shortens as they round the third corner.
Then the fourth.
On the last corner, Nature's speed rose further, the distance between them rapidly shortening.
4 lengths, 3 lengths, 2 lengths…
"I won't let you win!" Turbo yelled out, using the tiny bit of her energy left to push herself further, trying to make at least a little more distance to win.
"We'll see about that!" Nature responded, releasing yet another, final burst of speed, each step growing closer and closer to Turbo and by extension, the finish line.
In a matter of seconds, Turbo ended up chasing Nature instead as they crossed the finish line they marked with their bottles.
Nature slowed down, feeling the burn on her legs after giving it her all.
Yet she notices something-she enjoyed this. It's been a while since she's truly enjoyed running. She would always come in a bad place, 3rd or worse, to the point she wanted to give up trying.
Though this small race doesn't necessarily make her want to continue, it allowed her to feel what makes racing so fun, again.
"Natureeeee!" Turbo yelled out from the ground, her voice strained from the exhaustion.
"You…ran well…"
"Haha, thank you…you've gotten better yourself y'know!"
"Of course! One day, the world will see the might of Twin Turbo!" Turbo declared, managing to pull herself up.
"Let's take a break now. I think the rest of the team might be awake now." Nature suggested.
"But I wanna run more! I want to get faster!"
"Sorry but I am completely exhausted, you can run when we do team training."
"How do you even have this much energy?" Nature asked in her mind.
"Hmph. Fine! But next time I'll beat you!"
Turbo and Nature decided to meet the rest of the team in the club room, or at least planned to-that is until they encountered the rest of the team walking outside, looking for the two.
Their gazes quickly connected, their reactions differing.
"Natie! Turbo!" Machitan was the first to give a reaction, leaping onto Nature and tightly wrapping herself around the other uma.
"H-hi everyone!" Nature mumbled, her face flushed red.
"Group hug!" Turbo yelled out, joining in Nature's and Tannhauser's hug.
"Heyy Ikuno, c'mon join in! You too trainer!" Turbo suggested.
"I'd rather not." Ikuno responded.
"Me neither, sorry guys." Mina added.
"No fun!"
Nature was the first one to break out of the hug, Turbo following after.
"So, what were you two up to?" Ikuno asked.
"We were training! I nearly won against Nature!"
"I did training earlier too! I was just tired!" Nature explained.
"Maybe one day Turbo will surpass us all!" Tannhauser stated, to which Turbo quickly agreed.
"Stil, it's impressive you're catching up to Nature, she's a fast one."
"I'm really not that good…why is she saying I am?" Nature thought to herself, though that got quickly cut off by the conversation.
"Guys, let's calm down for a bit. I've made a decision." Mina began.
"Recently you've all been doing a lot, so I've decided to have you take a break for a bit. I think you should rest, as a reward for your hard work as well as so you can get ready for the next races."
"So, in short, feel free to do what you like! Just don't skip classes."
The umas collectively decided to do one thing during this free time.
"Trainer, can we go to the mall?" The umas asked together (except for Ikuno, who just listened.)
"Well- uh, I would say yes but the mall is far away and we currently don't have a way of transport…"
"Then we'll run there!" Machitan suggested
"Yeah! I'll be able to show off my speed!" Turbo added
"Uh- I don't think you shou-."
Though before he could finish, they had already ran off towards the nearest mall.
"What happened to getting rest?"
Having finished their mini race and reaching the mall, they decided on splitting up to go alone.
Turbo was first to blast off, going towards the arcade, while Machitan went to get some food at a restaurant.
Ikuno went to look for new clothes, which left Nature alone.
What could she get here anyway? She's more used to shopping districts where the people know her, thus they would get things she likes, even if she didn't ask for them...
Regardless, several choices presented themselves, she decided to walk around the mall looking at the stores there to see if anything is to her liking.
A restaurant here…a book store there…a sports store? Maybe she could get something for training?
Taking a peek inside, there appears to be a section specifically for umamusume.
Perfect! Now to see what she can get.
Looking around the store, she takes a glance at the different items there. Some for humans, some for umas, each with their own use.
Perhaps it might be fun to try out other sports once in a while.
Reaching the actual section for umamusume, she was about to pick something until she saw someone else in the store-someone she didn't see in a bit, or at least not in person.
Tokai Teio, her rival.
Nature wanted to talk to her, yet her thoughts say otherwise.
Side characters shouldn't be interacting with main characters much, they're not important after all.
She let her instincts take over and rushed out of the store, looking back from time to time to see if someone noticed.
She shouldn't be disturbing main characters, after all.
Stopping to take a breath, she hears the voice of a close friend once more.
"Natie? Why were you running?" Nature looked up to see Tannhauser standing in front of her, her face bearing the same warm yet confident smile she always has, as well as some crumbs from her food.
"Oh, I- it's nothing! Don't worry!"
"You seemed to be scared of something though? Was a monster chasing you?!"
"No no! It's just…"
"I was in a store and…I saw Teio." Nature turns her head down.
"Something triggered inside me, it felt like if I stayed, I'd interrupt her, bother her…"
"I'm just a side character. Not someone important, I shouldn't get in the way…" Tears began forming on Nature's eyes, though she did her best to not let them fall out.
"Well you'll never bother me!" Tannhauser started to respond, making Nature look back up at her.
"Natie, did you already forget? You're more than a side character in my story! Mun!"
"More than that? How? How could I be more than just a side character when I can't even do anything well?!" Nature's mind flooded with negative thoughts once more.
Unable to stop them, tears flow down her face, growing in numbers.
Without a response, she leans into Tannhauser, tightly hugging her, leading Tannhauser to hug her back.
"T-thank you." Nature mutters out, her face leaning on Tannhauser's shoulder.
"There there…"
"Would you want to get some food? A friend of my parents owns a restaurant here! Some recipes are even from my family!"
Pulling back from the hug and wiping her face, she agrees.
They sat down at a table near the wall, Tannhauser looking through the menu while Nature is stuck in thought.
Everything that happened was a wild ride today. From Rice's words, to the training with Turbo, to seeing Teio, to this.
Even if she wouldn't admit it, her mind is a mess. A flurry of different thoughts, ideas, desires and broken dreams.
To be a hero.
Just what could that mean?
She decided to put the thought out for later, she's in a restaurant with possibly her closest friend, now is not the time.
Just enjoy this.
"Hmmm….there's so many options…what do you think we should get Natie?"
"Oh! Hmmm…" Nature takes a glance at the menu, reading through the options, maybe something lighter like gyoza, or maybe something traditional like ramen?
Nature isn't the best person at making choices like this, but in the end she decided on simple ramen, not like she feels like eating anything else for now, Tannhauser however got a larger meal.
Nature was the first to try out her meal, taking a piece of noodles and pork with her chopsticks and stuffing her mouth with them, the flavour quickly hit her taste buds, a nice, warm, savoury taste, one that feels comforting in a sense, resulting in her expression shifting to a smile.
"It's my family's recipe!" Tannhauser mentioned, bearing a proud smile and putting her hands on her sides in a heroic esque pose.
"It's really good! Wow! Where did your family learn to make it?"
"Uh…well…nobody knows! They told me this recipe has been passed down for years! I still didn't learn it though,.." Tannhauser explained, finishing off with a short laugh.
The room goes quiet for a little as they both consume their food, until Nature decides to break the silence.
"Hey, Machitan, I have a question."
"Hm? What is it?"
"About earlier…why-"
Nature's question got cut off by a screaming from the entrance of the restaurant.
"HEY YOU TWO! KI-" Turbo yelled out, which also got cut out by Ikuno who covered her mouth.
"Sorry about her. May we join you two?"
"H-how long have you been standing there?!" Nature asked in a panic.
"Well-" Ikuno began to respond as she too got cut off by Turbo.
"We heard your whole conversation! I even saw you two hugging earlier!" Turbo answered instead, said answer resulting in Nature's and Tannhauser's faces going red.
The four ended up finding a table with more seats to fit them all, this time Tannhauser and Nature would sit on the same side, while Ikuno and Turbo sat on the opposite side.
The four chatted together for a while, eventually finishing their food and returning back to Tracen.
Back in her dorm, Nature wasn't sure of what to do, or more so, what to think about.
Today was full of events, there's a lot to think about.
Instead, she decided to take it slowly.
She laid down on the bed and started to think.
First, what exactly it means to be a "main character", or a "hero".