Archive of Our Own ^beta

Norn Ace was nervous, but there’s no way in hell she would admit that. It’s been a few weeks since she had raced Oguri Cap for the first time.

The dust bunny of a horse girl had ticked her off. She seemed a naturally gifted runner with all the talent and none of the sheer effort behind it.

She’d conspired with her friend to bring down the Ashen Uma a few rungs on the ladder, but found herself mesmerized by her sheer talent.

Norn Ace wasn’t quite sure what changed her mind, but it seemed like a switch had flipped, and now the Ashen Uma was constantly on her mind.

The last few days after school, permitted she wasn’t busy with her trainer or running across the countryside had been spent at her folk’s dance studio.

Oguri Cap’s… choice of performance for her winning concert was… controversial to say the least.

Norn Ace viewed it as a duty of a decent Umamusme to bring the up and coming athlete to the 20th century at the very least.

She was a fast learner though…

“Mm…” Norn gazed down at the picture on her phone, one she had taken at the last lesson of Oguri doing the routine she had been instructing her on.

She even picked one of her favorite songs for her to learn the lyrics and a decent level of matching choreography too.

Now every time she hears that song, all she could think about was Oguri.

Oguri…

And now here she was waiting outside of a restaurant in Downtown Katsumatsu. A hole in the wall joint that her family frequented on holidays or weekends.

She had somehow managed to ask Oguri out to lunch, but in the most roundabout way that seemed more a spur of the moment thing that she acted like she didn’t even really care about. 

When in reality; she’d been up all the night before then consumed by the idea, trying to think of the most indirect way possible to ask Oguri on what was essentially a date.

But she had worried for nothing. She had Oguri at ‘lunch.’

And speaking of, she was stirred up from her phone scrolling reverie by the sound of cleats on the concrete rapidly approaching

Her heart rate intensified.

“I’m here.” Oguri shook a little and glanced up at the sign. ‘Marukin’

“I’ve never been here before.” she mumbled.

Norn shook her hand in the air a little. “Oh it’s just a spot my parents like. I think you might too.”

She glanced away, averting eye contact again.

“B-besides… I was already thinking about going and I just thought you’d maybe want to tag along…”

“That’s very considerate of you.”

Oguri beemed in her strangely sincere yet subdued manner. She already seems to be gazing through the glass like a child might though the windows of a toy shop.

“Alright, let’s do it…” Norn clutched her phone and walked in first, motioning for Oguri to follow.

‘The back corner, the place with the most privacy…’ she thought to herself.

Oguri was already sizing up the interior as she followed her past the waiting area and straight to the corner of the bar area.

“Kenji-San!!!” Norn waved, beckoning the owner over.

“Ahhhh, why if it isn’t Norn Ace!” The owner chuckled and sauntered over, drying his hands with a washcloth. “How are ya? You look good! How’s your mother?!”

“Oh, same old.” She chuckled. “I actually brought a friend from school today. She’s never been.” She shifted over a bit to introduce Oguri, who already had her eyes gazed on the odon noodles cooking in the back.

“Hah, seems like she’s already made up her mind on what she wants! Hahaha!”

Oguri nodded aggressively. “Please…” she gave almost puppy like eyes, yet subdued as always.

“I can certainly deliver! And Miss Norn, your usual I presume?”

“Please, and thanks.” She sat at one of the stools and Oguri followed suit, never taking her eyes off the tastiest looking noodles.

‘I’m sitting next to Oguri…” Norn thought, her breathing subtly intensifying.

“Seems like not so long ago we had another Ashen-Haired Umamusme passing through here. She certainly left in a hurry to see the races down at the track.” The owner spoke as he started prepping bowls.

“Oh?” Oguri perked up. Maybe it was March she thought. Of course a talented Umamusume like her would also like noodles. ‘I’m in such wonderful company.’ Oguri thought, smiling to herself.

For once, Norn wasn’t absentmindedly scrolling on her phone at the counter. Her attention was all on Oguri, who seemed to be thinking about something.

All that was on Norm’s mind was how good and quickly she had taken up the lessons.

Oguri Cap, as Norn had learned, had been born with really weak legs, and the fact she was able to walk, let alone run was a miracle in and of itself.

Norn felt sick to herself that she ever even felt the slightest bit jealous about judging Oguri and trying to get her to lose their race.

Her feelings towards her fellow Umamusume had done a complete 180 degree shift.

Before, she saw a dust bunny who seemed too socially awkward and talented for her own good.

Now, she saw a hard working and simple yet honest Umamusme who wore her heart on her sleeve, as well as her stomache.

‘Gods she’s so adorable…’ her mind raced with intrusive thoughts.

“Are you doing alright? My mom said staring into space isn’t healthy…” Oguri snapped her out of her reverie.

“A-ahhh! I-it’s nothing…” Norn blushed and averted her eyes, only making Oguri more confused.

“If you say so…” She went back to watching all the food in the kitchen like a pet waiting to be fed.

Norn tried to regain her ‘cool’ as the bowls were placed before them. Oguri already had her chopsticks ready in the time Norn had barely had a chance to grab a napkin.

“It looks Umazing…” Oguri’s eyes practically shunned with sparkles. “Thank you.” She gave Norn a sincere look of utmost gratitude.

Norn Ace nearly had a heart attack.

“A-ahhh.. o-of course! What are friends for..? Hahah…”

Her breath grew heavier. Eyesight blurry.

Oguri clapped her hands together and begin digging in.

Norm hardly touched her own food as she watched the impressive performance that is watching Oguri Cap wolf down noodles like she was dying of starvation; which for all she knew she might have been, given

her seemingly infinite metabolism.

“Well? What’s the verdict?” The owner asked, laughing in sheer disbelief at the appetite of Oguri.

“Mmph… it’s spicy, but in a good way.”

“Well said!!!” He uproariously chuckled, preparing another bowl with only the sixth sense a cook has.

“When I win the Tokai Derby, I’ll have come back to celebrate.” Oguri smiled, eyes closed with a quiet confidence as she ate.

“I-I’ll be here too!!” Norn insisted, huffing.

“Sounds like a plan! Let me know when it is! I’d sure like to see how fast you run, seeing how fast you eat!” The owner mused.

“Mm…” Norn smiled to herself as well.

Oguri was a rising star in Katsumatsu it seemed. Maybe soon, she’d truly be the Brightest Star of all.

And Norn Ace wanted to be there every step of the way.