Uma Musume: To The Top!! Chapter 13 - 125

Novel: Uma Musume: To The Top!! Author: Zaelum Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Font Size

18px

Now reading: Chapter 13 - 125 from Uma Musume: To The Top!!, a Mature novel by Zaelum.

"The Little Detective" and Japan Cup Intel

Just then, from the corner of his eye, Kuroha caught a furtive little figure.

He turned slightly—

—and saw a familiar face dressed in a full-on detective outfit.

"Didn't expect the Obey Your Master I've been searching for to be right here at Trainer Kuroha's track…"

Berno Light tilted her head.

Since joining Central Tracen Academy, Kuroha had beco quite close with Ginjirou Musaka. In his spare ti, he often visited the old man to chat and learn Central's dos, don'ts, and unspoken rules.

Over ti, both trainers and their Uma Musu had gotten familiar with one another.

Today, Berno Light was acting as Oguri Cap's "intel scout", hence the detective getup.

But Berno's professional chops as an intel officer weren't the strongest. After more or less gathering the info, she'd planned to find a more technically adept trainer to help analyze the Japan Cup runners.

Naturally, she thought of Kuroha.

The mont she arrived, though, she spotted the very Uma Musu she hadn't been able to find anywhere—Obey Your Master.

Berno stared at the resting girl in the distance, suddenly at a loss.

Intel gathering wasn't really her forte; most of what she had ca from walking straight up and interviewing people under the pretense of "press questions."

"But Trainer Kuroha will definitely know what I'm doing…"

While Berno was overthinking herself into knots—

sothing suddenly covered her eyes, and the world went dark.

"Little Light, guess who~?"

"Waaah—!"

Berno yelped, flustered.

Behind her, Kuroha chuckled at the adorable reaction.

"T-T-Trainer Kuroha…"

Berno turned and, on reflex, shielded the notebook to her chest—then realized that looked suspicious and awkwardly hid it behind her back instead.

"I—I'm here to play with March…" she mumbled, guilty as charged.

Kuroha eyed her, amused. "Really? Just to play?"

"Y-yes! Really!"

She nodded like a pecking chick.

"Oh? To play with March?"

"Perfect timing. March just finished her session—she's in the stone-cooling room now, I could go call—"

"A-ah! No, that's okay!"

Berno waved both hands, face going bright red. She clutched the notebook even tighter behind her.

"I… I just rembered I have sothing else to do!"

"Next ti! I'll co play with March next ti!"

She spun to bolt—

—but Kuroha's easy voice froze her in place.

"Not going to collect intel on Obey Your Master?"

Berno let out a tiny wail and slumped. Busted.

With the lie exposed, she could only surrender. She brought the notebook out and held it up with both hands.

"I'm sorry, Trainer Kuroha…"

"At first I just wanted your help analyzing the Japan Cup intel."

Kuroha couldn't help smiling at the sight of her honest, apologetic face. He accepted the notebook—but rather than open it, he tapped the brim of her little detective hat with it.

"Head up. I'm not mad."

"Collecting opponent intel is a vital part of competition. You did the right thing."

He flipped through the pages casually.

To be honest, it was mostly public record—things easily found online. The extra notes were mostly quotes from the interviewed Uma Musu themselves—interesting, but not exactly hard data.

"Not bad for a first try," he said anyway. "You covered the basics."

"Y-yes!" The little detective bead.

Kuroha turned to the last entry.

It was bare bones: only a few lines.

Obey Your Master

Country: United States

Record: 23 starts, 3 wins (G1 wins: 0)

Nothing else.

That was normal—her past results were unimpressive. She had tried every running style and still had no G1 victories; even total wins were a re three.

On paper, at best, you could stamp her as "mid-tier."

Finishing the notebook, Kuroha closed it and gave it a little shake in front of her.

"Want to know Obey Your Master's real intel?"

Berno nodded fast—then realized what she was doing and shook her head just as fast.

Kuroha laughed and handed the notebook back.

"Honestly, if you just tell Ginjirou-senpai that Obey Your Master is training here with …"

"He'll understand."

"…Right." Berno accepted the book, suddenly thoughtful.

...

Central Tracen Academy — Ginjirou Musaka's private training room

"You truly saw Obey Your Master at Kuroha's place?"

The old man sat on the sofa, frowning at Berno Light—only half-glancing at the notebook she'd painstakingly compiled.

"Y-yes."

Berno nodded, then pointed to the pages in his hand, speaking uncertainly:

"Judging by form and paper data, among the overseas runners…the Arc-winning mare Toni Bianca should be the strongest."

Ginjirou leafed through the notebook for a while and nodded lightly.

"On paper, that tracks. Japan Cup threats should be Toni Bianca and Tamamo Cross."

"Paper data?" Berno blinked.

Ginjirou set the notebook down. "Light, what impression do you have of Kuroha?"

"My impression…?" She looked up, thinking. "Cool, young, confident… and if he raised March to be this strong, then his training level must be excellent, right?"

"Has any Uma Musu under his charge lost a race?" Ginjirou asked, abrupt as a hamr.

"Eh?"

Berno searched her mory.

"…I don't think so?"

Since Kuroha took over, Fujimasa March—starting from Kasamatsu—had swept the South Kanto Triple Crown and more.

Inari One was the sa—3 races, 3 wins.

In one year as a trainer, Kuroha had guided two charge mares through nine total races—undefeated.

Including multiple G1s.

"I—" Berno began, but Ginjirou's steady voice cut across her.

"The gap between Local and Central isn't absolute."

"You yourself said March out-dueled Oguri during sumr camp months ago."

"From Local… to overturning Central."