"And that brings us to our big announcement: Team Pleiades has officially gained a brand-new member!"
"I'm Sakahara. I'll be in your care starting today. I'll do everything in my power to be of help to each and every one of you, so please look forward to working with me."
"Yay~! Trainer-chaaan!!"
The announcement of Trainer Sakahara joining Pleiades as a sub-trainer took place during their regular meeting—which, in reality, was just an excuse for a team tea party. The room erupted into warm applause, but Mayano Top Gun bypassed clapping entirely. She launched herself forward like a rocket, plunging straight onto Sakahara's lap and clinging to him tightly.
"So now we've got two sub-trainers and one main trainer," Nice Nature mused, tapping her chin. "Strictly speaking, isn't this team incredibly over-equipped?"
"I mean, you say that, but when you look at the facts, Ue-chan and I are still only in our second year as trainers, you know?" Rampage pointed out. " Heck, Ue-chan is practically a rookie who just started flying solo this year."
"I apologize for being so unreliable..." Ue-chan muttered, looking down despondently.
"NO!! Ue-chan Trainer is ALWAYS giving us his absolute best guidance! Very serious, very passionate!" Taiki Shuttle shouted, waving her hands.
"That's right! Ue-chan Trainer is incredibly dependable, deesu!" El Condor Pasa chimed in, nodding vigorously.
The immediate, fierce defense from Taiki and El made Ue-chan smile. In truth, not a single member of Pleiades had ever actually thought of Ue-chan as unreliable. If he occasionally felt a bit overshadowed, it was only because Rampage was a legendary Umamusume-turned-trainer who could literally lace up her shoes and pace them on the track. By any normal standard, Ue-chan was exceptionally talented, highly analytical, and possessed a wonderful ability to break down complex racing concepts into easily digestible advice whenever they felt stuck.
"Hearing you guys say that makes me incredibly happy," Ue-chan said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I really am still a novice at heart. To be completely honest, having a senior trainer with so much experience join us is an absolute lifesaver."
"Please, don't build me up too much," Sakahara said with a humble chuckle. "Compared to the true veterans like Okino-san, Tojo-san, or Rokubei-san, I'm still just a youngster in this field."
Sakahara—the man who was originally supposed to be Maya's trainer—called himself a novice, but that was only by the terrifying standards of Tracen's elite veterans. In reality, he had earned his official license immediately after graduating high school and had maintained his position at the Central Tracen Academy ever since. Central was a cutthroat environment; if a trainer couldn't produce consistent results, they wouldn't necessarily get fired, but they would be demoted to regional branches to make room for rising talent.
Sakahara had consistently proven his worth at the highest level, which was why both Umamusume and his fellow trainers had deeply lamented the tragic accident that had forced him into long-term medical leave.
"You've still been doing this for what, eight or nine years now?" Rampage said, leaning back in her chair. "Compared to the two of us, you're a full-fledged, seasoned senior. Be proud of that!"
"Well, it'll be ten years next year..." Sakahara smiled warmly. "But regardless of the numbers, if there is absolutely anything I can do to lift the burden, just say the word. I'm entirely at your disposal."
Seeing his gentle demeanor and kind expression, the team members let out a collective, visible sigh of relief. Apparently, a few of them had been secretly terrified that a brutal, hyper-strict trainer akin to the legendary Sunday Silence was about to walk through the door. While comparing the mild-mannered Sakahara to Sunday Silence was a massive stretch, the relief in the room was palpable.
"Alright, now that Trainer Sakahara is officially part of the crew, Team Pleiades is ready to push even further ahead," Rampage said, shifting into business mode. "Sakahara-san, I know you just got here, but let me break down how Pleiades operates. We do things a bit differently than your average team."
"Please, fire away," Sakahara replied, gently stroking Maya's hair. His touch was entirely paternal and filled with pure affection, and Maya leaned into his hand like a content kitten. The perfect, effortless synergy between the two was undeniable.
"Maya already told me that your team structure feels very close to Team Canopus," Sakahara continued. "You heavily emphasize mastering the absolute basics first, right? I completely agree with that philosophy. Honestly, I'm amazed you managed to keep Maya focused on the fundamentals for this long."
Rampage offered a sharp grin, before explaining the core, uncompromising doctrine of Pleiades: the team members never avoided each other on the track. In fact, the team actively encouraged them to enter the exact same races and throw down against one another.
"Maya might not have to worry about that for a little while," Rampage added with a smirk, "but in about two years, when the younger generation hits their stride, she's going to be in the thick of it."
Sakahara let out a wry, amused laugh. "Wow. That is a remarkably bold strategy. Normally, standard practice dictates that you space out your team members to avoid internal conflict... but personally? I think it's brilliant."
"Oh? What makes you say that?" Rampage asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just based on my own experience, if you want an Umamusume to truly become strong, you need to constantly throw them against the fiercest competition available. Racing itself is the ultimate forge. When your rival is someone from your own team, it ignites an even sharper competitive fire. They naturally push, pull, and elevate each other to greater heights. If you're looking at it purely from a corporate standpoint of maximizing team trophies, it might not be the most stable approach. But if your goal is to mold an Umamusume capable of reaching the absolute pinnacle? There isn't a better environment in the world than this team. After all..."
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