"I believe we both understand Silence Suzuka's potential, don't we?"
Kitahara nodded quietly. Having witnessed her debut race himself, he certainly hadn't overlooked Suzuka's brilliant performance.
"But recently, she's been having some issues... or rather, our directions have begun to diverge."
Miss Toujou rubbed her temples, visibly distressed.
"She wants to run all out, to adopt a front-running strategy. But you know how reckless that tactic is—how many Uma Musume have ever won races solely by leading from the start?"
"Ahaha, well..." Kitahara laughed nervously.
"So I told her to try running in a more forward or mid-pack position, but based on her current training results, there are significant problems. It seems she doesn't quite grasp my intentions."
"And so?" Kitahara hadn't caught her meaning yet.
"The reason I entered her in this Sumire Stakes is so she can share the track with Nearl. Perhaps then she'll realize that leading isn't so simple—that she should reconsider whether she possesses talent like Nearl's, enough to sustain victories through that running style."
--+--
"And that's roughly the situation."
After Kitahara finished speaking, the several Uma Musume present all seemed to have words stuck in their throats.
"Something feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on it," Oguri Cap scratched her head, a vague frustration lodged in her chest—a feeling shared by Everlamp and Berno Light.
Nearl, however, didn't seem to have any particular opinion on the matter.
"It seems the bond between this Silence Suzuka and Trainer Toujou ends here," Nearl shook her head and stated.
"Nearl, what do you mean?" Kitahara was taken aback by her bluntness, instinctively glancing around as if afraid Toujou might suddenly appear.
"When a trainer and their Uma Musume aren't united in heart and purpose, their partnership naturally won't last."
"It's not that either side is at fault—it's simply a clash of philosophies. But for an Uma Musume, that's hard to endure."
"Oguri, you understand, don't you?" Nearl looked toward Oguri Cap, who seemed lost in thought.
"Seeking victory and pursuing the act of running itself—these are two entirely different mindsets. When Trainer Toujou finally realizes this, that will be the time she and Suzuka part ways."
"We've stumbled into a heavy topic," Kitahara sighed, now pondering what kind of trainer he was himself.
"Still, I'm fortunate to have met you, Nearl, and Oguri Cap. To this day, I've never faced the troubles Toujou has—that's truly a blessing."
"It means you and Oguri are the same type, Trainer—both of you seek that emotional resonance, that sense of fulfillment."
'Then you, Nearl-nee, must be the type of Uma Musume who fully adapts to your trainer,' Everlamp quietly thought to herself.
"Ah, we've arrived—Hanashin Racecourse. That was a quick ride."
Kitahara looked out the window, spotting a rather extravagant building, and alerted the others.
"Nearl, your first central race will be here."
"Mhm."
Gazing at the vast racecourse, a faint ripple of emotion finally stirred in Nearl's eyes.
--+--
"Trainer, hurry up and turn on the TV! Nearl's race is about to start!"
In the Kasamatsu office, Fujimasa March sat with her trainer, Shibasaki Koichi, facing an old television set.
"Don't rush, there's still half an hour until the race starts. We won't see anything yet."
After some adjustments to stabilize the flickering screen, Trainer Shibasaki finally relaxed.
"We want to watch too!"
But before he could catch his breath, the trio burst in, followed by a weary-looking Trainer Kawamura.
"Koichi, sorry for the trouble—count us in too," she said helplessly, glancing at the three Uma Musume under her care.
--+--
Central, Mejiro Residence.
A certain Uma Musume in white casual wear had already brewed a pot of black tea and settled in front of the living room TV.
Her pale blue, slightly wavy hair and bandaged legs revealed her identity: Mejiro Ardan.
"Even though Nearl has been at the academy for several days now, these legs of mine keep me from visiting... What a pity."
She gently stroked her shapely, lovely legs, feeling deeply sorrowful.
"But I'm happy for Nearl, officially stepping onto the central turf. Oh God, please watch over her and keep her healthy."
Ardan clasped her hands together, offering a silent prayer.
--+--
Meanwhile, at Central Tracen, quite a few were paying attention to this race.
"Hana, so this is where you're hiding."
In a secluded corner, Okino found his target—Trainer Toujou Hana.
"I'm not hiding. I just prefer the quiet here," she retorted, shooting a glare at the man who always seemed to ruffle her composure, then refocusing on her phone, which was streaming the live broadcast.
"Look, why don't you show these girls your true self more often? You're such a gentle person—isn't it exhausting to keep that stern face on all day?"
Okino leaned in, placing a hand on Toujou Hana's shoulder. She didn't shake it off but subtly shifted closer, just a little.
Though it was normal for them, the scene was undeniably intimate.
"Impossible. I'm not like you. My training style, my methods—they require me to maintain authority."
"Then let me have Silence Suzuka. You know my training style would suit her best."
"Absolutely not. I won't hand Suzuka over to you."
On this matter, Toujou Hana was unwavering.
"Your training indulges their whims too much. A trainer should guide and restrain. Besides, Suzuka's physique is too fragile—pushing her to her limits like you do would break her."
"And how long will you keep this up? An Uma Musume's peak years are so brief. What you're doing is even more irresponsible."
"…"
Okino's retort left her speechless. She knew he was right—but she just couldn't let go.
Just then, a bright voice erupted from the phone:
"Welcome, everyone, to the Sumire Stakes! Let's welcome the contestants as they make their entrance!"
"Alright, let's set this aside for now. For the moment, let's just focus on the race."
In the end, Okino took a step back, pointing at the phone and requesting a truce.
"Yes, the race is more important right now."
Toujou Hana readily agreed, closing the subject.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.