Upon hearing the self-introduction from the Uma Musume named Tokai Teio, Shuta An was momentarily stunned.
It wasn't because he recognized her—this deer-colored Uma Musume had yet to appear in any official races—but because her ambition was monumental. Not only did she aim to become a Triple Crown Uma Musume, but she also wanted to achieve it undefeated.
In Shuta An's memory, only four names bore that distinction. Excluding Ormonde—the "Uma Musume of the Century" from nearly a hundred years ago—there were only Nijinsky, the undefeated British Triple Crown; Seattle Slew, the undefeated American Triple Crown; and Symboli Rudolf, the undefeated Japanese Triple Crown currently standing right beside him.
Though it was an almost impossible dream, Shuta An did not discourage Tokai Teio.
"Then you'll have to train very hard," he said with a grin, patting her shoulder. "An undefeated Triple Crown is a miracle that happens once in several generations."
Without waiting for her reply, he turned to Symboli Rudolf. "I imagine Miss 'Emperor' has her own seats here, so I'll take my leave. I need to get as close to the track as possible to observe Oguri Cap's condition."
"Please allow me to go ahead," he added politely—though he didn't wait for her response and walked off, leaving the three Central Tracen Uma Musume behind.
"This guy…" Tokai Teio frowned, watching him go. "He just left the Student Council President outside and went in alone."
"He wasn't wrong," Symboli Rudolf replied calmly. "We have our own seats. Right now, he and we stand in different positions. Let's go."
Shuta An stood behind the trackside railing, quietly waiting for Oguri Cap's race to start. Because it was the eleventh race, he would have to remain there until afternoon.
Still, he preferred this than sitting with Symboli Rudolf. Conversing with that "Emperor" was simply too draining—he had to stay constantly alert, and at times she reminded him of the Student Council President of the West Coast Academy. Having been teased by the Secretariat since childhood, Shuta An valued his mental peace too much to linger around such people.
After confirming that Ogurihad adapted perfectly to her running shoes and horseshoes, Berno returned to his side. The two leaned against the railing, chatting while watching the earlier races.
At 2:35 PM, the Chukyo Hai was about to begin.
Before the parade, Shuta An bought water, handing a bottle to Berno Light. "After Oguri wins, we'll go celebrate."
"Actually, I ate too much this morning," Berno Light admitted, rubbing her stomach with a sheepish grin. "Even if I wanted lunch, I couldn't."
"It's still better to eat a balanced diet," Shuta An reminded her casually.
No sooner had he spoken than the parade started, and both of them fixed their attention on the big screen.
Meanwhile, Symboli Rudolf and her group were also watching the display board.
"Number 3 is the Uma Musume we came to observe," Rudolf said first.
"Uma Musume from local circuits rarely reach Central level, right?" Teio tilted her head. "And to have the President herself come to see her. Is that gray Uma Musume—Oguri Cap—really worth all this?"
"There's no 'worth it' or 'not worth it,'" Maruzensky replied with a smile. "Even if she weren't, at least this gave Teio and Rudolf-chan a chance to stretch their legs outside campus."
"She is worth it," Rudolf said firmly. "She's trained by that man. That alone is reason enough. Trainer Tojo even met them during the summer training camp and shared her impressions afterward."
"Oh? What did Hana-chan say?" Maruzensky's eyes lit up. "I didn't expect them to stay in the same hotel for two months."
Rudolf shook her head, keeping the mystery. "Let's watch her performance first."
As the race began, Fujimasa March, as usual, took the lead. She noticed Oguri Cap following closely behind—not surprising in itself. But this time, Fujimasa March didn't intend to anticipate Oguri's sprint and block her with an early diagonal.
"Trainer told me this is a 1200-meter race," she thought. "All I need to do is sprint straight to the end!"
This time, Fujimasa March focused solely on her own run.
Yet in the stands, Maruzensky frowned. "That girl in front clearly isn't adapting well to the turf."
"Indeed," Teio nodded, her tone serious. "Even though she's leading, I can feel she's going to be overtaken soon."
"The key is Oguri Cap, sitting in second," Maruzensky said, rubbing her hands with anticipation. "When will she realize the opponent ahead is fragile and weak?"
Like them, Shuta An also noticed Fujimasa March's awkward stride. "She's struggling with the turf."
"Then shouldn't Oguri pull ahead?" Berno Light asked anxiously. "She won't stick to your old instructions again, will she?"
Shuta An grimaced. He hadn't expected Kitahara to make Fujimasa March run a race with uncertain adaptability—meaning the tactics he'd given Oguri Cap were now less than ideal. Even the Young Trainer was feeling a headache.
On the track, Oguri Cap had sensed it too.
"She feels strained," the gray umamusume thought, eyes narrowing. "Should I overtake her now?"
Her hesitation lasted only a heartbeat. Last time, she had followed her Trainer's tactics and won by escaping her opponent's schemes—but this time felt different.
"I'll trust my own instincts!"
Making her decision, Oguri Cap shifted outward on the curve and instantly accelerated, her silver hair fluttering like wings. Her speed surged as she passed Fujimasa March, who struggled to hold on, taking the lead with a powerful stride. In the stands, Symboli Rudolf—who had been sitting upright—crossed her legs. Her long, fair legs, wrapped in sheer black stockings, swayed slightly as she let out a quiet, satisfied hum.
"Hmm…" she breathed, eyes glinting.
After surpassing Fujimasa March, Oguri Cap did not cut back to the inner lane to save ground. Instead, she maintained her position on the outer track, unleashing her sprint toward the finish line—still more than 500 meters away.
"What was the time for the first 600 meters?" Symboli Rudolf asked, turning slightly toward Maruzensky.
Maruzensky blinked, then replied, "Exactly 35 seconds. The leading Uma Musume isn't adapting well to the turf, that's the main reason."
"The track record for the Chukyo Racecourse 1200-meter turf course is 1:07.5… For debut-year Uma Musume, it's 1:08.6." Symboli Rudolf leaned forward, her expression composed yet intent. "Let's see what Oguri Cap can achieve."
"Thirty-five seconds for the first 600—this means the pace is negative-split. In a sprint to the finish, Oguri Cap, who's been running in second since the start, will be at a disadvantage," Tokai Teio analyzed, her tone thoughtful.
"If all her rivals were Central first-tier Uma Musume, you'd be right," Maruzensky said, shaking her head gently. "But this is still a local race, even if it's held on a Central track."
Tokai Teio understood her senior's unspoken point, though she didn't think the gray umamusume leading the pace possessed what could be called Central-tier strength.
"Even Senior Haiseiko, the local idol, only started improving rapidly after transferring to Central…" she murmured to herself.
As the race entered the final straight, Oguri Cap no longer needed to resist the centrifugal pull of the turn. She accelerated once more, widening her lead as her rivals fell further behind—now more than two lengths away.
By the trackside railing, Shuta An exhaled deeply. "Oguri Cap made the right call again. Her race sense has really grown."
To the young Trainer, her judgment pleased him more than the victory itself.
"This means that if unexpected situations arise in future races, I won't have to worry too much," he thought, allowing himself a faint smile. Still, to further refine that instinct, he made a mental note to add new training drills before the year's end.
In the box seats, Symboli Rudolf watched the gray umamusume extend her lead, a satisfied smile touching her lips. "Miss Tojo was right. Oguri Cap truly has Central-level quality."
Maruzensky hesitated beside her, wanting to speak but refraining.
Tokai Teio's eyes lit up; she already knew what her Student Council President was thinking. "Then I'll go find her Trainer right now!"
"No. Wait until after the race," Symboli Rudolf said firmly. "If you approach him now, Teio, you'll be turned away."
"Ugh…" Teio pouted but conceded—her President was right.
"That guy looks at me like I'm just a child," she muttered, her ears twitching in irritation. And truthfully, she couldn't deny it—she was still far from becoming a full-fledged Uma Musume.
When Oguri Cap crossed the finish line first, the timer froze at 1:08.5.
Symboli Rudolf lowered her crossed legs and rose from her seat. "A new record…"
"Now it'll be impossible not to recruit her," Maruzensky sighed inwardly. Her experience told her what was coming next, but at this moment, she had no way to stop it.
As for Tokai Teio, she stared wide-eyed at the numbers on the board, frozen in disbelief. The time repeated itself again and again in her mind like a thunderclap.
"She broke a Central record just by training locally?" she whispered, clenching her fists. "Once she joins Central, I'll study how she trains—thoroughly!"
Shuta An, unaware of Symboli Rudolf's movements, focused only on his team. He first sent Berno Light ahead to find a restaurant for their celebration banquet, then made his way through the crowd toward the waiting area, where only race staff were allowed. There, he waited for Oguri Cap to come down from the track.
When her figure finally appeared, he stepped forward and embraced the sweat-damp gray umamusume.
"You worked hard, Oguri Cap," he said. "When my tactics went wrong, you made the right decision. You ran beautifully. Go shower, then get ready for the winning live. After the stage, we'll celebrate. Berno Light's already ordered the food."
"Mhm!" Hearing that last part, Oguri Cap brightened immediately. She returned the embrace and shared her thoughts. "Trainer, I feel like I run better on turf."
"Mhm. That means we'll have even more confidence when we challenge the Yayoi Sho next year." Shuta An smiled and patted her head. "We'll reach the top together."
"Definitely," the gray umamusume said firmly, leaning into her Trainer's chest, her heart steady with trust.
After the winning live, Shuta An waited by the internal entrance for Oguri Cap, who soon arrived with her luggage packed.
"Let's go. Berno's already waiting," he said naturally, taking her free hand as they started toward the parking lot.
But only a few steps later, a familiar voice called out behind them—the one he least wanted to hear.
"Shuta-kun, what's the rush? If you're not in a hurry, I'd like to discuss something," Symboli Rudolf's composed tone reached them as she approached, stepping past Oguri Cap to stand directly in Shuta An's path.
He already knew what she wanted. His brows furrowed, and his tone turned cold. "Miss Symboli Rudolf, I hope you won't say what I think you're about to."
Without hesitation, he pulled Oguri Cap's hand closer. The gray umamusume stayed quiet, obediently standing by her Trainer's side.
Symboli Rudolf hesitated at his reaction, but after a moment, she bit her lip and spoke anyway. "I believe that letting Oguri Cap transfer to Central would be the best path for her."
Shuta An scanned his surroundings and noticed that the audience at Chukyo Racecourse was gradually starting to leave.
After taking a deep breath, he suggested, "Let's not talk here. Come with me."
Without waiting for Symboli Rudolf's response, Shuta An took Oguri Cap's hand and began walking toward the restaurant where Berno had ordered food. Symboli Rudolf followed without hesitation, and Tokai Teio obediently went along.
Maruzensky remained where she was, frowning slightly. She sighed helplessly. "As expected, Rudolf shouldn't have talked to him like that." Muttering under her breath, she quickly hurried after them.
Fortunately, Berno had chosen a private room. Even with the impromptu addition of three Uma Musume, there was no need to change tables. Seeing Symboli Rudolf and the others enter, Berno tactfully excused herself to order more dishes.
Shuta An sat at the innermost head of the table, narrowing his eyes as he watched Symboli Rudolf take her seat. "I believe Miss Symboli Rudolf understands what Oguri Cap means to me."
"I know," Symboli Rudolf replied, calm but firm. "But Shuta-kun has done enough. Bringing Oguri Cap from Kasamatsu to win the Hokkaido Shimbun Hai (G3) is already proof of your ability to the URA Association."
"So I should just watch Oguri Cap go to Central?" Shuta An's tone carried a faint edge of sarcasm. "And hand her over to a group of Trainers who spend every day watching the stock market?"
"Not every team's Trainer is obsessed with the stock market," Symboli Rudolf shook her head emphatically. "At least Miss Tojo, the Trainer of my Rigil team, is serious and responsible."
"You're an Uma Musume from Miss Tojo's team," Shuta An scoffed, then continued, "She also recognized Oguri Cap's talent. But Miss Symboli Rudolf, have you ever wondered why Miss Tojo didn't try to scout Oguri Cap?"
"Because she said it was Shuta-kun who allowed Oguri Cap's abilities to fully blossom," Symboli Rudolf replied immediately. She had already asked Tojo Hana that very question before.
"However," noticing Shuta An was about to interject, the Seven-Crown Uma Musume pressed on, "Oguri Cap broke the Central debut-year Uma Musume track record today. It's clear she will continue to improve. I admit Shuta-kun's training ability surpasses most Central Trainers, but tell me—what objective conditions can Kasamatsu Tracen Academy provide her?"
"There's nothing that can't be bought," Shuta An replied, a faint smirk curling his lips. "I've already purchased all the necessary training equipment. For slope work, we use the road in front of the shrine near the academy. The Director even rented an apartment for Oguri Cap, so she can live there with her family."
"For that last point, I can also apply to the URA Association," Symboli Rudolf countered. "And I can decide right now to arrange work for Oguri Cap's family." She pressed her hands against the table, meeting the young man's gaze.
"Then why not ask Oguri Cap what she wants?" Shuta An raised an eyebrow, turning to the Gray Umamusume who had been quietly enjoying her dessert.
"I want to stay with my Trainer," Oguri Cap said without hesitation. "I believe I'll grow the most if I stay with him—and I'm sure I can reach the highest stage with my Trainer."
"Do you really think so?" Symboli Rudolf closed her eyes, letting out a deep sigh. "Shuta-kun, you promised her that, didn't you?"
"Of course," Shuta An admitted without flinching. "Does Miss Symboli Rudolf think I can't do it?"
"Then, Shuta-kun, in Japan, what do you consider the highest stage for Uma Musumes?"
"The Japanese Derby." The question was simple for any professional—anyone at Kasamatsu Tracen could answer it in an instant. Japan, after all, wasn't North America. If the question had been framed as "in North America," perhaps he would have hesitated.
"And what about Oguri Cap?" Symboli Rudolf asked, turning to the Gray Umamusume.
Maruzensky, sitting beside her, realized what her friend intended. She could only give Shuta An an apologetic look.
"Judging by his answer, he probably doesn't know about the Twinkle Series' special registration rules…" she thought. "I wonder how he'll react once Rudolf-chan brings up that clause."
Maruzensky bit her lip. She could already foresee that none of the possible outcomes would end well.
Tokai Teio, too, watched Shuta An closely. Like Maruzensky, she had guessed what her respected Student Council President was about to reveal. She was curious—what kind of expression would this defiant Trainer make when faced with disappointment?
"I think so too," Oguri Cap replied before either could speak further.
"Then what if I told you…" Symboli Rudolf paused, "that Uma Musumes from local affiliations aren't allowed to register for the Classic Triple Crown or Triple Tiara races?"
"What do you mean?" Shuta An's expression hardened. Rising from his seat, his voice carried the weight of suppressed fury. "Local Uma Musume aren't allowed to register?"
"That's right," Symboli Rudolf avoided his eyes, her tone apologetic. "Both the Classic Triple Crown and the Triple Tiara are Central-exclusive races. To participate, an Uma Musume must transfer to Central."
"This is a rule set by the URA Association," she continued, her voice tinged with shame. "And there's another clause: registration forms must be submitted two months before the race. Late applications aren't accepted."
"So even if the policy changed tomorrow, we couldn't participate in the Derby by the end of March, right?" Shuta An asked quietly. His voice was calm, but a cold weight had settled in his chest.
"How can there be such a rule?" The young Trainer clenched his fists. "Aren't these races meant for any strong Uma Musume? Why must they separate Central and local? Don't local Uma Musume deserve to contend for honor?"
"Of course they do," Symboli Rudolf softened her tone. "Excluding those six restricted races, you and Oguri Cap can still enter all others. But if that's the case…"
"Then Shuta-kun and Oguri Cap will never reach the highest stage," Maruzensky silently completed the thought.
"Trainer…" Oguri Cap lowered her eyes, losing all appetite. She placed her hand gently over Shuta An's. "It's okay if we can't go to the Derby."
Hearing that, Symboli Rudolf's heart tightened. She looked at Shuta An, believing that he would now make the rational choice.
She even offered him an incentive: "Shuta-kun can take next June's Central Trainer examination. After Oguri Cap transfers to Central, she'll join our team. Once you obtain your license, I'll personally ensure she returns to your care. You only need to wait nine months."
The young man didn't respond. He'd heard Oguri Cap's words, Symboli Rudolf's proposal, the quiet breathing of everyone in the room—but none of it reached him.
At that moment, his mind was elsewhere, struggling to find a way to keep his promise to Oguri Cap. After a brief silence, Shuta An met Symboli Rudolf's expectant gaze. To her surprise, he smiled—a bright, unshaken smile.
"Miss Symboli Rudolf's offer is certainly tempting," he said lightly.
"But I refuse," the young man declared, his voice unwavering.