The first half of Shuta An's response was not mere politeness. Objectively speaking, the conditions Symboli Rudolf offered were indeed very tempting at first glance—Oguri Cap only needed to stay with Tojo Hana's team for half a year, and once he earned his license, he could take her back. That way, Oguri Cap could challenge the Classic Triple Crown.
However, upon closer examination, there was far too much room for manipulation. Symboli Rudolf could delay his examination. Even if he passed, transferring an Uma Musume to another team was, as Shuta An knew from his experience on the West Coast, an extremely troublesome process. If Symboli Rudolf were to make even the slightest move against him, he could end up with a bitter regret that no medicine could cure.
He had already thought through all of this in an instant. The reason he hadn't refused outright was because he needed time—to find a way to fulfill the promise he'd made to Oguri Cap and her mother.
And Shuta An had already conceived that method. That was why he rejected Symboli Rudolf, who had believed she held all the cards.
The Student Council President of Central Tracen Academy looked disappointed. "So, in the end, Oguri Cap wasn't your top priority?"
"Wrong." Shuta An's tone turned sharp in response to her accusation. "I don't trust Central Trainers—especially after witnessing that St. Louis Handicap."
The St. Louis Handicap was the final race of Symboli Rudolf's Twinkle Series career. Despite being expected by North American experts to win with ease, she had failed even to make the display board. She was injured in that race and forced into retirement.
As soon as those words left his mouth, Maruzensky turned sharply toward Symboli Rudolf, instinctively reaching out to restrain her friend before she lost her composure.
Tokai Teio clenched her fists under the table. If it weren't for her strict upbringing, she might have punched the young man across from her—he had just torn open the deepest wound buried in Symboli Rudolf's heart.
Berno Light, aware of the tension, grew alert. If Symboli Rudolf so much as flinched in anger, she was ready to run out and call a server immediately.
Oguri Cap, too, was poised to stand at a moment's notice—ready to shield her Trainer if the situation escalated.
But only Shuta An sat there, calm and unmoved.
Symboli Rudolf pressed down her anger, forcing her tone into something cold and measured. "Then tell me, what method do you have to fulfill your promise to Oguri Cap? If she doesn't transfer to Central, registration will be impossible."
"Is the Japanese Derby the only race in the world?" Shuta An shrugged. "Don't Europe and North America have their own Derbies?"
"Shuta Trainer, are you crazy?" Symboli Rudolf was momentarily stunned, blurting out his name without thinking. "You're planning to send Oguri Cap on an expedition?!"
"Since the door to the Japanese Derby is closed to us," Shuta An raised an eyebrow, "isn't it reasonable for us to find a door that can be opened? Or do you mean local Trainers and Uma Musume don't even have the right to go abroad?"
"Of course, you can go abroad. That's your freedom." Symboli Rudolf sighed, glancing at Oguri Cap—who, relieved by the easing tension, had resumed eating heartily. The sight left her both amused and exasperated. "But there's still a huge gap between us and the world. Sending Oguri Cap overseas would only let her run alongside competitors far stronger than she's ever faced. And if she suffers a crushing defeat.."
"Oguri Cap's competitive spirit would take a hit, right?" Shuta An finished the sentence for her.
"Exactly." Symboli Rudolf's gaze fell to the floor. "Shuta-kun probably isn't aware of how poorly our country's Uma Musumes have performed in overseas expeditions. Let me enlighten you."
"Washington International Stakes—challenged eleven times, with the best result being fifth place."
"King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes—challenged once, also fifth place, but the winner finished nearly ten lengths ahead."
"Take last year's Derby Uma Musume, Sirius Symboli. She's been competing in Europe for several years now. Fourteen races, zero wins. Her best result was second place in the Prix Foy—a G3 prep for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe." (Prix Foy was G3 in 1971-1997, now it was G2)
She leaned forward, meeting his gaze. "Are you really certain Oguri Cap will do better than Sirius Symboli? She's only run four races so far. Can she really adapt to an overseas campaign? If she faces a crushing defeat, have you thought of how to deal with it?"
"I definitely won't wait to send Oguri Cap on an overseas expedition in her senior year" Shuta An shook his head. "As for my plan, I'm sorry, but I can't tell Miss Symboli Rudolf."
Then he pounded his chest, his tone rising with conviction. "But don't lump me in with those incompetent Trainers at Central Tracen Academy, Miss Symboli Rudolf."
"You want to know how to deal with a crushing defeat abroad?" His lips curved into a confident smile. "Simple—we won't suffer one. Because I understand the destination of our expedition far better than any of you."
Tokai Teio stared at the young man across the table, momentarily dazed. Though he had offered no concrete reason, something in his calm confidence resonated within her.
Symboli Rudolf closed her eyes, sinking briefly into thought. When she opened them again, her tone was composed. "Very well. In that case, it would be tactless of me to press further."
Having abandoned her attempt to persuade Oguri Cap, the "Emperor" straightened her posture and looked at Shuta An. "You were right earlier. I can't compare you with those Central Trainers. That's my bias."
She paused, then continued, "Since that's the case, let's make a deal."
Shuta An noticed her gaze flicker toward Tokai Teio, seated quietly at her side.
"Is it related to her?" he asked, gesturing toward Teio.
"Exactly." Symboli Rudolf nodded, then explained, "If Shuta-kun can truly lead Oguri Cap to victory in an overseas expedition, then Teio will be entrusted to Shuta-kun."
"Eh?! Eh?!" Tokai Teio's eyes widened in disbelief. "President, are you making me transfer to Kasamatsu?!"
"Of course not." Symboli Rudolf smiled faintly. "It's for when Shuta-kun enters Central."
"Tokai Teio is still at least five years away from full maturity, isn't she?" the young man countered, unimpressed. "How about this—if Oguri Cap and I win the expedition race, then once I enter Central Tracen Academy, Miss Symboli Rudolf will help me find an Uma Musume who hasn't debuted yet from another team."
"…That's not possible," Symboli Rudolf frowned.
"Then let me pick one from Team Rigil," Shuta An raised an eyebrow. "Team Rigil is the strongest team in Central, isn't it? It shouldn't be a problem for me to choose an undebuted Uma Musume."
"If it's Team Rigil…" Symboli Rudolf hesitated for a long moment, then finally nodded. "I can make that decision."
"Then it's a deal." The young local Trainer grinned.
However, Symboli Rudolf had never made any agreement with Shuta Ann about what to do if they lost. In her view, losing an expedition was already the harshest punishment imaginable.
Shuta Ann was fine with that arrangement and didn't bring it up either. After giving up on persuading Oguri Cap, Symboli Rudolf was about to leave, but Maruzensky stopped her.
"We've already ordered the food—it wouldn't be proper to leave now." With just a glance, Symboli Rudolf understood Maruzensky's meaning and nodded gently in acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, Tokai Teio—used as a "stake" by the "Emperor"—pouted as she took a few bites, then glanced up to stare at Shuta Ann.
The young man naturally didn't ignore her, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
'In the Dream World, I've heard the names Symboli Rudolf and Maruzensky. Their careers match their real-world selves—but I've never heard of Tokai Teio, who follows them.'
There was, however, a similar name. In that world, this year's Oaks winner had been a umamusume called "Tokai Roman."
Should I ask? The thought flickered across his mind, but he suppressed it.
After the celebration banquet ended, Symboli Rudolf rose to leave, then turned to Shuta Ann. "Do you have any suggestions regarding Teio's training? After all, Shuta-kun will be taking over her training from now on."
"Suggestions?" Shuta Ann looked at Tokai Teio and replied, "In addition to regular training, she should practice some gymnastics."
"Gymnastics?" Tokai Teio blinked in surprise. "What does that have to do with running?"
"Just practice more. It won't hurt you," Shuta Ann said, shaking his head. "If gymnastics is hard to start with, visit a trampoline once a week. Try some challenging moves—front flips, back flips, tucks, twists."
"These will help train your coordination," he added. "Also, you should supplement your calcium."
"Eh?" Tokai Teio looked even more confused.
Shuta Ann pointed toward her lower leg. "That's just my personal suggestion. I'm not your Trainer right now, so you don't have to listen."
"I will supervise her," Symboli Rudolf interjected, effectively removing Tokai Teio's right to refuse.
"That would be for the best," Shuta Ann said with a shrug.
When he and Symboli Rudolf made their agreement earlier, Shuta Ann had already been able to view Tokai Teio's attributes.
But he didn't just glance through them—he compared them carefully with Symboli Rudolf's, analyzing as he went.
Since Teio was still developing, he skipped a few incomplete data points.
Turf adaptability: A. Dirt adaptability... quite poor. Good thing she's a Central Uma Musume—otherwise she'd have nowhere to race but Morioka.
Her best distance is middle, and long-distance is B—same as Oguri. Symboli Rudolf's middle-distance is S… the first I've ever seen.
Preferred tactics: only Pace-Chaser. Symboli Rudolf also has one for late-chasing.
No wonder she admires Symboli Rudolf so much. Everything Teio's good at, the Emperor does even better.
Still, that didn't mean Tokai Teio wasn't exceptional. She was far from reaching her full potential. Even if she lagged behind Symboli Rudolf for now, compared to the Uma Musumes Shuta Ann had seen at Kasamatsu, Teio was undoubtedly a "monster."
'A Uma Musume with this much talent' Although her behavior that day had been childish, Shuta Ann was already thinking seriously about how he might train her in the future—even if that future would only begin once he joined Central.
That evening, after returning to the Academy, Shuta Ann granted Oguri Cap and Berno Light a week of rest.
"The next race will be our last one at Kasamatsu, Oguri Cap, so make it count."
Although Symboli Rudolf had warned him they couldn't register for the local Classic Triple Crown, Shuta Ann had no intention of giving up.
"Even if we can't enter the Classic Triple Crown races, we'll run in the prep races and win them beautifully. I'm sure all the Classic contenders next year will enter those preps. If we defeat them there—and then announce an overseas expedition."
He could already picture the storm of public opinion that would follow.
"Still, if we're going abroad, we need to start the procedures early. Otherwise, they might get delayed." The young Trainer decided to begin arranging the paperwork the very next day—not only for himself, but for Oguri Cap and Berno Light as well.
As he mentally organized his upcoming tasks, Shuta Ann headed toward the parking lot to drive home. Right at the school gate, he ran into Mr. Kitahara, who seemed to have been waiting for him.
"Mr. Kitahara?" Shuta Ann greeted him first.
Hearing his voice, Mr. Kitahara looked up, then smiled wryly and lowered his head, looking somewhat dejected.
"Did you argue with Fujimasa March?" Shuta Ann asked, feeling a little awkward—after all, it was Oguri Cap who'd handed Fujimasa March that crushing defeat earlier.
"No. But it would've been better if we had." Mr. Kitahara rubbed his forehead and sighed. "I'd rather she yelled at me."
"A silent treatment?" Shuta Ann blinked. "What happened?"
"I registered her for the Chukyo Hai to fulfill her wish to race Oguri Cap again—and you saw how that went." Mr. Kitahara looked helpless. "I misjudged March's turf adaptability, which led to that disastrous loss."
"Afterwards, I apologized, but she said it wasn't my fault and just left." He scratched his head. "Now she's out doing extra laps on the track, and I don't even know what to say."
"Then prepare some lightly salted water and a towel, and wait for her by the track," Shuta Ann said, patting his friend's shoulder. "Tell Fujimasa March that the Kasamatsu Grand Prix at the end of the year will be Oguri Cap's last race here."
"Last race...?" Mr. Kitahara's eyes widened. "I heard you met Symboli Rudolf. Everything's alright, then?"
"It's fine. Oguri Cap won't be transferring from Kasamatsu." Shuta Ann turned and waved casually. "There's nothing Shuta An has ever promised that he hasn't delivered."