Although contacting him wasn't easy, the thought lingered. "I'll write a letter," she decided the next morning. "If Shuta-kun doesn't wish to help, that's fine."
As she drafted her words, far away, a gray-haired umamusume was leaving Central Tracen Academy.
"It's been so long since I've had kishimen. Since I finally got a day off, I have to go," Tamamo Cross said to herself. "And I'll visit Oguri and the others, too!"
Carrying a fine handbag—a gift from her Trainer—she grinned to herself. Inside were several small items she planned to gift Oguri Cap and the Trainer who'd once advised her.
At that moment, Oguri Cap was following behind Shuta An through the streets of Kasamatsu.
"Grrr—" Her stomach rumbled.
"That's why I told you not to follow me, Oguri Cap. I'm just taking a walk." Shuta An sighed. "Wouldn't it be better to eat breakfast at the academy?"
"Berno said she wanted me to follow the Trainer in her place," Oguri Cap said honestly.
"Ugh…" Shuta An frowned. "She has time for that but not her cultural studies? Hard to imagine her English score failed while yours passed."
"I don't know," Oguri Cap replied with a small shake of her head.
"Ha… Maybe I should start speaking English with you two more often," he teased.
"…" Oguri Cap's eyes glazed over immediately.
"Never mind, just kidding." He gave up, realizing her academics were a lost cause.
After exploring Kasamatsu and confirming that "Black Monday" was barely local gossip there, he returned to the academy with Oguri Cap—only to be greeted by a familiar voice.
"Of course, I'm a Central Uma Musume! I came to see an acquaintance!"
"Tamamo Cross?" Shuta Ann raised an eyebrow.
"It really is," Oguri Cap said, surprised.
Recognizing her instantly, Shuta An called out, "Miss Tamamo Cross, good morning!"
"Huh?!" She turned, eyes wide. "Shuta Trainer!"
Rushing over, she bowed gratefully. "Thank you for your advice back then!"
"I just said it casually," Shuta An replied, waving it off. "But it seems you've grown stronger."
"Yes! After talking with my Trainer, I switched back to turf and medium-long distances. I've already won four in a row—and even took the Hakodate Kinen!" she said proudly, showing off a pennant.
"That's great. What's next for you?" Shuta An asked.
"My Trainer wants me to stay in G2 and G3 races for now, so next is the Naruo Kinen in December."
"A solid plan," he nodded.
If it were up to him, he would've sent her to the Kikuka Sho before—but under current URA rules, unregistered Uma Musume couldn't enter Classic races. Given that, her only choice was to continue through the G2 circuit.
Tamamo Cross then turned to Oguri Cap and extended a hand. "Congratulations on becoming a graded Uma Musume!"
"My Trainer helped a lot," Oguri Cap said modestly. "Otherwise, I might still be running every two weeks in Kasamatsu."
"That's right," Tamamo Cross nodded. "Meeting a good Trainer is the greatest fortune a Uma Musume can have."
"By the way, Tama, was there another reason for your visit?" Oguri Cap asked curiously.
"Mostly because I missed the kishimen here," Tamamo Cross laughed. "I hadn't found time to ask for leave—until yesterday, when the academy suddenly turned chaotic. My Trainer finally agreed."
"Chaotic?" Shuta An caught the word. "Because of 'Black Monday'?"
"I'm not sure," she replied. "But I heard many Trainers resigned some even vanished."
"Vanished…" Shuta An could already imagine the scene. "What a shame."
Tamamo Cross's trip to Kasamatsu was half nostalgia, half gratitude. After sharing a meal with Shuta An, Oguri Cap, and Berno Light, she prepared to head back.
Before she boarded the Shinkansen, Shuta An handed her two envelopes.
"One for your Trainer, and one for Miss Tojo of Team Rigil."
"I'll deliver them!" Tamamo Cross promised, tucking them into her bag.
As the train departed, Shuta An turned toward the two Uma Musume beside him.
"Trainer, with all that chaos at Central, will it affect Oguri's plans for next year?" Berno Light asked, frowning for once.
"It won't," Shuta An said confidently. "If anything, this is our chance."
He knew that after Symboli Rudolf's retirement, the URA Association needed a new hero—someone to restore balance. Whether from Central or the provinces, that hero would rise soon.
"I'll make sure Oguri Cap seizes this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he thought, his eyes meeting the gray filly's.
Oguri Cap noticed and tilted her head, looking adorably confused.
A few days later, Shuta An received another letter from Tojo Hana. He understood its implied meaning but chose to feign ignorance.
"Trainers in Central may not necessarily want guidance from a regional Trainer like me," Shuta An murmured. He didn't want his good intentions to be mistaken for arrogance.
A friend of a friend is not necessarily one's own friend—he understood that much.
From then until Christmas Eve on December 24th, Shuta Ann, Oguri Cap, and Berno Light continued their regular training and instruction as usual.
"Christmas Eve, Christmas Day tomorrow, and the night of revelry the day after—we have these three days off," Shuta Ann announced after Oguri Cap's morning training.
The two Uma Musume weren't surprised; everyone at the academy had already started preparing for Christmas. Only their team, and Kitahara's, had maintained normal training. Fujimasa March's sessions were still intense every day, and her Trainer had grown just as diligent—often dropping by to ask Shuta Ann questions about training.
"Kitahara really wants a Central Trainer's license," Shuta Ann explained whenever Berno Light looked annoyed at the interruption. "It's good to have more acquaintances when we eventually go to Central."
Berno Light shook her head slightly and asked, "What about you, Trainer? Any plans for the holidays?"
"Me?" Shuta Ann blinked. "I'll probably just stay home. Nothing much to do."
Before he could elaborate, Oguri Cap chimed in: "Mom said she hopes Trainer and Berno can come over for Christmas dinner."
Berno Light, who had intended to invite them to her own home, was caught off guard.
"Not bad, Oguri," she said, her eyes brightening.
Shuta Ann thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll go early that day to help Mrs. White Narubi prepare for the party."
Then he turned to Berno Light. "If it's alright, you can bring your family too."
"Eh…" the Chestnut-Haired Horse Girl hesitated.
"No problem!" Oguri Cap quickly added, full of enthusiasm.
Since he had agreed to help, Shuta Ann decided to stop by Nagoya afterward to buy Christmas gifts for the two Uma Musume and their families. Gifts for the elders were easy, but choosing for Oguri Cap and Berno Light was another matter.
"For Oguri Cap, sports gear's no good—she already has everything," he muttered in his car. "Medicine would feel like bad luck- and clothes? Berno Light usually helps her pick those."
His gaze drifted past a barbecue restaurant. A light bulb went off. "Aha! I'll get her a gift coupon for a barbecue chain."
Next came Berno Light. Shuta Ann quickly had an idea. "She's been helping me collect so much data lately… Toshiba just released a new portable laptop. That'll do."
After wrapping both gifts, Shuta Ann finally relaxed and settled in for the holiday.
The next morning, he arrived early at the apartment Oguri Cap shared with her mother. As expected, the Gray Filly had come home the night before. She greeted him at the door.
"Trainer, Merry Christmas!" Oguri Cap said brightly.
"Merry Christmas," Shuta Ann replied, handing her the gift.
Oguri Cap felt the thin package and carefully unwrapped it. Her eyes lit up when she saw a neat stack of vouchers for Ushiwaka, a popular barbecue restaurant in downtown Nagoya.
"I thought you'd like this more than sports gear or other things," Shuta Ann said, a bit nervous. "Do you like it?"
Oguri Cap tucked the vouchers back in, closed the package, then smiled warmly.
Without warning, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you, Trainer," she murmured, her voice soft and full of warmth. The feeling spread through Shuta Ann's chest.
"As long as you like it," he said quietly, letting out a subtle breath of relief.
That evening, Berno Light arrived right on time with her parents. Oguri Cap opened the door again. To Berno Light's parents, the Gray Filly before them was their daughter's greatest ally, and they had brought generous gifts in gratitude. Seeing their daughter and teammate embrace, Berno Light's mother exhaled softly.
"It's wonderful that they get along so well," she thought, sharing a glance with her husband.
Shuta Ann, wearing an apron, came out from the kitchen to greet them.
"Trainer! Merry Christmas!" Berno Light exclaimed, handing him a neatly wrapped box.
Shuta Ann unwrapped it and found a beautifully crafted fountain pen inside.
He smiled. "Thank you, I really like this," he said, tucking it into his shirt pocket.
Afterward, he welcomed Berno Light's parents warmly. For White Narubi, this Christmas was livelier than she had expected. Though the gathering was at her home, the true center of attention was Shuta Ann—moving gracefully between the two families, bridging conversation after conversation.
Berno Light's mother subtly probed his future plans. Shuta Ann answered honestly.
"After Oguri Cap's Twinkle Series career ends, I'll transfer to Central Tracen Academy. Oguri Cap will advance to the Dream Trophy Series, and Berno Light will continue assisting me."
He glanced at the Chestnut-Haired Horse Girl. "For me, trustworthiness matters more than anything in an assistant. After these six months, I trust her completely."
Oguri Cap, sitting nearby, unconsciously pouted. Trainer noticed and added quickly, "Of course, I also trust Oguri Cap very much."