Although the Christmas holiday lasted three days, Shuta Ann's team only took two to rest. By the night of revelry, Berno Light and Oguri Cap had already returned to Kasamatsu Tracen Academy, while Shuta Ann remained home, preparing the material needed for the upcoming Kasamatsu Grand Prix.
"After this race, Oguri Cap will never again have the chance to compete at Kasamatsu Racecourse." He looked out the window at the pedestrians below, listening as they chatted excitedly about the Grand Prix featuring Oguri Cap, and murmured quietly to himself.
He had single-handedly nurtured a Uma Musume that Kasamatsu could take pride in—yet by doing so, he had also ensured that the people here would soon lose the chance to cheer for her in person.
"Perhaps they'll talk behind my back," Shuta Ann said under his breath, eyes returning to the laptop on his desk, "but there's no other way. Oguri Cap's talent must not remain confined to one region."
With that, he lowered his head and resumed typing the announcement he was preparing to release.
December 27th, two days before the Kasamatsu Grand Prix.
Having ended their brief Christmas break early, Shuta Ann and Oguri Cap met again on the academy's training ground.
"The day after tomorrow will be our last race in Kasamatsu," Shuta Ann said, locking eyes with the Gray Umamusume. "Starting next year, our opponents will be stronger Central Uma Musume—and even those from overseas."
Oguri Cap clenched her right fist, slowly raised it, and pressed it against Shuta Ann's chest.
"Trainer, I can't wait. Let's step onto the highest stage together!"
"I'll definitely take you there." Shuta Ann cupped her fist with his hand and pressed it against his heart. Despite the long hours of training, her hand—soft as congealed fat—was cool from the morning air. Noticing this, he took her other hand in his free one and rubbed it gently to warm her up.
"Trainer…" Oguri Cap's voice softened for the first time that morning. "Someone's coming."
"Hmm?" Shuta Ann quickly released her hands and turned. Sure enough, Kitahara and Fujimasa March were standing not far away, both wearing awkward expressions—he was certain they had seen the scene just now.
"Good morning~" Shuta Ann greeted them naturally, unfazed. "Oguri Cap and I were just discussing the race arrangements."
"The next Kasamatsu Grand Prix will be the final battle, right?" Fujimasa March joined in, though her gaze lingered on Oguri Cap. "After this, we won't meet on the same stage again, will we?"
"Yes." Oguri Cap nodded firmly, her cheeks still flushed. "After this, Trainer and I will go challenge Central—and beyond."
"Then… will Ann-san stop clocking in like this?" Kitahara asked hesitantly.
"Not necessarily." Shuta Ann smiled. "Oguri Cap and I aren't disappearing forever. We'll still come back to rest from time to time."
"That's good." Kitahara let out a relieved sigh. "Otherwise, I wouldn't know who to ask for advice in the future."
'Mr. Kitahara, you can't always rely on me,' Shuta Ann thought, smiling faintly. 'He'll have to become independent someday.'
'But as long as I can still ask Ann-san for guidance,' Kitahara thought silently, 'I'll rely on him a little longer.'
He knew how fortunate he was—to have met a Trainer like Shuta Ann, someone who by all rights shouldn't even have appeared at a local academy. Pushed by his elders to learn the trade of a regional Trainer, Kitahara now longed to improve further—to become a Central Trainer himself.
If Uncle Roppei knew, he thought, he'd be happy too.
Shuta Ann had no interest in guessing Kitahara's thoughts from his expression. He simply took Oguri Cap's hand and started walking toward the cafeteria.
"Mr. Kitahara, we'll go on ahead," he said, waving his free right hand behind him.
That afternoon, the gate draw results for the Kasamatsu Grand Prix arrived.
"This must be rigged," Shuta Ann muttered after reading them.
Seven Uma Musume had entered. Oguri Cap drew gate 7—the outermost—while Fujimasa March drew gate 6, right beside her.
Kasamatsu Racecourse was a small track; the outside lane was naturally at a disadvantage. But Shuta Ann wasn't worried. With Oguri Cap's strength, even if she were forced to run from the very edge, she would still win.
No, what made him call it "rigged" was something else entirely: with Oguri Cap in the outermost gate, she would be closest to the grandstand when the race began. Kasamatsu Racecourse clearly knew this was her final race.
"So they want everyone to see her clearly one last time," Shuta Ann murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He glanced at the attribute viewer and nodded with quiet confidence. "We'll definitely not return in disgrace."
'We'll make Kasamatsu—and all of Tokai—proud of Oguri Cap once again on the Central stage.'
Shuta Ann's composure faltered for a moment; he even stopped twirling his pen. 'It's time to redouble our efforts.'
Oguri Cap had never run on Kasamatsu's 1600-meter track before. Though Shuta Ann had no doubt about her victory, he still analyzed the race plan carefully for her.
"Get an early lead," he instructed. "Seize second place before the first bend. Keep your eyes on the front-runner, then create space just before the final stretch—overtake in one burst, and finish strong."
On the other side, Kitahara gave Fujimasa March no tactical orders.
'This is our last chance to show Ann-san and Oguri Cap how far we've come' he thought.
'After this, they'll go to Central.I promised to take you there too, Fujimasa March—but Oguri Cap will be running turf races by then.'
He pressed his lips together.
'I don't need to cheer you on', he thought. "I know you'll give your all in the race on the 29th"
"Of course," Fujimasa March said, eyes fixed out the window. "This is the last race where Oguri Cap will still be watching me."
Her voice was quiet, resolute.
"Tomorrow, I'll give it everything I have—because I want Oguri Cap's gaze to stay on me to the very end."
With that thought, on the next day at Kasamatsu Racecourse, Fujimasa March stepped onto the track brimming with fighting spirit. Shuta An immediately noticed her intensity. Narrowing his eyes, he contemplated the Uma Musume's thoughts.
'For Miss Fujimasa March, this is her last chance to compete on the same stage as Oguri Cap. She'll definitely give it everything she has'
For a runaway-type Uma Musume, "giving her all" usually means attempting a grand escape. Although Fujimasa March often lost stamina during 1200-meter turf races, that was due to her poor turf adaptability. A 1600-meter dirt run suited her much better—she could sustain a full-speed escape this time.
'But it's too late to warn Oguri Cap now' Shuta An thought helplessly.
She had already completed her pre-race exhibition and was now near the starting gate. If he shouted a warning, Fujimasa March would hear it too.
'Even so, Oguri Cap can handle it'
When it came to local-level races, Shuta An's confidence in Oguri Cap was unshakable.
And as he expected, the moment the gates flew open, Fujimasa March burst forth like a released arrow. Gritting her teeth, she sprinted with everything she had, taking the lead almost instantly. Oguri Cap, a few strides behind, was surprised by Fujimasa March's aggressive start. She hadn't expected her rival to adopt such a reckless strategy here.
But she quickly calmed down. 'No matter what tactic March uses, I'll make sure to leave the perfect ending at Kasamatsu!'
Holding that thought, Oguri Cap maintained her rhythm, staying about five horse lengths behind the leader.
Shuta An turned to Kitahara beside him. "Is this tactic something you came up with, Mr. Kitahara?"
"No," Kitahara answered honestly. "She proposed it herself, and I just helped her refine the plan."
"Controlling the pace mid-race, is it?" Shuta An's lips curved faintly as he watched Fujimasa March enter the first bend.
"I've taught Oguri Cap that exact runaway tactic before."
He doubted Fujimasa March's grand escape could truly deceive Oguri Cap. Berno Light, standing beside Shuta An and lightly holding his arm, tightened her grip unconsciously.
"Oguri will be fine," she murmured, though her tone betrayed a hint of unease.
Shuta An could feel her nervousness in the way her hand trembled. Though the competition wasn't strong, Oguri Cap couldn't afford any mistake this time.
Yet, as warmth flowed from Shuta An's arm into hers, Berno Light's anxious grip gradually loosened.
Oguri Cap will be fine, Shuta An confirmed inwardly the moment his Uma Musume entered the bend.
Her rhythm was steady; her focus unshaken by Fujimasa March's runaway lead. That calm composure alone was enough to secure victory.
Fujimasa March's stamina could carry her through a 1600-meter escape—but Oguri Cap, undisturbed and steady, was already preparing to unleash a burst of speed beyond regional standards.
And just as Shuta An foresaw, once Oguri Cap exited the first bend and entered the backstretch opposite the grandstand, she noticed Fujimasa March begin to control her pace. That instant, Oguri Cap accelerated.
The lead Fujimasa March had fought so hard to build shattered like thin glass beneath Oguri Cap's explosive surge.
On the 230-meter straightaway, Oguri Cap not only closed the gap but overtook Fujimasa March outright, entering the final bend two lengths ahead.
This is absurd!!! Kitahara muttered, his mouth twitching.
No wonder Ann-san said this would be her last race at Kasamatsu. With that level of performance, there's simply no one left in the Tokai region who can challenge her.
"She needs to go out and see the world," Shuta An replied calmly.
"Even if she might lose?" Kitahara asked quietly.
"It's fine," Shuta An said. "That's part of the journey."
Kitahara gave a faint, resigned smile. "I'll remember what Ann-san said."
The result of the Kasamatsu Grand Prix was beyond question. Oguri Cap crushed her opponents, securing another flawless victory and defending her undefeated record. At the post-race winning live, the Gray Umamusume—already composed—completed her performance, then remained standing at center stage.
The spectators, sensing the solemn atmosphere, gradually fell silent.
"I've seen my seniors from the Tokai region bid farewell to this place before," Oguri Cap began softly. "Back then, I never imagined I'd make the same announcement one day."
Her lines had been carefully written by Shuta An and practiced over the past two days.
"But I'm different from my seniors. Even as I challenge new horizons, I'll always be a Uma Musume from Kasamatsu. I'll never forget that this is the place that gave me the chance to become who I am. I'll never forget the support everyone here gave me—and I'll never forget that I am the 'Star of Kasamatsu.'"
She bowed deeply, then straightened and raised her voice. "Today's Kasamatsu Grand Prix marks my farewell race here!"
Turning toward the stands, she pointed her right hand—index finger extended—at Shuta An. "My Trainer made a vow, even before I debuted. He swore that together, we would 'defeat Central!'"
She smiled faintly. "Our original goal was simply to win a major race in Central. But as my Trainer came to understand me more deeply, he formed a new dream."
Realizing he had become the focus of the crowd, Shuta An took the megaphone from Kitahara.
"I am Oguri Cap's Trainer," he announced. "And though rumors have long said this would be her farewell race in Kasamatsu, many of you may not have believed it."
He took a deep breath and shouted with conviction: "Don't you all dream of seeing a Uma Musume from Kasamatsu stand at the very top of her generation?! If you do—then keep watching us! I swear I'll make Oguri Cap the protagonist of her generation!"
"Trainer! He can definitely do it!" Berno Light cried out beside him.
The spectators, who had been stunned moments before, began to stir. Moved by the sight of the young Trainer and the proud Gray Umamusume who had carried their hopes, they cheered again—louder than ever.
They believed in them. Because these two had already made history in the Tokai region.
Because they had the courage to declare a dream that seemed impossibly far away.
The Path to Becoming the Protagonist of Her Generation had now begun.