Upon hearing Symboli Rudolf's request, Shuta An accepted without hesitation. "Of course, that's not a problem."
He had no reason to refuse. After all, Tokai Teio was destined to be one of his trainees in the future, and Symboli Rudolf's request was simply to let Teio receive some early guidance from him.
"However, my main focus is on Oguri Cap," Shuta An explained. "So the program I'll give Tokai Teio might not differ much from what she'd get at Central. I apologize if it seems unremarkable." His tone was calm as his gaze shifted toward the young filly.
Tokai Teio, however, showed no reaction. For her, anything Symboli Rudolf decided was inherently for her own good. That belief had been ingrained in her since the beginning.
"As for the training schedule" Shuta An glanced at his phone. "Let's begin on the 28th—Sunday."
"Huh? No training from Thursday to Saturday?" Tokai Teio was surprised. She had expected him to demand immediate, high-intensity sessions.
In her mind, a Trainer capable of bringing a Kasamatsu Uma Musume onto the Central stage must have relied on strict discipline and relentless planning. Rest days between Wednesday and Sunday didn't fit that image at all.
"Of course, there's training from Thursday to Saturday," Shuta An replied evenly. "But the intensity will be low. I'll send your training schedule to Ms. Symboli Rudolf tonight. Then on Sunday, I'll arrange a joint practice session for you and Oguri Cap."
"Eh…" Oguri Cap blinked at the mention of her name. "I'll be training with Tokai Teio?"
"Yes," Shuta An nodded. "After all, she's going to be your teammate."
"I'm still a Uma Musume without a team in the Academy records," Tokai Teio murmured.
Shuta An didn't respond to that remark, choosing instead to shift the topic. "Did you continue the training I gave you last year? How did it feel?"
"I've been supervising her," Symboli Rudolf interjected with a composed smile.
"I really feel like I've grown a lot," Tokai Teio admitted, looking down at her legs. "My flexibility has improved a lot too. Sit-and-reach is easy now—I even broke the Academy record again."
Shuta An's expression didn't brighten. He merely frowned; his tone analytical. "Have you tried running at full speed?"
"Yes," Teio replied quickly. "But isn't it normal that I'm faster than before?"
"On Sunday, we'll do a solo running session," Shuta An said, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "I'll have a few conditions for you then."
"I understand," Tokai Teio said earnestly. "I'll do my best."
"Good." For the first time during the meeting, Shuta An gave her a brief smile.
As they prepared to leave, Symboli Rudolf turned back and asked, "Shuta-kun, what do you think of this year's Classic Race generation at Central Tracen Academy?"
He knew exactly which Uma Musumes she meant. Yet he only shook his head. "It's not even March yet. Everything's still uncertain."
Then, glancing at Oguri Cap beside him, he continued softly, "But Oguri will be the protagonist of this year's Classic generation."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Though she won't be standing on Japan's Classic Race stage."
Symboli Rudolf sighed with a faint smile. "If you and Oguri achieve results overseas, then during the URA Association's annual meeting later this year, I'm confident I can persuade the administrators to change the Classic Race eligibility rules."
"I don't think changing unjust rules should depend on the victims proving their worth," Shuta An said calmly. "Wrong rules are wrong. They shouldn't need success to justify correction."
The "Emperor" had no rebuttal.
Before parting, Shuta An and Symboli Rudolf exchanged contact information, and he added Tokai Teio to Line, inviting her into the chat group that previously only included Oguri Cap and Berno Light.
"It's fine if you mute notifications," he said casually. "There's nothing important in there. If you have training questions, message me directly."
"Understood!" Tokai Teio replied, slipping her phone into her bag before following Symboli Rudolf out.
Shuta An turned to see Oguri Cap pouting.
Knowing exactly why, he chuckled and took her hand again. "She'll be your junior eventually. You don't need to treat her like an outsider."
"I know," Oguri muttered softly, "but I don't think she respects the Trainer."
"That's because we haven't spoken much," Shuta An said. "It's hard for someone like her—a highly anticipated prodigy—to accept guidance from a Trainer from a so-called 'backward region.' If Ms. Symboli Rudolf hadn't been there, I doubt she would've followed my plan last year."
At this point, Berno Light tilted her head. "Then why is Teio's training program different from Oguri's?"
"Because she's not Oguri," Shuta An replied simply. "There's a saying: 'Teach according to aptitude.'"
He didn't elaborate, but in his mind, he thought:
"Tokai Teio's flexibility is extraordinary—beyond anything I've ever seen. Her explosive power equals Oguri's, yet her legs… something about them bothers me."
As his eyes drifted closed in contemplation, the two Uma Musume quietly excused themselves.
Not long after they disappeared from the lobby, Shuta An finally recalled what that unsettling feeling reminded him of—
"Though far more delicate, Tokai Teio's legs resemble those of that meteor who once streaked across America… Ruffian."
Although the name Ruffian didn't sound particularly like an Uma Musume's, it wasn't hard to get used to—especially when there existed names such as Dicta Striker (Soccer Boy).
Ruffian debuted two years after Secretariat. By that time, Secretariat had already been active in the Dream Trophy Series, yet during those two years, it was Ruffian who dominated every conversation among American fans.
The tall and powerfully built Ruffian possessed a physique that seemed far from ideal for racing. One Trainer even joked that she "ought to join a wrestling league that allows Uma Musume to compete rather than the Twinkle Series."
Her debut race was a dirt 1100-meter event. Before the race, a renowned Trainer surnamed Shuta had advised Ruffian's Trainer to reduce her weight, warning that carrying too much might cost stamina or even lead to injury. His advice was ignored.
Ruffian then silenced all doubts—winning by a margin of fifteen lengths and almost breaking the American record for the distance. The result turned Shuta's words into a laughingstock.
From that point, Ruffian entered two G3 and two G1 races in her debut year, finishing the season with five consecutive victories. Her final start, the Spinaway Stakes, she won by twelve lengths.
Yet after that dominant performance, she was diagnosed with a minor fracture. Her Trainer announced that she would rest for the remainder of the year to prepare for the following season's American Triple Tiara.
"I remember my father went to see Ruffian's Trainer at that time," Shuta An recalled. "He warned him again—after the Triple Tiara, she must not continue high-intensity races. She'd already suffered a fracture; he should manage her schedule carefully."
But Ruffian's Trainer, brimming with pride and ambition, dismissed the warning. To him, the Asia-America Trainer's concern was nothing but jealousy.
The following year, the once-injured Ruffian—whom some American newspapers affectionately nicknamed Thug—returned to racing. Her comeback was spectacular; she won by four and three-quarter lengths in a flat race.
From there, Ruffian dominated the American Triple Tiara races, claiming victory by 8¼, 13½, and 2¾ lengths respectively, completing an "Undefeated Triple Tiara." Her achievement secured her a place among the legends of the American Uma Musume Hall of Fame.
At that time, Ruffian's popularity even surpassed Secretariat's, who had retired to the Dream Trophy Series a year earlier. Many fans proclaimed Ruffian stronger than Secretariat himself.
But since Secretariat could no longer compete with her, Ruffian's Trainer and CBS—America's second-largest television network—arranged a sensational race. They issued a challenge to the winners of that year's "Classic Triple Crown" legs: Foolish Pleasure,Master Derby, and Avata.
Shuta An's father, who trained Avata, refused.
"It's been less than a month since Avata ran the 2400-meter Belmont Stakes on dirt," he said. "She needs rest."
Master Derby's Trainer agreed for the same reason. Only Foolish Pleasure's team accepted the challenge.
Thus, the 1v1 showdown between Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure was set at Belmont Park—2000 meters, with a prize of 500,000 USD sponsored by CBS.
The media frenzy surrounding the race grew rapidly, many outlets portraying it as a symbol of "the rise of feminism." Thirteen million Americans tuned in; over fifty thousand packed the stands to watch.
Shuta An still remembered his father's scornful tone when recounting the event:
"Those idiots who love identity politics are incomprehensible. Mixing their slogans into Uma Musume racing—what an insult to their sweat."
Two weeks earlier, Ruffian had won the 2400-meter G1 CCA Oaks, completing her Undefeated Triple Tiara. Without sufficient rest, she now stood at the starting line against Foolish Pleasure.
Both Uma Musumes favored front-running tactics, and when the gates opened, they immediately surged forward. The first 400 meters were clocked at a blistering 22.5 seconds.
"The audience gasped," Shuta An murmured, recalling his father's words. "Even those watching on TV thought they were about to witness one of the greatest duels in history."
But as they entered the final straight, Ruffian suddenly stumbled—and fell.
The race ended in that instant. Foolish Pleasure crossed the line first, but no one celebrated. Ruffian's legs were fractured. After examination, doctors declared that she would never race again.
The undefeated Triple Tiara Uma Musume's career was over.
His father's fears, once dismissed as jealousy, had come true.
Although the media praised his foresight—calling him "the West Coast's greatest Trainer" and "Secretariat's successor"—he felt no satisfaction. Watching Ruffian's Trainer collapse in tears brought him no joy, only quiet sorrow.
Because salvaging his own reputation had come at the price of a Hall of Fame Uma Musume's future.
"My child," his father had once told him, "if you ever meet a talented but fragile Uma Musume, remember this: one victory is not worth a lifetime. It's better for her to win fewer honors than to end her racing career early."
Even now, closing his eyes, Shuta An could still hear those words echoing.
"Father… I think I've met such an Uma Musume," he murmured.
But intuition wasn't enough. He needed proof.
"I've already promised her a running session this weekend—it wouldn't be right to change plans now." He reached for the phone in his pocket. "So, next Tuesday… I'll schedule a full physical examination. Make sure they check her bones carefully."
Yet even as he decided, Shuta An frowned. He couldn't completely trust the precision of local medical tests.
"I'll request a copy of the results," he thought. "Once I return to France, I'll have a proper expert analyze them."
He clenched his fist slightly, his resolve hardening.
"I won't let the tragedy of Ruffian ever repeat itself under my watch."