The next day, Shuta An recalled the explanation of "One Mind, One Body" and deliberately tried it again at a crucial moment.
It felt incredible.
Of course, exhilaration came with a price. By evening, when he headed down to the restaurant for dinner, his steps were noticeably unsteady.
Berno Light, already seated and pouting across from him, immediately asked, "Where's Oguri?"
"Still sleeping," Shuta An replied as he sat down with his tray. "She can still come down later for snack, so I didn't wake her."
"I thought Oguri would be the one coming down, and you would be the one passed out in bed," Berno Light muttered in dissatisfaction. "Didn't expect it to turn out the other way."
Shuta An had no intention of entertaining this line of conversation in public. After settling in, he changed the topic. "Any problems at the celebration last night?"
"None at all." Berno Light shrugged. "Since I was representing you and Oguri, lots of people came to talk, but it was all polite greetings."
She stuck out her tongue. "After one night, I've forgotten almost everyone's name. The only ones I remember are the Director of Paris Central Tracen Academy and a few Student Council members."
"I don't need to know about them," Shuta An waved off. "Reporters must've tried interviewing you, right?"
"They did." Berno Light nodded. "Most asked how I, as a support Uma Musume, view Oguri and you. Some asked about my daily support work. I answered everything properly."
Noticing her choice of words, Shuta An raised a brow. "In private situations like this, Berno, just call me by name."
"Eh?" She blinked, then broke into a bright smile and nodded hard. "Okay!"
Although Oguri Cap had vowed to monopolize Shuta An for a full week, the 'monopoly' ended by the second day. But Shuta An didn't go out with her or Berno Light. He stayed at the hotel to handle post-race documents and reports.
Sitting at his desk, Shuta An rubbed his lower back before opening his laptop to write the race report. The report for the French 2000 Guineas had been simple—describe the race, summarize the reasons for victory.
But this French Derby was different.
"Forget it. I'll just write something a normal person can understand." He pouted, then began typing—
[The entire report remains unchanged; polished lightly for readability]
After finishing the post-race report, Shuta An stretched. "Whew—after sending this to the Academy, I still need to plan Oguri's training schedule for the next few months."
In truth, he already had a solid plan.
"This year— we're definitely going for the Autumn Tenno Sho → Japan Cup → Arima Kinen route." (Oguri Canon route, Senior Autumn Triple Crown)
If it were the old days, when the Autumn Tenno Sho was still a long-distance race, Shuta An might've used the Mainichi Okan as preparation for the Japan Cup. But after the Tenno Sho's distance was shortened to 2000 meters, the Mainichi Okan no longer offered any advantage.
And with the long gap from early June to late October, he certainly wouldn't force Oguri into high-intensity training.
"After being on an expedition for so long, both Oguri and Berno must be under a lot of mental pressure. And it's summer. The best thing to do is just give them a full summer break."
Realizing this, Shuta An reached to close his laptop—
"When I'm giving them vacation, why am I still writing a training plan now?"
But before he could leave his desk, his phone chimed.
It was Symboli Rudolf.
"It can't be a congratulatory message. She already sent one—" He unlocked his phone.
It was an invitation: She wanted him to bring Oguri Cap as guests for Central Tracen Academy's summer training camp.
Shuta An thought briefly, then decided to ask Oguri, who was still out shopping.
Oguri accepted instantly. "It's only for one day. It won't affect anything."
And she had her own little reason:
"People kept saying Trainer and I only shine overseas and would never stand out in Central. Now they'll have to watch me walk onto their stage as an example—" The thought made Oguri smile to herself.
"Oguri really likes that one?" Berno Light's voice pulled her back. She was staring at a rather daring black bikini.
"It'—umm?" Oguri tilted her head, examining it carefully. "It is— bold."
"That's not a drawback though, right?" Berno Light smirked.
"That's true." Oguri nodded, decision made.
After receiving her reply, Shuta An sent the confirmation to Symboli Rudolf.
Late at night, Symboli Rudolf finally exhaled in relief. "Good. Now Teio's suggestion is complete."
But one question lingered.
"If Teio suggested him, why did she insist on bringing Oguri too?"
Symboli Rudolf shook her head at the thought forming in her mind.
"No. it can't be that reason."
Her final conclusion was simple:
"She probably wants to show off to Oguri that she has such an amazing senior teammate."
She chuckled softly. "Teio is still so childish."
Across the dormitory, Tokai Teio, who had stayed up all night, was ecstatically shaking her phone at Mayano Top Gun.
"Maya-chan! Maya-chan! Look!"
"What is it?" Maya looked up from her fashion browsing and leaned in.
"This is?" She tilted her head. "What does this have to do with Maya?"
"It's about my Trainer!" Teio puffed her cheeks. "He's really strong! During summer camp, I'll introduce Maya-chan to him!"
"Ohhh, it's Teio's Trainer" Maya nodded. "So Maya can meet him this summer?"
"Yes! A two-crown Trainer who just won the French Derby" Teio lay back dramatically. "I know he can help me achieve my dream."
"To become an undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume?" Maya smiled. Everyone in the dorm knew Teio's dream—the dream board hung right by her bed.
"I'll catch up to the President and surpass her!" Teio's eyes gleamed.
"You definitely can." Maya smiled warmly. "Then I can show off that my roommate is an undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume."
"Hehe! I won't disappoint you!" Teio declared, giving a bright thumbs-up.
After finishing his work, Shuta An lay down to sleep. In the Dream World, he ended up with nothing to do at Setoguchi Tsutomu's stable—the Racehorses were resting after moderate training the day before.
"Shuta-kun, you don't have any hobbies? You still come here on days like this," the assistants teased.
"Not really. Nothing interests me except racehorses," Shuta An said honestly.
"Other jockeys would be out drinking or having fun," an assistant sighed. "But Shuta-kun shows up to help with chores."
Then came an unexpected comment— "I'll introduce you to my brother later. I'll definitely praise you to him."
"Your brother?" Shuta blinked.
"He's a Trainer here at Ritto, though not very famous—only four graded wins in ten years," Ikee said modestly. "But since he's a Trainer, any chance for Shuta-kun to ride helps build experience."
A colleague added, "Don't let him fool you. Two of those wins were G1s! He even won last year's Arima Kinen—Mejiro Durren."
"Oh?" Shuta nodded. "Ikee-kun is really modest."
"Not doing great this year though," Ikee admitted. "He lost badly to Tamamo Cross in Hanshin Daishoten and Spring Tenno Sho. And in the upcoming Takarazuka Kinen, he has to face Tamamo Cross and Akitsu Teio."
"Tamamo Cross?" It was Shuta's first time hearing that name in the Dream World.
The petite gray figure appeared in his mind.
"So this Tamamo Cross wasn't famous last year?" he asked.
"She only won her first graded race late last year," the assistants explained. "But in half a year she's won five straight—four graded races, one G1. Terrifying."
Shuta lowered his gaze, thinking deeply.
"So when Oguri returns to Japan and faces Central's Twinkle Series— Tamamo Cross will be her biggest rival."
And that thought didn't worry him at all—it excited him.
"It's good to have strong rivals. Otherwise, Oguri would be very lonely on the track."
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