I just finished watching Uma Musume Movie: Shinjidai no Tobira. Tachyon and Opera O were sick!!! Especially Opera O in her Japan Cup race, the gap was so small and she was in the inside lane almost got boxed in, it is like a blink and Opera O already run past the others.
Then from this scene, I think that maybe 'Zone' some fic called even it 'Domain, maybe just the unique skill that the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby have.
Oguri's Triumphant Pulse only work in 200 meters before finish, it is like her 'zone' training when Musaka asked her to focus on the distance marking. Maybe others are like this too.
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In the evening, Shuta Ann was getting ready for bed.
"Lately, the Dream World has also entered the summer racing season, just like reality. There aren't any G1 races for me to ride in. I'll have to see if I can get a few mounts in the summer graded races."
After smoothly entering the Dream World, he once again found himself at the entrance of Nagahama Ranch. This time, Trainer Matsumoto Shoichi wasn't with him.
"So, as Trainer Matsumoto said, I'm supposed to come obediently to see this world's Tokai Teio, huh. Still—every time I met and interacted with Oguri in the Dream World, my intimacy with her increased after I woke up. If I interact with Teio today will it tell me I gained Teio's intimacy too?" The young man hesitated at the entrance instead of walking in.
"Shuta-kun came to see Teio." A staff member recognized him and greeted him with a smile.
Startled out of his thoughts, Shuta Ann nodded. "Yes. Since I promised Trainer Matsumoto, I need to keep my word."
"It's already summer racing season. Shuta-kun, why not consider staying in Hokkaido for the whole summer? Then you can visit Teio anytime." The staff suggested.
"This—" Shuta Ann didn't agree immediately. "I'll have to think about it. I haven't considered that before. And if I stay in Hokkaido, I don't have many riding requests lined up right now."
"Well since it involves your main work, it's good to be cautious," the staff replied kindly.
Shuta Ann smiled as he followed along. "Yes, I need to be careful and not decide recklessly."
"At this hour, Teio is still out grazing with her mother. Even though she seemed unusually affectionate with you last time, she's still a foal—we can't rely on her memory. Please be careful," another staff member reminded him.
"I know." Shuta Ann gave a thumbs-up. "I'll be careful."
When he arrived at Teio's grazing area, he stayed behind the ranch staff as before. But the moment Teio noticed someone entering the field, she immediately trotted over with bright, lively steps.
The staff instinctively stepped forward, blocking Shuta Ann. "Shuta-kun, be careful."
"Yeah, yeah." He replied, though something told him that Teio had no ill intent.
Sure enough, once she got close, Teio nimbly slipped around the staff and bumped straight into Shuta Ann's arms, rubbing her head against him.
"Woah!!!" The staff member turned around, stunned. "This is the first time I've seen Teio act so affectionate. She definitely remembers you."
Shuta Ann stroked her head. "I'm surprised too."
He leaned in slightly, looking into her eyes. "Can you hear me?"
Teio simply squinted her eyes, enjoying the pets, completely ignoring the question.
"Right." Shuta Ann laughed helplessly. "How could she possibly understand? I'm overthinking."
Since Teio was only a few months old and couldn't bear weight, riding her was impossible. Instead, Shuta Ann just stayed with her in the pasture until it was time for her to return to the stable.
Once the herding time came, the staff led Teio and her mother back. Shuta Ann followed them to the Setoguchi Tsutomu Stable. After returning, Teio immediately curled up on the straw mat and fell asleep.
"She must be tired from playing with you. She fell asleep without fussing today." The staff whispered, afraid to wake her.
"So, I actually helped?" Shuta Ann raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed." The staff grinned.
With Teio asleep, there was no longer a reason to stay. After leaving Nagahama Ranch, Shuta Ann walked leisurely along the rural road toward the station.
"Trainer Setoguchi might be right. Maybe I should stay in Hokkaido for the summer. It'd make visiting Teio easier. Oguri will be grazing all summer and won't return to the stable. And the first autumn race is the Mainichi Okan—there's still two months." He muttered.
But when he reached into his pocket to call Trainer Setoguchi, he stopped.
"There aren't cell phones here" He sighed and hurried his pace toward the station. He still needed to return to Ritto Training Center today—
Meanwhile, Tokai Teio opened her eyes.
"Three in the morning" She glanced at her roommate, Mayano Top Gun, who still seemed to be playing a game.
"Maya-chan is so energetic." Teio shook her head with a helpless smile and closed her eyes again.
But the dream she had earlier replayed in her mind—especially the moment where she nuzzled into the young man's chest.
"The person in my dream looked exactly like Trainer even his voice was the same. And just seeing him made me feel so close." Teio's cheeks reddened. "But the me in that dream was strange too— I changed into that form, and acted foolishly, doing everything without thinking."
She sighed softly. "What's happening to me? This has happened once before. Will it happen again next month?"
If the dream had affected her sleep, she would've already reported it to Symboli Rudolf. To Teio, Kaichou was practically omnipotent. But because this matter involved the Trainer who recently caused trouble for the URA Association, Teio hesitated.
"Maybe Kaichou wouldn't know either since I couldn't find anything online," she murmured. Soon, she drifted back to sleep, dreaming again—but without the vivid lucidity from earlier.
———
The next evening, with Berno Light resting her head on his right arm, Shuta Ann fell into another dream. He found himself at the entrance of Setoguchi Tsutomu Stable. Trainer Setoguchi walked out just then.
"Shuta-kun, you can go straight in—or were you waiting for me?" Setoguchi asked, surprised.
"I have something to discuss." Shuta Ann explained the suggestion from Nagahama Ranch's staff.
"Staying in Hokkaido for the summer? Not impossible—actually, that's a good idea." Setoguchi closed his eyes in thought. "Oguri won't return this summer. She'll graze and grow at the ranch. Staying here on Honshu is no different from Hokkaido, but in Hokkaido you can visit Teio."
"You know Teio too?" Shuta Ann asked, surprised.
"How could I not?" Setoguchi sighed. "Matsumoto Shoichi won't stop talking in Ritto—saying that foal might become an undefeated Triple Crown winner like her father."
He raised an eyebrow. "You've met Teio twice. What do you think? He says it so confidently I'm starting to doubt him."
"She's only a few months old." Shuta Ann shook his head. "It's too early to tell."
"But—" he added, "Her body is extremely flexible. If her speed is good, I think she could achieve impressive results."
"Is that so—" Setoguchi exhaled. "Well, her debut is still two years away. No point worrying now."
"An undefeated Triple Crown isn't easy anyway," Shuta Ann agreed.
Since he'd decided to stay in Hokkaido for the summer, he would only accept Sapporo or Hakodate rides. With the help of Trainers Setoguchi, Matsumoto, and Assistant Ikee, the news spread quickly—soon, many riding requests would come. Shuta Ann left Ritto to return to Kasamatsu, pack his luggage, and move into the summer-only Sapporo Training Center, which offered free accommodation.
When he woke, his right arm was numb again. He gently slid it out from under Berno Light and winced. After washing up and changing into workout clothes, he headed out for a morning run.
"It won't be long until the Central Tracen Academy summer camp. After a few days there, I'll return to Hokkaido from Miyagi. This vacation feels really fragmented" He muttered while jogging along Noboribetsu's roadside.
"Once I return to Kasamatsu in September, Oguri has to prepare for the Autumn Tenno Sho."
In the Dream World, her autumn debut would be the Mainichi Okan—understandable, since Dream World Oguri wasn't a G1 Uma Musume yet.
"Trainer Setoguchi's race plan for her is so conservative. Most of the races are guaranteed wins." He shook his head. "Quite different from my approach."
Still, despite his more aggressive race plans, the results were excellent: with two G1 wins, Oguri Cap was already the most accomplished of her generation.
After his morning routine, Shuta Ann asked Oguri Cap and Berno Light, "Shall we go sightseeing in Sapporo today?"
"It's already almost ten. If we go now, we'll arrive in the afternoon and won't have much time. Let's go early tomorrow instead," Berno Light suggested.
"We just won't come back tonight," Oguri Cap countered eagerly.
"If we stay overnight, we can enjoy the night view from Mount Moiwa. They say it's as spectacular as Mount Hakodate's 'Ten Great Night Views of the World.'" Shuta Ann added.
"If we're sightseeing tomorrow too, then I don't mind" Berno muttered.
"Then it's decided." Shuta Ann finished his bun and stood. "We'll leave after breakfast."
"Okay!" Oguri raised her hand, still chewing.
From Noboribetsu to Sapporo, they again took the train, arriving in just over an hour.
"We already explored the malls last time, so we're not going there again," Shuta Ann said before the two Uma Musume could speak—preventing them from wandering off again.
"Then where?" Berno Light asked.
"We'll visit the zoo first, then Hokkaido Shrine. After that, depending on the time, we'll grab dinner downtown before heading up Mount Moiwa."
"Sounds good!" Oguri agreed instantly. Berno Light also accepted.
———
Sapporo's Maruyama Zoo—one of only four zoos in Hokkaido and the oldest—featured not only common animals but also native Ezo flying squirrels and huge Ezo brown bears. Walking around multiple times was enough to keep Oguri and Berno happily entertained.
A short walk away stood Hokkaido Shrine, the highest-ranking shrine in the region. Without a prayer function, the three simply strolled around before thinking about dinner.
Then Shuta remembered a dessert shop—Rokkatei.
"Even though eating just dessert at night isn't ideal, they also serve regular food. Want to try it? Oguri mentioned wanting to try Hokkaido desserts before."
"I want to go!" Oguri's ears perked up instantly.
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