Chapter 47. Too Many Events I Don't Know What to Write as Title
Before leaving the shopping center, Shuta An selected a bracelet for both Curren Chan and Kurofune as a token of thanks. Naturally, he also prepared gifts for the three Uma Musume on his team. In matters like this, he understood, it was never about exclusivity—it was about fairness. At the Academy, he had heard more than enough stories of Trainers whose uneven gift-giving had bred resentment among their Uma Musume, sometimes leading to consequences best left unspoken.
However, Curren Chan had no intention of continuing the outing. With the bracelet already clasped around her wrist, she smiled brightly. "Well~ Curren needs to head back to the hotel with Kurofune-onee-san."
She had already achieved what she wanted—strengthened her rapport with the members of Team Sadalsuud, added them on Line, exchanged emails. For now, that was enough. There would be plenty of chances in the future. One day, she would make them her true friends.
Kurofune nodded as well, her own reasoning clear. "I also need to discuss Twinkle Series matters with my family. I hope Shuta Trainer and everyone continue to enjoy the day. I'll be ready by autumn and will come to see you again."
Even so, Shuta An made one last attempt. "It's already this late. Why don't we have lunch together before heading back? Consider it another thank-you for earlier—"
Curren Chan shook her head before he could finish. "We appreciate it, Big Brother, but Curren has something very cute to do this afternoon, so it won't work this time. We've added each other on Line, so we can meet anytime in the future~"
After seeing them onto the train, Shuta An checked the time. It was already one in the afternoon.
Noticing Tokai Teio unconsciously rubbing her stomach, he suggested, "Shall we find somewhere nearby for lunch?"
"Mm-hmm!" Tokai Teio nodded vigorously. After shopping until her stomach protested, she would have proposed the same herself. Silence Suzuka and Mejiro Dober voiced no objections.
Still, Silence Suzuka remarked thoughtfully, "I think we could have invited Curren-chan and Miss Kurofune again just now. Miss Kurofune seemed tempted."
"That's true, but…" Shuta An gave a faint shrug. "Even though Kurofune is older, Curren Chan clearly takes the lead in social situations. I don't know why she insisted on leaving, but don't be fooled by that perpetually cute expression. Once she makes up her mind, she's extremely difficult to persuade."
Suzuka pursed her lips, only to hear him add, "She reminds me of you in the past."
"Eh?" She blinked. "Like… me?"
"That deep-rooted stubbornness—" He trailed off, realizing how it sounded. "Sorry. I didn't mean it negatively. If I were to rephrase it, perhaps 'dedication' would be more accurate."
"Stubbornness isn't wrong," Silence Suzuka replied quietly. "I know that myself. Trainer Tojo once wanted me to delay my debut, and Ann agreed—but I insisted on my own judgment. She also wanted me to regulate my pace to adapt to senko tactics, yet I preferred to run at the very front. Calling it stubbornness is fair."
There was one thought she kept to herself: My stubbornness isn't limited to racing.
But she was certain Shuta An would understand.
After lunch at a seafood restaurant near Hakodate Station, the still-energetic trio dragged him first to the Hakodate City Museum, then to Hakodate Park, where they even tried a few amusement rides.
By the time they left the park, it was already five in the evening.
"Next stop—Mount Hakodate!" Tokai Teio declared, raising her hand. "If we walk from here, we'll reach the top just in time for the night view!"
"Then let's go. We can take a taxi back afterward," Shuta An said, rolling his wrist. "Tomorrow, I really need to stay in and rest properly."
"I'll help Ann carry some of that," Silence Suzuka offered, taking one of his bags.
Tokai Teio immediately followed suit, relieving him of another. Two bulging bags remained in his hands.
Mejiro Dober bit her lip, voice barely audible. "Um…I'll help too."
She extended her arm, fingers trembling visibly. While she could move about comfortably when others were present, direct physical proximity still unsettled her.
Noticing this, Silence Suzuka smoothly adjusted the arrangement—she took another bag from Shuta An and handed her own to Dober instead. "How about this?"
"Sorry…" Dober lowered her head.
"There's nothing to apologize for," Shuta An said gently. "After the Hakodate Nisai Stakes, I'll help you resolve this issue."
"Mm." She nodded, then quickly turned toward Mount Hakodate. As he followed, watching her back, an inexplicable sense of fragility lingered in his chest. For some reason, Mejiro Dober seemed especially vulnerable lately.
By the time they descended from Mount Hakodate and returned to the hotel by taxi, it was exactly eight in the evening. Shuta An spent half the night sorting through the day's photos. He selected more than twenty; unable to narrow them down further, he uploaded them all to his Blog and Twitter after carefully removing any private details.
"I've had enough sightseeing for today—" he murmured. "Tomorrow, it's back to work. Popularity must be supported by results. The Hakodate Nisai Stakes will determine the direction of this year's schedule—there's no room for mistakes. Everything else can take a back seat."
Yet even as he said so, he couldn't push aside the memory of Mejiro Dober's trembling hand.
Why had things turned out this way? Other Uma Musume raised within the Mejiro family showed no such difficulty.
The question lingered in his mind long after the lights were out.
Shuta An did not approach Mejiro Ramonu regarding Mejiro Dober's psychological issue. He knew very well what mattered most at this stage.
If it doesn't affect her performance in the Twinkle Series, I can't go to the Mejiro family seeking answers, he told himself.
Meanwhile, in the Dream World, his stay in Hokkaido proved mind-numbingly dull. With Yutaka Take remaining in Kansai and none of his usual companions nearby, he found himself lying in the hotel room watching television.
He even seriously considered trying to sleep inside the Dream World.
Otherwise, there's nothing to do but lie here.
After attempting it, however, he discovered—unsurprisingly—that he couldn't fall asleep again within the dream.
"As expected," he muttered, turning over.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
He got up and opened it, only to find the "uninvited guest" was Norihiro Yokoyama.
"Yokoyama-senpai?" Shuta An blinked at the casually dressed jockey in a T-shirt and shorts. "How did you even find my room number?"
"I asked one of the staff at Hakodate Racecourse," Norihiro Yokoyama replied with a grin. "Figured you'd be bored up here alone. Want to head out? I know quite a few bars around Hakodate."
"Drinking? I'll pass." Shuta An shook his head firmly. "Alcohol makes me dizzy, and I have riding practice tomorrow."
"Alright…" Yokoyama's eyes shifted. "Then how about some sightseeing nearby?"
I already went sightseeing during the day, and now I have to do it again in a dream? Shuta An grumbled inwardly.
Still, having already rejected one proposal, it would be impolite to refuse again. He reluctantly agreed.
—
After waking up, Shuta An rubbed his temples and reached for his phone.
"Let's check Twitter…Yokoyama-senpai is even wilder than Teio and the others. Hard to tell who's younger."
The first retweet that caught his attention was from Mount Hakodate's official account.
"Mount Hakodate's night view is definitely no worse than Mount Moiwa's!"
Below it unfolded a fierce exchange between Sapporo and Hakodate residents.
Regional rivalry exists everywhere, he thought dryly.
The second retweet was from Curren Chan—he recognized it instantly.
"Whoa! You actually went to Mount Hakodate last night?! Curren wants to go too!"
The replies flooded in:
"I didn't expect Curren-chan to be so close with Sadalsuud's Uma Musume!"
"Is Curren-chan planning to become an Uma Musume?"
"If she debuts, we'll get to see her on the track!"
"But races are brutal…there's only one winner. I don't want Curren-chan to suffer."
—
Reading through them, Shuta An realized something sobering: training Curren Chan might bring more pressure than training anyone else.
With over three million followers on Umastagram and more than a million on Twitter, once she debuted, every eye would turn to him.
One mistake—and he would be the first target.
He frowned slightly.
Curren Chan had clearly expressed her desire to join Team Sadalsuud in the future, but dealing with an army of passionate, non-professional critics was hardly appealing. He valued his privacy; attracting a wave of zealous fans would not improve his life.
Still…it's too early.
Kurofune had years before reaching full maturity. Curren Chan would need even longer.
Perhaps she'll change her mind by then. Being an influencer is far easier than surviving the Twinkle Series.
—
More than a week later, on Friday morning at nine, the gate assignments for the Hakodate Nisai Stakes were announced.
As expected, Mejiro Dober drew Gate 8—the outermost stall.
"How unlucky," Shuta An muttered. "Her debut was from the far outside, and now her first graded race as well. URA, do you plan to give her an outside gate in the Oka Sho too?"
He said it half-jokingly—but if that actually happened, he would not be amused.
He had arranged to meet Mejiro Dober at the hotel café. A few minutes later, she arrived.
Her expression seemed normal—apparently she hadn't checked the gate draw yet.
"Dober, have you seen your gate position?" he asked.
"Not yet…but judging by your expression, Trainer, it doesn't seem ideal?" she replied cautiously.
"Please, sit. There's no need to be so tense." He gestured for her to take the seat opposite him and let her order first.
Only after that did he continue.
"For the race the day after tomorrow, you've been assigned Gate 8—the far outside."
"Eh…" Though prepared, she still froze for a moment. Technically, Gate 8 wasn't disastrous, but the sting came from the familiarity—her debut had been from the same unfavorable position.
"Hakodate Racecourse's turf home straight is only 260 meters—even shorter than Nakayama's. From the outside gate, relying on a deep-closing tactic would be severely disadvantaged."
He met her eyes steadily.
"I believe you can win regardless. But this time, I want to test your forward-running ability."
He paused deliberately.
"For the Hakodate Nisai Stakes, we'll use an aggressive senko strategy. When the gates open, you surge forward and secure a strong position near the front. There's no time to ease into rhythm—this is a 1200-meter sprint, a lightning war. Any hesitation must be discarded."
His voice remained calm but firm.
"Can you do that?"
Mejiro Dober stared at him, absorbing every word. Then she nodded earnestly.
"I understand."