Volume 6: The Undefeated against the World's Strongest.
Chapter 1. Oguri Cap's Career Plan
On the evening of the 29th, heavy snow blanketed Tokyo. Oguri Cap and Shuta Ann left home together and drove toward Ohi Racecourse, leaving Suzuka and Berno behind to look after the house.
"Oguri, what made you suddenly want to go watch the Tokyo Daishoten?" the young man in the driver's seat asked, unable to hide his curiosity as he drove through the snowy streets.
"Because if I wanted to watch a Grade 1 race live with Ann during this holiday, then the Tokyo Daishoten is the only option, right?" Oguri Cap answered matter-of-factly. "There aren't any other choices."
"That's true. We're both too busy most of the time—" Shuta Ann understood what she meant.
"It's for the future too, you know." Oguri Cap leaned back in the rear seat and narrowed her eyes slightly. "I can't just stay at home forever and let Ann support me. I need to work too, don't I?"
"Of course." Shuta Ann nodded lightly. "Oguri mentioned it before, didn't she? That she plans to retire from the Dream Trophy Series in another two years."
"How could I forget?" The young man smiled faintly. "Have you already decided? Next year, or the year after?"
"Probably about three years from now." Oguri Cap curled her toes and lightly kicked the back of the seat in front of her. "Suzuka has already entered the Dream Trophy Series too."
"What does Oguri want to do afterward?"
Shuta Ann asked. He knew very well that Oguri Cap was not someone who could quietly stay at home doing nothing. She would definitely find something to occupy herself with.
"I want to become a food critic!"
Oguri Cap answered seriously.
The moment he heard that, Shuta Ann almost laughed out loud.
No matter how he looked at it, Oguri Cap's eating habits had absolutely nothing in common with the elegant image of a food critic.
"I plan to start from Tokyo and eat my way through every restaurant worth trying in the city!" Oguri Cap clenched her fists with a solemn expression.
"That's not something you can finish in one or two years." Shuta Ann immediately retorted. "Tokyo is enormous. The number of restaurants there is basically countless."
"Then I'll just take my time." Oguri Cap swayed her body indifferently. "I have plenty of time anyway, don't I?"
"That's true." Thinking about how Oguri Cap would no longer need to run around endlessly like this year after three more years passed, Shuta Ann felt himself relax considerably.
After arriving at Ohi Racecourse, the two were greeted exactly as expected by a Staff Miss arranged by the Racecourse.
"Welcome to Ohi Racecourse, Shuta Trainer and Oguri Cap."
The Staff Miss's gaze flickered subtly, clearly judging the relationship between the young man and the Gray Uma Musume in her heart.
Still, everyone understood the unspoken rules regarding these matters, so she wisely chose not to ask unnecessary questions. She simply turned around and led the two toward their Box.
Unlike the Central Racecourses under the URA Association, Ohi Racecourse placed tremendous emphasis on service. Even the Boxes included access to the Racecourse's buffet restaurant service, which, for Oguri Cap, was practically paradise.
With more than three hours remaining before the Tokyo Daishoten officially began, Oguri decisively prepared to sweep through every item on the buffet menu.
Meanwhile, Shuta Ann sat beside her with a can of sparkling water in hand, scrolling through his phone.
As Japan's final Grade 1 race of the year, the Tokyo Daishoten surprisingly did not attract overwhelming attention. Even the audience seats in the stands were not filled to eighty percent. Before entering the Box earlier, Shuta Ann had already noticed that many nearby Boxes remained empty.
"The Twinkle Series in the NAR regions still receives too little attention—" Shuta Ann murmured quietly.
"That's normal." Oguri Cap had long grown accustomed to such things. "The audience for local races is basically limited to local fans. Even a Grade 1 race can't really expand its influence much."
"Mainly because both Nagoya and Kasamatsu used the donations we gave them over the past two years to improve the welfare of local Uma Musume instead of aggressively promoting themselves, right?"
Shuta Ann countered. "The biggest publicity push they made was probably during the Japan Breeders' Series."
"Next year's Japan Breeders' Series will be held at Ohi," Oguri Cap added naturally.
"Ohi Racecourse is still the strongest among the local circuits after all, so the event next year should probably be even more lively than this year."
As he spoke, Shuta Ann scrolled to a news article concerning Tokai Teio, then suddenly raised an eyebrow. "These reporters really have too much free time."
"What happened?" Oguri Cap had just finished ordering food, and her curiosity was immediately piqued. "What did Ann see?"
"A clickbait headline." Shuta Ann shrugged helplessly. "A Uma Musume who debuted on Arima Kinen day apparently has a reporter claiming she'll defeat Tokai Teio on the Classic stage next year."
"Huh?" Oguri Cap widened her eyes slightly. "She's only run one race and they're already praising her that highly?"
"I honestly don't understand what makes them so optimistic." Shuta Ann shook his head. "The article keeps talking about her excellent completion time over Nakayama 2000 meters and how many powerful Uma Musume historically emerged from that Maiden Race, but none of those arguments are enough to convince me that she can challenge Tokai Teio."
"Won't we understand once next year's Classic races begin?" Oguri Cap flicked her lover's forehead lightly. "Anyway, I ordered a lot of food. Ann has to eat with me later."
"I don't have Oguri's appetite." Shuta Ann's mouth twitched helplessly.
This year's Tokyo Daishoten, as a local-exclusive race, naturally only featured Uma Musume from local affiliations. The course itself was a 2800-meter dirt track, making it the longest dirt race in all of Japan. The Uma Musume who ultimately claimed victory this year, DollarOkan, was from Ohi itself.
After applauding the victorious Uma Musume from behind the floor-to-ceiling window in front of the Box, Shuta Ann turned toward the Gray Uma Musume beside him.
"Oguri, what kind of results do you think Dollar Okan could achieve if she challenged Central dirt races?"
"She could probably place within the top five in graded stakes races," Oguri Cap answered honestly while chewing sushi and looking toward the Racecourse. "But she probably isn't at the level where she can truly display overwhelming ability in Central."
"It really is a long and difficult road for a local Uma Musume to win a G1 title in Central—" the young man muttered softly.
"Haven't I already accomplished something like that?" Oguri Cap blinked in confusion. "Why does Ann still sound so regretful?"
"Because Oguri is one of a kind." Shuta Ann smiled faintly as he pinched the Gray Uma Musume's cheek and quietly explained.
—
For this year's Hatsumōde, Shuta An did not bring the three Uma Musume to the small shrine they had visited for the past two consecutive years. Instead, he drove more than an hour all the way to Ibaraki Prefecture, where a shrine deeply favored by Uma Musume stood enshrining the three goddesses. Neither Oguri, Berno, nor Suzuka had ever visited it before, so this year, the young man decided to take them to Ōsugi Shrine for Hatsumōde.
This time, Shuta An still did not bring the other Uma Musume from Team Sadalsuud along. However, everyone else already had their own destinations for Hatsumōde.
Mejiro Dober would accompany her family to the Mejiro family shrine; Kurofune, despite not having any Hatsumōde traditions herself, had apparently already been dragged away by Curren Chan to visit Tokyo Daijingu together with Rice Shower; meanwhile, Tokai Teio, who was currently vacationing in Hokkaido, had chosen Hokkaido Jingu.
Shuta An raised an eyebrow slightly after learning that Curren Chan had chosen Tokyo Daijingu as the Hatsumōde destination for Kurofune and Rice Shower.
"Why there?" the young man muttered to himself. "Compared to Tokyo Daijingu, which focuses on prayers for love and marriage, wouldn't Atago Shrine, with its 'shusse no ishi' and blessings for career advancement, suit them better?"
As for Tokai Teio's choice of Hokkaido Jingu, Shuta An was not surprised in the slightest. Hokkaido Jingu was, after all, the highest-ranking shrine in the entire Hokkaido region. Since Tokai Teio was spending her vacation in Sapporo, choosing Hokkaido Jingu for Hatsumōde was only natural.
"Generally speaking, where do most Uma Musume from the Academy go for Hatsumōde?" Shuta An casually asked Suzuka while driving.
"Probably shrines near Central Tracen Academy," Silence Suzuka answered softly. "Most people don't specifically choose distant shrines for Hatsumōde. There are only a few days left before the holiday ends, so traveling too far would affect their rest during the final days of vacation."
"There's that consideration too" Shuta An was slightly surprised at first, but after thinking about it carefully, it made perfect sense.
—
After arriving at Ōsugi Shrine, Shuta An walked ahead of the group. Although the only times he ever visited shrines in Japan were during Hatsumōde each New Year, he was already thoroughly familiar with the process and no longer needed guidance from shrine maidens or priests. Besides, the shrine maidens and priests here were currently overwhelmed with visitors and had no time to attend to individuals one by one.
The young man found the purification fountain, completed the cleansing ritual, and then headed toward the main hall to formally worship.
Aside from enshrining the god Awa, symbolizing "dreams fulfilled," the main hall of Ōsugi Shrine also enshrined the three goddesses.
While Oguri Cap and the others wandered off to look at the nearby ema boards and side shrines, Shuta An alone stepped before the main hall to pray. He tossed in a five-yen coin, then followed the customary procedure: two bows, two claps, and finally clasped his hands together while closing his eyes.
Every year, the content of Shuta An's prayer never changed.
"I hope everyone in Team Sadalsuud can remain safe and healthy this year, avoid injuries, and achieve satisfactory results."
However, this year, he quietly added one more sentence.
"I also hope that those I love, and those who love me, will not be burdened by troubles."
The next instant, a voice suddenly echoed beside his ears.
"I have received your prayer, descendant of Sea Bird."
Shuta An abruptly opened his eyes.
His gaze immediately swept across the surroundings, startled, trying to determine where the voice had come from.
"Who is it?"
Because there were still worshippers nearby, the young man could only forcibly suppress his voice and ask quietly.
Yet after he spoke, no answer came.
More than a minute passed in silence.
Frowning deeply, Shuta An could only turn around and leave the main hall.
"Have I been spending too much time around Oguri and the others lately—"
Walking back toward the side shrine area, the young man secretly muttered to himself,
"Maybe I really should properly rest for the next two days."
On the way back, Shuta An cautiously tested the reactions of the others, but unfortunately discovered that none of them had heard any strange voice while praying in the main hall.
"In the end, I guess it was just an auditory hallucination." The young man could only forcefully conclude this, attributing everything to fatigue.
After returning home and exchanging New Year greetings with friends on Line, Shuta An, exhausted after driving for over three hours, decided to head straight to sleep.
Knowing he was genuinely tired today, Oguri Cap and the others also quietly remained inside their own rooms without disturbing him.
That night, even within the Dream World, Shuta An spent the entire day idling at home. Aside from maintaining his regular exercise routine, he did not even go out for Hatsumōde, spending the day in an unusually energy-saving manner.
—
While Shuta An was fast asleep, Symboli Rudolf had just left the venue of this year's Kohaku Uta Gassen.
"Shuta-kun rejected every performance invitation involving the Uma Musume from Team Sadalsuud—whether it was Oguri Cap, Silence Suzuka, Mejiro Dober, or Tokai Teio."
The "Emperor" narrowed her eyes slightly while quietly pondering to herself. "NHK seems rather dissatisfied about that."
However, as long as nothing went wrong on Shuta An's side, Symboli Rudolf knew very clearly that such dissatisfaction would never truly affect him.
Still, she took out her phone and decided to mention the matter to him.
The next morning, after waking up and seeing the message Symboli Rudolf had sent during the early hours, Shuta An simply replied with a brief "Thank you" and did not dwell on the matter further.
For exactly the same reason Symboli Rudolf had considered, Shuta An understood perfectly well that as long as the Uma Musume of Team Sadalsuud continued to maintain excellent results without any major incidents, the so-called "complaints" from NHK officials would remain permanently buried in their hearts. Even NHK itself could not go against public opinion.
"Compared to that—" After thanking her, Shuta An looked at the screen and sent another Line message. "I'm more curious about what kind of clubroom Team Sadalsuud will be assigned."
The moment the message displayed as read, Symboli Rudolf immediately replied.
"It will definitely satisfy you. Shuta-kun, remember to come pick up the keys after work tomorrow."
"Okay, now I'm really looking forward to it." Shuta An became increasingly curious about where Symboli Rudolf's confidence came from.
His requirements for a clubroom were honestly not very high. As long as it matched the standard of Team Rigil's clubroom, he would already be satisfied. However, considering Team Sadalsuud's current scale, Central Tracen Academy normally would not allocate them an especially large room.
"But if the area is too small—" the young man muttered helplessly, "it'll feel stuffy the moment everyone gathers together. At that point, the clubroom would basically become meaningless."