Chapter 84. Interview and Admonition
After bidding Mejiro Dober farewell once more, Shuta An turned and walked toward the media area.
"It's good to see everyone again after such a long time," the young man greeted.
Several reporters couldn't help laughing.
After all, they had only met again at the Yorkshire Oaks not long ago.
"As always, one question per person." Shuta An raised a single finger. "Please forgive me if I decline anything beyond that."
Immediately, the local French reporters eagerly raised their hands, hoping to be chosen first. The overseas reporters who were already familiar with Shuta An, meanwhile, simply waited patiently.
As expected, Shuta An once again selected a reporter from Twinkle magazine to ask the opening question, unintentionally setting an example for the French media.
"Congratulations, Trainer Shuta, on winning the final jewel of the French Triple Tiara," the Twinkle reporter began. "What was the very first thing that crossed your mind when Miss Mejiro Dober crossed the finish line?"
"Ah~~ I've completed the French Irregular Triple Crown."
Shuta An spread his hands calmly.
"I already knew Dober would win before today's race even began, so I wasn't particularly excited. As far as Triple Tiara-exclusive turf races are concerned, I believe Dober will win every one she enters."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I now have absolute confidence in her dominance over every Triple Tiara-limited event."
"But we've heard that Miss Dober's next race won't be the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which is also restricted, but the Breeders' Cup Turf instead. Why make that decision?" another reporter asked.
Shuta An turned toward him.
"Because Dober doesn't want to remain inside her comfort zone. Just as she once refused to spend her time in Japan collecting G2 and G3 victories, she recently told me she wanted a challenge like her Arima Kinen race. After discussing it together, I ultimately accepted her wish and entered her in the Breeders' Cup Turf."
He paused briefly before breaking into a confident grin.
"It doesn't matter that it's a mixed race. I believe the current Dober will never repeat what happened at last year's Arima Kinen. She'll defeat both the local runners and every overseas challenger to claim her second Breeders' Cup victory."
"Trainer Shuta, how would you evaluate the tactics the other Uma Musume used against Mejiro Dober in today's Prix Vermeille?" the third reporter asked, directly addressing the race itself.
Several nearby Trainers visibly stiffened.
Everyone understood what the question implied.
If Shuta An chose to answer bluntly, Cumani would undoubtedly become the primary target afterward. The French press never showed much mercy toward their own people, and, to many of them, Shuta An now seemed almost like one of their own.
Yet Shuta An's response completely exceeded everyone's expectations.
"Targeting?" he asked, knitting his brows together. "Was there any targeting?"
He appeared genuinely puzzled.
"I watched the entire race. I didn't see anyone deliberately targeting Dober. What I saw were ten Uma Musume doing everything they could to win. So I don't really understand the premise of your question."
"If I didn't see any deliberate targeting, then there's really nothing for me to evaluate."
Not far away, Cumani, who had quietly been waiting for judgment to fall upon him, slowly raised both hands and covered his face.
"I've truly been spared..."
For a fleeting moment, he celebrated in a decidedly undignified manner.
Thank goodness Mr. Shuta chose to play ignorant.Otherwise, Kaliana would've been hounded by reporters until she finally won a G1 of her own.
Once the interview concluded, Shuta An politely excused himself without lingering to exchange pleasantries with the other Trainers.
Nevertheless, the respect he received only seemed to deepen.
"He could've pressed the advantage during the press conference and stepped on Cumani a little more," one reporter muttered quietly. "Instead, he let the whole matter pass. Perhaps that's exactly what you'd expect from that person's descendant. He really does possess remarkable character."
"He never said there was any targeting," another reporter immediately corrected him, rolling his eyes. "Let's not invent details that weren't there."
"I'm definitely flying to America for the Breeders' Cup interviews in two months," another reporter declared. "I have a feeling Miss Mejiro Dober is going to make history as the first Triple Tiara champion to win the Breeders' Cup Turf."
"I honestly don't know what to say," another reporter sighed while repeatedly shaking his head. "I was planning to ask whether Trainer Shuta and Mejiro Dober have been living together in the same apartment... whether they've started cohabiting..."
"You actually intended to ask that?" the Twinkle reporter stared at him in disbelief.
"What? Is there a problem?" several reporters immediately turned toward him.
Since Shuta An had consistently chosen him to ask the opening question, everyone naturally assumed he understood the young man best.
The Twinkle reporter sighed.
"There's one rule every racing journalist in Japan knows. Never pry into Shuta An's private life. The last reporter who crossed that line ended up being jointly blacklisted by both the newspaper and magazine industry. Nobody wants to offend him over something like that."
He continued calmly.
"If it's about the Twinkle Series, and the information can be disclosed, Shuta An is always straightforward. He almost never dodges questions."
"But his private life is completely off-limits."
Noticing that a few reporters still didn't seem convinced, he added another warning.
"Don't assume it'll become easier just because he's overseas."
"Don't forget he comes from West Coast Tracen Academy. And don't forget just how fiercely protective—and utterly unreasonable—its Student Council President, Big Red, can be."
"Shuta An has an excellent relationship with her. When Mejiro Dober first came overseas several years ago, it was Miss Secretariat who arranged for them to stay and prepare at one of her own properties."
The moment the name Big Red —Secretariat was mentioned, the surrounding reporters collectively fell silent.
Not long ago, Secretariat had spent nearly half a year chasing reporters around the academy with a pistol after one of the academy's Uma Musume became the target of relentless media harassment.
Although she had never fired a single shot, that incident alone had terrified the entire media organization involved.
When she believed she had a legitimate reason—
The American Triple Crown Uma Musume was more than capable of becoming frighteningly unreasonable.
—
Shuta An, naturally, knew nothing about the conversation taking place behind him.
The only thing on his mind was that Dober was clearly in an exceptionally good mood.
Which also meant—
She was almost certainly already thinking about how to turn herself into his personal "kitchen appliance" later that night.
"I just hope she doesn't end up singing the wrong lyrics during the Winning Live because she's thinking about me," the young man muttered softly as he stood beneath the grandstand.
(Doujinshi Artist really built different in their night life >,<)