"Can something like this really happen? Damn it, I really want to interview the Young Lady. I wonder if I can get her on my schedule," Aoi mused.
Kousei recalled what she had been doing during her rookie year. Oh... never mind. Some memories are best left in the past.
"They formed an outstanding team in such a short time, despite never having worked with Umamusume before," Kousei suddenly spoke up. "Part of the reason Jade Dragon is invincible is because of her top-tier team. Mr. Rohan mentioned during our meeting that he's a Trainer. I believe he must be Jade Dragon's Trainer."
"What do you all think of Mr. Rohan?" Aoi asked.
Kousei and Reiko exchanged thoughtful glances, then said in unison, "He's dangerous."
"You might be able to defeat him, but you'll never escape unscathed," Reiko explained to the bewildered group. "Rohan Ye's danger is subtle. He's the type who won't stop until he achieves his goal. A Trainer's philosophy is reflected in their Umamusume. The Young Lady may seem soft and gentle, but her racing style might be incredibly aggressive."
"You figured all that out just from a brief meeting?" Just a Way asked in disbelief.
"Normally, that wouldn't be possible," Reiko replied. "It's likely because Rohan Ye and we... are perhaps the same kind of people."
"Is that so? I'm not so sure," Just a Way replied, appearing much more relaxed than Reiko. "Style is style, and an Umamusume is an Umamusume. Given the Young Lady's temperament, she might not follow Mr. Rohan's instructions to the letter."
Kousei nodded in agreement. Rohan valued etiquette, while Jade Dragon was pampered and willful. Considering Jade Dragon's status and difficult temperament, Rohan Ye would indeed have a hard time managing her.
Since Kousei agreed, Reiko didn't press the matter further. After all, she had never trained a runner with such a challenging disposition. When it came to temperament, Kousei herself was widely praised as a model of good behavior.
"If the Young Lady is so powerful, why would she participate in the NAU?"
"It's likely for the fame," Kousei speculated. "Since this is their first time working with Umamusume, their influence naturally can't match that of established organizations in the short term. Advancing through the NAU is a viable way to build their reputation."
Of course, this was all just speculation; they couldn't know Jade Dragon's true intentions.
Meanwhile, Rohan Ye had just returned to the mansion. An elderly man with white hair was gently stroking Jade Dragon's head, his expression kind and benevolent. Jade Dragon lay unguarded in the old man's arms, sleeping soundly.
"Elder Yu," Rohan Ye said, bowing respectfully.
"Heh heh... No need for such formalities, young man of the Ye family," Elder Yu replied with a smile. "I'm just here to see my granddaughter."
The granddaughter Elder Yu mentioned was Jade Dragon. As fate would have it, the Eastern Lands' first Umamusume was born into its most powerful family.
Because of this, Elder Yu believed Jade Dragon's birth was a matter of destiny.
"Has Jade Dragon caused you any trouble?"
Rohan Ye said nothing, merely offering a weary smile.
"Haha! Of course she has," Elder Yu chuckled, knowing his granddaughter all too well. "Jade Dragon has always been pampered and willful. Trouble is inevitable. You have my thanks for your hard work."
"Are all the contestants settled in?"
"Yes, Elder Yu. Is there something you're concerned about?"
"I have complete faith in your work," Elder Yu said, then paused, his tone suddenly casual. "Are there any noteworthy runners in this competition?"
"There is one, yes."
"The rumored 'Monster'?"
"Yes."
Elder Yu fell silent, and Rohan Ye didn't press him.
"The Monster's appearance is suspicious," Elder Yu finally said. "Her rise has been too swift. Someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes. Investigate it, but be careful not to leave any traces. I've already had someone analyze the race footage; it should be done within five days.
"Until then, have Jade Dragon continue her regular training. We'll decide our next move after the analysis is complete."
"Understood."
Elder Yu gently laid Jade Dragon down, seemingly preparing to leave.
"This must be hard on you," Elder Yu said with a sigh. "It's all Jade Dragon's fault—that willful child insisted on dragging you into this. The Umamusume industry is still new in the Eastern Lands; its future is uncertain. You're in the prime of your youth. You should be making a name for yourself in a more established field."
In response to Elder Yu's words, Rohan Ye simply replied, "I do this willingly."
Those four words spoke volumes.
-
The next day.
Kousei woke early for morning training, but the estate was so vast she couldn't find the training track. After wandering for ten minutes, she stumbled upon a sleepy-eyed Jade Dragon.
"Why bother with morning training?" Jade Dragon grumbled, looking utterly unmotivated as she gazed blankly around. "Training is training, no matter when you do it."
Great, Kousei thought, the Young Lady is already complaining first thing in the morning.
Oh no!
Distracted by Jade Dragon's reaction, Kousei missed her chance to slip away while the other girl was looking around.
Getting tangled up with the Young Lady is bound to be a huge pain!
Too late. Jade Dragon had already spotted her. Her drowsiness vanished in an instant, and she closed the distance in a few quick strides.
"Hey! I didn't expect to see another Umamusume this early. You're... uh... Kousei!" Jade Dragon finally recalled her name after a long pause.
Is my name really that hard to remember? Kousei wondered.
"What a coincidence! I'm heading to train too, so let's go together."
Faced with Jade Dragon's invitation, Kousei figured that since she didn't know where the training track was anyway, she might as well go with her.
"Okay," Kousei agreed.
To her surprise, Jade Dragon led her to a car.
"Aren't we going to train?" Kousei asked, confused.
"Yeah, that's why we need to take a car."
"Huh?"
What kind of training track requires a car to get to?
Kousei should have known. Of course Jade Dragon's training track would be massive.
"I usually have it all to myself," Jade Dragon explained, "but because of the NAU, it's now open to other Umamusume too."
"Having such a huge training track all to yourself... that's so extravagant," Kousei couldn't help but remark.
"It's fine. For the Eastern Lands, it's more than enough."
Right, Kousei thought. You really can't imagine things you've never experienced.
Despite her complaints, Jade Dragon trained diligently. From Kousei's perspective, she took her training quite seriously.
The turf is so soft...
Running on a surface like this would drain stamina faster. Yet Jade Dragon seemed to handle it effortlessly. Kousei silently committed this observation to memory.
Jade Dragon's training volume was surprisingly light, even for a morning workout. Her training conditions, however, were exceptional: state-of-the-art equipment and a full range of tracks.
Even her training shoes were meticulously chosen. Post-workout meals and fatigue recovery were handled instantly.
"What kind of miserable life was I living before?!"
Kousei forced a bitter smile as she soaked in a hot spring, letting the warmth soothe her tired ligaments. So this is what they mean by 'it's easy to go from frugal to lavish.' Once you've experienced the best, the contrast with your old life becomes stark.
After that brief, self-deprecating thought, Kousei pushed it aside. She had survived running solo from the very beginning; there was no way she'd let these luxuries dull her fighting spirit now.