Chapter 99. Suzuka's Request and the Power of the Top Jockey
Silence Suzuka's third-place finish could already be considered a commendable result—far exceeding Shuta An's expectations before the race.
"Just as I thought—1800 to 2200 meters really is Suzuka's comfort range," the young man murmured to himself. Still, he did not rush to a conclusion. After all, Silence Suzuka had yet to secure a victory over 2200 meters.
"We'll have our answer by the end of June next year at the latest." When his thoughts reached a 2200-meter turf G1, the first race that surfaced in his mind was the Takarazuka Kinen—the climactic showdown of the first half of the season.
"In that case, Suzuka's route for next year is already taking shape," Shuta An mused quietly. "First, Dubai. Then back to Japan to prepare for the Takarazuka Kinen. In the latter half of the year, one straight-track race, followed by the Autumn Tenno Sho—and at the end of the year, we'll challenge the Hong Kong International Cup again. See if we can take our revenge."
After laying it all out in his mind, he shook his head lightly. "Enough of that for now. It's time to go pick up Suzuka."
He walked over to the coat rack, took down his trench coat, carefully straightened the hem, and left the VIP box. By the time he reached the entrance to the underground passage, numerous reporters were already waiting there, their gazes immediately locking onto him.
Failing to secure a win on an overseas campaign was nothing new for Shuta An's team—but today, he had no desire to deal with the media. With a dark expression, he walked straight past them.
The reporters, perceptive enough to sense his mood, did not dare step forward to provoke him.
However, when Silence Suzuka emerged from the underground passage—having taken a quick shower and changed into her casual clothes—she caught sight of her Trainer's expression, and her heart sank slightly.
Shuta An walked ahead with a stern face. Silence Suzuka hurried to follow, not daring to speak first.
Thus, the two left Sha Tin Racecourse enveloped in a heavy silence.
Only after they were certain the reporters could no longer see them did Shuta An turn his head. The gloom vanished, replaced by a gentle smile.
"Suzuka, you did very well today."
"?!"
Silence Suzuka, who had been staring at the heels of his shoes, looked up in surprise. She hadn't expected praise from the Trainer who had been scowling just moments ago.
"I was just putting on a face to scare off the reporters," Shuta An explained lightly. "I'm very satisfied with today's race. Losing isn't the end of the world, and it certainly doesn't mean Suzuka has no future in the Twinkle Series. Compared to the Breeders' Cup Turf, this was a clear improvement."
"Mhm… mhm…" Silence Suzuka nodded repeatedly, murmuring to herself,
Even though I didn't win… even though I didn't fulfill our promise… Trainer is still trying to comfort me.
Unaware of her inner thoughts, Shuta An brought up the matter himself.
"About the two instructions I gave you before the race—Suzuka completed both perfectly. The first 1000 meters were controlled precisely at sixty seconds, and at that point, you had exactly a one-length lead over the second."
"Then that means—" Silence Suzuka looked at him, her voice tinged with hesitation.
"The agreement we made before," Shuta An shrugged, "Suzuka can start thinking about it now. I'll do my best."
"Um…" Silence Suzuka pursed her lips, her voice soft and tentative. "Tonight… could you come to my room again, Trainer? I'll tell you then… what I want you to do."
Countless possibilities flashed through Shuta An's mind—but he immediately suppressed them and simply nodded.
"I understand. Just call me on my phone, Suzuka."
—
By the time they returned to the hotel, it was already five in the afternoon. Back in his room, Shuta An first discussed the race with Oguri Cap and Berno Light.
"Suzuka was able to unleash a final burst at the end," Berno Light said with feeling. "She's clearly improved a lot since the Breeders' Cup."
"The distance was shorter, too," Shuta An replied calmly. "At 2400 meters, it wouldn't have worked. Still, this race gave me a new idea. After we return to Japan, I plan to revise Suzuka's training plan. I might have underestimated her talent before."
"Did you notice something during the race?" Oguri Cap asked.
"Yes," Shuta An nodded. "I want to test the fastest pace Suzuka can maintain over the first 1000 meters while still unleashing a final burst—and how strong that burst can be. Once I find the balance between her high-speed great escape and her explosive finish, she might truly become the next supernova after you."
"If that happens, nothing could be better," Oguri Cap said cheerfully. "Once I retire from the Twinkle Series, Suzuka will be the only active Uma Musume left on the Sadalsuud team. The pressure will be immense—so Ann, you'll need to help her shoulder it."
"Even if you didn't say it, I know," Shuta An replied with a faint smile. "But Suzuka is mentally prepared. As long as her results are good, I doubt anyone will seriously compare her to you."
"Don't place too much faith in the media's integrity," Berno Light teased.
After dinner at the hotel restaurant, Shuta An originally planned to take a walk. However, remembering Silence Suzuka's appointment, he returned to his room instead to wait for her call. Expecting to leave at any moment, he didn't bother changing into pajamas. Still dressed casually, he sat on the sofa, idly scrolling through his phone.
"First, I'll post a brief race report," he muttered, opening the Sadalsuud Team's official blog and typing up the day's summary.
No sooner had he confirmed the post than a notification sounded.
A new Line message—from Silence Suzuka.
Shuta An didn't even need to open it to know its contents.
"Time to go," he said quietly, rising from the sofa. "Let's see what Suzuka wants."
When Shuta An rang the doorbell, Silence Suzuka opened the door just a few seconds later.
The young man immediately noticed her outfit. She was wearing her favorite casual combination—a white short-sleeved blouse with a bow at the chest, paired with a dark green pleated skirt that fell neatly to her knees.
He glanced down at his phone. It was already past eight in the evening.
Did she choose this specifically to talk to me? Shuta An wondered silently.
Silence Suzuka was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking up at him. "Trainer, please sit."
"O–oh. Right."
Snapping back to his senses, Shuta An complied and sat down on the sofa, leaving a clear distance between them.
Seeing this, Silence Suzuka let out a quiet sigh. She stood up and moved to sit across from him. Once she had settled, an uncanny silence filled the room once more.
Shuta An felt that things couldn't continue like this. After a brief moment of thought, he chose to take the initiative.
"It's already been more than three years since we first met."
"It has," Silence Suzuka replied softly, lowering her gaze. "Thinking back to meeting you in Hokkaido—it feels unreal that it was over three years ago. At the time, Trainer Tojo insisted that everyone go there for a training camp so I could get along with her—but as expected, our compatibility was terrible."
As she spoke, a trace of loneliness crept into her expression.
"Even though I managed to debut early by constantly pestering everyone…just as you and Trainer Tojo said, my performances in the Classic races—before reaching Full Bloom Stage (Honkakuka)—were truly awful. If you hadn't taken me to America to challenge the Secretariat Stakes, my biggest win might still be nothing more than an ordinary conditions race."
"That's because Suzuka had the ability herself," Shuta An shook his head calmly. "I just helped arrange a stage that suited you."
A Trainer and an Uma Musume were inseparable. If either side faltered, the other would inevitably be dragged down. Silence Suzuka understood this all too well. That was precisely why her voice turned faint as she spoke again.
"If Oguri-senpai had come to this Hong Kong International Cup—she would've won easily, wouldn't she?"
"I can't say for sure," Shuta An replied evenly. "Oguri hasn't raced here before."
He deliberately avoided following her train of thought—Silence Suzuka was already low-spirited, and he had no intention of adding fuel to the fire.
"You always say my Full Bloom Stage progress isn't enough," Silence Suzuka said, lifting her eyes to meet his, carefully searching his expression. "Then…will I really be able to make up for it next year?"
"Of course." Shuta An answered without hesitation. "I showed your medical data to a friend on the West Coast. She confirmed that your Full Bloom Stage will definitely be complete next year."
"If that's true…"
Silence Suzuka clasped her hands together and let out a long breath, her shoulders finally relaxing. Even though Shuta An had repeatedly told her that she didn't need to match Oguri Cap's achievements, the pressure she felt wasn't solely self-imposed—online discussions among Team Sadalsuud's fans never failed to bring it up.
"In fact," Shuta An continued, "I've already more or less planned out your race route for next year."
"That early?" Silence Suzuka looked genuinely surprised. In her mind, such planning was something that wouldn't begin until the new year.
"And I needed to tell you," he said, lightly tapping his leg with his fingers, "because your performance in this Hong Kong International Cup showed me a new possibility. Starting next year, your training plan will undergo a major adjustment."
Silence Suzuka didn't particularly care how the training would change. There was only one thing she wanted to confirm.
"Then…will I still be able to lead races in the future?"
"Why wouldn't you?" Shuta An countered. "In fact, the core of the new plan is to train you to unleash a second acceleration on the final straight—even while maintaining a high-speed lead."
"A second acceleration…at the end?" Her eyes widened. "Isn't that something only slow-escape runners can do?"
"I believe you have the talent to do it even in a great escape," Shuta An said, waving the concern aside. "This race proved it. After passing the first 1000 meters in sixty seconds, you still ran a 34.7-second final 3F. That's counterintuitive—but possible. With proper training."
"I'll do it!" Silence Suzuka answered immediately. "I'll train hard!"
Though Shuta An described the future in simple terms, Silence Suzuka—who loved leading races—could vividly picture it in her mind. As for whether it could truly become reality, she didn't doubt it in the slightest. If even her current Trainer couldn't achieve it, she couldn't imagine who else could.
Seeing that she had clearly relaxed, Shuta An finally steered the conversation back to its original purpose.
"So, Suzuka. Have you decided what request you want to make?"
Her ears stiffened as though frozen in place.
"I…"
She lowered her head, lips pressed together. The air instantly cooled.
"Haven't decided yet?" Shuta An said gently. "Then you can tell me later. There's no rush."
"No—I have." Silence Suzuka looked up. Though shy, she couldn't bear to let the moment drag on any longer.
"My achievements aren't as great as Oguri-senpai's," she said quickly, hands clasped tightly at her chest, "but… I want to call you by your first name too. Just like she does. Is that okay?!"
"Is that all?" Shuta An was genuinely surprised—not because the request was excessive, but because it felt almost too modest.
To him, being called by his given name wasn't particularly intimate. But for Silence Suzuka, making this request had taken every bit of courage she'd gathered since the afternoon. When she heard his reaction, her heart nearly leapt into her throat—she almost thought she'd asked for too much.
Noticing her expression, Shuta An immediately added, "No problem at all. I've been calling you by your first name for a long time already."
The moment she heard that, Silence Suzuka's body slackened, and she fell back onto the sofa in pure relief.
"…Ann?" She tested the name softly for the first time, then covered her face with both hands.
"I'm here," Shuta An replied with a smile.
"Ann…" She repeated it again, even more quietly.
This time, he only tilted his head, listening.
She carefully felt the movement of her tongue and jaw—the plosive sound, the subtle pressure—as she pronounced his name once more, then closed her eyes.
"If that was all you wanted," Shuta An said, "you could've just told me earlier."
"Eh?!"
A flash of regret crossed her face—using such a precious opportunity for something that might've been granted so easily. But after a moment's thought, her mood lifted again.
I can't make a more advanced request yet, she decided.
After leaving Silence Suzuka's room and closing the door behind him, Shuta An tapped his temple. He'd meant to mutter something to himself, but in the end, he only sighed.
"Forget it. I'll head back and take a bath."
What he didn't know was that Silence Suzuka had pressed her ear against the door. She heard every bit of it—his sigh included.
"It was the right decision not to take a risky step," she whispered to herself, feeling even more relieved. "Maybe my focus right now shouldn't be Ann…but Oguri-senpai."
Having gained the right to call him by his first name, she carefully recalled how Oguri and Berno addressed him—and suddenly noticed many things she had overlooked before.
"I really only had eyes for Ann," she murmured.
—
Back in his room, unaware of the her murmur, Shuta An finished bathing, changed into his pajamas, and collapsed onto the bed.
Upon entering the Dream World, he skimmed through the reports there. Sure enough, the Hong Kong International Races were being held today—but they had no connection to Japan, and no Japanese Racehorses were invited.
"So it's different here as well," he mused.
He didn't have much time to idle. Although he wasn't racing due to his leave, numerous stables had sent invitations asking him to assist with riding training. Each session paid five thousand yen.
It wasn't much, but he accepted several nonetheless. Aside from the sessions he personally handled for Tokai Teio and Oguri Cap, he also agreed to ride for horses trained by several well-known Ritto Trainers. The purpose was simple—build connections.
That, at least, was what his agent said. And Shuta An agreed. With his current reputation and skill, if these Trainers truly had "good Racehorse," they would eventually think of him. After all, even an amateur understood that a great horse should be paired with a great jockey.
Still, familiarity bred contempt. He always prioritized training rides for Oguri Cap and Tokai Teio first. Since it was Sunday, the workload wasn't heavy.
Afterward, both Matsumoto Shoichi and Setoguchi Tsutomu made the same request.
"We hope you can come again next Wednesday for the one-week pre-race training."
"No problem," Shuta An agreed readily. "We'll check their condition again then."
He then headed off to fulfill other training invitations. To his surprise, most of the horse he was asked to ride weren't the stables' main contenders. On reflection, it made sense—their top racehorses were all preparing for the Arima Kinen. No one would casually hand their ace horse to rival jockey.
There was one exception.
Tsurudome Akio Training Stable asked him to ride Sister Toushou, who was set to debut on the same day as Tokai Teio.
After a brief run on the wood-chip track, Shuta An turned to the stable hand nearby and asked loudly, "Has the jockey for this Racehorse's filly race been decided?"
The implication was obvious. The stable hand shook his head helplessly and replied just as loudly, "Jockey Kakuda was booked long ago."
"I see…" Shuta An felt a twinge of regret. Sister Toushou responded exceptionally well to his riding—if she developed smoothly, she might even contend for the Classic line.
But with the ride already taken, he had no intention of poaching it.
"It's only the end of her second year," he thought. "There's still time to see how other fillies shape up."
At his current standing, he didn't need to secure maiden rides to claim a Classic partner. Like other top jockeys, he could afford to wait until after the preliminary Classic races next year.
After finishing Sister Toushou's training, Shuta An walked back toward Setoguchi Tsutomu Stable, squinting slightly as he muttered,
"Hm…focusing on Tokai Teio for next year's Classic line isn't bad either. An undefeated Triple Crown talent doesn't come around every year."
As he spoke, the image of himself and Tokai Teio crossing the Kikuka Sho finish line first had already taken shape in his mind.
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