Chapter 8. New Year
Before leaving, Shuta Ann exchanged Line IDs and email addresses with Nishizaki Ryu and Minamisaka.
"I'll be coming here to complete the onboarding process after the New Year holiday," Shuta Ann said as he stood up and bowed lightly. "I'll be relying on everyone's guidance then."
"Please, not at all." Including Mr. Kitahara, none of the Central Trainers dared to accept that bow. Among the five Trainers present, the total number of G1 victories they had accumulated combined was still fewer than Shuta Ann's alone—an inevitable gap, given Team Rigil's profound foundation.
"Shuta-kun, you're heading back now, right?" Mr. Kitahara glanced at the time. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"
"I've been working on a new training plan for Silence Suzuka recently," Shuta Ann replied calmly.
At the mention of Silence Suzuka's name, Tojo Hana's expression subtly complicated.
She hesitated, then finally asked, "This new training plan for Silence Suzuka… have you discovered some kind of new potential in her?"
"Yes." Shuta Ann's gaze shifted to the former Trainer of Silence Suzuka. "My father once proposed a 'perfect form' for a runaway-type Uma Musume. I've only ever seen that form fully realized once—in Secretariat, during her Twinkle Series career. Suzuka's talent is certainly far below Secretariat's, but her obsession with taking the lead is no weaker. I want to try guiding her in that direction."
"I see…" Tojo Hana murmured. Although she couldn't fully grasp what Shuta Ann meant by a "perfect form," she could vaguely infer it. "Is Silence Suzuka still in Hokkaido?"
"I gave her a month-long break," Shuta Ann replied. "She'll return sometime after the New Year. After a brief adjustment period, the new training plan can begin."
"I'm really looking forward to the evolved Silence Suzuka," Tojo Hana said sincerely. Having failed to train her properly and ultimately letting her go had long been a weight on her heart.
This time, Shuta Ann hadn't been drinking at all, so he felt no guilt as he got into his car. After driving out of the parking lot, he glanced at the receipt and smiled helplessly.
"Good grief… the parking fee cost more than the bar tab."
He stuffed the receipt into his pocket and stopped dwelling on it.
"The friends Kitahara made at Central Tracen Academy are all pretty decent," Shuta Ann thought as he drove. "But how did Tojo Hana get involved with him? Nishizaki Ryu and Minamisaka are on similar levels, so it makes sense they'd associate… but Tojo Hana—Team Rigil is the highest-ranked team in Central right now, isn't it?"
Unable to figure it out, he shook his head and refocused on driving. At this hour in Tokyo, stretches of road without traffic jams were rare. The constant stop-and-go made his head feel faintly dizzy.
After getting home, Shuta Ann quickly drank several glasses of water.
"So this is what car sickness feels like…" he muttered.
Oguri Cap and Berno Light weren't home. Oguri Cap was on a long break anyway, and the two of them had gone shopping in Ginza again today, informing Shuta Ann via Line that he only needed to prepare his own dinner.
"Cooking—I'm too dizzy for that. Eating out sounds better." He had no intention of entering the kitchen in his current state—after all, whatever he cooked would end up in his own stomach. "I'll just grab something simple."
He put the coat he had just hung up back on and headed out on impulse. Shuta Ann had practically tried every restaurant near his home and had his own internal ranking of which were worth visiting.
"Something light would be best tonight." With that in mind, he went straight to a Kaiseki cuisine restaurant.
"Not bad. Today's soup is much better than last time," he murmured with satisfaction as he stepped out, rubbing his stomach.
The restaurant was only a five-minute walk from home, so he hadn't driven. Walking back, he considered it good for digestion.
When he took a shortcut through a narrow alley, he was startled.
A Gray Uma Musume was squatting in the corner. The pale glow of her phone illuminated her face, her vacant expression making the scene oddly unsettling.
Shuta Ann instinctively quickened his pace, but she called out to him.
"Is that…Trainer Shuta Ann?"
"Hm?" His scalp prickled as he turned around. "You are…?"
"I'm Kurofune." The Gray Uma Musume stood up. "I didn't expect to run into a familiar face in a place like this."
"Miss Kurofune…why are you in Japan right now?" Shuta Ann asked, bewildered. "Shouldn't you be in America?"
"That's how it was supposed to be," Kurofune said softly, lowering her head. "But my father was transferred back to Japan for work, so our whole family returned. We only arrived in Tokyo recently. I went out shopping and got lost and I can't get in touch with my family."
Shuta Ann sensed something amiss. It wasn't that Kurofune couldn't contact her family—more likely, she didn't want to.
Did they argue? he wondered, but didn't ask.
"Anyway, it's a relief to meet you here, Shuta-kun," Kurofune continued. "But it's fine. I've already contacted a friend. She'll be here to pick me up soon." Even in the dim alley, he could see her natural smile—one born of genuine trust.
"You should still let your family know you're safe," Shuta Ann said, glancing at the time. "I'll wait here with you until your friend arrives. Being alone in an alley like this must be unsettling."
"That would be troubling you," Kurofune replied. She hadn't yet picked up Japan's habit of excessive politeness.
Ten minutes later, a sedan stopped at the mouth of the alley.
A smaller Gray Uma Musume got out of the car and waved energetically. "Big Sister Kurofune! Kirin is here!"
Kurofune stood up. "My friend came to pick me up. Thank you for staying with me, Shuta-kun."
"It's nothing," Shuta Ann said, waving his hand. "Go on. Don't keep your friend waiting."
"Mhm." Kurofune nodded and walked over without hesitation.
After watching the two of them get into the car and drive away, Shuta Ann turned back toward home.
"What a coincidence—" he murmured.
Putting Kurofune's matter behind him, Shuta An remained busy right up until the final day of the year. Christmas passing did not signify the year's end; the true threshold was New Year's Day, and the preparations required were no less elaborate than before.
"As for Hatsumode next year, let's just go to a small shrine," Shuta An proposed. "That's what we did last year, and the whole year went smoothly. There's no need to squeeze into those famous shrines—when there are that many people praying, how could the gods possibly listen to everyone?"
"That makes sense," Oguri Cap agreed without hesitation. "If there are too many people, Hatsumode just becomes tiring."
"Yes, I think Ann is right," Berno Light nodded in agreement.
For this year's Hatsumode, Shuta An would only be accompanied by Oguri Cap and Berno Light. As for the others—
Tokai Teio would head to Kyoto with Symboli Rudolf and the rest. It was an annual custom at Central Tracen Academy.
Mejiro Dober would, of course, remain with the Mejiro Family. On a day like New Year's, even the indulgent Mejiro Ramonu would not allow her juniors to leave the ancestral home at will.
As for Silence Suzuka, she had stated that she would not begin her return journey until January 10th. She planned to spend the New Year alone in Hokkaido, savoring a quiet solitude of her own choosing.
This arrangement spared Shuta An considerable trouble. Otherwise, during Hatsumode, he would have had to designate a meeting place and keep track of five Uma Musume amid dense crowds—just imagining it made his head ache.
"This way is much simpler," he thought with relief.
Meanwhile, in the Dream World, following the Arima Kinen, central horse racing entered a brief holiday period. Even so, jockeys did not indulge excessively; they would return to the track on the fifth day of the new year.
Still, gatherings and outings were common. Shuta An was no exception. He was dragged to Kyoto by Yutaka Take, who insisted on strolling about—and even brought along a neighbor's child.
"Take-san…" Shuta An glanced at the boy standing behind Yutaka Take, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You're not planning to bring a minor to stay in Gion, are you? One look and it's obvious he's underage."
"I'm not that irresponsible," Yutaka Take shot back. "It's precisely because I'm restraining myself that I brought Yuichi along." He reached back and pulled the boy forward. "This is Fukunaga Yuichi, my neighbor. He's followed me around since he was little. His dream is to become a jockey."
"Nice to meet you, Fukunaga-kun," Shuta An said warmly, extending his hand.
"Shuta-senpai! I'm your fan!" Yuichi grabbed his hand with both of his. "That lead in the Arima Kinen was amazing! My dad was incredibly fired up watching it!"
"Yuichi's father is Fukunaga Yoichi," Yutaka Take added. "He was a genius jockey as well."
"I've heard that name," Shuta An nodded, then looked closely at Yuichi. "Fukunaga-kun, you'll catch up to your father's shadow—and surpass it—won't you?"
"Yes!" Yuichi replied without hesitation. "The dream my father couldn't achieve—I want to achieve it!"
Over these days, Shuta An spent his daytime hours preparing for the New Year, and his nights wandering Kyoto in the Dream World with Yutaka Take and Fukunaga Yuichi, using the time to unwind.
"Has the main horse you'll ride in next year's Classic already been decided, Ann-san?" Yuichi asked during lunch one day.
"The main horse for the Triple Crown route is decided," Shuta An answered openly. "It's Tokai Teio—the one I rode in his debut race not long ago."
"He's clearly talented," Yutaka Take said after swallowing a bite of salmon, taking over the conversation. "But he hasn't secured a Satsuki Sho ticket yet, right? Logically, he should be racing again by the end of January."
"His next race will be the Yayoi Sho," Shuta An replied with a shrug. "That's where he'll secure his ticket. The Yayoi Sho won't be a problem for Tokai Teio—you saw his performance at Nakayama. I'm confident in both the Yayoi Sho and the Satsuki Sho."
"For next year's Classic, I'll be riding Nisshin Andes," Yutaka Take said with a wry smile. "He's a good horse, but still a step behind Tokai Teio. I'll probably suggest running the Kisaragi Sho to avoid you"
"It doesn't matter," Shuta An waved it off. "Take-san knows we'll meet sooner or later—Satsuki Sho is unavoidable."
"True," Yutaka Take laughed, his fighting spirit flaring. "But I won't let Tokai Teio take an undefeated Triple Crown so easily."
"I'll be watching out for you on the track," Shuta An grinned. "And I'll say this in advance—if Tokai Teio fully unleashes his strength, doubling the margin from his debut race wouldn't be difficult."
Beside them, Fukunaga Yuichi continued eating in silence, completely unable to interject into the exchange between the two veterans.
"I wish I could grow up faster… enter jockey school sooner… and stand on the same stage as my seniors," he muttered, chewing his salmon with renewed determination.
At last, the final night of the year arrived.
That night, Shuta An, Oguri Cap, and Berno Light abandoned their usual routine. To complete Hatsumode as early as possible, they took a nap in advance and planned to stay up past midnight, resting only after their visit.
"After midnight, Oguri," Shuta An instructed, "send New Year's greetings to everyone on the team one by one while we're on the way."
"Wouldn't Ann be the most appropriate person to do that?" Oguri Cap asked, puzzled.
"It's fine if you do it," Shuta An insisted.
Oguri Cap, never stubborn about such things, nodded. "If anyone finds it strange, I'll just say Ann asked me to."
Shuta An was about to reply—but Berno Light calmly silenced him by offering a small snack.
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