Chapter 12. Everyone's Little Thoughts
In Shuta An's view, Material's tragedy had nothing to do with him. He had offered advice back then, and he had seen Symboli Rudolf genuinely reflect on her actions. What happened to Material in the end was far more an accident than the result of human intent. Who could have imagined that after finally gaining Symboli Rudolf's recognition, she would suddenly "crash" following the Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap? When Shuta An first heard the news, he hadn't even dared to bring it up with Symboli Rudolf. This time, mentioning Material to Tokai Teio also carried another purpose—he wanted to gauge Symboli Rudolf's current state of mind.
For Tokai Teio, however, it was entirely different. The matter involved the president she respected most. Of course, she knew Material, and she knew that the president had treated her well. But from what Trainer had implied, it seemed there was a deeper story hidden beneath the surface. Tokai Teio couldn't suppress her curiosity.
So, before they even arrived at the restaurant, she quietly edited a message and sent it to Symboli Rudolf, asking about Material.
Symboli Rudolf was in the middle of her work when she saw Tokai Teio's message. The smile that had risen at the sight of her junior's name vanished the instant she read the word "Material."
"Did Shuta-kun tell her about this?" Miss "Emperor" reacted immediately. Yet she couldn't bring herself to blame him.
"At the time, I reflected and tried to make amends—but once I became busy again, I overlooked some things," she admitted silently. "After receiving my attention, Material sharply increased her training intensity. I failed to notice it—and that led to irreversible consequences after the race."
Her thoughts churned. Tokai Teio noticed that the message status had changed to "read," but there was still no reply.
It wasn't until they arrived at Ippei Restaurant, were led by a waiter into their reserved private room, and took their seats, that Tokai Teio finally received Symboli Rudolf's response.
After struggling internally, Symboli Rudolf decided to tell her the whole truth. Even if it damaged her own image, she couldn't bring herself to deceive a junior who had admired her since childhood.
"The Material of the past admired me the same way," she told herself. "I cannot make the same mistake again."
Yet after reading everything, Tokai Teio's reaction diverged sharply from both Symboli Rudolf's and Shuta An's expectations.
She looked up, tears brimming in her eyes as she stared at her Trainer. Her voice trembled. "Trainer—"
"What's wrong?" Shuta An asked, genuinely puzzled by her sudden tears and aggrieved expression.
"I mean…if—if," Tokai Teio pressed her lips together before continuing, "what if I don't live up to my talent?"
She didn't say the name aloud, but Shuta An immediately understood that she was talking about herself.
He reached out and patted her head.
Mejiro Dober and Silence Suzuka both glanced over, but Shuta An seemed entirely unconcerned as he spoke. "If Teio doesn't live up to her talent, then that responsibility lies with me, as your Trainer. If the Uma Musume I train can't display her ability, that's not their fault."
He paused briefly. He had intended to use Berno Light as an example, but restrained himself.
"I am a Trainer. My duty is to make sure the Uma Musume under me can realize her talent," he continued evenly. "So no matter what, Teio, don't think for a moment that I would ignore or neglect you. Even if it was Miss Symboli Rudolf who entrusted you to me, I am confident that you can become a Uma Musume who catches up to—and surpasses—her."
As he spoke, he felt the slight tremor in Tokai Teio's hands. He tightened his grip just a little.
"In short, don't overthink it. Train properly, and your talent won't be buried," he said, then glanced at Silence Suzuka and Mejiro Dober as well. "The fact that you're on my team means I believe in your talent and ability. And even if—by some remote chance—things don't go as planned…"
He stopped himself mid-sentence, waved his hand awkwardly, and amended, "Anyway, you get the idea."
Tokai Teio's question had weighed heavily on the atmosphere in the private room. But as the omakase courses were served one by one, the childlike Tokai Teio gradually brightened again. Her smile returned, and the tension eased.
Mejiro Dober, on the other hand, wasn't troubled by the idea of "living up to talent." She had never believed her talent was among the best in the Mejiro family. If she could follow the Triple Tiara route and win two or three G1 races, that would already exceed her own expectations. After all, even the most accomplished Uma Musume in the Mejiro family only held two or three G1 titles—except her nee-san. If she had to choose between racing and painting, she would choose painting without hesitation. At the Academy, she wasn't exceptional as a racer—but as an artist, who in the industry didn't offer praise when her account posted new works?
"But Trainer's expectations for me…are the same as for Tokai Teio?" The realization distracted her. She felt she ought to work harder, to live up to that trust.
"None of the seniors in my family ever placed expectations like this on me," she murmured inwardly.
As for Silence Suzuka, Shuta An's stance didn't shake her at all—if anything, it felt like a rocket engine igniting behind her, propelling her forward.
"Instead of Ann supporting me…why not the other way around?" she thought calmly. "I've already checked the prize money for that Middle Eastern race this year. Three million US dollars…higher than any domestic race, even more than the Japan Cup."
During the dinner, all three Uma Musume were thoroughly satisfied with the dishes at Ippei Restaurant. Tokai Teio even took out her phone and carefully noted down the reservation number.
"I'll bring the President here to try it when she has time," she said cheerfully.
Hearing this, Shuta An quietly let out a breath of relief. At the very least, it proved that Tokai Teio harbored no resentment toward Symboli Rudolf.
The thought barely lingered before he shook his head at himself. He was overthinking it—judging by Tokai Teio's usual character, how could something like this possibly drive a wedge between her and the Uma Musume she respected most?
Mejiro Dober was equally satisfied with the meal, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"If I can win a G1 in the Twinkle Series," she mused silently, "I'll have the butler invite this restaurant's head chef to serve at the Mejiro residence just once. Then I'll truly be counted among the Mejiro Family's G1 Uma Musumes."
Of course, the casual way Team Sadalsuud talked about "G1" victories could easily be misleading. In Japan alone, nearly five thousand Uma Musume debuted in the Central Twinkle Series every year. Among them, those who managed to win even a single race before September of their Classic year—and successfully remain in Central—were already like grains of sand lost in the sea. Winning a major prize was an entirely different matter.
The URA held only 138 major prizes annually. Even in the most idealized scenario—where each prize was won by a different Uma Musume, and each Uma Musume won only once—that would still produce just 138 major-prize winners in a year. As for G1 Uma Musumes, the number was even smaller: ONLY TWENTY-FIVE.
Reality, of course, was far harsher than that. The number of newly crowned major-prize Uma Musumes each year was far lower still.
Even Team Rigil, Silence Suzuka was certain, would never treat a G1 victory as something easily attained. Such naive assumptions could only exist in the minds of Tokai Teio and Mejiro Dober.
On the 17th, after completing the physical examinations, Shuta An obtained the detailed data from the hospital. Without even glancing at it, he forwarded everything to Dr. Grace on the west coast of the United States.
—
"Two?" Dr. Grace replied almost instantly on Line. "Your new recruits?"
"That's right," Shuta An admitted. "Both are very talented, but I need your analysis to confirm whether my ideas hold up."
"Got it. I'll give you an answer next week," Dr. Grace replied. "One of them has already entered her Full Bloom Stage, hasn't she? Are you thinking of bringing her to Hollywood Park this autumn for the Breeders' Cup? There's a race this year specifically for debut-year Uma Musumes, though it's still only a Listed race."
"To be honest, I was thinking the same thing," Shuta An typed, the corners of his lips lifting. "If everything goes smoothly, I'll have her challenge the Natalma Stakes in Canada first. Once she qualifies, she'll head straight for that Breeders' Cup race."
"Oh? So you're taking the Triple Tiara route?" Dr. Grace raised an eyebrow. "Then there shouldn't be any problems."
"None at all. My judgment of an Uma Musume's distance adaptability is very accurate," Shuta An replied confidently.
"Heh," was Dr. Grace's sole response.
After a brief pause, she added, "If your judgment is that accurate, then why did Oguri Cap only display such terrifying mile talent at the Breeders' Cup in the end?"
"That's because G1 middle-distance races offer more prize money than mile races," Shuta An answered without hesitation. "If it weren't for an agreement, I would've had Oguri Cap run the Breeders' Cup Turf. What's wrong with letting the Uma Musume I train earn more money?"
"All right, all right," Dr. Grace replied, throwing up her hands in surrender. She truly had no rebuttal.
—
That night, Shuta An went to sleep and entered the Dream World.
During this period, he had declined several requests from other Trainers—each hoping he would ride their trained male horses in three-year-old major prize races. His reason was simple: he already had Tokai Teio as his partner for the Classic Triple Crown. In his view, there was no need for a backup.
Moreover, among the three-year-old fillies he had ridden so far, none inspired enough confidence for him to seriously contend for both the Oka Sho and the Japanese Oaks. Compared to colts, he actually preferred to receive riding requests for fillies—but suitable ones simply weren't appearing.
This left his agent increasingly frustrated.
"If it really comes down to it, I'll just call Old Man Yoshida and ask for a three-year-old," Shuta An suggested.
"I've already checked," the agent replied with a shrug. "This year's Shadai three-year-olds are—honestly, pretty average. We can't have Shuta-kun ride an average horse in a G1, can we? I'll keep looking—that's my job."
In the end, the partner his agent secured was Scarlet Bouquet, slated to run in the Queen Cup. The filly belonged to the head of the Yoshida family, and in Shuta An's eyes, her ability was respectable. She wasn't on the level of the Higashi family filly he had ridden in training before, but securing a strong placing shouldn't be an issue.
"But first, I need to win the Queen Cup with Scarlet Bouquet to make sure we qualify for the Oka Sho," Shuta An muttered to himself in the jockeys' lounge at the Ritto Training Center.
"Hey!" Yutaka Take jogged into the lounge and swung a playful punch—landing it squarely on the empty seat beside Shuta An.
"What's with you?" Shuta An asked, baffled. "Did something happen?"
"I'd already booked Scarlet Bouquet for the Queen Cup," Yutaka Take rolled his eyes. "Trainer Ito told me this morning that the rider was changed."
"That was my agent," Shuta An raised both hands in surrender. "How about I treat you to Gion once Kyoto Racecourse opens, as an apology, Take-san?"
"Oh? Deal!" Yutaka Take brightened immediately. He hadn't valued Scarlet Bouquet that highly to begin with—she wasn't weak, but she didn't look like a filly who could seriously contend for a spring G1. Still, having a riding opportunity snatched away by his friend's agent annoyed him. Getting something in return soothed that irritation nicely.
Now that he had his compensation, Yutaka Take was in excellent spirits.