Chapter 13. Two Reports
On the day of the Queen Cup, during the daytime, Shuta An received the analysis report from Dr. Grace.
Without any particular mental preparation, he began with Mejiro Dober's report—
"Although all data indicates she is an Uma Musume more suited to middle- and long-distance races, I believe she possesses untapped speed potential. If you have the capability, Shuta, I think Mejiro Dober's most appropriate future stage should be turf mile races."
"There are no health concerns. The X-rays show meticulous long-term care, and her training intensity has clearly not been excessive, so there are no hidden risks worth noting."
"However, this is from an Uma Musume's perspective. As a doctor, I must advise you to pay attention to her right hand. The wear and tear there is rather severe. I don't know what you've had her doing with that hand, but I strongly suggest having her rely more on her left hand going forward."
"What the hell…" Shuta An rolled his eyes. "Severe wrist wear and tear—drawing, most likely."
He made a mental note to tell Mejiro Dober about it tomorrow. Although an Uma Musume's legs were paramount, injuries to the hands could still distract her during races. Shuta An intended to take care of every detail for her. After finishing Mejiro Dober's report, he paused, drew a deep breath, and then opened Tokai Teio's analysis—
"Outstanding flexibility and excellent muscle strength. I have a very positive impression. Congratulations, Shuta—you've recruited an Uma Musume with exceptional physical talent."
"However, there is one issue you must take seriously. This Uma Musume's muscle strength is excessive. Before her bones have fully developed, she faces a high risk of fractures caused by overexertion. Note that full skeletal development will not occur in the early stages of professional training. At the earliest, it will be in the later stages, possibly not until adulthood."
"In other words, while most Uma Musume struggle because their muscles lag behind bone development, she is the exact opposite. I assume you will have a solution. For instance, adopting a running style that consumes more force to indirectly limit output, or simply having her consciously restrain her strength and curb her instinct to sprint at full power. In any case, the decision rests with you. Her true peak will undoubtedly be in the Dream Trophy. Seen this way, it is rather unfortunate—she will be unable to fully display her strength on the Twinkle Series stage."
Shuta An tossed the report straight into the shredder.
"Nonsense," he muttered. "Dr. Grace, you're underestimating me far too much. I discovered Tokai Teio's physical issues years ago. I'd never solve them by restricting her in races."
"Besides, I can still obtain rewards in the Dream World. I can do far more than you imagine."
Because Mejiro Dober and Tokai Teio needed to prepare for upcoming exams, Shuta An, as their Trainer, did not need to report to work for the next few days.
After spending some warm, leisurely time with Oguri Cap and Berno Light, he returned to his room and fell asleep almost the moment he lay down.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in the jockeys' lounge at Tokyo Racecourse.
Starting this year, each JRA race day featured twelve races, with the main event scheduled as the eleventh. Today's main race at Tokyo—the Queen Cup—was no exception. The arrangement was intended to disperse crowds, allowing spectators uninterested in the final, less significant race to leave early.
For Shuta An, this meant one additional race invitation per race day, and with it, more chances to earn money.
In truth, although his words at the welcome banquet days earlier had been impulsive, upon careful consideration, he really could back them up. Prize money earned from races he rode in the Dream World would be paid out to him upon waking.
A five-percent share might sound modest, but when combined with subsidies and other benefits, his Dream World earnings already exceeded a Trainer's fixed salary. And tonight, before the Queen Cup even began, he had already won three races, plus one steeplechase, and placed within the top five in five more—securing a considerable sum.
"Next is the Queen Cup. I need to help the second son of the Shadai Family secure a spot in the Oka Sho," Shuta An muttered, standing up and leaving the lounge.
Setting aside Yoshida Zenya, the head of Shadai Farm, among his sons the one closest to Shuta An was the second-ranked, Yoshida Katsumi.
Shuta An had no intention of involving himself in their family affairs, but within the bounds of his profession, he was more than willing to put in extra effort and deliver tangible results for Yoshida Katsumi.
With no mount today, Yutaka Take had gone to Kyoto to ride in the Kyoto Himba Tokubetsu. Though it was a last-minute assignment and he failed to win, he still managed a respectable third place.
After completing his interview, he returned to the jockeys' lounge and glanced up at the large screen. On it, Shuta An—riding Scarlet Bouquet—had already entered the final straight, ruthlessly overtaking the leading Blue Leaf and opening a gap of several lengths in an instant.
"Ann-san's driving power…" Yutaka Take murmured. "Every time I see it, it's overwhelming."
He could easily imagine that if he were in Scarlet Bouquet's saddle, he would still be shadowing Blue Leaf at this point.
"Only Ann-san's strength can support such an aggressive strategy," Yutaka Take shook his head. "What an enviable ability."
Yet despite guiding Scarlet Bouquet to victory in this graded race, Shuta An's mood was anything but bright.
"If this is all, it's still far from Tokai Teio—" Perhaps because Tokai Teio shone too brilliantly, his standards for partners had risen unconsciously.
In the next moment, he could only sigh.
"I can't force it—Maybe someday, I'll meet one."
Although Shuta An had not needed to report to Central Tracen Academy these past few days, that did not mean he could afford to neglect the training status of the Uma Musume under his care. Silence Suzuka, in particular, would invariably leave the Academy and rush to Shinjuku, seeking Shuta An out for targeted guidance.
After Suzuka returned to the Academy, Shuta An adjusted her training plan, shifting its focus toward aerobic conditioning to strengthen cardiovascular endurance. The regimen included a substantial amount of spin cycling, swimming, stair climbing, and long-distance jogging.
Spin bikes were readily available in the Academy gym, the swimming pool was spacious enough to meet requirements, and stair climbing scarcely needed explanation. Yet over the past few days, Silence Suzuka had chosen a different routine altogether. Each morning, she left Central Tracen Academy early, jogging all the way to Shuta An's residence and arriving around ten o'clock. There, she used the gym equipment Oguri Cap once trained on but no longer touched, and borrowed the rooftop swimming pool—even though the weather remained bitterly cold.
The only saving grace was that, given Shuta An's living environment, Silence Suzuka did not practice stair climbing there.
"Good. Today's spin cycling results are the best so far," Shuta An said, standing beside Silence Suzuka as she pedaled. "After the long-distance jog, you're no longer so breathless that you can't immediately begin training."
"That proves Ann's training is effective for me," Silence Suzuka tilted her head slightly. "You want me to build enough stamina now to handle longer races, don't you? As for later—"
"That doesn't mean I'll have you running 2400 meters again in the future," Shuta An interrupted, patting her shoulder. "This is only the first stage. I'll be more demanding later."
He deliberately refrained from explaining the next stage. Shuta An worried that if Silence Suzuka knew too much in advance, she might rashly attempt the following phase on her own before completing the current one, greatly increasing the risk of injury.
He understood her love for running all too well. That was precisely why he had chosen a cautious, step-by-step approach.
Silence Suzuka also realized that she would not be able to extract details of the next phase ahead of time, so she could only lower her head and continue pedaling in silence.
This routine lasted less than a week. On the evening of the 21st, Shuta An informed her in advance that she would not need to come over the following day.
"I'm returning to the Academy tomorrow. Teio and Miss Dober have finished their exams as well. It's time to refocus on training."
After reading the message, Silence Suzuka glanced at the calendar hanging beside her bed. January 30th had been circled, with a note written next to it: "Exam Preparation Day."
"I'll need to start preparing for exams in less than ten days too," she murmured softly.
Given a short break by Shuta An, Silence Suzuka had not simply taken it easy. She knew that if she wanted good exam results, she would have to devote herself fully to studying starting on the 30th.
"This can't be hidden from Ann—I'll just tell him tomorrow. That way he won't need to revise the training plan for me."
And the next morning, after Silence Suzuka explained that she would begin exam preparation on the 30th, Shuta An merely nodded.
"I know. I've already scheduled fifteen days off for you starting from that date."
"Eh?" Silence Suzuka froze in surprise.
"I asked the Academy in advance for all three of your semester schedules," Shuta An raised an eyebrow. "Otherwise, how would I arrange your training properly? Don't worry. Focus on studying and make sure you pass. If you get stuck with make-up exams during spring break, we won't be going to Dubai."
"Y-Yes! I'll do my best!" Her voice rose a full pitch higher.
That day, Shuta An had the three Uma Musume of Team Sadalsuud train together.
They did not start simultaneously. Instead, at his instruction, Silence Suzuka led, Tokai Teio followed two horse lengths behind, and Mejiro Dober trailed three horse lengths behind Tokai Teio.
"Suzuka, adjust your pace according to race rhythm changes—without raising the intensity to race level," Shuta An instructed before the start. "Teio, Dober, maintain your respective distances. Even if Suzuka changes her rhythm, you must adapt and follow accordingly."
"Understood!" the three replied in unison.
Under this arrangement, Silence Suzuka's task was the easiest, while Mejiro Dober's demanded the greatest concentration.
Tokai Teio, however, felt that she was working the hardest of all.
"I have to watch my distance from Suzuka-senpai and also keep an eye on Dober-chan behind me. The Trainer really expects a lot from me!" Lifting her head, she walked toward the starting line.
After the start, Silence Suzuka took the lead. Tokai Teio consciously moderated her pace, while Mejiro Dober misjudged her timing slightly, causing the gap between her and Tokai Teio to stretch to nearly five horse lengths.
Shuta An did not even frown. He could tell immediately that Dober's delayed start was deliberate—she had failed to precisely judge the timing needed to maintain a three-horse-length gap, so she chose to start later, then accelerated decisively to close the distance.
By the time they approached the first bend, Mejiro Dober had already corrected the gap, once again holding three horse lengths behind Tokai Teio.
In the Dream World, maintaining such a distance might gradually dull a horse's competitive spirit. Uma Musume were different. Both Tokai Teio and Mejiro Dober understood that training was training. When it came time to race, they would fight without hesitation. Their minds remained steady and composed.
As for Silence Suzuka, whose task was the simplest, she appeared almost relaxed upon entering the final straight.
"Even in training…I couldn't do this back in December last year," she murmured after crossing the finish line. She lowered her head, staring at her legs, momentarily ignoring Shuta An calling out to her.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens