Chapter 17. Chase Training Deception
Back at the hotel, Shuta An stepped into his private room, closed the door behind him, and let out a long, unguarded yawn.
"Ha—" He raised a hand to cover his mouth, then exhaled softly. "No, not yet. I have to hold on until night." His gaze drifted toward the desk. "I'll find something to work on first. That should keep the drowsiness away."
Having settled his thoughts, the young man took a seat before his computer and began searching for race footage from this year's local UAE Twinkle Series.
"Local Uma Musume really do favor dirt races over Turf Classics," he murmured after scanning the footage listings. "Is it because they grew up in the desert?"
As for the overall strength of the local Uma Musume, Shuta An found himself unconcerned. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that dwelling on their level would only invite unnecessary trouble.
"This region only started developing last year," he reasoned calmly. "The training system is still immature. Most of them never received proper foundational conditioning before entering full-scale development. Under those circumstances, poor performances are only natural."
It was a polite excuse, one he offered silently on their behalf. After reviewing three months' worth of Turf Classic races, Shuta An closed the video software. There was no need to continue.
"Even among UAE Uma Musume whose tactical execution is still crude," he muttered, fingers curling as they lightly tapped against the desk, "the winning rate of runaway types on Turf Classic tracks is significantly higher than that of other styles. This pattern hardly needs further confirmation."
His gaze narrowed slightly.
"So…should I let Suzuka choose the more adventurous 'Great Escape' tactic?"
He had already examined the participant list for this year's Dubai Turf. To be honest, several of the entrants were undeniably of G1-winning caliber—some were outright G1 champions. Although the newly established Dubai Turf had been designated as a G2 due to its immense financial backing, in Shuta An's eyes, awarding it G1 status outright would not have been an exaggeration.
"Intikhab," he recalled quietly. "Last year, she crushed the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot by eight lengths."
"Annus Mirabilis. Two years ago, Hong Kong Bowl champion. Multiple graded wins in France."
"Fly to the Stars. Winner of last year's Lockinge Stakes—a genuine G1 Uma Musume."
"Desert Shot. Third in the French 2000 Guineas, second in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. Undeniably G1-level."
There were eleven Uma Musume in total. Beyond these four, there were other formidable competitors—but Shuta An saw no need to continue. He only needed to confront a single question—
"Against opponents like these…does Silence Suzuka truly need to risk using the Great Escape tactic?"
He wrestled with the thought until dinner, yet no answer emerged. In his assessment, the Great Escape carried both clear risks and undeniable rewards, and he could not immediately determine which side weighed heavier.
The "risk" he referred to was not injury. If employing the Great Escape would certainly harm Silence Suzuka, there would be nothing to deliberate. What troubled him instead was the possibility of being deliberately targeted—of facing rivals who had already anticipated the tactic and prepared counters.
As for the reward—
Dubai World Cup Race Day would draw the eyes of Uma Musume across the globe. To seize victory on such a stage, and to do so with a decisive Great Escape—Shuta An was certain it would grant Silence Suzuka a prestige beyond measure.
"Should we try it?" he murmured, sinking back into thought at the dinner table.
This unusual silence did not escape the others.
Tokai Teio and Mejiro Dober exchanged glances, then quietly reached an unspoken agreement—they would ask Silence Suzuka directly. Yet when Suzuka heard their concern, she looked genuinely perplexed.
"This morning, when Ann and I were together," she said thoughtfully, "he seemed perfectly normal, didn't he? I didn't notice him looking as troubled as you two say."
"But Trainer is clearly hesitating about something now," Tokai Teio insisted. "And it has to be about you, Suzuka-senpai, doesn't it?"
"Hmm." Suzuka tilted her head slightly. "I suppose I can't argue with that."
After a brief pause, she smiled faintly. "Then let's just ask him together."
Mejiro Dober and Tokai Teio nodded without hesitation. They were genuinely curious about what their Trainer was weighing so heavily.
When Shuta An learned of their intentions, he simply waved a hand.
"It's about the Dubai Turf," he said candidly. "I'm thinking about what kind of tactic Suzuka should use this time."
"Then just use the one we've been training recently," Silence Suzuka replied without pause. "We've spent months on it. If we don't use it in a real race, what's the point? We can't leave it forever on the training grounds."
"Actually," Shuta An admitted, "the Great Escape could also be an option for this race."
"No." Suzuka shook her head, her tone firm and unyielding. "Using the new tactic is better."
She met his eyes directly.
"The current me isn't an Uma Musume who only thinks about running away at full speed and shaking everyone off anymore."
"Of course, I still want to lead from the very front," she continued, her voice steady, "but I believe I can now endure the pressure of being marked by those behind me. I'm no longer the naïve runner I once was."
She clenched her right fist and pressed it against her chest, eyes burning with resolve as she faced her Trainer.
"I've matured. This time, I want to try the tactic you started customizing for me this year. Even if it isn't fully polished yet, a stage like this is perfect for testing it. After all, every tactic must be proven in real combat, right?"
"Alright."
Seeing Suzuka's unwavering resolve, the scales in Shuta An's heart finally tipped. He nodded decisively.
"I understand now. I know how to set your tactic."
As they returned to their respective places, Tokai Teio's thoughts began to drift.
"Teio, what's wrong?" Mayano Top Gun asked, a hint of concern in her voice. "Did Trainer scold you?"
"No," Tokai Teio replied softly. "I was just wondering—when will I finally be able to mature fully?"
"Everyone says my talent is exceptional. That once I reach full maturity, I'll become a superstar of the Twinkle Series." Her gaze lowered slightly. "But how much longer do I have to wait?"
"Hmph!~" Mayano Top Gun waved her hand dismissively. "Teio, once you can mature like Maya, you'll reach your full potential!"
Tokai Teio glanced at her friend's chest—somehow even flatter than her own—and sighed with quiet pity. Catching that look, Mayano Top Gun immediately turned away, pretending to focus on something else entirely.
—
On March 23rd, with only a few days remaining before the 27th race, Shuta An finalized the race plan. After printing it out, he handed the document directly to Silence Suzuka.
"After you've finished reading it, remember to shred it," the young man said calmly. "I've written this plan in great detail. If it falls into the wrong hands, it would be easy for others to exploit it against you."
"I understand!" Silence Suzuka replied earnestly. She accepted the document and returned to her room without hesitation.
When she opened the door, she found Taiki Shuttle already sitting on her bed, holding a race plan of her own—the one Tojo Hana had prepared for her.
Hearing the door, Taiki Shuttle looked up immediately. "Suzuka, you're back! Did Trainer call you over to talk about the race?"
Since the two of them were not competing in the same event, Silence Suzuka saw no reason for secrecy. "That's right. Ann gave me the tactic he prepared and asked me to study it carefully."
"I see…" Taiki Shuttle nodded, instantly reading the atmosphere. "He even wrote out detailed race tactics." She didn't probe further, instead shifting to complain about her own situation. "Trainer Tojo just told me to position myself a bit more forward."
"Well…her advice isn't wrong," Silence Suzuka replied thoughtfully. "Ann told me the same thing—that I must contend for the lead and not worry too much about early energy consumption from fighting for position."
She smiled faintly. "Since their opinions align so closely, I don't think it can be wrong."
"Maybe…" Taiki Shuttle shrugged. "But I actually prefer running from behind. Still, in a 1200-meter race, that's really hard to pull off." She sighed. "To make sure I win—and to avoid making Hana-chan angry—I'll just follow her instructions and run from the front."
In truth, Kitahara had offered similar advice to Hayate Fubuki.
The three trainers—Kitahara, Shuta An, and Tojo Hana—had met quietly at a café in downtown Dubai, where they exchanged opinions and suggestions regarding their respective Uma Musume. After discussion, each arrived at what they believed to be the most suitable tactics for the three runners entering competition.
Naturally, none of them shared their detailed plans.
Shuta An had no intention of letting Tojo Hana glimpse the "future" tactic he had crafted for Silence Suzuka. Tojo Hana, meanwhile, was never confident in her writing and had no desire to expose that weakness in front of Shuta An and Kitahara.
As for Kitahara—he truly didn't care. But since the other two did, and given that his own achievements were the least impressive among them, he couldn't quite bring himself to speak up regardless.
On the morning of the 24th, Silence Suzuka arrived at Meydan Racecourse together with Mejiro Dober, preparing for her final serious chase training on turf before the race.
Before the warm-up even began, Shuta An noticed that an unusually large number of Uma Musume and Trainers had arrived early that day. After a brief consideration, he offered instructions to the two runners.
"Today is the final chase training," he said. "Dober, when you chase, use about eighty percent of your strength. And Suzuka—when you're leading, hold back slightly. Try to make it look like Dober catches up to you exactly as the timer ends."
"Are we trying to show weakness?" Mejiro Dober scoffed. "I don't think anyone will fall for that. Everyone here should already be wary of Senior Suzuka's ability."
"But we can still create the illusion," Shuta An replied, lips curving faintly. "The illusion that a trailing Uma Musume can catch a leading one on this track." He glanced toward the sidelines. "I'll cooperate with your performance."
"Uwah~" Tokai Teio muttered quietly from the side. "Trainer is so devious. Suzuka-senpai is already top-tier, yet he still wants to deceive the opponents."
Shuta An flicked her forehead without hesitation. "You seize every legal and compliant detail you can to expand your chances of victory. Even if Oguri were running in this race, I'd do the same."
"I know…" Tokai Teio pouted—but inwardly, she felt secretly pleased. Not because she enjoyed being treated harshly.
Rather—
"This means that when I finally step onto the Twinkle Series stage," she thought, "I'll receive the same level of care."
As Silence Suzuka approached the finish line, Mejiro Dober unleashed her full strength and surged forward. Sensing this, Suzuka also deliberately acted as though she were giving everything she had.
At the same moment, Shuta An frowned convincingly. He then turned toward Tojo Hana, who was watching nearby, and gave a light shrug—his expression filled with helpless resignation.
The scene did not go unnoticed.
Many Trainers observed it closely. Even without a single word spoken, Shuta An's body language conveyed more than enough.
After all, this was the first year Meydan Racecourse had hosted overseas Uma Musume. Doubts about the track's characteristics still lingered among the Trainers. What they witnessed from Team Sadalsuud that day tipped the balance decisively in their minds.
"So I was right—"
"With such a gentle finish, this track heavily favors closers."
"A hold-up tactic is clearly optimal here."
Similar conclusions quietly spread.
Meanwhile, Shuta An continued his performance. Taking two towels from Tokai Teio, he walked forward and handed them to the runners. Then, without lowering his voice, he patted Silence Suzuka on the shoulder.
"It's fine. Your performance today was excellent. Get some good rest." He smiled calmly. "On the 27th, you absolutely won't be caught by the runners behind you."
"Understood, Trainer," Silence Suzuka replied seriously, lifting her head. "I'll work harder. This kind of problem won't occur in the actual race."
Her expression made it seem as though a genuine flaw had just been exposed during training.
"They're all actors," Mejiro Dober muttered inwardly, feeling both admiration and exasperation toward her Trainer and her seniors.
Shuta An's gaze turned toward her.
After a brief hesitation, he chose not to pat her shoulder. Instead, he spoke evenly. "You performed very well today, Dober. Maintain this rate of improvement, and I believe you'll become Japan's next 'Rising Star' in the latter half of this year."
Before she could respond, he lowered his voice slightly.
"I truly mean that."
"Mm-hm!" Mejiro Dober nodded vigorously. In that moment, she felt completely justified in her choice to skip shopping and spend the past few days training alone in the hotel gym. "I'll continue to work hard!"
Tokai Teio, on the other hand, remained unconcerned. Since arriving in Dubai, she hadn't spent entire days training nonstop—but she exercised every day before heading out shopping with Mayano Top Gun, Agnes Digital, and the others.
"There's no need to envy Dober-chan," she muttered confidently. "Trainer won't overlook my efforts either."
And just as she expected—
After leaving Meydan Racecourse, Shuta An spoke again.
"Teio, your recent balance between rest and training has been excellent. That's exactly how it should be." He continued calmly, "I brought you to Dubai because I want you to enjoy the scenery here—but training must never be neglected. You've done very well."
"Hehe," Tokai Teio smiled, her eyes curving happily.
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