Chapter 22. High Praise
The two sat side by side on a sofa beside the floor-to-ceiling window, shoulders nearly touching, facing the sea of lights stretching across Dubai's nightscape. For a time, neither of them spoke.
Only after several minutes—after the Uma Musume had quietly taken in every detail of the view before her—did Silence Suzuka break the silence.
"Ann…thank you."
"Thank me for what?" The young man sounded faintly surprised. "If you mean bringing you here on this expedition, there's no need. That's simply my responsibility as a Trainer. Helping the Uma Musume I train achieve greater honors is what I'm supposed to do."
"No. I mean the tactics." Silence Suzuka gathered her courage and slowly extended her left hand, resting it atop the back of Shuta An's right.
"If it weren't for Ann, I might never have mastered today's strategy," she said softly. She pursed her lips, leaned in just a little closer, and whispered into his ear, "When I crossed the finish line today—I felt a kind of joy I'd never experienced before."
"That excitement—rising from the depths of my spirit, making my whole-body tremble—I'm still savoring it now."
What she did not say was that when she returned to the lounge to shower and change, she realized she had reached a climax from the overwhelming exhilaration of that moment. It was a sensation she had never known before.
Shuta An, however, was not surprised.
Silence Suzuka's love for front-running was absolute. And the tactic she had executed today—melding leading with controlled pursuit—was an almost unattainable ideal, one that demanded extreme qualities even among escape-type Uma Musume. It was precisely the form that every front-runner dreamed of achieving.
"If you want to thank someone," the young man said quietly, lowering his gaze toward the streets far below, five hundred and fifty-five meters beneath their feet, "then thank my father—and Miss Secretariat."
"It was my father who conceived that nearly impossible strategy. Secretariat was the one who proved it could be realized in the Twinkle Series. I merely noticed that Suzuka might have the aptitude for it, and adopted my father's training methods."
"But when Secretariat-senpai was active, some of the training equipment we use today didn't exist," Silence Suzuka replied with certainty. "Ann's way of applying them during my special training—that must be your own creation."
Shuta An answered only with silence.
It was acknowledgment enough.
The quiet between them returned. During that lull, observation-deck staff approached, serving desserts and Arabian red tea infused with mint leaves. After they withdrew, it was Shuta An who spoke again.
"Suzuka, have you given any thought to your race schedule for this year?" he asked. "It's best to tell me before I finalize the plan. I'll factor in your preferences."
"My thoughts?" Silence Suzuka tilted her head slightly. "I haven't really considered it—I've always left that to Ann."
"Even if you say that, once you enter the Dream Trophy Series, you'll have to start planning your own races," Shuta An said, a hint of helplessness crossing his expression. "I won't be able to guide you then. It'll be the same for Oguri."
"I can choose not to participate in the Dream Trophy," Silence Suzuka replied without hesitation. "As long as Ann doesn't mind, that's enough."
"Why would I mind?" The corner of the young man's mouth twitched. "How could I possibly mind that? Besides, even if you don't enter the Dream Trophy Series, Suzuka, you'll eventually find what you want to do in the future, won't you?"
"Actually—I already have." Silence Suzuka pressed her hand slightly more firmly against his, her tone carrying a playful edge. "I'm not lying."
Shuta An could clearly feel the warmth and delicacy of her touch. Yet he did not pursue the implication, instead guiding the conversation back on course.
"For the first half of the year, the main objective is undoubtedly the Takarazuka Kinen," he said, taking a sip of the sweet black tea before continuing. "There aren't any races in Japan during that period that I think are particularly worth entering."
"If we go overseas, May is our only real window. European turf isn't suitable for you, so that's out. In the U.S., there's the Shoemaker Mile Stakes—a Grade 1 turf race—but it's a mile. The pace would be extremely unfavorable for you. You understand that, right?"
"I do," Silence Suzuka replied calmly. "In middle-distance races, my pace is overwhelming. But in mile races, everyone can adapt to it, and my explosive power isn't enough to contend with dedicated mile specialists. Shortening the distance would be a mistake."
"So, I intend to limit your race distances to the 1800–2200-meter range," Shuta An said, turning his wrist to gently hold her hand in return. "That's why, in the first half of the year, I only plan to schedule the Takarazuka Kinen for you."
"It may mean you won't be able to experience front-running on the track as often," he continued, "but I believe this is the optimal arrangement. With your ability, running G2 or G3 races would simply waste stamina reserves."
"Then let's follow Ann's plan," Silence Suzuka said, narrowing her eyes as she quietly enjoyed the limited contact between them. "I have no objections."
As for her schedule in the second half of the year, Shuta An did not elaborate. He merely explained that he wanted to see her performance in the Takarazuka Kinen before making any decisions. They remained on the observation deck for a while longer, rising from the sofa only when the hour hand neared eleven.
Before standing, Silence Suzuka reluctantly released his hand. Shuta An subtly curled his fingers—truth be told, his hand was a little sore from holding it so long. As they left the observation deck and entered the elevator, Silence Suzuka took a small step away from him.
"Ann worked hard today too," she said softly. "Cheering us on, attending the banquet, and then accompanying me here."
"It's no trouble," Shuta An waved it off. "It's all part of the job. If anything, I'm just glad Suzuka was willing to chat with me."
"Is that so?" Silence Suzuka turned her head slightly. "Teio and Dober-chan would be willing as well, wouldn't they?"
"Teio should be fine," Shuta An replied, "but Dober—probably not."
The elevator doors slid open at that exact moment.
Standing right in front of them were Mejiro Dober and Tokai Teio.
"I feel like Trainer just mentioned my name?" Tokai Teio tilted her head slightly, eyes full of innocent curiosity.
"Teio must be hearing things," Shuta An replied calmly, his expression unchanged.
Mejiro Dober, however, shifted her gaze toward Silence Suzuka. She had heard it too.
Silence Suzuka met her junior's eyes—and smiled. There was not the slightest trace of embarrassment in her expression, only composure.
"Then I probably misheard," Tokai Teio blinked. "Dober and I are going up to the observation deck. Is Trainer coming too?"
"I've already been," Shuta An waved his hand lightly. "You two enjoy the night view of Dubai."
"Mm-hm!" Tokai Teio nodded enthusiastically. Mejiro Dober followed with a quieter nod.
It wasn't until the elevator doors closed that Tokai Teio suddenly froze.
"WAIT—Trainer and Suzuka-senpai came down together. Doesn't that mean they went up together too?"
Mejiro Dober muttered under her breath, "Shouldn't you have realized that earlier?"
—
Watching the two Uma Musume disappear into the elevator, Shuta An turned and resumed walking, intending to return to his room for a bath.
Silence Suzuka reached out slightly, as if to tug at his sleeve—then stopped herself and quietly withdrew her hand. The motion was subtle enough to go unnoticed.
She bit her lip. The courage she had gathered earlier dissipated like mist.
"Just a little longer," she told herself in silence. "Just wait a little longer—at least until I'm ready."
Noticing the absence of footsteps behind him, Shuta An turned his head. "Suzuka? What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Silence Suzuka shook her head lightly. "I was just thinking I haven't seen Mayano Top Gun or Digital-chan."
"They're probably still asleep," Shuta An guessed. "You should rest well too, Suzuka. It's time to finally enjoy the vacation I promised."
"Mm." She tapped her temple with a finger and stuck out her tongue slightly. "But my head is already full of Takarazuka Kinen."
It was the first time Silence Suzuka had ever made such a playful expression. The contrast struck Shuta An so suddenly that he froze for a brief moment.
—
After returning to his room, Shuta An took a bath and went to bed.
At the beginning of the month, he rode Tokai Teio in the Dream World and claimed an easy victory in the Yayoi Sho. Though the margin was only one length over second-place IBUKI MAI KAGURA, Tokai Teio's evaluation rose rather than fell.
After the race, Nakata—IBUKI MAI KAGURA's Trainer—spoke to reporters with a helpless smile.
"When we won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last year, I said there was an even stronger horse in Kansai. Many people asked who it was. Now I can finally say it—Tokai Teio, who hadn't even debuted at the time. Everyone saw his talent on the Kansai training grounds."
Minai Katsumi, IBUKI MAI KAGURA's jockey for the race, also looked bitter.
"I pushed hard. I whipped hard. She responded honestly and gave everything she had. I believe she ran to her current limit. But there was nothing more I could do. It's a race that leaves me sad—but without regret."
The reporters present unanimously agreed.
Because throughout the entire Yayoi Sho, aside from maintaining a textbook riding posture, the only clear action Shuta An took was raising his arm in celebration at the finish.
There was no driving. No windmill whip. Not even a symbolic instructional flick.
He entrusted everything to Tokai Teio's instincts. He seized the lead, dictated the pace, and calmly shook off the G1-winning IBUKI MAI KAGURA, crossing the line with ease. Yet what truly unsettled the racing world was this—
Despite the apparent lack of exertion, Tokai Teio's finishing time was 2:01.2, breaking the Yayoi Sho record at Nakayama's 2000-meter turf by 0.1 seconds.
In the post-race interview, Shuta An's smile was unmistakably radiant.
"This was Tokai Teio's first race in three months. With the Satsuki Sho coming up next month, my objective today was simple: minimize his expenditure while ensuring victory. I'm very pleased with the result. Tokai Teio will continue to grow."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"For the Satsuki Sho—and beyond—I hope fans will continue to support him. No, not just one race. I hope everyone watches over his entire career. I believe Tokai Teio will submit an answer sheet so perfect that no one can find fault with it."
Trainer Matsumoto's smile was no less restrained.
"Many questioned our decision not to let Tokai Teio accumulate race experience. But results speak louder than doubts. He's a genius who doesn't require frequent racing. Our goal is to let him compete only when he's in the most perfect condition."
"As one of Symboli Rudolf's first offspring, his name already carries expectations. We intend not only to meet them—but to surpass them."
—
That evening, Shuta An visited Trainer Matsumoto's stable.
After two weeks of short rest, Tokai Teio had returned to the Ritto Training Center.
In his hands was a bulging plastic bag filled with the most expensive apples he could find at an Osaka supermarket—washed meticulously, of course. He had discovered by chance that Tokai Teio preferred sweet apples over carrots. Unfortunately, they weren't in season yet; otherwise, he would have let him try watermelon or something similar.
The stable staff didn't object to him feeding him, though supervision was mandatory. Left unchecked, the young jockey could easily lose control of the portions.
As if guided by instinct, Tokai Teio poked his head out of the stable the moment Shuta An entered, clearly drawn by the scent.
He didn't give him the apples immediately. Instead, he set about preparing them—cutting, coring, arranging them neatly.
"It really seems like Teio likes you, Shuta-kun," a staff member remarked, watching Tokai Teio chew the apple slices with narrowed, blissful eyes.
Shuta An's reply came quietly, almost detached from the comment.
"I will make Tokai Teio an undefeated Triple Crown winner."
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