Chapter 35. Safe and Sound—No Fracture
That night, the moment Shuta Ann stepped into the Dream World, he searched for only one thing.
Not glory.
Not praise.
Not headlines.
What he wanted was a single line of text.
Matsumoto Shoichi stood before him, holding up the JRA veterinary examination report. He did not speak immediately. Instead, he lifted the paper higher and pointed to the final sentence.
"Confirmed everything is normal."
For a brief second, Shuta Ann simply stared at those words.
"So Teio wasn't injured after the Derby—"
The tension that had coiled tightly around his heart all week finally loosened. He let out a long, unguarded sigh.
Relief.
Pure and unfiltered.
"It seems Shuta-kun was very worried about Teio being injured after the Derby?" Matsumoto Shoichi observed gently.
"Yes. Very worried." Shuta Ann did not deny it. "After all, this was my closest chance to achieve the 'Undefeated Triple Crown'—I might never get another chance in the future."
He shrugged, but the weight behind the gesture was obvious.
"I don't want any accidents to happen during this process."
"So the ride in this Derby seemed relatively relaxed?" Matsumoto Shoichi followed the logic. "Was it to reduce the intensity so that Tokai Teio wouldn't get injured as much as possible?"
"Well—"
A wry smile appeared on the Young man's face.
"To be honest, I even thought about controlling Teio's lead to be smaller. But his strength exceeded my imagination. I barely did anything, and Teio didn't even use his full power, yet he easily left his opponents behind."
There was no exaggeration in his tone. Only awe.
"Unbelievably strong, indeed."
Matsumoto Shoichi glanced toward Tokai Teio's empty stall.
At Shuta Ann's suggestion, Owner Uchimura Masanori had not sent him to a breeding ranch for summer vacation. Instead, he was transferred to Shigaraki Ranch, which cooperated with Shadai.
It cost more.
But there, Tokai Teio could eat, sleep, and still maintain sufficient conditioning.
"Since the goal is the Kikuka Sho, cardiovascular function definitely needs more training," Matsumoto Shoichi stated.
However, given Tokai Teio's physical profile, the ranch's menu prioritized swimming, supplemented by Slope Road sessions.
Shuta Ann agreed.
Swimming might not generate the same raw strengthening stimulus as Slope Road work, but the latter imposed heavy strain. Excessive slope training could increase injury risk—precisely what he wanted to avoid.
Owner Uchimura Masanori did not interfere. He trusted that he understood horses less than both of them.
So he handled what he could.
Funding.
—
After leaving Matsumoto Shoichi Stable, Shuta Ann encountered Assistant Ikee, who had recently transferred from Setoguchi Tsutomu Stable.
The assistant did not waste time.
"For the upcoming Takarazuka Kinen, Shuta-kun might not be able to ride Mejiro McQueen."
Shuta Ann blinked.
"What do you mean? I rode without any problems in the first two races this year, didn't I?"
It was true.
Mejiro McQueen had skipped last year's Arima Kinen. His comeback came in the Hanshin Daishoten. Then he captured the Spring Tenno Sho under Shuta Ann's guidance, making him the first foreign jockey to win that race.
They were not flawless rides.
But they were excellent.
Why change?
"It's mainly because of Tokai Teio…"
Assistant Ikee's expression was complicated.
"The Mejiro Family saw Tokai Teio's performance and became convinced that if Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio had conflicting race schedules, Shuta-kun would definitely choose Tokai Teio. So they started thinking about changing jockeys in advance. They plan to invite Yutaka Take to ride for this Takarazuka. It hasn't been announced publicly yet. I'm just telling Shuta-kun in advance so he can be mentally prepared."
Shuta Ann could not argue.
The concern was rational.
If conflict arose, he would choose Tokai Teio.
Without hesitation.
And conflict was inevitable. Tokai Teio might avoid certain long-distance G1s. Mejiro McQueen would not.
He pressed his lips together.
"I understand. However, please also tell Trainer Ikee that if his stable's Racehorse needs a rider in the future, they can still come to me. And then…"
Assistant Ikee braced himself, expecting bitterness.
Instead, Shuta Ann simply shrugged.
"I regret the Mejiro Family's decision to change jockeys this time, but I understand. If there are sufficiently talented Racehorse in the future, I will still accept riding invitations."
There was no anger.
Only clarity.
"Thank you for your understanding, Shuta-kun…" Assistant Ikee replied quietly. "To be honest, the Takarazuka Kinen is less than a month away. I don't know what the Mejiro Family is thinking announcing a jockey change now. If the previous head of the Mejiro Family were still alive, such a thing would never happen."
"No choice," Shuta Ann said with a grin. "Teio is too strong."
He did not conceal his pride.
"So strong that future opponents have to start thinking about how to deal with him now."
—
The next morning, he woke and shook his head lightly.
"A bit of a pity—Mejiro McQueen's main rider is gone. How will I accumulate Mejiro Dober's favorability now?"
It was not an idle joke.
In the Dream World, after riding Mejiro McQueen to victory, the base rewards he received were consistently linked to Mejiro Dober.
He could not fully explain the mechanism.
Perhaps because within Team Sadalsuud, the Mejiro Family representative was Dober.
If the rewards aligned with McQueen's attributes instead, they would have limited relevance in reality.
"And if Mejiro McQueen were also on the team—"
He wiped away imaginary sweat.
Having witnessed her appetite, he could already foresee disaster.
"If the team went out for dinner, almost every restaurant we visited would blacklist us."
He could barely imagine a restaurant capable of stocking enough ingredients to satisfy both Oguri Cap and Mejiro McQueen simultaneously.
—
Saturday.
No Academy duties.
The week's training report was complete. Mejiro Dober's race report would only begin after tomorrow's debut.
But rest did not suit him.
After breakfast, Shuta Ann drove to Tokyo Racecourse.
He planned to observe the day's turf races closely.
Track bias.
Grass condition.
Corner flow.
Mid-race compression patterns.
He wanted to confirm whether the tactics and precautions he had set for Mejiro Dober required adjustment.
"Speaking of which, after Dober's debut race tomorrow, there's also the Yasuda Kinen," he muttered to himself.
Both Tokyo turf 1600-meter races.
Of course, direct comparison would be flawed.
Different class.
Different tempo.
Different pressure.
Still—
"I really want to see what kind of time Dober can achieve."
It was not about comparison.
It was about calibration.
Because for Shuta Ann, every race—whether debut or G1—was data.
And data was the foundation of future crowns.
On Sunday, Shuta woke before dawn.
The hotel curtains were still drawn, the city outside barely stirring. He dressed without haste, then walked to Tokyo Racecourse under a pale morning sky. The air carried that faint early-summer humidity unique to Fuchu—heavy, but not yet oppressive.
Silence Suzuka and Tokai Teio were both scheduled for low-intensity morning sessions at Central Tracen Academy, with additional work in the afternoon. Neither would attend.
That had been his decision.
He did not want Mejiro Dober feeling watched—not by rivals, not by the public, and certainly not by teammates whose presence would silently amplify expectation.
"The Mejiro Family's Uma Musume coming to watch her debut already increased her pressure significantly."
He had noticed it immediately—the tension in Dober's calves when she solemnly described the Mejiro Family's "old traditions." The stiffness beneath composure.
"In any case, if I can't relieve her stress, I certainly can't add to it."
Credentials presented, he entered the VIP box.
More than four hours remained before Dober's race. Rather than stand outside among unfamiliar, low-level debutants, he chose stillness. Observation would come later.
"If I'm not mistaken…"
He twisted open a bottle of sparkling water.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
He did not rise. He sat upright on the sofa instead.
"Excuse us!"
The voice was unmistakable.
Shuta Ann placed the bottle carefully on the table, brought his legs together, posture straightening.
"Good morning, Miss Ramonu."
Mejiro Ramonu entered first—poised, composed, every movement carrying the quiet dignity of a Triple Tiara winner.
"Good morning, Shuta-kun. We're here to disturb you for a bit. Do you mind?"
No unnecessary pleasantries. Direct as always.
Behind her stood Mejiro Ryan and Mejiro Bright—both once under his guidance—and another young Uma Musume he did not recognize.
"And this is?"
He gestured politely.
"Mejiro Bailey. One of the most anticipated juniors in our Mejiro Family right now."
The girl stepped forward, clearly nervous.
"Good morning, Miss Bailey."
He nodded, then greeted Ryan and Bright in turn.
After sitting, Ramonu gave a faint, helpless shrug.
"As for McQueen, she was taken by a tall gray Uma Musume to watch from somewhere else."
"Gold Ship from Team Spica," Mejiro Bailey supplied quickly. "She's very famous in our grade."
"That height… she shouldn't be your classmate, should she?" Ramonu asked, mildly surprised.
"No, but our teachers often say not to be as carefree as her… unless you can deliver equally excellent results on the final exam."
Bailey puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Sounds like a very free-spirited type," Shuta Ann commented.
But internally—
Team Spica.
Which meant Nishizaki Ryu would be here.
Of course. Today was Yasuda Kinen. Taiki Shuttle was running. Last week, Team Rigil had attended the Derby. It was only natural that Team Spica would come to support their ace.
Still, that had nothing to do with him today.
His focus was singular.
"I hope Dober can have a good start."
He turned toward the track as the first race prepared to break from the gate, silently offering a private prayer.
—
At lunchtime, he bought a simple bag of bread from a convenience store inside the racecourse. No elaborate meal. No hospitality.
He did not bring the Mejiro Family back to the VIP box.
"I'm going to the trackside to watch Dober's debut race. What about you, Miss Ramonu?"
"Of course we're going to the trackside too," she replied with a smile. "Please take us there, Shuta-kun."
He nodded.
When they reached the restricted trackside area, the first person he noticed was unmistakable.
Team Spica's Trainer.
His drinking companion.
"Nishizaki-kun!"
Team Spica's Uma Musume had already spotted him, so he simply walked over.
Nishizaki Ryu turned immediately.
"Ann-san! Good morning!"
"Good morning~"
No stiffness. Just natural familiarity.
"The next race is Mejiro Dober's debut, right? How is it? How confident are you?"
Nishizaki raised an eyebrow playfully.
Shuta Ann did not hesitate for even a second.
He clenched his fist.
"Ten out of ten."
Absolute.
"The first debut race of the year at Tokyo Racecourse. The winner will definitely be Dober."
Behind him, the Mejiro Family Uma Musume remained calm.
There was no arrogance in his tone.
Just certainty.
They had seen what he could do.
"Shuta-kun is here too."
Tojo Hana approached, as composed as ever.
"Do you want to come to our team's celebration party tonight?"
"You're already preparing a celebration party?"
Even Shuta Ann was surprised. Though Taiki Shuttle was overwhelmingly favored, such pre-emptive arrangements were rare for Tojo Hana.
"It's not just a celebration. It's also a send-off."
Her gaze was steady.
"After this Yasuda Kinen, as long as Taiki Shuttle isn't injured, we'll head to Europe to challenge the local Mile G1 Twinkle Series."
"Oh~"
So she had decided.
"Among domestic G1 races, only a few are suitable for Taiki Shuttle. If she doesn't challenge overseas, her accumulation of honors will be affected. I also thank Shuta-kun for your persuasion. Her performance in Dubai convinced me that even against Europe's top Mile Uma Musume, she won't fall behind."
Her confidence was unwavering.
And then—
Movement at the underground passage.
Mejiro Dober emerged.
The sunlight caught her figure as she stepped forward, posture disciplined, expression composed—though Shuta Ann could read the faint tightness in her shoulders.
The commentator's voice rang out across the track.
"Oguri Cap and Silence Suzuka's newest junior! From the Mejiro Family, Mejiro Dober from Team Sadalsuud! Her gate for this race is number 8!"
Shuta Ann's eyes sharpened.
Now—
The curtain was drawn.
Let's see how well you've learned, Dober.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens