Chapter 95.
To Kojima Sadahiro, the name "Shuta An" was a lingering nightmare that had haunted him ever since the Kikuka Sho two years ago.
After he successfully piloted Mihono Bourbon to victory in the Satsuki Sho, followed by a narrow, thrilling win at the Japanese Derby, whispers of doubt had begun to surface. People couldn't help but wonder: could Rice Shower, guided by Shuta An and known to thrive over grueling distances, shatter Mihono Bourbon's dreams of an Undefeated Triple Crown at the Kikuka Sho?
But at the time, a complacent Kojima paid those whispers no mind. He firmly believed that Mihono Bourbon, the brilliant horse who had carried him to Derby glory, was fundamentally superior to Rice Shower in every way. How could Rice Shower possibly bridge the gap in their growth in less than half a year?
"Don't worry! I will absolutely bring home an Undefeated Triple Crown as a gift for you, Teacher!"
Inside the stable, he thumped his chest, making a solemn vow to his mentor, Toyama Tameo.
"It will definitely be fine."
Toyama's gaze wasn't resting on him, but rather fixed securely on Mihono Bourbon's stall.
Kojima, of course, noticed his teacher's distant look.
He understood why Toyama was looking in that direction, and he knew crystal clear what an Undefeated Triple Crown would mean for his mentor. It was a chance for ultimate vindication—a true enlightenment of his training philosophy.
If, through sheer, grueling effort, a pedigree-challenged racehorse like Mihono Bourbon could seize the Undefeated Triple Crown, it would prove one thing to the circle: in the Twinkle Series, as long as you possessed a body capable of surviving hellish, high-intensity slope training, you could grasp greatness.
This was Toyama Tameo's life's work.
And for Kojima himself?
Setting aside the fact that becoming an Undefeated Triple Crown jockey would elevate him to the same legendary echelon as Yukio Okabe and Shuta An, he felt that achieving such a feat would serve as the ultimate beacon of hope for all who lacked natural talent.
"It doesn't matter if you lack talent; work diligently for your mentor, study hard, and you will eventually seize your own destiny."
Kojima had already drafted his victory speech for the Kikuka Sho interview.
Then came the nightmarish Kikuka Sho.
Kojima's grand fantasies and earnest promises were effortlessly crushed beneath the hooves of Rice Shower, who cruised to victory guided by a completely relaxed Shuta An.
"Teacher! I'm so sorry! It's all my fault!" That very night, Kojima, mimicking the ancient idiom of "asking for punishment with thorns on one's back." showed up at Toyama's house bare-chested, carrying rough tree branches on his back to beg for forgiveness.
Honestly, having ruined his teacher's chance at "enlightenment" in such a devastating manner, Kojima was terrified. Before setting out, he had braced himself to be beaten, severely scolded, or even permanently expelled from the stable. But he knew he couldn't run away. His own inadequate skills had let them down in the Kikuka Sho. Coming to apologize was the absolute bare minimum; otherwise, his conscience would eat him alive.
However, to his absolute surprise, Toyama didn't erupt in anger. Just as he had done immediately after the Kikuka Sho, he simply patted Kojima's shoulder.
"It's all my fault!" Kojima sobbed, kneeling on the floor. The more he replayed the moment he was overtaken, the more hot tears welled in his eyes. "If my final push was just a little better, if I had read Shuta An's intentions a second earlier, Mihono Bourbon would have won the Triple Crown!"
"Yes, it is your fault." Toyama responded softly. "But even if Kojima-kun hadn't made a single mistake, Rice Shower's overwhelming strength over long distances is a sheer manifestation of his talent. The main reason we didn't win that race doesn't lie with you."
"Moreover." Toyama said, pulling his apprentice up from the floor, "it's just a mere Undefeated Triple Crown! If I can train Mihono Bourbon to reach this point, I can train the next Racehorse to challenge for the Undefeated Triple Crown all over again! That will be the ultimate proof of my training theory!"
In that moment, to Kojima's tear-filled eyes, Toyama's figure appeared more sublime than Mount Fuji itself. He truly believed his teacher could do exactly as he said.
If only there had been time.
"If only... there was still enough time..."
Half a month later, Toyama's voice was weak and hoarse as he lay in a hospital bed.
He had just received the devastating diagnosis: esophageal cancer. Realizing his life had unceremoniously entered a countdown, Toyama began feverishly compiling his training insights, intending to publish a book, and immediately started arranging the futures of his stable's apprentices.
Tsurudome Akio, his eldest apprentice, was already an established Trainer, so Toyama comfortably transferred a few talented horses to his care.
Mori Hideyuki, his youngest apprentice, had recently obtained his Trainer's license. Toyama prepared to pass the torch of his own stable directly to him. Mori would inherit dozens of horses, many possessing the talent to conquer graded races, or even G1s.
But it was Kojima Sadahiro who caused Toyama the most conflict.
In his final days, Toyama could have easily—and shamelessly—asked Take Kunihiko, Yutaka Take's father and a former student of his, to take Kojima in. Out of sheer respect, Kunihiko would have absolutely accepted Kojima into his stable, providing him with a steady income and training work. But that would be the end of his upward trajectory.
If I want Kojima-kun to get good saddle opportunities...
Toyama made up his mind.
He called Tsurudome Akio to his bedside.
"I need you to take Kojima-kun in, Tsurudome-kun. Treat him exactly as I have treated him." Toyama instructed directly.
Tsurudome nodded vigorously, agreeing without a second of hesitation or a single question.
Still worried that Tsurudome might struggle to uphold the promise alone, Toyama also instructed his heir, Mori Hideyuki, to support Kojima.
Mori agreed, tears streaming down his face.
"How could I not help my senior apprentice?" Mori rubbed his reddened eyes, his voice trembling. "Senior Kojima has done so much for me. When I first entered the world, he was the one who laid the foundation for me. I absolutely won't let him suffer any grievances! His saddle resources will definitely not be affected!"
"That's good."
Toyama whispered, finally completely relieved.
Though he fought a valiant battle against his illness, his time came in May of the following year.
On the very day Shuta An, guiding Vega, secured an undefeated double Tiara, Toyama watched the live broadcast, smiled, and peacefully closed his eyes, surrounded by his disciples, family, and staff.
Kojima, kneeling by the bed, watched his master slip into eternal sleep. He then slowly turned his head to the television screen, where Shuta An and Vega were striking a vibrant, triumphant victory pose.
"One day, I will collect this debt in the Classic Races!" He clenched his fists, etching the vow deep into his heart.
He knew his resentment towards Shuta An stemmed entirely from his own incompetence, but he clung to the belief that he would eventually meet another racehorse like Mihono Bourbon—one who would carry him to defeat Shuta An on the grandest stage of the Classics.
"Just once. I only need it to happen once!"
—
On the turf of the Koyo Stakes, Kojima pushed himself far beyond his limits. Completely out of character, he fiercely wielded a windmill whip, a technique he was notoriously poor at.
His desperate resolve transmitted directly to Tasan Tsuyoshi.
The excellent horse squeezed out every last drop of her hidden stamina, desperately trying to shake off the dark shadow of Fuji Kiseki, who was tailing him like a phantom.
Then, Shuta An simply pulled out his crop and gave it a casual, symbolic wave to the right side of Fuji Kiseki's head.
Just a wave.
"FUJI KISEKI ACCELERATES AGAIN! SO FAST! THE DARK BAY HAS COMPLETELY SWALLOWED TASAN TSUYOSHI! SA! FUJI KISEKI SURGES TO THE FRONT OF THE PACK!"
There was no need for an actual strike. With just a symbolic wave, Fuji Kiseki effortlessly overtook and pulled away from Tasan Tsuyoshi.
"FUJI KISEKI! EVEN WITH A LATE START, IT'S NO PROBLEM AT ALL! TWO CONSECUTIVE UNDEFEATED WINS! SETTING HIS SIGHTS ON THE ASAHI HAI FUTURITY STAKES! SUNDAY SILENCE'S FIRST MEGA-STAR HAS ARRIVED RIGHT HERE!"
The live commentator's voice was hoarse with excitement. Hearing those words, Kojima's spirit almost shattered completely.
"Am I still not good enough?"
He murmured, dazed and hollow.
Shuta An, noticing Kojima's crushed state, tactfully chose not to approach him for post-race greetings.
"Something feels a bit off."
The young man muttered to himself.
—
The Koyo Stakes was merely a Listed Race. The true main event for Shuta that day was a 3-Win Class race, where he guided Maeda's Tokino Spica to an easy victory with a devastating outside burst, officially promoting the five-year-old mare into the Open (OP) Class.
Upon waking up in reality, Shuta casually glanced at his attribute viewer. Unsurprisingly, he confirmed that he had only received the standard prize money from his venture into the Dream World last night.
He wasn't disappointed. Although the Dream World's Kojima seemed to have broken through his limits during the race, it was ultimately just a Listed Race. Not receiving any special drops or rewards was entirely normal, the young man rationalized.
However, Tasan Tsuyoshi seems to have solid distance adaptability. If we clash at the Japanese Derby, he will indeed be our biggest enemy.
He mused inwardly.
But Shuta soon tossed the affairs of the Dream World to the back of his mind.
Today was a solemn occasion: the day of Sea Bird's reburial.
Waking up early, Shuta freshened up and arrived at the cemetery site well ahead of schedule. Not wanting to turn it into a massive media spectacle, he and Secretariat had reached a quiet consensus: aside from the necessary staff, only the two of them and a select few Uma Musumes his father had either trained or known personally would be in attendance.
"Although they are no longer tearing up the West Coast, they are all still heavily involved in Twinkle Series-related work at various Tracen Academies or regular schools."
Secretariat had explained before they arrived.
"Some are sports instructors, some are involved in Tracen Academy management like me, and some are even trying their hands at training Uma Musumes themselves."
"They've all followed in Father's footsteps, huh." Shuta replied, sitting across from her. "If Father knew, he would definitely be thrilled."
"Well... He'd probably grumble that they all needed his constant guidance when they were racing, and question whether they were actually competent enough to teach other Uma Musumes now."
Secretariat teased, a fond smirk curving her lips.
"Slandering me behind my back again?"
The first guest arrived. This bay-colored Uma Musume was even taller than Secretariat. A nostalgic smile played on her lips, though her tone held mock stiffness.
"This is Canonero. A two-time American Classic winner who didn't manage to win the Belmont Stakes."
Secretariat introduced her with brutal simplicity.
"It's not my fault my stamina gives out at 2400 meters! A race I can't run is a race I can't run!"
Canonero rolled her eyes dramatically. She then turned her attention to Shuta, walked over, and extended a hand.
"You don't need a formal introduction, do you? I used to walk you when you were just a toddler."
Shuta's face instantly turned a sickly shade of green.
"You stuffed me into a stroller and pushed me down the road at maximum racing speed! I thought I was going to die!"
"Ahaha, well, it was rare to have a kid running around the stables back then. I definitely wouldn't do something like that now."
Canonero scratched her head, letting out a few dry, guilty laughs.
"It would be a literal crime if you still did that now." Secretariat deadpanned. "And how come I was never informed about this stroller incident?"
"Don't worry, even my dad never found out."
Shuta turned his head, complaining with helpless exasperation.
With Canonero's arrival, nostalgic details from the past that had long been overlooked were slowly pieced back together. Soon after, the other Uma Musumes began to arrive.
To Shuta's mild horror, practically every single one of them had either teased, pranked, or babied him when he was a toddler. The young man's hazy childhood memories were rapidly becoming alarmingly clear.
"Ah, Shuta-kun really did well this time around. The Trainer's biggest regret back then was never managing to train an Uma Musume capable of winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which meant he didn't have the leverage to confidently make demands of the French URA Association."
Sighed Riva Ridge, the legendary Uma Musume who had conquered both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
"That's mostly because none of us were particularly suited for turf running. And Secretariat, who was arguably the best at it, never went on a European expedition to test the waters." interjected Key to the Mint, a prestigious five-time G1 winner. "I personally couldn't run on turf to save my life."
"And my peak came way too early. By the time the Kentucky Derby rolled around, my legs just didn't have the fire in them anymore." Rockhill Native shrugged. "So why is Shuta-kun so different from the Trainer? The Trainer notoriously struggled with training turf-specialist Uma Musumes."
"Because the most abundant and prestigious races in Japan are all held on turf. To make a name for yourself in the Japanese Twinkle Series, mastering turf training is an absolute necessity."
Shuta shrugged.
"If you ever bring an Uma Musume overseas to challenge the American Triple Crown, you can definitely hit up Riva Ridge for help in Kentucky. She's currently working as a sports instructor at a university over there. You can pick her brain about training facilities and local dirt conditions. Nobody knows that track better than her."
Secretariat advised.
"If you aim for the Preakness Stakes, you can come find me." Key to the Mint raised her hand cheerfully. "I actually work at Pimlico Race Course right now, and I'm in line to become the track supervisor."
"As for the Belmont Stakes, you'll have to ask Wajima, who unfortunately couldn't make it today. That guy works over at Belmont Park. Whenever he's free, he's busy teasing Pledges, only to get thoroughly lectured by her right after. He seriously has zero senior dignity."
Key to the Mint added with a pout.
"In short, if we're talking about the American dirt circuit, you're definitely planning to bring one of your own trained Uma Musumes over to challenge it in the future, right Shuta-kun?"
Riva Ridge stared intently at the young man.
"I've been playing with the idea, yes. But the specific Uma Musume I have in mind for the American dirt G1s will most likely only target the Kentucky Derby. The turnaround time for the Preakness Stakes is just too tight for her, and the distance of the Belmont Stakes will definitely exceed her stamina limit. So, after the Derby, she'd likely pivot directly to the Haskell Invitational and then the Travers Stakes."
"Kentucky Derby, followed by the Haskell, and then Travers? That's a highly solid and strategic racing schedule."
Secretariat raised an eyebrow, evaluating the rotation with a professional nod.
"It would be amazing if she could snatch the Kentucky Derby." Riva Ridge nodded in deep satisfaction. "As the Trainer's flesh and blood, how could you possibly call yourself a top-tier Trainer without a Kentucky Derby title under your belt?"
"Are you just going to ignore the hundreds of local veteran Trainers who have never sniffed a Kentucky Derby victory?"
Secretariat rolled her eyes at Riva Ridge's bold claim, before turning her gaze back to Shuta.
"In any case, if you do embark on an expedition for the American dirt G1s, just know that everyone here has your back."
"Thank you all so much! I'll definitely give it everything I have!"
Shuta bowed deeply to the gathered legends. This was the incredibly vast network of goodwill and favors his father had left behind, and the young man fully intended to utilize every ounce of it for Kurofune's future American expedition.
—
Meanwhile, halfway across the globe in Japan, Kurofune was lazily lying on her bed scrolling through her phone when she suddenly sneezed violently several times in a row.
"Are you alright over there?"
Her roommate, Lively Mount, frowned and peaked over from her own bed.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just got a sudden tickle in my nose."
Kurofune waved a hand dismissively, rubbing her nose.
"Oh? Could it be that a certain Trainer is thinking about our dear Kurofune?"
Lively Mount teased with a knowing smile.
Hearing that, Kurofune's scrolling paused, and she fell into a deep, slightly flustered silence.
(So, reader said Perry Steam in Uma Musume Shinjidai no Tobira was based on Kurofune)