T stood on the training track, observing the other Umamusume. Passing trainers would proactively greet him. Times had certainly changed. With the Committee's backing, his status had soared.
After Kousei, he had also produced two G1 Umamusume. With results and resources, his training career had suddenly become smooth sailing. To be honest, T found it a little unsettling.
Returning to his office, he could faintly hear sounds from within. With a look of resignation, he pushed the door open.
"Amazing! So you can attack from here! Kousei-senpai is incredible!"
The gray-haired Umamusume watched the race replay over and over, letting out gasps of awe. Aside from her excitement, she seemed perfectly fine. Yet, from T's expression, it was clear she was the sole source of his troubles.
This Umamusume was no small figure. She was the protagonist of the recent, sensational Japan Cup incident—Contrail. Having made such a bold declaration before the entire world, countless eyes had been on her since the day she enrolled. Youthful arrogance, T thought. Understandable.
At the time, T had simply maintained a detached attitude, wanting nothing to do with the matter. He never imagined that, for the first time in his training career, he would be reverse-nominated.
It happened on a bright, sunny day. After Dream Journey's victory in the Asahi Hai, T was enjoying a rare moment of peace when Acting Chairman Kashimoto arrived at his door with a young Umamusume in tow. Before T could even process what was happening, the two were formally introduced.
Though T hadn't paid close attention to Contrail, her name was so widely discussed that he recognized her instantly. He had no idea that the little horse girl who had once idolized Kousei was Contrail herself, so he never anticipated being reverse-nominated by her.
"I want Mr. T to be my trainer! I won't accept anyone else!"
Contrail's insistence on having T was unusually strong. Judging by Acting Chairman Kashimoto's exasperated expression, she had likely tried to pair Contrail with numerous other trainers before this, all to no avail.
T initially planned to refuse. After all, taking on a high-profile Umamusume like Contrail at such a critical time seemed unwise. But then, T learned from Acting Chairman Kashimoto that Contrail hadn't designed a new Personal Racing Outfit; instead, she had chosen to inherit Kousei's. Perhaps it was his own lingering feelings for Kousei that influenced him, but upon hearing this, T found himself agreeing as if guided by some unseen force.
And so, this slightly unconventional partnership was born.
Contrail's goal was crystal clear: she would follow the same Classic Triple Crown route that Kousei had once run. Given her performance in the Japan Cup, this was a logical choice. However, within the Triple Crown races, Contrail showed an unusual obsession with the Derby.
T speculated that this fixation stemmed from Kousei's devastating defeat in the Derby years ago.
Contrail was an enthusiastic girl—perhaps overly so. She constantly spoke of Kousei, desperate to inherit her legacy and shatter the rumors surrounding her.
This very desperation was a potential weakness in Contrail's condition. While T was glad that Kousei had such a devoted successor, he knew that admiration was often a double-edged sword.
Just as Kousei had once chased after Rudolf, now Contrail was chasing after Kousei.
Despite his concerns, T decided to first assess Contrail's potential. He hadn't expected much, but the results left him reeling.
Only then did T realize what an exceptional Umamusume he had taken on. Contrail's stats far surpassed the average, and her body was incredibly flexible, immediately bringing to mind the last undefeated Triple Crown Winner—Tokai Teio.
Light-footed, supple, and quick-witted.
Without a doubt, Contrail was a prodigy. With her outstanding qualities and the proud glint in her eyes, T had no doubt she was destined to stand at the pinnacle of her generation. Though he didn't know what rivals she might face, he already felt the same sense of security he'd had when training Mejiro McQueen or Tokai Teio.
T pushed aside that lingering worry. After all, he had never gone into a campaign with such an overwhelming advantage.
Up to this point, everything seemed perfect. T's real challenge lay in syncing up with Contrail. On one hand, her talent was so immense that the training plans he devised often couldn't keep pace with her progress.
On the other hand, Contrail herself was a handful. Her excessive reverence for Kousei's methods led her to frequently alter her training routines without permission.
"Give me the same training as Kousei-senpai!"
This was Contrail's constant refrain. Despite T explaining countless times that Kousei's regimen was far too intense for her, Contrail remained stubbornly insistent.
This was T's biggest headache. The truth was, Contrail didn't need to push herself so hard. Kousei had required high-intensity training because her natural talent was limited; Contrail, on the other hand, could effortlessly achieve things Kousei couldn't.
Her foundation was already exceptional. Besides, training had its limits. Neither Teio nor McQueen ever trained like Kousei, yet they were still stronger.
Moreover, Kousei's training was only possible because her body was exceptionally robust. If Teio had attempted the same regimen, she would have broken down before the races even began.
Instead of blindly imitating, it would be far better for Contrail to leverage her own unique strengths—if only she would actually stick to the training plan.
Contrail naturally joined Team Sirius. By this point, however, Sirius was a team in name only. Kousei had gone abroad, Teio had joined the Student Council, and McQueen had taken on the role of the Mejiro Orthodox representative.
Team Sirius now consisted of only two Umamusume: Urara and Twin Turbo. Regardless of their popularity, in terms of sheer ability, neither was capable of carrying the team. While there was a G1 Umamusume like Dream Journey available, she showed little enthusiasm for joining. Moreover, her unpredictable temperament made T uneasy about placing her alongside Urara and Twin Turbo.
This unease was only reinforced when Dream Journey, Orfevre, and Gold Ship started causing trouble together, confirming T's decision to keep Dream Journey out of Sirius.
Contrail's arrival brought a wave of joy to Urara and Twin Turbo. The two little ones immediately started acting like seasoned senpai, though T had no idea what they were actually teaching her.
With a supernova like Contrail joining, T began to feel a glimmer of hope for Sirius's future. Perhaps things were about to take a turn no one could have predicted.
When T shared the news with Rudolf, she was delighted. As Student Council President, Rudolf was thrilled to see a promising newcomer like Contrail at Tracen Academy. After expressing her eager anticipation, she ended the call.
In the vast Student Council room, Rudolf sat alone. On her desk were two framed photographs.
One showed a young Teio posing with her. The other was a group photo of three little horse girls.
In the second photo, a young Rudolf held Sirius's hand, her smile radiant, with no trace of the "Emperor" she would become. Sirius, looking away awkwardly, didn't pull her hand back. Between them stood another Umamusume, her expression blank and somewhat dazed.
Gazing at the photos, Rudolf couldn't suppress a fond smile.
Tap, tap.
A soft knock sounded at the door, which then gently creaked open.
Rudolf looked toward the entrance, her gaze softening as she spoke softly, "Welcome back, Kris."