The day had been great. Both girls accomplished their training and didn't give up at all, even running uphill, they took their rests, drank their water, and kept pressing onwards. If everything went according to plan, then Flashy shouldn't have any problem in her next race once she gets used to the uphills, so she doesn't lose momentum, and Meek will seem to have greatly improved. At the beginning, she looked mentally weak, but thanks to her friends and new experiences, her self-esteem seemed to improve a lot.
"Ahhh..." She looked at the clock, it was already past midnight in a blink, a cup of wine half empty, she shook her head, and looked at her notes once again, "I need to stop drinking so late..."
Her head spun softly; she wasn't really affected by the alcohol. It was more about being tired, but she had to put in the extra effort for the good of her umas. Umas must have big dreams, big ambitions, and the trainers exist to help them reach those goals. Together, they form a team, and each victory is shared by the team, bringing prestige and happiness to all the members.
Still, some things plagued her thoughts.
'Today Flashy felt a little more vulnerable, maybe she is opening up to us, talking openly about her worries...' She had seen while she was studying what happened to poor Tokai Teio, and so many other uma musume, tragedies that ended dreams most of the time, not everyone is lucky and talented like Teio to force a miracle, for most, an injury like that would be the end of the line.
Then a faint smile crossed her lips.
'Then regularly checking for their help would help.' At least at the moment, both seemed okay, but umas could be very tricky, and to fulfill their dreams, they could remain silent and not say a word about the pain they are feeling until it's too late...
Being a little dismayed, she ruffled her hair with both hands, trying to drive away the bad thoughts. She made a mental note to go and buy some amulets at the temple tomorrow to expel any bad energy and bad luck.
Then there was the other situation. Soon, she will have to help them acquire their unique racing outfits; they won't present themselves in a Tracen tracking suit at the graded races. On the outside, it would sound only as something fancy, something visual, and at it's core its just some cosmetic, but for the girls, it's important, and also, it is important to captivate the fans' hearts, and they needed the fans to vote for them for the important races.
"Guuuh... it's gonna be expensive..."
But causing a great impression also brings in cash in the form of sponsorships and opportunities for them; it had to be done... She reviews some documents on the desk, some early offers for merchandising, plushies, and other goodies for both of her girls. Thanks to the media, it was almost a guarantee for Flashy to gain fast fame, and in the case of Meek, she seems like a dark horse for the reporters, but some toy sharks seem to smell money coming from her too, so some had sent some offers in case she sky rockets too.
And then the last thing that had been a thorn in her mind and heart.
'Sunrise-san...' She looked at her copy of the photo that was in Meek's house.
...
...
...
Some time ago...
"Just give up." The words coming from her grandmother had struck a nerve with her.
"Guh!"
"Don't look at me like that, Aoi." Her Grandmother had agreed to see her, but she was a busy woman after all, so she hadn't looked at her at the moment, her eyes fixated on the financial status of the family.
"B-But Grandma! You must give Meek a chance!"
After Meek's debut race, she had rushed to her household to get some advice on methods for training Happy Meek; end racers weren't her specialty, and she lacked the experience to fully trust herself to make the best choices.
"I already gave her one and she failed already," The old lady said, tapping the desk with her finger. It wasn't a conversation, it was a sentence. "You stubbornly insisted on recruiting her even if I advised against it, you went and did it anyway... being my beloved granddaughter, I gave you the chance you so desperately wanted, and she ended up sixth on her mock race... what kind of prank is that?"
"But she is her daughter!" Aoi felt tears building in her eyes.
"You keep obsessing over a ghost of the past, huh?" The old lady finally looked at her.
Which made Aoi flinch and take a step back.
"You made an amazing choice fishing out Flashy Step. I can give you that credit; you know exactly how to make her shine, but what will you do with Happy Meek? You don't have the experience needed for her, and she doesn't have the talent needed to be a star; she is just an average uma with average limits.
"I have faith in Meek, she can...!"
"Faith is just an illusion, child!" Her grandmother snapped; she had never seen her this angry before. "You don't understand anything, that's why we have science, that's why we study, that's why there are methods!" She stood up... she wasn't particularly tall, but for Aoi, she looked like a giant. "You are risking the name of our household. Open your eyes, Aoi!"
...
...
...
"I will show them the glitter that only Meek can give!" She drank the last of her wine in one go and stood up. "Eventually, everybody will see... they have to see..."
She slammed the desk with the palms of her hands.
"I won't give up!"
...
...
...
(Turf: A Dirt: A
Speed: D+ Stamina: D Power: D Guts: D Wits: C+
Spint: A Mile: A Medium: A Long: A
Front Runner: F Pace Chaser: F Late Surger: E End Closer: A
Mood: Sleepy
Skills: [Late Surger Saavy] [I can see right through you]
Uma Coins: 403)
(CONGRATULATIONS! YOU MAXED WITS!)
"Eh?"
I was so confused and stunned for a moment.
"EEEEH!?" I opened my eyes wide, not in joy, but in panic.
"System!? System wait! What do you mean I maxed it!? It's just a C+!"
(...)
(...)
(Good night)
"EH!?"
Is this godly punishment for being awake late at night watching anime!?