Just as Jo Kitahara was quietly reflecting on the previous conversation, Shinpo looked at the photo on top of the cabinet and spoke with a hint of regret.
"Actually, what I said earlier isn't exaggeration—it's the truth."
The mother sighed, continuing her explanation:
"Jo Kitahara, you're a trainer, and you've noticed Oguri Cap. As her mother, I shouldn't hide anything from you."
"This child… sigh. When she was born, there was a congenital problem with her right knee. Her muscles were stiff, and as a child, she couldn't even stand."
"Luckily, over time, her leg gradually improved. But just look at the photo—she's always appeared thin and weak. Only with age did she slowly grow stronger."
"For a child like this, even as her mother, I found it hard to believe she could run and achieve outstanding results…"
"No, actually, it's precisely because I'm her mother that I know if a trainer expects too much from her too soon, the eventual disappointment could be severe."
Shinpo's expression conveyed not just worry, but honesty. She was clearly a straightforward Uma Musume, hiding nothing from Jo.
"It's not just her problem," Shinpo added with a wry smile, pointing to her silver-gray hair. "As a trainer, you should understand—both she and I are gray-mane horses. That bloodline…"
Her expression dimmed, and she didn't continue.
Jo, quietly listening and reflecting, understood exactly what she meant.
Like in the other world, this world also acknowledged bloodlines.
Gray-mane horses are a specific bloodline. Their defining feature is the changing hair color with age: at birth, dark blue-black; then gray-black; then silver-gray; finally, silver-white.
Shinpo's hair is the characteristic silver-gray of this bloodline, while the photo of young Oguri Cap shows gray-black hair, indicating she hasn't matured yet.
The unspoken words, however, hinted at a common belief in this world that remains unchanged:
Gray-mane horses aren't fast runners.
This belief existed even in the other world. Gray-mane horses like Oguri Cap were sometimes disparagingly nicknamed "mud rabbits."
As Jo quietly observed Shinpo's hesitant and worried expression, a different thought crossed his mind.
Perhaps the mother didn't yet know the truth—no matter which world it was, one of the key factors that could change the perception that "gray-mane horses aren't fast" wasn't anyone else, but her daughter: Oguri Cap.
For a moment, Jo thought back to his previous world but didn't voice his thoughts.
He realized that, as a cross-world traveler, he had been thinking with foreknowledge, forgetting that many things in this world couldn't be immediately understood or accepted.
For example, Shinpo's pessimism about her daughter's future and her hesitation about the bloodline were realities that couldn't simply be explained.
He would have to find a way to convince her in a manner suitable for this time.
"I understand your concerns," Jo said thoughtfully."But as a trainer, I trust my own judgment and ability. I believe that with my training, Oguri Cap will achieve excellent results."
"Besides, bloodlines do exist, yes—but so do miracles, don't they?"
"You just said that as a child, Oguri Cap couldn't even stand and was frail. But now she can run and is healthy, right?"
"Then can we not assume that Oguri Cap might just be a child who creates miracles?"
Having managed a racing club before, Jo knew the power of persuasion. He knew what words could move people, and for a mother, the best approach was to give hope.
His words were clearly effective. Shinpo's worried face showed signs of wavering, her tone carrying a hint of expectation.
"R-Really?"
Her silver-gray ears twitched slightly. Shinpo's voice trembled. "You… you actually have that much faith in Oguri Cap… that really is…"
Jo smiled warmly.
"I don't know how others see her, but I've always believed that every Uma Musume has her own talent. The question is whether a trainer has the vision to recognize it and bring it out."
"The talents of Uma Musume need to be discovered. Even with great potential, if training, nutrition, and rest aren't properly arranged, that talent will go to waste."
In essence, Jo was paraphrasing the philosophy of The Horse Treatise. This world didn't have horses in the same way, so no one here had the text, but the principle was the same.
Shinpo listened thoughtfully, nodding.
Just as Jo was about to continue, the sound of a door opening came from the entryway, followed by a soft, gentle greeting.
"Mom, I'm back from running. Is dinner ready?"
Hearing that voice, both Jo and Shinpo were momentarily stunned.
Shinpo quickly smiled warmly, while Jo paused for a moment, then suddenly realized:
"That must be Oguri Cap's voice, right?"
Though he had never met her in this world, and her voice sounded a bit different from the game, Jo instinctively knew that it was her.
True to form, Oguri Cap's first concern upon returning home was asking about food—just like in his world, she was a big eater.
Jo instinctively looked toward the living room doorway.
Soon, he saw a tall girl with proportionate limbs, long powerful legs, and silver-gray hair tied up neatly.
Her features were striking; at first glance, she could be called a beautiful girl, but her expression was blank, giving off a sense of cold aloofness.
Her clothing clashed with her appearance and demeanor. She wore a faded light-gray tracksuit, frayed at the cuffs and collar, dust-streaked, with mud splattered on the pants' legs.
The outfit made her appear rustic and slightly clumsy. Her blank stare at the unfamiliar young man only amplified that impression.
"Mom, this is…"
She glanced at Jo, puzzled, then looked toward Shinpo for clarification.
"You're back. Don't worry, dinner's almost ready."
After warmly greeting her daughter, Shinpo turned to Jo and began the introduction:
"This is Trainer Jo Kitahara from Kasamatsu Tracen Academy. He's here to invite you to join his team."
Hearing this, Jo stood and bowed politely:
"Hello, Oguri Cap. I'm Jo Kitahara. I hope you'll join my team. I believe you can shine brilliantly on the racetrack!"
At the end, thinking of Oguri Cap's future achievements in the other world, his voice unintentionally rose a bit.