There are no walls in the world that don't leak wind, and besides, Nearl never intended to deliberately hide her racing schedule in the first place.
So naturally, news of her plan to enter the NHK Mile Cup gradually began to spread.
And then, one day, central Tracen Academy was suddenly filled with cries of dismay.
"My race! I was still hoping to win first place—why is she doing this? The Japanese Derby is this very month. Isn't she afraid she won't recover in time?"
"That's just overconfidence, isn't it? It's like saying we're not even worth worrying about, that winning won't take much effort… no, wait, Nearl isn't that kind of person. There must be some plan she can't talk about, right?"
"Could it be the trainer forcing his own way? If a Uma Musume's own opinion clashes with her trainer's, many would still agree out of trust. But now the URA has established an inspection department run by Musume themselves, and even they approved it…"
"Alright, there's no point in saying more. The reality is right in front of us. Let's focus on how we're going to run."
"You're right…"
Their exchanges ended there. The Uma Musume scattered, each heading back to their own rooms, each going to find their own trainers to figure something out.
After all, they couldn't just give up without a fight. Shrinking the gap, even a little, would still be progress for them.
Only, at the edge of the crowd, a Uma Musume with long orange hair hung her head in silence.
She had listened to the entire discussion from start to finish but hadn't uttered a single word. Her trainer's arrangements and warnings still echoed in her ears.
--+--
"Silence Suzuka, follow my plan. I won't allow you to run like Nearl does!"
Toujou Hana held her ever-present tablet, her face cold as frost. Though usually stern and unsmiling, the chill in her demeanor now was far beyond the ordinary.
Silence Suzuka pulled her head in slightly, lowering her gaze, not daring to make a sound.
Though her expressionless face often seemed aloof, inside she was soft and full of conflict.
But there was one point on which Silence Suzuka found it hard to yield.
"But… I don't like staying in the middle of the pack waiting for a chance. I want to run at the very front, keep accelerating, keep accelerating, leaving everyone far behind. I want to see the endless view ahead."
"No. Denied. I am your trainer. No one understands your condition better than I do. Do as I say, and you will win. You have the ability."
Toujou Hana's tone was unusually intense, completely unlike her usual self.
While she was normally blunt and harsh, her underlying gentleness remained. But now, Suzuka couldn't detect even a hint of room for discussion.
"But—"
Silence Suzuka wanted to struggle a little more, but Toujou Hana didn't wish to continue.
She glanced down at the tablet in her hand and, without turning her head, held out a palm to stop Suzuka, waving it twice.
"Enough. I have matters to attend to next, and it's time for your training. I explained the plan to you yesterday, didn't I?"
"…Yes."
"Good. Remember to train according to the plan—not more, not less. Even if I'm not by your side, everyone on the team is an experienced Uma Musume. If any issues come up, don't be afraid."
"That's all for today. I'm leaving."
Without giving Suzuka a chance to stop her, Toujou Hana walked away briskly, her steps so hurried it was as if something were chasing her.
"Trainer…"
Suzuka silently crouched down, staring blankly at the ground, lost in thought.
And all of this was clearly seen by a certain trainer on the second floor in the distance. Subconsciously, he clenched his teeth, crunching the lollipop in his mouth to pieces.
But he didn't move, maintaining his leaning posture against the railing. Because he knew that a certain stubborn yet soft-hearted person was on her way.
Five minutes, or perhaps ten? The sharp click-clack of high heels gradually sounded from behind him, growing louder and louder until it stopped right at his back.
Silence fell.
"Haah… wouldn't it be better to tell that kid how you really feel? Aren't you afraid she'll come to resent you if this goes on?"
"She won't. Suzuka is a gentle girl. She understands what care means."
"Your tone sounds off, you know. There's no one else here right now. Do you need to borrow my shoulder?"
"..."
Toujou Hana neither agreed nor refused. Leaning against Okino, the two supported each other, back to back.
"Okino… tell me, did I really do wrong?"
"I received Suzuka's routine physical results today. Her muscle condition is already at its limit. A genius whose body can keep up with her spirit like The Radiant Knight might appear only once in centuries."
"Clearly, Suzuka isn't one. Her body can't keep pace with her talent. If she's allowed to fully unleash her gift, the future… is almost predictable."
With slightly trembling fingers, Toujou Hana removed her glasses. Everything before her seemed to blur.
"Hah… Hana, people can't always understand each other. So I won't comfort you by saying 'I understand.' What I'm stating now is the conviction of a trainer standing here."
Tearing off the wrapper of a lollipop, Okino's usually playful face was filled with seriousness.
Because right now, it wasn't about acquaintances or men and women—it was a clash of convictions between two trainers.
"Let them run. As Uma Musume, all they need is to run on the path of their dreams."
"We trainers are merely their support. In the end, only they themselves can decide their own futures. Once they've made their decision and possess the resolve, I will support them."
Clear, self-willed words—and they stood in complete opposition to Toujou Hana's own beliefs.
There were plenty of retorts she could have made, but none would change the other's resolve. Both of them had walked far down their own paths.
"It's truly agonizing. The kind of irresponsible trainer's path you take is exactly what I dislike the most. But why… why does Suzuka's way of thinking align so perfectly with yours?"
"H-Hana! Are you saying what I think you're saying?!"
Okino was shrewd—how could he fail to grasp Toujou Hana's meaning?
"At this point, I have no choice but to admit it. The team most suited for Silence Suzuka… really is yours, after all. I can't bear to watch her run in such a life-risking way. But her will is so firm that my opposition alone can't hold her back anymore. Was it really that race against Nearl that inspired her?"
Putting her glasses back on, Toujou Hana returned to her usual demeanor, yet she felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart.
"Decided? If you release her, I won't let her go, you know. You're aware my team is in desperate need of Uma Musume right now."
"Who cares about that? I just hope you don't let Suzuka down. That girl is truly endearing."
"How could I? I'm quite fond of Suzuka too."
"By the way… she wants to enter this NHK Mile Cup. What do you think?"
"What do you think? Of course I support her."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.