The lights of the Winner's Stage glittered in the night.
After Seiun Sky's song and dance had brought the entire audience to a peak of excitement, the performance came to a close. The trio on stage stepped back and retreated behind the curtains.
The prelude to the Satsuki Sho—the Yayoi Sho—had now officially concluded.
"Sei-chan was so cool," Twin Turbo murmured, stars practically shimmering in her eyes.
That 'coolness' wasn't born of infatuation, but of longing—a yearning to move a crowd the way Seiun Sky just had.
Within Team Canopus, only she and Urara remained undebuted.
If only she could debut too, win a race, and become the most dazzling Uma Musume on the Winner's Stage…
It was what every Uma Musume dreamed of.
She'd just opened her mouth, about to bring up the topic of her debut race with Minamizaka again.
But another voice beat her to it.
"Minamizaka, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
It was Barbatos. She'd been watching the Winner's Stage with rapt attention moments before, and now she was the first to speak.
"Hmm? What is it?"
Minamizaka blinked, catching the serious note in Barbatos's tone.
Was it because her leg injury hadn't fully healed, and she needed to withdraw from the Oka Sho?
If the injury wasn't going to be ready in time, even with countless fans eagerly awaiting the showdown between Barbatos and El Condor Pasa, Minamizaka would still help Barbatos cancel her entry.
Barbatos's health was the most important thing, after all.
Losing a race because her leg wasn't fully recovered was a minor issue. But if something worse happened during the race itself… the consequences were unthinkable!
The thought had just crossed his mind.
Minamizaka's brow furrowed slightly as he recalled what Barbatos had said during their previous check-in.
It probably wasn't about the leg injury. Besides, when they met earlier, she'd mentioned it wasn't much of a problem anymore.
Could it be about something else?
Puzzled, Minamizaka looked at Barbatos, waiting for her to continue.
"Could you enter me for the Spring Tenno Sho?"
"It shouldn't be too late to register now."
"The Spring Tenno Sho?"
This time, it wasn't just Minamizaka. The other members of Team Canopus were also taken aback.
The Tenno Sho series was a famously prestigious event, and the competition level in past runnings had always been among the very highest in G1 races.
The Spring Tenno Sho could be called the longest-distance race among G1 events, the ultimate test to determine the strongest long-distance Uma Musume of the current generation.
They all turned to look at Barbatos, their eyes filled with surprise and a touch of bewilderment.
It wasn't that Barbatos couldn't run the Spring Tenno Sho. It was just that her previous races had almost all been in the short-to-middle distance range—races under 2000 meters were her specialty.
As her trainer, Minamizaka's mind raced even further.
During the Winter Dream Cup, Barbatos's lack of stamina and her late-race fade had been exposed, plain for all to see.
The world of Uma Musume was never short on geniuses, but even geniuses had their own areas of expertise. And Barbatos was undoubtedly not skilled at long distances.
If he had to put a number on just how unsuited she was for it… he'd say ten thousand years!
Even as he thought this, Minamizaka paused, believing Barbatos wouldn't make such a choice without reason. He asked point-blank, "Why do you want to run the Spring Tenno Sho?"
"There are other races much better suited to you."
"Since I know my weakness, I should face it and overcome it, shouldn't I?"
Barbatos replied with a smile. "Everyone says the President is the absolute among Uma Musume, but no one adds 'at a certain distance' before that 'absolute.'"
"So I want to try it too—to win the Spring Tenno Sho!"
"Besides, even if I'm not good at long distances, don't I still have the training plan you made for me, Trainer?"
"After the Oka Sho is over, I'll train according to your plan."
"That's right, that's right!"
Twin Turbo chimed in, nodding vigorously. "Minamizaka, just let B-chan run the Spring Tenno Sho! She's so amazing, even with just half a month she'd definitely be able to handle the 3200 meters of the 'Haru Ten'!"
Half a month was being generous.
The Oka Sho was in early April, and the Spring Tenno Sho in late April. The actual time available for specialized training was probably less than half a month—more like ten days or so.
Urara and Matikanetannhauser voiced their agreement from the side, aware of their friend's determination.
Ikuno Dictus, also standing nearby, remained silent, neither supporting nor opposing Barbatos's choice.
This was Barbatos's own decision. Knowing Minamizaka's character, he was almost certain to agree. The real point was what Barbatos had just said.
There was nothing wrong with her reasoning, technically.
But…
The lenses of Ikuno Dictus's glasses reflected the light, like a certain grade-school detective seeing through the truth.
Barbatos had essentially compared herself to Symboli Rudolf, as if saying what Rudolf could do, she, Barbatos, could do too.
If Symboli Rudolf was the Absolute across all race distances, then Barbatos could also win G1 titles at every distance.
Her hands trembled slightly as she seemed to see through it all.
If she could, she'd want to say something like that too. That kind of declaration… was actually pretty cool.
"The Spring Tenno Sho, huh?"
Minamizaka murmured, remaining silent for a long moment.
For Barbatos's situation, it was probably best not to run any extra races.
After all, she likely couldn't handle many more high-intensity contests. The optimal schedule would be to complete the Triple Tiara races and then choose a perfect curtain call in the Arima Kinen.
The Arima Kinen was the farewell stage chosen by all the famous Uma Musume.
But that was just Minamizaka's own wishful thinking.
He knew full well he was just a trainer. His job was to support the Uma Musume under his care, not to oppose the goals and requests they put forward.
Minamizaka nodded. "I'll enter you for the Spring Tenno Sho."
He adopted an extremely serious expression. "Remember, you mustn't push yourself too hard. Your health comes first."
"If anything happens during training before the Spring Tenno Sho, I'll withdraw your entry immediately."
For a runner like Barbatos, who couldn't handle many high-intensity races to begin with, if she pushed too hard in races or training, no one could say what might go wrong.
By all common logic, Minamizaka's worries were not without reason. He just happened to have run into Barbatos, this walking exception to the rule.
"Understood."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 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.