Chapter 41. Coincidental
By the time Shuta An finally got Tokai Teio to curb her temper and get out of the car, more than half an hour had passed.
"It seems there's one more thing to do."
Shuta An mused as he watched Tokai Teio enter the Academy, looking back at him with every step.
But as for Teio, the young man planned to address that after the Takarazuka Kinen and during the summer trip to Europe.
As for Rice, based on Shuta An's analysis of her personality, he estimated that Rice wouldn't do anything further for at least the foreseeable future.
"Her courage only grows when I'm asleep." he thought, chuckling to himself.
"Maybe Rice now thinks I was already awake when she bravely stole a kiss from me." — In fact, Rice did think that—
After returning home, Shuta An took a bath and then went to bed.
Tonight, he was going to participate in the Japanese Derby in the Dream World.
This time, the young man was riding Northern Polaris, owned by Yoshida Katsumi, who finished second in this year's Aoba Sho. Then Shuta An and it lost to Narita Brian by six lengths, taking third place in this year's Japanese Derby.
However, Shuta An didn't care about this, because starting the week after this Japanese Derby, this year's two-year-old newcomers could debut.
This meant that Oguri Cap and Sunday Silence's first generation offspring were stepping onto the stage.
This meant that Silence Suzuka and Admire Vega (Ayabe-chan also falls within the SS Creator's trigger range, something Shuta An confirmed after Admire Vega joined the team) could appear in Shuta An's sight at any moment from now on.
"I will definitely find their counterparts in this world!"
The young man was full of confidence.
—
The Yasuda Kinen was in half a month, so Mejiro Dober didn't immediately begin her final preparations.
The next morning, Shuta An found that Mejiro Dober hadn't started training when he arrived at the Academy.
The young man had no suspicions; he also understood Mejiro Dober's choice to take a small break.
"Today is Monday, not Wednesday. If it were Wednesday, slacking off would be unacceptable."
When Shuta An finished clocking in and returned to Team Sadalsuud's club room, he passed the first training ground and noticed Mejiro Dober starting her warm-up.
"Good, not completely slacking off."
Shuta An nodded, abandoning his plan to take advantage of the midday to both flirt with Mejiro Dober and "scold" her.
Next, Shuta An had to write yesterday afternoon's Japanese Derby post-race report.
There wasn't actually that much to write about the race itself; Shuta An simply described Rice Shower's tactics in a straightforward manner. As for more extensive writing, Shuta An focused on pre-race preparation and psychological adjustment.
To be honest, until Rice crossed the finish line, Shuta An still felt a bit like he was dreaming. His two impulsive actions yesterday afternoon and evening were also due to his mental disorientation caused by Rice winning the Japanese Derby.
"Honestly, I have to admit it's my problem."
The young man secretly sighed.
After Shuta An finished writing the post-race report and training report, he checked the time and found it was only 10 AM, so the young man prepared to go out for a stroll.
The Japanese Derby was over, and this week was the first week that debutante Uma Musume could participate in the Twinkle Series. Some Uma Musume, whose progress in formal training was clearly disparate, had already begun preparing for their debut races on the training grounds.
"Everyone is working hard."
Shuta An muttered to himself, unconsciously arriving at the courtyard. Noticing Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen there, the young man put aside the idea of striking up a conversation and turned to leave.
—
Teio and McQueen sat side by side, the two Uma Musume eating their bento boxes and chatting.
Teio was confiding her worries from yesterday to her friend.
"Eh? So Teio has unusual feelings for her Trainer?" Mejiro McQueen's eyes widened. "Let me say first, I won't support Teio in this! Because Dober also—"
"I know, and not just Dober-senpai."
Tokai Teio pouted.
"Then you still...?"
Mejiro McQueen frowned. She, for one, couldn't accept this.
"I've just made up my mind." Tokai Teio was helpless. "I've known Trainer from the very beginning, and it's not like I haven't compared him to others. How can anyone not see that Trainer is better? In every aspect, except for not being exclusive."
"Then is Teio planning to keep dragging this out?" Mejiro McQueen blinked. "According to Teio's meaning, shouldn't you be taking the initiative now? Since he's already not exclusive, one more wouldn't be unusual, right?"
"I don't know." Tokai Teio lowered her head. "I haven't considered that question."
"Sigh~"
Mejiro McQueen looked at Tokai Teio, who was hesitating again, not knowing how to respond,
"If Teio is still hesitating, doesn't that mean she doesn't like him that much?!"
"No!" Tokai Teio immediately denied it. "It's just because I have a race coming up."
As she said this, she realized why she was hesitating—
"I'm worried that Trainer, considering I have a race, would just say things to make me happy to appease my emotions."
"It's better to wait until summer vacation to make a decision!"
She revealed her true feelings to Mejiro McQueen.
"Takarazuka Kinen, huh…" Mejiro McQueen's eyes flickered. "I won't lose to Teio."
"I won't lose to McQueen either." Tokai Teio retorted, unwilling to show weakness. "I'll tell Trainer Shuta my thoughts as the victor."
"Although a guy who interferes with love will be kicked to death by an Uma Musume, I am an Uma Musume, so it doesn't matter."
Mejiro McQueen wagged her finger and puff up her chest.
"Teio, I won't let you win the Takarazuka Kinen!"
"Then try it!"
Tokai Teio clenched her fist.
—
Shuta An returned to the Sadalsuud team's clubroom and opened his computer again, preparing to check the news.
The headline was a report on Mihono Bourbon's Trainer Kuronuma being interviewed—
"Mihono Bourbon losing the Japanese Derby was unexpected, but we will get our revenge in the Kikuka Sho."
"It's a little uncomfortable, but they are minor issues. Mihono Bourbon is very healthy."
"Rice Shower's tactics this time were one-off; they won't work on Mihono Bourbon next time."
"Shuta An's prediction at the time was just a gamble, just like the tactics used in this race."
Looking at Kuronuma's stubborn remarks, the young man smiled happily.
He didn't care what Kuronuma really thought. After all—
"He's just a Trainer who lost the Derby."
Who hates the 'championship-only' mentality the most?
Of course, it's those who haven't won. Many people who claim to discuss the 'championship-only' mentality often become its biggest proponents immediately after achieving success.
As the Trainer who had won the most honors in the entire Central Tracen Academy, Shuta An had the strongest immunity in this regard, especially now that he was on a roll.
However, the young man was not the type to push for a complete victory when things were going well. Kuronuma was just talking big; could he be more annoying than Baffert from the West Coast?
"One day, I'm going to West Coast Tracen Academy and settle accounts with that bastard Baffert!"
Thinking of the chemical enthusiast from the West Coast who forced him to leave his hometown, Shuta An gritted his teeth.
Objectively speaking, if he hadn't left his hometown, he wouldn't have met them, but he still wanted to vent this frustration.
So Shuta An punched the wall.
"What's wrong?"
Mejiro Dober, who was reading in the next lounge, got up and rushed over.
"Nothing."
The young man, who hadn't realized there was an Uma Musume in the lounge, waved his hand awkwardly.
"If Ann is uncomfortable about anything, you should tell me early."
Mejiro Dober was a little worried, so she simply held her lover's hand, sat on his lap, and suggested,
"How about a hug to relax?"