Chapter 42. The Next Race for the Two
Considering it was daytime, Shuta An finally resisted the urge to flirt with Mejiro Dober on the spot. In the end, the young man finished a day's work with Mejiro Dober by his side.
"Dober needs to gradually get into shape this week. Next week will be the last week, and except for Wednesday, your training intensity won't increase."
Shuta An kindly reminded his lover.
"I understand."
Mejiro Dober replied.
After Shuta An clocked out, Mejiro Dober didn't choose to go home with him—as she just said, because the Yasuda Kinen was next Sunday, Mejiro Dober needed to adjust her condition, and any overly intimate contact could wait until after the race.
After seeing her lover leave the Academy, Mejiro Dober turned around unenthusiastically, planning to go straight to the dorm to sleep.
As she reached the courtyard, Mejiro McQueen called out to her.
"What's wrong?" Mejiro Dober was a little puzzled. "Is there something McQueen needs?"
Mejiro McQueen relayed the content of her conversation with Tokai Teio from noon to Mejiro Dober.
"I know."
Mejiro Dober wasn't surprised. She had already noticed it, and one of the main reasons she took the initiative was to get ahead of Tokai Teio.
"It seems Dober isn't surprised at all; you really knew it all along, didn't you?"
Mejiro McQueen complained.
"I guess I knew it all along." Mejiro Dober patted Mejiro McQueen's shoulder. "McQueen, you should keep this a secret from Teio."
"Aren't you going to consider what you should do?" Mejiro McQueen was a little confused. "Teio is a very strong-willed type, you know."
"I know, but if she's already considering accepting, then the so-called strong will no longer exists."
Mejiro Dober remained calm.
"Forget it, I don't understand you guys. I'll just keep an eye on what new desserts the shops near the Academy have released recently."
Mejiro McQueen sighed.
—
Over the next few days, Shuta An's main job was to rate this year's Japanese Derby.
The young man gave Rice Shower a score of 119 and Mihono Bourbon a score of 118.
This score was very standard and received the agreement of other evaluators, so Shuta An submitted it.
But on Thursday, when this rating was officially announced, another matter grabbed the headlines—Mihono Bourbon had a suspensory ligament injury.
"She really was injured, wasn't she?"
Shuta An remembered Kuronuma's stubbornness two days ago and shook his head repeatedly.
"Let Mihono Bourbon recover well quickly; I'm still counting on her to be a stepping stone for Rice Shower in the Kikuka Sho."
However, this news provoked a reaction from another Uma Musume, which surprised Shuta An.
"When I think that I might have defeated an injured Mihono Bourbon, I feel it's not satisfying enough. I hope she recovers soon, and then we can race again in the Kikuka Sho to decide who is the strongest Classic Race Uma Musume this year."
Rice Shower said when interviewed by reporters at the school gate.
After seeing Rice Shower's statement, Shuta An covered his face.
"Rice Shower, if you say that, Mihono Bourbon's fans will question the value of your Japanese Derby win."
—
As the young man expected, similar comments soon appeared on social media, and Shuta An could only use the Sadalsuud team's official account to block the provocateurs one by one.
"Rice Shower was just a little kind-hearted, why do you have to take advantage of it?"
The young man sighed as he blocked them, looking very reluctant.
In fact, Shuta An enjoyed blocking them.
And while he was blocking these haters, the Sadalsuud team's fans—not just Rice Shower's fans, but fans who supported all members of the Sadalsuud team—were also helping to retaliate.
Shuta An understood the behavior of imagining how a race would have been won if certain things had happened, because indeed, in some races, a different decision by an Uma Musume could change the outcome. However, from Rice Shower's perspective, he certainly wouldn't tolerate these haters.
To divert everyone's attention, Shuta An decided to release two pieces of news to the media—
"Tokai Teio's next race after the Takarazuka Kinen will be the Epsom Derby."
"Mejiro Dober's next race after the Yasuda Kinen will be the Nassau Stakes."
These two pieces of news quickly attracted a lot of attention, and everyone stopped arguing about this year's Japanese Derby—
"Two Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume simultaneously going on an expedition to England?"
"The places they're going this time are quite difficult; it feels like it won't be easy to win."
"The Nassau Stakes might have a chance, barely? If the ground is a bit dry."
"Challenging Ascot Racecourse right off the bat for a European expedition, should I say Tokai Teio's strength makes Trainer Shuta too confident? This challenge difficulty is in 'HELL MODE'!"
"I can't understand why they chose a race at Ascot Racecourse. The Epsom Derby is indeed prestigious, but the difficulty is too great. Tokai Teio's primary task now is to maintain her undefeated record, isn't it? If she wants to challenge a high-value race, going to the United States to challenge the Breeders Cup Turf or staying in Japan would be good choices, wouldn't they?"
"Mejiro Dober has already won the Breeders Cup Turf. If they stay in Japan, then it wouldn't be the Sadalsuud team."
Looking at the discussions in the comment section under the Twitter post, Shuta An smiled helplessly.
If he had complete control, he certainly wouldn't want Tokai Teio to make Ascot Racecourse her first European race; at the very least, she should have gone to places like Sandown to get a little familiar.
But the young man had not refused Tokai Teio's request at the time, so it was difficult to go back on his word now.
"Promises must always be kept." the young man muttered to himself. "However, compared to the Epsom Derby, the Nassau Stakes is indeed a bit easier to win."
—
This week was mostly routine for Shuta An. Releasing the news of Tokai Teio and Mejiro Dober's next races brought a lot of peace.
Kurofune took the opportunity while Rice Shower was at the hospital for a check-up to also get her 'maturation' status checked, but the results were still far off.
"Don't be too anxious, Kurofune. For you, 'maturation' is still a long way off." Shuta An comforted her—though it didn't sound much like comfort.
"Trainer, when you say that, I feel even more disheartened."
Kurofune complained in return.
"Well, there's no rush. Even if you undergo your Full Bloom Stage (Maturation) this year, do I look like I'm in a state to take proper care of you?"
Shuta An pointed to the documents piled on his desk and retorted.
"I'm not in a rush. I'm just curious about my Full Bloom Stage (Maturation) situation." Kurofune explained. "Besides, I wasn't the only one who went for the check-up; Curren-chan went too."
"So, what did she say?" The young man was a bit curious.
"Worse than me. The doctor said children shouldn't aim too high."
Kurofune couldn't help but burst into laughter at the end of her sentence.
"I knew it."
Shuta An wasn't surprised at all. If Curren Chan's results had been more positive, Kurofune definitely wouldn't have told him in this situation.
—
On the weekend, Shuta An chose to stay home this time, inviting his good friends over for a get-together and to watch the races.
This week's major race was the Hankyu Hai, and none of the Uma Musumes trained by the Trainers were participating. Therefore, everyone seemed to have no psychological burden at all.
"Next week is the Yasuda Kinen. Among the teams present, only Miss Mejiro Dober and Ikuno Dictus from our team are participating."
Minamisaka took a sip of sake, then sighed.
"Honestly, I feel like our team is so unlucky. We can usually win regular major races, but once it's a G1, it's over."
"After all, there's a wall between G1 and G2/G3." Shuta An wasn't surprised. "To cross that wall, you need both luck and strength."
"I wish I had luck." Minamisaka shrugged. "But it seems the goddess of luck isn't favoring our team."
"There will always be a chance." Shuta An patted his shoulder. "Dober won't be participating in this year's Mile Championship, so isn't that a chance?"
"That sounds strange, Shuta-kun."
Tojo Hana complained.