"We're only one step away from the Spring Triple Crown now!"
"At this point, isn't there basically no debate left about who the strongest in Japan is? If she can unleash a finishing kick like that over 3200 meters, wouldn't she be even more monstrous at 2200?"
"Feels like the Takarazuka Kinen won't have much suspense at all…"
The chatter drifting in from outside the private room made Teraizumi Shinji pause slightly while he was ordering.
His eyes slid to Saint King Halo beside him. She avoided meeting his gaze, but he still caught the smile she had been unable to suppress.
That was enough to break him.
He reached out and poked her in the cheek.
"If you want to laugh, just laugh."
Halo's face reddened at once. She shot him an annoyed look, clearly wanting to deny it, yet seeming to realize that would only make things more obvious.
Across from them, Offside Trap was blushing furiously too, glaring at him so intently that Teraizumi opened his mouth, then wisely swallowed whatever teasing remark he had been about to make.
His instincts told him the situation was becoming dangerous.
Time to retreat.
He cleared his throat twice, then turned to the server beside them.
"Add an okonomiyaki too."
"Hmph."
Halo made a small sound through her nose. Teraizumi looked over at her in confusion. Her embarrassment had already turned into delight, though she still tilted her chin up and looked away with a clear That's more like it expression.
"Truly the most correct trainer and trainee pair, huh…"
Offside Trap's voice came out dripping with vinegar. Teraizumi shut his eyes hard for a second, then reopened the menu with a sigh and tapped the item beside the okonomiyaki photo.
"And another serving of takoyaki."
Only then did Offside Trap fall silent. Even so, when her eyes met Halo's, Teraizumi clearly saw the sparks between them—Offside Trap's faint hostility, and Halo's unwillingness to back down. Halo's presence was still a bit weaker, but perhaps because she was sitting right next to him, or perhaps because today was her day, she held her chin high until Offside Trap finally looked away first.
Narita Brian, sandwiched between Halo and Offside Trap, wore an awkward but polite smile. She was already exhausted from her student council work that day, and now these two were practically dueling across the table. Since all she really wanted was a peaceful meal, she decided to step in and redirect their attention.
"Shinji-san?"
"Hm?"
Narita Brian gestured with her hands, asking where the cake was. Teraizumi recognized it immediately and lifted a hand ever so slightly, signaling for her not to worry.
He had already arranged everything.
Outside, the discussion still hadn't stopped. Many racing fans had already begun speculating about Halo's future, and before long, those speculations inevitably turned to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Since the beginning of the year, Offside Trap's camp—that is, the schedule Teraizumi had laid out and announced—had clearly named the Arc as her biggest target of the season. Japan's racing fans had poured so many hopes into that race over the years that Offside Trap's participation alone had them counting the days to October.
And now, with Saint King Halo's sudden rise through the spring campaign, people were already imagining what it would mean if she won the Takarazuka Kinen as well. Not only would that complete the Spring Triple Crown, it would also serve as a symbolic stepping stone toward the Arc.
Offside Trap's aptitude for heavy going was already beyond dispute. In the Japan Cup—run on what was practically a swimming pool—she had crushed the foreign powerhouses and taken first. And now, from the look of things, Halo seemed equally capable on rain-affected ground.
If two outstanding runners from the same stable could line up together in the Arc, then surely the odds of victory would rise even further. Fans could relax a little more. And if the two stablemates could even cooperate tactically, then it would be an enormous advantage.
Teraizumi could only say that a lot of those thoughts were, in fact, quite reasonable.
Still, he had no intention of sending two of his trainees into the same race. It was not only because tactics would inevitably clash, but because he truly believed Offside Trap alone was more than capable of winning the Arc.
As for Saint King Halo…
Teraizumi's eyes drifted toward the crest she still wore.
If she were to campaign overseas, America might actually suit her very well.
Thinking that, he noticed Halo staring fixedly at the private room door—as though her gaze could pierce right through it. Teraizumi knew she had definitely heard the conversation outside.
She had always carried a strong desire to challenge Offside Trap; he knew that much. But as far as he was concerned, it would be better for each of them to pursue the achievements most suited to them. He had no desire to end up in the absurd position of planning tactics for two of his own runners in the same race.
That would be like playing cards against himself. Knowing "the opponent's" hand and pretending he didn't—it simply was not realistic.
So Teraizumi tapped the table lightly, drawing the attention of all three of his girls.
"Since there's still some time left, and now that the race is over, let's go over everyone's plans from here."
All three straightened immediately.
In Polaris, or more precisely, as trainees under Teraizumi Shinji, training and racing always came first.
Every girl who had joined him had done so with a goal, with conviction, with dreams. None of them would confuse what mattered most.
"Brian—your recovery really isn't progressing well. You know that yourself, so your mock-race situation still needs to be evaluated."
Teraizumi felt a headache coming on whenever he looked at Narita Brian's case. He saw the disappointment and hurt flash through her eyes, but this was not something that could be rushed.
She simply was not gaining many stats through training. He had briefly considered retracing the path he had taken with Offside Trap and using Vassal Lord to boost Narita Brian's attributes more directly. But after thinking it over, he concluded it was not appropriate for Brian's current state.
"Halo, your objective now is to win the Takarazuka Kinen. Between the Tenno Sho (Spring) and Takarazuka, your biggest task is maintaining your form. As for the rest—training adjustments, refinements, all that—I'll handle it for you."
Halo nodded seriously.
With a new achievement already so close, there was no way she would let her guard down.
Teraizumi was satisfied with her state of mind, and then he turned to Offside Trap. Her next stop was already set: Epsom Racecourse in England—the Coronation Cup, a G1 that would likely not have a huge field, but would certainly feature famous runners.
"Offside Trap."
"Hm?"
"In July, El Condor Pasa is going to run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The race organizers actually sent me an invitation."
At once, Offside Trap remembered the conversation she'd had in Dubai with Montjeu. Her European friend had been adamant that she would "avenge" her, and the memory made Offside Trap laugh softly.
"Let's pass," she said. "Weren't you planning on the Eclipse Stakes all along?"
Teraizumi nodded.
He had only wanted to confirm her wishes; there was no hidden meaning. Unlike Saint King Halo, Offside Trap was a seasoned runner with limited years left in the Flash Series, and he had already begun consciously training her to develop her own sense of scheduling and race planning.
She was a veteran, an experienced horse girl. Once she entered the Dream Cup circuit, there would be many situations where her own judgment and wishes needed to matter. Teraizumi did not believe in forcing everything through according to his own will.
He was not that autocratic.
He let the matter go—and then noticed the dessert cart approaching from outside. The flickering candlelight atop it made him react instantly: he stood and switched off the room lights.
All three trainees sat up straighter.
As expected, it was the cake he had ordered in advance. The fruit decorating it was arranged beautifully, and Halo's eyes lit up the moment she saw it.
"Happy birthday."
As he said it, Teraizumi reached for the little party hat he had hidden away earlier and gently placed it on his trainee's head.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 155)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter200)
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I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter230)
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Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 200
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 180
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/5
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 230
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 220
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/30
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 120
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 135
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 110
I Can Copy Unique Skills 100
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 100
My Harem Is Indescribable 90
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 95
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 69
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 80
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 70
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 75
Checking In in Demon Slayer 80
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 85
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 70
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 65
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 70
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 70
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 65
Why did they assign me to Uma 65
MYGO Beauties 65
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 55
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 65
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 45
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 45
The Uma Musume Who Became 40
I'm Definitely Not the King of 45
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
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