After the morning's simulated tests concluded, Yuzuki led Fujimasa March back to the meeting room to rest.
"Trainer, it's still early... is it really okay to stop training now?"
Fujimasa March looked uneasy. She was used to pushing herself until she collapsed.
"I need to finalize your training schedule first," Yuzuki said, his expression turning serious. "So, tell me, Fujimasa... what is your goal? What is your dream?"
He leaned forward, locking eyes with her. "I will decide your race schedule and training intensity based on your answer."
Fujimasa March furrowed her brows, staring back at him.
"My dream used to be winning the Tokai Derby," she began. "But after that last race, I realized there's a new figure standing in my path."
She paused, her fingers tightening into a fist.
"It might be arrogant of me, but I want to chase Oguri Cap. I want to get stronger... and if possible, I want to face her on the track one more time."
Yuzuki's lips curled into a slight smile. That was the Fujimasa March he expected.
"Chasing Oguri Cap won't be easy. I don't want to discourage you, but now that she's reached Central, her growth will be terrifying."
"What is there to fear?" Fujimasa March's face flushed slightly, but she tilted her chin up with forced confidence. "Trainer Yuzuki will help me, won't he?"
"Fair enough. I know your goal now. So, let me tell you mine."
Yuzuki found her rare display of playfulness amusing. Usually, she was all business.
"If your goal is Oguri Cap, then the Tokai Derby isn't enough. Sooner or later, you'll have to enter the Twinkle Series."
In the world of Japanese Uma Musume racing, events were divided into G1, G2, G3, and lower-tier Open races. The G-series represented Graded Stakes. As the name implied, the prize money was astronomical. G1 races were the pinnacle, with purses reaching as high as 100 million yen.
But G1 races weren't just about the money. They were about prestige. For an Uma Musume, the ultimate honor... the dream they would give their lives for... was the Classic Triple Crown.
The Triple Crown consisted of three G1 races: the Satsuki Sho, the Japan Derby, and the Kikuka-sho.
Even though there were as many Uma Musume as there were stars in the sky, only a handful in history had ever claimed the Triple Crown. Each one was a legend standing at the peak of the racing world.
The difficulty was staggering.
From a distance perspective, the races spanned 2,000 meters, 2,400 meters, and 3,000 meters. It required mastery over both middle and long distances.
From a locational perspective, they were held at three different major tracks: Fuchu, Kyoto, and Nakayama. The Satsuki Sho and Kikuka-sho were right-handed courses, while the Derby was left-handed. To win all three, an Uma Musume had to be the most versatile athlete in the country.
Then there was the schedule. The Japan Derby followed shortly after the Satsuki Sho. Then, there was a five-month gap before the Kikuka-sho. Some thought five months of rest was a blessing.
In reality, it was a curse. Too many variables could change in five months. You couldn't just stop training. Sudden injuries, shifts in physical condition, or the rapid growth of rivals often saw "Two-Crown" winners fall at the final hurdle.
To achieve an Undefeated Triple Crown, one had to win the trial races and other Graded Stakes in between. It required insane durability and an unbreakable mental state.
Most importantly, an Uma Musume could only attempt the Classic Triple Crown once in her life... during her second year after debuting. This was known as the Classic Year. If you missed it, the door closed forever.
Normally, Yuzuki would have slotted the Triple Crown into her schedule immediately. But he couldn't.
He had to give up on it.
Not because Fujimasa March lacked the talent, but because she lacked the eligibility.
The URA Uma Musume Association had a draconian rule: anyone wishing to enter the Classic Triple Crown had to register two years in advance. There were no late entries allowed.
Yuzuki knew Fujimasa March hadn't registered. She was a Regional trainee; the thought of the Central Triple Crown hadn't even been on her radar back then.
'The higher-ups at the Association must have been kicked in the head by a horse,' Yuzuki thought. He couldn't fathom how anyone could come up with such a stupid rule.
He knew that eventually, because of Oguri Cap, the Association would realize how absurd this was. But for now, the old fossils in charge were stubborn. It would take years for them to change it.
Since the Triple Crown was off the table, and races like the Osaka Hai or Tenno Sho (Spring) were too close for her current condition, their options were limited. The Takarazuka Kinen was a possibility, but that required a massive fan vote.
Training was a gradual process. They only had a few months. Subtracting the time needed for trial races, they were spread thin.
More importantly, the competition was fierce. If Yuzuki remembered correctly, the current monster of the track was the "White Lightning"... Tamamo Cross.
The strongest Uma Musume in Japan.
Even Oguri Cap would likely hit a wall against her right now.
Expecting Fujimasa March to beat those titans after only two or three months of training was a fantasy... unless she was a literal god.
The best strategy was to "farm" and grow in the shadows. If they could drag the competition into the late game, they had a chance.
"Alright, here is the plan," Yuzuki said. "First, we undergo systematic training. We'll run some domestic races to build your strength and experience. Then, we set our sights on the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October. Next year, we take the Tenno Sho (Spring)."
If they couldn't have the Triple Crown, they would take the next best thing.
"Fujimasa, considering our situation, let's start with a small goal... the Tenno Sho Spring and Autumn Double."
"Okay... wait, what?"
Fujimasa March froze. "Trainer! You said Central Graded Stakes! How did we jump straight to winning back-to-back Tenno Sho titles?!"
"It's fine, Fujimasa. To the current you, a normal G1 and a Tenno Sho Double are equally distant. We might as well aim high. It's better for motivation."
Yuzuki spoke with the calm confidence of a man who had already seen the future.
"You just focus on training and running. Leave everything else to me." He smiled, patting his chest.
"What kind of logic is that?" Fujimasa March muttered, though a fire began to kindle in her eyes. "You make it sound so simple... but fine. A goal like that actually gets my blood pumping. You really are something else, Trainer."
***
Tokyo. Central Tracen Academy Cafeteria.
Mountains of empty bowls were stacked high on a table, a silent testament to a truly monstrous appetite.
Beside the ceramic towers sat Oguri Cap. Having recently arrived at Central, her first priority had been finding the cafeteria. Her stomach was visibly bulging, yet her arms moved like a blur, sweeping food into her mouth at a rhythmic, terrifying pace.
She barely chewed. The food seemed to vanish into a void, making one wonder if her stomach was connected to another dimension.
As she cleared the final bowl, Oguri leaned back with a sigh of pure bliss.
"I haven't eaten this well in a long time. As expected of Central... they really are powerful."
She looked at the empty table, her expression softening. "I wish Fujimasa and the others could have come too."
Thinking of her friends in Kasamatsu made her heart ache.
So, she did the only thing she knew how to do. She turned her sorrow into hunger.
"Excuse me! I'll have another round of everything I just ate!"
"Ah... no! Please, no more!"
A scream echoed through the cafeteria... a herald of the dark days ahead for the kitchen staff.