He perked up.
“God knows what schemes this bad kid from Huaguo is cooking up.
I can’t get entangled.”
With this thought, Hara Tatsuo gave Fujimasa March an early whip, wanting to immediately widen the distance between her and Oguri Cap.
Seeing this, Yugi had no intention of letting his opponent off, so he prepared to give an instruction whip, urging Oguri Cap to follow and start.
But the moment Yugi raised his whip, a prompt flashed in his mind.
“Do you want to use Head-on Battle?”
He paused, then smiled.
“Aren’t Oguri Cap and I currently in a duel with Hara Tatsuo and Fujimasa March?”
As this thought appeared, Yugi’s whip swung down, and at the same time he confirmed the use of the skill in his heart.
With just one whip, Oguri Cap’s speed suddenly increased by a notch.
If it were other jockeys regularly stationed at Kasamatsu Racecourse, they would have been thrown off by Oguri Cap’s sudden change in speed during that lightning-fast moment.
Only Yugi possessed enough strength to maintain his balance in the saddle.
Oguri Cap, influenced by Head-on Battle, glanced at Fujimasa March beside her, then focused intently on striding forward, mercilessly overtaking her fellow gray Uma Musume opponent.
“From now on, I won’t give you any chances!” As they turned into the bend, Yugi turned his head and glanced at Hara Tatsuo and Fujimasa March, who were two horse lengths away, muttering to himself.
===
When Yugi met Oguri Cap the next day, the young trainer unexpectedly found her avoiding his gaze.
“What’s going on?” He was puzzled.
“After winning the race yesterday, I shouldn’t have said anything else besides saying I wanted to visit her home with her and Berno Light, right?”
Unable to figure out the reason, Yugi could only suppress his doubts and start leading Oguri Cap through recovery training.
Because she had won the Wakakoma Sho yesterday by a large margin and the race had taken a considerable toll, Yugi knew he couldn’t hastily put her straight into pre-race preparation for the Hokkaido Yushun Himba.
This entire week would be dedicated to recovery training.
After finishing the morning session, Yugi announced his plan to Oguri Cap.
“A week?!
I don’t need to recover that long!”
As Yugi expected, Oguri Cap raised an objection.
But Yugi didn’t intend to change his mind this time.
“The Hokkaido Yushun Himba is held on August 31st this year.
We still have over a month, plenty of time to prepare.
A punch needs to be pulled back before being thrown to have enough power, and it’s the same for an Uma Musume.
Constantly undergoing high-intensity training will only cause a taut string to suddenly snap at some unknown time.”
The name of that string could be “health,” “mental state,” “fighting spirit,” or any factor that supports an Uma Musume to keep striving on the stage.
“So I have the final say on this.
A week of rest is just right.
If you, Oguri Cap, secretly add extra training during this time, then I don’t mind extending the rest period until I believe your body has received adequate rest.”
Hearing Yugi’s final declaration, Oguri Cap extinguished her thoughts of extra training and responded in a low voice.
“I understand.
I will follow Trainer’s instructions for recovery training.”
After receiving Oguri Cap’s assurance, Yugi’s work focus for the day shifted to Berno Light.
He needed to work with the chestnut-haired Uma Musume to select spare race shoes and horseshoes for Oguri Cap, then prepare various supplies for their trip — no, their expedition.
Berno Light was a truly good child.
Although her family owned a sports goods store, she didn’t directly invest the funds Yugi gave her into her own store.
Instead, she planned to take Yugi to browse the sports goods stores in Nagoya to carefully select items.
Currently, Yugi was only responsible for training Oguri Cap.
With Oguri Cap in her recovery period, he had nothing to do at Kasamatsu Tracen Academy.
He simply took time off with Berno Light to go shopping.
Although the level of Uma Musume in Nagoya was not considered top-tier among the various regions in Japan, it was still the central city of the Chubu region, and its tertiary industry was very developed, so there were many sports goods stores.
Yugi drove Berno Light from the academy, deciding to start from Kasamatsu and visit Nagoya in a south-east-north-west direction (Kasamatsu is located northwest of Nagoya).
“Trainer, have you ever properly explored Nagoya?” After the car started, Berno Light asked Yugi, who was focused on driving.
“To be honest, no.” Yugi didn’t look back.
“When I arrived in Nagoya more than half a year ago, after finding my rented apartment, I basically lived a two-point-one-line life every day, just passing the time at the academy.”
“There are many Uma Musume in the academy.
Why didn’t Trainer look for a suitable partner?” This had puzzled Berno Light for a long time.
Yugi pouted.
“If just any Uma Musume would do, I wouldn’t have waited for Oguri Cap.
Berno Light, you should have also noticed that many of the academy’s Uma Musume are just going through the motions, doing the bare minimum. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
They don’t have a passion for racing in their hearts, no fighting spirit, and their minds are full of other things.”
“I don’t want to be responsible for such an Uma Musume.” He shook his head.
“I’m afraid I’d be angered to an early grave in Kasamatsu.”
Yugi was very fond of his own life.
Imagining if most of the Uma Musume at Kasamatsu Tracen Academy were forcibly assigned to him, Yugi was sure that at least one side — either him or these Uma Musume — would be “tormented” into running away.
“But Trainer… Oguri will eventually retire.
If there isn’t a suitable Uma Musume in the academy after that, what will Trainer do?” Berno Light suddenly looked far into the future.
Since she had become a support Uma Musume, Oguri Cap’s retirement didn’t mean she could retire.
Without any surprises, Berno Light would definitely continue working with Yugi in the future.
Therefore, she needed to know Yugi’s plans for after Oguri Cap’s retirement — she hoped he already had one.
“I will go to Central,” Yugi gave his answer.
“After Oguri Cap retires, I will likely have enough achievements to go to Central.
I will choose to be a trainer at Central Tracen Academy.”
“By then, Berno Light, you will come to Central with me.” He knew what Berno Light was worried about and made a promise.
“I will go.” Berno Light breathed a sigh of relief, then changed the subject.
“But first, we need to make Oguri a local star.”
“A local star?” Yugi’s lips curved upward.
“If limited to the Tokai region, Oguri Cap is already one.”
“That’s true…” Berno Light touched her lips.
“After all, Oguri’s performance in the Wakakoma Sho yesterday was quite impressive, mercilessly defeating the Uma Musume from Nagoya.”
“I said I would make Oguri Cap win a Central major race,” Yugi pouted.
“By then, Oguri Cap will be more than just a star in the Tokai region.”
“I want Oguri Cap to become a national star!” If he wasn’t driving, Yugi would have punched the air to show his spirit.
“A national star…” Berno Light closed her eyes, imagining her good friend winning a Central major race.
Her body trembled slightly with excitement.
If Oguri Cap had only won her debut race before, Berno Light might have worried that she wouldn’t be as at ease against stronger opponents.
But after winning the Wakakoma Sho, unlimited confidence in her friend and trainer surged in her heart.
“She will definitely stand on the highest stage!” She whispered, cheering for herself and for Yugi in the driver’s seat.
===
Yugi’s statement that Oguri Cap was already a star in the Tokai region was not false.
After choosing shoes and horseshoes, the shop owners, upon hearing they were for Oguri Cap, all offered discounts.
However, Yugi refused them all.
Looking at the bill, Berno Light showed a very pained expression.
“Trainer, why didn’t you accept everyone’s kindness?
If you had agreed to the discount, we could have saved over 60,000 yen this time.”
“We only won one Wakakoma Sho in the Tokai region, and we haven’t brought any honor to the fans here yet.
It would be rude to accept such kindness,” Yugi explained as he got into the driver’s seat.
“If Oguri Cap had won a major race that all national local Uma Musume could participate in, then I would have accepted their discount offer.”
After all, as a region with a relatively low level of local racing in Japan, Tokai had never produced a Uma Musume who could place in the top three in a Central major race, or even a national local exchange major race, which is one level lower.
“The fans here are very passionate about the Twinkle Series and local races,” Yugi continued speaking to himself.
“But I believe they can be even more passionate.”
“More passionate?” Berno Light was stunned for a moment.
“Does Trainer mean they don’t have an object they can fully devote themselves to cheering for…?”
“Yes.
If a Uma Musume from the Tokai region stands on the stage of a Central or local exchange major race, I believe the fans here will definitely be even more fervent.” Yugi stopped the car and waited for the red light to turn green.
“I have an agreement with the academy chairman.
He is very much looking forward to Oguri Cap becoming an idol of Kasamatsu.”
“And I will set my goal even higher than the chairman’s.”
Yugi glanced at the crowd outside the car window.
“I want everyone in the Tokai region to cheer for Oguri Cap.”
“The Tokai region—” For Berno Light, who was born and raised there, Yugi’s goal made her excited just by imagining it in her mind.
“If Oguri is anticipated by everyone, then as her support, I will also bring glory to my ancestors,” she thought.
Yugi noticed Berno Light’s expression in the rearview mirror, raised an eyebrow, and said nothing.
After winning the Wakakoma Sho, Oguri Cap’s popularity at Kasamatsu Tracen Academy soared.
Although she was famous before, few Uma Musume in the academy were her fans. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
But since Oguri Cap crossed the finish line with a huge lead yesterday, everyone in the academy started flocking to her.
The main reason was that Uma Musume who could challenge and succeed in Nagoya from Kasamatsu Tracen Academy were truly rare, and someone like Oguri Cap, who won an OP race, was even rarer among the rare.
“Maybe she’ll transfer to Central in the second half of the year.
It’s a good opportunity to get to know her now, and it’ll be good material for conversation later.” This kind of talk was popular in the academy.
Hearing such remarks, Kitahara frowned.
He looked worried, sitting at his desk, not even touching a single race report.
When Shibasaki noticed his behavior, he scoffed.
“Kitahara, have you finished your work?
Is this your work attitude after getting Fujimasa March’s approval?”
Kitahara, who had come back to his senses, shook his head and explained with a wry smile, “I just heard some rumors in the academy and am worried about Yugi-san.”
“Worried about what?” Shibasaki didn’t quite understand.
“The Uma Musume he trains just won the Wakakoma Sho.
He’s probably the most successful person in the academy right now.
What’s there to worry about?”
“But Yugi-san is only responsible for one Uma Musume, Oguri Cap.
If she transfers to Central…” Kitahara said up to this point, and Shibasaki fully understood.
He also frowned.
“If that happens, Yugi-san won’t be able to follow her to Central.”
“Yes, the Central trainer exam is only once a year, in June.
Unless Oguri Cap delays her transfer until June next year, Yugi-san will definitely face the situation of losing Oguri Cap,” Kitahara shrugged.
“I don’t know if Yugi-san has considered this aspect.”
“You two are so close, why don’t you just ask him?” Shibasaki smiled.
“I’ll find an opportunity to ask later,” Kitahara nodded.
Tokyo.
In the student council office of Central Tracen Academy, the current student council president, Symboli Rudolf, was browsing the latest national race news from the URA Association.
“It feels like there’s nothing new,” Maruzensky, who liked to come over and join the fun when she had nothing to do, sat on the sofa and looked at the parts Symboli Rudolf hadn’t seen yet.
“These things aren’t made for your entertainment,” Symboli Rudolf read the part about the Tokai region while retorting.
“If you find it uninteresting, Maruzensky, you can give me those few pages in your hand.
I’m almost done here.”
“No way,” Maruzensky pouted.
“Unless Rudolph, you come for a drive with me.”
Hearing “drive,” Symboli Rudolf’s ears twitched.
She didn’t want to be tricked into a drive by Maruzensky again; it was an extreme challenge to her physiology and quite a workout for her heart.
So she refocused her attention on the news report.
“Yesterday’s Wakakoma Sho, the winner wasn’t a Uma Musume from Nagoya after all.
That’s really a surprise.
This should be the first time a Uma Musume from Kasamatsu has won the Wakakoma Sho, right?” Symboli Rudolf muttered to herself, glancing at the winning Uma Musume’s information.
“Oguri Cap, how unexpected, a gray Uma Musume,” she whispered.
“Everyone says gray Uma Musume can’t run fast, and there are indeed no gray Uma Musume G1 winners right now, but I don’t think it should be… Eh?!”
Symboli Rudolf cried out when she noticed Oguri Cap’s trainer.
“What is it, what is it?” Maruzensky grinned and leaned closer.
“Rudolph, did you find something interesting?”
“It’s nothing interesting,” Symboli Rudolf pouted and moved back a bit, creating more distance between herself and Maruzensky.
“I just saw an unexpected name.”
“That Chinese trainer from the West Coast?” Maruzensky glanced casually and saw Yugi’s name.
“Speaking of which, wasn’t it Rudolph who recommended him to Kasamatsu?”
“I asked Kasamatsu Tracen Academy to take him in, and I didn’t expect him to achieve results in just half a year,” Symboli Rudolf narrowed her eyes.
“I’ll keep an eye on where this gray Uma Musume named Oguri Cap’s next race will be.
If there’s an opportunity, I might go see it live.”
“Oh?
Then I want to go too!” Maruzensky raised her hand.
“If Rudolph, you don’t take me, I’ll drag Tokai Teio around to find you!”
“I’ll take you.
Don’t tell Tokai Teio about this, or she’ll start making a fuss again,” Symboli Rudolf sighed.