4: Umamusume: A Trainer Against the Clock!
[4] 4: Umamusume: A Trainer Against the Clock!
[4] “We’re just about done here.
Air Groove, Brian, let’s go to the chairwoman’s office and meet the Trainer Stay Gold recommended.” At that very moment, the “Emperor” whom both Mr.
C.B.
and Kitano had been thinking of—the student council president, Symboli Rudolf—had just finished her work in the student council room and was preparing to head to the chairwoman’s office with her two vice presidents.
Judging by the expression on this flawless “Emperor,” whose every movement carried dignity and whose every word and action showed impeccable composure, Mr.
C.B.
had been right.
She clearly had rather strong personal objections to Kitano, the Trainer recommended by Stay Gold.
Or rather, Rudolf did not object to Kitano himself.
She objected to this sort of backdoor arrangement.
“President, even if you intend to reject Stay Gold’s request, I think we should wait until the chairwoman has met this Trainer named Kitano first.” Vice President Air Groove stopped their seemingly gentle, yet in truth extremely principled, president in time.
Air Groove knew very well that Rudolf disliked what Stay Gold had done, so she merely advised her: “In any case, the chairwoman is the one who will make the final decision.
If Trainer Kitano can pass the chairwoman’s test, perhaps he does have something to offer and isn’t simply a Trainer relying on connections.” “—If that were the case, then Stay Gold would have had no need to make such a fuss with us and bring the matter all the way to the chairwoman.” Though the serious Rudolf sat back down, the faint shadow on her face did not disappear in the slightest as she replied coldly: “I found no information whatsoever on this Trainer named Ryuichi Kitano in URA’s database.
He isn’t even a Regional Trainer.
He is merely someone privately recognized by the Gold Family as a Trainer.
Strictly speaking, he shouldn’t even be called a ‘Trainer’ at all.” “And I don’t have any record of him applying for the Central Trainer exam either, Air Groove.
With so many issues piled together, asking me to believe he isn’t simply someone using connections to get in through the back door is very difficult.” On this point, Rudolf was not wrong at all.
But if Kitano had been present, he probably would not have known whether to laugh or cry—had he failed to take the exam?
On the contrary, he had taken it far too many times in previous loops.
Countless painful, repeated experiences had taught him that with his body, there was no hope of entering Tracen Academy through proper channels.
Since there was no hope, why waste the effort applying again?
Thus, in this loop, Kitano essentially had no records at URA at all.
No wonder Rudolf felt that, never mind his ability to be a Trainer, Kitano did not even seem to have the intention of becoming one.
“I will absolutely not allow an incompetent Trainer to join Tracen.
Tracen Academy has many excellent Trainers.
I believe we can certainly find one who meets the requirements of both the Gold Family and Nakayama Festa herself.” Rudolf’s attitude was firm.
Of course she knew how much help a suitable Trainer could provide to an Umamusume’s emotional state.
But all of that had one prerequisite: that the Trainer’s level was sufficient to instruct an Umamusume.
If an unqualified Trainer’s ability was completely unable to match the Umamusume’s, then his existence would only obstruct, or even endanger, that Umamusume’s development.
A Trainer who did not understand but insisted on giving reckless instructions would always be the kind of existence an Umamusume should avoid the most.
Therefore, Rudolf did not believe she would waver in the slightest.
Even if Kitano and the others passed the chairwoman’s test, her own would definitely not be so easy.
She had to be responsible for every Umamusume.
But just as Rudolf had made up her mind to test Kitano with imperial dignity and ensure he left in defeat, the door to the student council room suddenly opened.
A voice that Rudolf and the others found extremely familiar rang out.
“Correct!
However, if Trainer Kitano has just passed URA’s written test and achieved excellent results, then I believe making an exception would be no issue!” “Chairwoman?” As the student council room doors opened, a petite girl entered.
She looked about the age of a middle schooler, with orange hair streaked by a lock of snow-white, a long dress, and a fan in hand.
Yet the moment this little girl appeared, Rudolf and the others, who had been full of momentum moments earlier, immediately rose to their feet.
Because she was the chairwoman of Tracen Academy, Yayoi Akikawa.
“Chairwoman, you’ve already met Trainer Kitano?
And tested him?” Symboli Rudolf immediately gathered before Yayoi Akikawa with her two vice presidents.
The chairwoman’s words just now had left Rudolf deeply surprised.
Had that Trainer truly passed the test?
“Indeed!
In terms of theoretical ability as a Trainer alone, Trainer Kitano is absolutely outstanding!” The chairwoman openly acknowledged Kitano’s talent.
Her voice was exceptionally clear and bright, as if she wanted everyone to hear.
At some point, the two large characters for “Qualified” had even appeared on her fan, and she did not stint on praise.
“Mr.
C.B.
also thinks very highly of Trainer Kitano and believes his conviction will surely be conveyed to the Umamusume in his care!
I think there is absolutely no problem with Trainer Kitano joining us!” “—Please wait a moment, Chairwoman.
May I ask one question?” At this point, Rudolf could no longer hold back.
Facing the chairwoman, who looked as though she had received some irresistible bribe and kept speaking in Kitano’s favor, Rudolf finally voiced the doubt in her heart.
“If Trainer Kitano is truly as outstanding as you say, then why did he not take the Central Trainer license exam himself?
Why did he instead have Stay Gold pass along the request and enter Tracen through this method?” “Puzzling!
You didn’t know?
Stay Gold didn’t tell you about Trainer Kitano’s physical condition?” However, when faced with Rudolf’s question, the chairwoman was the one who showed surprise instead.
Looking at the three bewildered student council members before her, the chairwoman handed Rudolf the bag she had been holding in her other hand and said: “Inside are some of Trainer Kitano’s documents.
That makes sense.
At first, I had only heard from Stay Gold that Trainer Kitano was in poor health.
But after seeing these documents, I finally understood just what kind of person he is and how hard he has been enduring.” “This is… his hospital record?” Rudolf accepted the bag from the chairwoman in confusion.
When she took out the medical records marked with the name “Ryuichi Kitano,” she felt her chest tighten involuntarily, as though someone had seized her heart.
Suppressing the tremor in her chest, Rudolf opened the file.
The few sheets inside clearly recorded the fundamental reason Kitano had never been able to become a Central Trainer through proper channels.
“Congenital bone cancer—late stage?!” “Shh!
Quiet!
Trainer Kitano asked that this not be spread around.” The moment Rudolf cried out unconsciously, the chairwoman immediately stopped her.
Fortunately, the student council room’s soundproofing was good enough that no unrelated people would accidentally hear it.
But without a doubt, with Rudolf’s exclamation, everyone present understood why Kitano had clearly possessed the ability to become a Trainer, yet had never obtained a Central license.
However, when that mystery was solved, the truth itself was so heavy it seemed to press down on their chests like a boulder, making it difficult for them to breathe.
“Trainer Kitano said not to make this public.
He doesn’t want his illness to affect other people’s condition.” The chairwoman completely understood Rudolf and the others’ reactions.
When she had seen Kitano’s records in her office, had she not reacted just as intensely?
But after that intense emotion, the chairwoman’s impression of Kitano had changed somewhat.
If at first, like Rudolf, she had only intended to reject this unlicensed Trainer recommended by Stay Gold, then now, after Kitano had proven his ability and then presented his medical records, the situation was completely different.
“Touching!
Even while dragging along a sick body, Trainer Kitano still wants to shine with what strength he has, refuse to give up on life, and even train outstanding Umamusume!” As the emotional chairwoman spoke, tears began to gather at the corners of her eyes, and she said excitedly: “Tracen Academy can grant special permission for a Trainer with such conviction and ambition to join us!
I have already decided.
Does anyone in the student council have any objections?” “…If we object after all that, we’d be more like criminals trampling someone else’s dream.” Air Groove also calmed herself and forced out a smile.
Now that she believed their actions would be helping Kitano, she showed a rare enthusiasm and said: “Please rest assured, Chairwoman.
I will pay special attention to Trainer Kitano.” “Me too.” Hearing this, Narita Brian also showed a rare solemn expression and said, word by word, “A Trainer with that kind of conviction is hard to come by.
I’ll visit them more often and give his trainee some guidance while I’m at it.” Very quickly, both Air Groove and Narita Brian cast votes of approval.
Everyone’s gazes focused on Symboli Rudolf, the only one who remained silent, her eyes still fixed on Kitano’s documents in her hands.
However, Rudolf’s expression had gone somewhat stiff.
The further down she read, the more she found that the resolute stance she had held at first could no longer be maintained.
Aside from Kitano’s grave illness, the documents also contained a great deal of personal information about him.
Yet what Rudolf found in those details was, above all else, the misfortune of Kitano’s fate.
Both parents dead early.
A large inheritance left behind, most of it spent on treatment.
No relatives or connections.
Alone, he had endured his illness and finished university.
Three months ago, because his condition worsened, his movement became impaired, and he could no longer even keep walking… If the Gold Family had not “taken in” Kitano and filled in some of the emptiness in his heart, Rudolf felt that just looking at such a résumé, anyone else might have already been unable to keep going.
And when she thought about how she had originally intended to reject Kitano with the “Dignity of the Emperor,” Rudolf felt, from the bottom of her heart, grateful that she had not immediately gone to confront him.
Otherwise, now that she had this file in her hands… she probably would not be able to sleep peacefully for several weeks.
But why…?
Rudolf also felt a faint suspicion.
This résumé, tragic to the point of almost being impossible to replicate, gave her a strange sense of déjà vu… as though this were not the first time she had seen it.
What that doubt brought with it was a strong curiosity about Kitano.
Such a steadfast, strong Trainer—she very much wanted to meet him.
“Chairwoman, I still wish to meet Trainer Kitano.
I have a few small questions I would like to ask him face-to-face.” “—Understood!” Seeing Rudolf relent, the stone that had been hanging over the chairwoman’s heart finally fell.
Without another word, she took the initiative and left the student council room.
…
Less than five minutes later, the student council room door opened again.
This time, however, the first figure to enter was Mr.
C.B.
She opened the door for Kitano, allowing Kitano and Symboli Rudolf’s gazes to collide almost immediately.
The instant Kitano, seated in his wheelchair, met Rudolf’s eyes, she could not help rising to her feet.
Her entire body suddenly trembled as if struck by electricity, and the look in her eyes even scattered for a moment at the sight of Kitano in that state.
“—It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Symboli Rudolf-san.” And Kitano once again spoke the greeting he had said to Symboli Rudolf who knew how many times before.
Looking at the Symboli Rudolf before him, now vastly different from the one in his earliest memories, Kitano felt not only emotion, but even more joy and relief.
Looks like you really did grow up… Rudolf.
As expected, even without me there, you were able to grow into an outstanding Umamusume all on your own.
Facing this Symboli Rudolf whom he had once “neglected,” Kitano’s thoughts drifted far away for a moment despite himself… He recalled what should have been his most perfect loop, and wondered what exactly had caused him to drift further and further away from this emperor back then…