For Dr. Grace, the news of Oguri Cap's injury cast a heavy shadow over her mood. In her view, the Gray Uma Musume developing suspensory ligament inflammation right after starting a new training plan—no matter whether it was the aftermath of the Arima Kinen's brutal intensity—felt fundamentally wrong.
"When Oguri Cap arrives in America, I'll re-examine her myself. I'll stake my reputation on this. Whether or not her injury has anything to do with my research—Oguri Cap must recover properly."
Clenching her fists, she stood at the exit of Los Angeles International Airport, waiting.
She came today to pick up Shuta An and his group.
"They'll be landing in about ten minutes… meaning they boarded at midnight Tokyo time. They really don't mind the inconvenience, do they?" Dr. Grace shook her head but didn't move from her spot.
Meanwhile, high above in the air, Shuta An looked down through the plane window as the city lights of Los Angeles drew closer.
"It feels like I haven't been back in ages," he murmured. "There was a time I thought I'd never come back at all."
Sitting beside him, Oguri Cap lightly responded, "Ann, are you nervous? If not for me, you wouldn't have needed to return to Los Angeles."
"A little, yeah. Going to West Coast Tracen this time—I'll have to meet her." Shuta An shook his head faintly. "It's not like I can boast that I've 'made it.' I still haven't achieved enough to face her confidently."
Berno Light reached over and pinched his cheek. "Don't be nervous, Ann. Oguri and I will always be on your side."
His expression twisted in embarrassment, but his heart eased a little. When they reached the airport exit, Shuta An spotted Dr. Grace immediately and strode toward her with his suitcase. Oguri Cap and Berno Light didn't recognize her, but seeing the white lab coat, they easily guessed her identity and followed obediently.
"Long time no see," Dr. Grace said, eyes narrowing in a cold greeting.
"Indeed, long time no see." Shuta An promptly shoved his suitcase into her hands. "I'll leave this to you."
Dr. Grace rolled her eyes. "Shuta, you really have the nerve to make me carry your luggage."
Shuta An grinned, beating Oguri and Berno Light to the punch. "Come on, Dr. Grace, you're an Uma Musume too. Carrying a suitcase shouldn't be tough, right?"
"Uma…Musume?!" Oguri Cap stiffened, instinctively glancing toward the doctor's head—hidden beneath a bowler hat.
"I retired from the Twinkle Series a long time ago," Dr. Grace pouted. "You can treat me like a normal girl."
"'A long time ago,' huh~" Shuta An repeated teasingly—and Dr. Grace's eyebrow twitched dangerously.
But she chose not to physically discipline the Young Trainer. Instead, she turned toward Oguri Cap and Berno Light.
"Hello, you two. My name is Havre de Grace. I've known your Trainer since childhood. For the upcoming period, I'll be in charge of Miss Oguri Cap's recovery plan."
"Yes." Oguri Cap nodded firmly. "I understand. I will cooperate fully, Miss Havre de Grace."
"Even though the West Coast has many accomplished Uma Musume, a French Two Crowns Uma Musume is still among the top tier at West Coast Tracen," Havre de Grace added, throwing a sideways glance at Shuta An. "Thanks to that status, I was able to secure excellent visiting treatment for you."
"But," she continued, "I don't recommend Miss Oguri Cap entering the academic building. I can't guarantee the Uma Musume there won't get strange ideas."
"Strange ideas?" Oguri Cap blinked.
"Oguri's injured. If they challenge her, she can't accept." Shuta An spoke quietly from beside her. "But yes—Oguri really shouldn't go near the academic building. Running into someone from Baffert's team is always trouble."
"I understand," Oguri Cap replied earnestly.
"I'll watch over Oguri and keep those people away," Berno Light added.
"Good. That's reassuring." Havre de Grace let out a breath. "In any case, Baffert doesn't know you're visiting yet. I only contacted Miss Secretariat. If anything happens, contact me immediately."
"I still think we should stay outside West Coast Tracen Academy," Shuta An interjected.
He looked around, confirming no one nearby was paying attention. "If we stay inside the Academy, I can't trust Baffert. When I left the West Coast, I dealt him a heavy blow."
His frankness made Havre de Grace pat her chest.
"Don't worry. He wouldn't dare. One of the Uma Musume under his care tested positive for banned substances in New York—now New York will be arguing with him for half a year. He can't even come back to the West Coast for now. He's already handed off his remaining Uma Musume to his assistant."
"Is that so?" If safety was guaranteed, Shuta An didn't mind staying in Academy housing—at least it would save money.
It was 1989; the Japanese economy still looked prosperous. But Shuta An had a vague sense that something big was coming, so he wanted to save every yen he could.
"Then come with me," Havre de Grace said, turning and walking ahead while dragging the luggage.
More than an hour later, Shuta An and the others stepped out of the car behind her.
"This is the sanatorium the Academy built last year. It's far from the teaching area, so Uma Musume rarely come here. It's quiet." Havre de Grace looked toward Oguri Cap. "Perfect for a patient recovering from injury."
"Thank you, Miss Dr. Grace." Oguri Cap bowed politely.
Shuta An followed, intending to enter as well—but Havre de Grace grabbed his shoulder. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Huh? Isn't this where we're staying?" Shuta An looked puzzled.
"You're not staying here." Dr. Grace puffed her cheeks. "This place is for recuperating Uma Musume."
After all his protests, Shuta An still ended up sharing the same lodging as Oguri Cap and Berno Light.
Before leaving, Dr. Grace gave them her final reminders. "For the next week, Shuta, you are to rest properly. Miss Oguri Cap, please adjust to the time difference as soon as possible. Once you're settled, contact me—I need to run another physical examination."
"Understood." The Gray Uma Musume replied earnestly. She knew very well that coming all the way to West Coast Tracen Academy wasn't some pleasant trip. I must cooperate properly, she reminded herself silently.
At that moment, Berno Light stepped forward. "So, is there anything I can help with?"
Dr. Grace paused to think. "If Miss Berno Light is interested, you could help with some simple odd jobs around our research institute."
But "odd jobs" clearly meant errands. Realizing this, Shuta An immediately cut in. "Berno should stay with me and take care of Oguri. There's no need for her to run around doing unnecessary tasks."
He didn't want Berno Light being dragged into Dr. Grace's unpredictable assignments. If anything happened, Dr. Grace would absolutely blame him later.
Seeing his concern, Berno Light nodded obediently. "Alright. I'll listen to Trainer. I'll stay here and take care of Oguri."
Dr. Grace subtly pouted. "How petty," she muttered under her breath—but that was as far as her complaints went. For someone she had known since childhood, she simply couldn't bring herself to use harsher words.
A few days later, once they had recovered from jet lag, Shuta An took Oguri Cap to Dr. Grace's research institute. After watching Oguri Cap get led away by staff for her examination, Shuta An—who had planned to head back to rest—was abruptly stopped by Dr. Grace.
"Shuta, wait a moment."
"Hm? What is it?" He raised a brow. "Need something from me?"
"Come with me." Dr. Grace looked around, and seeing no one else nearby, grabbed his sleeve and lowered her voice.
"Huh?" He had no idea what she was planning, but he followed anyway. He trusted her that much.
Once inside her lab, Dr. Grace slipped into her white coat. The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"You really haven't changed at all," Shuta An said, leaning against the door.
"And who do you think made me like this?" Dr. Grace replied dryly. "If I hadn't cooperated with what you learned back then—"
Before she could finish, he cut in. "Don't blame me. You agreed to it yourself, Dr. Grace."
She had no rebuttal. With a small huff, she changed the subject. "Enough about me. Shuta, what have you been doing since you left the West Coast?"
"I thought you weren't interested," Shuta An blinked. "You haven't asked me a single thing since we reconnected."
"That's because hearing it straight from you is the only way to get the truth," Dr. Grace said, staring straight at him. "You know what I'm capable of now."
"Alright then." He shrugged. "Let's start from when Baffert and I fell out."
He recounted everything up to the present—carefully excluding certain details. When he finally finished, he checked the time and cleared his throat. "That's it. Any other questions?"
"I can tell you're still hiding things," Dr. Grace pouted. "But it's probably just your usual nonsense. Do you want a physical examination too? Especially your tibias—they haven't been checked in ages, right?"
"No thanks. I'm not as reckless as before," Shuta An waved her off. "I have someone to protect now. I value my life."
"Funny, coming from the guy who dragged me out of a gang shootout like bullets meant nothing," Dr. Grace gave him a smile that sent chills down his spine.
"You're his junior, and with our relationship, you don't need to thank me," Shuta An joked, pulling a face and winking.
Dr. Grace was silent for a beat—then pointed to the door. "Get out."
Breathing an internal sigh of relief, Shuta An fled the moment he heard those words.
Once outside the institute, he rubbed his chest. "Yeah, next time she's in doctor mode, I'm bringing Berno or Oguri. That last look could've eaten me alive. And if she drugged me…that'd be the end. If I didn't even notice, wouldn't that mean I got taken advantage of?"
That wasn't arrogance—he simply knew Dr. Grace too well.
"Even if her current state is partly my fault, I still refuse to let multiple personalities sleep beside me," he muttered while heading back.
He didn't notice the figure behind one of the institute's windows—Dr. Grace watching him leave.
"Looks like I should start with Oguri Cap first," she murmured after removing her white coat. "I'm curious why she can—"
But hearing footsteps, Dr. Grace immediately masked her expression, lowered her hand, and turned as if nothing had happened.
"Miss Oguri Cap, finished with your examination?"
"Yes! Thank you very much. I hope my results will be helpful." Oguri Cap bowed politely before turning to leave.
Dr. Grace silently watched the Gray Uma Musume's retreating figure.
"Could it be he likes good figures—?" she mused—but instantly dismissed it. "If anything, Miss Secretariat's figure is far more intense than hers."