Chapter 59. This is My Tokai Teio! Part 2
As Trainer Ikee had quietly concluded earlier, the moment Tokai Teio swept past Mejiro Ryan on the final straight, the outcome of this race had already been decided.
And Shuta An had no intention of leaving even the slightest illusion behind.
Once they entered the straight, he abandoned any thought of conserving ground along the rail. Positioning no longer mattered. What mattered now was only one thing—establishing an undeniable victory.
His right hand moved first.
Three sharp strikes with the whip landed in controlled succession, each one timed with precision rather than desperation. Immediately afterward, he reversed his grip, lowering his body closer to Tokai Teio's back. His hands pressed forward, guiding rather than forcing, his entire posture shifting as if he were transferring his own weight into Teio forward momentum, minimizing resistance and maintaining his rhythm.
The movement was smooth.
Decisive.
Relentless.
Even though Tokai Teio had already opened a one-length gap over Mejiro Ryan, Shuta An showed no sign of easing up. There was no hesitation in his riding, no trace of restraint.
He bore no personal grudge toward Yutaka Take or Norihiro Yokoyama.
But toward the Mejiro Family—there was a lingering thought he had never quite let go.
Back then, they had asked him to choose.
Between Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio.
And once he made that choice—The Mejiro Family had completely cut off all riding requests to him.
Until now.
—
From the stands, his agent watched silently, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the track.
"So that's why," he murmured to himself. "No wonder he's riding like this."
It was not simply about winning.
It was about leaving no doubt.
—
On the broadcast, the commentators could not conceal their astonishment.
Tokai Teio's acceleration from the far outside had already been intimidating enough. Given his reputation, such a move could still be understood, even expected.
But what truly unsettled them was something else.
Mejiro Ryan.
Mejiro McQueen.
Two of the strongest contenders in this race—one of them a multiple G1 winner—yet on the final straight of Hanshin Racecourse, they appeared almost powerless in comparison.
"Is this what an Undefeated Triple Crown looks like?" the guest commentator said, his voice carrying an involuntary disbelief. "It feels as if he's running on a completely different timeline. Compared to him, everyone else looks—DELAYED."
The live commentator, no longer able to maintain restraint, raised his voice.
"Too strong! This is overwhelming dominance! Without question, the rightful successor to the Emperor! In Japanese racing, there is only one Teio(Monarch)—and that is Tokai Teio!"
Their words echoed across the racecourse.
And in that moment—
They did not feel exaggerated.
—
As the cheers swelled, Shuta An gave a final, light pat to Tokai Teio's hindquarters. His legs tightened briefly against his sides, reinforcing the final push before he released the pressure completely.
Then, with a fluid motion, he twirled the whip once and cast it aside, straightening his body as they crossed the finish line.
His arm lifted toward the grandstand.
His voice rang out, cutting through the noise.
"FIFTH ONE!"
—
After the finish, he gradually tightened the reins, guiding Tokai Teio to slow down. Once his pace settled, he turned him gently, and the two of them began walking back along the track in front of the grandstand.
The tension of the race dissipated.
In its place, there was only clarity.
As they passed, Norihiro Yokoyama approached, raising his hand.
Shuta An responded immediately, their palms meeting in a clean, firm high-five.
"Congratulations," Yokoyama said, though the disappointment in his eyes had not fully faded. "Tokai Teio is truly something else."
"Your timing was excellent," Shuta An replied, reaching forward to stroke Tokai Teio's neck lightly. "If it had been any other horse, I wouldn't have been able to win so cleanly."
Yokoyama shook his head.
"Finding a horse like that is also part of a jockey's skill," he said. "There's no need to downplay it."
He paused briefly, then added,
"We'll settle this again at the Tenno Sho (Autumn)."
Shuta An gave a small shrug.
"That depends. He might not run in it."
He spoke plainly.
"For the second half of the year, the main target is the Japan Cup. Personally, I'd prefer to focus entirely on that."
Yokoyama's expression shifted subtly.
"I see."
Outwardly, there was a trace of disappointment.
But inwardly—the reaction was entirely different.
"If he skips the Tenno Sho— then I have a real chance," he thought, his resolve tightening. "Next time, I won't miss it."
—
Shortly after, Yutaka Take rode over, having crossed the finish line in third.
He let out a small sigh as he approached.
"Our tactics didn't work this time."
His tone was calm, but there was no attempt to hide the miscalculation.
"I expected you to mark me," he continued. "So I planned to have McQueen drift outward on the final turn and block your acceleration lane."
Shuta An raised an eyebrow slightly.
"And you weren't worried I'd go through the inside instead?"
"No," Yutaka Take replied without hesitation. "Because I know how strong Tokai Teio is. And I know you trust his."
He gave a faint shrug.
"You'd rather take the safest path than gamble on a risky one. And in the end—you chose the outside."
Shuta An smiled.
"I just moved a little earlier than you expected," he said. "When I saw Yokoyama accelerate, I knew I had to move as well."
He paused briefly, then added with a hint of amusement,
"I didn't expect you to be the last to react."
Yutaka Take gave a helpless smile. "That's where I miscalculated."
He shook his head slightly.
"I won't make that mistake again."
Shuta An said nothing in response.
But inwardly—he did not entirely agree.
"You probably will," he thought quietly.
—
After returning to the underground passage, Shuta An dismounted smoothly. The moment his feet touched the ground, he was already greeted by Matsumoto Shoichi and Owner Uchimura.
Both stepped forward without hesitation, their expressions filled with satisfaction.
"Too strong," Uchimura said, shaking his head as he extended his hand. "Your judgment was perfect. Accelerating early, cutting through the field, winning by three lengths over Mejiro Ryan—this is something I've never seen before."
He paused, his voice softening slightly.
"I've been a Horse Owner for twenty years. This is the first time I've owned a horse of this level. Let's keep working together."
"2:13.2," Matsumoto Shoichi added. "The time itself isn't extraordinary, but the margin says everything."
He folded his arms slightly.
"And more importantly, the media will finally stop talking about us avoiding Mejiro McQueen."
He then continued, shifting to a more practical tone.
"We've discussed it already. We'll send Teio to Shadai's Yamamoto Training Center for a summer break, and then reassess the autumn schedule."
Shuta An listened, then nodded slightly.
"If the goal is the Japan Cup, I would suggest going straight into it," he said.
"Of course, that depends on the competition at the time. If the field is strong, we still go straight. If it's lighter, we can consider using the Tenno Sho as preparation."
Uchimura nodded immediately.
"That aligns with our thinking," he said. "For the second half of the year, the targets are the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"As for next year—we're considering a full overseas campaign."
His gaze shifted toward Shuta An.
"What do you think?"
"I have no objections," Shuta An replied without hesitation. "I'll prioritize Teio's schedule."
Uchimura smiled slightly.
"We'll also coordinate the race schedule to avoid conflicts with domestic G1 races as much as possible," he said. "We don't want this to interfere with your career."
Shuta An didn't follow that point.
Instead, he focused on something else.
"Next year is his final active year?"
Uchimura nodded.
"We've already discussed it with Shadai. After retirement, he'll go there for breeding."
He smiled.
"That way, it'll be convenient for you to visit as well."
Shuta An paused for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"Shadai is a good place."
And for once—there was no hesitation in his thoughts.
—
When Shuta An woke up the next morning, he did not immediately get out of bed. Instead, he lay still for a brief moment, letting the residual clarity from the Dream World slowly fade before opening his attribute viewer.
The familiar interface unfolded quietly before him, and his attention soon settled on the rewards he had obtained from the previous night. Winning the Takarazuka Kinen by three lengths had brought him something far more meaningful than usual, and even before carefully reading the details, he already had a sense that this time would not be trivial.
His gaze stopped at a newly acquired skill.
"Serious Duel: After entering a one-on-one state in the final straight, increases acceleration and grit. Perhaps useful for touching the Zone."
"'Perhaps,' huh."
Shuta An read the description once more, his expression thoughtful rather than dismissive. The wording was deliberately ambiguous, but the direction it pointed to was unmistakable. Anything that even hinted at interaction with the "Zone" was something that could not be ignored lightly.
"Even if it's only a 'perhaps,' it's still valuable," he murmured quietly. "Anything connected to that state is inherently rare."
As that thought settled, however, another followed naturally.
"But the one who can make the best use of this…"
His gaze lowered slightly.
"—is Suzuka."
The conclusion came without hesitation. Silence Suzuka's running style, her sensitivity to rhythm, and her previous proximity to that threshold made her the most suitable candidate.
And yet, almost immediately, a trace of regret surfaced.
"This would actually benefit Dober more."
The realization was clear, and so was the limitation that came with it.
There were boundaries that could not be crossed, and Shuta An had no intention of forcing something that would disrupt the balance he had carefully maintained.
"What a waste," he muttered, letting out a quiet breath before closing the interface.
—
"Trainer looks like he's regretting something."
Tokai Teio's voice pulled him back to reality.
She sat across from him, finishing a portion of eggs Benedict with a casual expression, though her eyes remained fixed on him with unmistakable curiosity.
"Did something go wrong this morning…or last night?"
"Nothing like that," Shuta An replied smoothly, not allowing the topic to linger. "I just had a very good dream. Waking up from it leaves a bit of a gap."
He did not elaborate further, instead shifting the conversation naturally.
"There are still more than three months until your next race," he continued, his tone returning to that of a Trainer giving instructions. "During this period, you should focus on recovery. Morning exercise at a minimal level is enough. You don't need to push yourself on the training grounds."
He paused briefly, letting the words settle.
"You've already won your debut. And it's summer break. Treat this time as a proper vacation."
Tokai Teio did not respond immediately. Instead, she tilted her head slightly and looked at him with a more thoughtful expression than before.
"Don't you need my help when the seniors are training?" she asked.
"No," Shuta An answered without hesitation. "Suzuka and Dober will handle sparring. You don't need to be involved."
He leaned back slightly, his tone softening just enough to convey reassurance.
"If you want to travel around Hokkaido, just let me know. Your prize money will be transferred tomorrow, and I'll send your share as agreed."
Tokai Teio blinked, then let out a small breath.
"If I keep insisting, that would be rude," she said, sticking out her tongue slightly. "I already have places I want to go."
She began listing them casually.
"McQueen wants to visit Special Week-senpai's hometown. After that, I want to go to Tamamo Cross-senpai's ranch in eastern Hokkaido."
"Tamamo finally opened a ranch?" Shuta An raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "I didn't hear about that."
"It only started this May," Tokai Teio explained. "It's more like a tourist ranch. Mostly dairy cows."
She paused briefly, then added with a faintly mischievous expression, leaving the rest unsaid.
Shuta An, however, did not follow the implication.
"That's not something I should comment on," he said flatly. "Even if we know each other, it's not appropriate."
Tokai Teio looked like she wanted to continue, but before she could, a light tap landed on her shoulder.
She turned around.
Silence Suzuka stood behind her, smiling gently.
"What were you asking Trainer just now?"
"Nothing," Tokai Teio replied immediately, her tone shifting without hesitation. "I just remembered I need to prepare my luggage. I'll go now!"
With that, she left quickly.
—
Silence Suzuka did not take her seat.
Instead, she moved closer and sat beside Shuta An.
"I want to visit Tamamo Cross-senpai's ranch too," she said softly.
"Then go," Shuta An replied. "There's no need to compare yourself to anyone else."
He glanced at her briefly.
"You're already fine as you are."
Silence Suzuka lowered her gaze slightly.
"One still has to think about the future," she said.
"That's still far away," Shuta An replied, not pressing further.
—
A week later, Mejiro Dober finally completed her doujinshi for the summer Comic Market.
"Honestly, this ending feels like it's leading into a second volume," Agnes Digital said, staring at the final illustration. "They only held hands at the end."
Mejiro Dober waved her hand slightly, looking tired but relieved.
"Even if there's a sequel, it won't be this winter. I already used everything I had."
Agnes Digital nodded.
"I could tell. Toward the end, your focus felt like you were racing."
Mejiro Dober gave a faint, wry smile in response, because she knew that observation was accurate.
When she drew the final scene, she had pushed her concentration beyond its normal limits. Without real experience to rely on, she had constructed everything through imagination, refining each detail until her mental state reached its peak.
And somewhere within that process, she had crossed a threshold.
The result was clear, but so was the cost. For nearly a week afterward, she had been mentally exhausted, her thoughts slow to recover.
"You should change your pen name," Agnes Digital added.
Mejiro Dober fell silent, imagining the consequences, then nodded.
"You're right."
—
Meanwhile, Shuta An, who had only a vague understanding of their work, noticed that Mejiro Dober had finally returned to her normal state.
"I was starting to think I'd have to take her to the hospital," he murmured quietly.
The Makomanai Fireworks Festival was only two days away, and that was not something he intended to compromise.
—
Preparations began soon after.
Kurofune, however, had not prepared a yukata. Having grown up abroad, she was unfamiliar with such traditions, and this would be her first time attending a fireworks festival.
The moment the others realized this, Tokai Teio immediately organized a shopping trip.
Everyone—except Silence Suzuka, who was still asleep—agreed without hesitation.
And just like that, they left together.
—
Left behind in the hotel was Shuta An alone.
He watched them go, then let out a long breath of relief.
Shopping with Uma Musume was not something he looked forward to. It was not merely the attention they attracted, but their stamina, their enthusiasm, and their tendency to extend what should have been a short outing into something far longer.
He had experienced it once.
That had been enough.
—
Later, as he sat in the lounge watching television, Silence Suzuka arrived, rubbing her eyes slightly.
"Where did everyone go?" she asked.
"They went to buy a yukata for Kurofune," Shuta An replied.
He turned his head slightly.
"Did you bring one?"
"Of course," she answered. "I prepared it before coming here."
She leaned closer.
"Do you want to see it now?"
Shuta An considered briefly, then shook his head.
"Let's wait until the festival. It'll be better that way."
Silence Suzuka paused, then nodded.
"Alright."
She sat beside him, her posture relaxed.
"This time, I chose it carefully," she added softly, her tone carrying quiet confidence.
"That just makes me more curious," Shuta An replied, taking her hand lightly.
"After the festival, training resumes," he added.
Silence Suzuka pouted slightly. "We were just enjoying ourselves."
"Then let's not talk about it now," Shuta An said, standing and pulling her gently with him.
—
By the time the others returned in the afternoon, the first thing they saw was Shuta An and Silence Suzuka already seated in the restaurant.
Silence Suzuka, who usually ate lightly, was eating with unusual enthusiasm, while Shuta An maintained his usual pace.
Agnes Digital paused briefly upon seeing the scene.
"Impressive," she muttered under her breath.
Tokai Teio led a visibly exhausted Kurofune into the restaurant and stopped beside Shuta An.
"Trainer, do you want to see the yukata we picked?"
"You'll show it at the festival anyway," Shuta An replied. "Right now, she should rest."
Tokai Teio turned and saw that Kurofune was indeed exhausted, so she quickly took her away.
—
"How many did you make her try?" Shuta An asked.
"Not that many," Curren Chan said, sticking out her tongue. "We just visited most of the well-known shops in Sapporo and Otaru."
"Otaru too?" Shuta An paused for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm glad I didn't go."
—
That evening, after finishing his shower, Shuta An entered the hot spring.
Not long after, Silence Suzuka followed, still slightly damp from her own bath, and sat down beside him.
"I want to soak together," she said.
Shuta An let out a quiet breath and sat down next to her.
"Alright."
After a brief silence, she asked again,
"Are you going to wear a yukata for the festival?"
"No," he replied calmly. "I'll wear something easier to move in."
Silence Suzuka looked at him for a moment, her expression shifting slightly.
"I see."
She did not argue.
But the small, quiet disappointment that settled in her expression remained there, lingering without needing to be spoken aloud.
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