Chapter 43. The Hellish Gate Position Strikes Again
"Congratulations on winning the Japanese Oaks with Vega and obtaining the clue fragment MI."
The next morning, when Shuta An opened the Attribute Checker, he was greeted by this message. Unsurprisingly, he showed little reaction.
"ADMI… It can't possibly be 'nistration' after that, can it? Administration? What kind of administration could possibly manage that?"
The young man muttered to himself, unable to make sense of it.
"Forget it. Right now, preparing for the Japanese Derby and the Yasuda Kinen is more important."
Shaking his head, Shuta An got out of bed, washed up, and prepared to head to the Academy early to oversee Tokai Teio and Mejiro Dober's training.
When he arrived at Central Tracen Academy, Tokai Teio and Mejiro Dober were already completing their morning exercises on the training grounds. After clocking in, the young man stood quietly by the track, observing the two Uma Musume during their daily routine.
"Her condition is better than last week."
Simply by watching her stride, Shuta An reached this conclusion.
His confidence regarding the Japanese Derby continued to grow. More precisely, the result of the Derby had never been his greatest concern. What truly worried him was Tokai Teio's physical condition.
"In the Dream World, Trainer Matsumoto told me that Teio's body was practically on the verge of injury after the Derby. Later, it was confirmed that a month of rest would be enough. Back then, I was dissatisfied and felt I hadn't done everything I could."
The young man watched Tokai Teio's figure intently.
"But now, standing in Trainer Matsumoto's position in the real world, it feels completely different."
If winning the Derby only required a month of recovery afterward, Shuta An would consider himself fortunate.
Lost in thought as he stared at Tokai Teio, the young man failed to notice Mejiro Dober finishing her morning exercise and walking over.
Seeing his absent-minded expression, she gave a quiet snort.
While Tokai Teio was busy wiping away her sweat, Mejiro Dober casually stepped in front of Shuta An and firmly planted her foot on his.
Only then did the young man abruptly return to reality.
—
The Japanese Derby gate draw would not be announced until Thursday, so during these few days, Shuta An was merely organizing and revising information regarding the track and potential opponents. He had no intention of holding an early strategy meeting with Tokai Teio.
As race week drew closer, the atmosphere throughout Central Tracen Academy gradually became different from usual.
Although the Takarazuka Kinen and Arima Kinen were both regarded as Grand Prix races, it was obvious that the Japanese Derby occupied a far more special place in everyone's hearts.
"A special week."
Sitting in the cafeteria and feeling the unique tension spreading throughout the Academy, Shuta An casually made the remark.
"Why are you bringing up Special Week?"
Sitting across from him, Nishizaki Ryu immediately became alert.
"She already retired to the Dream Trophy Series."
"Huh?" Shuta An froze for a moment before realizing what he had said. "No, I meant this week is special."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Don't overthink it. Special Week and I aren't even that familiar."
"Ha…"
Nishizaki Ryu's mouth twitched.
"Of course I'm not overthinking it. If I were, I'd be reporting directly to Miss Oguri Cap right now."
This time it was Shuta An's turn to laugh awkwardly.
"For the Japanese Derby, your Sadalsuud Team is the only team among us with a participant. We're planning to use Ann-san's box seats. Is that alright?"
"Of course." Shuta An agreed immediately. "Although if all four teams come, I'm afraid there won't be enough room."
"That won't happen."
Nishizaki Ryu shook his head.
"Not everyone will attend in person. For example, there's no way Miss Tojo will bring the entire Rigil Team."
"That's true." Shuta An dismissed the concern. "Still, when the race actually starts, I'll probably leave the box and watch from the grandstand near the track. It'll just be you all in the box then."
"It won't come to that."
Nishizaki Ryu smiled.
"At the very least, I'll definitely follow Ann-san down to the stands. I think Kitahara and the others will do the same."
Thursday.
One o'clock in the afternoon.
A notification from the URA Association sat quietly in Shuta An's inbox.
Opening the email, he immediately saw the official gate draw for this year's Japanese Derby.
"You Fu—!"
The young man nearly exploded on the spot.
"Twenty Uma Musume in the Derby, and you give Tokai Teio Gate Twenty?!"
He immediately pulled out his phone and sent a message to Symboli Rudolf.
"Please tell Miss Rudolf that I have a very constructive suggestion for the URA Association."
"What happened? Does Shuta-kun have another new idea?"
At that moment, Symboli Rudolf was having lunch with Tokai Teio and became curious.
"Satsuki Sho, Gate Eighteen. Japanese Derby, Gate Twenty."
Shuta An's smile was dazzlingly bright.
"The computers at the URA Association are truly intelligent."
"Since they're so convinced Teio's luck is terrible, I'd like to formally request that they give her the outermost gate again for the Kikuka Sho."
"A Triple Crown campaign with nothing but outside gates."
He paused before adding:
"That should satisfy the Association's desire to create a legend."
"Ah?" Symboli Rudolf was genuinely stunned. "Another outside gate?"
Even knowing that gate assignments were determined randomly by computer, the odds of receiving the outermost gate in consecutive races were absurdly low. She found it difficult to believe Tokai Teio's luck could truly be this bad.
"No wonder Shuta-kun is upset."
She muttered quietly.
"His trust in the URA Association wasn't particularly high to begin with, and now this happens."
Afterward, she relayed the situation to Tokai Teio.
"The outermost gate, huh..."
Tokai Teio dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
"Trainer must be really frustrated."
After all, he had specifically talked about preferred gate positions after the Satsuki Sho.
"But since it's Gate Twenty, there's nothing I can do about it."
The undefeated Satsuki Sho winner confidently thumped her chest.
"It won't be a problem for me." Then she smiled. "I just hope Trainer can trust me completely."
Symboli Rudolf faithfully passed those words along.
By this point, Shuta An had already calmed down considerably.
"I understand." The young man exhaled slowly. "I'll come up with the most perfect strategy possible for Teio."
Just then, a reporter from Twinkle magazine called him for the routine post-draw interview.
"What are your thoughts on Tokai Teio drawing Gate Twenty?"
"The outermost Gate Twenty is certainly not a good draw."
Shuta An paused briefly.
"But Gate Eighteen in the Satsuki Sho wasn't exactly heaven either."
His expression gradually steadied.
"Perhaps this is simply the trial that awaits a Uma Musume destined for greatness."