Chapter 125. The Coincidence
The day before the Japan Cup, even though no one from Team Sadalsuud would be racing this year, Shuta An still booked a top-floor box at Tokyo Racecourse in advance.
Since there was no need to cheer from the stands for any specific Uma Musume, he chose the best viewing location instead.
As for the girls attending the race, besides the members of Team Sadalsuud who were available, Shuta An also allowed them to bring guests.
"But let's agree on this first: two seats per person."
Any more than that, and the box would become too crowded to enjoy the race properly.
The reason he allowed outsiders was actually part of a careful calculation.
Kurofune would definitely invite Curren Chan, and once Curren Chan had the chance, she would surely find a way to bring Admire Vega along.
Shuta An had spent half a week thinking about Admire Vega's strange change in personality, but he still could not find the answer.
So he decided to take a more direct route.
He would contact Admire Vega privately and observe her up close.
As expected, Curren Chan lived up to his expectations and successfully invited Admire Vega to watch the Japan Cup on Sunday.
This year's commander-in-chief in the Japan Cup lineup was naturally Mejiro McQueen from Team Spica.
Before the race, almost everyone believed she would win.
After all, just look at the foreign Uma Musume entered in the field—
RockHopper, with three G2 victories in Europe and a career-best second-place finish in a G1.
DrumTaps, whom Shuta An had once faced in the Dream World, but at this point still had only one G2 and one G3 win in Europe.
Terimon, who had pulled off an upset victory in this year's British International Stakes.
GoldenPheasant, last year's Arlington Million winner.
MagicNight, who finished second in this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
ShaftesburyAvenue, a mare with six G1 wins who had fallen into a slump this year.
And RoughHabit, who had strung together eight straight wins this year but still lost by five and a half lengths when leading.
Against that lineup, Mejiro McQueen, with home-field advantage on her side, was naturally highly favored.
Everyone planning to watch the race met at the main gate of Tokyo Racecourse.
Originally, Shuta An had planned to go alone, but Silence Suzuka strongly insisted on coming too.
"Oguri-senpai and the others are going to Kasamatsu to check on this year's progress there. I don't have anything to do at home anyway, so I might as well watch the Japan Cup with you," she said, and her reason was perfectly sound. "And cheer for McQueen-chan too."
"Alright."
Shuta An had no reason to refuse.
Even though he already knew that, if the real world did not deviate from the Dream World, the girls would likely be disappointed today.
Mejiro McQueen did not just fail to win; she did not even make the top three.
Her strength over long distances was beyond question, but her performance weakened noticeably once the race distance shortened.
It was also because Tokai Teio defended the Japan Cup in her second year in the Dream World that she completely eclipsed Mejiro McQueen in terms of prestige.
McQueen's supporters had only been able to argue that Teio never ran the Spring Tenno Sho.
But once Teio won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, all such doubts disappeared.
As expected, Shuta An and Silence Suzuka reached the meeting point first.
After waiting nearly half an hour, the other girls from Team Sadalsuud and their friends gradually arrived one after another.
"If everyone's here, let's go."
Since everyone attending besides Admire Vega had already met before, there was no need for introductions.
Shuta An walked at the front in a cheerful mood and led the way.
Silence Suzuka did not follow immediately.
Instead, she looked at Admire Vega with a flicker of surprise in her eyes, followed by a trace of thoughtfulness.
She understood why her lover had allowed the younger girls to bring friends to the race today.
"Is it because of her?"
Admire Vega also noticed Silence Suzuka.
When she came beside her, she stopped and bowed slightly.
"Hello, senpai."
"Eh?" Curren Chan blinked in surprise. "Ayabe-chan and Suzuka-senpai know each other?"
"Not really know each other," Silence Suzuka replied. "I've just often seen her during my morning training on the track these past few months."
Admire Vega was, in truth, quite surprised herself.
She had agreed to come today on her own, but meeting such a formidable senior from the training grounds had caught her off guard.
It was just that her expression rarely changed much, so she still looked calm on the surface.
Could this be the trainer's intention?
She immediately dismissed the idea.
After all, the senior in front of her, Silence Suzuka, had never spoken to her before.
It could only be described as a coincidence.
Once they reached the box, Curren Chan quickly noticed that the atmosphere had become a little subdued.
So she took the initiative to liven things up.
"Curren just found out that Ayabe-chan and Suzuka-senpai often meet on the training grounds."
"Ah?" Shuta An was startled.
He had only learned about it from Curren Chan just now.
As the others joined in, the conversation gradually became more energetic, shifting to Tracen Academy training and other topics.
It was indeed the right choice to have Kurofune bring Curren Chan along.
Shuta An could not help but think that only Curren Chan had the ability to make everyone relax when they were not yet familiar with one another.
If he had tried to handle it himself, it would probably have been unbearably awkward.
He had to admit that he was not good at this sort of thing.
Although the atmosphere in the box became lively, Admire Vega did not participate much.
She only gave short replies when the others addressed her directly.
"Your performance in the mock race was amazing," Agnes Digital exclaimed. "I watched that race too. Ayabe-chan leading the pack was really cool."
Admire Vega's cheeks reddened slightly at the praise.
"Thank you."
Shuta An did not join the conversation.
Before he understood the problem in Admire Vega's heart, he wanted to avoid stepping on any hidden landmines out of ignorance.
So while watching the scene outside, he quietly observed her, paying close attention to every reaction she showed in different situations.
When he saw Admire Vega grow shy after Agnes Digital praised her, he let out a small breath of relief.
At least in that respect, she still seemed like a normal child.