"Oguri, this way."
Fujiwara Chiya called out to Oguri Cap, who had been drawn in by the roasted sweet potatoes on the roadside.
The two of them were heading to Tokyo Racecourse. The man Fujiwara Chiya had met last time was Oguri Cap's local trainer, someone she owed a great deal to. Oguri Cap wanted to meet him.
"Trainer Chiya, after not coming out to Tokyo for a few weeks, the temptations have increased again."
Oguri Cap wiped the drool from her mouth.
"This scent is the ultimate fragrance that comes from perfect timing and heat. If eaten at this moment, one can taste the finest roasted sweet potato. The sweetness inside has been perfectly drawn out, and when chewed, the soft, sticky texture will wrap around the tongue…"
As she spoke, Oguri Cap's drool started flowing again.
There was no need to guess. This silly roe deer definitely had not brought any money. Otherwise, she would have already gone to buy some.
Forget it. Since the two of them were friends, Fujiwara Chiya would cover her this once.
"Two… no, three, please."
He said this to the old man selling roasted sweet potatoes.
"Here you go!"
"Trainer Chiya!"
Oguri Cap's eyes shone as she received one.
"You really are a good person. I haven't gone out much recently, so I forgot to bring money. The last time was when I went out with Seeking the Pearl. I won a pack of tissues in the shopping street. The taste was honestly average. Mm… roasted sweet potatoes really are the best!"
"If you're comparing them to tissues, then yes, they're absolutely amazing…"
Fujiwara Chiya blew on his sweet potato and took a bite. The fragrant sweetness rushed straight into his nose.
"What's the relationship between your current trainer, Musaka Ginjirō, and your former trainer?"
"Uncle and nephew, I think. Trainer Kitahara calls Trainer Musaka 'Roppei.'"
Oguri Cap stuck out her tongue because of the heat, but her eating speed did not slow at all.
"Trainer Chiya, you keep going to the racetrack. Are you preparing for the next race?"
"Mm. I'm studying their running methods."
"In that case, I recommend looking at Trainer Musaka's training notes. I often see him writing things in them."
"Those are a senior trainer's notes. Would I even be able to borrow them?"
"I think it should be fine. Trainer Musaka often lets us look at his notes and race videos. If Trainer Chiya needs them, I can help you get them."
"Really? Then I'll leave it to you, Oguri."
"It's nothing. Shirayuki often brings me sweets, so I want to help her with training too. I believe that one day, Shirayuki will become an incredible ea… I mean, an incredible uma musume."
Oguri Cap nearly said "eater" out loud.
Her gaze shifted toward the half-roasted sweet potato in Fujiwara Chiya's hand.
"Want more?"
"Sorry. I woke up too late this morning. I should have eaten a few kilograms of noodles first."
She opened her mouth and directly devoured the half that Chiya handed over, even licking the man's fingers along the way, completely ignoring his wide-eyed stare.
"Trainer Fujiwara? Isn't that Trainer Fujiwara!"
A familiar voice came from ahead.
Kitahara Joe waved in greeting.
"What a coincidence, we meet again."
"Hello."
Oguri Cap turned her head. She stretched her neck, and her cheeks, which had been puffed up like a hamster's, immediately flattened. The remaining half of the sweet potato was swallowed straight into her stomach.
"Kitahara…"
"Oguri? Why are you here!?"
"I heard from Trainer Chiya that you were here, so I came to see you."
Kitahara Joe's expression turned awkward.
"I only came here to study. I was thinking of staying for a while and leaving without disturbing you…"
Kitahara Joe scratched his head, then glanced at Fujiwara Chiya.
"Let's find somewhere to talk."
It was not good to keep standing in front of the racecourse gate, so they went to a nearby sushi restaurant. When Fujiwara Chiya had come with Tazuna for their outing before, it had also been this place.
"Have you eaten? Last time, I ordered a few pieces of sushi here. The taste was really good."
"This one looks very good, Kitahara."
"Then let's order one. What about Trainer Fujiwara?"
"I'll have a sandwich."
"Okay. Waiter…"
With a sliding sound, the door opened again.
Two people walked in from outside.
Kitahara Joe instinctively looked over. The moment he saw the old man in front, his words were instantly forced back down.
Kitahara Joe quickly turned around and lowered his head.
Hm?
What's wrong with him?
Seeing how nervous he looked, Fujiwara Chiya also looked toward the entrance.
Immediately afterward, he saw the middle-aged man in a suit.
Nase Hideto!?
Why is he here?
Fujiwara Chiya's heart jolted, and he immediately slumped onto the table and pretended to be dead.
Oguri Cap blinked. She did not understand what these two trainers were doing.
At the same time, the voices from the entrance reached their ears.
"I didn't expect you to have the leisure to invite me out, Nase."
"I wanted to meet an old friend."
"That might be the funniest joke I've heard this year."
After the two of them were led away by the waiter, Fujiwara Chiya and Kitahara Joe finally rose from the table. Both of them let out long breaths.
Last time, Fujiwara Chiya had beaten Nase Hideto badly in the dojo. Even now, he did not dare meet him again. He even felt a little awkward talking to Nase Ayano, always looking elsewhere whenever he spoke to her.
As for Kitahara Joe, he had failed last year's Central trainer exam. Now he had no face to meet his uncle, who worked as a senior trainer at Central.
"Um… let's eat quickly. There's still a race later."
"Agreed. The sooner we eat, the sooner we leave."
While eating, the two of them pricked up their ears and secretly listened to the conversation between the other two.
"Say it, Nase. You definitely didn't call me here just for fun."
Musaka Ginjirō set down his cane and spoke irritably. His grudge with Nase Hideto had lasted for a long time. It was not only because their training philosophies clashed, but also because their uma musume often raced against each other, fighting to a standstill again and again. Nase Hideto could be considered his sworn rival.
For him to suddenly call him out today, there was definitely nothing good about it.
"Old man, won't you have a drink first?"
"No. I'm afraid I'll get worked up and beat you up."
"Looks like you still remember what happened in the past. But someone has already taught me a lesson in your place, so let's talk business."
Hearing that from the next table, Fujiwara Chiya almost choked.
He probably would not be able to visit Ayano's house anymore.
"Joint training. Old man, have you heard of it?"
"What joint or not joint? Speak plainly."
"Multiple trainers training a single uma musume at the same time, each using their own field of expertise, covering each other's weaknesses, and maximizing training efficiency. For trainers, an uma musume's honor is their honor, and their promotion also depends on the uma musume's victories. But if multiple trainers train her at the same time, later evaluation becomes difficult. So this can be considered sacrificing the trainer's own interests to create opportunities for the uma musume."
Nase Hideto said seriously,
"If two or more senior trainers conduct special training for an uma musume at the same time, they can absolutely create a training plan that develops her body to its limit and fully releases her potential. That is why I want to invite you to train together with me."
"I see. You found an uma musume you have your eye on, didn't you?"
"Mm. If you're willing to help me, I agree to count that child's results under your name as well. An internationally famous race. Even Central would definitely treat that carefully. It wouldn't be a loss for you either."
"It certainly wouldn't be a loss. But I refuse."
"May I ask why?"
"Because I hate you. I hate both you and your necktie."
Listening to their voices from the other side, Kitahara Joe swallowed. It was his first time hearing Roppei speak so harshly.
Fujiwara Chiya held his chin, considering the possibility that the other man had mentioned, combining the specialties of different trainers.