For Dr. Grace, the news of Oguri Cap's injury cast a heavy shadow over her mood. In her view, the Gray Uma Musu developing suspensory ligant inflammation right after starting a new training plan—no matter whether it was the aftermath of the Arima Kinen's brutal intensity—felt fundantally wrong.
"When Oguri Cap arrives in Arica, 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 ca today to pick up Shuta An and his group.
"They'll be landing in about ten minutes… aning they boarded at midnight Tokyo ti. They really don't mind the inconvenience, do they?" Dr. Grace shook her head but didn't move from her spot.
anwhile, 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 ti I thought I'd never co back at all."
Sitting beside him, Oguri Cap lightly responded, "Ann, are you nervous? If not for , you wouldn't have needed to return to Los Angeles."
"A little, yeah. Going to West Coast Tracen this ti—I'll have to et 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 embarrassnt, but his heart eased a little. When they reached the airport exit, Shuta An spotted Dr. Grace imdiately 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 ti no see," Dr. Grace said, eyes narrowing in a cold greeting.
"Indeed, long ti 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 carry your luggage."
Shuta An grinned, beating Oguri and Berno Light to the punch. "Co on, Dr. Grace, you're an Uma Musu too. Carrying a suitcase shouldn't be tough, right?"
"Uma…Musu?!" Oguri Cap stiffened, instinctively glancing toward the doctor's head—hidden beneath a bowler hat.
"I retired from the Twinkle Series a long ti ago," Dr. Grace pouted. "You can treat like a normal girl."
"'A long ti 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 na 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 Musu, a French Two Crowns Uma Musu 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 treatnt for you."
"But," she continued, "I don't recomnd Miss Oguri Cap entering the academic building. I can't guarantee the Uma Musu 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 soone 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 imdiately."
"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 Musu 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 co back to the West Coast for now. He's already handed off his remaining Uma Musu 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 sothing big was coming, so he wanted to save every yen he could.
"Then co with ," 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 Musu rarely co 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 Musu."
After all his protests, Shuta An still ended up sharing the sa 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 ti difference as soon as possible. Once you're settled, contact —I need to run another physical examination."
"Understood." The Gray Uma Musu replied earnestly. She knew very well that coming all the way to West Coast Tracen Academy wasn't so pleasant trip. I must cooperate properly, she reminded herself silently.
At that mont, 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 so simple odd jobs around our research institute."
But "odd jobs" clearly ant errands. Realizing this, Shuta An imdiately cut in. "Berno should stay with 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 assignnts. If anything happened, Dr. Grace would absolutely bla 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 soone 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 mont."
"Hm? What is it?" He raised a brow. "Need sothing from ?"
"Co with ." 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 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 bla . You agreed to it yourself, Dr. Grace."
She had no rebuttal. With a small huff, she changed the subject. "Enough about . 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 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 ti 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 soone to protect now. I value my life."
"Funny, coming from the guy who dragged out of a gang shootout like bullets ant 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 ," 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 mont he heard those words.
Once outside the institute, he rubbed his chest. "Yeah, next ti she's in doctor mode, I'm bringing Berno or Oguri. That last look could've eaten alive. And if she drugged …that'd be the end. If I didn't even notice, wouldn't that an 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 ," 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 imdiately 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 Musu'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."
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