Oguri Cap's examination results arrived sooner than expected.
"Japan's sports science may still lag behind, but this level of testing is acceptable. No mistakes," Dr. Grace concluded after skimming the reports. "In that case, the treatnt plan and rehabilitation program I prepared beforehand can proceed as-is."
"I'll leave it to you," Shuta An replied. He knew far too well that this wasn't an area where an amateur should intervene.
"Recovery hasn't begun yet, so I can't give a precise tiline," Dr. Grace added with a shrug. "So, Shuta, don't expect any promises about ti. The only guarantee I can make is this: once healed, Miss Oguri Cap will return to her pre-injury condition. Suspensory desmitis won't hinder her future on the track."
"I understand," Shuta An said. "I'll leave everything to you. I'll use the ti to research outside investnts."
"Investnts?" Dr. Grace's eyes narrowed slightly. "Before that, why don't you visit the Student Council? Get a grasp of the current situation in Arica. Otherwise, you'll trip sowhere unnecessary. And—I believe she has plenty to say to you."
"I'll take that advice," he answered without hesitation.
To him, Dr. Grace's suggestion clearly wasn't her own initiative. It slled like Secretariat's instruction. But that didn't matter. He had no intention of offending either of them—they were on the sa side, after all, and this was their territory.
Leaving the research institute, Shuta An promptly scheduled a eting with Miss Secretariat for the afternoon. The reply ca almost instantly: "OK."
During lunch, Oguri Cap and Berno Light both noticed how uncharacteristically tense he seed.
"You're eting Miss Secretariat, aren't you?" the two Uma Musu asked at the sa ti.
"That's right," Shuta An admitted. "I've already set the ti. I can't keep avoiding her forever."
"Do you want to co with you?" Oguri Cap asked quietly.
"No need." He waved the thought away. "You and Berno should rest. I'll go alone. At worst, she'll mock a bit."
"Even so, I don't like hearing it," Berno muttered. "I hate it when Ann gets treated like that."
"It's fine. I've been teased by her—and other seniors—since I was a kid. None of it was malicious." His tone was calm, almost dismissive. "Besides… who knows? Maybe she'll tear up the mont she sees ."
Both Oguri Cap and Berno Light instantly thought: Not a chance.
At 2 PM, Shuta An stood before the door of the West Coast Tracen Academy's Student Council office. After knocking, a long-unheard, familiar voice called out:
"Please co in."
He pushed the door open. The first thing he saw was Miss Secretariat's back.
"Long ti no see," she said without turning around.
Shuta An didn't answer imdiately. Instead, he sat down on the sofa, adjusted his clothes, and replied slowly:
"I only saw your back."
"Heh. You really haven't changed." Miss Secretariat lightly tapped her toe against the ground. Her chair spun, and when their eyes t, she narrowed her gaze. "Does this count as 'long ti no see' for you?"
"It has been a while since I saw Miss Secretariat," he said. "But I'm guessing you've seen plenty of in the dia lately."
"Heh." She neither confird nor denied it. "If your Uma Musu hadn't gotten injured, would you have ever co to the West Coast?"
"Not necessarily," Shuta An countered—to her visible surprise. "If she had dirt-track potential, I would have co to Arica anyway, to challenge the Arican Triple Crown."
"To challenge the Arican Triple Crown? This isn't France." Miss Secretariat eyed him as if he were dreaming. "Even if there aren't standout Uma Musu on the West Coast this year, talent always erges elsewhere. Arica doesn't have weak generations. The 'talent drought' that happened in France last year simply doesn't happen here."
"Is that so?" Shuta An's tone carried neither agreent nor denial. "But if I have a shot, I'll take it. Whether the Classic Race generation in Arica is strong or not has nothing to do with it. If the Uma Musu I train has dirt aptitude, I'll bring her to try."
"Like how you took Oguri Cap to France? Will you still take the ones you train to Europe in the future?" she pressed.
"Probably not." He shook his head. "If Japan hadn't refused Oguri entry into their Classic Race, I wouldn't have gone to France."
But then he paused—realizing sothing.
"It seems you know a lot about what I've been doing in Japan."
"Is that a problem?" Miss Secretariat replied coolly. "It's not wrong for a senior to care about a junior, is it?"
"Of course not." He almost added, 'It would've been nice if you cared that much before I left,' but he swallowed the thought.
He continued instead, "The main reason I ca is courtesy. And I want to understand how the Academy has changed over the past two years. Also do you have any investnt advice?"
"Need to earn money to support your family?" she asked sharply. "Or are you—never mind."
She dismissed the thought with a shake of her head.
"What you do has nothing to do with . The Academy hasn't changed much. We train Uma Musu the sa way, though I have more influence in construction decisions now. Oguri Cap already has a place to live here. As for investnts…I own a house. Want to buy it?"
"Oh?" Shuta An raised a brow.
But once she gave the address, his expression stiffened—because it was the very house he had once sold in his hotown.
"Never mind. It's aningless now," he said with a shake of his head.
Miss Secretariat's eyes darkened faintly.
"Once Oguri recovers, I'll return to Japan with them."
"You think I'd use my authority to keep you here?" she asked.
"Then I'd imdiately call reporters and expose that I'm being persecuted," he said flatly. "You know you can't keep —as long as those bastards are still on the West Coast."
"You may leave." Miss Secretariat fell silent for a mont, then waved him off. "I look forward to the day you win the Arican Classic Race with the Uma Musu you've trained."
"I'll take your auspicious words," Shuta An replied, rising to depart.
Only after the door closed did Miss Secretariat whisper to the empty room:
"If you can achieve that—I'll finally have the confidence to propose replacing them."
For the next several days, Shuta An's life settled into a quiet rhythm.
By day, he commuted between the temporary apartnt and the research institute; by night, he stayed ho to assist Oguri Cap through her early-stage rehabilitation. His schedule was monotonous yet strangely grounding.
And anwhile—in the Dream World, Shuta An had also arrived in Arica.
The reason for his presence there was peculiar, even by Dream World standards. He had been brought over by none other than Yoshida Zenya, head of Shadai Farm.
It began on New Year's Day.
The real-world Shuta An, preparing for his Arica trip, was staying at Ritto Training Center. Coincidentally, the Dream World's Oguri Cap had also been diagnosed with suspensory ligantitis around that ti. With nothing urgent to handle, the Shuta An of that world wandered aimlessly through the silent Ritto Training Center grounds.
He had just reached Dicta Striker's stable when Assistant Ikee hurried toward him.
"Shuta-kun! Co back with —soone's here for you!"
"Huh?" Shuta blinked in genuine surprise.
It was New Year's Day—no races, no training, and several days before the next race. Logically, no one should be looking for him. He had practically no personal social life in this world. He didn't go drinking with the other young jockeys at Gion, and his circle of close friends was essentially nonexistent.
Because of this, Assistant Ikee had once told him that his peers secretly called him strange nicknas like "Lone Wolf of Tokai."
The only blessing was that the press hadn't caught wind of it. If a race comntator were to shout that nickna during a victory celebration—Shuta could feel the secondhand embarrassnt crush his soul.
"I hope the person looking for isn't here for sothing troubleso" he muttered while following Assistant Ikee.
When he reached the entrance of Trainer Setoguchi's stable, he finally saw the visitor waiting for him.
"Shuta-kun, it's been a while," Yoshida Zenya greeted him with a warm smile. The owner of Shadai Farm, holder of the 'Dyna' prefix, and representative of Shadai Racehorse Club—one of the biggest nas in the industry. "The last ti you accepted a ride from was half a year ago, wasn't it?"
"My apologies. I've had to prioritize Oguri's scheduling, so I've had to decline many invitations." Shuta scratched his cheek, sounding a little embarrassed.
"It can't be helped. Though it's unfortunate that I couldn't have you as Dicta Striker's main jockey because of Oguri Cap, our club will still seek your help if we have promising horses in the future," Yoshida said kindly.
"In that case, if I'm free, I'll prioritize Mr. Yoshida's requests," Shuta replied earnestly.
Once the pleasantries were over, Yoshida Zenya revealed his purpose.
"Shuta-kun, I ca here today specifically for you. I heard from Trainer Setoguchi that you have a sharp eye for evaluating horses. I'm planning a trip to Arica to acquire stallions and broodmares. I'd like to invite you, along with a few colleagues, to advise ."
Shuta imdiately shook his head.
"I'm not very knowledgeable about stallions and broodmares. I'm a jockey—I only understand racehorses."
But Yoshida had expected this and smoothly continued:
"I've considered that. Since this trip will involve long-term inspections, you won't need to be with us constantly. Oguri Cap won't be racing for the first half of the year, so—would Shuta-kun be interested in getting a short-term license for riding exchanges in Arica? I can help arrange riding invitations."
"Short-term jockey exchange in Arica?" The suggestion struck him deeply.
Oguri Cap was resting for months. He had no other main mounts. Teio at Nagahama Ranch wouldn't need him until the latter half of the year. In truth, he had nothing to do.
After thinking it through, Shuta nodded.
"Since Mr. Yoshida has arranged everything so well; refusing would be rude. I have no race commitnts for the upcoming months. The only major event I need to be present for, the Tokai Derby, is in early June this year. I only need to return for that."
"Excellent. I'll take care of the paperwork—Shuta-kun just needs to pack," Yoshida said confidently. "Then I'll be depending on you once we're in Arica."
"I'll do my best. Whether helping with evaluations or racing, I won't let you down," Shuta promised.
And so, soti later, Shuta An arrived in the United States as a short-term exchange jockey.
At this point in history, Japan was still considered inferior in horse racing. That stereotype followed him. Other than the mounts arranged by Yoshida Zenya, he received almost no riding invitations.
His debut race would take place at Santa Anita Park.
For an ordinary local jockey from Japan, Santa Anita's unique course would require on-site observation and several races to adapt. But Shuta An had studied at West Coast Tracen Academy. To him, Santa Anita's course felt more familiar than Kokura or Niigata—tracks Oguri had never challenged.
'If I do well here, I should get more invitations. And if I draw attention, it'll help Mr. Yoshida as well'
Having been given the opportunity, Shuta wanted to repay the favor.
But reality was harsh.
After his first day of riding at Santa Anita, he returned to the hotel, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Tsk…Arican jockeys really are stronger than Japanese ones…" he muttered.
Yet the mont he walked into the lobby, Yoshida Zenya and the accompanying experts greeted him with applause.
"Shuta-kun, that was incredible!" Yoshida exclaid. "You rode four races today, all on the least popular horses, yet you secured two second places and one fifth! You stunned my Arican colleagues. Judging by their reactions, you'll be getting far more invitations!"
"…"
Shuta was completely speechless.
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