The day after the Makomanai Fireworks Festival ended, Shuta An woke up earlier than usual. The lingering warmth from the previous night had already faded, replaced by the quiet clarity of a new training cycle. He washed up quickly, not lingering in his room, and headed straight toward the hotel's training ground.
By the ti he arrived, Silence Suzuka and jiro Dober had already begun their warm-up. Their movents were steady, neither rushed nor careless, but there was still a subtle stiffness in their rhythm—the kind that naturally followed a period of rest.
Shuta An stopped at a short distance, watching them for a mont before speaking.
"We have three weeks before we depart for England," he said, his tone calm but firm. "During this period, the focus will be on condition adjustnt. The intensity of each session won't be particularly high, but the frequency will increase."
He paused slightly, making sure both of them were listening.
"In addition to morning and afternoon training, there will be an extra afternoon session and a light evening jog. So for these three weeks, neither of you should have other commitnts that interfere with this schedule."
Silence Suzuka turned slightly as she stretched, answering almost imdiately.
"This weekend we're going to watch Miss jiro McQueen's race," she said. "So that day might not be suitable for training."
Shuta An gave her a look.
"Our schedule isn't daily," he replied, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "You know that. It's Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. It won't conflict with watching the race."
Silence Suzuka blinked, then let the matter pass without further argunt.
jiro Dober spoke next.
"I've already finished everything I needed to handle," she said. "There's nothing else I need to arrange."
"That's good," Shuta An nodded. "Then we can focus entirely on preparation."
He shifted his gaze slightly, looking between the two of them.
"Our destination this ti is England. Central Tracen Academy has sent Uma Musu there before, but their best results have never even reached the top five."
He paused briefly, letting the implication settle.
"Our goal is not to surpass their best placent."
Silence Suzuka answered before he continued.
"It's to win." Her voice was calm, but carried a clear determination. "We're going to win a British G1."
Shuta An smiled faintly.
"That's right."
He did not soften the statent.
"Although I have to admit, the turf conditions in England aren't particularly favorable for us, York Racecourse is an exception. As long as there isn't continuous rain for an extended period, the turf there should be manageable for both of you."
He spoke without hesitation, clearly having already analyzed the conditions in detail.
"During that period, York will host multiple graded races. The two G1 races are the core targets. Suzuka and Dober will challenge them separately. If both of you win, the impact will be far greater than simply adding one victory to another."
His gaze rested on them steadily.
"I'll handle the opponent analysis and race planning. What you need to do is simple."
His tone did not rise, but it carried weight.
"Step onto their ho turf—and defeat them."
Silence Suzuka nodded without hesitation.
"We will do it."
Beside her, jiro Dober also nodded, though her expression was slightly different. The mont Shuta An had addressed her directly, sothing subtle had shifted in her thoughts.
"It feels like I'm truly needed," she thought.
That feeling lingered, soft and unfamiliar, enough to leave her montarily distracted even as she continued her warm-up.
After Shuta An left the training ground, Silence Suzuka noticed imdiately. She coughed lightly, just enough to draw jiro Dober's attention, then stepped closer.
"Don't zone out," she said gently. "Finish your warm-up properly. If you get injured, everything stops before it even begins."
"Mhm~ mhm," jiro Dober nodded quickly, forcing herself to focus again.
Silence Suzuka watched her for a mont, then smiled faintly before continuing her own routine.
—
Later that morning, while Shuta An was eating breakfast in the dining hall, Tokai Teio and jiro McQueen arrived at the training ground.
Seeing Silence Suzuka and jiro Dober already jogging, they quickly began their own warm-up.
"Didn't Trainer tell you not to train anymore for now?" jiro McQueen asked as she stretched, glancing sideways at Tokai Teio.
"I'm just doing the morning session," Tokai Teio replied. "After that, I'll rest normally."
She tilted her head slightly, then added,
"Besides, why are you here so early today? Suzuka-senpai and Dober-senpai have already been training for quite a while."
jiro McQueen did not react to the teasing.
"I have a race this weekend," she said calmly. "Trainer Shuta told to reduce intensity. There's no need to overtrain."
Her tone remained even.
"My goal is the Kikuka Sho. I can't risk injury here."
Tokai Teio nodded.
"That makes sense."
The conversation ended there, both of them returning their focus to their own preparation.
—
After a full day of resud training, Silence Suzuka's condition finally showed signs of strain.
When they returned to the hotel, Shuta An carried her back to her room without a word of complaint.
"Ugh…" Silence Suzuka murmured softly, tugging at his sleeve once he set her down. "It's been a while since I trained properly… my body feels a bit slow to adjust."
Her voice was quieter than usual, not weak, but clearly tired.
"Stay with for a bit."
"Alright," Shuta An replied without hesitation, sitting down beside her.
"Three weeks should be enough to readjust," he added. "You'll get used to it."
"I can adjust," Silence Suzuka said, though her tone carried a hint of uncertainty. "But it still feels different from last year."
Shuta An looked at her for a mont before answering.
"After this year, you'll retire from the Twinkle Series and move to the Dream Trophy Series," he said. "You've already achieved enough."
Silence Suzuka shook her head slightly.
"I still want one more G1," she said. "Seven victories. Even if it's not as many as Oguri-senpai, it won't feel lacking within the team."
"You don't need to compare yourself to her," Shuta An said quietly, reaching out to hold her hand. "Both of you are irreplaceable to ."
He leaned forward slightly, drawing her into an embrace.
"For the International Stakes, I'll support you fully."
Silence Suzuka let out a soft breath, then leaned closer.
"This ti we're facing European opponents, on their own turf," she said. "I'm a little nervous."
"They won't be our opponents," Shuta An replied without hesitation.
His tone carried absolute certainty.
Silence Suzuka's fingers tightened slightly around his wrist.
"Then I'll bring you the first British G1," she said softly. "On the final straight at York."
—
After leaving her room, Shuta An returned to his own and spent so ti soaking in the hot spring, letting the tension from the day settle completely.
When he finished, he picked up his phone and noticed a ssage from Nishizaki Ryu.
"Asking about McQueen's condition?" he muttered.
He typed his reply without much hesitation.
"Wouldn't it be better to ask her directly?"
The response ca quickly.
"I trust your evaluation more."
Shuta An stared at the ssage for a mont, then sighed lightly.
"Fine."
He typed again.
"Her condition is good. Today's training included a parallel run with Suzuka. She was about one second behind but maintained control and didn't overexert herself. Her ability to chase is very solid."
After sending the ssage, he set his phone down.
A mont later, the reply ca.
"In that case, I can proceed with confidence for the autumn plan."
Shuta An did not respond further.
But inwardly, he had already drawn his own conclusion.
Everything—was moving according to plan.
By Sunday, the entire group—except for Shuta An—had left early to watch jiro McQueen's race in person.
Only he remained behind at the hotel.
For the others, the current phase of the training camp still allowed for a balance between practice and leisure. They could devote their attention to maintaining condition, enjoying the environnt, and preparing gradually for what lay ahead. But for Shuta An, that period of relative ease had already passed.
There were things that needed to be decided in advance.
The expedition to York was no longer a distant plan; it was an approaching reality.
Even though many logistical matters could be handed over to the LLC left to him by Secretariat, Shuta An had no intention of relying entirely on others. Before delegating anything, he preferred to understand every detail himself.
After contacting Assistant Grace, he requested a list of suitable hotels in Yorkshire.
Once the information was compiled, he went through it one by one, comparing locations, facilities, accessibility, and practicality. The process was slow, thodical, and entirely deliberate.
In the end, his priority was clear.
Proximity to York Racecourse.
Long-distance travel within the UK was not particularly convenient, and frequent movent would only add unnecessary strain to the Uma Musu. With that in mind, Shuta An narrowed his options until only a handful remained.
Among them, one stood out.
Middlethorpe Hall & Spa.
The distance from the hotel to the main entrance of York Racecourse was approximately 1.2 kiloters on foot—close enough to be practical, yet far enough to maintain a degree of quiet and separation.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, reviewing the final details.
"The training facilities are limited," he thought. "There's no full track for running."
That was the primary drawback.
However, it did not take long for him to reach a conclusion.
"Running and chase training can be moved directly to the racecourse itself," he reasoned. "That's not a problem."
If he were to insist on a hotel equipped with a full training ground, the available options would shift toward central York. But that ca with its own disadvantage—travel ti.
"An hour by car, at minimum," he calculated.
For Silence Suzuka and jiro Dober, who would need to adapt to the course conditions as efficiently as possible, such a delay was unacceptable.
"Not worth it."
With that, his decision was finalized.
After sending a few concise instructions to Assistant Grace, Shuta An closed the file, his attention already moving to the next matter.
—
At the racecourse, jiro McQueen's performance unfolded without complication.
Although the field consisted largely of older, more physically mature opponents, she did not falter. From the mont the race settled into its rhythm, her superiority beca clear.
Her stride remained steady.
Her pacing controlled.
And when the decisive mont arrived, she pulled away cleanly, finishing with a margin of three lengths.
It was not a dramatic victory.
But it was decisive.
Back at the hotel, Shuta An watched the broadcast from the lobby, his expression calm as he observed the race from start to finish. Once it concluded, he sent a brief congratulatory ssage to Nishizaki Ryu, then stood up without lingering.
There was no need to stay.
He returned to his room, already shifting his focus to the next task.
Collecting information.
Analyzing opponents.
Preparing for England.
—
When the others returned from the racecourse, the atmosphere naturally carried a hint of celebration.
However, before anything could be arranged, jiro McQueen herself spoke up.
"It's only a two-win class race," she said calmly. "There's no need for a special celebration."
Her tone was steady, leaving little room for disagreent.
"If we're going to celebrate, then wait until the Kikuka Sho."
She paused briefly, then added,
"When that ti cos, I'll invite everyone properly."
With that, the matter was settled.
Instead of a formal celebration, they simply gathered in the dining hall, shared a al, and allowed the day to pass without further ceremony.
—
Afterward, the Uma Musu dispersed for their own activities.
Kurofune, however, glanced around with a slight frown.
"Where's Trainer?" she asked. "I haven't seen him since we got back."
"He's probably working in his room," Tokai Teio replied without much thought. "Suzuka-senpai and Dober-senpai are heading to England soon. Trainer must be preparing everything in advance."
Her tone was matter-of-fact.
"In the future, if Kurofune-chan goes overseas, he'll start preparing just as early."
Kurofune nodded slowly, then asked,
"Is there anything we can do to help?"
Tokai Teio glanced at her briefly before answering.
"The best help is not causing trouble."
She spoke simply, but her aning was clear.
"For now, just train properly and don't get injured."
The words were not originally hers. But she repeated them without hesitation.
"I understand," Kurofune said quietly, her lips pressing together slightly.
—
anwhile, Shuta An remained entirely unaware of their conversation.
He sat in front of his computer, watching race footage from Europe, his attention fully focused on the screen. The movents of unfamiliar opponents unfolded one after another, each race analyzed carefully, each detail noted without distraction.
"The turf at York…" he murmured.
Compared to other British racecourses, it was less extre. The slopes were present, but not overwhelming, aning that the demands on raw power and stamina were more balanced.
"It's not like Epsom. Not like Ascot."
For Silence Suzuka, that was good news.
Her style relied on rhythm and sustained speed rather than brute force. As long as the terrain did not excessively punish that approach, she would have room to perform.
Thinking about strength, Shuta An's thoughts drifted briefly.
He was familiar with her physical ability—more than most.
During their ti together, there had been monts when she failed to fully control her strength. Even then, he had never found it particularly difficult to manage.
"That reminds ," he muttered.
A faint mory surfaced.
"When I was young, I rember seeing my father's back bruised, almost entirely purple."
He paused.
"Could it be—"
The thought lingered, unfinished.
—
That evening, upon entering the Dream World, Shuta An made his way directly to Matsumoto Shoichi's stable.
Today was the day Tokai Teio would depart for the Yamamoto Training Center for her sumr break.
When he arrived, the preparations were already underway.
"The next target is the Japan Cup," Shuta An said, looking at Matsumoto Shoichi. "Let her rest properly during this period."
Matsumoto Shoichi did not answer imdiately.
"That's the general idea," he said after a brief pause.
The hesitation was subtle.
But noticeable.
Shuta An's expression shifted slightly.
"Is there sothing else?" he asked, his tone sharpening just enough to signal seriousness. "Tell honestly."
He did not look away.
And this ti—he was not asking casually.
Shuta An did not let the conversation remain in vague territory.
At this point, there was no longer any room for polite deflection or careful phrasing. When it ca to Tokai Teio's schedule, especially sothing that could potentially affect her entire season, he understood very clearly that hesitation now would only create greater problems later.
So instead of circling around the issue, he chose to speak directly.
"What exactly is going on?" he asked, his tone calm, but carrying a firmness that made it clear he expected a complete answer.
Matsumoto Shoichi did not avoid his gaze.
"It's like this," he said after a brief pause. "The British Jockey Club has sent an invitation. They hope Tokai Teio can participate in the International Stakes at the end of August."
"The International Stakes?"
The words settled slowly.
For a mont, Shuta An did not react. Then his brows drew together.
"Why would they send an invitation?"
There was no hostility in his voice, only genuine confusion.
From his understanding, European racing circles had always maintained a certain distance from Asian Racehorses. It was not outright rejection, but there was a clear hierarchy in how they viewed different circuits.
"To be honest, Europe has never taken Asian horses particularly seriously," he said. "Under those circumstances, why would they actively invite Teio?"
Matsumoto Shoichi did not attempt to embellish the answer.
"The only reason I can think of," he said, "is his performance in the Prix Ganay."
Shuta An fell silent again.
The explanation made sense. But it did not resolve the underlying feeling in his mind.
—
"The International Stakes."
The na lingered. In the real world, he had already arranged for Silence Suzuka to challenge that very race.
And now—
In the Dream World—the sa race had appeared again, this ti tied to Tokai Teio.
The coincidence was too precise.
Too aligned.
"What am I supposed to do?"
The question rose naturally in his thoughts. Support it? Or oppose it? Each option carried weight.
Supporting it ant pushing Tokai Teio into a high-level European G1 in the middle of an already demanding season. Opposing it ant turning down an invitation that could further elevate his international standing.
There was no simple answer.
—
By the ti he woke up, the question remained unresolved.
And in the days that followed, that uncertainty did not fade.
Instead, it lingered quietly, shaping his behavior in ways that were difficult to ignore.
He did not return to Matsumoto Shoichi's stable.
He did not revisit the conversation.
Instead, he moved between ho and the training grounds at the Ritto Training Center, maintaining his routine with an almost chanical precision.
Training > Collecting his riding fees > Returning ho > Exercising > Resting.
From the outside, nothing seed out of place. But for those who knew him well—
The difference was obvious. There was a subtle disconnect in his focus, a slight delay in his responses, a tendency to drift into thought even in the middle of conversation.
He was present but not fully.
—
Yutaka Take noticed.
At first, he did not say anything. But after three days, even he could no longer ignore it.
On that day, as Shuta An was preparing to return ho and collect his luggage before moving into the jockey waiting room, Yutaka Take stepped forward and stopped him at the entrance.
"Ann-san."
His voice was not loud, but it carried enough intent to make Shuta An pause.
"You've been distracted these past few days," he said, studying his expression carefully. "Did sothing happen?"
There was no teasing in his tone only straightforward concern.
"If there's a problem, you can tell ."
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