In the afternoon, after visiting the waterfall in Shiretoko National Park, Oguri Cap suddenly turned to Yaeno Muteki and her teammates.
"We're planning a barbecue party at the ranch tonight. Would Miss Yaeno Muteki and your juniors like to join us?"
"Huh?" Yaeno Muteki clearly didn't expect that. Even though a full day together had softened the impression of Oguri Cap being aloof, it was still surprising to see the French Two Crowns actively extending an invitation.
"Mainly— it'll be livelier," Oguri Cap murmured, casting a glance at Shuta An.
"I don't mind at all. The ranch has plenty of ingredients anyway," Shuta An replied. To him, it wasn't a bad idea in the slightest.
Yaeno Muteki hesitated briefly before nodding. "Since it's Miss Oguri Cap inviting us, of course we'll accept."
Shuta An imdiately ssaged the guesthouse owner, asking them to prepare additional ingredients. On the way back, Berno Light spoke up.
"Oguri wants the party to be lively—but what about Trainer?"
"?" Shuta An blinked. "Since Oguri invited them, why would I object?"
"But—" He paused. "I intend to use this chance to learn about what's been happening in Central these past few months from Miss Yaeno Muteki. Teio has been with Miss Symboli Rudolf this whole ti, but her perspective is— too high up."
He traced a downward motion with his hand. "So I need to hear things from Yaeno Muteki's point of view—what Uma Musu in Central have been feeling these last two months."
"So Trainer's real target is information," Berno Light nodded, looking relieved. "I thought it was because of that person nad Glory."
"Huh!?" Shuta An jolted. "Why would you think that?"
"Ummm—" Berno Light lightly touched her lips. "A woman's intuition?"
"Let's not rely on sothing that unreliable." Shuta An's mouth twitched. "We need to stay scientific."
"Scientific—" Berno Light muttered. "Ann's ability to unleash power comparable to a top-tier Uma Musu in bursts is already unscientific, though."
"What's unscientific about it?" Shuta An looked baffled. "My family background is just like that. Anyone could do it."
"But I've only ever seen it in you." Berno Light puffed her cheeks.
That evening, the barbecue began, with the guesthouse staff joining as well. Sitting at the head of the table, Shuta An no longer bothered cutting at into pieces. Instead, he placed an entire slab of beef directly onto Oguri Cap's plate, watching with affection as she eagerly devoured the juicy Hokkaido specialty.
Then he turned to Yaeno Muteki—ti to gather information.
"By the way, has anything noteworthy happened at Central Tracen Academy lately?"
Yaeno Muteki blinked, then shifted her gaze toward Oguri Cap.
"Well, the biggest news is definitely Oguri Cap-san winning the French Two Crowns. Especially with Derby Uma Musu Sirius Symboli-senpai performing poorly on her overseas expedition. Because of that comparison, so very confident Uma Musu are planning to challenge Classic Races abroad next year."
"If they lack adaptability on heavy turf, it's better not to waste their ti," Shuta An said bluntly.
"That's exactly what all the Trainers say. Everyone saw how narrowly Miss Oguri Cap won the French Derby." Yaeno Muteki sighed. "On that kind of ground, I'd probably lose strength in my legs after just 1600 ters."
"The resolve to go overseas is admirable, but the goal of an expedition should differ for each person. Simply following trends is irresponsible to one's own Twinkle Series career." Shuta An nodded. "But Oguri had no choice but to go on that expedition. Everyone in Central knows that, right?"
"Yes." Yaeno Muteki nodded again. "Honestly, I don't agree with the URA Association's regulations but—"
A bittersweet smile surfaced. "I am one of the beneficiaries."
Shuta An couldn't respond to that.
Yaeno Muteki composed herself. "Still, I've heard rumors that URA plans to announce rule andnts at the year-end eting. If the predictions are correct— They might be called the 'Oguri Cap Act.'"
"'Oguri Cap Act,' huh…" Shuta An laughed softly. "Ironically, the Uma Musu who'll profit from it won't be Oguri Cap herself."
"It doesn't matter," Oguri Cap said quietly. "As long as future Uma Musu don't experience what I did in spring, that's enough."
While munching a carrot, Yaeno Muteki asked, "Is Miss Oguri Cap running in the Autumn Tenno Sho next?"
"Yes," Shuta An answered for her.
"Then she'll clash with Tamamo Cross-senpai." Yaeno Muteki swallowed. "What a sha—I'm going to the Kikuka Sho, so I won't be appearing in this year's Autumn Tenno Sho."
"The Classics are once in a lifeti. You can still run the Autumn Tenno Sho next year," Shuta An shrugged.
When everyone had eaten their fill, and while grilling more at for Oguri Cap, Shuta An asked another question.
"By the way, is your Trainer not with you, Miss Yaeno Muteki?"
"Grandpa didn't want to take a long trip. He just handed the money and let plan everything," she replied.
"Tokyo sumrs are harsh on seniors," Shuta An comnted.
"But Grandpa refuses to move, so there's nothing we can do." Yaeno Muteki sighed. She couldn't exactly run all the way back to Tokyo, hoist the old man onto her back, and drag him to Hokkaido.
"Suffering in the heat, but unable to travel far. He must be quite old."
anwhile, in Tokyo—
"Ha!" Yaeno Muteki's elderly Trainer sent a sandbag flying with a straight punch.
"I wonder if Yaeno Muteki and the others are enjoying Hokkaido," the man muttered, catching the sandbag with one hand as he looked up at the polluted night sky.
———
Over nearly a week, Shuta An took the two Uma Musu across the entire Shiretoko Peninsula. During that ti, everyone at the guesthouse learned about Oguri Cap's looming showdown with Tamamo Cross in autumn—and that Oguri might beco Tamamo Cross's greatest rival.
Still, their hospitality remained warm, far warr than Shuta An expected. It left him almost embarrassed.
"Most of the people staying in Noboribetsu have already left. We're done exploring here, so it's ti to go back," he reminded the two girls after breakfast.
"We're leaving?" Oguri Cap looked reluctant. "I really like it here"
"We can't help it. We can't keep wasting the Noboribetsu rooms." Shuta An shrugged. "We still have to return."
As they departed, the guesthouse staff enthusiastically cheered for Oguri Cap.
"Oguri Cap! Do your best in autumn! Show your strength against Tamamo Cross!"
"If Oguri Cap wins, we'll get to see Tamamo Cross cry!"
Shuta An's mouth twitched.
Oguri Cap nodded firmly. "I will definitely deliver a performance that makes Tamamo Cross take seriously!!"
Just as they were about to get into the car, they ran into Yaeno Muteki again—she and her team planned to head for Sapporo to shop.
"It'll be afternoon by the ti you arrive from Shiretoko," Shuta An remarked.
"It's fine. I'll stay overnight and shop properly tomorrow." Yaeno Muteki tapped her phone. "Everyone has things they want to buy. And Sapporo is the only place in Hokkaido where you can get everything."
"I see," Shuta An nodded.
"Speaking of which, we've barely explored Sapporo ourselves," Berno Light said. "Should we go after resting a few days in Noboribetsu? Staying in the sa place too long gets boring."
"Sure," Shuta An agreed. "Sapporo and Hakodate both have a lot to see."
"I want Sapporo desserts! I heard Hokkaido milk makes them amazing!" Oguri Cap declared.
—
Back in Noboribetsu, Shuta An opened the door to their room.
"It's been almost a week since I last soaked in the hot spring," he muttered. Noboribetsu's hot springs were heavenly—sotis he suspected he had been a hot spring in his past life.
After showering, he wrapped a towel around his head and slipped into the private bath.
"A good soak after traveling— it really washes away fatigue."
But just as he relaxed—
Ring ring.
Annoyed, he climbed out, dried his hands, grabbed his phone, and unlocked the screen.
"Who's ssaging at this hour?"
It was Symboli Rudolf. He already had a feeling what this was about.
"Shuta-kun, forgive for ssaging at this ti."
"It's regarding Oguri Cap and you attending sumr camp."
"We hope you two can co to Matsushima Bay in Miyagi Prefecture on August 14th to attend the closing ceremony on the 15th."
"Will this interfere with your plans?"
Shuta An replied: "No problem. We'll arrive on ti."
Symboli Rudolf imdiately responded.
"There's also a personal matter I wanted to ask Shuta-kun."
"A personal matter?" Shuta An's brow rose. "What does she need from personally?"
He typed: "Please go ahead."
"Well… didn't Shuta-kun say before that you wanted to observe Teio's training? Although you said autumn— Teio seems impatient. Her daily behavior has been a little distracted lately"
"It can't be that bad, can it?" Shuta An frowned. "If so, Teio needs to adjust her mindset."
"Eh…" Symboli Rudolf hesitated at his imdiate response. "Why do you say that?"
"If the simple fact that I'll observe her training can disrupt her daily routine, then what will happen during important races?" Shuta An replied. "ntal fragility cannot be ignored. If you want to co early, I must refuse. Teio must overco this."
"No, I'm not asking you to co early. It's just—"
Symboli Rudolf typed, hesitated, deleted, and tried again.
"Teio simply wants to see you."
Shuta An narrowed his eyes, staring at the ssage in silence.
"She'll see at the sumr camp."
He sent the ssage, then shook his head.
"Teio is really strange— When we first t, she had such an attitude with ."
He opened the attribute viewer. Teio's favorability remained "???"
"So what's the reason?"
———
In Matsushima Bay, Tokai Teio, currently at sumr camp, dragged her roommate along.
"There's nothing to see here. Maya thinks it's better to go back to sleep," Mayano Top Gun yawned. "I gad too much last night, then we had morning team activities. Maya hasn't slept at all."
"Maya-chan, please co with to Matsushima Town. Trainer will be here soon—I need to prepare a gift!" Teio pleaded, clinging to her arm.
"Maya thinks isn't it the Trainer who's supposed to prepare a gift for Teio?" Mayano Top Gun teased.
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