Chapter 82: The Triple Crown and the Strongest

"All right, then…"

Inside the trainer’s office, with the heater running, I lightly swept my gaze around the room. Sitting beside me, facing a laptop as she took minutes, was my real younger sister—and at the same time, my assistant—Masa, a trainee sub-trainer. Across the desk sat the two Uma Musume under my charge: Hoshino Wilm, who had entered the Senior class this year, and Mihono Bourbon, who had entered the Classic class.

For the first time in a week, our team was finally all together again. Starting today, we were officially back in motion.

"Let’s go over this year’s race rotation again."

It was Sunday, January 5th. For ordinary people, Sunday probably meant they were still taking it easy… but with the New Year holidays over and our shrine visits done, we decided to jump straight into planning for the year ahead.

…Just to be clear, I personally thought tomorrow would’ve been fine. Masa still seemed to be struggling with unfamiliar trainer work, and both Hoshino Wilm and Mihono Bourbon had worked incredibly hard last year. I figured a bit more rest wouldn’t hurt. I even suggested in our group LINE chat, “Since it’s a good chance, let’s rest properly through Sunday and start fresh on Monday,” but…

"Eh? I’d like to start proper training again soon, actually."

"I agree. In addition, we need a concrete and realistic plan toward our goal of the Classic Triple Crown."

"I’m fine either way, but if those two are saying that, shouldn’t we get started as soon as tomorrow?"

Every single person except me replied with enthusiasm. From the very start of the new year, both Hoshino Wilm and Mihono Bourbon were in great shape—mentally and physically. Masa, too, seemed fired up, maybe because she was finally getting the hang of things.

Well, the whole point of the break had been to give my Uma Musume some mental rest anyway. If they said they’d recovered, then I didn’t really have the right to object.

If anything, I was a bit worried about Masa… but she was probably fine. Ever since that Arima Kinen, she’d seemed oddly more lively than before—like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Maybe because of that, even though she was likely tired today, she still looked pretty unfazed.

…Yeah. Masa can manage herself, and if it really got bad, she’d tell me. I should trust her.

So, with that settled, I was about to start discussing this year’s schedule when—before I could—Bourbon raised her hand sharply.

"Before we move on to the main topic, may I ask one question, Master?"

"Ah, sure. Go ahead, Mihono Bourbon."

Huh… that was a bit unusual. I’d always thought Bourbon was the type to listen through everything first before asking questions or giving her opinion. What was this about?

"Thank you. Last year, when you agreed to contract with me, you said, ‘Win me over with your run at the Asahi Hai.’ You stated that you could not be my trainer unless you fell in love with my running—that I should show my own style on the G1 stage and captivate you—and that until then, our relationship would only be provisional."

"That’s right."

It was a slightly nostalgic topic… but that feeling hadn’t changed. I might never be as taken with her as I was with Wilm, but even so, I believed I had to genuinely like the way the Uma Musume I trained ran. Especially for moments when things went wrong—like at Wilm’s Takarazuka Kinen—being able to trust in their running mattered.

When I nodded, Bourbon gave a small nod of her own and continued.

"However, on the day of the Asahi Hai, you were in a coma and unable to see my run. Furthermore, I infer that my performance that day lacked brilliance and did not meet your standards of evaluation."

"Ah."

Oh no… you’ve got to be kidding me. This completely slipped my mind.

Right. I needed to tell her about this too.

About a month ago, I’d been in a coma for roughly two weeks after a traffic accident. Apparently, while I was unconscious, everything related to the incident had already been dealt with. The conclusion was that I was entirely the victim.

According to what Masa later told me, I’d been shoved by someone with malicious intent and then struck by a car going over the speed limit. Street surveillance cameras had captured the whole thing clearly. My father had even come all the way to the central offices to handle the aftermath, so after I woke up, no one brought it up again.

Still, if I’d been in better condition back then, I might have kept my footing after being pushed, or gotten up faster. To say I bore no responsibility at all for leaving my Uma Musume without proper oversight… that would be far too irresponsible toward them.

Because of that, I’d spent the past weeks scrambling to make up for those two lost weeks. Of course, that included watching recordings of Mihono Bourbon’s Asahi Hai and Hoshino Wilm’s Arima Kinen.

As for the Asahi Hai… regrettably, she was right. It wasn’t a good run. She’d clearly lost her composure—it was rough and strained.

And my very first impression when I saw it was… “That’s a shame.”

Mihono Bourbon should’ve been able to run much more beautifully. It was probably because of me that her performance became so tight and painful to watch.

That disappointed me deeply… and precisely because of that disappointment, I wanted—this time—to see her true, beautiful running. Mihono Bourbon’s running.

But.

In the chaos of paperwork and catch-up work, I’d completely forgotten to tell her any of that.

Damn it… I really messed up.

It was such a bad mistake that I almost wanted to clutch my head. What was I doing? Proper reporting and communication are basic professional standards. This was practically disqualifying as a trainer.

"I’m sorry, Bourbon… I completely forgot to tell you."

"I have no intention of assigning blame to you, Master. Please do not concern yourself."

"That’s a relief to hear. I’m sorry for making you anxious this whole time."

Maybe I’d let my guard down after everything that happened… I’m their trainer, and their guardian. I need to tighten up again.

I closed my eyes once, steadied myself, then faced Bourbon’s expressionless gaze.

"Even so, I still—no, more than at the time of our contract—require your guidance, Master. If there are tasks I must undertake for that purpose, I wish to face them."

"Understood. Then, as we go over your race rotation, I’ll explain that as well."

When it comes to planning a race rotation—deciding future entries—the most important factor, naturally, is the will of the Uma Musume themselves. I doubted Bourbon’s resolve would waver easily, but I asked her anyway.

"Just to confirm, Mihono Bourbon. Has your ultimate goal changed at all from ‘achieving the Classic Triple Crown’?"

"No. I recognize it as the dream of myself and my father, and as a shared goal between you and me, Master."

"Good. Then…"

I pulled the whiteboard from the corner and placed it where everyone could see. Taking a marker, I began again.

"I doubt this needs explaining, but the Classic Triple Crown refers to victories in three G1 races: the Satsuki Sho, the Japan Derby, and the Kikuka Sho."

I checked this year’s race dates in my planner and wrote them on the board.

April 19 — G1 Satsuki Sho.
May 31 — G1 Japan Derby.
October 25 — G1 Kikuka Sho.

Winning these three races was Mihono Bourbon’s ultimate objective.

And she had already cleared what could be called the greatest obstacle standing in her way.

"By winning last year’s Junior-class G1, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, Mihono Bourbon has already secured a sufficient number of fans. Entry into the Satsuki Sho should pose no problem. And then—"

"Victory in the Satsuki Sho grants priority entry into the Japan Derby, and victory there grants priority entry into the Kikuka Sho… correct?"

"As expected from an Uma Musume who pulled it off last year—you remember it well, Hoshino Wilm. In short, Mihono Bourbon, while there’s the proviso of ‘as long as you keep winning,’ you’ve already satisfied one of the necessary conditions for achieving the Classic Triple Crown: having enough supporters to back you."

Normally, the vast majority of Uma Musume are eliminated at this stage.

Satsuki Sho.

This is a G1 race of the highest prestige in Japan’s Twinkle Series.

You only get one chance to run in it in your entire career—April of your Classic year. Out of the hundreds of Uma Musume competing on the middle- to long-distance circuit, only the top eighteen are permitted to enter.

However… Mihono Bourbon wasn’t merely aiming to be among those eighteen. She was aiming for the absolute summit of her generation. By winning a G1 race within the previous year, she had ensured she could approach this season with plenty of breathing room.

The stage that could be called a “second screening”—the number of fans, following admission to the Central Tracen Academy—had already been cleared. All that remained on the path to the Classic Triple Crown was the final selection: the races themselves.

…That said, charging straight into the Satsuki Sho without running any other races beforehand would be difficult.

"However, just because you’re eligible to enter doesn’t mean you can skip racing entirely before that point. Bourbon, do you understand why it’s necessary to run races beforehand?"

"To assess my condition at that time, to avoid dulling my competitive instincts by racing seriously against other Uma Musume… and above all, to confirm my distance aptitude."

"Exactly right."

I wrote “Aptitude Issue” on the whiteboard, a short distance away from the list of races.

"Mihono Bourbon’s challenges on the road to the Classic Triple Crown can be broadly divided into three categories: stamina, aptitude, and temperament. As your trainer, I’ll take full responsibility for resolving the stamina issue. As for temperament, I plan to address that through joint training with Hoshino Wilm and Soury Cross.

…Which leaves the aptitude issue. For this, I believe we need to confirm improvement by actually entering races. Therefore—"

From “Aptitude Issue,” I drew an arrow upward, extending it to just above the Satsuki Sho.

"Before the Satsuki Sho—your first middle-distance race—we’ll enter one or two graded middle-distance races. Mihono Bourbon, I’m sorry this is coming a bit late… but here, I want you to show me your perfect run."

"Understood."

Bourbon nodded obediently. …Considering the trouble I’d caused her, it wouldn’t have been strange for her to scold me once or twice, but once again, her level-headedness had saved me.

"Thank you, Mihono Bourbon. Now then, I did consider the Shinzan Kinen this month as a potential race… but you don’t need it anymore."

I glanced over at Bourbon, and the “App Reincarnation” displayed her stats. She didn’t quite match last year’s Wilm, but they were still more than sufficient. There was no need at this point to test her ability in a G3 mile race.

…Besides, I was also concerned about the strain she’d been putting on her legs from her self-training over the New Year holidays. Since we still had some leeway, there was no need to rush things.

"With that in mind… this is the race we should enter."

March 29 — G2 Spring Stakes.

I wrote its name just above the Satsuki Sho.

"A G2, 1800-meter race that also serves as a trial for the Satsuki Sho. Using this race as our benchmark, we’ll aim to raise your middle-distance aptitude. In the actual race, you’ll learn the gap in ability between you and your rivals, as well as how to allocate your stamina. Mihono Bourbon, this will be your immediate objective."

"Understood."

…In truth, thanks to “App Reincarnation,” I already knew Bourbon’s aptitude. But how much it would actually affect her running—that was something she could only truly grasp by racing herself. For that reason, entering the Spring Stakes was important.

…Well, people might complain again about “wasting a priority entry slot” or whatever, but I couldn’t care less. No matter what’s on the scales, my Uma Musume come first. As a trainer, that’s a principle I won’t compromise on. In a sense, it’s my way of repaying the trust my Uma Musume place in me.

"After that, you’ll run in the Satsuki Sho and the Japan Derby. There’s only a month between them, so there won’t be room to enter any other races. …However, between the Derby and the Kikuka Sho, there’s a gap of nearly five months. To keep your race instincts sharp, I’d like you to enter another race during that period. As before… it’ll probably be the Kikuka Sho trial, the Kobe Shimbun Hai."

Not everyone can always perform at full power like Hoshino Wilm. Adding one more race here would be the safer choice. That G2 race is—

September 27 — G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai.

"And then, you’ll enter the Kikuka Sho and complete the Classic Triple Crown. After that, if things go smoothly, you’ll likely aim for races like the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen, just like Wilm did last year. …Well, that’s still a bit further down the line, so we’ll set that aside for now."

I capped the marker and turned back to face Bourbon.

"That’s my proposed set of target races for the time being. Bourbon, do you have any objections?"

"No. I will complete every order given by you, Master."

With a hand to her chest and an expressionless face that nonetheless seemed filled with resolve, Bourbon answered.

That being the case, this year’s rotation for Bourbon would be—

March 29 — G2 Spring Stakes
April 19 — G1 Satsuki Sho
May 31 — G1 Japan Derby
September 27 — G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai
October 25 — G1 Kikuka Sho

That’s how it would go.

Her goal is the Classic Triple Crown—a dream shared with her father, and a goal she shares with me. For the time being, she should focus all her attention on that.

And after her dream comes true… or after it’s shattered.

As for races after the Kikuka Sho, we’ll respond flexibly depending on the condition of her legs, fatigue, and other factors.

…If she does win the Triple Crown, there will naturally be calls for her to enter the Arima Kinen. Depending on how things go, she might even clash with last year’s Triple Crown Uma Musume—Wilm.

When that time comes… yeah.

I’ll support both of them, fairly.

…Still, no matter how it plays out, it’ll be a race where at least one of the Uma Musume I train will lose.

When I’m faced with that reality, what will I feel, I wonder?

Now then, with Bourbon’s rotation settled, next up is…

In a sense, the “problem child” of our stable.

"…All right, next, Hoshino Wilm. Let’s hear your goals for this year."

"I want to win as many G1 races as possible!"

…Mm-hmm. Yeah. That figures.

My Uma Musume, Hoshino Wilm—the running junkie and race junkie. Right now, she genuinely enjoys running from the bottom of her heart. No, that in itself is a state any trainer would welcome with open arms… but she’s so absorbed in it that she barely notices anything else.

Of course, being able to enjoy racing as a competitive Uma Musume is nothing but a good thing. Personally, I’m genuinely happy that she can enjoy herself like that.

…But getting too carried away and charging ahead recklessly isn’t something I can approve of.

An Uma Musume’s legs are extremely delicate. If she kept racing back-to-back just because it’s fun, they wouldn’t hold up. Thankfully, she’s a very rational Uma Musume who understands when things are properly explained. Managing that balance is my job.

"Then for now, let’s line up the middle- to long-distance races you can enter up through the Takarazuka Kinen."

The G1 middle- to long-distance races that Senior-class Uma Musume can enter during what’s considered the “spring” racing season—strictly speaking, not all of it actually falls in spring—are limited.

There are three candidates.

April 5 — Osaka Hai.
April 26 — Tenno Sho (Spring).
June 28 — Takarazuka Kinen.

"These are what you might call the Spring Senior Triple Crown races. The shortest is the Osaka Hai at 2000 meters, and the longest is the Spring Tenno Sho at 3200 meters—a much wider range of distances than even the Classic Triple Crown."

"Sounds great. Middle distance and long distance each have their own challenges, and there are different rivals in each, after all."

Seeing Wilm smile so happily at that made me let out a wry laugh. Normally, someone would be intimidated by such a wide range of distances, or steel themselves at the thought of fearsome rivals… but at this point, trying to fit this girl into any “normal” category is pointless.

After all, Hoshino Wilm is a five-time crown Uma Musume.

…And more than anything, she’s the one and only runaway-style Uma Musume I fell in love with.

"Of course, if you allow it, Trainer, I’ll run all three! MacQueen-senpai will probably be there at the Tenno Sho too, so let’s have a rematch!"

"Judging by last year’s Kikuka Sho, you’re the type who can give it your all even right after a long break from racing. If you’re going to run these three, then you should skip all other races and focus on just them."

"Hmm… when you put it that way, it does feel like a bit of a waste, but they do say hunger is the best spice. If that’s your instruction, Trainer, I’ll follow it."

No—really, any faster a pace than this would be too much.

Uma Musume races are typically run about once a month. Push beyond that, and the strain on their legs inevitably increases. With G1 races, which are brutally intense, you could even argue for spacing them out further.

If April rolls around and she starts saying things like, “My body’s tough, so I’m fine! Let’s race more and more!” I’d be in serious trouble.

This is where… I should drop one piece of information to keep her from getting distracted by other races.

"Hmm. In that case, I’ve got some good news for you."

"News?"

Wilm tilted her head cutely. Predicting the expression she’d make in a few seconds, I spoke with a faint sense of amusement.

"Tokai Teio is scheduled to enter both the Osaka Hai and the Tenno Sho."

Wilm blinked a few times, looking mildly surprised.

"Huh… if you’re going out of your way to tell me that, Trainer, does that mean Teio will be a real threat this time? You said she was a step below Nature at the Arima Kinen, didn’t you?"

"More accurately, I’d say she has the potential to be. After all, it looked like she was holding back… at the Arima Kinen."

"Holding back…?"

Wilm frowned slightly. It wasn’t simple confusion—it was more like the phrasing itself bothered her.

…Ah. Yeah. That was poor wording on my part.

"No, sorry—let me take that back. Saying she was ‘holding back’ isn’t quite right. It’d be more accurate to say she seemed to be searching for a new way of running."

"Um… what do you mean by that?"

I recalled the footage of the Arima Kinen I’d watched a few days earlier. Tokai Teio had only appeared on screen for a moment… but her running was unmistakably different.

In the footage, she didn’t use the extremely long-stride running style she’d shown before. She must have realized that, ever since the fracture at the Derby, that style placed an excessive burden on her legs.

In short, she was exploring a way to run that would reduce strain on her legs while still allowing her to compete at a G1 level… but at the Arima Kinen, with barely any time since her return, it was still incomplete.

…However, Tokai Teio is a genius. Give her three months, and she’ll master that running style for sure.

Tokai Teio is a naturally gifted, instinctive genius. In that domain, she might even surpass Hoshino Wilm.

I can still recall the shock I felt at that Derby. In the middle of a G1 race, she could instantly replicate top-level skills from the previous-life app and the pinnacle of refined techniques in this world. Her sense for racing was simply on another level.

As far as I remember, in real-world history, Tokai Teio won both the Satsuki Sho and the Japan Derby, becoming a two-time crown Uma Musume. Even in this world, without someone like Wilm—a phenomenal prodigy—she would have claimed both crowns without issue. That’s just how extraordinary her talent is. She is, without a doubt, a racing genius.

I said her running style was incomplete at the Arima Kinen—but that doesn’t just indicate her limits. It carries a far more terrifying implication.

She had returned from injury and, in just a month or two, abandoned the running style she had used her entire life, constructing a new one from scratch. One that reduced strain, yet was still capable of competing in G1 races.

In other words, she didn’t fail at the Arima Kinen simply because of insufficient ability. The correct way to view it is this: she ran her first race in six months, with an unfinished new running style—and still managed ninth place at the Arima Kinen.

Perhaps she understood that nuance… Wilm let out one of those crooked, unpolished smiles she naturally wears.

“…Heh. This is getting interesting. I see… I was wondering what had happened that day, since I barely noticed it at the time… A running style that’s low-strain yet fast… a natural genius really is something else… heh heh heh.”

She chuckled softly to herself, muttering under her breath.

I’m glad she seems pleased. I just hope she stays this focused and excited about the Osaka Hai and the Tenno Sho (Spring)… though I imagine she’ll still be asked to do mock races. I can only hope she keeps that within reason.

Now, the discussion of Wilm’s rotation doesn’t end here. Or rather… this is where today’s main topic truly begins.

With Wilm finally seeming to calm down after sensing a future clash with Teio, I spoke up.

"Now then, Hoshino Wilm. There’s an important matter regarding your upcoming rotation."

"Important… um, based on experience, whenever Ayumu-san starts a sentence like that, it usually means something bad is about to happen…"

"Huh? Ah—no, sorry. This isn’t one of those times. In fact, this is probably the best news you could get."

Wilm looked puzzled. I exchanged a glance and a nod with Masa, who was typing on the keyboard beside me… and then I said it.

"Hoshino Wilm, you are, without question, currently the strongest active Uma Musume in Japan’s Twinkle Series.

…Would you like to try being the strongest in the world?"