Chapter 83: Visiting the Family Home of Our Uma Musume! Part 2
As they stepped out of the desolate countryside station, a single car was parked nearby. To Momozawa, it looked like an ordinary vehicle, but apparently, for Apollo Rainbow, it was unmistakably her familyâs carâshe hastily let go of Momozawaâs hand and began waving enthusiastically toward the car.
It was probably an attempt to hide her embarrassment, but releasing his hand risked her stumbling. Instinctively, he reached behind her back to steady her, cautiously glancing at her profile. Whether Apollo Rainbow realized this or not, she stayed still, averting disaster.
Even without trying, the two of them stood out in the empty station plaza. Combined with Apollo Rainbowâs gray coat, Apolloâs parents in the compact car immediately noticed them.
The car reversed toward them, and the motherâs face peered out from the passenger-side window. She looked just like Apolloâor rather, she could easily pass for her older sister. Momozawa bowed politely to Apolloâs parents before loading their luggage into the automatically opened rear door.
"Welcome back, Apollo. Itâs cold out, so hurry up and get in."
"Okaaay!"
"Thank you for coming all this way in the cold."
Momozawa climbed into the car with an air of nervous gratitude. No matter how many times he rode in a car driven by a friendâs parent, there was always an indescribable awkwardness. As he settled in, he watched the cheerful conversation of the Apollo Rainbow family.
Before long, anxiety crept inâwas his outfit appropriate? Beneath his long coat, he was wearing a jacket and slacks, so at least the bare minimum of decorum was met⌠but maybe he shouldâve worn a suit, even if it was his day off.
(âŚThe only souvenir I brought was horseshoe-shaped cookies from the airport⌠Will they be satisfied? Theyâre pretty high-end, so maybe itâll be fineâŚ?)
While lost in thought, they soon arrived at Apollo Rainbowâs family home. Without delay, Momozawa was ushered inside, where he exchanged pleasantries before sitting down for a serious discussion with her parents. As Apollo Rainbow relaxed in her room, he explained the management of her race earnings, the details of her past injuries, and her recovery progress.
Of course, these were just formalities. He didnât believe Apollo Rainbowâs parents were the type to fuss over money, and her injury status had been regularly reported. This was merely a recapâthe real topic came next.
"Now, regarding your daughterâs plans for next yearâ"
Apollo Rainbowâs dream was to "become the strongest stayer." And Momozawaâs dream as her trainer was to "raise the strongest stayer." The alignment of their goals naturally led to one destination for her senior-class ambitions: Europe. More specifically, the ultimate honors for a stayerâvictory in Europeâs 4000m-class G1 races and the "Stayersâ Million" series.
Aiming for the "Stayersâ Million"âEuropeâs premier festival for stayersâwould require an overseas campaign. That was the grand vision for her senior year.
Europeâs Twinkle Series primarily took place across Britain, Ireland, France, and Germany. With multinational Umas competing, the level of competition would inevitably rise.
Moreover, adapting to European turf was a necessity for racing there. Unlike classic-class training, she would need further physical reinforcement beyond what sheâd done before.
Above all, Apollo Rainbowâs victory in the Arima Kinen had been too extraordinary. Even under relentless marking, she hadnât stoppedâwhich meant future opponents wouldnât just counter her tactics. Instead, more Umas would focus on building stronger physiques to rival her.
In other words, rivals wouldnât just rely on trip-based strategiesâtheyâd train to match her strength.
Summarizing the key points, Momozawa needed their permission for the overseas campaign and the intensified training regimen. Would they agree?
âOr so he wondered. But Apolloâs parents responded with immediate approval.
"Oh, that sounds wonderful!"
"If Apollo and you think itâs best, weâll support you all the way."
"Just like thatâŚ? Are you sure? I let her get injured before the Wakagoma Stakes and during the Arima KinenâŚ"
At Momozawaâs hesitation, Apollo Rainbowâs mother smiled.
"Umas get injured, big or small. Pushing their bodies to the limit to win is what trainers are supposed to do, no? You made the right call pulling her from the Wakagoma Stakes, and the Arima Kinen injury was just an accident⌠Youâve done an excellent job, Momozawa."
"âŚâŚâŚâŚ"
"Apollo often calls to say how careful you are about injuries. I think our daughter understands how hard youâre working for her. Please, donât waverâkeep walking this path alongside her."
"âThank you very much."
Momozawa instinctively bowed his head. There was no doubtâApollo Rainbowâs straightforward personality had been nurtured by her family.
"By the way, Momozawa-san, I heard Apollo is your first trainee?" Apollo Rainbowâs father asked. Momozawa replied, "Yes, thatâs correctâŚ" At his answer, her parents exchanged glances, as if realizing somethingâtheir own meeting had been under nearly identical circumstances. The father cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject.
"âŚAh, I just meant itâs impressive for someone so young to have such skill."
"I worked with Mejiro McQueen during my time as an assistant trainer. The experience I gained there has been invaluable."
"Mejiro McQueenâs trainer?! Well, that explains itâŚ"
"Itâs nothing so grand. Your daughterâs own talent, her earnest approach to racing, and above allâher unbreakable spiritâare what made her strong. Iâve only ever been a small help, reallyâŚ"
Momozawa genuinely believed Apollo Rainbow had always been strong. Ambitious, inherently diligent, blessed with boundless stamina, and tough enough to endure grueling trainingâany trainer could have guided her to success. He nearly said as much aloud.
But her father cut him off.
"Momozawa-san. That may sound humble, but⌠youâre wrong. Itâs precisely because it was you that our daughter has come this far."
"âŚâŚâŚâŚ"
"The bond between an Uma and their trainer can awaken power beyond what science can explain. Take the Kikuka-shĹ, for instanceâwasnât that proof enough?"
Apollo Rainbowâs father smiled warmly, though his words carried weight. Momozawa listened, pulse quickening.
"âŚBefore Tosen Academy, our daughter was a listless Uma. But the moment she enrolled, it was like she became a different personâbrimming with energy. Meeting you must have changed her. You are the one who made her strong."
His tone grew firmer. Having judged Momozawaâs skill as a trainer, the father entrusted him with Apollo Rainbowâs future as a senior.
"âŚI understand your plans for her senior year. As her father, as her fanâand as someone who believes in youâI leave Apollo in your hands."
He bowed deeply, asking Momozawa to train her rigorously for Europeânot just for victories, but for the growth even defeat would bring. No matter how hard the path, he wanted them to walk it together.
A fire surged in Momozawaâs chest, his eyes burning. "Leave it to me," he answered without hesitation.
Once serious discussions ended, the mood lightened into casual chatter. Sensing the shift, Apollo Rainbow joined them in the living room, and the four fell into easy conversation.
But with three adults and one young Uma, the topics inevitably skewed mature. Feeling out of place, Apollo Rainbow soon busied herself with UmaSta and web surfing.
Hours later, as darkness crept over the windows, Momozawa gathered his coat and luggage.
"Thank you for today. Itâs getting late, so I should head outâ"
Apollo Rainbow blinked in surprise. Sheâd assumed heâd stay the night.
"Tomio, youâre not staying?"
"I couldnât possibly impose like thatâŚ"
"Ehhhâ"
Pouting, she hovered around him as he waved her off. "Think about itâstaying at my traineeâs family home? Thatâs pushing it." Spending New Yearâs there would be downright improper.
Unconvinced, she sulked, circling him with questions: "Where are you staying?" "Can I see you tomorrow?" He chuckled, answering each one.
"I booked a hotel nearby. Message me, and Iâll come right away."
"Oh, good! The shopping districtâs doing lottery draws for New Yearâsâwanna go after hatsumĹde?"
"Iâll think about it. âŚAnyway, thank you again. Apollo, make sure you discuss everything with your parents."
"Momozawa-san, please visit again."
"See ya!"
Her parents helped carry his things to the door. Theyâd have gladly hosted him, but didnât press further.
As Momozawa left for his hotel, Apollo Rainbowâs parents watched the taxi disappear, then turned to their daughter with knowing smiles.
"Apollo, are things going well with Momozawa-san?"
"A man like that wonât stay single for long, you know."
"H-huh? âŚW-whatâre you talking about?"
But Apollo Rainbow just whistled innocently, dodging their questions as she fled to her room.
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