Chapter 156: Learning Warmth by Revisiting the Past

Wilm’s departure overseas was finally just around the corner.

Her next race would be the Prix Foy, a French G2 held as a prep race for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe—and for Wilm herself, it would also serve as a trial run to test the results of her conditioning in the unfamiliar environment abroad.

The race would take place on September 13… roughly two months from now.

To acclimate her legs to the overseas environment—air, water, food, and above all the turf, which was completely different from Japan—there was no such thing as having too much time.

At the extreme, we would have liked to head over there immediately.

Even so, the reason we were still in Japan was solely to allow her to recover from the fatigue of the Takarazuka Kinen and to complete the final adjustments that could be handled here.

Now that those preparations were nearing completion, there was less and less reason for us to remain in Japan.

…However.

Before going abroad, there were a few things I needed to take care of.

That said, preparations for our base over there were already complete, and the various training facilities we would need were ready as well.

Naturally, we had secured all the necessary lifelines, planned out Wilm’s general diet, gathered most of the relevant information, and finished putting countermeasures in place.

As Hoshino Wilm’s trainer, I was already fully prepared… but as Ayumu Horino, the individual, I still had a small lingering regret.

Well, maybe not a regret—more like a personal fixation.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Wilm’s next goal, is the highest pinnacle race in the world on turf.

It is an unprecedented challenge—one that not a single Japanese Uma Musume has ever won.

There have been many brutally intense races before, but the Arc is the ultimate extreme.

Most of those who line up there are already winners of international G1 races, and it isn’t even unusual to see historic champions with four or five G1 victories to their name.

And into such a race, Wilm would be entering while carrying not insignificant handicaps: a track that wasn’t her home ground and an away environment.

This was truly the culmination—the final accounting—of the three years of training between Wilm and me.

It would become a battle where we had to produce the answer to the “Hoshino Wilm style of running” that we had built together.

Precisely because such a battle lay right ahead, I wanted to return to my starting point once more.

I wanted to say what needed to be said and do what needed to be done here in Japan, settle everything, and then step onto French soil with a clear mind.

So…

I decided to go around and thank the people who had supported me.

…No, not in any strange sense. I really did mean going around to express my gratitude.

---

If I were to consider who had helped me the most in this life, the answer would be obvious.

My mother, who gave birth to me in this world, raised me when I was a helpless infant, and showered me with unconditional love.

And my father, who was always my goal, who thoroughly drilled into me the fundamentals of being a trainer.

My parents—the Horino family.

That said, I didn’t have the time to go all the way to Kyushu to meet them in person.

My recent trip home had been for Wilm’s mental break—strictly speaking, for the Hoshino Wilm team.

With the Arc approaching, I couldn’t afford to spend an entire day on purely personal matters unrelated to the team.

So, though I felt a little guilty about it, I decided to talk over the phone instead.

"It’s been a few days, Father."

"Ah. How have things been since then?"

My father’s voice was as dignified as ever.

He should be fairly advanced in age by now, yet he remained vigorous, showing almost no signs of decline.

As expected of the current head of the Horino family—his presence was overwhelming.

But within that voice was the faintest trace of gentleness—so slight you wouldn’t notice unless you were used to hearing it.

He was probably concerned about her. I was grateful for that.

"Thank you for your concern. Her condition is good. Just the day before yesterday, she nearly pushed herself into overwork while saying, ‘This is special training to use multiple Domains together.’"

"…I was asking about your condition… but never mind. Using multiple Domains. Is that the matter you sent information about in your email the other day? Hearing it again, it’s hard to believe."

My father muttered with a groan, then after a brief pause added:

"Not that I doubt you."

Among the Uma Musume he had trained back when he worked in Central, only two had ever mastered a Domain.

One of them had retired without going to the Dream Trophy League, so only one had ever reached that dream stage.

And in that girl’s era, even in the Dream Trophy League, phenomena like combining multiple Domains had apparently never occurred.

Wilm herself had said, "Combining Domains isn’t exactly a normal idea. Chairman Rudolf’s the type who could smash an egg on the table and make it stand," so…

It was probably a new dimension pioneered by Symboli Rudolf.

And precisely because of that, my father—who had already stepped away from the trainer profession—had never imagined something like combining Domains.

"Yesterday, I sent you a detailed report and my analysis on the matter. Please review that as well."

"Understood. The information you’ve obtained will connect to the future of the Horino name."

"No. I would just be happy if I could contribute even a little to the Horino family."

I had already left the path of being a “Horino trainer,” but since I was born into a prestigious family, devoting myself to it was only natural.

Setting aside family tradition, it wasn’t just that they had given birth to me—they had raised me with enormous resources and taught me everything about being a trainer.

The debt I owed the Horino family was immeasurable. Naturally, I should repay it.

But after hearing my words, my father fell silent for a moment.

Did I say something wrong? I wondered, slightly flustered…

Then, from far away through the phone, came unexpected words.

"That was what I said as the head of the Horino family. As an individual, I have different words prepared. Regardless of the Horino name, I am happy to see you grow as a trainer—and through that, find your own identity. Treasure your bond with Ms. Hoshino Wilm, Ayumu. I am certain she will expand your world."

"…."

My father is an extremely serious man.

Born into the Horino family, raised to become a trainer, and faithfully achieving that path.

Before being a parent, he was a trainer; before being a person, he was a trainer.

I had always thought he lived entirely as a Horino trainer and the head of the family.

That was precisely why… hearing such fatherly words caught me off guard.

Of course, he had said similar things before.

But this was probably the first time he had spoken them on equal footing with his words as a trainer.

And right now, with the Arc just ahead, I had expected him to encourage me purely as a trainer…

"Somehow… it’s rare for you to say something like that, Father."

I struggled to respond, and from the other end of the line I heard a quiet sigh.

"It may be terribly unfair to say this now, but honestly, I regret it—and reflect on it. I should have spent more time with you not as a senior trainer, but as your father."

"As your father…?"

Certainly, to me, my father had always felt more like a great mentor than a parent.

But that was exactly why I could make him my goal, and why I respected him.

At the very least, in the sense of showing me a broad back to follow, I thought he had done an admirable job as a father…

"I hear from Masa from time to time about how you’ve been doing lately. She says you’ve been much more positive than before, working hard as Ms. Hoshino Wilm’s trainer."

"Masa…"

I had always worried my family in various ways growing up, so I assumed this was just another status report on someone who needed monitoring…

But somehow, knowing they were aware of my daily life felt embarrassing.

While I scratched the back of my head, my father continued.

"It is a good trend. You have always had a tendency to carry too much and never fully relax. That was both your strength and your greatest flaw. Therefore, if you are now able to face your work with some degree of looseness, there is nothing better."

"Is… that so?"

Personally, I sometimes felt like I’d become too lax…

But Sky, Masa, my father—everyone affirmed my current state.

At the very least, from the outside, I must appear to be in a good place.

"…Perhaps this is the right opportunity. Let me offer one apology."

"An apology?"

Had there ever been a time when my father needed to apologize to me?

Maybe it was about the Horino trainer path.

I remembered him once saying he might have forced the Horino trainer ideology onto me too strongly.

But that wasn’t something he needed to apologize for.

No matter what anyone said, becoming a Horino trainer had been a path I chose myself…

…Though I couldn’t exactly say that proudly anymore.

After all, I had abandoned that path midway.

Still, I had no regrets about it.

The Horino trainer path might have been somewhat harsh, but I had pursued it because I loved Uma Musume racing.

And abandoning it midway had been necessary because I had fallen for an Uma Musume named Hoshino Wilm and wanted to devote myself entirely to being her trainer.

Even if there had been some guidance, I had always had the freedom to choose my own path.

That was why there was nothing for anyone to apologize for.

…Or so I thought.

But what my father said next was something completely different.

"You once told me, long ago: ‘I have memories of a previous life.’"

"!"

That bitter memory still remained within me.

The first time in this life that I tried to reveal that I was a reincarnated person.

To my father and older brother—the ones I trusted most at the time—I told them…

And in the end, they didn’t believe me.

Thinking about it calmly, it was obvious enough.

People cannot truly believe, from the bottom of their hearts, in something that does not exist in their own world. Even Masa was only in a state of “it’s hard to believe, but that’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

No matter how close the person, I must never reveal the matter of my memories from a previous life while I’m alive.

That realization became a lesson—a warning—firmly engraved within me.

My father spoke about that past incident, which had become nourishment for my growth, with a faint trace of guilt hidden in his emotions.

"At the time… I think I should have believed your words. Whether they were true or false, as your father I should have believed them to be valid, and through sufficient conversation tried to understand the world you were seeing. If I had done that, you would have… much sooner…"

"Sooner?"

"…No. What’s done is done, and there is no use dwelling on it. Even if I apologize now, it won’t return your time, nor can I give anything back to you… but as a father, I made a mistake in how I dealt with my child. Therefore, I must apologize. I’m sorry, Ayumu."

I didn’t know what I should say in response to that apology.

To begin with, in my mind, my father had always been… something like a perfect superhuman.

As a Central trainer, he produced results so outstanding that no one in the branch families could possibly complain. After returning to the main house, he contributed to the family’s development, and he successfully raised three troublesome children.

There were very few men in the world I could respect more.

That was precisely why such a proper apology from him came as quite a shock to me…

At the same time, the decisiveness to reflect on one’s own mistakes and bow honestly regardless of who the other person was—that too was unmistakably the father I knew.

"There’s no need to apologize—"

I almost said it, but then reconsidered. That wasn’t quite right.

Regardless of how I felt, he wanted to apologize.

If so, the sincere thing to do was to accept it honestly.

…Considering he was my actual father, it might sound a little presumptuous, but still.

"No, I accept your apology. I’m not bothered by it, so please don’t worry about it anymore, Father."

"Thank you for your consideration."

Calling it a reconciliation would be too dramatic—it had all been handled so matter-of-factly, almost as if it had been prearranged from the beginning.

Well, we had never really been at odds to begin with…

Even so—

"…Once the Arc is over and things settle down a bit, let’s talk properly.

Even now, I want to know more about you. The scenery you’ve seen as a trainer, the knowledge you’ve gained… or perhaps, about your previous life—tell me about it."

"Yes. When that time comes, I’d be glad to."

Perhaps this was, in its own way, the resolution of a long-standing friction between parent and child.

---

Since the conversation had drifted in an unexpected direction, I decided to return to the main topic.

I expressed my gratitude once more—for raising me, for showing me the path of a trainer, and for setting the example himself.

In response, after a brief silence, Father said, "…On the contrary, you’ve taught me many things as well. Thank you."

I didn’t recall ever teaching him anything, but people often influence others without realizing it.

If I had given him even something small, that was more than enough.

Apparently Mother wasn’t home right now, so I asked Father to pass along my message to her as well… but—

"There’s no problem passing along your message… but I also have one from your mother. She said you’d probably call around today.

‘Enjoy your trip to France with Ms. Hoshino Wilm. But don’t get too carried away.’"

If anything, I was the one receiving words instead.

…Mother, wasn’t she misunderstanding this expedition as some kind of vacation?

After that, we chatted a little longer, and finally he encouraged me with, "At the Arc, together with Ms. Hoshino Wilm, run a race you can be satisfied with," before the call ended.

…Yeah. If I said so myself, this was a good start.

I had properly conveyed my gratitude, and the small bone that had unknowingly been stuck in my throat was gone.

At this pace, I would thank everyone who had helped me and leave Japan without regrets.

Next… well, ranking people like this wasn’t really appropriate, but if I had to say, it would obviously be Wilm.

The Uma Musume who became the biggest turning point in my life and taught me the most.

If I was going around expressing gratitude, there was no way I could leave her out…

In the end, though, I decided to skip Wilm.

The reason was simple.

That kind of thing was nothing but a death flag.

Think about it.

Right before a decisive battle, if someone says, "I could never say this before, but thank you for everything. Let’s keep doing our best," then it’s either right before the final boss—or a defeat flag.

And neither Wilm nor I had any intention of stopping our running yet. The Arc was merely a checkpoint.

Therefore, expressing such heavy emotions here would be far too ominous.

Victory often depended on fortune as well, and I had no desire to incur the displeasure of the Three Goddesses through careless actions.

So, if I skipped Wilm, the next people would be my brother, Masa, and Bourbon.

The three of them had supported me, caused me trouble, and taught me once again the greatness of Uma Musume. I had no choice but to express my gratitude.

So I spoke sincerely to my brother, and to the two I could meet in person, I bowed my head properly and conveyed my thanks.

…I did convey it, but—

"Don’t worry about it. If you’re able to move forward now, Ayumu, that’s already the best repayment."

"None of that. Actually—no, wait, that’s not good either. If you’re grateful, help me with work. I want to take this weekend off."

"I estimate that I am the one who was rescued by Master. Therefore, there is no basis for me to receive gratitude."

Each of them brushed it off rather lightly.

It wasn’t like I wanted some emotional moment like the one with my father every time, but still…

When you muster the courage to bow your head and it gets waved off casually, it’s kind of embarrassing.

I should probably start accepting gratitude more honestly myself from now on.

Not exactly “learn from others’ behavior,” but lessons really do appear in unexpected moments.

---

Now then, after my assigned Uma Musume and my family…

The next person would have to be the chairwoman who runs this Tracen Academy—Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa.

Chairwoman Akikawa had helped me quite a lot behind the scenes.

To begin with, the reason I was able to become a dedicated trainer three years ago without going through the usual sub-trainer or instructor stages was because she approved it.

By extension, the fact that I met Wilm, who had enrolled at Tracen Academy that same year, and was able to sign a contract with her—was also thanks to the chairwoman.

…Thinking about it calmly, she was an unbelievable benefactor. For both me and Wilm.

In fact, considering Wilm’s current success and the rise of the Twinkle Series, wasn’t she basically the hidden MVP overall?

On top of that, the mock race with Rudolf the other day was a perfect example—the chairwoman would go to some pretty unreasonable lengths if it was for the sake of the Uma Musume.

There was no way the costs balanced out, and yet she turned what was just a mock race into something that spectacular.

From the perspective of a board director who was supposed to consider the academy’s profits, she might be disqualified—but as the head of Tracen Academy, Chairwoman Akikawa was undoubtedly the right person for the job.

…Sometimes I wondered if she might actually be better suited to being a principal rather than a chairwoman.

And naturally, both Wilm and I had been helped by Chairwoman Akikawa to an almost ridiculous degree.

She had brought us together, and on top of that had supported us in countless ways. She was such a great benefactor that no amount of gratitude would ever be enough.

Before leaving Japan to challenge the Arc, I had to properly thank her at least once.

So, after arranging an appointment through Tazuna, I met with Chairwoman Akikawa.

"Welcome! It’s been a while, Trainer Horino Ayumu!"

"It has been a while, Chairwoman Akikawa."

We exchanged greetings, and I looked toward the chairwoman seated across from me.

…Seeing her again, her small stature was still surprising.

She barely reached my chest—almost like a young girl.

Actually, she really was at an age where calling her a “girl” wasn’t an exaggeration…

And yet she performed more than adequately as the head of an organization. The impact of realizing that for the first time had been considerable.

But no matter how youthful her appearance or actual age might be, she was an indispensable figure to us trainers at Tracen Academy.

If you worked here for even a year, the idea of underestimating her wouldn’t even cross your mind. If anything, she probably worked harder than we did.

Even so, she showed not a trace of fatigue—instead flashing me a bold grin.

"Indeed! I am delighted to see both you and Hoshino Wilm in such fine condition! We at Tracen Academy will support your challenge with all our might!"

"Thank you very much. You’ve always listened to our unreasonable requests—it’s truly been a huge help."

"No need for thanks! Everything is for the bright future of the Uma Musume!

Hoshino Wilm is now a figure who delivers dreams to Uma Musume across all of Japan. At the same time, she is one of our academy’s students.

Naturally! It is only proper that we push her forward!"

She laughed as she said that, snapping open the folding fan that had somehow appeared in her hand.

…Meanwhile, behind her, Secretary Tazuna was holding her head as if to say, “There goes the chairwoman’s bad habit again…” So she really must have pushed herself quite a bit to make that mock race happen.

"Now then, Trainer Horino Ayumu. I was told you had something to discuss—what is it?"

"Before the overseas expedition, I wanted to visit those who have helped me and express my gratitude.

Once again, thank you for everything these past four years. From here on as well, I will continue to rely on your support together with Hoshino Wilm. I look forward to working with you."

As I lowered my head, I heard her voice.

"Indeed—such diligence is very much like you, Trainer Horino Ayumu!"

At least I hadn’t offended her.

When I raised my face, Chairwoman Akikawa was smiling.

"It might come across as sarcasm depending on the situation, but I like that about you!"

"Though I do think you could stand to relax a little more!"

"Do I really seem that tense?"

"You are far better than you were four years ago!"

Which meant… I still looked somewhat unpleasant even now?

I wasn’t sure whether to be happy or to reflect on myself.

As I made a slightly awkward expression, the chairwoman suddenly grew serious.

"...Trainer Horino Ayumu. Do you remember what I asked you during your trainer certification interview four years ago?"

"Yes."

Four years ago, during the trainer certification exam I had approached with a do-or-die determination—believing I absolutely had to pass after pushing myself so desperately.

In the final interview, Chairwoman Akikawa had asked me this:

"What is the most important thing when serving as a trainer for an Uma Musume… correct?"

"Exactly! And you answered like this.

To kill the self. And to support the Uma Musume with everything you have."

Ah… yes. I had said that.

Back then, as a Horino trainer, I truly believed that was how it should be.

You should not have a self—you should devote everything to your trainee.

There should be no emotions mixed into it. No personal desires.

Even if it meant sacrificing everything you had, you should support her—support them.

That conviction almost felt nostalgic now.

If I had continued down that path, would I have had a different future?

…Well, even if I had, there was no guarantee it would have been a bright one.

As far as I was concerned, I could only believe that the future I chose that day had been the best one.

As I reminisced about the distant past, Chairwoman Akikawa quietly asked:

"Has your answer changed?"

Without hesitation, I shook my head.

I had abandoned the path—the ideal—of being a Horino trainer.

Because even if it meant throwing away everything I had cultivated in my life so far, I had found one Uma Musume whom I personally wanted to support more than anything.

"...Wilm says this to me often.

That for an Uma Musume, the most important thing is probably to enjoy running—to come to love racing with someone else.

Right now… I agree with her."

In some book I had read in my previous life, it said: “Someone who cannot save themselves cannot save others.”

To be honest, when I first read that, I didn’t really understand what it meant…

But now, I did.

"For an Uma Musume, the most important thing is to come to love running.

And in the same way… for a trainer, the most important thing is first to love the Uma Musume.

To love your trainee—her running—more than anyone else.

That, I believe now, is the most important thing in being a trainer."

Chairwoman Akikawa closed her eyes at my words, which felt as though I were laying my heart bare.

She didn’t say anything.

And neither did I.

An awkward silence settled between us.

“…Huh? Did I say something wrong?”

Just as that uneasy thought began creeping in—

Akikawa’s body suddenly started trembling.

Tremble… tremble…

And then—

"MO—VED!!"

She shouted at the top of her lungs, so loudly that even the little cat perched on her hat jumped straight into the air.

Honestly, Tazuna-san and I nearly jumped too.

While we stood there frozen in shock, she snapped open a brand-new fan emblazoned with the word “Moved.” The eyes fixed on me burned with dazzling intensity.

"Trainer Horino Ayumu, I am happy! Truly happy!!"

"W-What exactly…?"

Unable to hide my confusion, I asked, and the chairwoman nodded with her arms folded.

"It was already evident from your licensing exam results and your performance during trainee orientation that you were an exceptional trainer.

You are undoubtedly a prodigy who appears once every few years—or perhaps once every few decades.

That is precisely why Tazuna argued that you should be nurtured slowly, gaining experience as an instructor or sub-trainer first…"

Oh… so that’s how it was.

When I glanced at Tazuna-san, she gave a complicated nod.

Well, in truth, every trainer besides me builds their career on those experiences, so that judgment was probably the more reasonable one…

But just as she must have done back then, Akikawa shook her head vigorously.

"However! And yet! I wanted you to remember it as soon as possible—even one second sooner!"

"Um… remember what…?"

"Your love for Uma Musume!!"

With a sharp snap, she pointed the fan straight at me, eyes wide.

"Through our conversations, I could clearly feel your love for Uma Musume!

But at the same time, that feeling had nearly been forgotten by you—it had become clouded beyond recognition…!

Therefore! In order for you to become a truly first-class trainer, I granted you a dedicated trainee far earlier than normal!

And then, running side by side with the Uma Musume you love, you truly regained those feelings!

If that is not moving, then what is?!"

…I see.

When I’d asked before, she had said, “The academy cannot afford to leave someone as talented as you idle.”

But that had only been the public explanation.

The feelings I rediscovered after falling in love with Hoshino Wilm’s running—

She had created that exception… just to help me remember them.

The realization that she had been watching over me with something like parental care made my chest tighten with emotion…

But the very next moment, Akikawa suddenly shrank back, looking sheepish.

“…However, the extent to which your inexperience would reduce work efficiency—and the sheer workload that came from being paired with a prodigy like Hoshino Wilm—were both beyond what I had anticipated.

Once I had granted the decision, I could not very well reverse it, and the most I could do was have Tazuna assist you.

I intended to help you, yet the result was that I put you through tremendous hardship.

For that… I am truly sorry.”

So that workload really had been unexpected…

Thinking back now, during the time Wilm was running the Derby, my working conditions were basically, “How did I not die?”

They say lions throw their cubs into valleys to toughen them up—but if you actually drop someone from that height, they just die.

Even for training, that had been… a bit too much.

Behind her, Tazuna-san pressed a hand to her cheek and sighed.

“I’m very sorry, Trainer Horino. Things turned out like that because of the Chairwoman’s sudden idea…

I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen—she insisted it was absolutely necessary.”

"Apology!! That part is entirely my responsibility! I have no excuse!"

The chairwoman bowed her head deeply.

But I shook my head and answered with a smile.

"I accept your apology. And I don’t hold it against you.

It’s true there were painful times—hard times. But because of your decision, I was able to meet Wilm… my beloved partner.

So I believe this present is the best possible outcome. If anything, I’m grateful to you.

Thank you for allowing me to take on a dedicated trainee, and for supporting me from behind the scenes."

"Thank you… Hearing you say that truly saves me."

She nodded once, then suddenly stood up with a clatter, thrusting her fan toward me again.

“…Very well! Once more—Trainer Horino Ayumu!

As Chairwoman of Tracen Academy, I hereby issue you a directive!"

With a mischievous grin, she snapped the fan open.

"Run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and together with your beloved partner Hoshino Wilm—deliver the greatest race possible!!

I’m counting on you!!"

On the fan were written the bold characters:

"Encouragement."