Chapter 193: I’ve been watching all your hard work this whole time. You really did well.

"Um… first, I want to apologize for how overwhelmed I’ve been these past few days.

A trainer is supposed to stay composed at all times, so I imagine it must have been unsettling for you to see me working without that composure. For that, I’m sorry."

"From me as well… I’m sorry, both of you."

Masa and I lowered our heads to the two Uma Musume gathered in the trainer’s office.

That unbearably long October was finally coming to an end.

After returning to Japan from the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, dealing with the storm of attention surrounding Wilm, fine-tuning Bourbon for her final adjustments, and then handling the explosion of work following her Kikuka Sho run… Masa and I had been drowning in the aftermath without a moment’s rest.

Wilm’s Arc victory, and Bourbon’s Triple Crown.

What those results suggested was… the “denial of bloodline-based strength,” and the “affirmation of strength through proper training.”

Until now, it had been common knowledge that Uma Musume racing was a “blood sport”—in other words, a competition dependent on pedigree.

Girls born from excellent lineage were strong, while those from humble origins struggled to stand out.

There were rare exceptions—those called “monsters”—but they were just that: exceptions.

Bloodline had always been the foundation, the standard—an unshakable truth.

But—

Wilm achieved results that should have been impossible, and then Bourbon followed it up by winning the Triple Crown undefeated.

In Bourbon’s case, she even surpassed the distance aptitudes dictated by her bloodline.

And both of them came from modest backgrounds… and both had the same trainer.

How would the world interpret that?

Even a low-born Uma Musume can achieve results, as long as a genius trainer provides optimal training.

In other words, a rejection of the very idea of a “blood sport.”

…In reality, though, that’s not quite right.

Because I’m not winning through pure ability—I’m using a cheat.

“App Reincarnation.” I still don’t fully understand its source or structure, but without it, I wouldn’t have been able to raise Wilm or Bourbon to this level.

It’s a special power with no reproducibility… though, in a way, I suppose it could be considered a kind of personal talent.

Either way, without something this absurd, you can’t overcome the wall of bloodlines. Pedigree should still remain the fundamental standard…

But no matter what I say now, the world wouldn’t believe it.

People believe what they want to believe—and they turn what’s interesting into “fact.”

…That said.

There are people in this world—like Silence Suzuka, Understandable, or even the trainers who support legends, perhaps even my rivals—who don’t have cheats, yet possess talent on par with one.

If a trainer with talent that can rival my cheat ever appears… then maybe the wall of bloodline won’t remain absolute.

Like the protagonist trainer from my previous life’s app—that would be the perfect example.

In this world, he trained Sky, but even if he had trained someone without a name, he likely would have produced results…

…Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked.

In short, the world saw our rise as “the arrival of a new era.”

The very ground people stood on—their common sense—was crumbling.

Like when people learned the Earth was round, that it moved instead of the heavens, or that humans evolved from apes.

It was seen as the moment humanity cast aside uncertain old knowledge and stepped into a new, certain truth.

The world was shaken. Excited.

And as a result… everything descended into chaos.

It was… truly insane.

Masa and I couldn’t handle it alone, so we swallowed our pride and asked the chairwoman for help, coordinating with the administrative office. Even then, it wasn’t enough, so staff were dispatched from the URA.

We cut our sleep down to an average of thirty minutes a day, and only then did things barely stay afloat.

That was probably the busiest period of my life—without a doubt.

We caused everyone involved a literal, “life-threatening” level of trouble and hardship. By the end, we had all developed a strange sense of camaraderie, staring at each other with dead eyes while saying, "Let’s do our best to support the steeds of the new era."

Well, we all chose this work ourselves. Even while screaming internally and snapping in frustration, there was still a sense of fulfillment.

At least, there was that.

And so, for the past few days, we worked ourselves to the bone.

Adjusting schedules to avoid overburdening Wilm and Bourbon, organizing and managing events, battling mountains of paperwork that grew by the minute, and, of course, finalizing their training plans.

Adjust, adjust, adjust! Report, report, report! Reject, reject, reject! Names, names, names! Meetings, meetings, meetings!

Every day was a blur of endless tasks piling up fast enough to make your head spin.

And in all of that, Masa and I… lost the composure we should have maintained as adults.

Adults are supposed to guide those who come after them.

We’re meant to remain calm, dependable, steady.

That was drilled into me endlessly as the child of a prestigious family.

My father embodied it—someone I always admired.

My mother as well—always calm, always someone I could rely on.

That’s why Masa and I tried to maintain composure in front of the girls—to never show anything unsightly—

…Well, aside from that one incident with Masa… yeah, she regrets that enough, so let’s leave it at that.

…We tried to be careful.

But this time… we didn’t have even a shred of composure left.

It was a total war that demanded everything we had just to stay afloat.

No—no excuses.

The truth is, these past few days, we were completely unfit as trainers.

Once again, we bowed our heads in apology.

In response… one of the girls hurried over in a panic, while the other gently shook her head.

"No, no, you really don’t need to worry about that! We know you’ve been working hard for us, and we’re not so ungrateful as to complain!"

"I agree with senpai. I watched more closely than anyone how hard Master worked for me."

"Bourbon-chan? Not just for ‘me’—for ‘us,’ okay? And I was watching too, you know?"

Wilm spoke earnestly, trying to reassure us… while Bourbon, perhaps trying to lighten the mood, teased her slightly.

Looking at them, I truly felt how fortunate I was to have such wonderful students.

"…Thank you, both of you. I’ve really been blessed with the people I’ve met."

"I’m honored, but… how many hours did you sleep yesterday, Ayumu-san? You kind of remind me of how you were that one time."

"I didn’t sleep yesterday."

"And the day before?"

"Didn’t sleep."

"GO TO SLEEP!!!"

---

Since I couldn’t exactly go to sleep just because they told me to, I moved on to the main topic.

"Alright then—okay, okay, I get it. I’ll take a nap after this meeting, just wait.

Now then, let’s begin our strategy meeting for the races this autumn."

A regular occurrence for our team.

Though this time, it felt more like deciding our future direction.

As I declared the start, Masa brought over the whiteboard as usual, and I began writing.

We’d worked together long enough—siblings for years, and she had been my sub-trainer for a year. This level of coordination came naturally.

"First, let’s list the remaining G1 races from mile to long distance…"

11/1 — Tenno Sho (Autumn)
11/15 — Queen Elizabeth II Cup
11/22 — Mile Championship
11/29 — Japan Cup
12/27 — Arima Kinen

"These are the remaining G1 races this year.

As I mentioned before, Wilm’s return will be at the Arima Kinen.

Until then, we’ll gradually readjust her legs to Japanese turf and prepare her body for peak condition."

"Ugh… hearing it again, that’s just cruel… There are so many races I could run, so many opponents I could crush… If possible, I want to enter them all and win everything…"

Wilm pretended to sob dramatically.

If I didn’t stop her, she might actually try to run five G1 races in two months. She’d break her legs.

"Racing isn’t going anywhere. You can afford to hold back a little.

…Well, your time in the Twinkle Series isn’t exactly unlimited either."

"Yeah… at this rate, can I even secure all the mid- to long-distance G1 titles…?"

"Don’t casually throw out terrifying goals like that."

"…?"

Wilm didn’t question my words—she had probably expected them.

But Bourbon, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head.

"Senpai… what do you mean, her time in the Twinkle Series is limited?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. Wilm has already achieved outstanding results in this series. That’s great—but at the same time… she’s achieved too much."

The Arc, the Senior Triple Crown—her accomplishments and ability were beyond doubt.

That’s exactly why, soon enough, people would start saying this: “Move up to the Dream Trophy League already.”

That’s what always happens to high-performing Uma Musume.

Because they’re too strong—because they no longer have equals in the Twinkle Series—people want to see them in the next league, the Dream Trophy, where the strongest gather.

Part of it is about making room for younger runners… but more than that—

Fans want to know: if she’s this strong now, can she compete against the greatest of all time?

“Well, in the end, it’s up to Wilm and me what we choose… but at most, she can stay two more senior years—until the end of next year. After that, public opinion will get… difficult.”

“…I see.”

Bourbon narrowed her eyes slightly.

She looked… genuinely disappointed.

To someone who sees Wilm as a rival and wants to surpass her, it must feel like a time limit has been set.

But that’s not quite right.

“Bourbon. If you want to race Wilm more… then walk the same shining path she did.

Follow the history we’ve built, and you’ll be invited to that stage as well.

And then, you can settle things with her properly.”

…It might sound a bit blunt, but—

Some racing fans even say the Twinkle Series is just a prelude, and that the Dream Trophy is where the real competition begins.

In the Twinkle Series, most Uma Musume are still in the midst of reaching their peak, and what’s often being tested there is how early they mature.

In terms of raw talent and potential… to put it bluntly, it’s a mixed bag.

However, the Dream Trophy League—where only the true elites are invited—is the stage for the genuine top tier, the true strongest.

That’s why some say the real competition begins there.

Personally, I don’t agree with that.

The Twinkle Series is also a stage of challenge—a true battleground for the girls.

There’s no fundamental difference between it and the Dream Trophy.

That said…

I won’t deny that there are people who see it that way, nor the meaning behind dividing the leagues.

If the Twinkle Series is where “current” runners compete, then the Dream Trophy is where the “greats of all time” gather.

And for a girl like Wilm to compete on equal footing with both her peers and those who came after… the Dream Trophy League truly is the ultimate stage—a “dream arena,” in every sense.

“I’ll keep winning in the Dream Trophy League with Wilm.

So you and I just have to keep winning as we chase after her. In more ways than one, it’ll be a race to follow in Wilm’s footsteps.”

“I see… I understand the details.”

“Well, I’m not planning on getting passed, though! I’m strong, after all!”

Bourbon gave a small nod, while Wilm smiled brightly.

---

“Now then—this might sound like I’m contradicting myself, but it’ll be extremely difficult for Bourbon to keep winning at this rate.”

“What a brutal reversal!”

At my next words, Wilm flopped backward with a dramatic “whump.”

…No, seriously—seeing someone actually fall over like that is kind of alarming. Did she hit her head? Is she okay?

“…What do you mean by ‘extremely difficult’… no, rather, why is that?”

Meanwhile, Bourbon looked slightly displeased.

We’d been working together for a year now, and ever since the Kikuka Sho, her expressions had softened a bit. Even someone as unworthy as me could now grasp her emotions to some extent.

Come to think of it, Wilm used to be expressionless when we first met, too. And it took about a year before I could read her properly.

…The next girl I sign next year isn’t going to be another expressionless type, right? Please no.

Anyway, putting aside that strange concern, I answered her question.

“Simply put… the races you’ve been running until now and the races you’ll be entering from here on are practically two entirely different things.”

Mihono Bourbon is strong.

Honestly, if she had shown up as a rival during the Classic season, I would’ve been thinking, “Oh crap…” the whole time.

Setting aside that one absurd British prodigy, among her generation, she’s easily a cut above the rest—even on a global scale.

But—

That only applies within her generation, within the current Classic class.

Throw in the seasoned veterans of the Senior class, and Bourbon’s statistical advantage disappears—in fact, she’ll be the one at a disadvantage.

“Bourbon, you might be viewing Wilm as the only special one right now… but to be blunt, there are quite a few others who stand on her level.”

“The Generation of Stars.” That’s what Wilm’s generation is called.

Not “Hoshino Generation”—but the Generation of Stars.

Beyond Wilm, the dazzling first-magnitude star, there are many others worth noting.

There’s the absolute ruler, called a second-magnitude star… and the deeply calculating strategist, known as a third-magnitude star.

They may be running behind Wilm…

But the gap between them isn’t large.

If Wilm slows down even for a moment, or if they improve, they could catch up in an instant.

In fact, Teio closed that gap in the Tenno Sho (Spring) and managed to finish in a dead heat with Wilm.

To put it plainly, they are monsters in their own right—almost equal to Wilm in ability.

Right beside me, my beloved runner nodded along in agreement.

She knows better than anyone just how dangerous Teio and Nature are.

“Just like you can’t easily catch up to Wilm right now… to be frank, you won’t be able to keep outrunning the Senior-class runners so easily either.

Mixed races with Seniors—especially winter races—are nothing less than challenges against superior opponents for Classic runners.

This isn’t about you being inferior or Wilm being superior. It’s a fundamental premise.”

In the West, Classic runners have a lot of momentum, so the disadvantage isn’t as severe…

But in Japan, this tendency is very pronounced.

That’s why Wilm winning the Takarazuka Kinen—a mixed Senior race—while still a Classic runner in the summer was such an extraordinary achievement.

And there’s one more thing.

“On top of that, the situation now is different from last year.

Wilm’s existence has drastically raised the standard for her entire generation. The current Tokai Teio and Nice Nature possess monstrous ability—enough to rival Hoshino Wilm.”

A powerful rival can sometimes break a runner’s spirit and halt their progress…

But other times, it can ignite overwhelming growth.

Teio and Nature are perfect examples. Chasing the distant goal that is Wilm, they’ve become far stronger than they ever would have otherwise.

“Mihono Bourbon is strong—there’s no doubt about that. But I’ll say it clearly.

Only after the Kikuka Sho have you finally begun running alongside Wilm. Compared to those who’ve been running beside her since the very start of the Classic season… you’re already quite far behind.”

“…!”

Bourbon’s eyes widened.

At last, she seemed to grasp—on a fundamental level—the true difficulty and challenge of the races ahead.

The level she had reached—“running on the same stage as Hoshino Wilm.”

Teio and Nature had already reached that point more than a year and a half ago.

Combined with the gap in development caused by a one-year difference in peak timing, it created a massive divide between them.

“That’s why it will be difficult for you to keep winning.

Because continuing to win from here on out would, in effect, mean continuing to beat Hoshino Wilm.”

A heavy silence fell over the trainer’s office.

…Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve ever told one of my trainees, “Winning will be difficult.”

When Wilm ran in the Takarazuka Kinen, and when Bourbon challenged the Kikuka Sho, I always told them they could win.

And in truth, I could see a path to victory. I had a clear idea of how to train them, how to develop them.

But…

I can’t see a future where Bourbon remains undefeated.

For better or worse.

“You will lose at least once. There will be someone other than Wilm who you won’t be able to beat—you’ll be brought to your knees.

…But that’s necessary. More than anything, it will become nourishment for your growth going forward.

In Japan, there’s no Uma Musume who has continued winning G1 races indefinitely without ever losing. In a long racing career, a loss will come eventually. That’s unavoidable—and at the same time, it becomes a catalyst for further growth. Right?”

“Yes!”

When I directed the question to the koala-like girl clinging to my torso, she nodded with a bright smile.

Last year’s Arima Kinen was a bitter memory for us—but because of that, we were able to push even further this spring.

Defeat itself isn’t a bad thing.

It can be the spark that lets you rise again, stronger than before.

And that’s why—

“Now then, Bourbon, I have a proposal for you. Your next race will be the Japan Cup.”

“The Japan Cup…”

The Japan Cup—a race that draws numerous challengers from overseas.

This year’s edition would likely become a fierce, once-in-a-lifetime battle.

“The Tenno Sho (Autumn) wouldn’t have been a bad next step either.

Nice Nature, Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Palmer, and Daitaku Helios are all scheduled to run.

Running alongside two front-runners would be a valuable experience for you as a pace-setter yourself, and Nice Nature and Mejiro McQueen are top-tier runners who can stand alongside Wilm. Experiencing their strength firsthand would surely benefit you going forward.

…But it’s simply too soon after the Kikuka Sho. Considering the strain on your legs, it’s not an option.”

Because of the intense training leading up to the Kikuka Sho, Bourbon’s legs had accumulated significant fatigue.

Her right leg, in particular, was in a concerning state—something even an amateur could tell was approaching a dangerous threshold.

That’s why her current training load had been significantly reduced.

Under these conditions, entering the Tenno Sho would be reckless—even if the distance suited her perfectly.

“On the other hand, there’s also the option of skipping races until the Arima Kinen.

But… honestly, I don’t think that would be very beneficial for you.

Wilm will be running in the Arima. It would be your first direct matchup within the same team—but before facing Wilm, it would be better for you to run against other Senior-class rivals.

Experiencing the difference between your past races and what lies ahead, and then facing Wilm, would give you more experience—and increase your chances of winning.”

“Huh? I’m not losing, though? I’m 100% winning.”

The cute, bratty koala muttered something, but I ignored it.

“Still, my top recommendation is the Japan Cup.

After all, as you know, that hero will be there.”

Understandable—the figure who appeared before Bourbon at Kyoto Racecourse.

A true monster who made both Wilm and me think, What the hell is this thing!?

A heroic princess who could even reach the neck of a dragon.

“And representing Japan’s ‘defensive general’… Tokai Teio is scheduled to run.”

Tokai Teio—the genius who, despite running in the unfavorable Tenno Sho (Spring), finally stood shoulder to shoulder with the dragon.

Another natural-born monster who made both Wilm and me go, Yeah… that’s insane.

An absolute ruler who ran alongside the dragon, even reaching the heavens.

“The chance to face both of them at the same time will likely never come again.

For you, there’s no race that would offer more experience.

That’s why I strongly recommend the Japan Cup.”

As I said that, gently patting the head of the angelic, bratty koala clinging to me—who was noisily going, “I wanna race them too! That’s not fair!”—

Bourbon lowered her gaze, her expression troubled.

“Do you object?”

“…I have detected mental strain… discomfort… with a strategy that does not prioritize victory, but instead assumes defeat.

Both as an individual… and as ‘Master’s Uma Musume.’”

…?

Ah. I see.

“Bourbon, don’t misunderstand. I fully intend to make you win.”

“…? But earlier, you said that winning would be difficult…”

“Yeah, well—it’ll be extremely difficult.”

In fact, compared to any race so far—excluding last year’s Arima Kinen, which I couldn’t properly oversee—this would have the lowest chance of victory.

Right now, Bourbon is missing one clear element.

…And this race is where we’ll gain it—or rather, lose to gain it.

“No matter how low the odds are, if it leads to your growth, I’ll choose that path.

And no matter how low the odds are, I’ll do everything in my power to make you win. I’ll raise you with the best plan and the best environment possible.

…If I gave you the wrong impression, then that’s my fault—but my approach hasn’t changed.

I’m not entering this expecting to lose. Just like always, we’ll give it everything we have and fight for victory.”

I smiled faintly and spoke to her—my trainee.

“If we win, we’ll celebrate with everything we’ve got and push forward to the next race.

And if we lose… then we’ll be frustrated together.

We’re partners. Whether we win or lose, we keep moving forward together. The frustration of defeat and the drive to rise again—we carry all of it, together.”

“…I see. So that is your… no, our way of being.

Understood. Redefinition… complete.

Mihono Bourbon promises to give her all in the Japan Cup.”

---

“Alright, strategy meeting’s over—go to sleep! Right now! Sleep on my lap!!”

“Hey now, Wilm… what about dignity or—”

“Ayumu-san looks way worse than Masa-san! You’re pale as a ghost, like all the blood’s drained from your face! Hurry up! Sleep on this perfectly legal lap pillow from a 145-centimeter petite girl with a loli body type!!”

“That sounds so wrong when you say it like that.”

“Master, in that case, I am 160 centimeters tall, so there should be no issues with public perception. Please, use my lap.”

“Bourbon-chan!?!?”