Chapter 198: Mecha, the Emperor, and the Season of the Japan Cup
For better or worse, people are trend-chasers.
Sometimes they cling to old ways or traditions, but more often than not, they’re drawn to something new—unknown experiences.
Just hearing phrases like “a new era” or “something unprecedented” can make something feel several times more appealing.
There are plenty of people like that—and if we’re being honest, everyone has experienced it at least once.
There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Being moved by new stimuli is only natural for a living being—for a human.
That’s exactly why trends and movements are so powerful…
To put it bluntly, even the Uma Musume racing scene rides that wave to some extent.
It’s not that people would outright prefer a famous horse from ten years ago any less than one they know now—but memories are constantly being updated, and it’s only natural for the past to fade.
Of course, that applies to our team—and to the current Twinkle Series as well.
Thanks to Nature’s victory in the recent Tenno Sho (Autumn)—a win so flawless it’s hard to describe it any other way—the burden on our Hoshino Wilm–Mihono Bourbon team has become much… no, much lighter.
The first Arc de Triomphe victory in history. The first undefeated Triple Crown.
On top of that, far too many stories had piled onto the performances of the Uma Musume under my care.
As a result, the pressure placed on a single team had grown overwhelming—far beyond what should ever be expected.
But thanks to Nature’s efforts, things have finally begun to settle down.
"Normally, having less work would be a problem… but right now, I’m genuinely grateful. Sorry to those girls, but still…"
"I thought I was going to die…! This time, I really thought I was going to die…!"
"Masa, how many times have you said that now?"
"It’s not a joke!! I’m going to die! I really will! Just look at my face!!!"
"It is pale."
"Don’t say it so calmly! How are you acting like you’re fine, you idiot big brother?! I’ll knock you flat!"
"Threatening to hit me before saying that is a bit unreasonable, don’t you think?"
Back when I was handling everything alone last year, it was a complete disaster. I even got good at using makeup to hide how bad I looked.
If anything, I’m confident I’m better than most at looking fine when I’m not.
…Though Wilm sees right through it. We’ve been together too long.
Anyway, putting that aside—
"Well, there’s a limit to how much work we can pass on to them, so this isn’t a bad development. Honestly, if it dropped to… about a tenth of what it is now, that’d be ideal."
I muttered that to myself as I tapped away at the keyboard.
At the end of the day, there’s a limit to how much work a single Uma Musume—especially top-tier racing athletes like them—can handle.
Neither Wilm nor Bourbon is particularly interested in money; both are deeply devoted to racing.
It’s that mindset that drives them forward.
Of course, showing appreciation to fans is important—but they prioritize daily training above all else. That’s why it’s impossible to schedule work every day like you would for a typical entertainer.
At most, one or two jobs a week. Three, if you really push it.
And realistically, considering stamina and motivation, there need to be weeks with no work at all.
So then, how much work were they getting before the Tenno Sho?
Even after the Tracen administrative office filtered everything down, it was about five hundred offers per week.
After passing through Masa’s filter, that dropped to around fifty.
Then I filtered it further—down to about five.
Those were presented to the two of them, and they decided what to accept.
Even putting it mildly, sending out rejection responses was a nightmare.
Since Wilm won the Triple Crown last year, we’ve had special arrangements with the office—but even then, there were still plenty of cases where we had to respond personally…
That’s why having fewer offers is actually a blessing.
Even if Nature’s rise reduces the number from five hundred to three hundred, we still have to reject over 99% of them.
Given the sheer volume—and our relationship with the URA—the quality and pay of offers won’t drop.
If anything, fewer rejections and rescheduling requests mean a massive reduction in workload for me and Masa.
Thanks to that, our team—which had been walking a path through hell since the Kikuka Sho—has finally started to regain some stability.
In more ways than one, we owe a lot to Nice Nature.
"Phew… somehow we survived another death march. Good work, Masa. …Masa?"
When I looked over at my sister—who had been working tirelessly as my sub-trainer—
she was face-down on the desk, completely out cold.
"S-she’s dead…!"
…To be honest.
As Wilm and Bourbon’s trainer, it’s not like I feel nothing about having work taken away from them.
I believe they’re the strongest, coolest, and cutest in the world. Seeing their popularity waver makes me feel like the world just doesn’t have any taste.
And it’s not just me. Even if in different ways, my trainees probably feel the same.
Idol work is part of their profession too. It would be strange if they didn’t feel anything about losing it.
But even so… both they and I can accept it.
Because Nature’s performance in the Tenno Sho really was that incredible.
I pride myself on evaluating Wilm and Bourbon more fairly—and more highly—than anyone else in the world.
They’re not like me—a replaceable, ordinary person who just worked hard.
They’re absolute, one-of-a-kind stars.
And because I’m someone who works with crafted brilliance, I understand better than anyone just how precious that light is.
But objectively speaking—
even compared to their performances, when it comes to pure technical mastery… I can’t say they surpass Nice Nature.
Hoshino Wilm, Tokai Teio, and Understandable—they’re geniuses.
And because of that, they inevitably rely on that talent.
In a sense, they’re bound by it. Their running is built upon that natural brilliance, for better or worse.
But Nice Nature is different.
Without relying on innate talent, she defeated a powerhouse born of pedigree—Mejiro McQueen—through pure accumulated skill, fundamentals, and tactical insight.
An Uma Musume who gained more than what she was born with—who pushed beyond the limits of her own soul just to stand alongside the stars.
There’s no one left in Japan—or even the world—who wouldn’t call her top-class.
"It was beautiful… I can’t believe she went that far."
If I had to sum up her run in one phrase—
it would be this:
The optimal solution.
She created—and drew in—the ideal race flow for herself.
And once it all came together, she defeated a great rival with room to spare.
With maximum efficiency, she moved people’s hearts, controlled the race through optimal means, and brought it to fruition with flawless tactics.
A run that could only be called brilliant—the perfect answer.
And that’s what pushed her—who had once fallen just short of the absolute top—into the realm of the stars.
…Even so.
"Precisely because it’s beautiful, it’s easy to break."
Just as Tokai Teio is my natural enemy—and I am hers—
Wilm is weak against Nice Nature.
But as for Nice Nature’s natural enemy…
that would be me.
In the end, if something is an optimal solution, then it can be calculated.
If there’s no explosive burst of spirit during the race—only the most efficient path to victory—
then someone like me, who has studied and analyzed races more than anyone, can read that plan completely and crush it from above.
Wilm and I are partners who complement each other.
That’s why we have no openings.
Whether it’s Tokai Teio or Nice Nature—
if they stand in our way, we’ll defeat them. That’s all there is to it.
…Well, I got a bit fired up thinking about rival teams’ success.
But in the end, the optimal path to victory is the accumulation of daily training.
For us trainers, our main job is to guide and support that process.
…Right? Sending rejection emails and managing finances isn’t supposed to be the main part of the job, right? I feel like I’m losing my identity here.
With that in mind, I wrapped up the now somewhat manageable workload and decided to check on my trainees, who should be hard at training as usual.
Today, Wilm is on the woodchip course, working on building more power.
Bourbon is doing pool training—recovering from fatigue while addressing her weaknesses.
I hesitated for a moment over which one to check on…
but ultimately chose Wilm.
Since the Kikuka Sho, Bourbon’s condition has been stable—in a good way.
But Wilm, after witnessing Nature’s rise, has gotten a bit too fired up.
She’s a third-year veteran, so it’s hard to imagine her overdoing it now…
but when it comes to racing, she can get carried away.
As both her trainer—and, in a way, her guardian—it’s better to stay cautious.
So, I headed to the Tracen woodchip course…
“…Hm?”
And there, I ran into someone unexpected.
"Hey there, Wilm’s trainer."
"Tokai Teio."
Standing before me—waiting—was Tokai Teio.
Hoshino Wilm’s rival, and one of the central figures of the current Twinkle Series—
the Absolute Emperor herself.
Tokai Teio.
A name that needs no introduction—the second star of this generation.
While Symboli Rudolf is known as the Eternal Emperor, Teio has come to be called the Absolute Emperor since this spring.
She is Hoshino Wilm’s greatest rival.
If Nice Nature aims for indirect victory through skill and strategy—
then Tokai Teio seeks direct victory through sheer talent.
The other Uma Musume—their rivals—don’t matter.
They crush everything with the best performance they themselves can produce.
That’s the kind of self-centered, unrivaled genius she is.
"Bold of you… scouting your enemy so openly, aren’t you?"
Along the outer rail of the course where Wilm was running—
I directed the question at Tokai Teio, who stood beside me watching her.
It hardly needs saying, but our team and Tokai Teio’s are, simply put, rivals.
Not just Hoshino Wilm—Mihono Bourbon, who is finally set to enter senior mixed races in the upcoming Japan Cup, must also overcome Tokai Teio.
And yet, here she was, observing a training session that wasn’t open to the public.
It would be stranger not to be suspicious.
At the same time, though, something felt off.
If it were Nice Nature, I’d understand. She’s the type who gathers information to win—this kind of scouting would be second nature to her.
But Tokai Teio? She’s the type who grows by honing herself.
It’s not impossible for her to come gather information like this… but it doesn’t quite fit.
…In the end, that sense of unease turned out to be right.
Tokai Teio shook her head and answered.
"No, it’s not Wilm I’ve got business with today… it’s Wilm’s trainer."
"Me?"
I didn’t tilt my head in confusion.
To be honest, I had considered that possibility.
I just thought it was unlikely… and somewhere deep down, I couldn’t quite believe it.
But it seemed that this was, in fact, reality.
"Yeah. …I want your help.
At this rate, the Japan Cup’s looking a bit uncertain."
As she watched Wilm run, what Tokai Teio proposed was—
a temporary alliance for the Japan Cup.
More precisely, a joint training arrangement until the race.
The Japan Cup.
A race where overseas Uma Musume compete every year.
A race that, in a sense, determines Japan’s standing against the world—a contest of national pride.
And among this year’s competitors, the most notable—and most dangerous—opponent is…
Understandable, the Heroic Princess.
A true monster from England—one who might even stand shoulder to shoulder with Wilm.
Based on my calculations and instincts…
her absolute potential—under certain conditions—surpasses even Tokai Teio’s.
When she has a “target” to chase, her momentum is nothing short of terrifying.
Even the second star of this generation cannot guarantee victory against her.
…It’s embarrassing to admit, but I don’t think I’ve ever fully grasped Tokai Teio as an Uma Musume.
My so-called reincarnation cheat—this “app reincarnation”—can accurately measure physical specs.
But sometimes, Uma Musume exceed those limits.
Tokai Teio is the embodiment of that.
Frankly, she has never once performed strictly within her measurable specs—she always surpasses expectations.
That’s exactly why she’s the natural enemy of someone like me, who relies on data.
Because of that, I had assumed—
that Tokai Teio, of all people, would still declare without hesitation that she would defeat Understandable.
But apparently… that wasn’t the case.
Seeing my surprise, Teio waved her hand.
"No, no—that’s not it… well, it’s not like I haven’t thought that way.
But relying on others—doing everything you possibly can—that’s not something bad or shameful.
…Watching Nature made that clear. So I decided I’d use every option available to me too. That’s all."
Teio met my gaze with sincerity as she said that.
…Nice Nature, honestly.
Just like Wilm—she influences everyone around her far too much.
I hid both my exasperation and my satisfaction, and faced Teio with a slight frown.
As someone who loves Uma Musume racing, her growth and mental evolution are something I welcome wholeheartedly.
But my position is that of the contracted trainer for Hoshino Wilm and Mihono Bourbon.
I’m not on Tokai Teio’s side.
I’m someone who must bring results for my girls.
I need to confirm her seriousness…
Let’s start with a jab.
"That’s quite a convenient proposal, especially so suddenly.
Hoshino Wilm is currently the only Uma Musume in the world to have overcome Understandable. The value of learning that method from her is immeasurable.
On the other hand, can you really say there’s any benefit for us in teaming up with you?"
Normally, I wouldn’t speak this plainly in negotiations.
I’d conceal my thoughts, pick apart the other side’s words, and seize psychological control—that’s the Horino style.
But… she’s still young, and I’m just testing her.
Besides, if it’s Tokai Teio—someone as sharp as my brother—I figured she’d understand the intent behind my words.
And indeed, she did.
Or perhaps she had already anticipated it.
She nodded.
"I’ll leave the training standards and content to you. I’ll make suggestions, but I won’t force anything. And I won’t complain afterward.
On top of that, until the Japan Cup, you can measure my specs—Tokai Teio’s. If you tell me to run at full power, I will. I promise."
…Hm. Weak.
As compensation, it’s underwhelming.
Compared to what we’d be giving, it’s not enough to justify going out of our way to cooperate.
Delegating training conditions is a given.
Wilm and Bourbon are trained based on my “app reincarnation” system.
If that gets disrupted by conflicting command structures, the entire plan falls apart.
And measuring Tokai Teio’s specs isn’t that valuable either.
There are other ways to gauge that—and more importantly, I already know her baseline.
Her true strength only emerges in real races. Even if she intends to go all out, there’s no guarantee her spirit will respond the same way outside of competition.
In exchange, what we’d be offering is—
my training methodology.
And a rough disclosure of Wilm and Bourbon’s current capabilities.
It’s not completely unbalanced…
but it’s not enough to justify the deal either.
So I was about to settle this with a simple "I’ll consider it," when—
"More importantly… under you—under Trainer Horino—I’ll become stronger.
Tokai Teio… Wilm’s rival… Bourbon’s senior… will become even stronger."
…Ah.
Before I realized it, my lips had curled into a smile.
A perfect psychological strike.
She has almost no technique, and barely knows me—
yet instinctively, she grasped exactly what I wanted most.
"…Heh. That’s quite a blunt way of putting it. If it weren’t me, you’d probably earn some resentment for that."
"That’s my line."
"Fair enough. Then we’re even—and that makes us equals."
With that, I extended my hand to Tokai Teio.
"Very well. If you grow stronger… my girls will enjoy racing even more. That’s more than enough benefit for me.
I look forward to working with you, Tokai Teio. Let your trainer know as well."
"Same here… you’re going to train me just like you train them, right?"
"I’m a contracted trainer. If I’m taking care of you, I’ll do everything I can."
"Mm!"
Teio smiled in satisfaction and took my hand.
…Well then.
Just when I thought my workload had decreased, it’s gone right back up again.
First, I’ll need to check Wilm and Bourbon’s stats, align them with their schedules, get Teio’s availability, and adjust everything accordingly…
Actually, it might be faster to rebuild everything from scratch.
Then cancel the track and gym reservations… I’ll probably need to bring apology gifts to the administrative office.
After that, reset target stats for each race, revise strategies…
Yeah. Plenty to do.
But that’s nothing.
If it means making them stronger—Hoshino Wilm and Mihono Bourbon—
then as their trainer, I’ll do anything.
I’ll prepare the best possible environment, give them perfect training…
and even set up towering walls for them to overcome.
…Before that, though—
I need to figure out how to explain this to Masa, who I left sleeping on the sofa…
and to Wilm, who just noticed me holding hands with Teio and is now staring in stunned silence.
"Hm? …Ahahaha! You’ve got it rough, Trainer Horino!"
"If you think so, how about letting go of my hand, Tokai Teio?"
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