Chapter 75. A New Mission
This time, Shuta An remained in the Dream World for quite a while. After getting off the plane, he accompanied Yoshida Katsumi to the hospital. By the time they arrived, however, Yoshida Zenya had already fallen unconscious.
Knowing that he was, in the end, still an outsider, the young man chose not to remain inside the ward with the Yoshida Family. Instead, he quietly stepped outside and stayed with the other industry professionals who had come to pay their respects.
"Although this isn't exactly the right occasion to discuss such matters, Shuta-kun, your achievements in Europe over the past few months have truly been remarkable."
Several JRA Trainers closely associated with the Shadai Group approached to greet him, offering congratulations on his recent overseas success while subtly expressing their hopes of working with him more closely once he returned to Japan.
After chatting with them for a while, Shuta An noticed Hokuto Vega's Trainer, Nakano Takayoshi, approaching him. After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, Trainer Nakano got straight to the point.
"The Clement L. Hirsch Stakes for Hokuto Vega is the day after tomorrow. If Shuta-kun wishes to remain in Japan to bid farewell to Mr. Yoshida, I've already arranged for a backup jockey in America."
"I've already contacted my agent and asked him to book me on tonight's flight to Del Mar,"
Shuta An answered without hesitation.
"I'll use tomorrow to adjust to the local conditions, so I'll be fully prepared for the race the following day. I was the one who suggested sending Hokuto Vega overseas in the first place, so naturally I should be the one riding her. No one is more suitable than I am."
"Thank you for your hard work, Shuta-kun."
Trainer Nakano had indeed planned to remind him not to neglect Hokuto Vega's race, but he hadn't expected the young man to have already made every arrangement.
"There are nine horses entered for this year's Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, and Hokuto Vega drew the outermost gate. That's rather unfortunate,"
Trainer Nakano sighed. "I'm not familiar with Del Mar Racetrack, so I'll have to entrust everything to you."
"Del Mar's dirt course only has a 280-meter home straight. However, Hokuto Vega is capable of securing an early position, and 1,700 meters is well within her stamina range. If everything goes smoothly, I'll most likely send her aggressively to the front, perhaps even take the lead from the start."
Shuta An had barely begun outlining his race plan when Trainer Nakano raised a hand to stop him.
"I said I'm entrusting everything to you, Shuta-kun. There's no need to explain it to me. Ride however you think is best."
After a brief pause, he continued, "After all, this is an American dirt race. If we win, it'll make history. If we lose—or even suffer a crushing defeat—that wouldn't be surprising either."
"I'll take full responsibility for whatever happens, so don't burden yourself with unnecessary pressure."
"Understood."
Those words only made the weight in Shuta An's heart feel even heavier. More than anyone, he didn't want Trainer Nakano to shoulder responsibility on his behalf.
That evening, just a few minutes before Shuta An was scheduled to leave the hospital for the airport and begin his journey to America for the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Yoshida Zenya quietly drew his final breath.
After offering one final bow inside the ward, the young man silently left the hospital.
"I'll stay behind and help with everything here in your place," his agent volunteered immediately after picking him up outside the hospital.
"Thank you, Manager Kohara," Shuta An replied quietly.
"Shuta-kun... please accept my condolences. I know Mr. Yoshida was an incredibly important benefactor to you, but we have to keep moving forward."
Manager Kohara carefully chose every word.
"I understand." Shuta An gently shook his head. "You don't need to comfort me. I'll simply vent everything through my riding."
As he spoke, he unconsciously grasped his left wrist with his right hand.
—
Before boarding the plane, Shuta An's consciousness detached from the Dream World.
He gripped his hair tightly, his brows knitted together.
"Now, I have one more reason to win the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes."
Since there had been no races in the Dream World the previous night, he didn't bother checking the Attribute Viewer to see whether anything had changed.
After breakfast, the young man drove to work.
Today's priorities were to finalize Mejiro Dober's training program for the next two weeks before beginning opponent analysis for Tokai Teio's and Rice Shower's upcoming races.
In short, despite leaving for Paris the following week, he didn't have a single idle moment this week.
After clocking in, the young man turned to Kitahara.
"Remember to check our Line group later. We're meeting at the usual place after work. Dinner's on me."
"Got it, got it~" Kitahara replied with a grin. "Should we invite a few more people? I remember Fumino Nase-san is also planning to go overseas. How about asking her too?"
"I don't mind," Shuta An answered with a shrug. "One more person or one less won't make any difference. But you'll have to ask Nishizaki and the others first. I'm not sure how close they are with Miss Nase. If they're only acquaintances, it'd be awkward if someone got drunk and made a scene."
"Don't worry. Nishizaki-san praises Miss Fumino Nase all the time."
Kitahara gave him a thumbs-up.
Shuta An, however, immediately sensed something strange in that statement.
"Tsk, tsk..."
Clicking his tongue with an amused shake of his head, he left the office and headed toward the Sadalsuud activity room to begin the day's work.
Sitting down at his desk, Shuta An switched on his computer and prepared to make the final adjustments to the training program he had designed for Mejiro Dober.
"Let's see how Dober's condition is."
With that thought, he opened the Attribute Viewer.
The next instant, he froze.
"Eh?"
His eyes widened.
For the first time in quite a while, the Attribute Viewer had issued a new mission.
Pay Final Respects to the Deceased
Win four G1 races across the four continents of Asia, Europe, America, and Oceania in the Dream World, with at least one victory coming aboard a Sunday Silence progeny.
"Good thing it only requires one," Shuta An muttered. "If all four had to be Sunday Silence progeny, that would've been rather troublesome."
He didn't even bother checking the reward.
To him, regardless of what the reward might be, he had already resolved to pursue as much honor as possible in the Dream World.
"But first—"
He closed the mission window.
"Back to work. I'll finish Dober's training program before I leave the office and send it to her. Formal training can begin tomorrow."
Considering that the overall strength of the Prix Vermeille field was lower than that of the Yorkshire Oaks, Shuta An designed Mejiro Dober's new training plan with a greater emphasis on further developing her physical capabilities rather than preparing elaborate tactical counters for specific opponents.
After witnessing Stoute's failed strategy at the Yorkshire Oaks, one truth had become even clearer in his mind.
No matter how brilliant a tactical plan might be, it is meaningless without the strength—and the mentality—to execute it.