"We received a call from Rice Shower last night," Ms. Hayakawa began, her voice level but weighty. "She specifically requested that you take over as her trainer."
"...Eh? I'm sorry, what?"
That's strange, I thought. I've suddenly developed acute hearing loss. I could have sworn she just said I'd received a direct request to train Rice Shower, but surely, that had to be a hallucination.
I had come to the Chairman's office specifically to discuss Rice Shower's situation, but there was no way a "reverse-offer" was already waiting for me.
"You are aware that her previous trainer has taken a leave of absence, yes?"
"Yes... I saw the internal email about it yesterday."
Humor aside, I asked for confirmation. Ms. Hayakawa nodded gravely.
"REGRET! We failed to protect them! The loss of her previous trainer is a matter of the utmost bitterness!"
The Chairwoman shouted, gripping her folded fan so tightly I thought it might snap in her tiny hands. Seeing her genuine frustration, I realized that the Tracen Academy upper management was painfully aware of the toxic atmosphere surrounding Rice Shower and her former staff.
But if they knew, why pass the buck to me? Even if Rice had requested it, shouldn't they be the ones to stop her?
"Therefore, we wish to prioritize Rice Shower's personal wishes when selecting her successor," Ms. Hayakawa continued.
"And that leads you to me... or rather, us? With all due respect, I've only been a trainer for six months. I'm a complete novice. Furthermore, the Umamusume I'm currently training is a dirt sprinter. She and Rice Shower couldn't be further apart in terms of strategy or distance..."
It was only natural to prioritize the girl's wishes, but being blindsided like this was, frankly, overwhelming.
"Of course, the final decision rests with you," Ms. Hayakawa said, her expression darkening with sympathy. "It is a vexing reality, but taking on Rice Shower means risking the same senseless harassment that broke her previous trainer."
"INDEED! Should you accept, we pledge our full cooperation! Interviews and media access regarding Rice Shower will be strictly filtered through the Academy!"
The Chairwoman hammered her desk with her small fists, looking ready to breathe fire in her indignation.
(Me? Rice Shower's trainer...?)
It was a tempting proposal. I had seen her run in the Kikuka-sho; it was a breathtaking performance. To be a part of that, to help a talent like hers flourish—that was the pinnacle of what it meant to be a trainer.
But I had zero experience with turf racers. Beyond that, I was currently struggling just to keep up with Urara, a dirt sprinter. While I'd learned the basics of turf training at the institute, Rice Shower was the polar opposite of Urara in every conceivable way.
A dark thought crossed my mind. Is this just a PR move? Are they asking me to lend my name as a formality while Rice trains herself? Or worse—are they using a rookie like me as a sacrificial lamb to appease the crazed fans?
(No, stop it. Don't let the paranoia win. They wouldn't do that... right?)
I had come here to beg them to find the best possible trainer for Rice. Instead, I found myself in the crosshairs of the selection process.
Sensing my hesitation and suspicion, Ms. Hayakawa fixed me with a piercing, sincere gaze.
"I understand this is difficult to believe. However, we hold you in very high regard."
Really? Or are you just buttering me up for the slaughter? I wondered if my heart had become jaded. It was a phrase that set me on edge.
"High regard? I'm the guy who needed four tries just to get his Umamusume her first maiden win."
A better trainer would have led Urara to victory on her debut. Or at the very least, her second race.
Through our time together, I had come to see Haru Urara's true potential, and I believed in her with all my heart. I didn't regret taking her on for a second—but I deeply regretted my own lack of skill and experience.
The idea of a trainer like me handling a G1 winner sounded like a bad joke.
"That. Is. Precisely. What we are evaluating," Ms. Hayakawa said, emphasizing each word.
"...Which part, exactly?"
I didn't mean to be rude, but I was genuinely lost. Ms. Hayakawa stepped forward, a hint of excitement in her eyes.
"We highly value the training caliber required to bring that Haru Urara to victory by her fourth race. We watched the broadcast of that fourth race, and her Winning Live performance. We have also monitored your daily practice sessions. Seeing the bond of trust between you two, we decided it would be foolish to dismiss you simply because you are a 'rookie.'"
(Wait... they were watching our practices? For real?)
I wondered which embarrassing moments they'd caught, but a more pressing detail caught my attention.
"Excuse me, but what did you mean by 'that' Haru Urara?"
Did Ms. Hayakawa have knowledge of horse racing from my world? No, that was impossible. Besides, the "Haru Urara" I knew was a celebrity precisely because she never won. Ms. Hayakawa's tone suggested something different—as if there was a problem with the girl herself.
In response to my question, Ms. Hayakawa glanced at the Chairwoman. The Chairwoman nodded, signaling Ms. Hayakawa to produce a file. She pulled out a single document and handed it to me.
"This document is strictly confidential. Please do not disclose its contents."
(You know, saying that makes it really hard to actually want to take the paper...)
I kept the protest to myself and, after a moment of hesitation, scanned the page. My eyes widened.
"Um... is this a mistake? According to these enrollment records, Urara passed the Tracen Academy entrance exam based on her interview alone?"
These were her test results. I could see why they were confidential—they revealed the Academy's grading rubrics—but the real issue was that Urara hadn't met a single passing standard for athletics or academics.
(Wait... did she get in through a back door?)
I felt like I had just touched a state secret. Was this a threat? Take the job or the girl gets expelled? If so, I was ready to surrender immediately.
(No, no... they wouldn't. Not them.)
I looked back and forth between them, searching for their intent. Ms. Hayakawa gave a wry smile.
"Your confusion is warranted. While Haru Urara did not meet the benchmarks for academics or physical ability, she received an unprecedented score during her interview."
"APPROVED! We judged that she possessed a rare, invaluable power that other Umamusume lack! We granted her admission! There is no issue!"
If the Chairwoman approved it, then I suppose it was legal. But as I stood there worrying, Ms. Hayakawa's smile softened.
"Haru Urara stated that she applied because she believed she could have more fun and find more 'excitement' in the races here at Tracen."
"EMOTION! It gladdened my heart to hear her speak of the Academy in such a way! I believed her brightness would become a light that illuminates all other Umamusume!"