"Asakusa-cho" Izakaya
The crisp sound of draft beer glasses clinking, light reflecting in the cups, in a bustling izakaya, two men sat facing each other.
"Congratulations, Koji! Your team seems to have achieved excellent results after going abroad for the competition this time!"
If Kazuo were present, he would immediately recognize this person as the old man who questioned him at the interview.
He was now raising a large glass of beer, looking vibrant, and congratulating the younger man.
This man looked to be only in his early twenties, with a very fashionable braided hairstyle and dark skin, possessing the handsome features of a stylish man.
Although a smile was on his face, a hint of melancholy was deeply hidden in his eyes.
"I didn't expect you to have grown into such an outstanding Trainer now! So let's celebrate today, drink to our heart's content, and not stop until we're drunk!"
At this moment, the old gentleman no longer had that refined demeanor. Perhaps influenced by the environment, he had become very bold and generous.
Koji smiled rather helplessly: "Then why didn't you take me to a high-end restaurant in Ginza to celebrate?"
"So noisy… You just returned to the country, the academy executives probably already took you to a high-end restaurant to celebrate, right? Or are you looking down on me, an old man, for bringing you to a place like this?"
Celebrate—
Coming in second in an international race is certainly something to celebrate... but—
Seeing him say that, Koji couldn't help but choke up, and quickly waved his hands in apology, saying, "Hey! How can you say that, old man? It's rare to get a meal out of you."
"Hmph... So smooth-tongued? If I treat you to a few more meals, will you decide to continue leading the team?"
Although the old man was smiling, his eyes were fixed on Koji.
A wry smile appeared on his face, and he waved his hand hesitantly, then softly said:
"...Sigh, spare me. I think I already told the Chairman that I want to rest properly for at least a year or two. Of course, if the Academy is willing to support a good-for-nothing like me, I'd be very happy!"
Although everyone was congratulating Koji, the old man could read something from his expression, which was why he brought Koji to this place.
"Well... that's not something I can persuade you about, and besides, I'm no longer involved in the Academy's decisions. Let these young people worry about the specifics!"
With that, the old man directly drained his beer.
He chuckled, as if not wanting to dwell too much on such topics.
Koji, however, seemed to have thought of something and leaned in conspiratorially.
"Ah, you say that... but... I've heard! They say you gave a newcomer a 'Special Rating' at this year's recruitment fair, didn't you?"
Hearing this, the old man was clearly a bit displeased.
"Eh! Those people at the Academy really have big mouths... Shouldn't that be an Academy secret?"
"Although I don't know much about these things, since I wasn't recruited through the Academy's hiring process... it's just that a Special Rating sounds impressive, doesn't it? But I see Ahua looks quite unconvinced... Is there really such an excellent person?"
Koji was clearly interested in this mysterious newcomer everyone was talking about.
"...No," the old man shrugged and chuckled, shaking his head. "In fact, it should be the opposite, right? The recruitment fair was almost over, and the last person to come for an interview was wearing a Yoshinoya delivery uniform. He was so scared by just one interview, he couldn't answer any questions, and he hadn't even gotten into university... I originally planned to just ask him a few questions and send him away."
"But then, that guy just happened to praise her to the skies..."
"Her?"
New ice cubes were added to his glass, and the old man slowly spoke the name.
When he heard that name, Koji's pupils slightly widened. It was a name he had rarely heard... "Eh, isn't that..."
"Hmph... indeed, that was the first Uma Musume from our Academy to participate in JRA Horse Racing. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her one of our first graduates... However, even so, she only achieved one win in five races after her debut, and then retired due to illness..."
Koji's expression was strange as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Although it might not be my place to say this, but... why would someone like that receive a Special Rating?"
"Hmph... Chairwoman Akikawa asked me the same thing..."
The old man slowly put down his glass and tapped the table lightly with his finger, as if it stirred his memories.
He spoke softly, as if reminiscing tenderly:
"That's because... he immediately pinpointed the most spectacular race of that Uma Musume's career."
"Uh... is that all?" Koji clearly didn't find this reason convincing. "It's normal for people to remember the champion, especially one who only won once in their career..."
Who knew the old man would just smile and shake his head: "No, I never said... that her most spectacular race was the one where she won the championship, did I?"
"...What!?"
"She won her first race after her debut, and people thought she would make history like other Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume. But then, after being diagnosed with a slight bone fracture in her knee and worn ligaments, her performance repeatedly fell short, and her physical condition worsened... Just like that, her trajectory, like other Uma Musume not favored by luck, would eventually come to an end in some race..."
The old man's gaze was so profound, as if he wasn't looking at Koji in front of him, but towards a distant direction, with complex emotions mixed with nostalgic thoughts.
"And this... I never mentioned it to anyone. At the Nikkei New Year's Cup G2 at the time, she already sensed that she would reach her end after this race. 'Rather than running this race cautiously, considering this and that, I'd rather go all out, give it my all for this last stretch... even if it costs me this leg.' That's what she told me before the race..."
Koji was silent now. Those who accompanied Uma Musume understood more than anyone the weight of those words. As an Uma Musume, what kind of internal struggle did that girl go through to make such a decision?
A figure flashed through his mind, and his heart involuntarily clenched as if deeply gripped.
"'I felt a sorrowful or perhaps resolute Kiai (Fighting Spirit) from her, that almost extreme forward-leaning running posture...' Those were the kid's exact words, ha ha ha... Just as he said, her final sprint only brought her to fourth place... Yes, people usually notice the champion, but he said those words..."
"For me and this kid, that was the most spectacular race of her career. That reckless running posture, the resolve to abandon everything, just for one moment of Shining... That was the potential she unleashed at the last moment, the speed of her instantaneous sprint... Honestly, to this day, I haven't seen anyone else who can compare."
His gaze suddenly became serious, and the old man stared intently at Koji:
"You know, people who become legendary Trainers are generally divided into three types. One is like Tojo, Trainers who can maximize the talent of others; the second is like you, who can guide others to use effort to compensate for a lack of talent... And the third type, perhaps he could become that kind of existence—possessing 'innate intuition,' able to discover the hidden infinite possibilities of others..."
"So, with that in mind, I wanted to observe him a bit longer... After all, I really don't want to miss even a tiny possibility. Of course, if he can't even pass this test, it only means I misjudged him."
Receiving such an answer from the old man, Koji had no choice but to put away his playful attitude.
After all, sitting in front of him was a figure as revered as a doyen in the Japanese Horse Racing world.
He had experienced the darkest period of Japanese Horse Racing, but equally, he was the one who revitalized it and pointed it towards hope.
The level of insight such a man possessed... he genuinely admired him:
"As expected of you... Yoshida Zenya!"
[Honorary School Director, Founder of Tracen Academy, Yoshida Zenya]