After settling Narita Brian, the girl stepped out of the room.
Opening the door, she found a figure standing before her.
Dressed in a black formal jacket and a white shirt, with softly curling hair swaying slightly, pale golden eyes turned to meet hers.
It was the Acting Chairwoman, Kashimoto Riko.
"How is Narita Brian doing?"
Without any pleasantries, she got straight to the point.
Though slightly surprised, the girl answered promptly, "She was a bit tired earlier, but she's improved after I helped her relax."
"It seems that race took quite a toll on her."
Kashimoto Riko folded her arms out of habit.
The news about Narita Brian's physical condition being far from what it once was was indeed true.
"She's working hard on her recovery. I believe it won't be long before she returns to the track," the girl replied.
"If I recall correctly, you're a trainee under Toujou Hana, aren't you?"
"Yes, my name is Silence."
She bowed her head slightly.
"Silence, what aspects of Narita Brian's care are you primarily responsible for?"
"Daily training, physical condition, and… diet."
Uncertain why she was being asked this, the girl answered nonetheless.
"Good."
Kashimoto Riko nodded. "But it's not enough."
"Whether you're a trainer or a trainee, you should have this awareness."
She continued.
"Your duty isn't just to fulfill one specific task."
Be it training or supervision.
For a trainer, or for a trainee, the most fundamental responsibility is just one thing.
To properly care for the Uma Musume under your charge.
"People often talk about fulfilling their duties these days, as if it's just about hitting certain metrics. That mindset is flawed from the start."
Kashimoto Riko explained, "Meeting targets is inward-focused, while managing an Uma Musume is outward-focused. Their starting points are entirely different."
Nowadays, most trainers at Tracen Academy seemed to lean in that direction.
The girl's ears twitched slightly.
"So what you're saying is, trainers are focusing on themselves rather than the Uma Musume they're responsible for… Is that it?"
Kashimoto Riko raised an eyebrow.
"You catch on quickly."
She said, "Indeed, trainers nowadays are too fixated on training itself, often neglecting everything outside of it."
The Uma Musume's mindset, their condition, their health.
Everything about them must be within the trainer's grasp.
Only then can they provide the most reasonable arrangements and guidance.
"Narita Brian's health is worrying. I saw from upstairs earlier that just a few quantified training sessions drained her completely."
"Compared to her past training routines, the change was too drastic."
"Therefore, she requires even more attention."
Beyond training and diet, her sleep and mental state must also be ensured.
That's why Kashimoto Riko had said 'not enough.'
Yet, for a trainee, the girl's response had genuinely surprised her.
She'd asked many others the same question before.
Most replies were along the lines of 'completing the work assigned to me.'
Even though they were all assisting Uma Musume, to these people, the task itself clearly outweighed the idea of 'support.'
They all lacked that willingness to truly devote themselves.
"What you're saying makes sense…"
The girl nodded, "But for trainers and trainees like us, isn't that just the norm?"
It wasn't very realistic to expect someone to dedicate their entire being to a Racing Uma Musume.
Most saw being a trainer as just a job.
It would be great if they could help realize an Uma Musume's dreams, but even if they couldn't, they were just one among many.
They didn't worry too much about where an Uma Musume would go after failure.
After all, they would graduate eventually, and new students kept pouring into the academy. They couldn't afford to invest too much in those who had already left.
"Precisely because of that, change is needed," Kashimoto Riko stated.
"Racing life holds unimaginable weight for an Uma Musume. If negligence causes them to lose their future, can you imagine what kind of cold, bleak path they might end up on?"
It would be a world utterly devoid of light.
Helping Uma Musume reach their goals is the true duty of a trainer.
A duty that must be fulfilled.
"Strict management will extend to every aspect, and trainers must change their ways. Silence, you're honest and bold, far better than those who only give evasive answers."
Kashimoto Riko looked at her.
"Actually, I originally wanted to gather diverse opinions to create more reasonable arrangements, but the responses I've gotten have been thoroughly disappointing."
She had asked Tracen's management, and their replies were oddly uniform.
Most just wanted Kashimoto Riko to avoid making things complicated and stick to the old system.
"So when I introduce new regulations, I'd like to hear your thoughts."
"…Acting Chairwoman, I'm just a trainee," the girl replied. "My opinion can't represent the majority."
"Fresh perspectives mean fresh ideas. At least when it comes to dedicating yourself to the Uma Musume, you're better than most, on par with a few of the trainers here."
"What if I say something you don't want to hear…"
"If I only wanted to hear what I like or see what I prefer, I wouldn't be sitting in this position."
"Will you truly consider my opinion?"
"That depends on whether you can convince me."
"Then, when the time comes, please forgive me if I overstep."
"Mhm." Kashimoto Riko nodded in satisfaction.
"Sorry for taking up your time. Please continue looking after Narita Brian."
"I'll take good care of her until Narita Brian stands atop the racing world once more."
"That's an excellent answer, Silence. I look forward to seeing what you'll do."
With that, Kashimoto Riko turned and walked toward the other training groups.
It seemed she had come simply to check on Narita Brian.
Once the acting chairwoman disappeared into the crowd, the girl clenched her fist.
To think…
She had managed to get this close to someone from the central administration in this manner.
It was dangerous, she knew.
But it was also a rare opportunity.
It might just help her pry open the doors to the center.
With that thought, the girl returned to the training grounds.
--+--
Meanwhile.
Kashimoto Riko approached another trainer, exchanged a few casual words, and then left.
Utterly ordinary, nothing distinguishing. Even talking to them felt like a waste of time.
Honestly, most trainers at Tracen were about this caliber.
Was this really worthy of being called 'elite'?
Thoroughly disappointing.
No wonder the number of seasoned trainers emerging from Tracen had been dwindling these past few years.
They had no drive at all!
Did they think getting into Tracen meant they could rest easy?
A cold gleam flickered in Kashimoto Riko's eyes.
After distancing herself from the crowd, she quietly pulled a notebook from her satchel.
Besides understanding Tracen's basic situation, she had another purpose for investigating these people.
"Silence…"
She murmured under her breath.
"Entered Tracen in mid-November, serves as a trainee under Toujou Hana, currently primarily responsible for Narita Brian's training."
Joined the academy outside the usual recruitment period, selected by a senior trainer due to outstanding results.
Based on today's interaction, shows commendable courage and understanding of principles.
However.
Considering the unusual timing of her entry, and the significant shift in Narita Brian's running style after her involvement—making her indirectly related to [the Kikuka-shō incident].
Connection to the 'Black Phantom' cannot be ruled out.
Level of association, comprehensive ranking: twenty-third.
Conclusion—
Requires further observation.
In her notebook, Kashimoto Riko wrote just that.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.