The URA Committee.
Chairman Ikari sat at the head of the conference table. The other committee members were absent, a rare moment of peace.
A young female secretary, dressed in a tight-fitting short skirt and black sheer tights, stood off to the side.
The projector on the table was showing a live broadcast of Barbatos's race, currently displaying the Winner's Stage.
"You get the feeling Barbatos seems a bit different from before," the secretary remarked. It was hard to pin down exactly how, though leading the pack from the start probably had something to do with it.
Chairman Ikari's sunglasses reflected the light from the broadcast. He watched the Winner's Stage replay and didn't disagree with his secretary's observation.
This change probably came after her victory over Tamamo Cross.
Just then, a knock came at the conference room door. It was only the two of them inside. The door didn't open.
Not until the secretary said, "Come in."
A thin, elderly man in a suit entered, a jovial smile on his face. "Chairman, little secretary, hope I'm not interrupting?"
"Chairman Miya." The secretary, who never showed weakness even before other committee members, greeted him respectfully, ignoring his playful jab.
This elderly Mr. Miya was different from those other committee members. He was a respected senior, the former chairman before Ikari took the position.
"Heh, so you're watching Barbatos's race today too." The former chairman glanced at the projection, noting the Winner's Stage was wrapping up. "This old man came here specifically to talk about Barbatos."
"About... Barbatos?" The secretary was taken aback. What about Barbatos warranted a personal visit from the former chairman?
"Her next race will be her first G2 level event." The former chairman chuckled, turning the question back on them. "Do you think she can win it?"
Chairman Ikari, hands braced on the table, remained silent, as if waiting for the old man to continue.
The secretary suddenly recalled a rumor circulating the committee recently. This former chairman had apparently made a special trip to watch that "relay marathon" during Tracen Academy's cultural festival.
Considering his age, he would have come from the era of the Heisei Top Three, or perhaps Tamamo Cross's time.
Could it be, because Barbatos won her race, the former chairman wanted to...?
A bold and frightening thought crossed her mind. Did the former chairman want Barbatos to lose her next G2?!
It wasn't impossible. Having a few G1 champions appear in a G2 race was perfectly plausible.
"Chairman Miya!" she exclaimed, her gaze firm as it met the former chairman's. "How could our committee possibly do something like that?"
She refused to back down, even facing the former chairman, even though his connections far surpassed those of a mere secretary. The pressure from meeting his eyes was immense, enough to potentially cost her this job.
But she didn't want to betray the principles that had led her to join the committee in the first place.
"Enough jokes. Get to the point." Chairman Ikari, silent until now, finally spoke.
"Haha, still as prickly as ever, I see." The old man laughed heartily, the earlier pressure he'd directed at the secretary completely gone. "But you've found yourself a fine secretary here."
"Regardless of what anyone says, this old man doesn't believe a Barbatos who could defeat Tamamo Cross would lose in a mere G2 Keio Hai Junior Stakes."
"But you're aware of Barbatos's proposed schedule after this, aren't you?"
Chairman Ikari didn't hesitate. "The G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Junior Stakes, followed by the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Stakes."
"Correct. For the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Junior Stakes... just bar her from entering."
Having said his piece, the old man turned with a chuckle and left the room. "Of course, this is merely an old man's suggestion."
Watching the former chairman leave, the secretary was confused. Why ban Barbatos from the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Junior Stakes?
Was there some incredibly strong opponent scheduled for that G3 race?
But that still wasn't something the committee should interfere with.
"Chairman..." she said softly.
"Two reasons." Chairman Ikari stated calmly. "First, an Uma Musume's career is finite. Participating in too many races shortens it. A G3 is meaningless for Barbatos at her current level."
"Second, given the ability she's demonstrated, her presence in a G3 event would no longer constitute a fair competition for the other G3-level Uma Musume."
Even if the former chairman hadn't come, Ikari had been considering this. He had a feeling this Barbatos might try to run a G3 even after competing in G1 events.
"So... the former chairman isn't trying to target Barbatos?" The secretary barely finished the sentence before she caught herself.
Target Barbatos? It seemed more like he was considering the long-term health of her career.
Besides, so-called 'targeting' was useless against true genius. Just look at that Arima Kinen race at the end of the 20th century.
--+--
Evening.
"You two go on ahead. I'm heading back to Tracen Academy."
Minamizaka had received an invitation to go shopping with them, but after looking at Seiun Sky and Barbatos, he decisively refused.
Unlike back in Osaka, which was a three-hour one-way trip from Tracen, here in Tokyo it was less than an hour away.
He didn't need to tag along as their trainer. What would he be, a third wheel?
Besides, when they went shopping, they didn't need him to pay. Even setting aside race prize money, Barbatos's streaming income alone dwarfed his salary as a central trainer.
An autumn wind blew. Watching the two of them walk away, he felt like a lonely desert ascetic.
Minamizaka, who had devoted his entire university life to Uma Musume and computers, felt the first stirrings of a desire for romance himself.
He sighed with a wry smile and turned towards the subway station back to Kyoto.
--+--
The streetlights flickered on, making the leaves on either side of the road appear even more yellow and withered.
"So, where are you taking me?" Barbatos asked after they'd parted ways with Minamizaka.
Seiun Sky had said she wanted to take her somewhere after the win, and Barbatos was genuinely curious.
"That?" Seiun Sky clasped her hands behind her head, gazing up at the night sky with a grin. "I just made that up. Wanted to see if you'd actually worry about something like a flag."
"The great Barbatos, worried about a flag." 'Should I leave, then?'
What a cunning angler.
"Regardless, thank you," Barbatos said seriously.
The whole flag issue had started as a bit of self-amusement, but it had ended up feeling like a real constraint.
If not for Seiun Sky, she probably still would have won, but she'd have run hesitantly, looking over her shoulder.
She glanced at the girl beside her. 'It's really good I met you.'
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.