For nearly a month, Oguri Cap and Berno Light adjusted to their training schedule, adapting to the intensity that set them apart from other Uma Musume. Shuta An recorded their daytime training data and, in his dreams, continued to raise his and Oguri Cap's affinity by one point each night.
This routine continued until the final day of April.
"Are we running the shrine slope today?" Berno Light asked the moment they met that morning.
"So eager?" Shuta An raised an eyebrow. "Has Berno Light fallen in love with slope training?"
"No," she muttered, turning her head. "But what's coming can't be avoided, and I can feel my progress, so I can tolerate it even if I don't like it."
"Well," Shuta An said, glancing toward Oguri Cap, who was hurrying over, "we're not running the slope today."
"Huh? Then what are we doing?" Oguri Cap asked, puzzled.
"Tomorrow's May," Shuta An explained. "That means debut races at Kasamatsu will open for registration."
Both girls looked eager, though in different ways—Oguri Cap out of excitement to compete, and Berno with a hint of relief.
"As for your debut races," Shuta An continued, "my plan is this—"
He paused briefly, reconsidering after noting Guanghui's expression. "May 5th, Kasamatsu Dirt, 800 meters."
Berno Light tensed. "Trainer, you're not putting us in the same race, are you?"
"Of course not." Shuta An smirked. "It's not an unavoidable matchup. I'll register you separately."
"That's good." Oguri Cap smiled in relief. "I don't want to face Berno Light in my debut race."
Because I want to win together with Berno Light.
She turned toward her teammate, expressing her true feelings.
"Since neither of you objects, I'll register it that way." Shuta An noted it in his book. "The participant list won't be available until the day after tomorrow. On the 3rd, we'll halve morning training and use the rest of the time to develop your race strategies and study your opponents."
"Understood!" the two answered in unison.
During lunch break, Shuta An returned to his office after eating.
Predictably, Mr. Kitahara was waiting outside.
"I told you," Shuta An teased, "you come over here so often—why not just transfer?"
"I'm here for business today." Kitahara's expression was serious. "Starting today, Uma Musume can be registered for debut races. An-san, which race will Oguri Cap and her partner run?"
"I won't hide it," Shuta An replied. "May 5th, Kasamatsu Racecourse—both 800-meter dirt. Oguri Cap in the first race, Berno Light in the second."
"What a coincidence," Kitahara grinned. "I'm registering Fujimasa March for the first race on the 5th."
"Is that so?" Shuta An smiled faintly. "Then I'm looking forward to it."
"Hmph! Fujimasa March's talent and training are both excellent—we'll definitely win!" Kitahara clenched his fist.
Shuta An sensed his friend's growing confidence but didn't yield. "Oguri Cap's progress will be even greater than Fujimasa March's."
"Then let's see whose trainee is stronger!" Kitahara extended his hand.
"Of course!" Shuta An high-fived him. "Whoever loses will treat the winner and their Uma Musume to dinner. Deal?"
"Haha, then An-san, you'll be treating us for sure! I haven't had Matsuhiro's kaiseki cuisine in ages!" Kitahara laughed heartily.
"If Mr. Kitahara is treating, then any family restaurant will do." Shuta An, moved by compassion, granted Mr. Kitahara an early reprieve.
However, at this moment, Mr. Kitahara failed to understand his colleague's good intentions.
Upon hearing Shuta An's response, he pounded his chest proudly. "I've already planned to eat kaiseki cuisine. If I'm treating, how can I take An-san to some ordinary family restaurant? Let's splurge a bit!"
"Alright," Shuta An shrugged, realizing his friend had no intention of accepting mercy.
As he agreed, he silently mourned for his friend's wallet in his heart.
That evening, after finishing work, Shuta An slipped into his pajamas, crawled into bed, pulled up the covers, and fell asleep almost instantly.
Falling once again into the Dream World, he found himself at Sagami Masayuki's stable. Before he could begin training, the man called out to him.
"Zhou-kun, don't ride yet—come with me."
Shuta An was surprised. This was the first time Sagami Masayuki had ever called him away after entering the Dream World. Judging from his expression, it must have been something important.
He responded quickly, though his mind was already racing with speculation.
'Could it be that he thinks my performance during riding training has been poor and intends to dismiss me?'
But no—given Moore's riding technique, Shuta An hadn't made any mistakes in the Dream World.
"Follow him, and you'll find out soon enough," he told himself.
He followed Sagami Masayuki toward the stable door.
"Logically speaking, from the day you began your internship here, you should have already been able to ride racehorses in official competitions," Sagami Masayuki said, his back turned to Shuta An. "But I haven't given you any such opportunities. I've kept you here, helping only with training. Has that left you somewhat dissatisfied?"
"Not at all," Shuta An immediately denied. "I believe Teacher has his reasons."
"Several of your fellow jockeys from the same period have already secured their first victories. I've also seen your performance during training—it's very good. So, I believe it's time for you to go to Kasamatsu Racecourse and experience the atmosphere of a real race."
Sagami Masayuki paused, then turned around.
"Five days from now, in the first race at Kasamatsu Racecourse—a three-year-old maiden race, dirt, 800 meters—Shuta-kun, you'll be riding Oguri Cap."
He fixed Shuta An with a firm gaze. "Can I trust you?"
"Of course!" Shuta An nodded vigorously.
I didn't expect that I would arrange Oguri Cap's debut in reality, and that she would debut on the same day in the Dream World, he thought, astonished.