Chapter 9. Chance Encounter in the Elevator
The first edition of the UAE Derby this year drew a total of seventeen Uma Musume, all vying for the distinction of becoming the inaugural champion of the race. Among them were two local representatives, both carrying the expectation of keeping the title on home soil.
Seated in his chair, Shuta An methodically scanned through the profiles of the sixteen opponents, only to find himself more intrigued the further he read. The two local contenders, in particular, stood out far more than he had initially anticipated. One of them, Inchlonaig, had previously secured a third-place finish in a British G3 race, while the other, Bachir, had already claimed victory in the UAE 2000 Guineas—the opening leg of the UAE Classic series.
"Not only that…" Shuta An murmured under his breath, his gaze lingering on Bachir's record. "She also placed third in both the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Prix Marcel Boussac last year—both G1 races. She absolutely cannot be underestimated."
He leaned back slightly, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
"Compared to the other European runners, Bachir is clearly the one worth the most attention."
From his perspective, the European entries as a whole presented a peculiar case. While their turf credentials were often impeccable, their transition to dirt remained a variable that could not be ignored.
On the other hand, the American contenders demanded respect by default. Within the domain of dirt racing, the United States remained the undisputed pinnacle. Yet even so, Shuta An remained clear-headed in his assessment.
"The strongest American Classic contenders would never come here," he said quietly. "They'd stay home and secure their Kentucky Derby prep points. The ones who come to Dubai—are looking for an alternative path."
Earlier, he had already confirmed this line of thinking with Kawamura Hirokazu. Passion Flare's participation in the UAE Derby was never meant to signal an ambition toward the American Triple Crown. Rather, it was a pragmatic choice—an opportunity to compete in a graded race during a domestic lull in the schedule.
"Win or lose, it won't affect her next target," Shuta An concluded. "The Unicorn Stakes remains the priority."
While he immersed himself in data and projections, Tojo Hana had not remained idle. She took responsibility for leading the competing Uma Musume through light restorative training sessions, ensuring their condition remained stable leading into race day.
Given Silence Suzuka's recent recovery, Tojo Hana deliberately reduced her training intensity. When this decision reached Shuta An, he expressed clear approval.
Silence Suzuka, however, did not entirely agree.
"I think I can handle a bit more intensity," she said, her tone calm but firm.
Shuta An shook his head.
"Increasing intensity is natural—but not now," he replied evenly. "Wait until next week."
There was no room for negotiation in his voice, yet it was not forceful—only precise.
Silence Suzuka studied him for a brief moment before nodding.
"Understood."
Her acceptance was immediate, without resistance.
Tojo Hana, who had been quietly observing from the side, let out a subtle breath of relief. Despite being assigned to oversee the training plan, Silence Suzuka remained the one variable she felt least confident in handling. Their past history lingered in her mind—a reminder of a time when her own methods had failed to bring out Suzuka's true potential.
Now, faced with Suzuka's undeniable achievements, Tojo Hana could no longer convince herself that her earlier approach had been correct.
With Shuta An stepping in to mediate, the burden on her shoulders lightened considerably.
"If it's Suzuka—" she thought, her gaze softening slightly, "it's better to let Shuta-kun decide."
In contrast, Special Week's situation was far more straightforward. Even though she would be directly competing against El Condor Pasa—Tojo Hana's own trainee—Nishizaki Ryu entrusted her without hesitation.
Tojo Hana had no intention of betraying that trust.
"It's just a G1 race," she remarked lightly. "There's no need to complicate things."
Her principles were clear—competition on the track would never come at the cost of personal bonds.
Interestingly, El Condor Pasa herself seemed far more interested in something else entirely. She frequently sought out Special Week, engaging her in earnest discussions—not about race tactics, but about something far more personal.
"How do you get along with Grass Wonder so well?" she asked one afternoon, her curiosity barely concealed.
Watching the stark difference in how Grass Wonder treated Special Week compared to herself, El Condor Pasa found the contrast almost unbelievable.
It left her genuinely puzzled.
—
Thus, their first week in Dubai passed without any major incidents, the rhythm of preparation settling into a steady, controlled flow.
On Sunday morning, Tojo Hana led the group through a light warm-up session before making a decisive announcement.
"No more training for today."
The declaration was met with immediate enthusiasm, and discussions quickly broke out among the Uma Musume about how to spend their free time.
Special Week and El Condor Pasa soon approached Silence Suzuka together.
"Suzuka-senpai, would you like to go shopping with us at the nearby mall?" Special Week asked, her tone bright with anticipation.
They were, after all, in Dubai not just as competitors, but also as visitors. With the added incentive of tax refunds on purchases made within a 90-day window, the appeal of shopping was difficult to ignore—especially for Uma Musume with considerable purchasing power.
Yet Silence Suzuka simply shook her head, a faint smile on her lips.
"I'll pass," she replied gently. "I'd rather rest by the infinity pool today. Sorry, Spe-chan."
"It's okay!" El Condor Pasa responded immediately, waving it off with a cheerful grin. "We'll go together then."
"Have a good time," Silence Suzuka said, her tone unchanged.
As the two departed, El Condor Pasa blinked, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
"She really doesn't mind at all," she muttered to herself. "Then who exactly was that 'Little Grass' she was so wary of before?"
The question lingered, unanswered.
Meanwhile, Silence Suzuka returned to her room, changed, and made her way toward the elevator, intending to head up to the rooftop infinity pool.
When the elevator reached the twenty-fifth floor, it came to a stop.
The doors slid open.
Silence Suzuka's eyes widened slightly as she saw who stepped inside.
"Ann?" she said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Are you heading to the pool too?"
Shuta An adjusted the bag on his shoulder and nodded.
"Oguri and Berno went shopping," he replied. "I've wrapped up most of my work, so I thought I'd take a break."
A faint smile appeared.
"Looks like we had the same idea."
Silence Suzuka's expression brightened instantly.
"I was planning to message you once I got there," she admitted, her tone turning playful. "Didn't expect we'd run into each other like this."
"Great minds think alike," Shuta An said, reaching out to lightly ruffle her hair. "I'm looking forward to seeing Suzuka's swimsuit."
"I won't disappoint you," she answered without hesitation.
Yet as she lowered her gaze toward her toes, a fleeting trace of self-consciousness surfaced in her eyes.
Before coming to Dubai, she had deliberately bought a new swimsuit—something she rarely did.
Even so—When it came to physique, Silence Suzuka understood herself all too well.
A few days earlier, she had declined invitations to go sunbathing at the beach. Whether standing beside juniors or seniors, she always felt—unremarkable.
And that, more than anything else, lingered quietly in her thoughts.
—
After arriving at the infinity pool, the two parted ways briefly, each heading toward their respective changing rooms.
Because the entire hotel had been reserved by the Dubai URA Association, access to this area was strictly limited to the Uma Musume competing in the Dubai World Cup Race Day and their accompanying staff. Not long after Shuta An informed the suite butler of his intention to use the pool, the facility quietly announced a temporary closure to the public.
From that moment until he returned to his room, the vast infinity pool belonged to only two people.
Shuta, however, remained completely unaware of the privilege that had been arranged for him.
Still, the absence of others made the atmosphere far more comfortable.
When Silence Suzuka stepped out of the changing room, she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, her movements carrying a trace of hesitation. It was the first time she had ever appeared in a swimsuit before her lover.
Shuta's eyes brightened almost immediately.
Her figure might not have been particularly striking, but the green-and-white color-blocked bandeau swimsuit complemented her temperament perfectly, accentuating a quiet elegance that was uniquely hers.
Wearing a pair of pink sunglasses, Silence Suzuka gathered her courage and sat down beside him.
"How is it?" she asked softly.
Without the slightest hesitation, Shuta An pulled her into his arms.
"This suits Suzuka perfectly."
A faint exhale escaped her lips.
"I was worried it wouldn't look good—"
"No matter what you wear," he replied, his tone steady, "as long as it's Suzuka, it will be charming."
Silence Suzuka lowered her gaze slightly.
"But when I look at Oguri-senpai and Berno-senpai—it's hard not to overthink things."
Her voice softened.
"I always thought Ann preferred a more voluptuous figure."
Shuta An raised an eyebrow.
"If that were the case, I would have stayed on the West Coast instead of coming back to Japan."
He paused briefly, then continued, his tone firm.
"What matters isn't the figure. It's the person. Don't compare me to people who only think with their impulses."
"Ehehe~"
A quiet, awkward laugh escaped her lips—something so rare that it made Shuta An momentarily freeze.
He blinked, then let out a soft breath.
"Suzuka really does look better when she smiles more."
"I feel like I've been smiling more since last year," she said, her voice gentle. "It's because of you, isn't it?"
"If that's true," he replied, taking her hand, "then I'm glad."
His grip tightened slightly.
"I hope that next Sunday, under the night sky of Dubai, I can let the entire world see Suzuka's smile."
They remained close together in the water, their conversation flowing naturally. Then, almost without warning, Silence Suzuka shifted the topic.
"To be honest… this training camp hasn't been very helpful for me."
Her tone was calm, but confident.
"El Condor Pasa, and Spe-chan are all strong, but their strengths lie at 1600 meters and 2400 meters. At 2000 meters—I'm confident I can beat both of them."
She paused briefly, then continued before Shuta An could respond.
"Still, since you arranged this, I have to perform well. At the very least, I can't tarnish the reputation of the Sadalsuud team."
Shuta An nodded, smoothly steering the discussion toward the race itself.
"I've reviewed the field as well. The only one worth noting is Annus Mirabilis—Annus Mirabilis. But even she isn't a match for you."
He met her gaze directly.
"A consecutive win won't be a problem."
Silence Suzuka tilted her head slightly.
"What about after that?" Her eyes held a quiet curiosity. "There aren't any suitable G1 races for me in Australia starting in April, are there?"
She puffed her cheeks faintly.
"I checked it myself. You said before that you wanted me to go to Australia, but after Dubai, you definitely won't let me race again immediately. So there's nothing to choose from."
"There's no need to rush Australia," Shuta An replied. "Suzuka…what do you think about going to Hong Kong?"
"Hong Kong?"
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"The international races there are at the end of the year, aren't they?"
"Not just those," he said calmly. "At the end of April, there's Champions Day. This year, three races have been elevated to G1 status. One of them is a 2000-meter race—the Queen Elizabeth II Cup."
He paused, then added,
"I think it suits you perfectly."
Silence Suzuka considered this for a moment, then nodded.
"Sha Tin Racecourse… yes, that track suits me."
Her voice carried quiet confidence.
"A 2000-meter G1…I'm certain I can win."
"Then I'll register you," Shuta An said.
He continued without pause.
"After that, do you want to return for the Takarazuka Kinen, or continue racing overseas?"
"Eh?"
She blinked, then tilted her head.
"Ann…did you forget the solo song you made for Dober-chan and me?"
Her voice softened.
"By the time the Hong Kong race ends, it'll already be May. I'll need to return to Japan for the release events, so I can't stay overseas."
"Then the Takarazuka Kinen?"
Shuta An's concern was not the scheduling logistics, but her intentions for her final year.
Silence Suzuka pressed her lips together.
"2200 meters—is probably my limit." She looked at him quietly. "I already won it once last year. Let's skip it."
Her voice softened further.
"I want to spend the summer with you."
For a brief moment, silence lingered between them.
Then Shuta spoke.
"I might not be in Japan this summer either."
She stiffened slightly.
"If Dober performs well in the Japanese Oaks—I plan to take her to Europe for the Yorkshire Oaks."
Silence Suzuka froze.
Slowly, she turned and wrapped her arms around him. Through the thin layer of water and fabric, her heartbeat was unmistakable.
"I thought…I could have a peaceful summer," she whispered softly into his ear. "But you shattered that hope so quickly."
Shuta An held her waist, his hands unconsciously sliding lower as he spoke.
"We'll have many summers."