Chapter 144. A Despondent Teio
In the afternoon, Shuta An first took Admire Vega to the station so she could return to the Academy, then went back to the hospital alone to look after Tokai Teio.
"I can't let a junior who came to take care of you stay until evening," was the reason the young man gave, and Tokai Teio agreed as well.
"Actually, there isn't much care needed. It's mostly just having someone to talk to so I don't feel so lonely,"
Tokai Teio stretched and continued,
"Ayabe-chan is really a good kid. Trainer, you must help her overcome her psychological trauma."
"I would do that even if you hadn't said anything,"
Shuta An quipped.
"Our job is called Trainer, but we have to take care of many things for you all. It's not just about managing races to be considered diligent and responsible."
"I know," Tokai Teio said, taking over the conversation. "From the moment I joined the Sadalsuud team, I've seen how much effort Trainer puts in outside the training grounds for my physical condition."
"But you still got injured," Shuta An's gaze fell on Tokai Teio's legs, which were completely covered by the blanket. "I still didn't do my best—"
"It's not Trainer's fault," Tokai Teio quickly denied his words. "I pushed myself too hard. As a result, my body couldn't keep up with my output—this is entirely my own problem."
"Teio, do you really think you pushed yourself completely?"
Shuta An narrowed his eyes, recalling his personal experience behind the railing at Nakayama Racecourse.
"Did you really touch your limit at that time?"
"..."
After hearing Shuta An's question, Tokai Teio, as the young man expected, fell silent.
It took quite some time, but the Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume seemed to have prepared herself mentally.
So she looked up, stared at her Trainer, and asked the question that had been buried in her heart since the Arima Kinen, but which she hadn't dared to ask because of her injury.
"Trainer, I could feel that I could have gone further at that time, but I never took that step."
Tokai Teio paused.
"I want to know if that step is what you call the 'Zone'."
"Yes." Shuta An answered concisely, just like Admire Vega.
"Ha..." Tokai Teio looked a little dejected. "I didn't even touch the Zone, and I'm already injured and need six weeks to recover. If it were like Oguri-senpai and the others, the injuries would definitely be more serious."
"Does this mean I'll never be able to do what Oguri-senpai and the others can do?"
At this point, Tokai Teio sounded a little wronged.
She believed her talent was in no way inferior to Team Sadalsuud or any senior in the history of the Japanese Twinkle Series, but due to health issues, she couldn't show her full potential on the racetrack.
The most painful thing was that Tokai Teio herself knew how to show it.
Shuta An could hear how upset Tokai Teio was.
He reached out, wanting to rub her head to help her relax.
But Tokai Teio dodged backward, avoiding his hand.
Before Shuta An could awkwardly withdraw his hand, she hugged his arm.
Although compared to Oguri and Berno, Teio was only at a small hill level, because she was holding on tightly, Shuta An could clearly feel the softness pressing against his arm.
"Teio."
He tried to pull his hand free and whispered,
"You haven't fully matured yet. Time is your friend. As your body grows, this problem will definitely be alleviated, and perhaps even completely resolved."
"Time is on my side—" Tokai Teio blinked. "Trainer will also be on my side, right?"
Faced with that question, Shuta An, of course, had no other answer.
"Yes, a Trainer will always be on their Trainee's side." He squeezed Tokai Teio's hand firmly, his tone sincere.
—
At 7:30 PM, the nurse came to remind Shuta An that there were only thirty minutes left until visiting hours ended.
Since Tokai Teio was in a private room and not the ICU, 24-hour companionship wasn't allowed—and even if Shuta An had offered to pay for an ICU room, the hospital wouldn't agree to waste resources.
"Then I'm off. I'll come back tomorrow."
Shuta An stood up and said goodbye.
"Trainer, just come in the afternoon tomorrow." Tokai Teio suddenly suggested. "It seems Rice Shower-chan isn't the only one coming."
"That works too."
Shuta An wouldn't refuse the chance to slack off for half a day in the activity room.
Anyway, Tokai Teio's injury only required rest, and there was no need for constant, close supervision.
First, he went back to the academy to clock out, then Shuta An hurried home.
As soon as he entered, Oguri came over and sniffed.
"It smells strongly of disinfectant," she said.
"After all, I was accompanying her all day." Shuta An raised his arms. "Oguri, are you all waiting for me for dinner?"
"Yes," Suzuka, sitting in the dining room, chimed in. "Berno-chan said to wait for Ann for just half an hour."
"It looks like you waited for more than half an hour."
The young man hung his trench coat on the hanger and went to wash his hands.
"Glad you know. Oguri was almost gnawing on the table." Suzuka teased the gray Uma Musume.
"I had a few snacks, so I'm fine," Oguri protested. "I wasn't that hungry."
Regarding Oguri Cap's "few snacks," Shuta An could only express doubt. He knew very well about the gray Uma Musume's appetite.
"Speaking of which, Kurofune also complained about Curren Chan's appetite. Among the gray fillies I've seen, only Tamamo Cross's appetite is considered lower to normal."
The young man was lost in thought while washing his hands.
"Are all gray fillies big eaters?"
He felt that if he could find a correlation between gray fillies and appetite, the research findings would surely be published in a top journal with an impact factor of 10.0.
That night, Shuta An, caught between Oguri, Suzuka, and the latecomer Berno, he almost didn't fall asleep until early the next morning.
—
In the Dream World, Tokai Teio was heading to Shadai Stallion Station today.
As Tokai Teio's main jockey, Shuta An naturally came to Ritto Training Center to bid farewell to Tokai Teio with Matsumoto Shoichi.
"Sigh..." After watching Tokai Teio board the horse transporter, Matsumoto Shoichi let out a deep sigh. "I'm afraid I'll never meet a horse as amazing as Tokai Teio again."
This time, Shuta An did not agree.
After all, as a jockey, he still had many years left in his career.
Who knows? He might just meet the next one.