Chapter 148. Oguri Cap's Future Plans
In the evening, after returning home, Shuta An did some research and then logged into the official Twitter account of Team Sadalsuud, preparing to post a New Year's greeting.
"Wishing all followers a Happy New Year, I am Shuta Ann of Team Sadalsuud."
"This year is the Year of Jinshin. There have been major events in Japanese history named Jinshin War, but I believe everyone hopes this year can be a peaceful one. In the New Year, my greatest wish is that every Uma Musume in Team Sadalsuud remains healthy, safe, and free from even minor injuries."
"Looking back at the past year, the Uma Musume of Team Sadalsuud achieved excellent results—Mejiro Dober won several overseas races, and Tokai Teio also achieved the supreme honor of becoming the second Undefeated Triple Crown in history. Although Rice Shower did not compete in the debut year-limited G1, she still holds a graded race victory and will surely show her prowess on the Classic Race stage this year."
"Looking ahead to this year, Mejiro Dober enters her final year in the Twinkle Series, Tokai Teio enters her first senior year, and Rice Shower enters her Classic Race year. My responsibilities this year are also very heavy, but that does not mean I will relax my demands on myself or on everyone in Team Sadalsuud."
"But I also know that the high popularity of the Twinkle Series is inseparable from the joint efforts of the Uma Musume and their fans. Everyone in Team Sadalsuud will give their utmost effort in training and races, and I hope all followers can continue to watch over them warmly this year."
"Team Sadalsuud currently has two Uma Musumes who have not yet made their formal debut. Although anyone who is interested can find Team Sadalsuud's roster, I urge everyone not to disturb these two. After all, they are still some distance from the Twinkle Series stage, and early exposure to the spotlight may not be beneficial for their growth. Once they make their formal debut, they will naturally stand on the Twinkle Series stage and welcome your scrutiny."
"Every year is full of challenges for Team Sadalsuud. This year, I will pull myself together and strive to make the Uma Musume of Team Sadalsuud successful, and to allow our followers to have a happy experience."
"Hereby, I request your further understanding and cooperation, and sincerely wish you all a Happy New Year and all the best."
"Team Sadalsuud Shuta Ann"
After this short message was posted, the comment section quickly filled with responses from followers—
"You said a lot, but you didn't mention Mejiro Dober and Tokai Teio's next race!"
"Forget Mejiro Dober for a moment, Tokai Teio is still recovering from injury! How can Shuta tell you her next race?!"
"Honestly, compared to recent photos of Team Sadalsuud's Uma Musume, I'd rather see Shuta's."
"It's true, we've only seen promotional photos of Team Sadalsuud's Uma Musume, but never a single daily photo of Shuta!"
"Even gossip reporters don't post any, does that mean Shuta isn't worth being secretly photographed?!"
"I know people in the industry, they say Shuta actively requested that reporters not follow his private life and not add to his stress. Otherwise, if he reaches his breaking point, he will make a huge scene and leave Japan."
"No! Shuta leaving Japan, let's talk about that ten years after I die!"
"These people..." Looking at the discussion in the comment section, Shuta An just wanted to roll his eyes.
He scrolled through many comments before finally finding the first one wishing him and the Uma Musume of Team Sadalsuud a Happy New Year.
"I hope the atmosphere in the comment section will normalize tomorrow," he muttered to himself.
—
The Uma Musume of Team Sadalsuud noticed that Shuta An had posted on Twitter and quickly retweeted it.
Then, several Uma Musume who were already accustomed to fan engagement also began composing their own New Year's greetings—except for Oguri.
It wasn't that she was unwilling to do it, but because Oguri Cap had already taken a selfie during her first shrine visit and posted it. She didn't need to post another one.
Compared to that, the gray Uma Musume now had more important things to do.
She was on her way to her lover's bedroom.
After pushing the door open, she sat on Shuta An's bed and said to the young man, who was taking a bath in the bathroom,
"Ann, I have something I want to tell you later."
"Huh?" Shuta An was startled. "Okay, Oguri, wait a moment."
Not knowing what the gray Uma Musume wanted to talk about, he no longer felt like continuing his bath. He simply got out of the tub, dried himself, put on his pajamas, and walked out of the bathroom.
Sitting beside Oguri Cap, the young man habitually linked his arm with hers and asked, "So, what does Oguri want to talk about?"
"This year should be my last year in the Dream Cup," the gray Uma Musume said directly.
Shuta An wasn't surprised.
"I remember Oguri saying she didn't plan to run in the Dream Cup for too long. If you've decided, I have no objections."
"I know Ann won't object to my idea. This time, I mainly want Ann to help me come up with an idea," Oguri Cap paused. "What can I do if I'm no longer a Uma Musume?"
Shuta An's first thought was to recommend Oguri Cap help Mejiro Ramonu train young Uma Musume in the future, but after thinking carefully, he realized that would be very stressful in the long run, so he dismissed the idea.
"Is there anything Oguri wants to do?" he asked first.
"I... don't have anything I want to do."
Oguri Cap rubbed her stomach and gave an answer that left Shuta An speechless.
"If I had to say, I want to have a child. But that can't be my future job, can it? It sounds like I'd be a tool."
"Indeed." Hearing "child," the young man felt quite a bit of pressure.
"I've thought about it for a long time, and I really don't want to live at home leading a secluded life; I want to find something to do," Oguri Cap continued. "But besides running, I really can't think of anything else I can do."
Shuta An frowned and thought for a while, then took out his phone, opened the browser, entered a website address, looked through the site, and handed it to Oguri Cap.
"YouTube?"
Oguri Cap glanced at it, then met her lover's gaze. "Is this a video website similar to Niconico?"
"Yes, but the users aren't limited to Japan." Shuta An nodded. "I have a good idea."
"What idea?"
Oguri Cap moved closer, very curious what her quick-witted lover would suggest she start doing next year.
"Oguri loves to eat, doesn't she?" Shuta An's lips curved upward.
"Oguri could consider applying for an account here and then, starting next year, share the delicious food she tastes in various places, giving her own reviews—although I know Oguri isn't very picky, she can still tell good food from bad, can't she?"
"Like Curren Chan?" Oguri Cap raised an eyebrow, immediately understanding. "But Curren Chan's main content is her cuteness, while my theme here is various foods?"
"Bingo!" Shuta An snapped his fingers. "That's exactly what I mean."
"Sounds alright,"
Oguri Cap said, then fell into thought and leaned back.
—
"Tomorrow, I have to go to Osaka Prefecture," the young man whispered, holding the now-content gray Uma Musume.
"Are you going to visit Admire Vega's home?" Oguri Cap guessed his intention.
"Yes. Admire Vega's parents prepared a bracelet as a Christmas gift for me. I think I should go there and tell them how much Admire Vega has improved since joining the team,"
Shuta An explained.
"You don't need to explain these things to me."
Oguri Cap spun around in place, changing from a back-facing to a front-facing position, then kissed him with a soft "chu."
"Let's change the subject."
Although the gray Uma Musume had just seemed indifferent toward Shuta An's concern for Admire Vega, she still steered the conversation away.
"Talk about what?"
Because Oguri Cap had turned over, Shuta An's hand had now reached a very sensitive spot on her body.
"Ugh—"
Oguri Cap lowered her head and drew out the sound.
"What if our child doesn't have the talent of a Uma Musume?"
Although they hadn't even started trying to conceive, the gray Uma Musume was already worried.
"Isn't it good to be an ordinary person?"
Shuta An said indifferently.
On one hand, he genuinely didn't care. As long as the child didn't break the law or squander their wealth, he would be very satisfied if they became a "good person" in the ordinary sense.
On the other hand, last year, after Shuta An rode Tokai Teio to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the Dream World, he received one of the rewards:
"Your children will inherit names that will be famous for generations from another world."
Through the connection between the Dream World and the real world, Shuta An clearly understood what that reward meant—it meant the problem Oguri Cap was worried about didn't exist in the first place.
He just couldn't explain that to her.
"Don't worry, Oguri." Shuta An flicked her forehead. "It will definitely be an outstanding child."
"It would be even better if she were a gray Uma Musume like Oguri," he added.
"I think so too!"
Oguri Cap suddenly brightened up, not knowing whether it was because of the flick to her forehead or because his words had taken effect.
—
The next day, Shuta An drove alone to Osaka Prefecture.
When he arrived at Mr. Kondo's house, the Kondo couple was already waiting at home, having been notified in advance just like last time. However, unlike last time, Shuta An noticed an Uma Musume in a Central Tracen Academy uniform sitting in the living room.
"Hello, Trainer Shuta," the Uma Musume stood up and bowed.
Her voice was very soft, yet clear to hear, with an airy quality that made Shuta An instinctively feel she was very composed.
"My name is Vega," the Uma Musume introduced herself. "I am Ayabe-chan's best friend at the Academy and the person she trusts most."
"Miss Vega, are you also here to visit the two of them?" Shuta An asked after nodding to show he understood, then sat on the sofa and returned the question.
"Yes, because Ayabe-chan has training and other things to do at the Academy, I thought that since I spend a lot of time with Ayabe-chan, I should visit here for the New Year," Vega replied.
That reason was actually insufficient, and Shuta An felt Vega was lying. However, he didn't point it out.
"Miss Vega and Ayabe-chan, if there's anything you need help with in the future, please let me know."
"Of course, I should be the one asking Trainer Shuta for guidance," Miss Vega said, waving her hands repeatedly.
After Shuta An handed the gift he had bought to Mr. Kondo, he smiled apologetically at Vega.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know Miss Vega was coming today. Otherwise, I would have prepared an extra gift."
"It's okay, I didn't prepare a gift either," Vega replied with a smile.
Although the words sounded a bit strange, the young man knew Vega was simply signaling that she hadn't come to Kansai specifically for him.
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Kondo, for helping Ayabe-chan choose my Christmas gift." Shuta An rolled up his sleeve to show the bracelet on his wrist.
"It's wonderful that Shuta-kun likes it," Mrs. Kondo smiled more broadly. "I hope Ayabe hasn't caused Shuta-kun any trouble."
"Not at all," Shuta An waved a hand. "Ayabe-chan is enthusiastic about training and follows my instructions very well. However, because she hasn't fully developed yet, I've kept the training intensity relatively low, so her progress isn't very significant. But that's normal; we can't sacrifice long-term future for short-term gains."
"We understand," Mr. Kondo replied. "My wife also visited Ayabe in Tokyo on Christmas Eve, and she felt that Shuta-kun has made Ayabe a bit more cheerful. We are truly grateful."
"Making Ayabe-chan cheerful isn't my credit; it belongs to the Uma Musume of Team Sadalsuud. Everyone has warmly welcomed Ayabe-chan. She's also a very kind-hearted child; when Tokai Teio from our team was hospitalized due to injury, Ayabe-chan volunteered to help care for her at the hospital."
Shuta An paused.
"Honestly, Mr. and Mrs. Kondo, you've raised a wonderful child."
Vega nodded repeatedly from the side, looking as if she shared in the honor.
After exchanging views with the Kondo couple about Admire Vega's training plan for the year, Shuta An politely declined the invitation to stay for lunch and set off on his return journey.
"What a good person," Mrs. Kondo sighed.
"Trainer Shuta has an excellent reputation at the Academy; everyone is looking forward to joining Team Sadalsuud," Vega chimed in. "Everyone says that if you can join Team Sadalsuud, it means you're guaranteed to become a G1-winning Uma Musume in the future."
"We've heard that too, but it seems Shuta-kun is really devoted to Ayabe. Is Ayabe's talent that good?" Mrs. Kondo hesitated. "Honestly, those Uma Musume in Team Sadalsuud are so famous, I find it hard to imagine Ayabe achieving that kind of success."
"Believe in her," Vega continued to reassure her. "Ayabe-chan will definitely succeed."
Vega said this while pressing her hand to her chest.
"It's our first private meeting, so why do I feel so familiar and so close to him!?"
She couldn't help furrowing her brow.
"No, I can't meet him privately again in the future," Vega decided.