For Oguri Cap, performing on the Winning Stage was a brand-new experience. She couldn't quite put into words how it felt, but it was... arguably pleasant?
The cheers of the audience reminded her of the congratulations she received after winning a race; thinking of it that way made her even happier. She wanted to share this joy with Fujimaru Ritsuka and her mother.
As a qualified trainer, Fujimaru Ritsuka was naturally more than happy to let Oguri Cap reunite with her mother, White Jewel. Since Oguri Cap had worked so hard, she deserved to relax during her time off. After all, her usual training was incredibly grueling, and it wouldn't do to keep her body in a constant state of tension.
Before the race, he had already prepared a plan for Oguri Cap to take a few days off. After the race, he encouraged her to go home and cherish the warmth of family, letting her experience the beauty of everyday life.
If it were any other Horse Girl, they would have certainly called up friends to celebrate the victory. But Oguri Cap was different. By the very next day, she had consciously returned to her daily routine, independently completing her new morning and evening training sessions. She even helped Bell Noon Bright with her exercises.
Perhaps this was partly due to White Jewel's specific reminder. She had spoken gently to her daughter: "Oguri, the Trainer is still working hard for your future. You aren't going to just stop here, are you?"
However, she hadn't actually intended for Oguri Cap to leave the very day after coming home. When she saw the letter Oguri Cap had left behind, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Her daughter was wonderful in every way, but she was simply too much of an airhead. She was bound to lose out somewhere if she wasn't careful.
For instance, an excellent trainer was like "horse-nip"; they would naturally attract a large number of talented Horse Girls.
Though White Jewel didn't particularly want to put it this way, before this year's newcomer testing, Oguri Cap had never been in the public eye. She was, without a doubt, a Cinderella.
Now, this Cinderella had ascended the Winning Stage and begun to sparkle. Discerning individuals would surely realize the trainer's merit. Who knew when a regional Horse Girl—or even a Central Horse Girl—might come along to poach him?
White Jewel was already imagining a scenario like: "Here is a hundred million yen. Become my personal trainer." After all, that was exactly how things played out in morning soap operas.
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Oguri Cap had no idea that White Jewel's thoughts were wandering so far afield. Seeing Oguri Cap return covered in the dust of travel, Ritsuka wiped her face clean and then brought up the matter of her career path. He even asked Bell Noon Bright and the trio of friends to help Oguri think it over.
Should she accumulate enough prize money to simply transfer her registration to the Central? Or should she use her race results to secure the status of a "Regional Representative" before heading to the Central?
The former was very simple: just keep winning, then go to the Central to enjoy their superior treatment. The latter was much more troublesome. The regional associations couldn't offer much help, and the Central would refuse to provide assistance because of her status as a regional Horse Girl. It could only be described as a thankless task.
At the mention of this topic, the trio's brains almost stalled on the spot. They thought: It's just racing, why make it so complicated?
Then, the trio lunged forward and firmly restrained Oguri Cap. They began to joke around: "The Japanese Derby? Who knew a girl with such thick eyebrows and big eyes like you had such grand ambitions? We really underestimated you before."
Compared to thinking about such troublesome problems, they only wanted to live each day with ease.
Bell Noon Bright, on the other hand, wore a thoughtful expression. She was indeed just a regional Horse Girl, but the family behind her was quite vast. She had heard of various cases involving regional Horse Girls transferring to the Central to participate in Central races.
However, she didn't understand why Fujimaru Ritsuka would propose the second option. The vast majority of regional Horse Girls weren't even aware of that choice; they would just go to the Central directly, knowing that doing so was simple and saved effort.
Usually, only Horse Girls from powerful regional clans would choose the second plan. That way, they could dominate their local region while also participating in the Twinkle Series hosted by the Central to challenge the Classic Triple Crown. It was essentially a "winner takes all" strategy.
Incidentally, there were only two spots for Regional Representatives, and the competition was extremely fierce. Even a Horse Girl from a powerful clan wouldn't dare say they could definitely secure one. What then for a Horse Girl like Oguri Cap, who was practically a grassroots commoner?
Oguri Cap ignored the girls' teasing and looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka very seriously. "Trainer, you said before that to participate in the Japanese Derby, I must go to the Central. Now, you've specifically presented two plans, one of which is clearly much more troublesome. Are you hoping to achieve something through me?"
The four Horse Girls were struck with looks of horror simultaneously: "?!"
They thought: You aren't Oguri Cap! Who are you?!
That Oguri Cap always looked so silly; how could she possibly think of something like this? Moreover, this felt a bit like a conspiracy theory. Was this really something the Oguri Cap who trusted Fujimaru Ritsuka so implicitly would say?
Feeling the girls' gazes, Oguri Cap awkwardly scratched the back of her head and shrank into herself, defending herself: "It's just... I couldn't quite figure it out, and then this thought popped up."
Oguri Cap naturally trusted Fujimaru Ritsuka. Without his help, she couldn't have become a Horse Girl so smoothly. She was extremely grateful to him; this was truly just her intuition.
Fujimaru Ritsuka always taught her using the simplest words possible and helped her understand through personal example. How could such a person present two plans where the levels of difficulty were completely disproportionate?
It had to be because he had something else in mind, right?
Fujimaru Ritsuka had guessed that Oguri Cap might ask, and he had even considered the possibility of her choosing the latter directly. Regardless of which it was, he intended to explain it to her before letting her make the decision.
He answered: "Because I want Oguri to become an idol. Not a flash-in-the-pan idol Horse Girl like High Seki, but a Top Idol above even that—to become number one in Japan!"
In Japan, due to a lack of communication and unbalanced regional development, Central Horse Girls and regional Horse Girls had become two distinct groups. They could even be described as two entirely different tribes; the rift grew deeper every day, and conflicts were gradually increasing.
Furthermore, Japan held dirt racing in extreme contempt, yet the vast majority of regional Horse Girls could mostly only run on dirt. This status quo was clearly terrible.
Upon seeing this state of affairs, Fujimaru Ritsuka had felt his head throb. His "occupational hazard" as a former Savior was flaring up. He wanted to change this situation so that everyone could live a better life.
This was also the direct reason why he had come to this tiny Kasamatsu, even though he could have joined the Central or taken a position in Europe or America.
Since he wanted to overturn the entire board, he naturally had to start from zero with a Horse Girl who was sufficiently obscure and then shock the world.
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked into Oguri Cap's eyes and said, enunciating every word: "I call it... the Grand Order."
"Oguri, what do you think?" Ritsuka lowered his eyes slightly and offered a warm smile. His question didn't put pressure on anyone; instead, it felt as gentle and polished as jade.
Because of this, Oguri Cap held her breath.
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Musume: Oguri Cap Grand Order (60 Chapters – Ongoing)
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