"Hey, stop looking so miserable, Kitahara. It's not that big of a deal."
Inside their team's activity room at Kasamatsu Training Center Academy, Kitahara sat there looking like he was at a funeral.
Ever since overhearing the conversation between Sakuraba Ryo and Symboli Rudolf, he had been like this.
"Sakuraba-san… are you really planning to let Oguri go to Central?"
"Well… personally, I don't feel that strongly either way about whether Oguri stays in the regional circuit or goes to Central. But generally speaking, sending her to Central would be the better choice, wouldn't it?"
"The better choice…"
Kitahara already looked like he had swallowed bitter melon, and now his expression turned even more bitter.
The reason for his anguish was actually very simple.
Even if Oguri Cap could go to Central, he himself did not have a Central Trainer certification, so there was no way he could go with her…
Which meant that if Oguri Cap went to Central…
Then he would no longer be her Trainer…
And his dream…
"Even though I know sending Oguri to Central is the right choice… Sakuraba-san…"
"Why does doing the right thing hurt this much…?"
"Ow!"
A merciless chop from Sakuraba Ryo landed on the head of the self-pitying Kitahara.
"Quit whining already."
Standing there with his hands on his hips, he looked at Kitahara in disbelief and continued,
"Maybe I'm not a Trainer, and maybe I don't know what Trainers are supposed to do, but…"
"As her Trainer, aren't you supposed to be the one showing your charge the road ahead? So why are you the one getting lost at a time like this? Get a grip!"
Sakuraba Ryo planted both hands on Kitahara's shoulders and shook him back and forth as he spoke.
"Is sitting in here complaining really what you should be doing right now?"
"Whether she goes to Central or not is Oguri's decision. But if she really does choose Central, then shouldn't you be sending her off with a smile?"
Yes. Sakuraba-san was absolutely right.
It was unquestionably the correct thing to say…
But…
The pain and conflict in Kitahara's eyes did not fade.
Knowing what was right and actually doing it were two different things. Even if he understood this was the right choice, that did not make the pain disappear.
"Kitahara, stop making that face."
Seeing that Kitahara's mood had not improved at all, Sakuraba Ryo smiled.
"Besides, who said you can't go to Central with Oguri?"
"Huh?"
Kitahara looked up at him in confusion.
Seeing that dumbfounded expression, Sakuraba Ryo broke into a cheerful grin.
"It's just a Central Trainer certification, right? Leave that tiny little problem to me~"
...
He had said it that morning.
The very next day, the matter was already settled.
Sakuraba Ryo's efficiency was absurd.
Staring at the Central Trainer certification in his hand, Kitahara's eyes were full of shock.
"Sakuraba-san… what exactly did you do?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just used a tiny little bit of influence~"
Sakuraba Ryo held up his thumb and index finger, leaving only the smallest gap between them.
Yes. He had only used a tiny little bit of money power.
He had gone straight to the principal of Nishikino Academy, borrowed the principal's connections, and with a little extra cash on top, gotten the Central Trainer certification through Central.
It had not been difficult at all.
To put it bluntly, he had pulled a truly outrageous number of strings.
As for where those strings came from?
Don't ask. The answer was simply that money power was too strong.
Just a little side errand, really~
Though there had been one strange thing. When Sakuraba Ryo asked the principal of Nishikino Academy for a Central Trainer certification, the voice on the other end of the phone had sounded a little odd.
"Oh… a Central Trainer certification? That's hardly difficult…"
"…I see. If that's what you mean…"
"Sakuraba-san, leave it to me!"
He had been a little curious about what that meant, but considering how efficiently the man had handled everything, Sakuraba Ryo decided it was probably better not to dig too deeply.
"See, Kitahara? I told you it wasn't a big deal, right~"
"…"
Looking at the smile on Sakuraba Ryo's face, Kitahara put away the Trainer certification.
Sakuraba-san had helped him again…
He had helped him find the Umamusume he had wanted so badly to train.
And now he had helped resolve the problem that had been tormenting him…
The debt of gratitude just kept growing…
If he could, Kitahara would have been willing to train Umamusume for Sakuraba Ryo without taking any salary at all.
But he knew Sakuraba Ryo would never agree to that.
Someone as considerate as Sakuraba-san would never stand by and watch the people under him be treated unfairly…
Even if the request came from one of his own people, he would never lower the compensation he gave those working for him.
So if Kitahara wanted to repay Sakuraba Ryo, cutting his own pay was not the way to do it.
No, the only way was through results!
Sakuraba-san had already built the stage for him. Was he really going to make the man push him onto it too?
Kitahara Jo!
Stop shamelessly taking other people's kindness for granted!
If Sakuraba-san treated him this well, then there was only one thing left for him to do!
Together with Oguri, he had to conquer Central and lay it at Sakuraba-san's feet!
"Sakuraba-san! Thank you very much!"
Right there in the lounge, Kitahara bowed deeply to Sakuraba Ryo in gratitude.
Sakuraba Ryo, however, merely waved a hand.
"Once you and Oguri get to Central, just take things one step at a time with the training. As for races, do your best. And if you lose, don't burden yourselves over it. I'm not going to blame either of you."
"Yes!"
Kitahara looked seriously at Sakuraba Ryo and declared,
"Oguri and I are definitely going to win a Central G1!"
"Sure, sure~"
Sakuraba Ryo did not pay much attention to Kitahara's words.
If winning a Central G1 were as simple as shouting slogans, then G1 Umamusume would not hold such lofty status.
Well, Kitahara looked happy, so he might as well let him say it.
It was not as if they were actually going to win.
Adults needed dreams now and then to relieve the pressure, didn't they?
I get it, I get it.
This is where I'm supposed to answer him with a warm smile.
"Do your best, Kitahara."
"Yes!"
Just then, Sakuraba Ryo's phone gave a small buzz. Someone had sent him a new message.
He picked it up and saw that it was from Tamamo Cross.
"Sakuraba Ryo, I won."
"?"
"A restricted race. I won! Hehe, hurry up and praise me!"
Looking at the message Tamamo had sent, Sakuraba Ryo's brow twitched.
A restricted race…
Tamamo could win a restriced race now?
And at Central, no less?
For some reason, Sakuraba Ryo suddenly felt a chill run through his chest, and his left eyelid started twitching wildly.
It was as if something terrible was just about to happen.
No, no, no…
Don't scare yourself.
Tamamo had only won a single conditions race…
Nothing would go wrong because of that… right?
---
T/N: its juist a flukeeeeeeeeeeeeeee i searched her up a bit and she's so shorttt no way those short legs will win any more!
guys i wonder how many people think i dont know umamusume with all thest tn notes...