Kitahara did have some memory of his uncle returning home for a visit—this was a plotline from the original story. It was just that, after more than half a year of constant training and exam prep, he hadn't thought about it. Only when he ran into his uncle unexpectedly at the racecourse did he recall it all.
In the original plot, once Musaka Ginjirō came back home, he happened to watch a race—the very same Youth Crown Cup that Oguri Cap had just competed in.
The Kitahara of the original story had never been ambitious. After discovering Oguri Cap, his old dream had rekindled: to train a horse girl who could win the Tokai Derby.
Musaka, knowing his nephew's dream, watched Oguri Cap race and, while affirming her talent and strength, also warned his nephew not to let her enter the upcoming Chūkyō Cup after the Youth Crown.
The Kitahara of the original didn't understand why his uncle gave such a warning. But the current Kitahara understood perfectly.
Any experienced trainer—or any top-class horse girl—would instantly recognize Oguri Cap's talent as central-class. And as it happened, on the day of the Chūkyō Cup, several of the Central's top horse girls would be attending as spectators.
Among them: the "Emperor," Symboli Rudolf, the best of the very best.
And from there would come the infamous, fan-favorite-yet-hated scene: the "Emperor stealing away the gray filly."
Symboli Rudolf would invite Oguri Cap to the Central. After their respective struggles, genius and mediocrity would part ways, and the original Kitahara's dream of the Tokai Derby would end right there.
Even so, Kitahara was genuinely happy to meet his uncle again.
Over these past months of training, though he studied hard and prepared carefully every day, Oguri Cap was simply a prodigy. She couldn't grasp many of the technical theories he explained, yet as soon as she tried them, she would master them almost instantly.
This put enormous pressure on Kitahara. He desperately wanted to broaden his own knowledge of training—especially by learning from Central trainers.
And Musaka Ginjirō was exactly that sort of trainer.
Kitahara planned to find the right moment to seek serious guidance from his uncle.
For now, they were gathered at a small diner near the track after the Victory Stage—a farewell party.
Oguri Cap, Fujimasa March, Fujimasa March, Norn Ace and others shared a table in the quieter back area of the shop. They already knew Oguri Cap and Belno Light would be leaving with Kitahara to visit Central, so while celebrating the race, they were also seeing them off.
Meanwhile, Kitahara sat at the bar with Musaka, sipping sake and picking at noodles.
"Didn't think you'd change your ways, brat. Since you're not planning to let Oguri Cap run the Chūkyō Cup, I've got nothing more to say." Just like in the original, Rokuhira had already given his warning.
But unlike in the original, Kitahara had no intention of sending her to the Chūkyō Cup. So he simply "went along obediently" with his uncle's advice.
The reasoning was simple:
He would never hand Oguri Cap over to anyone. He would not allow the "Emperor steals the gray filly" plotline to happen in this world.
It was obvious why.
Through the Central racing papers, Kitahara had already learned that Symboli Rudolf, in her capacity as student council president, had been touring regional tracks and academies with URA officials.
The paper even published her itinerary. Just as in the original, the date she would inspect the Kasamatsu track was the day of the Chūkyō Cup.
In other words, if Oguri Cap ran the Chūkyō Cup, she would one hundred percent be "poached" by Symboli Rudolf.
That legendary horse girl's eye for talent was unrivaled—she was essentially the Uma Musumes' "Bole." There was no way she wouldn't spot Oguri Cap.
But Kitahara hadn't yet earned his Central trainer's license. If Oguri Cap went to Central now, he couldn't follow.
The certification was in two parts: a written exam in September, then a practical/physical test in January. After months of all-out study, Kitahara had passed the written portion. But the second exam was still four months away.
Which meant, if she went early, she'd have to be entrusted to someone else in Central—perhaps even his own uncle Musaka.
But that would be NTR, wouldn't it?
This was his Oguri Cap.
Absolutely unacceptable.
Kitahara knew he was being selfish.
He wouldn't hand her to anyone—not even his uncle, not even temporarily. Not for four months, not for a single day.
So his thinking was:
The Emperor, huh… If I can't beat you, I'll just avoid you.You can't be everywhere at once, can you?
When you're in Kasamatsu—heh, I'll take Oguri Cap to Tokyo.When you leave Kasamatsu—heh, I'll bring her back.
Once I pass the Central exams—heh, then I'll take her to Central myself.
Playing the game of "back and forth."
A few months ago, when he first decided to take Oguri Cap and Belno Light on a tour to broaden their horizons, he hadn't known Symboli Rudolf's schedule.
Now, thanks to the newspaper, the Emperor's schedule were laid bare.
All he had to do was avoid crossing paths, and she would never discover Oguri Cap.
Just wait for me to pass the Central trainer exam, Your Majesty. That whole "Emperor steals the gray filly" scene—you can file it away with "the skating rink incident" as another "nonexistent memory."
Of course, Kitahara couldn't say any of that aloud. So when his uncle looked at him in relief, he just played dumb:
"I was young and foolish before. Thinking back, you've always been right, Uncle Roppei. So I figure I'd better listen to you more."
"Call me Musaka! Or Uncle Ginjiro! Who the hell is 'Uncle Roppei'?! My surname's not Roppei!"
With a heavy stomp of his cane and a burst of temper, Rokuhira then tugged down his fishing hat, his tone softening into a touch of pride:
"You've grown up, brat… come on, drink!"
"Alright, Uncle Roppei, a toast to you."
"Musaka!"
They clinked cups, downed them, and shifted the topic.
"If you're planning to see Central, that's fine," Musaka said after Kitahara mentioned taking Oguri Cap and Belno Light there. He thought a moment, then added:
"I still have some connections. I'll give you a few phone numbers. If you run into trouble, just call any of them."
"But listen up, brat! Central isn't Kasamatsu. Don't go messing around like before! Behave yourself! Talk less, watch more, listen more, learn more!"
Clearly, Musaka's bark was worse than his bite. Despite his gruffness, he genuinely cared for his nephew. Classic "sharp tongue, soft heart."
In fact, the only reason Kitahara had ever become a trainer was because this uncle couldn't stand watching him waste his life, and pulled strings to get him a spot at Kasamatsu Academy.
Feeling a wave of warmth, Kitahara lifted his cup and said sincerely:
"I understand. Thank you, Uncle Musaka."
"…Weird. Somehow 'Uncle Musaka' sounds stranger than before."
"Then… Uncle Roppe—"
"Muska!"
"Alright, Uncle Roppei. Got it, Uncle Roppei. Cheers, cheers."
Another round of drinks.
"If you want to see Central, go to the Central Tracen Academy," Rokuhira said as his face flushed red from the alcohol, voice turning boisterous.
"You've passed the written exam, so joining Central won't be a problem. Going early to take a look won't hurt. Among those numbers I'll give you, one's the secretary to the Chairwoman. Call her when you arrive, she'll look after you."
Visiting Central Tracen Academy was indeed a good idea—it'd be a great learning experience for Oguri Cap and Belno Light. But… the Chairwoman's secretary?
Kitahara had just started to nod when a thought jolted him.
The Chairwoman's secretary… Could it be that person?
"What? You don't know?" Rokuhira barked when his nephew didn't answer, stomping his cane again.
"Idiot! You've never even heard the name Ms. Tazuna Hayakawa? What kind of trainer are you!"
Whether from drink or anger, he forgot entirely about correcting "Uncle Roppei" and launched into a tirade:
"Ms. Hayakawa has devoted herself tirelessly to the Uma Musume industry for years. Who doesn't know her name? You… Oguri Cap was just dumb luck for you, wasn't she? Honestly, you… what am I going to do with you?!"
Kitahara took the scolding without complaint.
He only hid a wry smile behind his cup, quietly pondering.
He hadn't looked too deeply into Central affairs before—too busy with Kasamatsu. But now…
So it really was Tazuna Hayakawa.
(End of Chapter)