At 7:25 PM Paris time on the 14th, Shuta An and his two Uma Musume landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
"Ha—" Walking out of the airport, Shuta An yawned, while Oguri Cap and Berno Light—having slept well on the plane—looked refreshed.
The two Uma Musume glanced around curiously. For them, or rather for most Japanese people, "Paris" still represented the city of romance. Setting foot in France for the first time, there was an undeniable sense of anticipation, a quiet expectation of something enchanting.
Even as the young man stifled another yawn, he didn't forget their next step. "Let's head to the meeting spot. The hotel sent a car to pick us up."
"Really?" Berno Light's eyes widened. "They actually sent a car?"
"There's nothing strange about it. We're spending a few million yen at their place. The least they can do is send a car." Shuta An yawned again and started walking. "Besides, we can't exactly take a taxi to the Prince's Park."
The drive took nearly forty minutes before they finally arrived at Molitor Paris – MGallery. Stepping out of the car, Oguri Cap gazed up at the hotel that would be her home for the next month. She stood frozen in admiration.
"So beautiful…" Berno Light murmured, echoing her friend's thoughts.
"Just like in Tokyo," Shuta An began after the driver helped unload their luggage, "Oguri and Berno, you'll share one room. I'll have my own. All three meals are buffet style. I'll handle the paperwork for renting the pool and training ground later. You two go to your room and get some rest—adjust to the time difference first. The first week is for recovery."
He paused, his tone turning firm. "Next week, we start formal training. Oguri, remember—less than three months until the big goal."
"I won't slack off," Oguri Cap said, her expression resolute. "I have a determination I want to show you, Trainer. Please watch my actions."
"Good." Shuta An handed over the luggage. "I'll go finalize the pool and training ground rental. You two head up."
Both facilities required additional payment, but Shuta An's face remained calm as he settled the bill, even though the figures would have made either of the girls wince.
"Necessary expenses," he murmured.
When everything was done, he finally made his way to his room. Unlike the two Uma Musume who'd slept through the flight, Shuta An hadn't closed his eyes once. As he stepped into the elevator, he covered his mouth to suppress yet another yawn.
No matter if Berno Light and Oguri Cap couldn't sleep later because they'd already rested, Shuta An knew the moment he hit the bed, he'd be out. Reaching his floor, he was unsurprised to see Berno Light waiting by his door.
"Trainer, this is your room card." She handed it to him with a bright smile. "Good night."
"Good night." He accepted it and opened his door. "You should rest too. Even if you slept on the plane, it can't have been very comfortable."
"Yes, Trainer. I'll chat with Oguri for a bit, and I'll probably feel sleepy again soon." Berno Light lightly pushed him toward his room. "The next two races are more important than everything before. Oguri and I can't do without you—so please rest properly."
"I will," Shuta An admitted with a tired smile. "Good night."
After bidding her good night once more, he closed the door behind him. He should have showered first, but exhaustion had already won. Pulling out his pajamas, he changed and went straight to bed.
And as always, once sleep took him—he drifted back into the Dream World.
After the Pegasus Stakes victory, Oguri Cap's next scheduled race was the Mainichi Hai, a G3 event over 2000 meters at Hanshin Racecourse. When Trainer Setoguchi Tsutomu relayed this, Shuta An considered for a moment before suggesting, "For the first half of the year, Oguri's main goal should be the Takarazuka Kinen."
"The Takarazuka Kinen might be too ambitious," Setoguchi replied, shaking his head. "She's just entered Central. My plan is to avoid any G1 challenges before summer. A G1 crown in autumn would be safer."
He paused, then added, "Don't worry about your main ride, Shuta-kun. As long as you stay healthy, you'll always be the one riding Oguri Cap."
"I promise," Shuta An said, raising his right hand in earnest. "My race schedule will always prioritize Oguri Cap."
Setoguchi nodded approvingly. It wasn't surprising—any jockey would commit fully when paired with a partner like Oguri Cap.
"I heard you're planning to transfer to Central?" Setoguchi asked. "If so, which stable are you thinking of joining?"
For apprentice jockeys in Central, much like local ones, they needed to affiliate with a Trainer until meeting certain conditions—working and riding under that Trainer's guidance. It was clear Setoguchi intended to bring him in.
But Shuta An only shook his head. "I do plan to transfer eventually, but I want to wait until after I win the Tokai Derby for Sagami-sensei."
"Ah…" Setoguchi sighed, patting his shoulder. He understood. Oguri Cap's transfer to Central meant that Sagami Masayuki had lost his best hope for the Tokai Derby this year. Shuta An's words were a polite rejection—but one that came from loyalty.
Instead of disappointment, admiration filled Setoguchi's expression.
"Shuta-kun's loyalty will take him far," he said with conviction. "In this world, only those who remember their bonds can truly rise."
>>>
Regardless of what the future held in the Dream World, Shuta An still had to live in reality.
Though he hadn't dealt with a time difference for over a year, his experience quickly paid off—he managed to adjust his sleep cycle within just two days. Oguri Cap, used to waking up early every day, adapted almost as quickly. Only Berno Light lagged behind, still struggling after two days.
"It's mainly because Berno always stays with me until I fall asleep and only goes to bed after I'm out cold," Oguri Cap explained to her Trainer.
"No need to explain," Shuta An shook his head. "I said I'd give you a full week of rest, Oguri, and I mean it. Even if you've already adjusted, you're still resting for the next five days. Don't even think about morning training."
"Grumble…" Oguri Cap pouted and clung to her Trainer's arm, shaking it gently. "I understand. I'll rest properly. I know exactly how important the next two races are."
"The final entry list for the French 2000 Guineas won't be confirmed until four days before the race," Shuta An said, his tone turning analytical even as he spoke of rest. "So when we review the development and tactics, I'll focus on the popular Uma Musume the media predicts. But remember, Oguri—just because some names aren't on that list doesn't mean they're weak. We came to Paris as challengers. We can't underestimate anyone."
Oguri Cap nodded silently.
"People here probably think we're just here for show," Shuta An continued. "But we won't be the background characters of this year's French Classics. Not us."
"En!" Oguri Cap clenched her fists. "I want to be the main character this year—with Trainer! Not just in France, but in Japan too!"
Her conviction made Shuta An's confidence swell even further. He already trusted Oguri Cap's strength, but turf adaptability was a variable that couldn't be known until she actually raced—and such things weren't something one could just force.
"Still, targeted training on local turf should help her adapt," he thought.
Unfortunately, he'd only heard about this method from his father and had never seen it firsthand. Whether it would truly work, he couldn't say.
"But it should help, right?" Shuta An muttered to himself.
Noticing her Trainer spacing out, the gray-haired Uma Musume smiled mischievously and flicked his nose. "Trainer's lost in thought again."
Shuta An responded in kind, catching her hand and gently kneading it. "Since you're already awake and restless, how about doing some light activity at the gym? It's still your rest week, but a bit of movement won't hurt."
"If Trainer says so" Oguri Cap placed her other hand over his, holding both of his hands now. "Then I'll go. What about you?"
"I'll go too," Shuta An replied with a grin. He could use some exercise himself.
The in-house gym at Molitor Paris – MGallery lived up to its reputation. Even at a glance, Shuta An spotted several machines he'd once considered buying but dismissed because Oguri wouldn't use them often. For the essentials, though, there were multiple units of each.
"Just for this gym alone, staying here was worth it," he muttered in admiration.
"So big… completely different from Kasamatsu," Oguri Cap said in awe.
"So, Oguri, which do you like better—here, or Kasamatsu?" Shuta An teased.
"Wherever Trainer is, of course," she replied instantly, without a hint of hesitation. "What about you, Trainer?"
"Me too," he answered, though his tone betrayed a bit of flustered honesty.
"Hmph hmph~" Oguri Cap hummed playfully, imitating Tokai Teio before starting her warm-up.
During the quiet morning hours after breakfast, there weren't many guests in the gym. Aside from them, only a few residents were casually exercising. Yet the contrast was striking—both Oguri Cap and Shuta An radiated a quiet intensity that set them apart.
Oguri's sheer physical strength as a Uma Musume was overwhelming enough, but the "ordinary" young man beside her drew nearly as much attention—lifting barbells with an ease that left several male guests staring in disbelief.
After a solid round of training, Shuta An decided to rest. He bought a bottle of water from a vending machine and sat beside Oguri Cap, who was pedaling a stationary bike, her silver hair swaying with each motion. He found himself quietly mesmerized by the rhythm—until an unfamiliar voice broke his focus.
"How impressive. Is this young lady an active Uma Musume?"
Turning around, Shuta An saw a dark-bay Uma Musume in sportswear standing nearby, mid-stretch.
"Good morning~ Yes, she is. I'm her Trainer," Shuta An replied politely, standing and offering a small bow without introducing himself further.
"Hello, foreign Trainer," the dark-bay Uma Musume returned the bow gracefully. "My name is Miss Miesque."
"Hello, Miss Miesque," Shuta An said with equal courtesy. "I'm Shuta An, and this is the Uma Musume I train. We're from Japan."
"Oh!" Her eyes widened slightly. While it was clear he wasn't local, she hadn't expected him to be from Japan.
But Shuta An was equally taken aback—before him stood the legendary Miss Miesque, winner of both the English and French 1000 Guineas, runner-up in the French Oaks, and reigning Breeders' Cup Mile champion with seven G1 victories to her name. The current queen of the mile.
"I never imagined I'd meet Miss Miesque here," he said, pressing his hand to his forehead. "It's truly an honor."
"It's also interesting to meet a Trainer like Mr. Shuta who personally oversees his Uma Musume's training," Miesque replied with a gentle smile.
"Then I won't take any more of your time," Shuta An said, returning to his seat. "I wish you a pleasant morning, Miss Miesque."
"I'll take that blessing, thank you." She smiled back and passed by, moving gracefully to begin her warm-up routine.
While doing her morning exercises, Miss Miesque subtly observed the gray-haired Uma Musume's movements.
As a seven-time G1 winner—destined to enter both the French and American Twinkle Series Halls of Fame regardless of future results—Miss Miesque naturally had access to reliable intelligence networks. After meeting Shuta An in person, she quickly linked his appearance to the information she'd heard earlier.
"So, this must be the Japanese duo who came to challenge the French Classic circuit," she mused.
At first, Miss Miesque watched them with mild curiosity, expecting to be entertained by what she assumed would be outdated or rigid Japanese training methods. But as she continued to observe, her expression gradually turned serious.
"Leaving aside the gray one's natural talent," she thought, focusing on Oguri Cap's fluid yet controlled movements, "the Trainer's timing, pacing, and adjustments… This isn't something taught in a so-called 'backward' region like Japan."
Her gaze shifted to Shuta An, who was quietly monitoring Oguri's form with sharp precision. "The way he manages her rhythm—alternating between endurance and intensity—shows deep understanding. That's not something you can mimic from textbooks."
The more she watched, the higher her evaluation became. "And considering the ambition of Japanese Trainers," she added in thought, "after The Emperor's defeat, they wouldn't dare send another horse overseas unless they were sure it could compete with the world's best. For someone from a provincial academy to bring an Uma Musume here… that takes more than talent. It takes absolute conviction."
After finishing her own exercises, Miss Miesque wiped her sweat with a towel, silently resolving, "When I return, I'll have someone investigate this man. He's no ordinary local Trainer—he might not even be a native Japanese."
Meanwhile, Shuta An was unaware of her scrutiny; his attention was wholly fixed on Oguri Cap.