Tokai Teio had actually prepared a gift for Shuta An, but she had left it in her dorm. Since she hadn't brought it with her today, she couldn't give him her return gift yet. After happily leaving Symboli Rudolf's office with the wooden carving in hand, Tokai Teio secretly reminded herself to make sure she gave the Trainer his gift tomorrow.
Once Teio left, Shuta An instructed Oguri Cap to go ahead and tidy up the accommodations prepared for the two of them at Central Tracen Academy.
"What about Trainer?" Oguri Cap asked. In front of Symboli Rudolf, she did not call him by name.
"There are still some things I want to discuss with Symboli Rudolf." Shuta An pinched the Gray Uma Musume's cheek as he explained.
"Alright." Without prying further, Oguri Cap picked up their suitcases and left the office.
After the door quietly closed, Shuta An shifted his posture, crossed one leg over the other, and looked at Symboli Rudolf with a faint smile. "My next question is purely to satisfy my personal curiosity. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"Curiosity?" Symboli Rudolf raised an eyebrow. "What does Shuta-kun want to know?"
"First, about the URA Association." Shuta An leaned forward slightly. "Of course, I know the URA Association plans to push for amendments to the Twinkle Series regulations at the year-end meeting. I also know the main changes target local Uma Musume restrictions and their registration limits."
He paused, then added with a heavier tone, "But are those really the only problematic parts of the Japan URA Association's rules?"
Symboli Rudolf narrowed her eyes, her demeanor turning serious. "Is Shuta-kun trying to stir up trouble?"
"This isn't stirring trouble. It's preparation," Shuta An replied with a grin. "It's not just Japan's Twinkle Series rules — a lot of things need improvement."
Although she hadn't fully agreed with his earlier criticism, she could not deny that the latter part of his statement was reasonable. Coming from the West Coast of the United States, his perspective was inevitably broader than that of most Trainers in Japan.
But it was clear his focus wasn't on broad issues — it was on the specific rule he had just brought up: "Are there really only two problematic areas in the URA regulations?"
Symboli Rudolf couldn't answer with certainty. She also didn't know what issue Shuta An would raise next.
Seeing her fall silent, Shuta An continued calmly, "What I'm referring to is a rule that almost no one talks about."
"What rule?" Symboli Rudolf's ears twitched.
"Uma Musumes studying abroad or returning from overseas cannot register for Japan's Classic Race," Shuta An recited.
"So Shuta-kun thinks that rule is unreasonable?" Her surprise was evident.
"And does Emperor think it's reasonable?" Shuta An looked just as surprised. He hadn't expected her to react that way.
"There is a reason for it," Symboli Rudolf replied. "Many Uma Musume studying abroad or returning have abilities far surpassing local Uma Musume. If the restriction were lifted, the Classic Races would very likely be dominated by returnees or international students. This rule is meant to protect the motivation of local Uma Musume."
"But why does Shuta-kun suddenly object to it?" she asked curiously.
Shuta An pursed his lips. "Some time ago, Miss Tojo asked me something."
"'If someone wants to prove their ability overseas and gain recognition from Japanese fans, what racing path should they choose?'" He paused. "I gave her an honest answer."
"But afterward, the more I thought about it, the stranger it felt. Why ask something like that? And if Miss Tojo Hana wasn't lying, the question came from a new member of your Rigil team."
"Someone who has no interest in the Classic Race, yet desperately wants recognition from local fans. After thinking about it, it was easy to guess — she's likely an international student or a returnee."
"And that led me to notice this rule — a rule that, just like the restriction on local Uma Musume entering the Classic Race, shouldn't exist in the first place."
"I see…" Symboli Rudolf pressed her fingertips to her forehead. "But I'm sorry — this rule probably won't change for years. The difference in ability is simply too large."
"Then at least give them a chance to compete for G1 honors!" Shuta An's eyes widened in frustration. "International students and returnees don't even have one G1 race they can enter during the entire Spring Classic season! They're forced to waste their prime years!"
"Yes, the URA protects local Uma Musume but does that mean those restricted by the rules don't even deserve a single G1 race to chase honor?"
Symboli Rudolf lowered her gaze. "I remember Shuta-kun isn't responsible for any such Uma Musume, right?"
"Not right now. But who knows about the future?" Shuta An tilted his head. "If I don't speak up for them now, who's going to speak up for me later?"
"Then what does Shuta-kun propose?" Symboli Rudolf sighed. "I'll bring it up at the end of the year."
"Glad you asked." Shuta An smiled and laid out the race reform plan he had spent over half a month constructing.
He proposed turning the Japanese Derby prep race, "NHK Cup," into the "NHK Mile Cup," allowing participation from international students and returnees — but restricting entries to Uma Musume in their Classic season.
As compensation, he suggested introducing a new Kyoto Shimbun Hai as another Derby prep race, and elevating the Aoba Sho from an open-class race to a graded stakes race. He also arranged adjustments to the scheduling of several races.
And lastly —
"For the summer season, there should be a representative race," he said. "This is Japan — so I suggest upgrading the Sapporo Kinen to a G2, changing it from a 2000-meter dirt race to a 2000-meter turf race. Make it the crown of the summer racing season."
Symboli Rudolf carefully noted each of his proposals.
Then she asked, "So, besides the rules and race planning what else do you think the URA needs to improve?"
Shuta An pressed his lips together, collecting his thoughts.
In truth, there wasn't much to criticize about the racecourse construction — except for the turf. The turf of this era was too hard. While it helped Uma Musume achieve fast times, it also increased the risk of injury.
"I understand the URA wants to differentiate turf conditions from overseas," Shuta An began. "Dry turf doesn't necessarily equal danger — but the soil is too thin. It needs to be re-laid during the off-season."
(Might be one of the reasons Tony Bianca injured in Japan Cup. As an Europe Uma Musume, her steps were powerful suited for poor track, but facing the Japan Cup's turf it backfired on her legs)
"Miss Symboli Rudolf should understand," he added quietly. "Every time I watch Oguri step onto the track, my biggest wish is simply for her to come back safely. But the current domestic turf makes me deeply uneasy."
"The URA is researching it" Symboli Rudolf said, biting her lip. "But re-laying turf without immediate benefit costs too much. And so far, the danger is still theoretical. The URA hasn't taken it seriously."
"Then I can only try to make sure the Uma Musume under my care won't become sacrifices for future reform." Shuta An shrugged. He was already used to Japan's way of thinking.
But his next suggestion caught her interest.
"Build a training ground and guesthouse adjacent to Tokyo Racecourse for overseas expedition Uma Musume."
"Why?" Symboli Rudolf blinked. "Aren't hotels and self-funded training grounds enough? That's how overseas expeditions work now."
"If it's exactly the same as overseas, then why would they bother coming to the Japan Cup?" Shuta An retorted.
"The prize money is high," Symboli Rudolf answered plainly. "First place earns 95 million yen. And for overseas Uma Musume, the URA also pays commendation bonuses in USD."
"It is a lot," Shuta An agreed. "But not enough for top overseas competitors to risk the unfamiliar turf. Think about it — what level were the overseas challengers in the last few years?"
Symboli Rudolf fell silent. He was right. The foreign Uma Musume who challenged the Japan Cup in recent years weren't even top-tier in their home countries. And even then, the Japanese side hadn't managed to defend the title. Losing to world-class competitors was one thing. Losing to second-tier visitors was another.
"If a training ground and guesthouse were built, it should be free for overseas challengers," Shuta An continued. "And the turf maintenance should match Tokyo Racecourse standards. Only those who have gone on expeditions themselves understand the enormous expense of travel. Lowering that burden — and increasing the prize money — will absolutely attract stronger challengers."
"We can only adjust prize money starting next year—" Symboli Rudolf said, waving her hand. "But I can approve constructing the training ground and guesthouse."
She bit her lip. "I'm not afraid of Central Uma Musume losing the Japan Cup. I'm afraid that even after spending a fortune, the URA still fails to show the world's peak level."
"So what was Miss Symboli Rudolf planning originally?" Shuta An asked.
"I sent an invitation letter to Tony Bin/Tony Bianca — second in last year's Arc, third in this year's King George." She sighed. "I invited others too, but only Tony Bianca accepted."
"Of course. Not everyone is interested in paying their own money to bully low-level Uma Musume," Shuta An muttered internally.
"Speaking of which — what about Oguri Cap?" Symboli Rudolf asked. "Are you planning to have her run in this year's Japan Cup?"
"Why not?" Shuta An spread his hands. "If I remember correctly, as this year's French Derby champion, she'll receive an additional two million USD if she wins the Japan Cup."
"Two million USD—WOW." He smiled. "There's no reason to refuse such a prize."
"So in the second half of the year, Shuta-kun plans to run Oguri Cap in the Autumn Tenno Sho, then the Japan Cup, then finish with the Arima Kinen?" she guessed.
"Exactly. The Arima Kinen will be the test." He nodded. "If Oguri Cap can't win this year's Arima Kinen, she won't challenge it again for the rest of her Twinkle Series career."
Symboli Rudolf fell silent for a while before speaking. "Shuta-kun truly thinks differently. Most Uma Musume who qualify for the Arima Kinen never want to miss it."
"I only care about the Uma Musume I train," Shuta An said bluntly. "What fans want has nothing to do with me. If Oguri doesn't perform well on Nakayama's 2500 meters, then she shouldn't run there. It's that simple."
They chatted a while longer. Shuta An also asked about Team Rigil's recent situation — mainly Silence Suzuka's condition — before preparing to leave.
"Central will always keep a spot open for Shuta-kun." Symboli Rudolf suddenly said.
"That'll have to wait until I watch Oguri retire from the Twinkle Series." Shuta An waved without looking back and left.
"I should have tried harder to keep him in Central back then" Symboli Rudolf murmured to herself as she watched his figure disappear.
But she knew very well — the URA Association regretted it even more than she did.