...This seemed to be the first time she had spoken to him with encouragement and recognition. In the past, she was always scolding, always guiding. She would always see his troubled face after being reprimanded, but she had never seen him smile so gently when she encouraged him like this.
...Perhaps I should change my attitude towards him? That day, for the first time, Rudolf had such a thought.
But, she still disliked it. She disliked her trainer's personality. This man was too soft-hearted—and not towards his own assigned Uma Musume, but towards the ones she had defeated.
"One horse leads, ten thousand horses fade." The races were always so cruel. As someone born in an era where Japan desperately needed a "Horse King," Rudolf had always seen that position as her own. She had run so hard for this goal, precisely to become the one who stood above all others.
Her undefeated Triple Crown undoubtedly cast a shadow over a large number of her contemporaries. But at that time, what was that man saying...
"Don't be so hard on them. They're from the same generation as you. They worked so hard to compete on the same stage as you, but you can't just ignore them!"
"If you're going to run, then run properly! What's with you slowing down at the very end? You'll make the other girls think you're insulting them! You'll have no friends like this!"
Friends? Ridiculous.
At the time, Rudolf had scoffed at the idea. From the day she chose to become Japan's strongest Uma Musume, she believed she was destined to walk a path that no one could follow.
And what she needed was not a trainer who worried about her future with a troubled face. She needed someone who would tell her to charge forward bravely.
But it was clear that Kitano Ryuichi, as her trainer, did not meet her expectations at that time.
But that wasn't the source of her anger. The reason she was angry was because her trainer was feeling sorry for the other Uma Musume she had crushed.
Shouldn't he be encouraging or recognizing me for my victory? Why care about the feelings of the losers?
Therefore, they had many disputes. This situation continued until the Spring Tenno Sho.
It was the final showdown between two Triple Crown winners. Her strongest opponent yet—Mr. C.B. Her senior, and the one she wanted to surpass.
That Spring Tenno Sho ended with her victory. Rudolf remembered that day, the rain was heavy, making the track conditions extremely poor.
After the race, as she crossed the finish line first, panting, she turned to look at Mr. C.B.—the senior she had faced three times and finally defeated. In the pouring rain, she looked up, completely dejected.
Rudolf would never forget the look in her eyes. The heavy rain drenched her face, making it impossible to tell if it was rain or tears. But she heard what she said to her.
"Congratulations, Symboli Rudolf. From now on, there are no more Uma Musume in Japan who are your opponent."
That day, Mr. C.B. stumbled off the track, limping. That day, for the first time, Rudolf realized that the feeling of victory didn't seem as sweet as before.
She had personally defeated her senior, ending an era. Now, she stood at the pinnacle of this era, having defeated all her rivals.
But, when those seniors she had once surpassed, those she had once scoffed at, were truly all dejected, Rudolf looked back and realized what she had done was actually so cruel.
She was lost. She didn't know how she left the track. She didn't even pay attention to the official race results. She returned to the exit tunnel leading to the locker room.
And there, she saw a familiar figure. Kitano was waiting for her as always, his expression somewhat serious.
She thought that for the first time, this nagging man would scold her, and for the first time, she would realize her mistake, be so thoroughly scolded that she wouldn't be able to lift her head.
But unexpectedly, he didn't lecture her. As always, he handed her a sports drink and a towel to wipe the rain, giving her a gentle and encouraging smile, and for the first time, he said:
"—A good win, Rudolf. You're the strongest now. You're my pride."
...She didn't remember the rest. She only remembered that for the first time, she hugged him.
And she remembered the tears that fell, like the heavy rain outside.
Yes, from the very beginning, all I wanted to say, all I wanted to hear, was just that one sentence.
But why did you have to say it only when I couldn't even recognize myself anymore?
It's really... too unfair.
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