A group of Umamusume and their trainers from Pluto Academy in the US, on exchange, set to arrive at Tracen Academy tomorrow.
As a trainer for TCB, Sakura Baimu is required to attend the welcoming ceremony and listen to various reports.
She couldn't possibly finish her work at Tracen Academy and then take the Shinkansen over 500 kilometers to Hyogo Prefecture for Rice Shower's treatment.
Therefore, Rice Shower's transfer to another hospital couldn't be delayed.
Sakura Baimu quickly arranged the transfer. In the evening, Rice Shower was moved from Hyogo Prefecture to a hospital in Tokyo.
The transfer costs were naturally covered by Sakura Baimu.
"I'll have to ask Symboli Rudolf to reimburse me when I get back; this is too much..."
Sakura Baimu stared at her gleaming bank account balance, feeling a pang of heartache.
As a trainer, her income wasn't actually low.
In addition, after the Umamusume competed and won, she and the Umamusume would receive prize money.
However, the cost of using equipment was simply too high. The academy's allocated funds were far from enough for such extravagance, so Sakura Baimu had to pay for it herself.
This year, three more Umamusume joined the team, so the cost of various nutrient solutions and the like increased exponentially.
Furthermore, TCB had always sent their entire team to competitions. The cost of Shinkansen travel was also considerable.
The round-trip cost for one Umamusume was nearly 30,000 yen, which was simply unbearable.
Even Spica. Their overall strength surpassed TCB's, but their trainer named Okino was still struggling financially, unable to even afford alcohol.
"Maybe things will be better when Kita-chan and the others start participating in 'Classic' competitions next year..." Sakura Baimu thought to herself.
The Hyogo Prefecture hospital had already made arrangements with the Tokyo side, but even the doctors there were taken aback when they saw Rice Shower's condition.
The injuries were too severe.
However, after a thorough examination, they were shocked again.
Because Rice Shower's condition was actually much better than it appeared.
Sakura Baimu ultimately didn't ask Rice Shower who had shared those advanced insights with her, mainly because she was worried that Rice Shower's emotional state would affect her recovery.
After settling Rice Shower in, Sakura Baimu informed the team members in TCB's small group chat that she had arrived in Tokyo.
Everyone's Trembling Umamusume Falco: "Trainer-san's back already?!"
Light & Slim McQueen: "Looks like Rice Shower's really recovering well."
Triple Crown, Strongest Teiō: "Trainer-san's so attentive to Rice Shower. I bet our team is getting a new member?"
Shining Diamond: "Huh?"
Kitaaaaa ~~~~Koma: "Very likely!"
Tracen Genius Trainer Sakura: "?"
Tracen Genius Trainer Sakura: "Don't think of me like that, okay? It's like I have an ulterior motive. I'm a really nice person."
Light & Slim McQueen: "Heh."
...
Sakura Baimu smiled as she watched the group of Umamusume teasing her. She put down her phone, left the hospital, and started walking home.
"I haven't run in days…" Sakura Baimu looked up at the sky.
"Yayoi said the Tracen Academy track will be open to everyone starting tomorrow. I'd better use the system-enhanced shampoo to wash the color off my hair before running, so I don't get caught and exposed."
--
The next day, Sakura Baimu arrived early at Akikawa Yayoi's office, where she found Akikawa Yayoi sitting at her desk, yawning with a cat.
"Good morning, Yayoi."
"Sakura!"
"Haven't seen you for days." Akikawa Yayoi smiled.
"Um, could you get me a Tracen Academy tracksuit?" Sakura Baimu asked.
"Oh, I knew you wouldn't miss this opportunity of the school opening." Akikawa Yayoi flicked her fan open, looking as if she had expected this.
"What about a leotard? Do you want the leotard shorts?" Akikawa Yayoi asked with a smile.
"No, those pants are too short. Regular athletic pants will do."
"Haha!"
Even when Akikawa Yayoi laughed, it was only a couple of chuckles.
"Just come pick them up tonight. I'll prepare them for you."
"Thanks," Sakura Baimu spoke.
"So how are you going to repay me?" Akikawa Yayoi covered her face with her fan, revealing only one large blue eye, and asked with narrowed eyes.
"How do you want me to repay you?" Sakura Baimu asked with a smile.
"Treat me to dinner tonight."
"Uh, I guess not today. I transferred Rice Shower to Tokyo last night, and I'm a bit short on funds lately. I need to get reimbursed later."
"Then I'll treat you to dinner. Don't refuse!" Akikawa Yayoi said.
"I guess not recently. I have to take care of Rice Shower tonight." Sakura Baimu shook her head regretfully.
"Rice Shower…" Akikawa Yayoi's smile faded upon hearing this. "I heard about this from Luna. It's really very strange."
"Rice Shower is emotionally unstable right now. I don't know who would target Rice Shower. I don't think it's very likely to be an Umamusume at our school, but from other departments?" Sakura Baimu asked doubtfully.
"Denied!" Akikawa Yayoi shouted.
"Japanese academies wouldn't be so blatant. Since Rice Shower saw the person's face, it means she's not afraid of being exposed. So, I'm more inclined to believe it's an overseas Umamusume."
Akikawa Yayoi's voice grew increasingly low as she spoke.
"I told you before, Pluto Academy doesn't have a good reputation internationally, and their Umamusume have serious issues with their practices."
Sakura Baimu was immediately shocked. "Didn't Pluto Academy's Umamusume just arrive in Tokyo from America today?"
"But Sakura, how can you be sure everyone came with the main group? What if some arrived in Japan earlier?"
"Right…" Sakura Baimu nodded, feeling that Akikawa Yayoi's words made some sense.
"I'm just guessing, but I feel there's a high probability that this was done by Pluto Academy's Umamusume," Akikawa Yayoi said.
"Sakura, if she really is an Umamusume from Pluto Academy, what do you think her motives are?"
Sakura Baimu fell into thought upon hearing this.
"Why did she specifically choose Rice Shower? Among the Umamusume participating in the Takarazuka Kinen, only Rice Shower has unlocked her Zone. Mihono Bourbon also had a competition recently, but she didn't choose Mihono Bourbon…"
"Then it means she might have other motives, and it has to be the Takarazuka Kinen… perhaps her purpose is to test Teiō and McQueen's abilities?"
"When will Teiō and McQueen cross paths with an Umamusume from the United States?"
Sakura Baimu's eyes widened suddenly as she thought this, she blurted out.
"Is it because of McQueen at the Japan Cup in late November?!"