It was the day after Urara's third race—the Maiden Race at Nakayama.
I was slumped in a chair in the trainers' lounge, my legs crossed and my posture poor, making the backrest groan in a rhythmic, irritating creak.
"..."
I stared in silence at the object clutched in my hands: a newspaper. Not just any paper, but one of the major "Umamusume Gazettes." My brow furrowed as I scanned the headlines.
The front page was dominated by the events of yesterday. It detailed the fates of Feudal Tenure and Duo Talicar, the first and second-place finishers, as well as Castanet Rhythm, who had collapsed mid-race.
The report was harrowing. Feudal Tenure, unable to decelerate after crossing the wire, had tripped and tumbled violently across the dirt, taking Duo Talicar down with her. They had rolled like broken dolls until they finally came to a rest. The resulting injuries were so severe that the Winning Live had been scrapped on the spot.
Yesterday's carnage had been enough to wipe the smile off even Urara's face. The real tragedy, however, was the whispers following the report: all three girls, including Castanet Rhythm, had suffered injuries so catastrophic they weren't just "out for the season"—their careers were likely over.
Since early this morning, the Academy's trainers had been hauled into a general assembly. It was a stern "cautionary briefing," a warning to ensure no such accidents happened under our watch.
The trainers responsible for Feudal Tenure and the others had been summoned individually by the Chairwoman for questioning. Disciplinary action was inevitable. Whether it would be a slap on the wrist or the total revocation of their licenses was the sole topic of conversation in the lounge. The more they talked, the deeper the knot in my forehead became.
"Here. For you."
A cup of coffee appeared in my peripheral vision, cutting through the gloom I was radiating. It was Kiryuuin-san.
"...Ah. Thanks."
"Yesterday was... a lot," she said softly, taking the seat next to me. I nodded, my eyes never leaving the newsprint.
"I knew something was off before the gates even opened," I muttered. "But I didn't think it would end in a bloodbath. I swear, I don't know what my seniors were thinking..."
The trainers in charge of those girls were my seniors in years, but their reputations were far from sterling.
Umamusume possess physical capabilities far beyond humans, but the sheer velocity at which they move makes injury a constant shadow. Some get away with scraped knees; others snap bone in mid-stride.
Urara is no stranger to the occasional tumble. Whether on the track or just walking down the hall, she's prone to tripping, much to my chagrin. I've reached the point where I keep a stash of cute bandages in my pocket at all times.
But Urara has never suffered anything worse than a scratch. I make her warm up until she's limber and cool down until she's steady. I consider it my greatest achievement that she has never faced a "Red Condition" injury. If she hadn't been boxed in during that final straight yesterday, she might have been caught in that horrific pile-up.
"Phew..."
I took a sip of the coffee Kiryuuin-san had brewed and let out a long, heavy breath. Urara's training session was supposed to start soon. I couldn't go out there looking like I was ready to bite someone's head off; I'd only scare her.
I rubbed the tension from my brow. Kiryuuin-san sighed in relief, seeing me relax.
"Let's both promise to keep our girls safe, okay?"
"Yeah... absolutely."
I was a rookie, but I made a silent, iron-clad vow: no matter what, I would never let my girl break like that.