I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?!

"Please, we're begging you!" the reporter pleaded, bowing low. "A mother-daughter photo would be unforgettable! It'd mean so much to your mother too! Please, consider it!"

"""Please, we beg you!""" the press corps echoed, every member bowing in unison.

Air Groove stood stunned. I didn't expect this to blow up so much. The entire media team was pleading with her mother, Dyna Car, their enthusiasm bordering on desperation.

Dyna Car tilted her head, a playful smile tugging her lips. "Hmm, I'm just an old lady now. What's in it for me?"

"Don't be so modest!" the lead reporter exclaimed. "You, the legendary 'Empress,' and your daughter, side by side? It's a historic moment! We can't miss this chance!"

"Is that so?" Dyna Car said, chuckling. "Well, if you're that insistent, I suppose I'll pose. Not in my racing silks, though."

"Yes!" the reporter shouted. "Alright, team, move it! Prep everything!"

""Yes, sir!""

"Hurry up!" another barked. "We're getting the best shot—no one outdoes us!"

""Understood!""

"We'll make headlines!" a third roared. "Every frame perfect—full effort!"

""Yes, boss!""

Air Groove blinked. Are they turning into a military unit? The reporters' replies grew sharper, more disciplined, as if they weren't the same frantic crew from moments ago.

Hachiman leaned over, muttering, "This is getting out of hand."

"No kidding," Dyna Car said, amused.

"Still," Hachiman added, "it's pretty great, right? You and your daughter, photographed together at the racecourse."

Dyna Car's smile softened. "Heh, you're right."

Minutes later, the announcer's voice rang out. "Now, we move to the awards ceremony! The winner, gate 7, number 15—Air Groove! With this victory, she claims the second Triple Tiara crown and a 42-year mother-daughter Oaks legacy! Here she comes… wait, she's not with her trainer. Another Uma Musume is with her—a woman!"

"Who's that?" a spectator whispered.

"Someone presenting the trophy?" another guessed.

"Nah, they wouldn't wear casual clothes," a third said.

"Then who is she?"

"Can't see from here…"

The announcer's voice surged. "Just in—a note from the officials! That's none other than Air Groove's mother, Dyna Car-sama! The Oaks champion from decades ago, returning to Fuchu's hallowed turf!"

"What!?" a fan gasped. "Dyna Car!?"

"No way! Mother and daughter together!?"

"We gotta snap this!" another shouted.

"This is unheard of!" a fourth yelled. "A mother-daughter podium? Never happened before!"

The crowd buzzed, their excitement palpable. Air Groove wasn't surprised—her mother's fame as the "Empress" was legendary, her strength etched into racing history.

The announcer continued. "And now, Air Groove receives the Oaks trophy! And… both Air Groove and Dyna Car are holding its handles together!"

Flash! Flash! Flash! Cameras erupted, a storm of light.

Air Groove squinted, bracing against the onslaught. I expected the flashes, but they're still tough. Yet, standing here, side by side with her mother, victorious on the same stage, sharing the trophy… This feels incredible.

Dyna Car's voice softened. "Heh, never thought I'd be here, snapping photos with you on this stage. I figured you'd just grown taller, but you've grown so much more."

"Mother…" Air Groove murmured, her chest tightening.

"Keep pushing forward, okay?" Dyna Car said, her eyes warm.

"Yes," Air Groove said, nodding firmly.

That night, after the races and Winning Live performances, Air Groove returned to Trecen Academy, her heart still soaring. I didn't expect today to unfold like that, but it was… perfect.

"You're in high spirits," Hachiman said, walking beside her.

"Of course," Air Groove said, her voice bright. "I won the race I aimed for, stood with my mother for photos, and took home the trophy. How could I not be thrilled?"

"Fair point," Hachiman said, smirking.

"I'm keeping this momentum," she said. "And I'm counting on you."

"I'll do my best not to get ditched," Hachiman said, shrugging.

"Still so unreliable," Air Groove teased, "but I trust you… a little."

Hachiman chuckled. "Got it."

At the Ritto dorm entrance, he stopped. "Alright, see you day after tomorrow. It's a rest day tomorrow—don't go too wild."

"Fool," Air Groove huffed. "Do I look like the type?"

"Not really," Hachiman said, "but you never know."

"I won't," she said firmly.

"Cool," he said. "We'll mimic Kyoto's course for training until summer camp, so prep for that. Rest well tomorrow."

"Understood," Air Groove said. "I'll get the details at our next meeting."

"Yup," Hachiman said. "Good work today."

As he walked off, Air Groove lingered, her mother's words echoing. Understand your trainer better…

Afterword

What a moment! Air Groove snags the Oaks, and that mother-daughter trophy shot with Dyna Car? Pure history! The "Empress" and her heir stealing the spotlight—cameras couldn't get enough! Air Groove's riding high, Hachiman's keeping it cool, and that advice from Dyna Car's lingering. With the Triple Tiara in sight and the second-trainee buzz growing, what's next for this duo? The turf's blazing—let's keep running!