"Congratulations, Teio. With this, you are only one step away from your dream of the undefeated Triple Crown."
In the racecourse tunnel, Symboli Rudolf, who had long since recovered and been discharged from the hospital, naturally wouldn't miss an event as important as the Japanese Derby. Especially after witnessing Tokai Teio win the championship with her own eyes, a gratified smile returned to her face.
As expected, Teio has the strength to achieve the undefeated Triple Crown on her own... Perhaps, even without my and Kitano's intervention, this child could have won it with her talent alone.
However, if it was just an undefeated Triple Crown...
"Heehee, am I just a little bit away from reaching the same height as the President?"
And Tokai Teio, having won the Japanese Derby, was more triumphant than ever. The intense joy welling up from the depths of her soul and the confidence bursting from her chest made her completely believe that she could become an undefeated Triple Crown horse girl!
I can definitely do it. Just a little bit more. As long as I complete that last step, I can see him!
The trainer of my dreams, I'm definitely about to meet him... Thinking of this, Teio could hardly contain her excitement. But this time, she did not let her feelings show too much.
As for the reason... it was because this Japanese Derby, where she had performed perfectly, had made her feel a threat. And this threat was right beside her now.
"You've already done well enough, Festa. You don't need to feel down. This Japanese Derby was your best performance to date."
Under Tokai Teio's somewhat cold gaze, Nakayama Festa, whose spirits had been low after losing to her, walked to a spot just a step away from Kitano after they entered the exit tunnel together.
And Kitano himself, as if he had expected it, took the final step and gently let the dispirited Festa lean against his chest, his palm constantly rubbing the top of her knit-capped head, soothing her emotions.
"...It's not enough." And with his comfort, Festa's low spirits were finally released a little. Perhaps because of their time together, the distance between them had shortened a lot, and she was now used to this kind of intimate contact with him. She said sullenly, "I clearly felt I could hold on, but my stamina ran out early... If my endurance was a little stronger, I could definitely have won."
Saying this, Festa, who had been leaning against his chest, suddenly lifted her head and looked straight at him. During this time, under his guidance, she had returned to her familiar tactics. After truly seeing the hope of victory as he had said, she could hardly hide her desire for it, and said, word by word:
"Kitano, after we go back this time, let's strengthen my endurance training. I think my power and burst are already enough."
"—Alright. If you're willing to take the initiative to train, then no matter what it is, I will do my best to satisfy you."
He indulgently agreed to her training arrangement. However, he also knew very well that training endurance at this time was a very foolish decision. She thought she was shoring up her weakness, but she had forgotten that endurance and stamina were the slowest-improving aspects of a horse girl's training.
This wasn't a game, after all, where you could just click on the stamina option and see immediate results, where even a short-distance runner could have their stamina maxed out.
To a large extent, after a horse girl had fully developed, unless there was some miraculous transformation, their progress would be a slow process, especially in terms of endurance, and whether they could run longer distances. These were largely determined from the beginning.
For example, if he were to have Suzuka train her endurance, it would probably be very difficult to see significant results without a year and a half of persistence. And if they were to focus on making up for her weakness in this one month but neglect her speed training, which she was best at, then her most proud speed might become the next weakness.
To say it again, this wasn't a game; this was reality. Training was like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you fall back. To make up for a weakness while neglecting to train a horse girl's strengths often resulted in a scaled-down "hexagonal warrior," who seemed to have no weaknesses but also no outstanding points, with all stats at C+.
Such a horse girl, unless she was extremely lucky, what was the probability of her winning a major prize, or even a G1? This was also a basic mistake made by most trainers. No horse girl is truly perfect—even if there is, she's probably not under your command.
Since most of them were somewhat talented, it was best to use the training methods that were most suitable for developing their talents and potential, to win races with the greatest probability.
However, he wouldn't say these words to her now. He knew too well how to soothe her. He had to cooperate with her for a few days of endurance training first. Then she herself would find that her strength was improving very slowly, and would take the initiative to come to him to change the training plan.
"You idiot, even if you dote on your charge, there has to be a limit, right?"
Finally, Tamamo Cross, who was standing with C.B., couldn't help but cover her head and complain with a headache. Clearly, she could see that he was just making an empty promise, but the worldly-wise Tamamo did not expose it, and could only say with a helpless and somewhat envious tone.
Unexpectedly, Mr. C.B. on the side, upon hearing this, seemed to have seen through her change in expression. Her nimble eyes flickered slightly, and she said to her with a light laugh, "Ara, but speaking of which, Tamamo-san and I are also considered his charges, aren't we~"
"If that's the case—Trainer-san, can Tamamo-san and I do the same thing as Nakayama-san?"
"What?!"
And C.B.'s words also gave Tamamo a big scare. Almost in an instant, under the gaze of Rudolf and Teio, they clearly saw her face turn red rapidly, and her gaze darted back and forth between her and Nakayama Festa's position. She seemed to be greatly moved.
But even if her heart was moved, she did not lose her reason. She quickly waved her hand and said with a forced, awkward smile, "Don't joke around. I'm not a child anymore. Head-patting is something I, as the older sister, should be doing."
"...I actually don't mind, you know. If you and C.B. really want to?" At this time, it was he who, after a moment's hesitation, took the initiative to propose, but was quickly refuted by the blushing her:
"You don't just do whatever people say! You're a trainer, after all. You—Hey! C.B.! Why are you actually going over there?!"
Under her almost-roaring voice, Mr. C.B. showed no thought of being an "adult" at all and immediately lowered her head and took the initiative to approach him. A moment later, under the watchful eyes of everyone, she enjoyed the same treatment as Nakayama Festa.
And the "mother and daughter" pair, Rudolf and Teio, had different expressions upon witnessing this scene. Although Rudolf was a little resistant at first, when she saw the unconcealable smiles on both their faces, even if she was unhappy, she finally showed a helpless expression.
Rudolf had made up her mind in the past to rekindle her relationship with him from their "childhood," and she had also made up her mind to never let him be taken away by others. But she had still ignored her biggest rival, Mr. C.B.
Having calmed down, Rudolf still couldn't understand her past actions. But since her Kitano didn't blame C.B., and their relationship was still so harmonious... then it could only mean that she had misunderstood something. Perhaps C.B.'s actions were not, as she had thought, a simple case of ingratitude.
Since she couldn't part with him, and she also couldn't rest easy about C.B.... then she might as well prepare herself mentally and discuss with her the issue of his "ownership" and "distribution."
But the premise was that she had to first occupy an absolute advantage in his heart. After all, the final decision was still up to him. She had to ensure that her status in his heart was greater than C.B.'s.
"Alright, C.B., you can stop fooling around now," Rudolf also waved her hand and timely stopped her from continuing to provoke Tamamo. She didn't want her to provoke her to the point of recovering her memories, and then she would have another competitor.
However, soon, she turned her gaze to him. After forcing herself to hide the subconscious smile that had appeared, she took the initiative to invite, "Trainer Kitano, your team's performance this time is also very good. I believe that in time, your team will become one of the few strong teams in Tracen Academy."
"If it's convenient, can you find some time to come to the student council office? I think it's time to discuss the configuration upgrade of your team. Of course, regarding the training plans of your several charges, I think I can also provide some suggestions."
"That would be great."
A trip to the student council office, and the training plan for his charges. He also quickly captured the subtext in her words. And after exchanging a look with her, the two of them, with a tacit understanding, quickly understood each other's meaning.
He knew what "charge" matter she was worried about. Undoubtedly, she wanted him to discuss with her the hidden dangers of Tokai Teio, who was about to participate in the Kikuka Sho, which was why she had invited him to the student council office.
Of course, she herself also had a little bit of a desire to act spoiled once, but that was just a side matter.
And in contrast to Rudolf, Tokai Teio showed her indifference and displeasure even more vividly. Her gaze was fixed on C.B. and Festa beside him from beginning to end. At this moment, absorbed in her thoughts, she herself could not detect the flames of jealousy burning faintly in her eyes, and where they came from.
It didn't seem to be her own will, but more like another person... another person who knew some truth, conveying their will to her.
"Heehee, are you jealous? Don't get the object of your jealousy wrong, Teio-chan. Kitano-chan is not your trainer yet."
And at some point, the voice of Gold Ship, who had quietly circled behind her, suddenly pulled her back to reality. And before she could react to what her emotions were just now, she saw her take the initiative to wrap her arms around her and say with an unprecedentedly enthusiastic smile:
"But I still have to congratulate you, Teio! For the Japanese Derby, I'll admit I'm no match for you. But the upcoming Kikuka Sho is a different story!"
"Kitano-chan has said before that the Kikuka Sho is my advantage zone. If you're not careful, you could easily be defeated by me~"
"...Then let's give it a try."
However, the unhappy Tokai Teio, upon hearing her challenging words, couldn't help but show her own pride. Now, she had indeed regarded Gold Ship and Nakayama Festa as her opponents, but she still had a strong obsession that she had to win the undefeated Triple Crown.
It seemed that as long as she completed this obsession, all her problems would be solved. In her heart, a "voice" was conveying such a signal.
"Hmph, you're very motivated."
However, seeing the confident Teio, Gold Ship's eyes drooped slightly, her long, white bangs also covering her pupils. With a slight turn of her body, her cherry-blossom-colored lips were also pressed against Teio's horse ear.
The next moment, before she could react, her mysterious and solemn voice came clearly, in a voice that only she could hear:
"But be careful, Teio. I'm very concerned... about the curse of the Japanese Derby. Too many horse girls have used up all their luck in this life to win one Japanese Derby—this is by no means an empty rumor."
"Me, it's not that I don't have the ability to win, it's that I don't want to win at all. I don't want to add to his burden. Do you understand?"
Saying this, she also, without waiting for her to react, took the initiative to pat her shoulder, her solemn tone for the first time having a hint of a plea, but also a hint of a cold warning. "So, please... no matter what you encounter next, please, please, don't trouble Kitano."
"Teio is Gold Ship's good friend. Gold Ship doesn't want to lose this good friend... but Gold Ship wants to lose Kitano-chan even less."
"Good friends, Golshi still has many. But Kitano-chan, no one can replace him, understand?"
With that, she finally brushed past her. Everything seemed so natural. And even if it weren't for her hearing her voice, she would only have felt her leaning against her for a moment...
But her words just now were lingering in her mind like a curse, making her unable to forget, and also hard to let go...
Looking at her, who had returned to his side and was asking for a pat like a spoiled child, a deep question appeared in her mind—
Gold Ship-san... what on earth does she know? Who on earth is she?
The next second, Tokai Teio's azure blue pupils seemed to have one eye quietly turn a dark black color—and coincidentally, the second she turned her head slightly, her one blue and one red heterochromatic eyes reflected an extremely similar expression to Teio's.
The almost identical change in the two girls also seemed to verify their almost identical situation. They, with different souls residing in their bodies, were both, to protect the person they most wanted to protect, silently watching each other's every move in the dark...
The undercurrent was quietly surging, and Kitano, who was standing in the open, did not know that danger had already arrived. It could be said that he, who was the only one with a simple and honest smile, did not know at all that he had become the "prey" of several gazes...
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My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
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