Chapter 13: I'm Going to Challenge the Classic Triple Crown
As she stared at the comment on her roommate's phone, a twinge of envy flickered through Satono Diamond's heart. Her gaze drifted toward the total follower count, and she blinked in surprise.
"Only 310 followers… That's not very many, huh…"
"Huh? What did you say, Diamond-chan?"
Still basking in the glow of her brand-new race account, Kitasan Black was too absorbed in her phone to catch what Diamond said.
After a brief pause, Diamond shook her head and instead asked gently, "It's nothing… I just meant, now that you've got a dedicated trainer, and you're officially registered for competitions… Have you or your trainer decided where your career is headed next?"
Kitasan's scrolling finger stopped mid-swipe. The excitement faded slowly from her face, her expression growing serious—unexpectedly so.
Despite being roommates, Kitasan and Diamond had actually known each other since childhood.
They'd first met back in elementary school, and later entered Tracen Academy together, right as they were about to begin formal training as Umamusume.
But in all those years, Diamond could barely recall a time when she'd seen this look on Kitasan's face.
'Did I… ask something I wasn't supposed to?'
Her fingers nervously curled into a ball.
A long silence fell over the room.
Then—
"I've made up my mind."
Kitasan's voice had lost its usual brightness. Instead, it was low, resolute—like someone steeling themselves for a great trial.
"I'm going to challenge the Classic Triple Crown."
Diamond's eyes widened instantly, her mouth falling slightly open.
In the Shining Star Series, G1 races were the highest tier of competition—rare and prestigious, with only 25 held each year across the entire country.
Among those, three stood apart.
Umamusume entered their full-fledged competitive careers in a year known as the Classic Year. After that, they were referred to as Older Horses.
During that Classic Year, they were eligible to race in only three specific G1 events:
The Satsuki Sho, the Japanese Derby, and the Kikuka Sho.
Together, they formed the legendary Classic Triple Crown.
In other words, an Umamusume had just one shot—one year in her life—to compete in those three races.
Roughly ten thousand girls passed entrance exams to Tracen academies across Japan each year.
The Classic Triple Crown only happened once annually, and only one champion could be crowned in each race.
Even winning just one of those races meant you were already a once-in-a-decade talent.
And yet, Diamond remembered it clearly: just a few days ago, Kitasan had been lost—unsure of what path to take.
She'd been frustrated. Trainers kept saying she should focus on short-distance races.
She'd been confused. Her dream was to run in the Classic races like her idol—but the distances were all middle to long: 2000m, 2400m, and 3000m. If she specialized in short sprints, she'd never make it.
It was the kind of painful contradiction—between dream and reality—that could paralyze anyone.
And now, suddenly, Kitasan had made up her mind. She was going to chase the most coveted goal in all of racing.
'…Could it be because of her trainer?'
The thought struck Diamond, and the more she considered it, the more certain she became.
From the moment Kitasan had returned that day, beaming with the news that she had a dedicated trainer, her confusion had vanished. Almost like she'd forgotten all her worries—no, like she had replaced them with joy.
And today, from the end of school until nightfall, she hadn't returned to the dorms even once.
During dinner, her sister had mentioned that Kitasan Black was training in the dance hall all afternoon—under the guidance of that very same trainer.
Diamond remembered him well. That ridiculously young trainer.
Eighteen years old, and already certified as a Central Trainer—something completely unheard of. It had caused a sensation when it happened a few months back. Even now, people at school still talked about it from time to time.
From what she'd heard, he wasn't following the usual route of working as an assistant under senior trainers. Instead, he planned to go straight into professional training—with his own contracted Umamusume right from the start.
If it had been a while ago, Diamond might've thought that sounded like pure fantasy.
Training wasn't just about knowledge—it took real, hands-on experience. That's what Diamond's sister, and just about everyone else, believed.
So when she first heard that Kitasan's trainer was that young man, she'd been honestly worried.
But now… he didn't seem ordinary at all.
Not only could he teach her those strange, intricate hand signs and poses, but even the special training session in the dance hall—according to her sister at dinner—seemed far more structured than it looked.
Maybe the results weren't immediate, but Kitasan had been all smiles, clearly enjoying the process. It was rare for someone to adapt so quickly to a trainer's custom regimen—especially one they'd just started.
And that adaptability meant only one thing: the trainer's program was tailored just right.
That kind of precision matched the excellence of someone who'd passed the Central Trainer Qualification Exam with top marks. He might really be the real deal.
Even her sister seemed impressed by the new trainer. So maybe…
After thinking it over, Diamond cautiously asked:
"Kitasan… Is going for the Classic races something your trainer suggested?"
"Eh? Hehehe, nope!"
Just like that, the tension disappeared like a popped bubble. Kitasan broke into a sheepish grin and scratched her cheek.
"All he asked was what kind of Umamusume I wanted to be, and if I'd thought about what kind of races I wanted to run in."
"Hmm… Kitasan, do you remember what you told me when we first got into Tracen Academy?" Diamond asked gently.
Kitasan blinked, then nodded slowly.
"Yeah… I said I wanted to become an Umamusume like the great Teio-senpai—a living miracle."
Her voice was soft, tinged with longing—and a hint of uncertainty.
"I told my trainer that too… and you know what he asked me?
"'What does miracle mean to you?'"
Her voice grew quieter. The red-eyed girl's expression turned thoughtful.
"And I… I couldn't answer him."
Even though she said that, her words flowed naturally now, as if the answer had slowly taken shape in her heart.
"But I think… that question helped me understand what he was trying to say."
"Words like amazing, shining, miracle… they're all kind of vague, right?
"My trainer's the type who focuses on things that are real. Things you can see and touch."
"I don't really get what he's doing with my training yet—especially today—but whether he's adjusting my stride, watching my movements, or crunching numbers…"
"It's all concrete. Measurable."
"So as his Umamusume, I need to focus on what's clear too."
"I don't know what it means to be amazing. But I do know what races are in front of me."
"And Teio-senpai's so-called miracle? She built it by running those very races, one after another."
"So…"
She drew in a deep breath.
"I'll follow her path, starting with the Classic Triple Crown."
"I don't care what anyone says. I believe in my trainer. He promised to help me reach my dream."
"And I believe in myself. I won't let him down."
"Or the fans who already believe in me."
Silence lingered in the dorm room for a few heartbeats… then, a soft sound broke it.
Gentle applause.
"…Diamond-chan?"
Kitasan turned, startled to see her best friend clapping quietly, a warm smile on her face.
Diamond took out her phone and tapped a few times, then turned the screen around.
It showed her new follow on Kitasan's race account.
"I believe in you too," Diamond said softly. "And I know you won't let this fan down either, Kitasan."
<+>
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