Chapter 55: Quite Curious
Satono Crown was, in fact, quite curious about Makoto.
It wasn't just Kitasan Black's debut race—she had also watched her second race and listened in on her family's trainers as they reviewed and analyzed it afterward.
The trainers at home all agreed that if the debut race strategy had been intentional, then Makoto was either a genius or had a veteran trainer guiding him from behind the scenes.
Perhaps his father, or maybe a mentor of some kind.
Either way, no ordinary rookie trainer would have dared to use a tactic like that in a debut race.
If that first race revealed Makoto's boldness, then the second race showcased his attentiveness.
In that race, Kitasan Black's strategy was, on the surface, not particularly complex.
She simply tailed the opponent who best controlled the race's pace—and accelerated slightly ahead of schedule.
But the simpler the strategy, the harder it is to pull off.
With a dozen or more Umamusume in a single race, each with drastically different conditions, the variables are staggering.
Races themselves are unpredictable; even if you run two back-to-back races with the same field on the same track, no two outcomes would ever be identical.
Anyone can analyze a race after the fact and come up with all kinds of explanations.
But only those who can make accurate judgments before the race truly matter.
And Makoto had done just that.
Before the race even began, he must have realized how well Rasen adapted to the course—and once again boldly instructed Kitasan to tail her.
Then, with perfect precision, he gave the exact timing to start the final sprint, pushing Kitasan just ahead of Rasen maximum chasing speed—securing a victory with less than a one-second lead.
This was the analysis she had heard from her family's trainers.
There was, however, another school of thought—one with a completely different take: that Makoto, in both races… had just gotten lucky.
From the very beginning, this theory had gained traction—and eventually became the prevailing opinion.
The reasoning was simple.
That trainer was just too young. He lacked experience—no, he had no experience.
Especially when it came to evaluating Rasen's course adaptability.
The Satono family had invested considerable time and effort, combining the insights of seasoned trainers with advanced data analysis tools, just to confirm Rasen optimal performance range.
How could an 18-year-old—still practically a boy—with a father who was just a local trainer, a mother who was no standout Umamusume, and no real connection to any renowned mentors—
How could someone like that reach the same conclusion entirely on his own?
So in subsequent discussions, Makoto's name was no longer even mentioned.
But Crown couldn't shake a strange, nagging feeling.
Somehow… the first theory seemed more likely.
She wasn't confident enough to say so out loud.
After all, even she agreed that compared to her family's veteran trainers, Makoto really did seem far too young, far too inexperienced.
And yet, those rare occasions when she had seen him in person—and the odd remarks from her sister had casually made about his strange training methods and unorthodox stances—left her with a vague impression that there was something different about him.
That's why, over the past few days, she'd found herself wanting to ask Kitasan Black a little about him.
But the Twinkle Series was full of surprises—everyone was a potential opponent at any moment. Training routines and race strategies were basically trade secrets, and you couldn't just go around asking about them.
So, after confirming where Makoto had gone recently, Crown quickly changed the topic.
"Oh right, Kita-chan," she said, "I heard from Diamond that you'd made plans to play games together this weekend. But you're not going anymore?"
She tried to keep the conversation casual.
"Huh? Yeah, something came up," Kitasan nodded without hesitation.
"My trainer says the results of my past few weeks of training have been great, but I still feel like there's room for improvement."
"Even though he told me to take the weekend off and rest properly… I kinda want to keep running a bit more."
"Keep running?" Crown raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected her friend to bring up training again. "So… you're not planning to go home this weekend?"
She assumed Kitasan was going to be practicing on the school track.
"Nope," Kitasan Black laughed, shaking her head. "I just want to go for a light run, that's all. You could say… it's a kind of review!"
She continued cheerfully, "Didn't our teacher say it's important to review thoroughly something that you had learned? So, it doesn't go against what Trainer said either."
"And for that kind of light running, the field at home is more than enough."
Crown gave an understanding nod.
She knew Kitasan had lived with her grandfather since she was little. The old man owned a large estate in Hachioji, on the western side of the capital.
The property was massive—about 1,500 tsubo, or roughly 5,000 square meters. Basically the size of a soccer field.
She'd visited a few times herself, and remembered several spacious gardens.
From what she'd heard, the gardens had started renovations last year, and by early this year, a large grassy area had already been cleared. Without a doubt, that space was made for Kitasan to train on.
"You're working hard, Kita-chan," Satono Crown smiled. "Looks like you're determined to win the Spring Stakes?"
"Mm! Of course I am!"
Kitasan nodded vigorously, then declared with confidence:
"There's only one week left until the Spring Stakes, and I've still got a lot to do. But with Trainer and all the senpai supporting me, I know I'll be ready!"
"Great! Then I'll be cheering for your victory."
Satono Crown grinned and extended her fist.
"Don't miss the Satsuki Sho, Kita-chan!"
Returning the gesture with a fist bump, Kitasan Black smiled just as confidently.
"Don't worry, Crow-chan—we'll definitely see each other at the Satsuki Sho!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Two days later — on the road to Tracen Academy.
Makoto was on his motorcycle, nearing the last traffic light intersection when he suddenly paused.
Just off to the side, past the pedestrian walkway, a very familiar black-haired girl stood excitedly with a small notebook in hand, gesturing animatedly.
In front of her stood a blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreign woman, listening with a very serious expression.
Was… was she giving directions?
From a distance, the foreign woman looked vaguely familiar. Curious, Makoto gave the throttle a gentle twist and moved a bit closer.
"…go-to-race, and go-to-race, and go-to-race and race, do you understand?"
His hand, halfway to adjusting his helmet, froze for a second.
Silently, Makoto turned to face the traffic light and decided to pretend he was just a normal passerby.
"Aah! Trainer! What a coincidence!"
Kitasan Black lit up with joy the moment she spotted him and waved enthusiastically in his direction.
Then, with equal excitement, she turned back toward the foreign woman.
*Race is my Tracen-san! He is my—uhh—my Makoto!"
"Ah! I totally forgot to introduce myself—sorry, sorry!"
She clapped her hands together, flustered.
"My name is Kitasan Black! Nice to—"
That was enough.
Makoto couldn't hold back anymore.
"—Kitasan, stop. Please. Just stop for a second."
He parked his bike, took off his helmet, and let out a deep sigh at his Umamusume's utterly hopeless English.
Then, forcing a polite smile, he stepped forward and offered a hand to the foreign woman.
"I'm Makoto Yasui, and this is Kitasan Black."
"Like you, I'm a trainer from Central Tracen Academy, and she just made her debut this year."
"Nice to meet you, Trainer Chris. Please take care of us."
<+>
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