Chapter 253: Then I'll Take Care of Trainer Personally!
After a while, in the medical room at Nakayama Racecourse.
Inside the room, behind a desk, a middle-aged doctor examined an X-ray film in his hands.
After a moment, he nodded slightly and looked up.
Across from him, Makoto sat in a chair. His left arm was secured in a splint and hung from his neck with a bandage sling.
Beside him stood Kitasan Black, her face full of worry, anxiety, and heartache.
Behind them were Tokai Teio, Deep Impact, Orfevre, Gold Ship, and Gentildonna, each showing different expressions.
The middle-aged doctor pondered for a moment before speaking:
"A fissure fracture, what people commonly call a minor bone crack."
"Generally speaking, this kind of injury is easily caused by a strong impact or blow."
"Or by slipping and falling, when the hand hits the ground and the force travels through the palm to the wrist or arm, resulting in a fissure fracture."
"Cumulative strain can also be a cause."
"From your description…"
He paused and looked uncertainly toward Orfevre across the room.
At the same time, all the people present—except Makoto—turned to look at Orfevre.
In an instant, Orfevre's ears folded back, the fur on her ears puffing up as her tail bristled. She shouted in irritation:
"Hey, this time it wasn't me!"
"He's not even my trainer—why would I hit him?!
"And besides, didn't we just say it was her who did it?!"
Angry and flustered, she suddenly pointed at Gentildonna.
Immediately, everyone's gaze shifted toward Gentildonna. Among them, Kitasan Black's eyes were complicated—containing anger, hesitation, and confusion.
The middle-aged doctor also looked over. After a moment, he nodded slightly.
"My apologies. It seems I misunderstood. After all, during Ms. Orfevre's debut race, I happened to be the one on duty here, so…"
"I already said it wasn't me!"
After Orfevre cut in angrily again, the doctor remained calm and continued steadily:
"So it appears my assumption was biased."
"But what I mean to say is that since this wasn't caused by intentional violence, it was likely an accident involving Ms. Gentildonna, correct?"
"I've conducted medical examinations for both of you during your active racing days."
"If I remember correctly, Ms. Gentildonna's strength… is quite considerable."
Looking slightly embarrassed, Gentildonna glanced apologetically at Kitasan Black. Then she bowed to both Kitasan Black and Makoto.
"It really was an accident."
"That race… the doctor must have watched the broadcast here, right? It was extremely exciting, so I lost control of my strength for a moment and accidentally injured Trainer Yasui."
"Yes, I watched it. It truly was a wonderful race."
A flash of excitement passed through the doctor's eyes before he regained his composure.
"Since that's the case, the treatment will be much simpler."
"My recommendation is cast immobilization, to restrict movement of the fractured area and prevent secondary injury."
"In addition, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain and swelling. Combined with calcium supplements, vitamin D, and bone-metabolism regulating medication, this will help accelerate healing."
"With this approach, it should heal in about four to six weeks."
As he spoke, he turned to the computer beside him and rapidly typed on the keyboard.
"Surgery is not necessary at the moment, but regular follow-up examinations will still be required."
"For that, please visit another hospital, Yasui-san, since this facility primarily provides medical care for Umamusume."
"As for rehabilitation training afterward, since you're a trainer, you should already be familiar with some of the principles."
"Maintain normal activity in the uninjured areas to prevent muscle atrophy."
"After a professional evaluation, gradually transition from partial weight-bearing to full daily weight-bearing."
"After the fixation is removed, you can use hot compresses, massage, and joint mobilization techniques to restore the range of motion in the joint."
"During this period, consume more protein-rich foods such as fish, meat, and eggs, as well as foods rich in calcium and vitamins, like milk, tofu, and fresh fruits.
"That's about it."
"Any other questions?"
The middle-aged doctor stopped typing on the keyboard and looked toward Makoto. The Umamusume also turned to him with concern.
Without hesitation, Makoto nodded, though he couldn't help but smile bitterly inwardly.
Just as the doctor had said, trainers needed to possess a solid amount of medical knowledge. Everything the doctor had mentioned earlier was something Makoto had already studied.
Many of those topics had even been practiced and tested during his exam preparations—things like emergency treatment and basic bandaging.
No sport can completely avoid the risk of injury. All that studying and testing was meant to help trainers care for their assigned trainee during training, just in case something happened.
But what Makoto never expected was this:
He had been guiding Kitasan Black for almost a year now, and this Umamusume with her exceptional physical condition had never once suffered an accident, so he had never needed to use that medical knowledge.
And yet after today's race, right after the finish line, he himself ended up with a minor bone crack because Gentildonna accidentally injured him.
The situation had happened exactly as Gentildonna described.
When they saw the finish line and the results displayed on the board—just like Saburo Kitajima during the Kikuka Sho—several Umamusume rushed over in shock and excitement and hugged him, the trainer of Kitasan Black.
Somehow, whether because they failed to control their strength or accidentally used too much force while jostling around—when Gentildonna grabbed his left arm in a hug, he first felt something soft, but the next instant sharp pain shot through it.
Under normal circumstances, he definitely would have reacted in time.
After all, the first time he met Kitasan Black, he was practically sent flying by her collision and still came out fine.
But at that moment, his entire mind was focused on the race result, leaving him briefly dazed.
All he could say was that it was fortunate he cried out quickly enough, and the Umamusume—especially Gentildonna—let go fast enough. Otherwise, the injury might have been much worse.
"So it'll heal after about one to one and a half months of treatment, right? Understood."
Makoto nodded as he asked. Seeing the middle-aged doctor nod as well, Makoto stood up.
"Thank you for your hard work, doctor. We won't trouble you any further."
Hearing this, the Umamusume quickly thanked and bowed, then left the medical room together with Makoto.
Outside the infirmary, quite a few Umamusume were gathered—the runners who had just finished competing.
When they saw Makoto come out, they all looked over curiously.
But when they noticed his arm hanging in a sling, their expressions immediately turned rather strange.
At the same time, the Umamusume who came out with him began to speak up all at once, either expressing concern or arguing.
"Yasui-san, I'm truly very sorry. On behalf of Gentildonna, I sincerely apologize."
"Deep Impact… no, this is entirely my fault. Trainer Yasui's medical expenses and nutrition costs—I will cover them."
"Of course you should! Seriously, what's wrong with you, you gorilla? Did your brain turn into muscle from overtraining?"
"Exactly. So stupid."
"…You two…"
"Alright, stop arguing. The most important thing right now is—"
"—I'll take care of Trainer!"
Suddenly raising her voice, Kitasan Black ignored the astonished looks from people around them. Her ears briefly folded back before drooping slightly.
Looking worried and heartbroken at the sight of her Trainer's broken arm hanging in the sling, she carefully reached out her hand—only to quickly pull it back just before touching him.
"I will take care of Trainer until he fully recovers."
Meeting Makoto's surprised eyes, she spoke in a tone that allowed no objection.
"No matter where Trainer goes or what he does, I'll be there with him."
"I absolutely won't let Trainer get hurt again!"