Hearing Yasui Makoto's final assessment, Kitasan Black nodded unconsciously. It suddenly struck her that to have analyzed things this thoroughly, he must've grasped the situation far earlier.
"Trainer… about all this…"
She raised her gaze, meeting Yasui's eyes hesitantly.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner…?"
Instantly, she regretted her words. It sounded accusatory, even though she hadn't meant it that way.
Hurriedly waving her hands, she stumbled through an apology:
"No, I didn't mean it like that! I'm not blaming you for not telling me—"
"It's okay."
Before she could finish, Yasui interrupted with a gentle laugh and a reassuring shake of his head.
"I figured you might ask something like that. And, to be fair… I did hesitate, which is why I'm only telling you now."
"Because…"
Under Kitasan's puzzled gaze, he paused thoughtfully before continuing:
"I didn't want you thinking you'd won just because your opponent faltered."
"Even less did I want you developing complacency without even realizing it, and unconsciously holding back."
He turned abruptly and pulled a black notebook from the stacks of files on his desk, flipping rapidly through its pages. Kitasan, glancing curiously, was startled to see her own race photos plastered throughout the inner cover and several pages inside.
"Take a look at this."
Stopping his rapid flipping, Yasui placed the notebook before her.
"This is the mental training program I prepared specifically for you."
Kitasan lowered her head. On the page before her were densely packed notes titled "Stress Conversion Techniques," "Competition Mindset Adjustment," "Opponent Observation Feedback," and more.
The opened page seemed to contain the latest updates; notably, the date at the very top was today.
Staring at these notes, Kitasan realized with a start that despite supposedly "standing side by side" with Yasui throughout their Arima Kinen preparations, her efforts were just a tiny fragment compared to his.
All those anxious moments, all her restless nights—he'd anticipated every single one.
"That's why, before showing you Gold Ship's test results earlier, I had you look at her physical report first."
Closely observing her reaction, Yasui tapped gently on the medical report.
"Think carefully about her condition again. Even if her mental state isn't at its peak, do you think she can be easily defeated?"
Kitasan Black couldn't utter a single word. Yasui's words, her own tangled thoughts, and the vivid scenes of Arima Kinen preparation flooded her mind all at once.
For a moment, clarity surged within her—an elusive understanding that she felt deeply but couldn't articulate.
Seeing the hint of comprehension dawning across Kitasan's features, Yasui pressed forward decisively:
"And it's not just Gold Ship—every opponent in the Arima Kinen has weaknesses."
"But those weaknesses won't make them fragile or easily beaten."
He flipped another page in the notebook and pulled out a neatly folded sheet of data.
"We've analyzed Sounds of Earth's corner acceleration training. She dedicates significant time to that—it clearly indicates her shortcomings there."
"But her skill in the Pace Chaser and Late Surger running styles, especially her final-spurt capabilities, aren't something you can casually overcome yet."
Another document emerged.
"Lovely Day is every bit as dangerous as Gold Ship."
"Yes, she lost to Shonan Pandora alongside Gold Ship at the Japan Cup."
"But don't forget—in the Tenno Sho Autumn, Shonan Pandora finished fourth, while Lovely Day was first."
"Perhaps her Japan Cup defeat was merely a result of poor recovery after Tenno Sho Autumn. But in the coming Arima Kinen, I highly doubt she'll repeat that mistake."
More documents came out:
"Then there's Gold Actor."
"I was originally planning to analyze her with you tomorrow, but since you're here now, let me share some crucial points early."
"She's a Front Runner just like you—and as a senpai, her ability to fight for the front position is even fiercer than Musee Alien's was."
"Also, Marialite will probably choose a Front Runner style as well, and she's similarly experienced."
Yasui paused, counting on his fingers.
"You, Sounds of Earth, Gold Actor, Marialite."
"Let's ignore everyone else for now—just with you four involved, this Arima Kinen might turn into a fierce battle for the lead right from the start, similar to your Kikuka Sho."
"No, probably an even tougher battle."
"And remember, Nakayama Racecourse doesn't have a breakout opportunity like the fourth corner at Kyoto."
"If you fail to seize the lead at the start, your chances of reclaiming it later on…"
He tapped the documents meaningfully, voice firm:
"…Are essentially zero."
His words trailed off, and he quietly observed Kitasan's changing expressions—from thoughtful to confused, then astonished, and finally deep contemplation.
Throughout Yasui Makoto's meticulous analysis, Kitasan's mind rapidly replayed images—her routine drills, the past month's intense Arima Kinen preparations—all interwoven like scenes in a fast-forwarding film.
Previously, in her understanding, a race was simply about the track beneath her feet, a predefined running style, and carefully planned tactics.
As for her opponents, they'd existed only as vague outlines until the pre-race briefings.
Musee Alien, for example—had it not been for their clash before the St. Lite Kinen, Kitasan might have only seriously acknowledged her rival on race day, or perhaps even later, during the struggle for the lead.
But now, her entire perspective had shifted dramatically.
What had been a flat canvas suddenly burst into vivid layers of color, becoming three-dimensional, vibrant, alive.
The race was no longer just a competition—it had become a dynamic, complex battle filled with challenges and opportunities.
Her rivals ceased to be mere labels like "peers," "senpai," "classic generation," "older runners," "friends," or "competitors."
Instead, they were powerful contenders who had always existed vividly within her racing world.
Their strengths, weaknesses, characteristics—all gleamed before her eyes like stars.
Even more astonishingly, those tiny anxieties, hesitations, fleeting moments of complacency or insecurity—all now surfaced clearly in her mind.
Yet somehow, she now viewed them with a calm, detached clarity, unburdened and untroubled.
This transformation—from two-dimensional simplicity to vivid complexity, from subjective worry to objective clarity—was subtle yet undeniable. Fragile, yet profoundly real.
It left her awed and humbled.
And in that moment, she sensed she'd finally glimpsed a sliver of the enormous iceberg that was Yasui Makoto's daily work.
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T/N: guys spoilers! dont read past this point if you dont wanna know the IN REAL LIFE winners of 2015 arima kinen
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anyway the winner was gold actor, yeah crazy then it was sounds of earth and 3rd place was kitasan black