After a few more words, everyone went their separate ways.
Oguri Cap said that seeing such strong opponents in the race had fired her up, and she wanted to go for a run.
Meanwhile, Maruzensky, Kuroha, and the others headed toward the runners' passage.
After all, they'd spent over half a month with Sakura Chiyono O, and had become good friends.
Coming together to welcome her back in triumph was naturally a joyful thing.
Even after the Japan Derby had ended, Tokyo Racecourse still carried the heat of excitement in the air.
The cheers of the crowd seemed yet to fade, and every corner buzzed with talk of the newly crowned Derby champion—Sakura Chiyono O.
At that moment—
From the quiet exit of the runners' passage, Sakura Chiyono O emerged.
Her steps were slow, each one heavy as if it took everything she had left, proof of the toll that extreme battle had taken on her body.
Yet, in stark contrast to her lingering exhaustion, her eyes shone brilliantly—clear and unwavering, burning with the light of victory.
Seeing Kuroha, she forced her tired back straight and approached him, giving a deep bow.
"Kuroha-sensei… I was lucky… to win."
Her voice was hoarse, but carried a resolve she had never shown before.
Kuroha looked at her—this freshly crowned Derby champion—and nodded with a faint smile.
"I saw it clearly. That wasn't luck."
"Everything you've worked for finally bloomed."
"You've become strong, Chiyono O."
Hearing that, a blush rose to her pale cheeks.
Those words flowed into her like a warm current, instantly washing away her fatigue and making her stand a little taller.
"Thank you, everyone… I'll work even harder."
At that moment, Maruzensky stepped forward with a bright grin.
"That was an amazing victory, Chiyono O-chan! That final burst of speed—it made my blood boil!"
She placed a hand on the cherry-haired girl's head and ruffled it fondly.
"M-Maruzen-senpai…"
Chiyono O ducked her head in embarrassment, unable to hide her shyness.
"Congratulations, Chiyono O!"
The others gathered around, smiling sincerely.
Their warm gazes gathered on her, filling the once quiet corner of the passage with the light of victory and friendship.
Feeling the weight of that warmth, her pale cheeks deepened in color.
It was the look of someone carrying both overwhelming fatigue and overwhelming happiness.
Still, her body swayed slightly, betraying her exhaustion.
Kuroha noticed immediately.
"Go rest in the lounge for now. Your body needs recovery."
"This victory is your medal, but right now, getting your strength back is the top priority."
His eyes flicked to her legs, noticing the subtle trembling.
"You spent too much today."
"…Okay, sensei."
She replied softly—then, after a brief pause, glanced at him shyly.
"What is it?" he asked, catching her look.
"It's just… um… sensei, could you… give me another… massage?"
After struggling to get the words out, her eyes sparkled with embarrassment and hope.
"…."
Kuroha stared at her for a moment—then at her own trainer, who had just arrived.
The woman in business attire stood frozen, utterly stunned by what she had just heard.
"Chiyono O, you can't say things like that! It's too shameless!"
Driven by concern for her "girl," she bonked Chiyono O on the head, then bowed apologetically to Kuroha before dragging the pitifully protesting girl away.
Once her trainer had taken her, Kuroha said his goodbyes to Maruzensky and left with Fujimasa March and Inari One, heading back to Oi Tracen Academy.
As for Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen—
Those two little lolis were Central students anyway, so Kuroha left them to return with Maruzensky.
The scenery outside the car window flew by as Kuroha drove, his mind already moving to the next phase of planning.
Before the July summer training camp—
For his own girls…
Inari One didn't have any urgent races coming up, but Kuroha still wanted her to win at least once before camp.
It would serve as a warm-up and earn a bit more system PT.
In June, Kanazawa Racecourse would host a graded race called the "Million Stone Prize." That seemed perfect.
As for Fujimasa March, she had only one race left—June 8th's Tokyo Derby.
But her biggest scheduled rival, Seiran Nichirin—who had undergone True Blooming twice—was still hospitalized, unlikely to return until October or November.
At this point, March had no real competition in the local circuit.
With nearly 700 in every stat plus her "True Self" state, aside from Inari One, not even the strongest Senior Year local racers could beat her.
A race Kuroha had once highly prioritized back at Kasamatsu now seemed no more challenging than the Baby Cup.
As for the two lolis—Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen—
They were still far from True Blooming. Basic physical training remained their main focus.
"…When I think about it, I've already planned everything out."
Realization hit—none of his girls needed immediate extra attention.
"Instead… there's my Central Trainer License exam."
"It's on June 1st…"
After more than three months focused entirely on his girls, it was time to turn back to himself.
Life flowed on in a steady rhythm.
Mornings, when Tracen Academy was still under a light mist, he would already be at the track, guiding March and Inari One through morning drills.
Every sprint, every endurance run was watched closely, with even the smallest errors quickly corrected.
When their morning training ended and the two went to class, Kuroha would dive into studying for the Central Trainer exam.
Afternoons were split between guiding March and Inari One again, and supervising Teio and McQueen's basic work—though, usually, only Teio needed "discipline," much to the delight of her friends who got to watch her get her butt smacked every so often.
Time flew by in that steady rhythm—until, before he knew it, it was June 1st.
On exam day, Kuroha arrived fully prepared, calming his breathing before stepping into the testing hall.
He had reviewed every topic many times, confident he knew them all inside and out.
Still—exams had a way of making you nervous.
He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and when he opened them, they burned with confidence.
The test began—he strode in with certainty.
When it ended, he walked out… a little dumbfounded.
"That was… easy?"
It wasn't that he'd failed—just that the questions were so easy it left him confused.
What had he been studying so hard for?
He felt like even his just-graduated self, fresh to Kasamatsu, could have passed without issue.
Glancing at the clock—thirty minutes.
"…Whatever. A pass is a pass."
Exhaling, he stepped out into the bright summer sun.
The weight that had been on his chest slid away.
Though the process had been unexpectedly simple, the result was what mattered—
The Central Trainer License was basically his.
All that remained was the November review.
Soon, he would truly be a certified Central Trainer.
Another step toward my life's goal.
(End of Chapter)
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