After parting ways with Nice Nature at the school gate, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen headed straight to the personal training ground Kuroha had rented.
"Trainer——!!!"
The moment they reached the track, Tokai Teio skipped energetically over to where Kuroha was sitting on the side.
With a sudden leap, she wrapped herself around his leg and tried to climb up to his shoulders.
"Smack!"
Kuroha's quick reflexes caught the mischievous little girl by the armpits, lifting her high into the air.
"Teio…"
He looked at the dangling Tokai Teio with a helpless expression.
Even suspended midair, Teio wasn't afraid in the slightest — instead, she reached out happily, wanting Kuroha to hold her in a hug.
"Trainer, what are we training today? Can we run yet?"
"Teio, didn't I tell you before to greet your trainer properly?"
McQueen walked over with measured steps. Even at her young age, she carried herself with the grace of a noble lady.
She set down the single-shoulder bag she carried.
Kuroha glanced down at the little koala clinging to his arm and sighed. Carefully, he set her back on the ground.
"Teio, how many times have I told you — don't be so reckless."
His tone carried a hint of reproach, but mostly the indulgence of someone long used to her antics.
Yes, mischievous kids can be troublesome — but Tokai Teio wasn't just any troublemaker.
She might be playful, but she always knew her limits. And with such an adorable face, Kuroha could never truly get mad at her.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, Teio bounced twice in place, tilting her face up. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Trainer, trainer! Can we practice sprints today?"
"Like Tamamo Cross-senpai! Boom— super-duper fast!"
She spread her arms wide to mimic what she'd seen on the training ground earlier.
"Tamamo Cross-senpai?"
Kuroha raised an eyebrow while bending down to pick up the training log beside him.
McQueen nodded lightly and explained in her gentle tone.
"Yes. On the way back, we saw Tamamo Cross-senpai training with Trainer Komiyama, preparing for the Takarazuka Kinen."
Takarazuka Kinen, huh…
Kuroha remembered — that was coming up on the 12th of this month.
Before, as a local trainer, he didn't pay much attention to the exact dates of big central races, even if he knew roughly when they took place. But now that McQueen mentioned it, he understood.
"Takarazuka Kinen… That's the race where Tamamo Cross defeated Akitsu Teio and cemented her status as the 'Strongest Active' horse, right?"
Kuroha's thoughts wandered.
After winning the Spring Tenno Sho and defeating many central powerhouses, Tamamo Cross was just one obstacle away from being recognized as the nation's best —
That obstacle was none other than Akitsu Teio, the reigning middle-distance champion who had swept the Mile Championship, Autumn Tenno Sho, and Yasuda Kinen.
At present, with only a Spring Tenno Sho title, and being a gray-haired Uma Musume, the public perception was still that Tamamo Cross was weaker.
Gray-haired Uma Musume are slow.
That was the belief not just in the Central District, but across the country.
And the first to shatter that stereotype was none other than the much-underestimated, petite Kansai girl — Tamamo Cross.
After her came Oguri Cap's era.
Two top-tier gray-haired Uma Musume in a row shattered the "slow gray" myth.
In the following golden age, Mejiro McQueen rose to the top again.
Three consecutive generations.
Three consecutive top-class gray-haired champions.
The prejudice was buried deep in history.
Kuroha's eyes drifted down to McQueen beside him. The violet-haired girl tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Mm! Tamamo-senpai ran so fast! Just like… just like Fujimasa-senpai and Inari One-senpai!"
Teio hugged Kuroha's leg again and pleaded, "Trainer, trainer, I wanna train like that too!"
Kuroha closed the logbook and ruffled her hair, smiling at her flushed, eager face.
"Wanting to run like Tamamo Cross is a good goal, Teio.
But she got there through countless hours of grueling training.
We have to take it one step at a time. Building a strong foundation is the most important thing."
"Foundation training again…" Teio's little face fell instantly, her lips pouting.
Her earlier excitement faded by half, her shoulders drooping.
"Teio."
McQueen stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm.
"Trainer's plan is for our own good. Without a solid foundation, chasing speed recklessly will only lead to injury.
And don't forget — what did you just tell Nice Nature earlier?"
Teio froze, recalling how she'd just lectured Nice Nature on the importance of not overtraining. Her face reddened instantly.
She scratched her head awkwardly, her ears drooping, her crescent bangs swaying.
"Ugh… fine, you're right, McQueen."
Still a little reluctant, but she stopped fussing.
Kuroha looked at the pair — so different in personality, yet so harmonious together — and smiled faintly.
He crouched down so his eyes were level with theirs, making sure they both understood.
"Good. As usual, start with warm-ups.
McQueen, take Teio through stretches. After warm-up, we'll do standing long jumps and consecutive box jumps.
This will build your lower body's explosive power.
Remember — once the foundation is solid, speed will come naturally."
"Yes, Trainer!" McQueen replied immediately.
Even Teio, for all her liveliness, was serious during training. She set her bag down and followed McQueen to start stretching.
Kuroha nodded in satisfaction.
At one end of the training ground — the present.
Inari One and Fujimasa March were sweating as they ran, flames and wind brewing in their wake.
At the other end — the future.
Two little girls stretching with boundless energy, destined to one day show their brilliance to the entire world.
Time flowed quietly.
Soon, it was June 8th.
Today was the day of the second leg of the South Kanto Triple Crown — the Tokyo Derby.
In the student dormitory of Oi Tracen Academy—
The blare of an alarm clock dragged Inari One from her dreams. She blinked groggily, still half-lost in sleep.
Outside, dawn had only just begun to break, pale light slipping through the curtains to touch the slightly messy room.
She yawned, her fluffy tail drooping and swaying lazily.
Hmm… what day was it again…?
Her gaze drifted to her roommate's empty bed, and clarity returned.
Ah… that's right… today was the Tokyo Derby…
"March—!"
She called out out of habit.
Moments later, a silver-haired figure emerged from the bathroom, eyes half-lidded like a warning not to be so loud first thing in the morning.
Inari One just grinned, hopping out of bed and heading to the desk to get ready.
She tied her signature butterfly ribbon neatly, restoring her twin-tail idol look.
She adjusted her chest bindings in front of the mirror, frowning slightly until she was satisfied everything was secure.
By the time both were ready, the clock had just struck 6:00.
"Let's go!"
Fujimasa March and Inari One stepped out of the dormitory building —
Only to see a familiar figure waiting quietly beneath the cherry tree by the gate.
(End of Chapter)
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