I went straight to the hospital I was told to go to. Not knowing how Grand Ekinoks was doing at the moment stressed me more than ever.
I couldn't even remember how I got to the hospital, and I noticed Cannon standing in front of a door.
"Please take a breath, trainer. Grand Ekinoks is doing well enough."
I guess I had run like a Umamusume to the hospital and threw myself to the ground to catch my breath.
"She just had a stomach flu."
I wasn't the only one celebrating. I knew Grand Ekinoks had plans with Cannon to celebrate the new year as well.
I didn't know what they were doing but Grand Ekinoks must have overindulged with the meal.
It really took a long time for me to catch my breath. I think I lay on the hospital floor for about ten minutes. After I stood up with the help of the wall, I went into Grand Ekinoks's room.
Grand Ekinoks sat there, her head bowed, in a typical hospital room.
When she saw me, I noticed her tail swishing and her ears moving along with it. It seemed she felt ashamed to have me come here.
And that made her look even cuter than ever.
I cleared my throat to gather my thoughts and the words I would say.
Just as I was about to say something, a doctor in his late forties walked in. He glanced at the papers in his hand and then fixed his gaze on me.
"So you are this umamusume's trainer. Do not worry, sir. The patient's health is fine. She just overdid the meal a little."
I don't think a umamusume who knows how to cook and who enjoys eating tasty foods would overdo a meal only "a little". Then I noticed the doctor had been watching Grand Ekinoks for a while.
"No serious issue, right doctor?"
"No, no. I just wanted to be sure. My daughter has lately been muttering the name of a umamusume and I think that umamusume is here right now."
Hearing this made Grand Ekinoks curious.
"So does that mean I have a fan?"
It seemed strange to me that she would say something like that as if she had never raced at all. It sounded like she believed no human would ever be her fan.
It seemed as if no one other than herself could win the Gazi Derby.
"Of course, little lady. If you'd like, they can visit you tomorrow."
"I… I don't know what to say."
Umamusume don't mingle much with people. So communicating directly with people other than trainers is always a strange experience for them.
Thus morning arrived and I heard a knock on the door. Grand Ekinoks and I had just woken up. Well, she had woken up, because I couldn't feel comfortable on the couch.
After we said we were available, a girl around 12-13 years old entered. This girl obviously was Grand Ekinoks's fan, for she wore a hooded cloak just like Grand Ekinoks.
The little girl looked at Grand Ekinoks as if she couldn't believe it, then immediately took off her hooded cloak and began begging Grand Ekinoks to sign this for her.
Even though she hadn't run a G race yet, learning that she was a fan of Grand Ekinoks filled me with determination. From that moment, I began to believe that she could win the Gazi Derby.