Chapter 100. Who is more childish?
In the end, after weighing Teio's limits over long distances against the demands of Kyoto Racecourse's 3000-meter layout, Shuta finally reached a decision.
"An early lead is still the best option."
He looked over the course map spread across his desk.
"We need the positional advantage. I can't gamble on Teio producing a burst of speed strong enough to erase the deficit in the closing stages."
After spending nearly half the afternoon weighing every possibility, the young man finally settled on the race plan.
"Tomorrow I'll explain everything to Teio."
He quietly noted the positions she needed to secure at each stage of the race, along with the rivals whose movements she had to monitor.
"After that—it all depends on how much of her strength she can bring out on Sunday."
As he finished marking the tactical chart, he let out a slow breath.
"This may be the hardest and unfavorable race conditions I've had to prepare for since becoming a Trainer in Japan."
Until now, every race he had chosen for Team Sadalsuud had fallen comfortably within each Uma Musume's ideal distance range. Even when a race slightly exceeded—or fell short of—that range, victory had never been an absolute necessity.
The Kikuka Sho was different.
Three thousand meters exceeded Tokai Teio's optimal distance.
Yet failure was not an option.
"I wonder what using that Alarm Clock would actually feel like—"
The reward he had recently obtained from the Attribute Viewer drifted back into his thoughts.
—
The following morning, Shuta called Tokai Teio into Team Sadalsuud's activity room.
"Teio."
He immediately walked over to the whiteboard.
"Today we'll go through our strategy for the Kikuka Sho."
He drew Gate 18 on the diagram.
"Although we've drawn the outermost gate again, the disadvantage isn't nearly as severe as it was in the Satsuki Sho or the Japanese Derby."
"I know." Tokai Teio raised her head confidently. "You don't have to comfort me, Trainer."
A bright smile spread across her face.
"I actually think drawing the outside gate is a good thing."
"Oh?"
"If I still win from out there—"
She clenched her fist.
"then it'll prove I'm not just slightly stronger than everyone else in my generation."
"I'll be stronger by an entire level."
Shuta couldn't help smiling.
"That's one way to look at it."
As long as Teio won, no one would ever question the brilliance of her Classic season.
"But confidence alone isn't enough."
He picked up the marker again.
"Let's go through this step by step. The start is the most important phase."
He tapped Gate 18 with the marker.
"Because we're starting from the outside, I want you using an early-lead strategy. If something goes wrong immediately after the gates open, that entire plan falls apart."
Using the whiteboard, Shuta divided the 3000-meter race into seven distinct phases.
For every segment, he carefully explained the position Tokai Teio should occupy, the pace she should maintain, which rivals deserved attention, and how she should react if the race unfolded differently than expected.
Every possibility he could foresee had already been accounted for.
As Tokai Teio listened, she slowly lowered her gaze.
"Trainer has already drawn the road leading to victory... He's even handed me every key needed to open the gate."
Her fingers unconsciously curled together.
"Then all I have to do is run to him with a victory."
After the briefing ended, Trainer Shuta turned back toward the whiteboard and began erasing the diagrams.
"Trainer."
"Hm?"
He had barely put down the eraser before turning around—
"Chu."
A light peck landed softly against his cheek.
Shuta froze.
His feet instinctively took half a step backward before his shoulder bumped into the whiteboard. Had it not already been against the wall, it probably would have toppled over.
"Hehe."
Teio stuck out her tongue mischievously after seeing his stunned expression.
"I just suddenly felt like doing that. So don't overthink it, okay?"
"I won't."
Shuta touched the cheek she had kissed before smiling helplessly.
The moment she answered, a strange excitement quietly bloomed inside her chest.
It was as though, without realizing it, she had flipped a switch she wasn't supposed to touch.
Her heartbeat suddenly became impossible to ignore.
After turning away, she gently touched her own lips.
"If it wasn't just the cheek..."
"...what would that feel like?"
—
After seeing Tokai Teio out of the activity room, Shuta shook his head with a wry smile.
He honestly had no idea what had gone through her mind just now.
Still...
One thought surfaced almost immediately.
"If she'd kissed me on the lips instead—would the skill transfer have activated?"
The idea made him pause.
Curious, he immediately opened the Attribute Viewer and checked Tokai Teio's status.
"...!"
His eyes widened.
Several new skills had appeared on her status screen.
They were all abilities he had previously considered perfect for Tokai Teio, yet had never been able to pass on.
"Seriously—"
Shuta stared at the display for several seconds before laughing helplessly.
"I don't even know what to say."
He closed the panel.
"The only thing I can say is that Minamisaka and the others are going to have a very rough time."
—
Meanwhile, Tokai Teio remained blissfully unaware of everything.
She practically skipped all the way back to the dormitory.
"Teio looks awfully happy today."
Wrapped snugly in her blanket while scrolling through her phone, Mayano Top Gun looked up at her roommate.
"Did something good happen?"
"Mhm~"
Tokai Teio's voice practically floated through the room.
"Something veeeery good."
Mayano blinked. Since summer vacation had ended, she had never heard Teio sound this carefree.
"Could it be..."
Scenes from countless romance manga and television dramas instantly flashed through her mind.
"Teio's really bold."
She muttered under her breath.
"Eh?!" Tokai Teio's cheeks immediately reddened. "N-No—I just suddenly felt like doing it."
"Huh?!"
Mayano practically launched herself off the bed.
"How far did you two go?!"
"How far?"
Tokai Teio tilted her head innocently.
"What are you talking about, Maya-chan?"
"..."
Mayano slowly climbed back onto her bed before collapsing dramatically.
"What a waste. I thought Teio had finally grown up. So you're still just a kid."
"A kid?"
Tokai Teio immediately puffed out her cheeks.
"I'm about to become an undefeated Triple Crown winner!"
She proudly placed both hands on her hips.
"And after that—I'll be an undefeated, undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume!"
"Still a kid."
Mayano stuck out her tongue.
"I'm more grown-up than Maya-chan!"
Tokai Teio puffed out her chest with absolute confidence.
"You don't even have a Trainer yet. And your honkakuka is still a long way off."
She pointed triumphantly at her roommate.
"So you're the real kid!"