Chapter 7
(Special New Year extra chapter – two chapters added)
Kitasan Black never expected Oguri Cap to encourage her.
She had seen this senior before and had certainly heard about her legendary racing career.
In her impression, Oguri Cap always seemed cold and unapproachable, like she didn't want anyone getting close. She hadn't expected that actually interacting with her would feel so warm and kind.
Caught off guard by the encouragement, she stood frozen for a moment, then hurriedly chased after them, wanting to say thank you.
She spotted the two seniors not far ahead and nervously quickened her steps. Suddenly, she overheard their casual conversation.
"Oguri-senpai, do you know that junior?"
"No."
"Then how did you know she hasn't had her debut race yet, and that she has trouble controlling her strength?"
"It was written on the computer and the papers. Must have been written by her trainer."
"Oh, I didn't notice…"
"Hm… But from the feeling I got, her strength really does seem very strong."
"Feeling…?"
"Do you remember my Daily Crown race?"
"Of course I do! You were the first horse girl to win the Daily Crown back-to-back! But which one are you talking about?"
"The second one."
"The one that was voted 'Best G2 Race of the Year'?"
"Yeah. That junior gave me a similar feeling to when I first met Inari One."
"Inari One-senpai? For real? If we're only talking about raw strength in our generation… aside from you, senpai, Inari One should be the strongest, right?"
"Probably."
"So that means she really is outstanding. If she has that kind of potential… wait, but I remember your debut race, senpai…"
"Hm. I only came in second."
"…You really can't use the word 'only' there! Besides, you had a 10-win record out of 12 races back in the local circuit! That's straight-up monster level!"
"That's why I said having poor control over your strength right now isn't that big of a problem. Maybe that junior will do even better than me and win her debut race."
"Better than you, senpai…? Hehe… Maybe we should just focus on delivering the food. Oguri-senpai, where's the next stop?"
"Let me check… Over at the old Bunkyo dormitory building."
"The old dorm, huh… Nice! Then same as before — let's race to see who gets there first! But be careful not to spill the food, senpai!"
"Don't worry. I may get lost, but running is never a problem."
"Perfect! Then… three, two… one!"
In an instant, the two seniors' figures blurred before Kitasan Black's eyes and vanished from the front of the trainer dormitory building.
Only then did she realize she had unconsciously followed them all the way here.
Control over strength, huh…
She bit her lip, that phrase echoing in her mind. After hesitating for a long while, she turned around and walked back to Yasui Makoto's apartment.
Along the way, she kept replaying the conversation between the two seniors.
She could tell that when Oguri Cap said the junior might turn out even better than her, Bamboo Memory had awkwardly changed the subject. She clearly didn't fully agree.
That was understandable, and Kitasan Black didn't find it hard to accept.
No matter how you looked at it, a horse girl as dazzling as Oguri Cap only appeared once every few decades. She herself hadn't even had her debut race yet, let alone compare herself to someone like that.
Even a senior as outstanding as Oguri Cap hadn't won her debut race. Meanwhile, no teacher or trainer at the academy had ever given Kitasan Black particularly high praise. Winning her debut race would probably be even harder.
But that slightly depressing thought only flashed through her mind for a moment before she became determined again.
Her desire to become an outstanding horse girl came both from the promise she made to her father and grandfather when she was little, and from personally witnessing her idol, Tokai Teio, create one miracle after another.
Whether she could become a miracle like her idol, she didn't know.
But she was very clear about one thing: if she didn't even have the will to chase after that dream, if she hesitated even at her debut race, then her father, grandfather, her idol, and even herself would be disappointed and unable to accept it.
Moreover, she now had a trainer. Both her idol Tokai Teio and Oguri Cap had said that her trainer was quite capable.
In that case, as long as she listened carefully to his instructions and carried out every single training session seriously and step by step, then her debut race, the next race after that…
Even the Classic Triple Crown — the highest honor a horse girl could chase in her lifetime — and the Arima Memorial, the symbol of supreme annual glory…
She had the possibility of becoming champion in all of them.
Yes! That's right!
Kitasan, you can't lose heart before you've even started!
Silently cheering herself on, she rushed back to Yasui Makoto's apartment in one breath. Before she even steadied herself, she loudly declared:
"Trainer! I've made up my mind. From now on, no matter what instructions you give me, I will listen seriously and carry them out meticulously!"
Slurp—
Yasui Makoto, who was in the middle of eating ramen, suddenly saw a black shadow dash in front of him and nearly choked. He hadn't clearly heard what Kitasan Black had just said.
"…So what did you say just now?"
"I said…"
Kitasan Black took a deep breath and bowed deeply.
"For all future training and races, no matter what instructions you give, I will definitely, definitely, definitely listen carefully and carry them out step by step!
"Please believe me — I will become a horse girl that makes you proud!
"This is my promise and guarantee to my assigned trainer — Kitasan Black!"
Yasui Makoto was silent for a moment. He glanced at the laptop and handwritten notes on the coffee table, then looked toward the entrance.
She had probably followed the two seniors outside and overheard part of their conversation — or maybe she was still thinking about the strength control issue.
She's quite straightforward.
But that kind of spirit was good.
"So what you mean is, you'll listen to whatever I say — at least when it comes to training and racing?"
After thinking for a moment, Yasui Makoto asked.
"Yes! This is the promise and guarantee I'm making to you, Trainer!"
Kitasan Black answered energetically.
"Oh, full of spirit. Good."
Yasui Makoto nodded and gestured with his chin toward the coffee table.
"Then let's eat first."
"Okay… Eh?"
Kitasan Black froze. She had expected him to give some encouragement or immediately start arranging training, but he simply told her to eat.
Slurp—
"A horse that can travel a thousand miles… cough, never mind what I just said."
After taking a slurp of ramen, he had almost quoted from On Horses, but then remembered that article didn't exist in this world, so he changed his words:
"No matter what you heard or thought about earlier, whether it's racing or training, you can only do it well when you're full.
"Also, don't be so impatient. From now on, slowly learn to calm yourself down.
"Eat first. I'll arrange your training later — there's no rush.
"Over the next few days, I need to go back to the hospital for a follow-up check, handle some debut race matters, and buy some training equipment.
"While I'm busy, when you train, ask a classmate to record video of your running sessions from the side and bring it to me afterward."
At this point, Kitasan Black had already picked up her meal box.
"Only record the training? Do I need to record anything else?"
"No need. Just confirming your training condition is enough."
Yasui Makoto shook his head and continued:
"Also, if it's convenient, it would be better to get some close-up footage of your leg movements."