T/N: Huge thank you for Stiven Inoa and EbonyRuby for supporting me, I really appreciate it, thank you.
Chapter 44
After finishing the follow-up training arrangements in the dance hall, Yasui Makoto, together with Kitasan Black and Vodka, packed up their things and left the hall, heading to the academy cafeteria for dinner.
The moment they stepped out the door, a figure suddenly darted over from the side.
"Hello hello~ Are you Mr. Yasui? There's a package here that needs your signature. Please sign for it!"
The figure was a horse girl with shoulder-length brown hair, a single ponytail tied on the left side of her head, light brown freckles on her cheeks, a cute face, and lively green eyes full of energy.
She was holding a large one-meter-square package. As she handed it over, her gaze shifted and landed on Vodka and Kitasan Black.
"Huh? Vodka? Weren't you in Europe? And this kid… the one who was always following behind Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen? Her name was Kita… Kita-something?"
"Hi! Nice to meet you, Ines Fujin senior! My name is Kitasan Black. It's our first time meeting, please take care of me!"
After Kitasan Black straightened her posture and introduced herself, Vodka became curious.
"Ines Fujin senior, why are you still delivering packages…? Oh right, I haven't explained yet. I just returned to Japan recently and plan to stay at the academy for a while."
"I see…"
Ines Fujin nodded in understanding and smiled. "Well, it's just a habit.
"I've been doing part-time jobs to earn tuition and living expenses ever since I was at the academy. Even though I have some prize money now, I can't just sit around doing nothing.
"Besides, both my little sisters have already debuted. Even though they didn't make it to the Central races, they're doing quite well on the local circuit.
"Studying costs a lot of money, and if they get the chance to transfer to the Central later, the expenses will be even higher.
"So as their big sister, I definitely have to think ahead for them."
Hearing this, Yasui Makoto and the other two felt both admiration and a strange sense of awkwardness.
"A bit" of prize money…? That was the Japan Derby champion's prize money…
Ines Fujin was, like Vodka, a Japan Derby champion.
Although she retired after that race, just from that single victory the champion prize alone was 110 million yen.
Unlike the simple 50-50 split agreement Yasui Makoto had with Kitasan Black, many other horse girls had far more complicated arrangements.
Many horse girls' trainers came from certain teams or families that could provide richer training resources, and the prize money split would also be more favorable for the trainer.
Ines Fujin was in exactly that situation — her share ratio was much lower than Kitasan Black's.
Still, with a total of over 100 million yen, even with a smaller percentage, the amount she received was still substantial.
It was more than enough to cover her own living expenses, and even her two younger sisters' living costs and school fees.
Yet in the few months since arriving in Tokyo, Yasui Makoto had unknowingly come into contact with many top-tier horse girls.
What was interesting was that every one of them was extremely wealthy — essentially rich, beautiful girls — yet none of them liked to stay idle.
Moreover, the jobs they took were usually related to their hobbies and, to some extent, connected to running.
For example, the Ines Fujin in front of him, as well as Oguri Cap and Bamboo Memory whom he had met before.
Delivering packages, delivering food, or working as patrol officers — all these jobs inevitably involved running.
Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka, and El Condor Pasa were similar; their research directions were all related to horse girls or speed.
Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen were even more so.
As the president and vice-president of the student council, they interacted with juniors every day, and one could occasionally see them giving guidance to students.
It seemed that running was truly an inseparable nature and pursuit for them.
While reflecting on this, Yasui Makoto took the package and delivery slip from Ines Fujin, checked them, and signed his name.
"Thanks for your hard work, Ines Fujin."
After nodding, he turned to Kitasan Black and Vodka.
"Since the ordered item has arrived, I won't join you for dinner tonight. I need to go back and set it up. With luck, it'll be usable in tomorrow's training."
"Eh? We can't have dinner with Trainer… that's a shame…"
Kitasan Black said regretfully, then became curious.
"It sounds like what Trainer ordered is… training equipment?"
"Equipment?"
Vodka also leaned in closer. "What kind of equipment?"
At the same time, she secretly guessed.
She had heard from Daiwa Scarlet before that Yasui Makoto was different from most Japanese trainers.
Other trainers relied more on experience, followed guidance from seniors or peers, or simply trained according to textbooks.
Yasui Makoto was different.
In addition to traditional training, this trainer liked to look up overseas literature and combine it with local methods to create Kitasan Black's training plan.
This approach was undoubtedly very novel. Especially since Vodka was more familiar with traditional methods, she was quite interested in what new thing Yasui Makoto had come up with this time.
"Drones. For filming."
Not keeping them in suspense, Yasui Makoto patted the package and smiled as he explained:
"Before coming to Tokyo, I had already researched this. These tools are currently mainly used in agriculture — like spraying water or fertilizer with drones.
"But some people have tried mounting high-speed cameras on them for filming.
"Your running speed is very fast, so it's difficult to capture ideal training footage with conventional methods. The usual way is using multiple cameras during races.
"But I can't just apply to set up dozens of cameras on the training ground.
"Theoretically, drone filming can not only meet multi-angle needs but also follow the subject, so the effect should be better.
"Of course, I'll need to spend time testing it, since no one has used this method for training before.
"So I'll head back first. With some luck, you'll understand what I mean tomorrow."
With that, he tucked the package under one arm, waved with the other, and walked toward the academy gate.
Watching his departing figure, a strong interest appeared in Vodka's eyes.
"Drones… Interesting. I've heard a little about them in Europe, but I didn't expect Yasui-kun to think of using such a tool to assist training."
"Vodka-senpai, is this tool really that amazing?"
Kitasan Black asked curiously, "I've never heard of it before."
"Not just you — I've never heard of anyone thinking of this method."
Vodka said with emotion, "That machine can indeed carry high-speed cameras, and it can fly faster than we can run.
"So Yasui-kun is right. In theory, using a drone to film training could reveal things that were previously unnoticed.
"Even if the effect is the same as multi-camera shooting, it still means Kita-chan will have an even better training method in the future.
"Kita-chan, Yasui-kun is really amazing.
"If this method succeeds, he might become the first trainer in Japan to think of using it."
Kitasan Black nodded vigorously, her face full of excitement.
"Mhm! Trainer really is amazing!"
At this moment, Ines Fujin, who had been listening with curiosity the whole time, spoke up.
"Um, from what you're saying… that young man just now… is Kita-chan's trainer?"
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