When it comes to training guidance, demonstrating is often more effective than verbal instruction.
Many experienced Trainers frequently invite Uma Musume they have guided before to organize training matches and joint runs, helping their current charges learn through real observation. Beyond formal training, there are also various social gatherings where seniors casually pass on their experience to juniors.
In this relaxed atmosphere, Uma Musume find it easier to absorb those little details that even Trainers might overlook.
For instance, what Vodka had just mentioned was something Yasui Makoto had never really paid attention to before.
Upon reflection, it was true. Even though Almond Eye was younger, her competitive edge in races seemed slightly sharper than Kitasan Black's. It just wasn't obvious without deliberate focus.
Realizing this, Yasui Makoto was about to strike while the iron was hot and say something to Kitasan Black when a sudden commotion erupted in the stands.
The broadcast voice took on a noticeably surprised tone.
"It's… Gold Ship."
"Hmm… Gold Ship seems to be resisting entering the gate. She looks very agitated, and the staff members are trying to calm her… Ah!"
"There must be some misunderstanding. Gold Ship has pushed away the staff. Is she going to enter the gate by herself?"
"No, she ran to the fence, and this is… kicking the fence?! This, this…"
"…Should I say it's indeed Gold Ship?"
In the final few lines, both the commentator and the guest commentator sounded tense, yet clearly exasperated.
The commotion in the stands gradually turned into laughter. Amidst the growing laughter, screams and cheers of "Gold Ship!" and "Lord Gold Ship!" rose in unison, filling Kyoto Racecourse with a joyful atmosphere.
Amidst the laughter, a low growl came from beside Yasui Makoto and the others.
"What is she doing? This guy… does she even know this is a race?"
Orfevre clutched the railing tightly, her golden ears folded back as she glared at the starting gate.
Nakayama Festa still had a lollipop in her mouth, looking casual on the surface, but the twitching of her ear tips and tail clearly showed her inner turmoil.
With one arm cradling her elbow and the other adjusting her chained glasses on the bridge of her nose, Dream Journey was noticeably calmer than her two younger sisters.
"Don't rush, Orfevre."
"Gold Ship's gate entry has never been great, you know that."
"Besides, the staff… Oh, even the old man has gone over, hasn't he?"
As Dream Journey said, after Gold Ship's odd behavior in front of the gate for a while, the staff who had been pushed away approached again, joined by an old man standing outside the fence.
The old man wore a camel-colored waistcoat over his Tracen Academy Trainer uniform. His short, graying hair framed a face that remained vigorous, and his steps seemed even more agile than those of the younger staff as he moved forward.
Before even reaching Gold Ship inside the fence, he raised his hand high, waving a hood-like adornment, and shouted something.
On the large screen facing the stands, a clear smile was visible on his aged yet energetic face.
Like a miracle, the silver-haired girl who had been kicking the fence just moments ago suddenly calmed down.
She obediently walked up to the old man, allowed him to smile and stroke her cheek, then dutifully put on the hood and patted her chest firmly.
After a moment of deep breathing, she waved at the old man, then waved her fists at the surrounding staff for a bit before walking toward the gate on her own.
The starting point of the Tenno Sho (Spring) was on the straight directly opposite the stands. Seeing this scene from afar on the big screen, Orfevre silently let out a sigh of relief.
The indentations her knuckles had made on the alloy railing slowly rebounded as her tense body relaxed.
Nakayama Festa pulled the bare lollipop stick from her mouth, unwrapped a new one, and popped it in.
"Wasting one of my lollipops… She's such a worry."
Dream Journey glanced at her and shook her head. "You should eat less sugar."
Then she pushed up her glasses, staring intently at the gate with a slight frown.
"It seems the old man's words are still effective, but this position at gate 1…"
"I wonder if Gold Ship's messy preparations before… were useful at all."
"Also…"
"Please don't miss the gate again like last Tenno Sho, Gold Ship…"
…
"Alright, after a slight hiccup, Gold Ship has finally entered the gate smoothly."
Seeing everything at the gate back on track, the commentator's voice calmed down, sounding relieved.
"The other Uma Musume are also entering the gates one after another under the guidance of the staff. The race is about to begin…"
Familiar commentary sounds reached her ears. Gold Ship's ears twitched as she unconsciously stroked the cold gate. She reached for the hood on her face.
She disliked hoods; they always felt crudely made, giving her a strange itchy, stinging sensation when worn.
However, these sensations precisely served to block out an even more inexplicable anxiety, allowing her to focus her attention—always prone to drifting for various reasons—on the race at hand.
For instance, right now, besides the miserable state of the inner track ahead after being ravaged by the previous ten races, she could also notice the glimmer of light leaking through the gate's cracks.
That was the gold thread on Curren Mirotic's winning uniform; quite flashy, but it doesn't suit my aesthetic…
Wait, why am I drifting off again…
She secretly sobered up, quickly shook her head, and was about to refocus on the path ahead when she suddenly remembered this moment last year.
Or rather, after her last defeat, the companionship of that old figure, and the sugar cube offered with a gentle smile.
The sweetness and faint bitterness now rising from the back of her tongue were probably the sugar residue she had swallowed back then…
Why am I drifting off again? Wait, didn't I just say that…
Ugh, so annoying!
Damn it… why is racing so troublesome!
Can't it just start already? I still want to go eat taiyaki with everyone!
Speaking of which, Kita-chan brought taiyaki for lunch, didn't she? It was pretty tasty. I'll ask her where she bought it later…
Tsk, Dream Sister will definitely say "eat less sweets" again…
And that Orfevre, how dare she say such things? I must find a chance to teach her a lesson…
Nakayama Festa didn't even speak up for me. Honestly, I was clearly practicing well with the "Lord Gold Ship Anti-Miss-Gate Mahjong Special Training"…
Anyway, after this race, I must…
Click.
Like the reaction from all that diligent blind mahjong listening practice, the crisp sound of the mechanical lock clicking reached her ears, and her spine reflexively straightened.
The threat of "I'll make you regret it if you miss the gate," mixed with the grumbling of "what kind of messy special training is that," twisted into an invisible bridle in her mind. She unconsciously shifted her weight onto her already positioned front feet.
The rough inner surface of the hood rubbed against her eye sockets as she unconsciously blinked.
The moment she stepped onto the inner track, the expected unpleasant sensation came, but she didn't frown.
She couldn't help but swallow. The bitter sweetness from memory and the anticipated sweetness of taiyaki uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.
Involuntarily, she glanced at the sixteen figures on the outer track and the boiling stands further away. She grinned at the air.
It's finally starting, everyone…