The Dormitory Manager's Successor

Horse Girls were divided into different coat colors by bloodline, such as bay, chestnut, gray, and white.

Kitasan Black, for example, had a bay coat.

In Japan, bloodlines had long been a subject of debate—or perhaps prejudice. For a time, "gray Horse Girls can't run fast" was considered common knowledge.

Of course, that so-called "common knowledge" had since been overturned by outstanding gray Horse Girls such as Tamamo Cross, Oguri Cap, and Mejiro McQueen.

Another similar distinction—and prejudice—was the "male-female divide."

Biologically speaking, most Horse Girl-related genes were recessive.

When the mother was a Horse Girl, any daughters she gave birth to were highly likely to be Horse Girls.

For humans, the odds were much lower—so low that it could practically be called a coincidence.

Based on these two cases, Horse Girls were divided into "Male Horse Girls" and "Female Horse Girls."

Just like the belief that "gray Horse Girls can't run fast," people in and out of the industry once thought that "Female Horse Girls" were simply weaker.

Many races consequently restricted entry to "Female Horse Girls," supposedly as a form of protection.

This prejudice persisted for a long time. Even outstanding Female Horse Girls like "Empress" Symboli Rudolf and "Great Heroine" Hishi Amazon hadn't changed that.

Not until the "Peerless Duo" appeared.

Both Horse Girls were Female Horse Girls. At the time, most competitors in the major top-tier races were still Male Horse Girls, yet the two of them swept almost every top-tier race.

As it happened, more and more Female Horse Girls displayed astonishing ability after their debut, until nowadays hardly anyone mentioned the "male-female divide" anymore.

One of those two Horse Girls was the Daiwa Scarlet Agnes Tachyon had mentioned.

More importantly, based on his various observations and tests, Anjing Zhen was certain that the Running Style best suited to Kitasan Black was Escape, with Early Lead as her second-best option.

During her career, Daiwa Scarlet had excelled at Escape, with Early Lead as her next-best style.

He couldn't find any reason to reject her as a running partner.

So, having agreed with Agnes Tachyon and learned a little about the situation from Tokai Teio, Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black the news during afternoon training.

"Daiwa-senpai is going to run with me? That's so awesome!"

"...How many times have I told you to finish chewing before you talk? Aren't you worried you'll choke?"

Looking at Kitasan Black, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk's, Anjing Zhen sighed helplessly, then wondered aloud:

"Come to think of it... Kita, did you already know Daiwa Scarlet?"

"Mmm... Wait a sec, Trainer. I'll talk after I finish eating..."

She wolfed down a whole plate of fried rice, casually wiped her lips with the back of her hand, and was about to speak when Anjing Zhen sighed and pulled out a packet of tissues.

"Sometimes I really feel like you're not much of a girl—so clumsy... Hold still. I'll wipe it for you."

"...Trainer, that was a little harsh..."

She complained with a hint of hurt, then saw Anjing Zhen reach toward her and panicked a little.

"N-no, it's fine, Trainer! I-I can do it myself!"

Snatching the tissues, she roughly wiped her lips and the back of her hand, then hurriedly changed the subject.

"Yeah, I've known Senior Yamato for a long time.

"Before Senior Yamato retired, she was on the same team as Teio-senpai. After Teio-senpai retired, I often went to watch Senior Yamato's races.

"It'd be amazing if Senior Yamato could run with me!"

After bouncing with excitement for a moment, she blinked curiously.

"By the way, Trainer, how do you know Senior Yamato?"

"It's not that I know her."

Anjing Zhen shook his head. "Doctor Sovetsky introduced us."

"Oh, I see."

Kitasan Black nodded in understanding.

"I remember Senior Yamato was really close with Agnes Tachyon-senpai.

"After Agnes Tachyon-senpai suddenly announced her retirement, lots of people said mean things about her online.

"Agnes Tachyon-senpai never paid any attention to them, but Senior Yamato was really angry and kept sticking up for her.

"If Agnes Tachyon-senpai introduced you, then it makes sense."

Anjing Zhen understood.

He'd heard about the uproar caused by Agnes Tachyon's retirement.

She'd won all four of her races, including the Satsuki Sho, and with her ability there was no doubt she could have challenged for the Japanese Derby and Kikuka Sho.

But after winning the Satsuki Sho, Agnes Tachyon—at the height of her fame—announced her retirement in the blink of an eye.

The explanation at the time was that she had "developed mild tendinitis in her left hind leg."

The disease was extremely troublesome for Horse Girls, though not entirely incurable. Given the medical standards of this world, however, recovery was unlikely.

Many fans couldn't accept it. Then, with what seemed to be deliberate provocation from certain people, public opinion descended into chaos, and plenty of rumors circulated that were damaging to Agnes Tachyon.

Thinking about it, the claims of human experimentation had been among the most widespread rumors at the time.

But Anjing Zhen knew nothing about the details behind the whole affair—not the truth behind her retirement, nor Daiwa Scarlet's defense of her.

Hearing Kitasan Black explain it now, he finally had some idea why Agnes Tachyon had been able to get Daiwa Scarlet to come.

"So there's that connection between them... Either way, it's good news for you."

After pondering for a while, Anjing Zhen nodded.

"I talked with Emperor (Teio) President about Daiwa Scarlet's current situation.

"She finished her second graduate degree overseas last year and is now considering a topic for her medical doctorate.

"She probably wants to study under Doctor Sovetsky.

"Anyway, it seems she's run into a bit of a bottleneck lately and came back for a change of scenery.

"Coincidentally, the Academy has some work it wants her help with, so she'll be working here for a while."

"Senior Yamato really is amazing."

Kitasan Black exclaimed in admiration.

"Back when she was at the Academy, she was always at the top of her class, and in the past few years she's finished two graduate degrees. She's so smart!

"By the way, what kind of work will Senior Yamato be doing at the Academy? Is she going to be the school doctor?"

"Not quite."

Anjing Zhen shook his head.

"She hasn't gotten her medical license yet. She's coming to replace Fuji Kiseki as the Dormitory Manager at Kurito Dormitory.

"As Dormitory Manager, she'll be able to interact with active Horse Girls like you every day. Maybe she'll treat it as a way to gather data for her research.

"I think that's what Daiwa Scarlet has in mind—finding inspiration for her doctoral research by observing her younger peers in active competition."

"T-the Dormitory Manager?"

Kitasan Black was stunned. "Then... does that mean we won't see Fuji Senpai at the Academy anymore?"

"Not exactly."

Anjing Zhen shook his head.

"Emperor (Teio) President said Fuji Kiseki applied for a research position last year. It's just been stuck in the approval process, and it only went through recently.

"She has to keep moving forward, too. So you can still see her over at the University Department."

"Oh, I see..."

Kitasan Black understood, then brightened up.

"So I'll get to see Senior Yamato a lot more often, and run with her a lot, too?"

"That depends on her schedule."

Anjing Zhen smiled.

"But Emperor (Teio) President is still busy with the handover, so Daiwa Scarlet should have some free time over the next few days.

"Get ready over the next couple of days. Three days from now, you'll get to run with your senior."