The Reason for Crying

An expression of disbelief instantly appeared on Kitasan Black's face.

She widened her eyes and opened her mouth, trying to speak several times, but her throat felt as if it were choked, unable to utter a sound.

After a long while, she stammered in a flustered manner:

"Contract termination... dismissal... why?

"Student Benteng... her results are quite good.

"The trainer said she has won two championships and two runner-up titles so far...

"Ah, it should be three runner-up titles now, plus two third-place finishes.

"Anyone in the top five appears on the Display Board, so with results like that... why would her trainer be transferred away?"

"Well, about that..."

Vodka pondered for a moment.

"Do you remember that at lunch on the day of the race, Senior T.M. Opera O said that Student Benteng's trainer... was 'technically' her trainer once, too."

She emphasized the word "technically."

Kitasan Black noticed it immediately, but she did not understand why her senior would deliberately stress that point.

Vodka did not keep her in suspense.

"You should know about Senior T.M. Opera O's achievements.

"With 14 career victories, including 7 G1s, she is one of the very few 'Seven Crown Champions' since the inception of the Shining Series.

"But before her debut, she was actually similar to you; no one really thought much of her."

Kitasan Black was astonished.

"No, that can't be? A senior like T.M. Opera O... could actually encounter something like that?"

At this moment, Daiwa Scarlet interjected:

"That is not hard to imagine, Little Kita.

"There is also the case of Senior Oguri Cap.

"My primary trainer was once one of Senior Oguri Cap's trainers; they knew each other back in the local circuit.

"You should be aware of my trainer's level of skill; she can be considered one of the most outstanding trainers currently active.

"Yet, even she did not see Senior Oguri Cap's talent at first, never thinking that the senior could win Central heavy-stakes races and G1s, let alone so many of them.

"Especially after realizing Senior Oguri Cap's astonishing talent, even knowing what kind of honor maintaining the partnership agreement could bring her, the trainer was still willing to proactively terminate the contract and actively persuade her, which is how Senior Oguri Cap eventually came to the Central circuit.

"So, it is not hard to imagine that talented Horse Girls might not get a stage to showcase their strength; it is not rare, but rather a very common occurrence."

In the past, Kitasan Black had never heard of such things, especially the various secrets of her seniors.

Learning this suddenly, she was filled with astonishment and did not know what to say.

"It's pretty much as Daiwa said."

Vodka continued:

"After being rejected by many trainers, Senior T.M. Opera O did not give up and searched everywhere for an opportunity.

"At that time, she met the only person willing to support her."

Kitasan Black fell silent for a moment.

"Was it that trainer of hers...?"

She did not really want to use words like "technically" or "once."

In her view, shouldn't a trainer and a Horse Girl be like her and Anjing Zhen, trusting each other, working hard together, and going all the way to the end?

Vaguely sensing this, Vodka did not press the point.

"Yes, that's right.

"However, she was still a student at the Trainer Academy at the time, working as an assistant to several seniors who had just qualified as trainers.

"I don't know exactly what happened between her and Senior T.M. Opera O; probably only the two of them know.

"In any case, through her efforts, one of her seniors was willing to sign Senior T.M. Opera O to give it a try.

"You know the rest of the story; Senior T.M. Opera O went from being unknown to a world-famous Horse Girl, and the person who supported her later obtained a trainer's license."

Hearing this, Kitasan Black pondered for a while, nodding as if she understood, then shaking her head.

"I think I understand, but..."

She hesitated.

"If she knew a genius Horse Girl like Senior T.M. Opera O before her debut, that trainer must have learned a lot, so she should be very outstanding now.

"If that's the case, why would she be dismissed..."

She could not continue.

Because the three seniors before her were all wearing the exact same peculiar expression.

This look was familiar; she quickly recalled that on the afternoon of the race, after she had said something similar, Anjing Zhen, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka had worn those very same expressions.

"Little Kita, let me ask you a question... or rather, take a guess."

Taking a deep breath, Vodka suddenly shifted the topic.

"In the years since that Trainer earned his license, how many G1 races do you think the Horse Girls he coached have won?"

Although she knew nothing about these matters, Kitasan Black vaguely sensed a pessimistic tone in the senior's voice.

So, she pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and held up her palm.

"If Senior T.M. Opera O could win seven G1s, even if the Horse Girls he coached later weren't as talented, that Trainer... should have at least been able to lead someone to five G1 victories, right?"

After staring at her palm for a while, Vodka gave a strange smile and shook her head.

"Wrong. Guess again."

"Not even five...?"

Kitasan Black was taken aback.

"Then... four? No, three?"

She lowered two fingers in succession, and seeing Vodka still shaking her head, she couldn't help but feel shocked.

"Don't tell me... it's only one? That would be too..."

Just as she was about to say it was too exaggerated, her expression stiffened.

Because Vodka was still shaking her head.

"The correct answer is... not a single one."

Once again, Kitasan Black fell silent.

She had not expected this answer at all, yet she knew clearly that Vodka would not lie to her.

Especially when she saw that upon hearing this answer, Daiwa Scarlet and Einis Fushin both wore expressions of deep emotion, remaining silent in tacit agreement; there was no need to doubt it further.

While shocked by this fact, she also understood why that Trainer had been fired by the Satomi family.

Although they didn't usually talk about it in depth, from the few words she had exchanged with the Satono Sisters, she could feel that the family had very strict requirements for them.

Coincidentally, much like that Trainer's experience over the years, the Satomi family had been competing in the Shining Series for many years without winning a single G1 title, so one could imagine the pressure her friends were under.

This kind of pressure didn't just affect the Horse Girls; it naturally affected the Trainer as well.

If you can't win races, then replace the person in charge of coaching.

That was likely the attitude the Satomi family held toward their Trainers.

The resources controlled by such a family could certainly support such a practice.

But even if he hadn't won any races, that Trainer must have put a lot into Sato no Takarazuka, just as Anjing Zhen did for her.

Perhaps some of the previous victories were due to that hard work.

In that case, Sato no Takarazuka should be very grateful to that Trainer, just as she was to Anjing Zhen.

Now that the Trainer had been fired because of one failure, Sato no Takarazuka must be sad and crying because of that...

Senior T.M. Opera O, Crown-chan, and Diamond-chan must be comforting her...

Thinking of this, Kitasan Black involuntarily thought of Anjing Zhen, and then vaguely understood something.

"...So that's why, the Trainer..."

Looking toward the direction of Anjing Zhen's rented apartment, the Black Haired Girl murmured to herself.

"He must have known about all this.

"When I asked him that day, he didn't tell me; I'm afraid he didn't want to put any pressure on me, nor did he want me to worry about him..."