Will You Go Overseas With Me, Kitasan Black?

Do You Want to Go Overseas with Me, Kitasan Black?

Anjing Zhen felt that he had gradually become too immersed in training plans, fitness data, tactical analysis, and race schedules.

And without realizing it, he had overlooked the light quietly kindling in Kitasan Black's eyes, overlooked the vivid, tangible longing for the wider world quietly growing in her heart.

The more carefully he listened, the clearer his belated guilt and shame became.

He had thought himself dutiful, planning the safest and most effective path for her, yet he had nearly missed the truest, most passionate desire buried deep within her heart.

That desire had not come from her Trainer's orders, but from her purest instinct as a Horse Girl—a yearning for running itself, for challenging the unknown.

His guilt and shame were not intense, but they weighed heavily on his heart.

At the same time, however, they were like a sharp beam of light, making his earlier decision to "listen to what she wanted" clearer and firmer than ever.

He could not ignore these things any longer.

He had to truly, seriously listen—and see.

So, when Kitasan Black finished speaking and looked at him with a hint of embarrassment, Anjing Zhen solemnly nodded.

Only then did he speak.

"Next year's schedule will start with the Osaka Hai, and then... we'll go overseas. How does that sound?"

Kitasan Black froze. Even her steps halted instinctively for a moment.

"...Huh? Th-That... A-Zhen, this is..."

She stammered for quite a while. Her mind seemed unable to process this sudden proposal, one that overlapped so closely with her Dream, and she could not continue.

Anjing Zhen nodded again, his eyes full of approval and encouragement.

"This is a decision we'll make together.

"You... must be looking forward to fiercer, more exhilarating races, right?

"You