Kitasan Black had never expected Oguri Cap to encourage her.
She had seen the senior before, of course, and had heard about her legendary career.
But in her impression, the senior had seemed cold and unapproachable. She hadn't expected that, once they actually spoke, she would feel so warm and friendly.
Without thinking, Kitasan Black had paused for a moment at the encouragement, then hurried out the door to thank her.
She spotted the two seniors' backs not far away and nervously took a couple of steps after them. Then she heard the two of them chatting casually.
"Senior Oguri, do you know that junior?"
"No."
"Then how did you know she hasn't run her Debut Race yet, and that she has trouble controlling her strength?"
"It was written on the computer and on the paper. Her Trainer must have written it."
"Is that so? I didn't notice..."
"Mm... But she does feel really strong."
"Feel?"
"Do you remember my Daily Crown race?"
"Of course! Senior Oguri was the first racehorse girl to win the Daily Crown two years in a row! But which race did you mean?"
"The second one."
"The 'G2 Race of the Year' one?"
"Mm. That junior just now gave me a feeling a little like the one I had when I met Inari."
"Senior Inari? Really? If we're only talking about strength, apart from you, Senior Oguri... Senior Inari is probably the strongest in our generation, right?"
"Probably."
"So that junior really is outstanding. If she has potential like that... Wait, but I thought your Debut Race..."
"Mm. I only came in second."
"...You really can't use the word 'only' to describe that, can you? And you won ten out of twelve races back home! You're a total monster!"
"That's why I said that having trouble controlling her strength for now isn't a big problem. Maybe that junior is even better than me and will win her first race."
"Better than you, huh? Hehe, well... Let's go deliver the food, Senior Oguri. Where's the next place?"
"Let me see... Hongo Dormitory."
"The old dorms... Great! Same as before, then—let's see who gets there first! Senior Oguri, be careful not to spill the food!"
"Don't worry. I might get lost, but running won't be a problem."
"Great! Then, three, two... one!"
In Kitasan Black's stunned gaze, the two seniors' figures blurred in an instant and disappeared from in front of the Trainer dormitory.
Only then did she realize that, without noticing, she had followed the two seniors all the way here.
Controlling her strength...
She bit her lip, turning the words over in her mind. After hesitating for a while, she turned and headed for Anjing Zhen's room.
On the way, she kept thinking about the conversation between the two seniors.
She could tell that when Senior Oguri Cap said the junior might be better than her, Senior Aoba Recall had awkwardly changed the subject. She clearly didn't agree.
That wasn't hard to understand or accept.
No matter how you looked at it, a racehorse girl as dazzling as Senior Oguri Cap only came along once in decades. Kitasan Black hadn't even run her Debut Race yet, let alone compare herself to someone like that.
Besides, even such an outstanding senior hadn't won her Debut Race. Kitasan Black had never received any particularly high praise from a teacher or Trainer at the Academy, so winning this race would probably be even harder.
But that dejected thought lasted only a moment before she steeled herself, her spirits rising.
Her wish to become an outstanding racehorse girl came from the promises she had made to her father and grandfather as a child, and from seeing her idol, Tokai Teio, create one miracle after another with her own eyes.
Kitasan Black didn't know whether she could become a miracle like her idol.
But she knew very well that if she didn't even want to chase after that dream, if she were already too timid to face her Debut Race, then her father, her grandfather, her idol, and even she herself would be disappointed—and unable to accept it.
Besides, she already had a Trainer, and both her idol Tokai Teio and Senior Oguri Cap had said that her Trainer was quite outstanding.
In that case, as long as she listened carefully to his guidance and steadily completed each training session, she could win her Debut Race, and the race after that...
She might even become champion in the "Triple Crown," an honor that racehorse girls had only one chance in their lives to claim, or in the Arima Kinen, the highest glory of the Symboli Family's year...
She had the potential to win them all.
That's right! That was it!
Little Kita, you couldn't lose heart before you'd even started!
She silently gave herself a pep talk, then dashed into the living room of Anjing Zhen's room. Before she had even come to a stop, Kitasan Black called out loudly:
"Trainer! I've made up my mind. Whatever you tell me to do from now on, I'll listen carefully and do it without fail!"
Slurp—
Anjing Zhen was eating ramen. When a dark figure suddenly darted in front of him, he nearly choked, and didn't quite catch what Kitasan Black had just said.
"...So what did you just say?"
"I said..."
Kitasan Black took a deep breath and bowed sharply.
"For all the training and races from now on, whatever you tell me to do, I'll listen carefully and follow through, every single step of the way!
"Please believe me. I'll definitely become a racehorse girl who makes you proud!
"This is my promise to you, my Trainer! Kitasan Black's word!"
Anjing Zhen fell silent for a moment. He glanced at the computer and draft papers on the coffee table, then looked toward the entryway.
She had probably followed them out and overheard some of the racehorse girls' casual conversation, or maybe she was worried about controlling her strength.
She was pretty simplehearted.
But this kind of spirit was a good thing.
"So you mean you'll listen to anything I say—about training and races, that is?"
Anjing Zhen asked after thinking it over.
"Yes! This is my promise to you, Trainer!"
Kitasan Black replied loudly and energetically.
"Oh. You've got plenty of spirit."
Anjing Zhen nodded and tilted his chin toward the coffee table.
"Then let's eat first."
"Okay... Huh?"
Kitasan Black froze. She had thought Anjing Zhen would say something encouraging or go straight to arranging her training. She hadn't expected him to tell her to eat.
Slurp—
"A horse that can travel a thousand miles... Cough, forget I said that."
Anjing Zhen slurped up some ramen and was about to quote On Horses, but then remembered that he had already checked and that the essay didn't exist in this world. He changed course:
"Whatever you just heard or thought, whether it's a race or training, you can only do it well if you've eaten your fill.
"And don't be so impatient. Take your time and learn to settle down.
"Eat first. I'll arrange your training afterward. There's no need to rush.
"I need to go to the hospital for a follow-up in the next few days, take care of some things for your Debut Race, and buy some training equipment.
"For the next few days, ask a classmate to film you during your running practice. Bring the footage to me afterward."
By then, Kitasan Black had already picked up her lunchbox.
"Should they only film my training? Do I need them to film anything else?"
"No, I just need to check a few things about your training."
Anjing Zhen shook his head, then continued:
"Also, if it's convenient, it'd be better to film your leg movements separately."
It just so happened to be the first day of the new year, and I just so happened to write about Matsuri Maiden.
So I'll add two extra chapters. Happy New Year, everyone!
There'll be two more chapters during the day.
Before you continue