Before coming to the University Department, Anjing Zhen had originally planned to just have a brief talk with Sakura King.
But after a few simple training runs together, the plan changed.
Breaking from his usual training habits, he spoke with Kitasan Black and Sakura King, then added an extra morning of training at short notice.
Eager to win the Kikuka Sho, Kitasan Black agreed without the slightest hesitation, while Sakura King readily said she had no problem with it.
Not only Sakura King—after recognizing Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black, whom she had met once before, Aoba Recall also expressed considerable interest in helping out. She even enthusiastically asked the other Horse Girls watching the training runs.
Perhaps it was in a Horse Girl's nature. None of them refused, and every one of them joined in the training runs to some extent.
During breaks in this extra training session, Anjing Zhen also learned why Sakura King and the others were here.
It was not for this year's short-distance races.
They had come at the request of the Association and the University Department, preparing for next year's coaching work.
This was part of the existing training system. Many retired Horse Girls accepted invitations to serve as senior guides and assistants.
Normally, they needed to submit an application before arranging training runs like these, but Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black had happened to bypass that step this time.
That was also why the grounds already had training equipment and measuring tools available.
Since they had already troubled everyone, Anjing Zhen simply borrowed the equipment and recorded the data from every training run.
They did not trouble Sakura King and the others again that afternoon. However, to show his gratitude, Anjing Zhen suggested treating all the Horse Girls present to a trip around town