Potential Unleashed in Adversity
Kitasan Black had no idea about the pressure Satono Diamond was feeling. While doing an initial warm-up in the racecourse preparation area, she was soon startled by an unexpected discovery.
At the front of the warm-up line was Deep Impact, the leader of this special training group. Behind her were the other seniors who had come to assist with the training.
Further back were the companions who had been training together during this period—or rather, the opponents most likely to run in the Takarazuka Kinen next.
Among them was Futanari Shingang, who had not been training at Tokyo Racecourse until now. To Kitasan Black's surprise, she was also in the warm-up line.
Kitasan Black had spotted her friend during assembly, but after Deep Impact announced the race order, she immediately led everyone into the warm-up. Kitasan Black had only had time to greet her, with no chance to ask what was going on.
The number of people racing today was neither particularly large nor particularly small—just over twenty in total.
Since having fewer runners in each race would make post-race analysis easier, the event had been split into two races. The exact entry lists had been determined by drawing lots the day before.
Kitasan Black had been assigned to the first race, and Futanari Shingang happened to be in it as well.
It seemed the race would begin right after the warm-up, leaving no time to ask later. Unable to suppress her curiosity now, Kitasan Black turned her head as the line passed through a bend and asked quietly, "Hey, True Steel, why are you taking part in this Practice Race? Didn't you sign up for this special training? And isn't your next race not the Takarazuka Kinen?"
As she asked, Kitasan Black felt somewhat puzzled.