Recaps

Kitasan Black won the Arima Kinen, while Gold Ship reassured her that retiring from racing did not mean she was leaving for good. Gold Ship and Kitasan Black turned toward the stands to share the victory with her Trainer, but both froze when they saw him.

• Wanlai Zhengming celebrated the race by playing her violin as the exhausted Horse Girls studied the rankings.
• Clear Sky asked Gold Ship if she was really retiring, and Gold Ship said she was only quitting racing there and would still compete at the Dream Cup.
• Clear Sky recognized Kitasan Black's victory and called her an incredible opponent, while Gold Ship warned Clear Sky not to lose to her again.
• Gold Ship teased Kitasan Black for being dazed, then praised her for winning the Arima Kinen and reminded her that her racing career was only beginning.
• Gold Ship suggested Kitasan Black share the good news with her Trainer, but they both froze when they looked toward the stands.

Anjing Zhen learned that The Matriarch had accidentally caused a hairline fracture in his arm after Kitasan Black's race. As he left the infirmary, Kitasan Black insisted she would personally care for him until he recovered.

• The doctor diagnosed Anjing Zhen with a hairline fracture and recommended immobilization, medication, and four to six weeks of recovery.
• The Matriarch apologized to Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black for accidentally injuring him while celebrating the race result.
• Anjing Zhen thanked the doctor and left the infirmary with Kitasan Black, Tokai Teio, Deep Impact, Gold Artisan, Gold Ship, and The Matriarch.
• The Matriarch offered to cover Anjing Zhen's medical and nutrition costs, while the others argued about the accident.
• Kitasan Black declared that she would take care of Anjing Zhen and stay by his side until he recovered.

After Kitasan Black won the Arima Kinen, Anjing Zhen rested at home while recovering from his arm injury and thought eagerly about their future plans. The next morning, Kitasan Black arrived to care for him and insisted on helping him get dressed.

• After his injury at the Arima Kinen, Anjing Zhen went to another hospital with Tokai Teio, had his arm put in a cast, and returned home to rest.
• Kitasan Black, Tokai Teio, Deep Impact, and others called or messaged Anjing Zhen to congratulate them and express concern for his recovery.
• Anjing Zhen lay awake imagining future training and races for Kitasan Black before finally falling asleep.
• The next morning, Anjing Zhen woke to find Kitasan Black beside his bed, ready to help him get dressed.
• Kitasan Black explained that Satono Diamond had advised her to take care of him thoroughly, and Anjing Zhen reluctantly accepted her help.

Kitasan Black fussed over Anjing Zhen throughout breakfast and took him to the hospital at Agnes Tachyon’s insistence. They arrived at Tachyon’s office for an examination, where she remarked on Kitasan Black’s devotion.

• Kitasan Black served Anjing Zhen a generous breakfast and urged him to eat so he could recover.
• Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen that Agnes Tachyon had insisted he come to the hospital, and he agreed to be examined.
• Kitasan Black arranged for her family’s driver to take them to the hospital and anxiously checked on Anjing Zhen during the ride.
• Kitasan Black led Anjing Zhen to Agnes Tachyon’s office, where Tachyon welcomed them and teased Kitasan Black about acting like a dutiful nurse.

Agnes Tachyon examined Anjing Zhen and warned him not to let his growing fame distract him from training. Back at the apartment, Kitasan Black appeared in a nurse uniform Diamond-chan had helped prepare, leaving Anjing flustered.

• Agnes Tachyon examined Anjing Zhen and found nothing seriously wrong.
• Agnes Tachyon explained that Anjing Zhen's success had brought a flood of training requests, media attention, and endorsement offers, and warned him to stay focused.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black returned to their apartment after tea, and he reflected on how fame and indulgence had affected him in his previous life.
• Kitasan Black changed into a nurse uniform that Diamond-chan had helped prepare and nervously asked Anjing Zhen whether it suited her.
• Anjing Zhen blurted out that Kitasan Black looked very nice and told her she did not need to change.

Kitasan Black cared for Anjing Zhen throughout the day and insisted on sleeping in his living room so she could help him overnight. As they both struggled to sleep, Kitasan Black looked forward to preparing his breakfast and remembered they could spend the New Year together after he recovered.

• After Anjing Zhen approved her Nurse Uniform, Kitasan Black eagerly brought him water, peeled fruit, and offered to massage his shoulders.
• That night, Anjing Zhen slipped into his bedroom but felt reluctant at the thought of Kitasan Black leaving.
• Kitasan Black brought a sleeping bag and firmly refused Anjing Zhen's request that she go home, explaining she wanted to care for him overnight.
• Anjing Zhen tossed and turned while imagining Kitasan Black in the living room, then eventually fell asleep.
• Kitasan Black lay awake thinking over Satono Diamond's advice and decided to make Anjing Zhen a nutritious breakfast.
• Kitasan Black felt sad that she would have no reason to stay with Anjing Zhen after he recovered, then cheered up remembering her grandfather's suggestion that she invite him for the New Year.

Kitasan Black ran to the market, helped a stranded delivery driver tow his truck, and bought ingredients to cook a recovery meal for Anjing Zhen. When she returned, she found a Horse Girl in a blue-and-white dress embracing him.

• Kitasan Black left Anjing Zhen a note and ran to the market to buy breakfast ingredients.
• Kitasan Black pulled a broken delivery truck to its destination, and the driver learned she was the famous Helping Hero.
• Kitasan Black bought fresh food and ingredients for a nutritious feast, drawing on cooking advice from Senior Oguri Cap.
• Kitasan Black returned to the apartment and dropped her groceries when she saw a Horse Girl embracing Anjing Zhen.

Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen discovered that the unfamiliar Horse Girl who had rushed to hug him was Almond Eye, now grown into Full Maturity. As Almond Eye explained why she had surprised them, Kitasan Black struggled with sadness at the thought of sharing Anjing Zhen as a Trainer and wondered what would happen to their bond.

• Kitasan Black rushed in and found a chestnut-haired Horse Girl hugging Anjing Zhen, then demanded to know who she was.
• The Horse Girl revealed that she was Almond Eye, surprising both Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen.
• Almond Eye explained that her appearance had changed after reaching Full Maturity and apologized for startling them with her joke.
• Almond Eye asked about the ingredients Kitasan Black had bought, while Kitasan Black reflected on her sadness about Almond Eye calling Anjing Zhen Trainer.
• Kitasan Black remembered the time she had spent with Anjing Zhen and froze when Almond Eye called her name.

After Almond Eye reached Full Maturity and reunited with Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black, Anjing Zhen considered taking her on as a trainee and the challenges of guiding both Horse Girls. Kitasan Black and Almond Eye began making him breakfast, leaving him looking forward to their meal and to this new chapter of his career.

• Almond Eye noticed Kitasan Black was distracted, and Kitasan Black brushed off her concern while recalling that she had bought ingredients to make breakfast for Anjing Zhen.
• Anjing Zhen observed Almond Eye’s transformation after Full Maturity and considered that her parents might agree to let her train under him.
• Anjing Zhen thought about balancing Kitasan Black’s and Almond Eye’s different strengths, training needs, and race schedules.
• Kitasan Black and Almond Eye carried the ingredients inside and promised to make Anjing Zhen an impressive breakfast.
• Kitasan Black and Almond Eye worked together in the kitchen while Anjing Zhen waited on the sofa, enjoying the smell of the food.

Little Anzu announced that her parents wanted to invite Anjing Zhen to dinner and discuss an agreement, while she looked forward to joining Central Treisen Academy. A call from Tokai Teio and the Student Council shifted the focus to a possible overseas expedition for Anjing Zhen.

• Little Anzu told Anjing Zhen that her parents wanted to meet him and discuss signing an agreement, and she said she expected to pass Central Treisen Academy's entrance assessment.
• Kitasan Black encouraged Little Anzu to study hard so they could train together at the academy, and the two bickered over whether she was still little.
• Anjing Zhen received a message from Tokai Teio asking about his injury and called her back by video.
• Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, Deep Impact, and Gold Artisan checked on Anjing Zhen before Tokai Teio asked whether he had considered an overseas expedition.
• Anjing Zhen considered how Japanese racing had long looked to overseas competition for international recognition.

Anjing Zhen considered the gap between Japanese Horse Girls and overseas competition as Tokai Teio and the others explained why they had long hoped he might lead Kitasan Black on an Overseas Expedition. The group advised waiting and preparing, while Anjing Zhen asked whether the Academy Board of Directors and the Association wanted them to go overseas next year.

• Anjing Zhen recalled how Japanese Horse Girls had struggled against overseas champions in the Japan Cup and concluded that Japan had not fully caught up with the rest of the world.
• Anjing Zhen asked whether the Overseas Expedition idea came from Tokai Teio and the other Horse Girls or from the Academy Board of Directors and the Association.
• Tokai Teio said the group did not recommend that Anjing Zhen and Little Kita pursue an Overseas Expedition immediately, though they had considered the possibility long ago.
• Mejiro McQueen explained that Anjing Zhen's individualized, analytical training style resembled European and American methods, which had made the group envision him guiding Horse Girls overseas.
• Anjing Zhen asked whether they wanted him and Little Kita to wait and prepare, and whether the Board of Directors and the Association wanted them to undertake an Overseas Expedition next year.

Anjing Zhen explained to the Horse Girls how drawing unconscious knowledge into conscious awareness could help Kitasan Black understand herself, her opponents, and the race. He ended by arguing that the brain could handle this complexity, and that his guidance taught Kitasan Black to use its abilities.

• Deep Impact said Kitasan Black might not yet understand why she ran, and linked that understanding to cognitive training.
• Anjing Zhen explained metacognition and used a pen to illustrate that things could exist even when someone could not perceive them.
• Anjing Zhen compared consciousness to an iceberg and said Kitasan Black had learned to proactively recognize herself, the track, and her opponents.
• Tokai Teio related the idea to her own races, and Mejiro McQueen described how proactive awareness could help Kitasan Black grasp race situations.
• Gold Artisan questioned whether a racer could think about all those things while running, and Anjing Zhen praised the brain's processing power.

Anjing Zhen explained that he was not ready to arrange an overseas expedition, despite preparing for one and expecting to train Almond Eye as well as Little Kita. Tokai Teio proposed that Anjing, Little Kita, and Almond Eye travel abroad after the New Year to gain experience and adapt before racing, leaving Anjing to discuss the plan with them and decide later.

• Anjing Zhen explained that overseas racing required extensive preparation and that his limited experience and resources, along with his expected agreement with Almond Eye, made an immediate expedition impractical.
• Tokai Teio said the chairwoman had asked the Horse Girls for their opinion of Anjing, and they had recommended him as Almond Eye's dedicated Trainer.
• Tokai Teio explained that the Association and Board of Directors wanted Little Kita to race overseas and proposed that she and Anjing first travel abroad to observe and adapt, possibly with Almond Eye joining them.
• Anjing Zhen asked whether the Association and Academy would fund the trip, prompting Gold Artisan to tease him about treating it as a publicly funded vacation.
• Gold Artisan said Anjing, Little Kita, and Almond Eye could discuss the proposal and give their answer later.

After catching Kitasan Black and Little Anzu eavesdropping, Anjing Zhen told them about the planned overseas study trip and discussed how it could support their growth. They agreed on a two-week trip and considered going in late March to coincide with the Dubai World Cup, but Anjing Zhen asked Kitasan Black whether she would accept missing nearby races.

• Anjing Zhen opened the bedroom door and found Kitasan Black and Little Anzu eavesdropping outside.
• Anjing Zhen lightly reprimanded the two Horse Girls, then told them about the overseas study trip planned with Tokai Teio and the President.
• Kitasan Black and Little Anzu eagerly agreed to go abroad and promised to work hard through the challenges.
• Anjing Zhen, Kitasan Black, and Little Anzu discussed their schedules and settled on a two-week study trip while protecting Kitasan Black's training in Japan.
• Anjing Zhen proposed traveling in late March to observe the Dubai World Cup and asked Kitasan Black what she thought about missing races around that time.

Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black planned her next season around the Tenno Sho Spring and Takarazuka Kinen while he recovered from his injury. At the URA Association’s New Year gala, Anjing Zhen won Best New Trainer of the Year and Kitasan Black received the Classic Year Horse Girl Representative Award.

• Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen she wanted to challenge the Tenno Sho Spring, and he agreed to plan for that race and the Takarazuka Kinen.
• Kitasan Black and Little Anzu eagerly planned to cook nutritious meals to help Anjing Zhen recover, and Kitasan Black cared for him in the days that followed.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black visited Saburo Kitajima, who thanked them and urged Kitasan Black to look after Anjing Zhen as he healed.
• At the URA Association’s New Year gala, Anjing Zhen won Best New Trainer of the Year and Kitasan Black won the Classic Year Horse Girl Representative Award.

Anjing Zhen found Kitasan Black and Almond Eye gaming together before dawn and reminded them to balance games with their responsibilities. As they prepared to visit Asakusa Shrine, a Horse Girl arrived at his apartment and asked Kitasan Black if she had started living with him.

• Anjing Zhen discovered Kitasan Black and Almond Eye playing Monster Hunter early in the morning, with Almond Eye nearly caught up to Kitasan Black's level.
• Anjing Zhen warned the two Horse Girls to exercise moderation, and they stopped playing and made breakfast.
• During breakfast, Kitasan Black and Almond Eye quietly discussed the game, and Anjing Zhen let them talk since they were on winter break.
• After breakfast, Anjing Zhen received a phone call, and Kitasan Black went to answer a knock at the door.
• A tall Horse Girl looked into the apartment and asked Kitasan Black whether she had started living together with Anjing Zhen.

Anjing Zhen's mother arrived and teased Kitasan Black and Almond Eye by suggesting Kitasan Black was living with Anjing Zhen. After revealing her former racing name, Kikou Misuzu introduced herself and playfully invited them to call her Sister Misuzu.

• Kitasan Black blushed and reconsidered her close daily life with Anjing Zhen after Anjing Zhen's mother joked that they were living together.
• Almond Eye excitedly agreed that Kitasan Black seemed to be living with Anjing Zhen, but Anjing Zhen corrected them and explained that Kitasan Black was only caring for him.
• Kikou Misuzu entered the room, reassured Kitasan Black that she was grateful for her help, and accepted her offer of slippers.
• Almond Eye remarked that Kikou Misuzu looked young, and Kikou Misuzu introduced herself by her debut name and said she would be happy to be called Sister Misuzu.

Anjing Zhen, Kikou Misuzu, Kitasan Black, and Little Anzu visited Senso-ji Temple for New Year's, where Kitasan Black encouraged Anzu to introduce herself to fans and declare her ambitions. Misuzu praised Anjing Zhen for guiding the Horse Girls, then confronted him about hiding his injured arm from the family.

• Kitasan Black guided the group through Senso-ji Temple, where everyone made offerings and drew fortunes.
• Kitasan Black received Great Blessing, Little Anzu and Misuzu received Medium Blessing, and Anjing Zhen received Small Blessing.
• Fans recognized Kitasan Black, and she signed autographs and took photos before introducing Little Anzu to them.
• Little Anzu declared that she would attend Central Treisen Academy and become a Horse Girl stronger than Kitasan Black and other seniors.
• Misuzu praised Anjing Zhen's teaching, then questioned his fitness as a Trainer and confronted him for concealing his injured arm.

Anjing Zhen visited his hometown with Misuzu while recovering from his injury and realized that his feelings for Kitasan Black had grown beyond ordinary Trainer-Horse Girl affection. After Kitasan Black asked him to return for Almond Eye’s entrance exam, he promised he would be back on time.

• Misuzu teased Anjing Zhen about bringing Kitasan Black home, and he insisted they had an ordinary relationship even as he smiled and waved at her.
• Two days after Misuzu returned to their hometown, Anjing Zhen went with her and promised his father he would be more careful and keep the Horse Girls safe.
• While away, Anjing Zhen spoke with Kitasan Black often and reflected on their training, races, and her attentive care during his recovery.
• After Misuzu teased him about how happy he seemed during a call with Kitasan Black, Anjing Zhen wondered whether he liked her.
• Kitasan Black messaged Anjing Zhen that Almond Eye’s entrance exam was in a few days and said she would be waiting for him too.
• Anjing Zhen replied that he would definitely be back on time and told Kitasan Black to wait for him.

After returning to Tokyo, Anjing Zhen began preparing Almond Eye for Central Treisen Academy’s entrance examination, focusing on the challenging Simulation Race. The chapter ended as he set up a Turf 1800m practice run for Almond Eye to chase Kitasan Black.

• Anjing Zhen set aside his earlier thoughts and focused on helping Almond Eye pass the entrance examination and returning to training with Kitasan Black.
• Anjing Zhen reviewed the exam’s physical tests and identified the Simulation Race as the key challenge because Almond Eye lacked tactical experience and the race conditions would be drawn at random.
• Anjing Zhen considered formidable prospective rivals, including Wang Ziding, Gaojie Baihe, Satomi Megami, Sayaka, Miqi Moli, and Qingrou Ruge.
• Kitasan Black and Almond Eye finished warming up at the academy training grounds.
• Anjing Zhen arranged a Turf 1800m practice run, telling Kitasan Black to use her usual Slow Escape and Almond Eye to try to catch her.

Anjing Zhen had Kitasan Black and Almond Eye race, and Almond Eye’s poor start left her trailing as she tried to catch up. He decided to discuss the mistake with both Horse Girls after the run before choosing how to train her.

• Kitasan Black and Almond Eye eagerly agreed to race and took their starting positions.
• Kitasan Black launched immediately, while Almond Eye’s slow, hesitant start put her more than half a meter behind.
• Almond Eye fought to catch up, and Anjing Zhen considered how distraction and unfamiliarity with the start might have affected her.
• Anjing Zhen chose to hear Almond Eye’s and Kitasan Black’s thoughts after the run before deciding on a training approach.
• Almond Eye fell farther behind but steadily increased her speed as her competitive spirit drove her forward.

Little Anzu chased Kitasan Black through a training run, determined to surpass her, but her reckless acceleration left her visibly exhausted. Anjing Zhen tracked the run’s speed data and noticed something unexpected about Little Anzu’s Final Burst.

• Kitasan Black admired Little Anzu’s tenacity and resolved to keep up her own fighting spirit as she led the run.
• Little Anzu became frustrated by the gap, vowed to beat Kitasan Black, and accelerated when Kitasan Black adjusted her pace.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black realized Little Anzu was spending too much stamina by continuing to accelerate.
• Before the Final Turn ended, Little Anzu’s stride, breathing, and arm rhythm showed clear signs of exhaustion, and Kitasan Black began widening the gap again.
• Anjing Zhen checked the speedometer data repeatedly, then reacted with surprise and wondered whether children with a Final Burst were always so willful.

After Little Anzu struggled in a parallel run against Kitasan Black, Anjing Zhen praised her potential while identifying flaws in her start, pacing, and stamina distribution. He set adjusting her start and pace as the focus of her training before the Simulation Race.

• Anjing Zhen reviewed Little Anzu’s run, noting her strong mental resilience and promising final burst despite her poor start and wasted stamina.
• Little Anzu asked to run again, and Kitasan Black encouraged her by comparing her determination to her own younger self.
• Anjing Zhen explained Little Anzu’s mistakes and advised Kitasan Black on how to create pressure and vary the pace when acting as a training partner.
• Anjing Zhen assigned Little Anzu training focused on her start and pacing, beginning with more parallel runs before simulating an official race with a Starting Gate.

After training, Trainer Yasui, Kitasan Black, and Little Anzu met Satono Crown, Satono Diamond, and Satomi Megami at Gray Impression and discussed their upcoming races and overseas plans. As the group talked about foreign competitions, Anjing Zhen considered how those plans might lead toward preparing for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

• Trainer Yasui, Kitasan Black, and Little Anzu went to Gray Impression and ran into Satono Crown, Satono Diamond, and Satomi Megami.
• Kitasan Black introduced Little Anzu, who was preparing to enroll at Central Treisen Academy, to the Satono sisters.
• Satono Crown said she planned to enter the Kyoto Kinen in February, while Satono Diamond said she would race in the Kisaragi Sho.
• Kitasan Black explained that she planned to target the Tenno Sho Spring after recovering from the Arima Kinen, then go abroad for special training.
• Satono Crown said she planned to race in Hong Kong, while Sounds of Earth and Real Steel planned to go to Dubai.
• Anjing Zhen considered how the Horse Girls' overseas plans could support a future campaign for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Anjing Zhen planned Kitasan Black’s overseas races and weighed the sacrifices required to pursue the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. When Kitasan Black returned, she took over his work and said she wanted to judge the race seriously after seeing world-class Horse Girls abroad.

• Anjing Zhen drafted a schedule for Dubai next month and considered European races later in the year, depending on how well the team adapted overseas.
• Anjing Zhen concluded that preparing to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe might require nearly a year and force Kitasan Black to miss many Japanese G1 races.
• Kitasan Black returned to the apartment, saw Anjing Zhen working despite his injury, and insisted on organizing his plans for him.
• Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen that she had researched the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but wanted to see world-class Horse Girls abroad before deciding what she thought of it.