Recaps

Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu tried to make Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen grow closer during a Harajuku shopping trip, but the pair stayed focused on shops and technical curiosities. Helios then unveiled her ultimate matchmaking tactic: a Horse Girl lingerie shop.

• Kitasan Black agreed to browse Harajuku with Daitaku Helios, Mejiro Yoshinobu, and Anjing Zhen to find good-luck accessories for Satono Diamond's Japanese Derby.
• Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu guided the group to Harajuku and tried to create romantic moments at a rainbow staircase, an accessory shop, and a pawnshop.
• Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen remained absorbed in photography, pocket watches, and track-renovation parts, frustrating Helios and Yoshinobu's romance support plan.
• Helios insisted that her romance radar was right and promised to eat all her G1 trophies if the pair had no feelings for each other.
• Helios led the group to a Horse Girl lingerie shop, presenting it as their next shopping destination.

Anjing Zhen, Kitasan Black, Daitaku Helios, and Mejiro Yoshinobu entered an Uma Musume lingerie shop, where a clerk asked Anjing Zhen to assess the sports bras as a professional Trainer. He overcame his awkwardness and reached out to touch one.

• Daitaku Helios led Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black to an Uma Musume lingerie shop, shocking Kitasan Black when she read the sign.
• Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu persuaded Anjing Zhen to come inside, but Kitasan Black said she was comfortable shopping with him because he had already advised her about lingerie.
• Daitaku Helios pushed Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black into the shop, where the customers and clerks reacted calmly to the Trainer's presence.
• A clerk asked Anjing Zhen for professional feedback on silver-gray sports bras designed for demanding training and wet-track conditions.
• Anjing Zhen considered the clerk's request, took a small breath, and reached out to touch a bra.

Anjing Zhen discussed sports underwear design with a salesclerk to avoid feeling awkward, while Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu tried to persuade Kitasan Black to try a revealing style. Daitaku Helios got Kitasan Black into the fitting room, and Mejiro Yoshinobu headed toward Anjing Zhen.

• Anjing Zhen examined pale purple sports underwear and pointed out that its crossed back straps might be redundant and affect movement in wet racing conditions.
• The salesclerk took notes as Anjing Zhen offered design feedback, then invited him to inspect other sports underwear.
• Kitasan Black went shopping elsewhere with Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu, who privately wondered why Anjing Zhen seemed so unromantic.
• Daitaku Helios showed Kitasan Black revealing pale purple lace underwear and persuaded her to try it on with them.
• Mejiro Yoshinobu watched Kitasan Black and Daitaku Helios enter the fitting room, then walked toward Anjing Zhen.

Mejiro Yoshinobu arranged for Anjing Zhen to glimpse Kitasan Black trying on revealing underwear, leaving Kitasan flustered and wondering whether her Trainer saw her. Anjing struggled to banish the image from his mind while the girls remained inside the changing room.

• Mejiro Yoshinobu asked Anjing Zhen to recommend a sports bra and guided him toward the bra rack.
• Anjing Zhen caught sight of Kitasan Black in light purple lace underwear through the changing-room curtain and became flustered.
• Mejiro Yoshinobu rushed to close the curtain, while Daitaku Helios realized she had left it open.
• Mejiro Yoshinobu told Kitasan Black and Daitaku Helios that Anjing Zhen might have seen a glimpse of Kitasan Black.
• Kitasan Black blushed and wondered whether her Trainer had seen her, while feeling relieved she had chosen the light purple underwear.

Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu teased Kitasan Black about her feelings for Anjing Zhen after a misunderstanding in the underwear store. They then suggested she stop calling him “Trainer” and use a more intimate name, leaving Kitasan Black pondering the idea.

• Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu noticed Kitasan Black’s embarrassment and teased her about whether she liked Anjing Zhen.
• Mejiro Yoshinobu told Kitasan Black that Anjing had turned away and probably had not seen anything, leaving Kitasan feeling strangely disappointed.
• The three Horse Girls tried on more underwear together while Daitaku Helios asked Kitasan how she addressed Anjing.
• Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu suggested that calling Anjing “Trainer” sounded distant and encouraged Kitasan to use a more intimate form of address.

After Daitaku Helios encouraged Kitasan Black to use a more intimate name for Anjing Zhen, Kitasan struggled to say it but finally called him “Little Zhen” and asked if she could keep doing so. Anjing Zhen was surprised, and Kitasan nervously offered to use the nickname only in private if he preferred.

• Daitaku Helios persuaded Kitasan Black to consider changing how she addressed Anjing Zhen, and Kitasan agreed.
• The three Horse Girls left the lingerie shop and rejoined Anjing Zhen on Harajuku's streets.
• Kitasan Black repeatedly failed to say the new nickname while Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu anxiously watched from ahead.
• Kitasan Black finally called Anjing Zhen “Little Zhen” and asked whether she could use that name from then on.
• Anjing Zhen reacted with surprise, and Kitasan Black offered to call him that only in private if he objected.

After realizing Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu had mistaken him and Kitasan Black for a couple, Anjing Zhen accepted Kitasan Black calling him “Little Zhen” and admitted he liked it. The group finished their shopping trip, and Anjing Zhen returned home thinking about Kitasan Black as he worked on her training plan.

• Anjing Zhen realized Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu had misunderstood his relationship with Kitasan Black, while the two pretended to inspect capsule toy machines.
• Kitasan Black worried that calling Anjing Zhen “Little Zhen” was inappropriate, but he told her to keep using it and said he liked the name.
• Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu arranged chances for Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black to spend time alone as they continued shopping in Harajuku.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black thanked Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Yoshinobu, then he accompanied Kitasan Black back to the dormitories.
• Anjing Zhen returned to his apartment and worked on Kitasan Black’s training plan, but kept thinking about their shopping trip and her new nickname for him.

After a successful date with Anjing Zhen, Kitasan Black called Satono Crown to share her excitement but sensed that her friend was restless. Satono Crown admitted that recent disappointing races and Kitasan Black’s strong practice performance had made her determined not to fall too far behind.

• Anjing Zhen struggled to focus on his work as he kept thinking about his date with Kitasan Black.
• Kitasan Black returned to her dorm thrilled with the date and called Satono Crown to tell her about it.
• Kitasan Black noticed Satono Crown had been running on a rest day and sounded unusually restless.
• Kitasan Black briefly recounted the date, then asked Satono Crown whether something was wrong.
• Satono Crown said the results at Sha Tin and Tokyo, along with Kitasan Black’s practice performance, had made her feel she could not fall too far behind.

After learning that her friends had trained independently and cared about her strength, Kitasan Black focused on preparing for the Takarazuka Kinen. Anjing Zhen assessed her training and introduced a new WCT-based training system to help her improve her cornering.

• Kitasan Black reflected on Satono Crown's confidences and learned that Duramente and Koushou Hayate had also trained on their Rest Days.
• Almond Eye brought Kitasan Black a towel and drink after training, and the two discussed how they addressed Anjing Zhen.
• Anjing Zhen reviewed Kitasan Black's training data and said her fundamentals were strong but her center-of-gravity shift on corners could improve.
• Anjing Zhen explained that he planned to begin a new training system based on the World Obstacle Pursuit Championship, which trained agility, balance, explosive power, and body control.

Anjing Zhen set up a Chase Training course in the gymnasium to show Almond Eye how his obstacle techniques worked. As Almond Eye prepared to race him, Kitasan Black noticed how excited A-Zhen became and thought he acted like a child.

• Almond Eye questioned whether Anjing Zhen could train alongside Horse Girls, and he offered to demonstrate his skills directly.
• Anjing Zhen led Kitasan Black and Almond Eye to the gymnasium and waited for the other Horse Girls to leave.
• Anjing Zhen used resistance bands and gym equipment to create a Chase Training course and explained that the girls could tackle its obstacles as they wished.
• Almond Eye volunteered to compete first, and Kitasan Black agreed to time their round for twenty seconds.
• Kitasan Black watched Anjing Zhen's enthusiasm and thought that A-Zhen acted like a child in moments like this.

Anjing Zhen challenged Almond Eye to catch him on an obstacle course, relying on parkour and evasive tactics rather than speed. Almond Eye failed to catch him before time ran out, and Anjing Zhen asked if she believed him now.

• Anjing Zhen and Almond Eye prepared for a spontaneous chase simulation while Kitasan Black watched.
• At Kitasan Black's signal, Almond Eye sprinted directly toward Anjing Zhen, but he vaulted over a treadmill and evaded her.
• Anjing Zhen circled the treadmill to keep Almond Eye at a distance, frustrating her.
• Anjing Zhen dodged around a dumbbell rack and spun around a support pillar, repeatedly changing direction as Almond Eye pursued him.
• Kitasan Black called time, and Anjing Zhen patted Almond Eye on the shoulder and asked if she believed him now.

Anjing Zhen ended Almond Eye’s chase practice and explained that Kitasan Black’s upcoming Takarazuka Kinen had to take priority. After analyzing both Horse Girls’ strengths, he suggested Kitasan Black try the training next, but she proposed dinner instead.

• Almond Eye asked Anjing Zhen for another chase, but he told her to wait until after Kitasan Black’s Takarazuka Kinen preparation.
• Anjing Zhen assessed Almond Eye’s agility and Kitasan Black’s power and endurance, then considered specialized training plans for each of them.
• Anjing Zhen invited Kitasan Black to try the new training system, and she noticed Almond Eye’s disappointment.
• Kitasan Black turned down training for the moment and suggested they go have dinner first.

Kitasan Black encouraged Anjing Zhen to pay closer attention to Little Anzu’s feelings after her defeat. Their conversation led Anjing Zhen to ask Kitasan Black whether she had considered becoming a Hall of Fame Horse Girl.

• Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen discussed preparations for the Takarazuka Kinen while Kitasan Black watched Little Anzu recover from her disappointment.
• Anjing Zhen arranged for Kitasan Black and Little Anzu to practice at the Osaka Academy and said he would prepare Little Anzu’s transfer application.
• After Little Anzu returned to the dormitory, Kitasan Black invited Anjing Zhen for a walk and told him to pay more attention to Little Anzu’s feelings.
• Anjing Zhen thanked Kitasan Black for the reminder and asked whether she had considered becoming a Hall of Fame Horse Girl.

Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black he believed she could challenge for the Hall of Fame, and urged her to treat the upcoming Takarazuka Kinen as an important step toward that goal. Kitasan Black reflected on her growth and the concerns she still wanted to share with him before someone caught them in the woods and accused them of violating school rules.

• Kitasan Black reacted in shock when Anjing Zhen brought up the Hall of Fame and hurried him away from the dormitory crowd.
• Anjing Zhen admitted he was serious and said Kitasan Black had the strength and potential to challenge for the honor.
• Anjing Zhen encouraged Kitasan Black to use the Takarazuka Kinen as an opportunity to move closer to the Hall of Fame.
• Kitasan Black recalled her progress, her conversation with Satono Crown, and the concerns she had wanted to tell Anjing Zhen.
• Someone on the tree-lined path shouted at Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black for being in the woods late at night and accused them of breaking school rules.

Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black were caught out late at night by Disciplinary Committee Member Supernatural Steed and agreed to follow the school rules. After leaving campus, Anjing Zhen realized that Tokai Teio might help Kitasan Black find a dream of her own.

• Supernatural Steed found Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black on a secluded campus path and reminded them that it was too late for Anjing Zhen to be there.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black apologized, and Supernatural Steed said she would record the incident and require a self-criticism for Tokai Teio to review.
• Anjing Zhen agreed to write the self-criticism and mentioned that he also had training logs and race plans to report to Tokai Teio.
• After leaving campus, Anjing Zhen texted Tokai Teio and considered how she might help Kitasan Black discover a reason for racing that belonged to her alone.

Anjing Zhen reflected on the conviction he had lacked in his past extreme-sports competitions and decided to pursue the Hall of Fame goal for himself as well as for Kitasan Black. He began an intense solo training routine before dawn, leaving his resolve to catch up with the geniuses he once admired driving him forward.

• Anjing Zhen recalled an Austrian off-road endurance race where the champion said he had won because he wanted to conquer the course more than the other riders.
• Anjing Zhen realized he lacked not only talent but also the conviction to win, and he resolved to pursue his own ambitions through WCT rather than entrust his regrets to Kitasan Black.
• Anjing Zhen arrived at the empty Academy track before dawn and completed high-intensity long-distance running.
• Anjing Zhen increased the intensity of his strength, balance, and conditioning exercises in the Academy gym.
• Anjing Zhen practiced parkour through the Academy buildings, changed out of his soaked clothes, and headed back to the track.

Anjing Zhen prepared for Kitasan Black and Almond Eye’s acclimation training at Hanshin Racecourse while reflecting on his own rusty fitness and coaching skills. He traveled to Takarazuka City with the two Horse Girls and Wang Ziding, but rain threatened their sightseeing plans as they arrived.

• Anjing Zhen noticed his stamina, technique, and coaching observations had grown rusty, so he continued training and reflecting while guiding Kitasan Black and Almond Eye.
• Anjing Zhen learned Tokai Teio could not meet with him until the Hanshin Racecourse acclimation training because the Student Council was busy with upcoming G1 races.
• Anjing Zhen agreed to let Wang Ziding join the trip to Takarazuka City and help show the group around.
• Anjing Zhen met Kitasan Black, Almond Eye, and Wang Ziding at the Academy, and they set off together for Takarazuka City.
• Rain began as the group neared Takarazuka City, spoiling Wang Ziding and Almond Eye’s plan to visit an open-air hot spring, while Kitasan Black encouraged them.

Anjing Zhen brought custom-made WCT training equipment to the academy branch campus and assembled it on the field. He began training on the apparatus in the rain, astonishing the Horse Girls watching him as he rediscovered his former abilities.

• Anjing Zhen sent Kitasan Black, Almond Eye, and Wang Ziding to rest at the dorms before heading to the reception room to collect his equipment.
• Anjing Zhen unpacked alloy pipes and components on the field and assembled a set of obstacle-training structures.
• Horse Girls on the field gathered to watch and wondered what the strange apparatus was for.
• Anjing Zhen climbed and vaulted across the pipes in the rain, performing increasingly difficult movements as the onlookers gasped in amazement.

Anjing Zhen used an exhausting night of training on his new course to gather data and refine a training plan, believing his experiments could help him run alongside Horse Girls. The next morning, Kitasan Black recognized the viral course as his work, and Anjing Zhen challenged her to Chase Training.

• Anjing Zhen recorded how the course’s pipes, jumps, and pillars could help him model Horse Girls’ racing conditions.
• Anjing Zhen analyzed his notes, made more than thirty adjustments to the training plan, and went to sleep exhausted.
• Anjing Zhen met Kitasan Black, Almond Eye, and Wang Ziding and brought them to his new training ground.
• Kitasan Black showed Anjing Zhen that videos of his course had spread widely online and asked whether he was all right after training in the rain.
• Anjing Zhen suggested that he and Kitasan Black try Chase Training, with her taking the lead and him chasing her.

Anjing Zhen challenged Kitasan Black to another pursuit battle, with Almond Eye timing the round and Wang Ziding realizing he was the human from the famous event. Kitasan Black raced to evade him, but Anjing Zhen anticipated her moves and rapidly closed the distance.

• Anjing Zhen invited Kitasan Black to test whether she could escape him, and Almond Eye eagerly volunteered to time their twenty-second pursuit.
• Almond Eye explained to Wang Ziding that Anjing Zhen had inspired his training with the Japanese Derby pursuit event.
• Kitasan Black began the round by sprinting toward the field’s diagonal edge to make Anjing Zhen take a longer route.
• Anjing Zhen vaulted through the metal obstacles and came within two meters of Kitasan Black.
• Kitasan Black turned back toward the starting point, but Anjing Zhen anticipated her and closed in further as he focused on pushing his limits.

Anjing Zhen used Chase Training to teach Kitasan Black to read opponents and avoid hesitation, and her reactions and route choices gradually improved. As the Takarazuka Kinen approached, the academy prepared for the race, while Anjing Zhen continued considering the Hall of Fame Horse Girl matter and wondered about asking Tokai Teio for advice about his own future.

• Anjing Zhen caught Kitasan Black during a Chase Race and pointed out that he had used her gaze and movements to predict her route and exploit her hesitation.
• Anjing Zhen explained how Kitasan Black could use opponents’ eyes and other cues to predict their actions, and warned her that hesitation could cost her opportunities in races.
• Kitasan Black resumed training with renewed determination as Chase Training became part of her routine, and Anjing Zhen observed that her reactions and short-distance route choices were improving.
• As the Takarazuka Kinen neared, the entry-vote results were finalized and Horse Girls gathered in Takarazuka City for pre-race training.
• Anjing Zhen continued training Kitasan Black, Almond Eye, and Wang Ziding while considering the Hall of Fame Horse Girl matter and thinking of asking Tokai Teio for advice about his future.

Almond Eye and Wang Ziding prepared Kitasan Black’s accommodations and discussed whether her demanding racing schedule would hurt her chances in the Takarazuka Kinen. Wang Ziding reassured Almond Eye that Kitasan Black’s long rest and strong training suggested she could be in better condition than Gold Artisan had been, and they returned to preparing for the race.

• Almond Eye and Wang Ziding organized Kitasan Black’s race equipment and cleaned her accommodations at Hanshin Racecourse.
• Almond Eye asked Wang Ziding whether Kitasan Black could win the Takarazuka Kinen, and Wang Ziding recalled Gold Artisan’s past race and demanding schedule.
• Almond Eye and Wang Ziding realized that Kitasan Black’s schedule resembled Gold Artisan’s, prompting them to worry that the races might exhaust her.
• Wang Ziding pointed out that Kitasan Black had rested for months after the Arima Kinen and had handled recent training well, reassuring Almond Eye about her condition.
• Almond Eye thanked Wang Ziding and agreed to focus on preparations, then noticed that Wang Ziding had patted her shoulder with hands she had not washed after cleaning.

Anjing Zhen discussed the Takarazuka Kinen field and opening tactics with Kitasan Black, helping her see how opponents could exploit her familiar Slow Escape style. He warned that trying to seize the lead as usual might play into their hands, leaving them to reconsider how to handle a faster-than-comfortable opening pace.

• Anjing Zhen showed Kitasan Black the likely Takarazuka Kinen field and noted that many rivals knew her from Heavy Track training.
• Anjing Zhen explained that the 520-meter straight after the starting gate could prompt Kitasan Black's rivals to target her Slow Escape style.
• Kitasan Black reasoned that she would need to secure position early, but recognized that familiar rivals could anticipate the same tactic.
• Kitasan Black decided her recent Chase Training techniques could help her contend for position and privately vowed to catch Anjing Zhen in training.
• Anjing Zhen cautioned that using those techniques to seize the lead might let rivals pressure her into an unusually fast opening pace.

Kitasan Black, Almond Eye, and Duramente escaped a swarm of reporters and watched a race from the public Rest Area, where sudden rain reminded Kitasan Black of her wet-track training with Anjing Zhen. Thinking about how he had worked beside her, she recognized how her reliance on him had changed and reached for her notebook of race tactics.

• Anjing Zhen shielded Kitasan Black and Almond Eye from reporters and distracted the crowd so they could reach the Preparation Room.
• Kitasan Black and Almond Eye met Duramente, who said Sister Symboli and the trainers were still held up by reporters.
• Kitasan Black, Almond Eye, and Duramente went to the public Rest Area to watch the race while waiting for their trainers.
• They saw rain falling over the racecourse, and Kitasan Black recalled the sudden downpour and her Heavy Track training.
• Kitasan Black realized Anjing Zhen’s hard work beside her had changed how she relied on him, then reached for her notebook.

Duramente challenged Kitasan Black to decide their next race based on the Takarazuka Kinen, and Kitasan Black accepted. Satono Crown and Koushou Hayate made clear that the race would involve more than the two rivals, with Koushou vowing to defeat Kitasan Black.

• Duramente told Kitasan Black she wanted to race against her and proposed that the Takarazuka Kinen winner choose between the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Japan Cup for them both.
• Kitasan Black accepted the challenge and said she would give everything to win.
• Kitasan Black left the Rest Area with Almond Eye and encountered Satono Crown and Koushou Hayate near the Preparation Room.
• Duramente explained her agreement with Kitasan Black and said competing against her had become more important than her family-set goal of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
• Satono Crown observed that Duramente and Koushou Hayate also seemed focused on beating Kitasan Black.
• Koushou Hayate declared that the Takarazuka Kinen was not just between Kitasan Black and Duramente and vowed to defeat Kitasan Black.