Chapter Summaries

Kitasan Black won her debut race but fell at the finish, prompting Anjing Zhen to hurry to the infirmary and check that she was unharmed. Satono Crown and Satono Diamond wondered why Kitasan looked faster than her race data suggested, and Kitasan thanked Anjing Zhen for helping her win.

• Anjing Zhen reassured Satono Crown and Satono Diamond that Kitasan Black was likely fine, then hurried to the infirmary to check on her.
• Satono Crown compared Kitasan Black's race data with her own debut results and wondered whether Anjing Zhen's training explained why Kitasan had looked so fast.
• The infirmary staff confirmed Kitasan Black was healthy, and she excitedly hugged Anjing Zhen to celebrate her victory.
• Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen about the race and the Winner's Stage as they walked toward the Rest Hall.
• Kitasan Black gently hugged Anjing Zhen and thanked him for helping her win her first championship.

Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen watched Kitasan Black win her debut race under the guidance of her Trainer, Anjing Zhen, and examined footage of their training. They recognized his methods as similar to those used in Europe and America and hoped he and Kitasan Black could bring something new to Japanese racing.

• Tokai Teio showed Mejiro McQueen footage of Kitasan Black's debut race, and McQueen was surprised to learn that Little Kita had already won.
• Mejiro McQueen studied the race details and questioned how the eighteen-year-old Trainer Anjing Zhen had devised such an experienced strategy.
• Tokai Teio showed McQueen security-camera videos of Anjing Zhen training Kitasan Black.
• Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen agreed that Anjing Zhen's training methods resembled those of European and American Trainers.
• Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen discussed Japan's cautious approach to overseas racing and hoped Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black would bring something different.

After Kitasan Black won her race, Anjing Zhen took her to an onsen inn to recover, where they relaxed and talked about games. The chapter ended with Kitasan Black telling him that Tokai Teio wanted to arrange a meeting with him about something possibly work-related.

• Anjing Zhen brought Kitasan Black to an onsen inn for post-race rest and therapeutic treatment.
• Kitasan Black praised the inn’s baths and massages, while Anjing Zhen explained that she should spend the day relaxing.
• Anjing Zhen returned from his soak and found Kitasan Black playing Bayonetta 2 in his room.
• Anjing Zhen agreed to play games with Kitasan Black during their free time.
• Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen that Tokai Teio wanted him to contact her to arrange a meeting.

Anjing Zhen met Agnes Tachyon and Tokai Teio in the Student Council Office, where Agnes offered to arrange a pace-work partner for Kitasan Black. Anjing accepted after learning the partner was Daiwa Scarlet, though Tokai Teio admitted Agnes had made the offer because she was interested in him and Kitasan Black.

• Anjing Zhen entered the Student Council Office, saw Agnes Tachyon, and briefly retreated before returning to greet her and Tokai Teio.
• Agnes Tachyon congratulated Anjing Zhen on Kitasan Black's debut victory and asked about her training plans for the Classic Frontline.
• Agnes Tachyon offered to find Kitasan Black a training partner for pace work, and Anjing initially declined because he had already prepared an application.
• When Agnes named Daiwa Scarlet as the proposed partner, Anjing immediately changed his mind and accepted the offer.
• After Agnes left, Tokai Teio told Anjing that Agnes had contacted her to arrange the partnership because she was interested in him and Kitasan Black.

Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black that Daiwa Scarlet would run with her and explained that Daiwa was returning to the Academy as Kurito Dormitory’s new Dormitory Manager. The chapter ended with Anjing saying Kitasan would run with Daiwa in three days.

• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black that Daiwa Scarlet would be her running partner, and Kitasan reacted with excitement.
• Kitasan explained that she had watched Daiwa race and that Daiwa had defended Agnes Tachyon after her retirement drew criticism.
• Anjing Zhen said Daiwa had finished two graduate degrees overseas and had returned while considering a medical doctorate.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Daiwa would replace Fuji Kiseki as Kurito Dormitory’s Dormitory Manager, while Fuji moved to a research position in the University Department.
• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan to prepare because she would run with Daiwa three days later.

Anjing Zhen reassured Daiwa Scarlet that he had considered the risks of Kitasan Black failing to qualify for the Satsuki Sho and explained his plans for her upcoming races. Daiwa Scarlet approved of his approach and agreed to leave Kitasan Black’s practice run to him.

• Kitasan Black warmly reunited with Daiwa Scarlet and introduced her Trainer, Anjing Zhen.
• Daiwa Scarlet asked Anjing Zhen how he planned to handle the possibility that Kitasan Black would lose upcoming races and miss the fan requirements for major races.
• Anjing Zhen described alternative race plans and said he expected Kitasan Black to win her next two races, including the Spring Stakes.
• Daiwa Scarlet was impressed by Anjing Zhen’s training philosophy and offered to follow his instructions for the practice run.

Anjing Zhen explained why Kitasan Black was best suited to the Escape running style and why he had used a risky strategy in her Debut Race. Kitasan accepted his reasoning and prepared to learn more detailed race tactics as her experience grew.

• Kitasan Black learned from Anjing Zhen and Daiwa Scarlet that Escape suited her best because of her burst power and stamina, while her Final Burst remained weak.
• Daiwa Scarlet was astonished that Anjing Zhen had assessed Kitasan’s running style early and tailored her training accordingly.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan’s Debut Race strategy had been risky but was intended to build experience handling the pressure of being overtaken.
• Kitasan Black promised to listen closely and follow Anjing Zhen’s instructions as he began explaining more advanced training details.
• Daiwa Scarlet reflected that Anjing Zhen had willingly risked Kitasan’s first race result to prepare her for important races later.

Kitasan Black trained with Daiwa Scarlet for several days, learning from her before their joint runs paused. Daiwa Scarlet teased Kitasan Black with a story about Special Week, while Anjing Zhen gave Kitasan Black a song he had written to try at karaoke.

• Kitasan Black ran with Daiwa Scarlet every morning and evening, improving under her guidance.
• Daiwa Scarlet said they would stop training together for two or three weeks and told Kitasan Black they would still meet at Kurito Dormitory, where she would be supervisor.
• Daiwa Scarlet recalled how Special Week had rushed from Tokyo Racecourse to the Academy on registration day and arrived late, nearly getting locked outside.
• Anjing Zhen told Daiwa Scarlet that Kitasan Black would train that afternoon and had plans to go singing with friends that evening.
• Anjing Zhen gave Kitasan Black sheet music for a song he had written and suggested she try it at karaoke and possibly post it to her Racing Account.

Anjing Zhen wrote Kitasan Black a song to help her gain enough fans to enter her upcoming Condition Race. After Kitasan Black sang it for Satono Diamond and Satono Crown, they were astonished by the song and Anjing Zhen’s talent.

• Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black needed more fans to meet the entry requirement for her Condition Race, so he had written her a song.
• Kitasan Black praised Anjing Zhen’s song and discovered its title was “Uchiage Hanabi.”
• Kitasan Black sang “Uchiage Hanabi” at a Harajuku KTV for Satono Diamond and Satono Crown.
• Satono Diamond praised the song and Kitasan Black’s singing, while Satono Crown expressed disbelief that Anjing Zhen had written it just to help Kitasan Black gain fans.

Kitasan Black explained that her Trainer had written a song to help her gain enough fans to enter next month’s Condition Race, and she planned to ask her famous musical relatives to help. After singing “Winning the Soul” with Satono Crown, she left the KTV and spotted Symboli Rudolf with an unfamiliar girl, then hurriedly said goodbye to the Satono Sisters.

• Kitasan Black told Satono Diamond and Satono Crown that her Trainer had written her a song to help her qualify for the next Condition Race, and she planned to ask her grandfather and relatives for help performing it.
• Kitasan Black and Satono Crown challenged each other to take the center position when they sang “Winning the Soul,” while Satono Diamond queued the song and quietly hoped to pursue the Triple Crown herself next year.
• Kitasan Black and the Satono Sisters sang together at the KTV, with Satono Crown saying she planned to perform the song at all three Winner’s Stages that year.
• Outside the KTV, Satono Crown spotted Symboli Rudolf, and Kitasan Black noticed an unfamiliar long-haired girl beside her before quickly saying goodbye to the sisters.

Anjing Zhen listened to Kitasan Black’s demo of Uchiage Hanabi and planned to use its finished recording to help her meet the fan requirement for her upcoming race. Kitasan Black said her family wanted to meet him and would watch her debut on TV, leaving them determined to prepare for her race.

• Kitasan Black performed Uchiage Hanabi for Anjing Zhen, who praised her voice and the song.
• Kitasan Black explained that her family had been shocked by the song and had helped record the demo after verifying it was Anjing Zhen’s original work.
• Anjing Zhen agreed that Kitasan Black should record the finished version next week and upload it to her Racing Account to attract enough fans for the Condition Race.
• Kitasan Black said her family wanted to meet Anjing Zhen but would watch her debut on TV instead.
• Anjing Zhen learned that Kitasan Black’s family hoped to attend a future race, and he said they would work hard not to let them down.

Anjing Zhen prepared Kitasan Black for the Condition Race by reviewing her experienced opponents and explaining why she should run closer to the front. Kitasan Black understood the strategy and asked Anjing Zhen to tell her when to accelerate.

• Kitasan Black's fan count surpassed the 24,000 required for the Condition Race and eventually rose above 40,000 in total.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black was the only runner in the race who had made her debut that year, while most opponents had more experience and professional guidance.
• Kitasan Black recognized Sato no Takarazuka, and Anjing Zhen described Takarazuka's strong, improving record across five races.
• Anjing Zhen reviewed Saint Martin's and Crusher Blaze's powerful Final Bursts, and Kitasan Black inferred that she should build a lead and maintain her speed against them.
• Anjing Zhen warned that Touki might lead and that Kitasan Black's slow acceleration made it important to stay near the front; Kitasan Black asked when she should accelerate.

Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen met T.M. Opera O, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka at Tokyo Racecourse before Kitasan’s race. T.M. Opera O revealed that Sato no Takarazuka’s Trainer had once trained her, then left to meet that Trainer.

• Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen went to the dining area after her warm-up and encountered T.M. Opera O, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka.
• Daiwa Scarlet introduced Kitasan Black to T.M. Opera O and Vodka, while she and Vodka bickered and nearly challenged each other to a run.
• Anjing Zhen recalled Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet’s famous rivalry, and Kitasan Black explained that they were close despite their constant arguments.
• T.M. Opera O asked about Kitasan Black’s race and said she had come to support Sato no Takarazuka’s Trainer.
• T.M. Opera O revealed that she had once been trained by Sato no Takarazuka’s Trainer, then left to meet that person.

Kitasan Black learned that T.M. Opera O was connected to her rival’s trainer, but Anjing Zhen encouraged her to focus on racing rather than trainers. Kitasan prepared for the upcoming race while Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka discussed Anjing Zhen and his approach, leaving to watch Kitasan compete.

• Kitasan Black grew nervous after learning that Senior T.M. Opera O was her opponent’s trainer, but Anjing Zhen asked whether that would stop her from racing.
• Kitasan affirmed that she would prepare properly and win for her grandfather and the others, then ate her pre-race meal.
• Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka privately discussed Anjing Zhen’s abilities and whether Vodka could pursue her research at the Academy.
• Kitasan finished eating, and Vodka told her to go prepare while she and Daiwa Scarlet planned to cheer from the stands.
• Vodka told Daiwa Scarlet that Anjing Zhen seemed different from most Japanese trainers, contrasting his approach with the Academy’s focus on credentials and seniority.

Anjing Zhen joined Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka in the stands to watch the seventh race, discussing his training methods and his parents’ influence. He was looking forward to Kitasan Black’s appearance, but she became the focus of the crowd’s laughter when her jacket zipper got stuck.

• Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka saved Anjing Zhen a place in the crowded stands.
• Anjing Zhen explained how he recorded his first impressions of races and combined instinct with data, crediting his parents for his training ideas.
• Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka discussed Crusher Blaze’s race times and strong finishing burst as she appeared in the paddock.
• Anjing Zhen avoided asking whether horse girls felt awkward tossing aside their jackets during the paddock introduction.
• Kitasan Black appeared with her jacket zipped up, but the stuck zipper stopped her from taking it off, drawing laughter from the crowd and embarrassing Anjing Zhen.

Kitasan Black embarrassed herself by struggling with her tracksuit before entering a 2000-meter race, while Anjing Zhen’s friends questioned how she would manage her speed. As the race unfolded, Daiwa Scarlet realized Kitasan Black might be following Sato no Takarazuka’s pace, and she called out her name in surprise.

• Kitasan Black discovered that her tracksuit zipper was stuck, then ripped the jacket open and hurried to the staff as Sato no Takarazuka watched.
• Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet discussed Kitasan Black’s difficulty controlling her speed, while Anjing Zhen kept his race plan to himself.
• Fourteen competitors started the race, with Touki taking the lead, Saint Martin settling into second, and Sato no Takarazuka moving into third.
• Daiwa Scarlet wondered why Anjing Zhen seemed calm as Kitasan Black followed the leading pack without making a move.
• Near the third turn, Daiwa Scarlet realized Kitasan Black might be following Sato no Takarazuka and exclaimed her name.

Kitasan Black used Sato no Takarazuka as a guide through the race, then surged past the field and held off Takarazuka to win by a quarter of a horse length. As Kitasan celebrated her second consecutive victory, Takarazuka left the track vowing not to hesitate next time.

• Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka realized Anjing Zhen had planned for Kitasan Black to follow Sato no Takarazuka and rely on her stamina for a late acceleration.
• Kitasan Black began her burst on the third turn and passed four racers to take the lead.
• Sato no Takarazuka also surged past four racers and chased Kitasan Black down the final straight.
• Kitasan Black won by a quarter of a horse length, then celebrated with her Trainer, family, and senpais.
• Sato no Takarazuka regretted hesitating during the race and left the track determined not to hesitate next time.

After Kitasan Black’s race, Anjing Zhen and Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka went to the infirmary, where they learned she had been cleared and gone to the Rest Hall. They found her singing “Matsuri” with her grandfather, Saburo Kitajima, and the chapter ended as Anjing Zhen reflected on Kitajima’s long, hard-earned career.

• Anjing Zhen, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka hurried to the infirmary after Kitasan Black’s demanding race.
• Sato no Takarazuka told them Kitasan Black was in excellent health and had gone to the Rest Hall after taking a phone call.
• The three heard Kitasan Black singing “Matsuri” with her grandfather, Saburo Kitajima, at the Rest Hall.
• Anjing Zhen recognized Kitajima and recalled the singer’s account of persevering through years of work to reach the top of Japanese music.

After Kitasan Black won her second race, her grandfather Saburo Kitajima met her trainer, Anjing Zhen, and praised the young Uma Musume. He then asked Anjing whether Little Kita could become a G1 Uma Musume.

• Anjing Zhen reflected on Kitasan Black's diligent, determined personality and realized how much she resembled her grandfather, Saburo Kitajima.
• Kitasan Black celebrated her second consecutive victory by rushing over and hugging Anjing Zhen, who joked that she was crushing his neck.
• Kitasan Black introduced Anjing Zhen to Saburo Kitajima, who explained that he had wanted to attend her earlier race but avoided drawing attention from her.
• Saburo Kitajima spoke with Anjing Zhen while Kitasan Black, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka went inside to prepare for the Winner's Stage.
• Saburo Kitajima asked Anjing Zhen whether Kitasan Black could become a G1 Uma Musume.

Saburo Kitajima apologized for questioning Anjing Zhen about winning a G1 and offered him support through Ono Trading Company. He decided to trust Anjing with Little Kita’s training, while asking his son to handle concerns about the hot spring and Anjing’s song discreetly.

• Saburo Kitajima explained how difficult Major Races were and said he admired Anjing Zhen’s confidence.
• Saburo Kitajima gave Anjing Zhen his business card and offered help from Ono Trading Company with Little Kita’s training.
• After leaving Anjing, Saburo Kitajima told his son that Anjing seemed composed and that he would leave Little Kita in his care.
• Saburo Kitajima told his son to avoid alarming Little Kita over the hot spring and to handle the song’s consequences without troubling the Association or Academy.