Chapter Summaries

Anjing Zhen explained why he could not guarantee Kitasan Black's victory and why her race plan focused on the early and middle stages. Kitasan Black realized she needed to control the race before her opponents could use their Final Bursts, and left the discussion confident in her understanding.

• Anjing Zhen reviewed Futanari Shingang and Noda Gold as major threats, noting their strengths and race experience.
• Kitasan Black asked why the later parts of her race plans were so simple and whether Anjing Zhen could predict what would happen.
• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black he could not guarantee a win because her opponents trained and planned just as seriously as she did.
• Anjing Zhen explained that the complicated opening would be hard to predict, so Kitasan Black should focus on herself and seize control of the race's rhythm.
• Kitasan Black concluded that strong early and middle stages could keep opponents from using their Final Bursts, and Anjing Zhen praised her for understanding.

Kitasan Black prepared carefully for the Spring Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse, following Anjing Zhen’s advice and checking her gear before heading to the Paddock. Anjing Zhen then encountered a Horse Girl hiding by the underground passage exit and recognized her as Special Week.

• Kitasan Black reviewed her notes and confirmed her condition with Anjing Zhen before he left to find a spot in the stands.
• Kitasan Black stretched, checked her racing shoes and outfit, and prepared her number cloths after the announcement summoned the eleventh-race contestants to the Paddock.
• Anjing Zhen noticed someone hiding in the greenery by the underground passage exit and threatened to call the police.
• Special Week sprang out and tried to stop Anjing Zhen from calling, but she fell when he dodged her.
• Anjing Zhen recognized the fallen Horse Girl as Special Week.

Anjing Zhen asked Special Week what had led her to become an outstanding horse girl, hoping to learn how to guide Kitasan Black. Special Week explained that she ran because it made her happy, and the chapter ended as Kitasan Black appeared in the Paddock.

• Special Week signed an autograph for Little Courage and encouraged her ambition to become Japan's number one horse girl.
• Anjing Zhen asked Special Week whether she had always aspired to be Japan's number one and shared his questions about guiding Kitasan Black.
• Special Week recalled her promise to her mother, her friends at the Academy, and the pain and happiness she had experienced through racing.
• Special Week told Anjing Zhen that she had stepped onto the track because she loved running and it brought her joy.
• Special Week spotted Kitasan Black appearing on the screen, and Anjing Zhen gained a better understanding of her appeal.

Anjing Zhen watched Kitasan Black make an awkward entrance before she greeted Special Week, who came to cheer her on. Special Week helped calm Little Kita’s nerves and sent her toward the starting gate with everyone’s support.

• Kitasan Black threw her jacket into the audience during her introduction, then retrieved it and hurried back after apologizing.
• Special Week recalled her own embarrassing debut mistakes while Anjing Zhen explained Little Kita’s earlier blunders.
• Special Week shouted to Kitasan Black from the stands, vaulted over the seats, and hugged her through the railing.
• Special Week congratulated Kitasan Black on her two wins and fastened her bib while sharing how Suzuka had once comforted her before a race.
• Special Week encouraged Kitasan Black to run with everyone supporting her, then noticed she had put her bib on backward.

Kitasan Black steadied her nerves before the Spring Stakes, then learned that Gold Ship had won the Hanshin Daishoten. Gold Ship sent her encouragement through the racecourse broadcast, and Kitasan Black entered the race determined to win.

• Kitasan Black recalled how her preparation and the support of Special Week, her Trainer, and others helped her overcome her anxiety.
• As Kitasan Black waited in the Starting Gate, the crowd and announcer celebrated Gold Ship’s victory in the Hanshin Daishoten.
• Gold Ship appeared on the giant screen, crab-walked for the audience, and heard commentators praise her comeback win.
• Gold Ship addressed Kitasan Black through the broadcast, wished her luck, and promised to hold a victory party.
• Kitasan Black shouted that she would win the Spring Stakes as the announcer called the participants to enter the gates.

Kitasan Black faced Daiwa Miner’s calculated attempt to trap her along the inner lane in the Spring Stakes, but stayed composed and became excited by the strength of her graded-race opponents. As Daiwa Miner prepared to follow the Trainer’s plan, Susan Muse and another runner suddenly surged past her.

• Kitasan Black burst out of the inside gate as Daiwa Miner pressed close and gradually matched her moves toward the inner lane.
• Kitasan Black recognized Daiwa Miner’s positioning as an attempt to target her, but remained calm because Anjing Zhen had prepared her for such tactics.
• Kitasan Black subtly slowed and surveyed the field, while Daiwa Miner wondered why she was not taking an easy chance to seize the lead.
• Daiwa Miner saw Susan Muse accelerate from the left and expected to claim the position behind her.
• A short-haired runner accelerated past Daiwa Miner on her right, leaving her stunned.

Kitasan Black raced in the Spring Stakes using her own rhythm, prompting Special Week to recognize that she was not simply following Susan Muse. Anjing Zhen realized Kitasan Black had already begun to grasp his rare “Slow Escape” strategy as the race continued.

• Susan Muse took the lead early, while Kitasan Black moved into second and the other racers formed a long line behind them.
• Special Week told Anjing Zhen that Kitasan Black was running at her own pace and that the runners behind were following her rhythm.
• Anjing Zhen recalled how Kitasan Black had used the opening scramble to escape Daiwa Miner’s attempt to squeeze her.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black’s “Slow Escape” relied on maintaining a measured lead, reading pursuers, and accelerating when needed.
• Anjing Zhen realized Special Week had understood the strategy behind his instructions to Kitasan Black.

Anjing Zhen explained his Positioning Pressure tactic to Special Week as Kitasan Black followed Susan Muse in the race. Special Week recognized the tactic as Kitasan Black began to make her move.

• Anjing Zhen watched Susan Muse lead Kitasan Black by about three lengths as the field entered the side straight at a slow pace.
• Special Week noted that Susan Muse’s comfortable pace could benefit the closers and questioned whether Kitasan Black would keep following.
• Anjing Zhen recalled how Kitasan Black’s two consecutive wins had helped him earn the respect and advice of prominent Horse Girls.
• Anjing Zhen told Special Week that he had arranged for Kitasan Black to use Positioning Pressure against Susan Muse.
• Special Week gripped the railing and announced that Kitasan Black was making her move.

Kitasan Black surged into the lead in the Spring Stakes and fought off the pursuing runners on the final stretch. She held on to win, securing her third consecutive victory.

• Kitasan Black accelerated on the third turn, overtook Susan Muse, and took the lead.
• Several runners, including Dannong Miaoyin, Noda Gold Colt, and Futanari Shingang, closed in as the pack's pace increased.
• Kitasan Black unleashed another burst of speed on the final turn and widened her lead over Susan Muse and Dannong Miaoyin.
• Futanari Shingang passed Noda Gold Colt and challenged Kitasan Black on the final stretch.
• Kitasan Black faltered as Futanari Shingang drew close, but she crossed the finish line first and won the Spring Stakes for her third straight victory.

After Kitasan Black won her third consecutive race, Anjing Zhen took Special Week to check her post-race condition, then returned with her to watch the Winner's Stage. Kitasan Black's stamina expenditure remained within her limits, and she later performed at the center of the stage.

• Special Week cheered wildly for Kitasan Black's victory, then noticed Anjing Zhen staring at the track with a strained expression.
• Anjing Zhen said he would check Kitasan Black's post-race examination, and Special Week went with him while wondering about his mood and abilities.
• Anjing Zhen reviewed Kitasan Black's examination and found that she had spent more stamina than in her previous races, though her condition remained within safe limits.
• Anjing Zhen encouraged Kitasan Black to rest, then had dinner with Special Week before they returned to the stands.
• The Winner's Stage began, and the announcer introduced Kitasan Black as the next song's center.

After Kitasan Black’s close Spring Stakes victory, Anjing Zhen realized he wanted to support her wholeheartedly and help her win every race. The next day, Kitasan Black hosted Anjing Zhen and her seniors at her enormous Hachioji home, where Gold Ship started an impromptu race across the lawn.

• At Kitasan Black’s Winner’s Stage, Anjing Zhen recalled how narrowly she had beaten Futanari Shingang and recognized the thrill of the race.
• Anjing Zhen reflected that his sense of responsibility had grown into a heartfelt wish to help Kitasan Black win every future race.
• The day after the Spring Stakes, Kitasan Black invited Anjing Zhen, Gold Ship, Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka, and the others to her home for a celebratory gathering.
• Gold Ship, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka marveled at the huge lawn and learned that Kitasan Black’s family had several similarly grand residences.
• Gold Ship announced a race across the lawn, then dashed off after counting only to three; Vodka chased after her.

Kitasan Black worried that Trainer Yasui might be angry about her secret weekend training, and Special Week explained why she needed to trust and communicate with her Trainer. Meanwhile, Saburo Kitajima offered Anjing Zhen a share of Uchiage Hanabi's earnings, and Anjing agreed while choosing to focus on guiding Kitasan Black.

• Daiwa Scarlet joined Gold Ship and Vodka in running around while Kitasan Black and Special Week watched.
• Kitasan Black admitted she had trained alone before the Spring Stakes without telling Trainer Yasui, and Special Week explained the risks of unsupervised training.
• Special Week recalled how extra training and neglecting her diet contributed to her poor Kyoto Daishoten result, then urged Kitasan Black to trust her Trainer and speak openly with him.
• Saburo Kitajima thanked Anjing Zhen for helping Kitasan Black and presented documents to share the earnings from Uchiage Hanabi.
• Anjing Zhen accepted the music agreement but said he wanted to focus on guiding Kitasan Black.

Anjing Zhen discussed Kitasan Black’s training costs and administrative workload with Saburo Kitajima, who offered to have Ono Trading Company cover expenses beyond Academy subsidies and handle paperwork. After touring the mansion’s collections, Anjing considered how to improve Kitasan Black’s training plan.

• Saburo Kitajima asked whether Anjing Zhen faced financial pressure from Kitasan Black’s costly training needs.
• Anjing Zhen explained that he could afford the expenses but wanted help with applications and other administrative tasks so he could focus on training Kitasan Black.
• Saburo Kitajima offered to have Ono Trading Company pay costs beyond Academy subsidies and handle documents submitted to the Student Council.
• Anjing Zhen thanked Saburo Kitajima and considered asking him for further help related to a phone call from the previous night.
• Anjing Zhen toured Saburo Kitajima’s mansion and reflected that Kitasan Black’s training plan needed to be optimized with more practice races or official races to assess her abilities.

After Kitasan Black's Spring Stakes victory, Anjing Zhen considered how to advance her training as her abilities improved. At a celebratory Dinner Party, Special Week revealed she would enter the Summer Dream Trophy and offered to help Kitasan Black prepare for the Triple Crown, while Anjing Zhen settled on training races to build her experience before the Satsuki Sho.

• Anjing Zhen concluded that Kitasan Black's stronger abilities required new training methods and decided to discuss his ideas with her at the Dinner Party.
• Saburo Kitajima hosted a large Dinner Party for Kitasan Black's Spring Stakes victory, where Special Week, Gold Ship, Vodka, and Daiwa Scarlet reminisced and teased one another about past Winner's Stages.
• Special Week told the group that she had agreed to compete in the Summer Dream Trophy and planned to help Kitasan Black train for the Triple Crown.
• Anjing Zhen explained that the Dream Trophy was an all-star invitational for famous retired Horse Girls, held twice a year by the URA Association.
• Anjing Zhen considered using training races to improve Kitasan Black's race skills and make up for her opponents' greater experience before the Satsuki Sho.

Anjing Zhen considered using training races to help Kitasan Black prepare for the Triple Crown, and the Summer Dream Trophy offered a chance to learn from retired champions. Gold Ship explained why her Satsuki Sho victory was difficult to teach, then asked Anjing Zhen to suggest how she could help Little Kita.

• Anjing Zhen realized that short training races could let Kitasan Black practice without disrupting Daiwa Scarlet and the others' schedules.
• Special Week offered to share her Triple Crown experience, while Vodka said she and Daiwa Scarlet would have less time for joint runs over the coming week.
• Vodka asked Gold Ship to teach Kitasan Black about the Satsuki Sho, since Gold Ship was the only Horse Girl at the table who had won it.
• Gold Ship described charging through the slippery Inner Lane to win, but said she could not reliably explain or repeat her running style and noted that Kitasan Black was an Escape runner.
• Gold Ship offered to help Kitasan Black and directed the group to hear what Anjing Zhen had to say.

Anjing Zhen explained how Gold Ship’s Satsuki Sho could help Kitasan Black develop her strength, conditioning, and balance, then proposed using training races to improve her abilities. He left the Horse Girls with his newly realized goal: to help Kitasan Black win every race.

• Anjing Zhen explained that Gold Ship’s Satsuki Sho offered lessons in handling a muddy track, though its unusual conditions limited its usefulness to most Horse Girls.
• Gold Ship recounted sending a rival flying during a race, while Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka disputed her account of the collision.
• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black that her strength and conditioning made Gold Ship a useful training partner and explained how the Satsuki Sho’s track conditions tested those qualities.
• Anjing Zhen proposed using training races to develop several of Kitasan Black’s abilities while accommodating the Horse Girls’ schedules.
• Anjing Zhen bowed and asked the Horse Girls to support his plan, and they assured him they would help.
• Anjing Zhen declared his goal of helping Kitasan Black win every race and said he had finally recognized it as his own dream as her Trainer.

Kitasan Black reviewed the Spring Stakes with Anjing Zhen and learned that her next training would focus on sprinting to prepare for the Satsuki Sho and a practice race. Anjing Zhen introduced parachute sprint training, warning that the new workload would be exhausting, while Kitasan Black eagerly welcomed the challenge.

• Kitasan Black noticed that Anjing Zhen seemed younger and closer to her after their conversation the night before, then resolved to work harder for his Dream.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black reviewed her Spring Stakes performance and discussed preparations for the practice race and Satsuki Sho.
• Kitasan Black concluded that sprint training would help her Slow Escape Running Style preserve a lead against opponents with powerful Final Bursts.
• Anjing Zhen explained that he had prepared parachute sprint training to improve Kitasan Black's explosiveness and lower-body strength, along with additional upper-body work for balance.
• Kitasan Black looked forward to the tougher training because she had wanted Anjing Zhen to increase her workload.

Anjing Zhen introduced Kitasan Black to parachute sprint training to improve her acceleration ahead of an upcoming training race. Kitasan struggled to keep her stride steady against the parachute’s shifting drag, and Anjing told her that her first attempt had looked poor, though that was normal for a beginner.

• Kitasan Black eagerly agreed to try the special training and completed her warm-up and stretches while keeping safety in mind.
• Anjing Zhen fitted Kitasan Black with a training vest and four parachutes, explaining how sprint work could improve her burst power before an upcoming training race.
• Kitasan began a 100-meter parachute sprint as Anjing released the canopies and followed to monitor her safety and form.
• The parachute’s uneven resistance disrupted Kitasan’s balance and stride, so Anjing told her to stop.
• Kitasan asked whether she had run terribly, and Anjing said her form had looked poor but that this was normal for a beginner.

Anjing Zhen taught Kitasan Black to adjust her sprinting form with parachute training, then shifted her workout to balanced strength training. At the gym, they saw Symboli Rudolf guiding Duramente, before Anjing explained how he would organize Kitasan Black’s future training.

• Kitasan Black tried to run more laps, but Anjing Zhen stopped her and explained how her accustomed upright sprint differed from the explosive style he wanted her to learn.
• Kitasan Black spent the morning adapting to parachute sprints, then completed other running drills before Anjing took her to the gym for upper-body training.
• Anjing Zhen noticed Symboli Rudolf guiding Duramente at the gym and wondered why Duramente’s Trainer was absent.
• Kitasan Black said she barely felt able to lift her feet, and Anjing Zhen explained that her training would alternate muscle groups and vary in intensity.

Anjing Zhen coached Kitasan Black through upper-body strength exercises and stretching before meeting Symboli Rudolf and Duramente at the gym. At dinner, Symboli Rudolf asked him to have Meisei and Kitasan Black train together because Meisei had grown anxious during races and stopped listening to her trainer.

• Kitasan Black took notes as Anjing Zhen explained her upper-body workout and guided her through several exercises.
• Anjing Zhen helped Kitasan Black stretch, correcting her posture as she leaned against a wall and made strained noises.
• Symboli Rudolf and Duramente arrived, and Symboli Rudolf invited Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black to dinner at the School Cafeteria.
• At dinner, Symboli Rudolf asked Anjing Zhen to let Meisei and Kitasan Black try training together.
• Symboli Rudolf explained that Meisei had become anxious during her Debut Race and the Kyodo News Service Cup, and had barely listened to her trainer since her loss.