Chapter Summaries

Kitasan Black dreamed that she ran alongside Tokai Teio as Teio won the Japanese Derby, then woke in the dorm room with Satono Diamond. Realizing her own Japanese Derby was only two days away, Kitasan Black decided to get up early and train.

• During wall-running practice in her dream, Kitasan Black found herself racing beside Tokai Teio at the Japanese Derby.
• Kitasan Black watched Tokai Teio surge past the other racers and win the Derby, then woke when Satono Diamond called to her.
• Satono Diamond helped Kitasan Black up and explained that her dream reflected her thoughts about the race approaching in two days.
• Kitasan Black sprang out of bed, declared she was going to train, and began changing for the morning workout.

As the Japanese Derby approached, Kitasan Black focused on her training and prepared to stick to her own rhythm despite the race’s many uncertainties. After Anjing Zhen finished her race briefing, Tokai Teio and the other seniors gathered to cheer her on, and Kitasan Black vowed to give the race everything she had.

• Kitasan Black considered the hard work of her rivals and resolved to train and rest properly instead of dwelling on what-ifs.
• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black to remain unchanged in the face of every change and warned her not to imitate Deep Impact’s running style.
• Anjing Zhen explained that the Derby’s slopes, especially the uphill stretch before the Final Straight, were key variables, and continued briefing Kitasan Black until nearly three o’clock.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black left the Preparation Room for the Introduction Segment, where Tokai Teio and the other seniors cheered her on.
• Kitasan Black thanked the seniors and promised to give the Japanese Derby everything she had.

Kitasan Black entered the Japanese Derby focused on keeping her own rhythm despite the pressure and the strong field. From the outside gate, she charged forward instead of cutting inside, but Silent Suzuka noticed she did not seem to be aiming for the lead.

• Kitasan Black recalled how Tokai Teio, Special Week, and Vodka had approached the Japanese Derby and resolved to keep her own rhythm.
• Kitasan Black stepped onto the turf, saw Anjing Zhen and her seniors cheering, and walked toward the starting gate.
• At the 15:35 start, Kitasan Black launched quickly from gate 17 and assessed the runners beside her.
• Kitasan Black abandoned the crowded inside route and charged forward from the outside as Ribbon Keiko took the lead.
• Daiwa Scarlet praised Kitasan Black's start, while Silent Suzuka wondered why she did not seem to be trying to take the lead.

Kitasan Black used her Extreme Skills training to negotiate the Japanese Derby’s sloped turns and surge into the lead. Deep Impact watched her take first place and told her elder sister that she had been right about Kitasan Black.

• Kitasan Black broke away from the crowded inside at the start and entered the first turn in third place.
• Kitasan Black used her trained techniques to accelerate around the sloped turn, then dropped back to fifth or sixth after running wide.
• Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen reassured Gold Ship that Kitasan Black was keeping her pace and might still take the lead.
• Kitasan Black accelerated on the next uphill stretch, passed the runners ahead, and seized first place.
• Deep Impact praised Kitasan Black to the person beside her and asked her elder sister to acknowledge that she had been right.

Kitasan Black led the Japanese Derby into the final straight after conserving stamina and surging through the turns. As the finish approached, Duramente and the other pursuers closed in, leaving the race unresolved.

• Deep Impact discussed Kitasan Black’s racing instincts with her elder sister and urged Kitasan Black to understand that she had to fight herself.
• Kitasan Black entered the Third Turn and widened her lead with her cornering technique.
• The pursuing group chased Kitasan Black through the turn as the race reached the final bend.
• Kitasan Black unleashed her conserved stamina and accelerated up Fuchu’s final uphill stretch.
• Satono Crown, Sato no Takarazuka, Futanari Shingang, and Duramente advanced on Kitasan Black in the final 300 meters.
• Duramente broke free from the pack and drew within two horse lengths of Kitasan Black as the final 100 meters began.

Kitasan Black lost a record-breaking Japanese Derby to Duramente after the two battled to the finish. When Duramente collapsed after the race, Kitasan Black helped her up, and the rivals promised to keep competing in future races.

• Duramente caught Kitasan Black in the final stretch, and Kitasan Black pushed through her exhaustion to keep running.
• Duramente won the Japanese Derby in 2 minutes 23 seconds, while Kitasan Black finished in 2 minutes 23.1 seconds, both setting times faster than the previous record.
• Kitasan Black accepted her defeat and ran to check on Duramente, who had collapsed and was trembling uncontrollably.
• Duramente told Kitasan Black to keep going in the next race, and Kitasan Black promised not to admit defeat easily.
• Duramente vowed she would not run away and told Kitasan Black their battle had only just begun.

After the Japanese Derby, Satono Crown struggled to understand how Kitasan Black and Duramente had produced such astonishing performances, while Sato no Takarazuka resolved to beat them both. Duramente realized she wanted to keep racing alongside Kitasan Black, but left that thought unsaid as they headed toward the stands.

• Satono Crown saw that Sato no Takarazuka had finished third and she had finished fourth, and Takarazuka said she wanted to beat Kitasan Black and now Duramente too.
• Satono Crown reflected on how her plan had worked and wondered how Kitasan Black had kept running and how Duramente had broken free to catch her.
• Satono Crown heard Kitasan Black invite everyone to keep going together next time and silently accepted the challenge of beating both rivals.
• Duramente recalled her earlier encounters with Kitasan Black and realized she wanted to ask her to continue racing with her.
• Duramente almost voiced her wish to Kitasan Black but said nothing when Kitasan Black asked if she had spoken.

After Kitasan Black lost the Derby, the Horse Girls discussed how she might handle the defeat and decided it was not yet their place to comfort her. Anjing Zhen thanked them for worrying about him and headed to the Infirmary to see Kitasan Black.

• Gold Ship and Vodka worried about what to say to Kitasan Black after her loss, while Daiwa Scarlet said she should run away even faster next time.
• Silent Suzuka and Tokai Teio explained that Kitasan Black had pushed her speed and race strategy to their limits, and Tokai Teio said it was not yet their turn to speak to her.
• Anjing Zhen watched Kitasan Black wave to the crowd and leave the track, then prepared to go check on her.
• Daiwa Scarlet, Gold Ship, Special Week, Silent Suzuka, Vodka, Tokai Teio, and Mejiro McQueen tried to comfort Anjing Zhen by praising Kitasan Black's effort and record-breaking time.
• Anjing Zhen reflected on accepting defeat and winning it back through competition, then thanked the Horse Girls and invited them to accompany him to the Infirmary.

After Kitasan Black’s disappointing race, Anjing Zhen met her outside the infirmary and followed her toward the lounge. She asked him to keep guiding her through their future races, and they reaffirmed their partnership.

• Tokai Teio told Anjing Zhen to visit Kitasan Black alone, and she later suggested discussing overseas races with him and Little Kita.
• Anjing Zhen found Kitasan Black leaving the infirmary and asked whether her examination had found anything wrong.
• Kitasan Black followed Anjing Zhen toward the lounge, then asked him not to turn around as she hugged him from behind.
• Kitasan Black asked whether they would keep racing together, and Anjing Zhen promised they would aim to win back any losses.
• Kitasan Black faced Anjing Zhen and asked him to continue taking care of her, and he agreed.

Kitasan Black arrived at Mount Mitou for a summer training camp with Anjing Zhen, where they planned endurance training for the Kikuka Sho. Anjing Zhen revealed that they would carry mountain bikes up the first part of the mountain before riding them later.

• Kitasan Black arrived at Mount Mitou and reassured her grandfather, Saburo Kitajima, that Anjing Zhen was helping with her luggage.
• Anjing Zhen arrived in a small truck and teased Kitasan Black about the huge backpack full of bananas and her childhood encounter with monkeys.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Mount Mitou offered suitable roads, trails, and facilities for training Kitasan Black's endurance for the Kikuka Sho.
• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black they would carry their mountain bikes up the first half of the mountain and ride them for the second half.

Anjing Zhen began overload training with Kitasan Black to prepare her stamina and judgment for the Kikuka Sho, explaining how fatigue training would be monitored and adjusted to her limits. He joined her on the mountain route, and Kitasan Black challenged him to race to Cloud Sea Inn.

• Anjing Zhen explained that long-distance racing tested a runner’s ability to judge the race while exhausted, and Kitasan Black recalled the strain she had felt in past races.
• Anjing Zhen equipped Kitasan Black with protective gear and a weighted mountain bike, then began the climb and explained the overload training plan.
• Anjing Zhen described how fatigue, recovery, and supercompensation could improve endurance, and said Kitasan Black’s load would be adjusted based on monitoring and testing.
• Kitasan Black asked why Anjing Zhen was carrying a bicycle, and he explained that he wanted to train alongside her, especially in Extreme Skills.
• Kitasan Black challenged Anjing Zhen to race her to Cloud Sea Inn.

Anjing Zhen led Kitasan Black through her first overload training session, coaching her to refine her running form and stamina efficiency. Afterward, Kitasan Black learned about his past in Extreme Skills and called him a genius, leaving him quietly moved by her praise.

• Anjing Zhen explained that the truck’s drone was recording Kitasan Black’s training and told her to treat their mountain run as serious practice.
• Anjing Zhen coached Kitasan Black through five kilometers of overload training, having her carry a bicycle for the first half and ride it for the second.
• Kitasan Black finished exhausted and told Anjing Zhen that the training was harder than racing at every racecourse combined.
• Anjing Zhen explained that his experience with special training came from his time in an Extreme Skills club and recalled a difficult Hard-Line Deceleration competition.
• Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen that she thought he was amazing and a real genius.

After Kitasan Black completed her first demanding mountain training session, she rested at Unkai-so Onsen Ryokan and was surprised when Silent Suzuka arrived to join her training camp. The chapter ended with Kitasan meeting Rice Shower, who had come at McQueen’s request.

• Anjing Zhen sent the tired Kitasan Black to receive therapy at Unkai-so Onsen Ryokan while he handled their luggage.
• Kitasan Black slept for several hours in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, then hurried to meet Anjing Zhen.
• Kitasan Black found Silent Suzuka in Anjing Zhen’s room and learned that Suzuka had come to train with her after Special Week began beach training.
• Kitasan Black reflected on her studies and her interest in extreme sports before noticing another Horse Girl in the room.
• The Horse Girl introduced herself as Rice Shower and said McQueen had asked her to come.

Kitasan Black met Silent Suzuka and Rice Shower at the hot spring inn, while Rice Shower explained why she had agreed to help with the juniors’ races. Anjing Zhen then scolded Kitasan Black for neglecting the training camp plan, and they agreed to start training the next day.

• Anjing Zhen showed Silent Suzuka and Rice Shower their room, and Kitasan Black greeted both seniors enthusiastically.
• Silent Suzuka and Rice Shower discussed Kitasan Black, Mejiro McQueen’s request, and Rice Shower’s desire to help juniors run races that made everyone happy.
• Anjing Zhen discovered that Kitasan Black had barely read the training plan and explained that she should have known Rice Shower and Silent Suzuka were coming to help train her.
• Kitasan Black tried to rush back and apologize to Rice Shower, but Anjing Zhen stopped her, saying it could make Rice Shower more uncomfortable.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black agreed to eat, rest, and begin training the next day.

Anjing Zhen reviewed Kitasan Black’s progress after half a month of special training and decided she was ready to advance to the next stage. After Kitasan Black stopped him from revealing her weight, he arranged a side-by-side run and hurried with her to meet two senior trainees.

• Anjing Zhen reviewed Kitasan Black’s medical report and confirmed that her physical tests had improved enough to finish the first week’s objectives in half the planned time.
• Kitasan Black asked whether she could move on to the next training phase and whether she could add fried chicken to her restricted diet.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black’s squat had reached half a ton, her leg press 1.5 tons, and her body fat remained a little above twelve percent.
• Anjing Zhen began to disclose Kitasan Black’s current weight, but Kitasan Black covered his mouth and warned him not to talk about a girl’s weight.
• Anjing Zhen agreed to keep her weight private, then arranged a side-by-side run and urged Kitasan Black to hurry so they would not keep two senior trainees waiting.

Anjing Zhen and Silent Suzuka watched Kitasan Black run with Rice Shower and discussed whether Little Kita could use a Great Escape to counter Rice Shower’s close marking. Silent Suzuka reconsidered her earlier opposition to the tactic and decided Kitasan Black might be able to use some Great Escape techniques.

• Kitasan Black and Rice Shower ran a paired long-distance session, with Rice Shower staying close behind her.
• Anjing Zhen noted Rice Shower’s exceptional focus, and Silent Suzuka explained how unusual her close marking was.
• Anjing Zhen asked whether Kitasan Black could open a lead of more than ten Horse Lengths, and Silent Suzuka considered the risks and possible benefits of a Great Escape.
• Silent Suzuka concluded that Kitasan Black might be able to use Great Escape techniques if the starting conditions were right, then return to her usual leading style if needed.
• Kitasan Black praised Rice Shower for being impossible to shake off, while Rice Shower modestly said she had only chased normally.

Kitasan Black struggled with Rice Shower’s close-marking during training, which drained her stamina, while Anjing Zhen considered how to help. Silent Suzuka proposed teaching Kitasan Black techniques for explosive acceleration, then demonstrated a low, powerful starting form.

• Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen that Rice Shower’s close pursuit still distracted her and rapidly exhausted her.
• Anjing Zhen noted Kitasan Black’s concerns and directed her to rest before the next session with Silent Suzuka.
• Silent Suzuka suggested teaching Kitasan Black some Great Escape techniques, while explaining that Kitasan Black was not suited to a pure Great Escape.
• Silent Suzuka demonstrated a low posture and extended rear-leg position to show how Kitasan Black could gain speed through a powerful first step.

Kitasan Black continued learning Great Escape from Silent Suzuka, while Anjing Zhen explained how her natural strength compensated for her slower rise in heart rate. The chapter ended with Anjing revealing that Kitasan Black's next race would be the Saint Lite Kinen on September 21st.

• Kitasan Black spent the week practicing Silent Suzuka's Great Escape techniques and asking Suzuka and Anjing Zhen how to enter a high-speed state from the start.
• Silent Suzuka recalled how she had found her own free-running style and explained that Kitasan Black did not need to run exactly like her.
• Anjing Zhen showed data indicating that Kitasan Black's starting speed had improved, though she reached a high heart rate more slowly than Suzuka.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black's greater natural strength and energy conversion efficiency partly made up for the difference.
• Anjing Zhen told Suzuka that Kitasan Black's next race was the Saint Lite Kinen on September 21st.

Anjing Zhen explained how the Saint Lite Kinen would serve as a rehearsal for Kitasan Black’s Kikuka Sho campaign, including testing her tactics and running style. After discussing the challenge of using a Great Escape over a long distance, he proposed easing up on special training and taking her to watch a race.

• Anjing Zhen explained why the Saint Lite Kinen was a useful rehearsal for the Kikuka Sho despite its differences in distance and course.
• Kitasan Black realized she had forgotten the Saint Lite Kinen and apologized, while Anjing Zhen reassured her that her training had remained serious.
• Kitasan Black asked whether Anjing Zhen wanted her to use a Great Escape in the Kikuka Sho, and Rice Shower voiced concern about the strategy’s difficulty.
• Anjing Zhen explained that he wanted Kitasan Black to broaden her front-running techniques, with help from Silent Suzuka and Rice Shower, rather than force her to use one style.
• Rice Shower and Kitasan Black agreed to keep working on the plan, and Anjing Zhen suggested they relax by watching a race that week.

Kitasan Black and her companions returned to Tokyo for the Summer Dream Trophy, where she eagerly read about the renowned seniors competing. She learned that Gold Ship’s eldest sister, Gold Journey, had been invited, and began wondering about her past races against Silent Suzuka.

• Kitasan Black excitedly admired the Dream Cup promotions on the subway until Silent Suzuka reminded her to sit properly and mind the other passengers.
• Rice Shower lent Kitasan Black a free promotional booklet, which she eagerly read on the way to the hotel.
• Kitasan Black recalled Gold Ship’s disastrous Takarazuka Kinen start, her fifteenth-place finish, and the lack of consequences despite reported losses of 12.1 billion yen.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Gold Journey, Gold Ship’s eldest sister, was invited to the Summer Dream Trophy as part of its Golden Generation promotion.
• Kitasan Black wondered whether Silent Suzuka had raced against Gold Journey, then stopped awkwardly before finishing her thought.