I Will Challenge the Triple Crown

Looking at the comments on her phone, envy flashed through her heart again. Satomi Diamond then glanced at her total fan count and was taken aback.

"310 fans... that doesn't seem like a lot..."

"Huh? Diamond-chan, what did you say?"

Still immersed in the joy of having just acquired her race account and engrossed in her phone, Hokubu Genkoma hadn't heard what her roommate said.

Pausing for a moment, Satomi Diamond shook her head and asked with concern:

"It's nothing... I mean, now that Xiao Bei has a Contracted Partner and a race account...

"Have you considered your future career path, Xiao Bei... or rather, your Trainer...

"Have you given it any thought?"

The finger sliding across the phone stopped, and the excitement on her face slowly faded. Hokubu Genkoma's expression gradually turned serious.

Actually, besides being roommates, Hokubu Genkoma and Satomi Diamond were also childhood friends.

They had known each other since they were very young, attending the same elementary school. As they were about to enter their prime, they both enrolled in Central Treisen Academy.

However, after knowing each other for so long, in Satomi Diamond's memory, her friend had rarely shown such an expression before.

Oh no, did I ask something I shouldn't have...?

Satomi Diamond nervously clenched her fingers.

Silence filled the room for a while. After a long pause.

"I've decided..."

Hokubu Genkoma took a deep breath, a stark contrast to her usual lively and energetic demeanor, as if she had made a huge resolution.

"I'm going to challenge the Triple Crown."

Satomi Diamond's eyes widened instantly, her mouth slightly agape.

In the Shining Star Series, G1 races are the highest in specification and the fewest in number, with only 25 races held annually.

Among these 25 top-tier races, three are particularly special.

The year Uma Musume fully mature is called their "Classic Year," and subsequent years are referred to as "Older Horse Years."

Satsuki Sho, Japanese Derby, and Kikuka Sho.

These three special G1 races are exclusively for Uma Musume in their Classic Year.

Because of this, these three races are collectively known as the "Triple Crown."

In other words, every Uma Musume has only one chance in their lifetime to participate.

Approximately 10,000 Uma Musume pass the assessments from various Tracen Academies across Japan each year.

The Triple Crown happens only once a year, and there is only one champion for each race.

To win even one of these three G1 races is an understatement to describe someone's strength as one in ten thousand.

However, Satomi Diamond clearly remembered that her friend was still feeling troubled and lost just a few days ago.

She was troubled because many Trainers suggested she should focus on short-distance races.

She was lost, unsure of what to do.

The Triple Crown races are 2000m, 2400m, and 3000m respectively, all of which are middle to long-distance races. Focusing on short distances would definitely mean missing out.

Her friend's lifelong dream was to stand on the stage of the Triple Crown like an idol. Facing the conflict between reality and her dream, Satomi Diamond thought that if it were her, she would also be troubled and lost.

Yet, in just a few days, how could her friend suddenly make up her mind and set her sights on the very path that all Uma Musume dream of?

...Could it be because of her Trainer?

Suddenly having this thought, Satomi Diamond pondered it and became more convinced.

After her friend excitedly told her that she had a Contracted Partner that day, she had hardly seemed troubled or lost since.

Or rather, she had forgotten about those things, completely immersed in the joy of having a Contracted Partner.

And today, since school ended in the afternoon, her friend hadn't returned.

During dinner, her older sister mentioned that she had been training in the dance hall all afternoon, and the person in charge of instructing her was that Trainer.

Satomi Diamond had a strong impression of that Trainer, who was almost too young to be true.

Getting a Central Trainer license at 18 was unheard of and caused a stir a few months ago, with people still mentioning it occasionally at school.

However, from the gossip she had heard, it seemed that Trainer did not intend to start as an Assistant like the seniors, but rather wanted to sign a Contracted Partner Uma Musume right from the start.

If it were in the past, Satomi Diamond would have thought this was a bit far-fetched.

Training wasn't just about knowledge; it required sufficient experience. Her older sister and others felt the same way.

So, when she first heard that her friend's Contracted Partner was this person, she honestly felt a little worried.

Now, it seemed this Trainer was indeed somewhat unusual.

Not only could he teach her friend those peculiar gestures and sitting postures.

Her older sister also mentioned at dinner that the special training in the dance hall that afternoon seemed to have a lot of substance to it.

Regardless of the effect, Hokubu Genkoma looked like she was enjoying herself during training, clearly adapting well to the new methods she had just encountered.

This was quite impressive, considering how difficult it usually was to adapt to a contracted partner's training methods, let alone doing so immediately upon first contact.

This indicated that the Trainer's ability was as outstanding as his assessment scores.

Since her sister felt that Trainer was unusual, perhaps...

After thinking for a moment, Satomi Diamond tentatively spoke.

"Xiao Bei, the Triple Crown... did your Trainer recommend it?"

"Huh? Hehehe, no..."

As if a soap bubble had been popped, Hokubu Genkoma, who had been solemn and hesitant moments before, instantly gave a silly grin and scratched her head when Satomi Diamond spoke.

"My Trainer just asked me what kind of Uma Musume is considered outstanding and dazzling, and if I had thought about what races I wanted to run in the future.

"I... hey, Diamond-chan, do you remember my dream when I enrolled in the Central Academy?"

Startled by her friend's sudden change of topic, Satomi Diamond paused, then nodded.

"Yes, you want to become a miraculous Uma Musume like Emperor-senpai."

"That's right, Emperor-senpai..."

Nodding with a look of admiration mixed with hesitation, Hokubu Genkoma fell silent for a moment.

"That's what I told my Trainer at the time.

"Then my Trainer asked me how I understood miracles.

"Suddenly, I didn't know how to answer."

As she spoke of not knowing how to answer, the black-haired, red-eyed girl began to murmur.

"Suddenly, I also understood what my Trainer was really asking.

"'Outstanding,' 'dazzling,' 'miracle' – these are all uncertain things.

"Compared to these vague concepts, my Trainer should focus more on things that are visible and tangible.

"I don't understand what he's been doing these past few days, especially today for my training.

"But whether it's observing my training, adjusting my stride, or calculating many numbers, they are all visible and tangible.

"So, as his Uma Musume, I should also think about things that are certain.

"I don't even know what 'outstanding' means for myself, but every race is clear.

"And Emperor-senpai's miracle was achieved race by race. Since that's the case..."

She took a deep breath.

"I want to be like senpai and start with the Triple Crown.

"It doesn't matter what others say. I believe in my Trainer; he said he would help me achieve my dream.

"I also believe in myself and won't let my Trainer down.

"And I won't let down the fans who are already supporting me."

The dormitory fell silent for a moment, then soft applause could be heard.

"Diamond-chan..."

Looking at her friend who was applauding her, Hokubu Genkoma was surprised to see Satomi Diamond smiling as she took out her phone, tapped a few times, and then displayed the interface showing she had followed her race account.

"I believe in you too, and I believe you won't disappoint me, your fan, Xiao Bei."