Tactical Planning

After taking off Hokubu Genkoma's running shoes, Yasui Makoto didn't rush to put them back on. Instead, he turned them over and examined the soles.

Two crescent-shaped metal glints gleamed at the toes: racing horseshoes.

Because of their powerful legs, Uma Musume's shoes took tremendous strain during training and races.

Horseshoes reduced wear and tear and helped Uma Musume make better use of their abilities.

"Hmm, the horseshoes are adjusted really well. Just remember to check them again before the race."

He nodded in satisfaction, then looked up at Hokubu Genkoma before turning to Rizumu Hikari.

"Xiao Bei, did you adjust them yourself, or did Light Diamond..."

He paused, surprised.

"Why are you two looking at me like that?"

In his eyes, both Uma Musume had flushed faces and looked rather bashful.

Rizumu Hikari in particular was red-faced, her eyes full of puzzlement as her gaze kept shifting between him and Hokubu Genkoma.

"N-no, it's nothing..."

As if jolted back to her senses, Hokubu Genkoma murmured in a strange, low voice.

Then, sitting on the back of the motorcycle, she bent down at an awkward angle and snatched up her running shoes.

"I-I can put them on myself..."

As Hokubu Genkoma slipped on her shoes, her little face red, Rizumu Hikari spoke in an equally odd tone.

"Xiao Bei adjusted them herself. She spent a long time on it last night..."

"I see. That's great."

After replying, Yasui Makoto looked puzzled.

"So what exactly is going on with you two..."

"N-nothing! Oh, right, I actually wanted to say..."

Before Yasui Makoto could finish, Rizumu Hikari waved her hands in a fluster.

"Since Trainer came all this way to pick up Xiao Bei, you should go to the racecourse together.

"Don't worry about me. My older sister is going to watch the races too, so I'll go with her.

"Xiao Bei, I'm going to find my sister. I'll cheer you on when it's your turn!"

With that, she hurried away as if trying to escape.

"Huh? Light Diamond-chan..."

Just as she finished putting on her shoes, Hokubu Genkoma turned and saw that her friend was already disappearing into the distance. She stood there for a moment, bit her lip, then turned to Yasui Makoto.

"Trainer, so we..."

"So we what?"

"N-nothing... Oh, right, Trainer, how should I run today?"

She asked vaguely, and when Yasui Makoto looked her way, Hokubu Genkoma hurriedly changed the subject.

Race tactics were surely part of a Trainer's essential duties, and Yasui Makoto had already figured them out.

But there were other competitors preparing for the races nearby, as well as their Trainers.

Some would be her opponents later, so there was no way he could discuss his plans here.

"No rush. We'll talk once we get to the racecourse."

"Oh, okay..."

Realizing that this wasn't the right place, Hokubu Genkoma answered softly and obediently followed Yasui Makoto toward the school-arranged bus.

The atmosphere on the bus was clearly more tense than outside. Most of the other Uma Musume and Trainers were watching race footage or resting with their eyes closed. No one seemed to be talking.

Influenced by the mood, Hokubu Genkoma sat quietly in her seat and watched the race footage too.

Yasui Makoto took out his tablet and reviewed the tactical plan he had prepared earlier.

Before long, they arrived at Tokyo Racecourse.

Competitors and Trainers had their own entrance, as well as a dedicated lounge and private preparation rooms.

Of the twelve races today, the first would begin at eleven. Before then, the Uma Musume would get familiar with the track, warm up, and make their preliminary appearances.

Since they had arrived early, the course was very quiet, and there didn't seem to be many people around.

Noticing this, Hokubu Genkoma leaned against the preparation room window and looked outside for a while, then turned to Yasui Makoto in confusion.

"That's strange... Trainer, when I watch races on TV, there are always so many people here. Why does it feel like hardly anyone's come today?"

"The races you watch are G1 or G2, and at least G3, right?"

Yasui Makoto scribbled on the whiteboard in the preparation room as he answered casually.

"Most of today's races are Pre-OP level. This afternoon's three main events are Risshun Sho, Shirofuji Kinen, and Kurenage Kinen. Those three are OP level.

"There really are fewer spectators on days like this. They can't compare to a G1 Race.

"But there still won't be that few.

"After all, this is Tokyo Racecourse. Even a Pre-OP race draws plenty of spectators. I'd conservatively estimate...

"By the time the races are about to start, there'll be at least sixty or seventy thousand people. It might even get close to a hundred thousand."

"So many..." Hokubu Genkoma exclaimed.

"You thought it was too quiet a moment ago, and now you think there are too many people... Didn't you say it always felt like there were tons of spectators when you watched races?"

Amused by his Uma Musume's childish reaction, Yasui Makoto's expression turned serious.

"Enough small talk. It's nice and quiet with so few people here, so we can focus on preparing your race tactics."

At that, Hokubu Genkoma sprang into action and darted over from the window in two quick steps.

"Yes! I'm ready, Trainer!"

"Good. I like your spirit. Now, let's go over the details of this race..."

He nodded approvingly and pointed to the whiteboard, which was covered in diagrams and notes.

He had done a lot of research for Hokubu Genkoma's Debut Race, going through all the information on the opponents who had signed up in advance.

As this was a Debut Race, the other competitors, like Hokubu Genkoma, were novices with no racing experience. So the only data available was from their training.

That data was public on the platform, where both experts and fans could see it and offer their assessments and support based on what they knew.

As for popularity, Hokubu Genkoma was doing fairly well, ranking third among the dozen or so competitors.

Setting aside subjective support like simply liking her at first sight, the few rational comments suggested that many people felt Hokubu Genkoma's top speed in training wasn't impressive.

The final stretch was where top speed mattered most. So those comments concluded that she wouldn't have much of an advantage there and wouldn't find it easy to win.

Yasui Makoto didn't deny that, but he knew Hokubu Genkoma better than those people did.

"...Your stamina, strength, and explosive power are all excellent. You'll have no trouble finishing a grass-track race over 1,800 meters.

"You still have room to improve in how you use your stamina, control your strength, and sustain your explosive power. But races aren't decided by statistics alone.

"And as it happens, I've looked into your opponents a little beyond their stats.

"Simply put, once the race starts, pick an opponent you like the look of and follow behind her. You can switch to someone else to follow at any time.

"But once you notice you're in this range..."

After going over the course and her opponents with Hokubu Genkoma, Yasui Makoto pointed to a section of the track on the whiteboard.

"Start accelerating from here, and keep accelerating all the way to the end.

"Don't rush. Hear me out.

"I know that for an ordinary Uma Musume, starting to accelerate from this far out would be a bit much. There'd still be more than 300 meters to the finish.

"But, Xiao Bei, do you think you're an ordinary Uma Musume?

"Or could an ordinary Uma Musume achieve the kind of miraculous success Tokai Teio did?"