After the Winner's Stage, Yasui Makoto had hesitated over whether to tell Kitajima Saburo about Hot Spring Therapy.
How should he put it? It was true that he had North Hokubu Genkoma's health and training in mind.
But taking a lively young girl to a hot spring—especially when he was only eighteen—would inevitably attract some attention.
He didn't care what other people thought. But when it came to Hokubu Genkoma's family, especially her elders, he felt he should explain things when they met.
He hadn't expected that when he brought it up with Hokubu Genkoma, he'd learn that Kitajima Saburo had already visited his granddaughter backstage and then left.
Yasui Makoto was a little surprised, but when Hokubu Genkoma explained that her grandfather had things to take care of that evening and would make time for her tomorrow, he felt at ease.
Someone of his stature was probably very busy, after all.
There was no need to chase after him to say anything about the hot springs. That might make him seem a little guilty.
So, just as they had after the Debut Race, Yasui Makoto took Hokubu Genkoma to the same Hot Spring Inn as last time.
He invited Yamato Akagi and Vodka, too.
With two more people along, Yasui Makoto simply booked a small private villa.
It was definitely more expensive, but the prize money from this race aside, the two million or so from last time had already come in. He didn't have many other expenses, so he could afford it.
Besides, the place offered excellent therapy and comfortable service.
He was the kind of person who believed in enjoying life while he could. There was no reason to turn down a more comfortable option.
After they'd all bathed, the four of them held a simple celebratory barbecue in the small courtyard.
"Cheers!" x4
"Ahh! That hit the spot!"
After downing a large mug of beer, Vodka said nostalgically,
"Back at the academy, I always wanted to drink like Tani no Miyoshi-senpai. Too bad I wasn't old enough then, and I couldn't drink during race season."
The "Tani no Miyoshi-senpai" Vodka mentioned was Tani no Miyoshi, a top-class Uma Musume whose signature victory was the Japanese Derby, one of the Triple Crown races.
"Hey, hey, don't tell me you've been drinking every day in Europe?"
Yamato Akagi, who was also drinking beer, gave her a disapproving look.
"If you're going to be a dorm supervisor, I'll be keeping a close eye on you. Alcoholic drinks are banned in the dorms and on campus."
"Relax, I know that. And there's no way I've been drinking every day over there. I've had plenty of research to do, you know?"
Vodka waved a hand dismissively.
"Besides, I can still drink nonalcoholic carrot beer with Xiao Bei, right?"
Just as Vodka said, although she looked like she was holding the same kind of giant beer mug as everyone else, the golden, fizzy drink inside was actually fruit beer. Hokubu Genkoma was drinking the nonalcoholic kind.
She had just taken a big gulp, leaving a ring of white foam around her lips. The foam on her upper lip looked especially thick, like a bold mustache.
At Vodka's words, Hokubu Genkoma's white "mustache" bobbed as she asked in surprise,
"Eh? Vodka-senpai, are you going to be a dorm supervisor like Yamato-senpai?"
Yasui Makoto was a little surprised, too. He hadn't heard anything about it from Tokai Teio, so he couldn't help looking at Vodka.
"Yeah. If this girl can do it, I can too."
Vodka pointed at Yamato Akagi and grinned.
"Besides, our research has some overlap. I've talked it over with her, and I think spending more time with you juniors might give me some inspiration for my research."
"Yamato-senpai is a medical graduate student... Is Vodka-senpai one too?" Hokubu Genkoma asked curiously.
"Not quite. I studied mechanical engineering in Europe."
Vodka grew excited.
"I've loved motorcycles since I was little, and I love speeding down the road on one!
"Vroom, vroom—it's so cool!
"So before I graduated from the academy, I thought about building the fastest motorcycle in the world myself.
"Japan and some European countries are really advanced in that field. I figured I'd be coming back eventually, so I went to Europe to study for a few years first.
"As for my current research, broadly speaking, it's about Uma Musume aerodynamics.
"Specifically, it's about reducing the wind resistance riders face during the design process.
"So spending time with you juniors might give me some ideas."
"I see... Huh?"
Hokubu Genkoma nodded, only half understanding, then suddenly brightened.
"If Vodka-senpai is going to be a dorm supervisor too...
"Then you can help train me just like Yamato-senpai, right?"
At that, Vodka and Yamato Akagi exchanged a smile, while Yasui Makoto's heart stirred.
If Vodka really did help train Hokubu Genkoma, it would be nothing but beneficial.
Compared with Yamato Akagi, especially, Vodka had experience in one race that was extremely important.
Before the Peerless Duo, the prejudice of distinguishing between male and female Uma Musume had been deeply entrenched. Even their Trainers hadn't been immune to it.
Influenced by that old prejudice, their Trainers had initially planned their Classic-year campaigns around the Female Triple Crown, not the Triple Crown.
Like the Triple Crown, the Female Triple Crown consisted of three G1 races: the Oka Sho, the Oaks, and the Shuka Sho.
After winning the Oka Sho, Yamato Akagi had to withdraw from the Oaks because of a severe cold.
After losing to Yamato Akagi in the Oka Sho, Vodka had agreed with her Trainer that since the Female Triple Crown was out of reach, they might as well try for the Triple Crown. So they entered the Japanese Derby.
It was the first Japanese Derby in eleven years to feature a Female Uma Musume.
All seventeen of the other competitors were Male Uma Musume.
In the end, Vodka won in a stunning performance, with a commanding three-Horse Length lead.
That victory proved to the world that Female Uma Musume were no stepping stones, and made history: a Female Uma Musume had conquered the Japanese Derby for the first time in sixty-four years.
The significance of that victory went without saying. It was the only one of its kind in sixty-four years.
More importantly, Hokubu Genkoma had already entered the Triple Crown. Learning about such a singular experience from a senior was bound to do her good.
As Yasui Makoto secretly wondered whether he should ask, he was delighted to see Vodka nod with a grin.
"You bet!
"Xiao Bei supported us so much back then, coming to almost every race to cheer us on. How could I let her down now?
"Besides, Yamato already got a head start and trained with you. Am I supposed to keep dragging my feet?"
Almost as if by habit, after agreeing, she teased her longtime rival and dear friend from her racing days.
Instead of the sharp rivalry they'd shown before, Yamato Akagi wore an expression that said she'd known this was coming and raised her glass with a smile.
"I knew you'd say that. I don't mind competing with you over other things, but I'd have been worried if you didn't want to compete with me over this!"
"Not a chance!"
Vodka raised her glass too, then held out her fist and bumped it against Yamato Akagi's.
Then the two Uma Musume looked over at them.
"So let's do our best together, Xiao Bei! And you too, Anzai-kun!"
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