Those two are a good match?!

Half an hour later, the Tracen Academy cafeteria.

"...So that's how it is. Good thing I didn't say that in front of Trainer Anzai, or it would have been incredibly rude."

Sitting at the dining table, Eunice Fuujin said with emotion:

"When I was delivering packages, I never imagined he was already a trainer at such a young age, and that he'd already led Xiao Bei to win two races in a row.

"Xiao Bei, you're very lucky to have met such a capable trainer."

"Mhm! I think I'm really lucky too!"

Hokubu Genkoma said excitedly and gratefully, "I only came to the Academy this year, so there are many classes I haven't taken yet, and I don't know a lot of things. My training results haven't been very good either.

"But the trainer didn't dislike me at all. He guided me patiently in both training and races.

"It's wonderful to have met a trainer like him!"

Yamato Akagi and Vodka, also sitting at the dining table, chuckled.

"It's not entirely luck, you know."

Yamato Akagi reached out and patted Hokubu Genkoma's head.

"It's also because of your enthusiasm and kindness, Xiao Bei."

"Enthusiasm... kindness?"

Hokubu Genkoma blinked. "Why do you say that, Senpai Yamato...?"

"I think so too."

Following up on Yamato Akagi's words, Vodka smiled and said, "A few days ago, I chatted with Yamato a bit and learned that you two only met after Xiao Bei bumped into Anzai-kun."

Hokubu Genkoma's face immediately turned red.

"Senpai, why... why are you suddenly bringing that up...?"

"Don't worry, I'm not making fun of you, Xiao Bei."

Vodka waved her hand with a smile.

"After confirming with Yamato, I found out that both you and Anzai-kun were trying to save a child, and that's why you accidentally bumped into each other.

"Speaking of which, Anzai-kun's physical condition is truly amazing. He was fine even after you bumped into him like that.

"But the main point is that you're kind and enthusiastic, Xiao Bei.

"Think about it, if you hadn't gone to save that child, you wouldn't have bumped into Anzai-kun.

"And if you hadn't taken him to the hospital for a check-up afterward, you wouldn't have known he was a trainer, and there wouldn't have been the contract signing later.

"I think perhaps it was your passion that inspired Anzai-kun to want to become your trainer."

Hokubu Genkoma nodded thoughtfully.

"That's right. When Emperor-senpai told me to have a trainer guide me, I thought he would refuse like other trainers. I never expected him to agree so readily."

Summarizing, Vodka nodded with a smile.

"So, luck, enthusiasm, kindness, and many other things – that's what created the connection between you two."

Then she mused thoughtfully.

"But speaking of luck...

"Xiao Bei, meeting Anzai-kun can indeed be considered very good luck.

"Looking at it this way, the Japanese Derby...

"You might have a good chance."

The topic suddenly shifted to the Japanese Derby, which sounded somewhat abrupt. However, none of the four Uma Musume present seemed surprised.

The fastest Uma Musume wins the Satsuki Sho.

The luckiest Uma Musume wins the Japanese Derby.

The strongest Uma Musume wins the Kikuka Sho.

This was a widely spread saying among trainers and Uma Musume.

The saying also had sufficient justification.

The Satsuki Sho race is 2000 meters, the shortest of the Triple Crown races, requiring extremely high speed in both pacing and the final sprint.

The Japanese Derby has been known as the "decider of the generation's strongest" since its inception, and this race is actually more significant than the other two.

Any Uma Musume with the opportunity to challenge this race would never give it up.

This makes the pre-race selection and competition for the Japanese Derby exceptionally fierce, with the participating Uma Musume being undoubtedly the strongest group of racers in their classic year.

And a classic year means the racers haven't yet gained extensive experience. Furthermore, the 2400-meter course is a full 400 meters longer than the Satsuki Sho. Without a certain amount of luck, it's easy to miss out on the championship.

The situation for the Kikuka Sho is much simpler.

The 3000-meter distance is not something everyone can handle, let alone competing against a host of strong rivals. The difficulty involved can be imagined.

"The Japanese Derby, huh..."

Hearing the name of the race, Hokubu Genkoma's eyes filled with longing and excitement. However, she quickly took a deep breath and shook her head.

"I'm really looking forward to this race, that's true.

"But the Trainer always tells me that instead of the future, what I should focus on is completing every training session and running every race well.

"Besides, luck is something... the Trainer doesn't seem to care much about. He values things he can see and touch more.

"If it were the Trainer, instead of luck or anything, he'd rather spend time figuring out all sorts of training methods, wouldn't he?

"Like that thingamajig... Huh? What was it called?"

"A drone, it's a drone," Vodka chimed in, unable to hold back a chuckle.

Beside them, Yamato Akagi and Eunice Fuujin also wore amused expressions. Yamato Akagi then said thoughtfully:

"That's true. Anzai-kun does seem very pragmatic... Looking at it that way, Xiao Bei has always had a down-to-earth personality too. You two really are a good match."

"Yeah! I think so too..."

Hokubu Genkoma nodded excitedly, but Vodka suddenly stood up, agitated.

"They're a good match, a match?!

"Yamato?! What are you talking about?!

"This kind of thing is... too early for Xiao Bei, isn't it?!"

Before anyone else could react, the seemingly cheerful and straightforward Uma Musume's cheeks suddenly turned red, and she abruptly covered her nose.

Soon, a trickle of crimson slowly seeped through her fingers; she was clearly having a nosebleed.

"N-no, I can't, this topic is too stimulating... Yamato, what on earth are you thinking..."

"Se-senpai?! Wh-what's wrong?!"

As Hokubu Genkoma panicked at Vodka's nosebleed, Eunice Fuujin and Yamato Akagi both got a headache.

"...Vodka, you still haven't fixed that problem?"

"It's you who should be asking what you're thinking?"

One of them pulled out tissues and handed them to Vodka, while the other explained to Hokubu Genkoma.

"Your senpai has always been like this. She completely can't handle topics about romance; she gets so agitated she gets a nosebleed whenever she hears about it.

"We took her to the hospital several times when she was at the Academy, I didn't expect her to still be like this now..."

After explaining, she shook her head helplessly, and Yamato Akagi leaned towards Vodka with concern.

"Hey, Vodka, are you feeling any better?"

Hokubu Genkoma, meanwhile, was stunned.

Romance? We weren't talking about romance just now...

Ah! Could it be because of what was just said...

A good match?

How could anyone associate that with romance?!

It was clearly just about how the Trainer and I have similar personalities...

Senpai Vodka is really something, I don't know what she's thinking... Huh?

Hokubu Genkoma, who had been amused by her senpai's inexplicable association, suddenly felt a jolt.

Unconsciously, she glanced at her senpais with a hint of guilt.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she quietly lowered her head and looked at her own feet, her toes unconsciously clenching slightly.

Come to think of it, on my debut race day, with so many people watching, the Trainer helped me change my shoes as if no one else was around...

He... doesn't usually seem to care much about these things either, so...

He wouldn't be thinking about romance like Senpai, would he...?