When Yasui Makoto took the little notebook, he put on a puzzled expression.
"What's this? Why all the secrecy...?"
"Hehehe, you'll see when you read it, Trainer."
Hokubu Genkoma twitched her ears and swished her tail, holding her little fists in front of her as she looked at him expectantly.
Vodka, standing beside her, leaned over curiously too.
"Hey, hey, why so mysterious? Can I take a look?"
"Sure! I was going to ask my senior to look it over anyway!"
"I see... Wait, aren't these your opponents in your next race?"
Glancing at the little notebook in Yasui Makoto's hand, Vodka looked at Hokubu Genkoma in surprise.
"You really went and investigated them in secret, Xiao Bei?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Nodding repeatedly, Hokubu Genkoma looked at Yasui Makoto with gratitude.
"I told you before that I wanted to do something to help you, Trainer. I had to follow through.
"I know that you probably understand this stuff much better than I do.
"But what if I can help even a little?
"If I didn't know anything, that'd be one thing. But now that I know about it, how could I just do nothing?"
Yasui Makoto was leafing through the notebook. He raised his eyes, looking surprised.
"About what? What do you mean?"
"Oh, it's like this..."
After briefly explaining the industry stories she'd heard from her seniors, Hokubu Genkoma's long ears drooped a little.
"I'd only heard from my seniors that racing was really cruel.
"I didn't understand what they meant, but if they said it was, then I guess it must be.
"Then I found out that you're under a lot of pressure too, Trainer.
"My grandpa and the others said you were an excellent trainer, and told me to stay with you from now on.
"But if I don't