Seeing Anmokume's enthusiastic, confident response, Hokubu Genkoma felt as though the strength in that smile had reached her, too. Her tense shoulders relaxed a little.
She hurried to return an encouraging smile and raised a fist toward Anmokume.
"Mm, mm! I believe in you! Do your best, Anmokume!"
Anmokume smiled back, then turned and stepped onto the training ground.
The moment she entered, her eyes were drawn to the figures gathered there.
Oguri Cap, Super Creek, Inariichi, Fujimasa March, who was loosening up her ankles, and Flying Peak, testing her sprinting ability...
The names they had just discussed at length in the preparation room were now standing right before her in person, every one of them doing their final warm-ups before the race.
Each moved with the composure and formidable presence of someone who had seen countless competitions, making the air itself feel heavier.
A shiver of awe and excitement ran up her spine. She clenched her fists without thinking, took a deep breath, and slowly let it out.
Her racing heartbeat gradually settled. Without further hesitation, she swept her gaze over the training ground again.
She soon spotted a relatively open area near the edge, walked over, and began warming up at her own pace.
A little while later, on the other side of the training ground...
Oguri Cap was diligently stretching her legs. As Super Creek helped steady her, her gaze casually swept across the field and paused near the edge.
Without stopping what she was doing, she turned to one of the Uma Musume facing Oguri Cap.
"What do you think, Inari? Weren't Oguri and I right?"
She nodded slightly toward Anmokume.
"That girl's fundamentals... look pretty solid."
Standing opposite Super Creek and Oguri Cap was a petite Uma Musume with short brown hair and a fox