Chapter 122: You See, She Never Gave Up
Hearing Tokai Teio's words, Deep Impact paused mid-step.
"Kitasan Black, huh…"
She turned to look at the Student Council President. "In your eyes, what kind of Umamusume is she?"
"…Why ask that all of a sudden?"
Teio blinked, a little surprised, then smiled.
"Kita-chan, huh… I'd say she's like the sun. Or maybe, like a flame that never goes out."
Deep Impact thought for a moment. "That makes her sound… like someone passionate and cheerful?"
"She is—and she's also kind. Very mature for her age."
Teio's eyes softened, a glimmer of gratitude and nostalgia passing through them as she reached into her uniform collar and pulled out a small charm.
The indigo silk edges were frayed, loose threads sticking out everywhere. The stitching was coarse, showing signs of multiple attempts, yet the seams were tight and firm.
As if made by someone who hadn't quite learned how to write kanji yet, the word "御" on the front was embroidered in katakana. Still, each stroke of that and the following "守" was surprisingly neat and careful.
For some reason, Deep Impact could tell—the person who made it clearly wasn't skilled at sewing, but they had poured their heart into every stitch.
She didn't quite understand what Teio meant by showing it, though.
"This is…?"
"It's from the day I first submitted my retirement application to the President. I remember it perfectly."
Tokai Teio looked out the window toward the Tracen Academy track. Under the orange-red sunset, countless silhouettes ran across the field, glistening with sweat.
"That was the day I realized… I didn't have to run anymore."
"I went to the park, caught prizes at a crane game, bought new clothes, sang karaoke, took photo booth shots, rode toy cars…"
"For the first time, I realized how long a single day could be."
She drew her gaze back and gently traced the uneven seams of the charm, a small laugh escaping her lips.
"It was around this time, when I came back to the academy gates, that I saw her—Kita-chan—squatting there all alone, looking just like how I'd been after playing all day."
"I didn't accept the charm that day."
"Later, when I received anonymous bouquets in my dorm and at the hospital, I found it tucked among the flowers. I tried sending it back again."
"But in the end, I accepted it—at my first retirement performance."
"You see, she never gave up."
"That's who she is. Someone who simply doesn't know how to give up."
The office fell into a long silence. The only sound was the faint echo of running footsteps drifting in from outside the window.
"In that case," Deep Impact said suddenly, breaking the quiet, "I suppose I don't need to worry too much about hurting her feelings during the practice race."
Still lost in her memories, Teio didn't immediately understand what she meant.
A few seconds later—
"So… you're agreeing to it?!" Teio said in delight.
Without looking up from the documents on her desk, Deep Impact replied in an even tone, "Actually, it wasn't just you who asked me. My elder sister did as well."
"Your sister…" Teio thought for a moment. "You mean Kuroshio Current?"
Deep Impact nodded. "After retiring, she became a training instructor at the elementary school that Kitasan Black attended."
At Tracen, instructors were responsible for training Umamusumes much like trainers—but they handled the fundamentals, while trainers specialized in advanced and personalized regimens.
"I know that," Teio said with a nod, then tilted her head. "But from the way you're talking, it sounds like Kita-chan and your sister are pretty close. I didn't expect that."
"She's brought her to our house before."
Deep Impact's tone softened slightly as she recalled. "But back then, Kita-chan was still a little kid. I didn't like meeting strangers, so I didn't come out to see her."
"My sister really adored her, though. She'd always bring her things like konpeitō candies or lemon soda."
"Once, during a school field trip, I secretly took her fishing. I remember that night's dinner was fish soup."
"I see…"
Tokai Teio nodded in understanding. "But if your sister personally requested it…" She hesitated midway through her words.
Deep Impact immediately understood what Tokai Teio was getting at.
"President, I suppose you get that kind of request often too?"
Seeing Tokai Teio nod, she sighed softly. "For us Umamusume, it's inevitable."
"Passing down our experience to the next generation is only natural."
"Our senpai did the same for us back then."
A dignified yet affectionate figure appeared in Teio's mind, and she couldn't help but nod along.
"True, I used to run alongside the President a lot in the past…"
"It's just that ever since I took on Student Council work, I can't always do as I please."
Deep Impact's tone, usually calm to the point of coldness, now carried a hint of detachment.
"Besides, without seeing any future in it… there's no real point."
"So basically," Tokai Teio mused, "you agreed because you've confirmed that Kita-chan has enough talent?"
Unlike before, Deep Impact fell silent for a moment before speaking again, her voice slightly uncertain.
"To be precise, I want to figure out a few things."
"Before Kitasan Black made her debut, my sister was constantly worried about her future races—she even asked me about them."
"I've read her admission file. To be honest…"
Deep Impact shook her head. "With that level of skill, it's hard to imagine she could achieve what she has now."
"Maybe her talent just hadn't surfaced yet—many late bloomers are like that."
"But if I'm not mistaken, her trainer… seems rather unusual?"
Tokai Teio immediately understood, and a thought crossed her mind.
"So what you're trying to figure out is—how Makoto-san usually trains Kita-chan, and…"
She glanced at the documents on the desk and picked up the report on the Dubai Turf.
"Whether he's interested in these kinds of events?"
. . . .
Tokai Teio and Deep Impact talked about matters regarding Makoto and overseas races in the office for quite a while.
Eventually, they even organized a small video meeting with Makoto and Orfevre to confirm the practice race schedule.
Makoto, of course, had no objections.
Upon hearing that two Triple Crown winners would be joining to assist with the practice race, he immediately began drafting a training plan that very night.
Over the next few days, while guiding Kitasan Black through her new foundational drills, he gradually refined the details of the plan.
However, during the video call, Orfevre made one small request regarding timing.
"The practice race… I'll participate, but give me a week first."
On screen, the golden-haired Umamusume rubbed her forehead with an expression of pure exhaustion.
The background behind her looked like a recreation room—over her shoulder, a few Umamusume could be seen gathered around a table.
Among them was a tall girl with long silver-gray hair—Gold Ship herself.
From the sounds of tiles clacking and the bursts of excitement coming from the table, there was no doubt about it—they were playing mahjong.
Amid the sharp pah-pah-pah of tiles being placed, veins bulged on Orfevre's forehead.
"I know what you're all thinking. And as you can see…"
"A certain someone who's supposed to be competing in the Tenno Sho next week, while everyone else is training hard and giving it their all, is currently…"
She exhaled heavily.
"Leisurely, leisurely playing mahjong."
No sooner had she said that than an excited shout came from the mahjong table.
"Ron! Four concealed triplets, single wait! Everyone pay up!"
A moment later came the indignant protest.
"Hey! What do you mean 'leisurely'? You just don't understand the art of my hand, do you?!"
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