After making that promise to Almond Eye, Yasui Makoto caught the spark of surprise lighting up her eyes. Beside him, Kitasan Black practically vibrated with excitement.
"Great! This way I get to run alongside Almond Eye again, just like today!"
"Mmm, I'm looking forward to it too," Almond Eye replied, a gentle smile curving her lips.
Yasui Makoto returned the smile, his own heart steady and warm. It had been a pleasant surprise when she asked him to be her guide. Deep down, he truly wanted to help this young Uma Musume reach her full potential. Setting aside any memories from his other world, her performances in the previous races alone proved just how gifted she was. He felt confident he could take that raw excellence and help her break through to an even higher level.
Still, confidence didn't mean he could sign her right away. When he had casually asked the doctor about Almond Eye's development earlier, the answer was clear: she would probably reach this stage in another one to two years. That was a long time, and a lot could change. Kitasan Black had also mentioned that Almond Eye's family wanted her to focus on short-distance races. If he tried to "steal" a girl her family had such high hopes for, there was no guarantee they would agree.
So instead of worrying about things too far ahead, he decided to focus on the present. After reminding Almond Eye to rest well, Yasui Makoto led Kitasan Black back toward the track.
By the time the main competition event ended, the audience still hadn't left. The track, which had just served as the race venue, now transformed into a lively winner's stage. Elementary school students performed one program after another, and once the young participants—including Almond Eye—were given a quick check and cleared as fine, they returned to the track for the grand finale: a cheerful song and dance routine.
Kitasan Black stood right beside Yasui Makoto, eyes fixed on the stage. The moment Almond Eye appeared, she burst into applause and let out a delighted cry.
"Wow! Little Almond Eye looks so pretty! Her outfit is adorable too!"
Yasui Makoto clapped along with her, nodding with a soft smile. Every Uma Musume was blessed with striking beauty, but even among them, Almond Eye stood out. Though still young, her features were delicate and refined, and she carried a unique presence. At first glance it seemed perfectly calm and serene, yet the longer you watched, the more you sensed a quiet intensity hidden beneath the surface. It reminded him of how she had unleashed that incredible final spurt on the home straight in her last race.
Talent like that could never stay hidden. Even at her age, she was already brushing against the threshold of a true final spurt.
Just as he was quietly reflecting on that, Yasui Makoto felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned to meet Kitasan Black's sparkling red eyes.
"Hey, Trainer! That thing Almond Eye did near the end of her race… that was a final spurt, right? The commentator and everyone were saying so."
Surprised by the sharp question, Yasui Makoto paused for a moment to consider his words.
"To be precise, it was still just a prototype. There are gaps in the fundamentals and technique… but yes, you could call it that."
"I see…" Kitasan Black nodded, her shoulders relaxing as she let out a satisfied breath. "I never realized Almond Eye was already that amazing. I can't wait to see how incredible she'll be when she finally debuts…"
She straightened up, full of determination. "Good! If I've got such a talented junior, then as her senpai I can't afford to lose either! Trainer, after the event ends, how about we head back to Tracen Academy for some training?"
…
Training on a rest day was, of course, completely out of the question in Yasui Makoto's book. His training plan for Kitasan Black included clear daily quotas for every single task. Too little and the effect would be weak; too much and it would only strain her body.
Even so, her motivation was a wonderful thing. It looked like the event had achieved exactly what it was meant to. After gently reassuring her, Yasui Makoto suggested she simply arrive a little earlier the next morning so they could add a bit more training then.
Early the following day, just as expected, Yasui Makoto found Kitasan Black already waiting at the Tracen Academy track. Without wasting a moment, they warmed up and moved straight into the final phase of her special training.
He pointed at the track. "Do you remember the weakness we discussed before?"
"I remember!" Kitasan Black answered instantly. "My sprinting power, especially on the final straight!"
Yasui Makoto gave a firm nod.
"Exactly. Yesterday you got to guide Almond Eye yourself, so you should have felt even more clearly how powerful an opponent with a strong final spurt can be on that last stretch. That's why, from now until Satsuki Sho, we're going to drill the tactics that counter it. There are three key parts: arc positioning, gradient acceleration, and mid-air leg change."
He continued, voice steady and focused. "We practiced each one separately before. Today you'll run a full two-thousand-meter lap and try to weave them all together smoothly."
The moment the instructions left his lips, Kitasan Black dashed to the starting line, brimming with energy. Yasui Makoto adjusted his stopwatch, raised his hand, and began the countdown.
Seconds later, the girl's swift figure was already flying along the track.
Every tactic he had prepared was tailored specifically to Kitasan Black's strengths and aimed straight at Satsuki Sho, with special attention to the turns.
Arc positioning let her secure a strong spot at the front or in the lead pack right from the opening phase. Judging from the previous training race, there was a real chance other runners would fight for position early on. In normal races you could battle for spots on the straight, but Satsuki Sho had a sharp uphill climb immediately after the gate. Past footage showed that the real key was how efficiently you handled that slope rather than clashing head-on. By giving up the direct fight and taking a slightly arcing route, she could save her energy for the incline, avoid collisions, and preserve stamina.
Gradient acceleration meant gradually building speed through the turns and the straight sections that followed. From the moment she entered the turn until she reached its apex, she would start a preliminary acceleration by using centrifugal force. As she rounded the bend she would ramp up further, creating momentum. Then, the instant she exited the turn, she would use that built-up inertia and leftover centrifugal force for one final burst of speed. This step-by-step method prevented a sudden stamina drain from a single explosive effort, while the force conversion at the turn's exit actually made the acceleration more efficient and less tiring.
The ideal places to use it were the first and second turns. If she timed it right, the distance advantage would be huge. Applying it again at the final turn would widen that lead even more.
Mid-air leg change was the technique that made gradient acceleration work at its absolute best. During straight sprints most runners kept the same leading leg, but in turns or when changing direction it was crucial to switch legs on purpose. By using the inner leg to shorten the stride when entering a turn, she could reduce the effect of lateral force. The torque created by the leg change would also help her pivot faster. And "mid-air" meant completing the switch at the exact moment both feet were off the ground, eliminating ground friction so the movement stayed clean and powerful.
Yasui Makoto watched her run, stopwatch in hand, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling over him. This was the kind of training that would turn potential into victory.