The Satsuki Sho, like the Spring Stakes before it, was held at Nakayama Racecourse. The participating Uma Musume and their trainers had arrived early, giving themselves plenty of time to settle in and prepare for the big day.
This time, Yasui Makoto's instructions were far more thorough than anything he had given before. He went over every detail with careful precision: the unique characteristics of the track, the overall race strategy, the key techniques they would need, the latest weather forecast, and a full breakdown of every opponent's past performances.
Finally, he reached the most important part.
"Escape," he said, writing the word in large, bold letters across the whiteboard and circling it firmly with his marker. He pointed straight at the starting line on the detailed track diagram and looked Kitasan Black in the eye, his voice low and steady.
"This time, within the limits of your stamina, you must run as far as possible."
Kitasan Black listened intently, her carrot-shaped ballpoint pen hovering over her small notebook as she scribbled notes.
"It's actually very fortunate," Yasui Makoto continued. "There aren't many escape-style runners in this race. In fact, there are very few."
He tapped the whiteboard again.
"Based on past race records, including you, there should only be two Uma Musume capable of taking the lead right from the start. With fifteen participants total, that means almost no competition for the front. It's a huge advantage for you."
Kitasan Black murmured under her breath as she finished writing, her eyes flicking back to the board. She pointed her pen at one name in particular.
"So… I'll have to fight Wonder Acute for the lead right from the beginning?"
Yasui Makoto nodded, studying the same board.
"Judging from her past performances, yes. She debuted a little earlier than you and has already run six races. In her second outing, she held the lead through every single turn: one, one, one, one. Her first three races were all two, two, two, two. Barring any surprises, she's almost certain to run an escape style again here."
Most tracks featured four turns, and "passing order" referred to a runner's position each time she passed one. The data told a clear story. Maintaining first or second place through all four turns showed that Wonder Acute had strong leading ability and impressive stability. The fact that she had run in second for her first three races also suggested she might, like Kitasan Black, excel at a controlled "slow escape." Of course, it was possible she had simply been unable to shake off another front-runner in those earlier races.
"I can't say for certain exactly what kind of escape style she'll choose," Yasui Makoto went on, his tone calm but serious. "But no matter what she does, your response stays the same. Make sure you're at least one full horse length ahead of her by the middle stage. You cannot let her overtake you."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"It's fine to spend as much stamina as it takes to do that. The advantage is yours in that department. And if any other leaders show up, the same rule applies: overtake them, no matter the cost, and never let them pass you."
He raised his pen and tapped the whiteboard once more, his expression turning grave.
"Because once you seize the lead, the real race only begins. That's when it truly starts."
He listed the names of the strongest threats.
"Satono Crown, Manhattan Cafe, Duramente, Danon Platina… Their final bursts are faster than anything you faced last time. You have to keep widening the gap from the very first stride all the way to the finish. By the time you reach the final straight, you need to open up a distance they simply cannot close."
…
After carefully noting every last instruction, Kitasan Black headed to Nakayama Racecourse for her final pre-race familiarization. She gave interviews, ate dinner, and went through all the usual pre-race routines.
When everything was finally done, a mixture of nervousness and excitement buzzing inside her, she returned to her assigned dormitory. Just like after every intense training session, she took a careful hot-and-cold shower to loosen her muscles, then slipped into her yukata and lay down on the bed.
She turned her face to the side and let out a soft sigh.
"I'm still not quite used to Dia-chan not being here…"
She stared up at the ceiling, her lips forming a small pout.
"Why wouldn't they let me bring all the lanterns from the dorm? The school even said it was okay…"
With a little huff, she sat up, grabbed her charging phone, and began making calls. One after another, her voice bright and full of warmth.
"…Don't worry, Grandpa, I ate plenty and I'm about to sleep soon! Yes! I'll definitely give it everything I've got tomorrow! Good night!"
"…The seniors are all coming to watch me race? Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen too? That's wonderful! I'll make sure to perform my very best! Mhm! I'll go to bed early, good night, seniors!"
"…Crown-chan is still training at the gym? Dura-chan too? …No, I won't go. Trainer told me to rest early today, and Grandpa and the others said the same. Mhm, then good night in advance, Dia-chan."
"…Good evening, Almond Eye. I've been training hard lately, so it's been a while. Mhm! Let's hang out after the race!"
Relatives, seniors, close friends, juniors… She called everyone she could think of. When the dialing screen finally paused on the name "Yasui Makoto," her finger hovered.
She stared at the familiar name for a long moment, took a deep breath, and pressed call.
A few rings later…
"Hello? Trainer? You… haven't gone to sleep yet, have you…?" Her voice was soft and cautious once the line connected.
Even though this was the same kind of call she had made many times before, something felt different tonight. A quiet nervousness fluttered in her chest.
Hmm… Maybe I shouldn't have called him this late. He did tell me to rest early…
Ugh… I should have called him first…
As she hesitated, a familiar gentle chuckle came through the speaker.
"Nervous, are we?"
"…How did Trainer know?" she asked, surprised.
At the same time, she realized that in every previous race she had called the people she cared about one by one. Back then she had simply wanted them to know about the upcoming race. This time, though, the nervousness had crept in without her even noticing.
"How should I put it… It's okay to feel nervous. It doesn't matter."
Another soft chuckle, followed by the faint rustle of papers. Yasui Makoto's voice grew steady and strong, the same reassuring tone he always used when breaking down tactics.
"I was actually just about to call you to see how you were doing. I didn't expect you to beat me to it."
He paused, then continued with quiet confidence.
"It's okay to be nervous. I believe in you, Kita-chan."
"I believe your legs want victory more than any opponent's, and that your body has endured training no one else could handle."
"Do you remember your final acceleration time from last week's adaptation training? Forty-three point four seconds. Believe me, no opponent can sustain that kind of long acceleration the way you can."
"Every turn, every steep slope we simulated in special training, with an energy conversion rate over eighty-nine percent, is more than enough to make up for any shortcomings in explosive power or top speed."
"And with the strategy we planned, even if you only execute fifty percent of it perfectly, you'll open up a gap of more than six horse lengths."
"Even if your opponents hit a final burst of thirty-three seconds, they still won't be able to catch you on the Satsuki Sho's final straight. That's an absolute safety margin based on all your training data."
His voice softened, warm and intimate, like he was sharing a secret just for her.
"If you're still feeling nervous right now…"
"Then slowly lie back down… and slowly remember. Imagine."
"Remember every ray of morning sunlight you've seen so far, every headwind that rushed against you, every drop of sweat you've shed, every single stride you've taken on the track…"
"And then…"
"Imagine the moment when, after all that hard work, the spotlight on the entire stage shines just for you."