Chapter 3: As Student Council President, I Don't Think You're Ready
Not long after, at a bubble tea shop near the hospital—
"Two honey specials—extra honey in one. And a coffee. Thank you very much."
A petite, lively-looking umamusume placed her order, then turned and walked confidently toward a window seat. Crossing her arms, she sat down with an air of authority.
Sitting across from her was the ever-calm Makoto, while Kitasan Black sat beside him, hunched over like a scolded child, fingers nervously twining together.
The small but imposing umamusume cast a serious glance at Kitasan Black before turning to Makoto with a smile of approval.
"I didn't explain earlier in the hospital—too many ears around—but I came looking for you, Yasui-san, because I got in contact with the parents of the child you saved. They'd really like to thank you in person."
"The hit-and-run driver has also been identified. He's currently giving a statement at the police station. He admitted to driving while fatigued and is willing to accept full responsibility."
She looked at him seriously.
"Would you like to meet the parents? Or the driver?"
Makoto shook his head without hesitation.
"That won't be necessary. As long as the child's safe, that's all that matters."
"However…" He glanced at Kitasan Black, who stiffened. "She mentioned wanting to cover my medical check-up costs—but I think the driver should be responsible for that instead."
"That shouldn't be an issue… right, President?"
"Of course not. I'll take care of the arrangements."
The petite umamusume—referred to as "President"—nodded briskly, then turned toward the still-downcast Kitasan Black, her expression stern once more.
"Now then… Kitasan, do you realize what you did wrong?"
"Y-Yes, Teio-senpai!"
Kitasan Black straightened like a spring-loaded toy, snapping to attention.
But a second later, her neck shrank back in uncertainty.
"My mistake was… saving the kid with Yasui-san…?"
Teio-senpai—the student council president—sighed deeply and ran a hand across her pale crescent-shaped bangs.
"No, no… you still don't get it, huh?"
Crossing her arms, she leaned forward slightly, her voice taking on the commanding tone of a true leader.
"Saving someone isn't wrong. In fact, you should be commended for it. I've already drafted a letter of commendation on your behalf.
"The problem… was that you failed to control your speed."
"Yasui-kun, as a professional trainer, was able to adjust his movement in a split second and avoid a direct collision. But you, an umamusume, couldn't manage the same?"
She let out another heavy sigh and shook her head.
"You've disappointed me, Kitasan."
The moment the words left her mouth, Kitasan Black's ears drooped low—an unmistakable sign of dejection among umamusume. Her expression dimmed, shoulders sinking.
Makoto, meanwhile, was quietly impressed.
The one scolding Kitasan Black was Tokai Teio, the current student council president of the Tracen Academy's primary and secondary divisions. She was the successor to Symboli Rudolf's legacy.
Despite following in the footsteps of a legendary predecessor, Teio's own racing career was nothing short of brilliant: 9 wins out of 12 major races, including an initial 7-win streak.
Since retiring and becoming student council president, she had demonstrated equally impressive skill in leadership and management.
Today's incident had happened only a few hours ago—yet here she was, fully informed and already having contacted both the rescued child's parents and the driver involved. On top of that, she tracked down both Makoto and Kitasan Black in a matter of hours.
Her efficiency was almost frightening.
And that wasn't all—her eye for detail was elite.
Most traffic footage wasn't high-resolution, especially raw, unprocessed recordings.
Yet somehow, she'd analyzed it thoroughly enough to understand the exact positioning and motion just before the accident—clearly recognizing who had reacted properly, and who hadn't.
That wasn't just skill. That was instinct—the instincts of a top-tier umamusume.
"I'm sorry, Teio-senpai…" Kitasan Black mumbled, hanging her head even lower.
"Apologizing to me won't help."
Still arms crossed, Teio shook her head again.
When Kitasan Black hesitantly glanced at Makoto, Teio's voice turned sharper.
"Apologizing to Trainer Yasui won't help either."
"You still don't get it, Kitasan," said the student council president, her voice calm but firm. "This isn't the time to apologize. What you should be doing is reflecting on your actions."
"The racetrack is full of close calls. If this is the extent of your control over your speed and strength…."
She let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head three times in disappointment.
"I was actually reaching out to some skilled trainers for you. But with how you're performing right now, I can't even bring myself to speak on your behalf."
"This isn't just coming from the student council president," she added, her tone shifting slightly. "As your senpai, I just don't think you're ready."
From where he stood, Makoto could almost see the color drain from Kitasan Black's face. A faint, gloomy aura seemed to surround her as the words hit home. It was clear the disappointment had gotten to her.
But he couldn't deny it—Tokai Teio had a point.
Extreme stunts carried real danger. One misstep and injury was almost guaranteed.
That's why so much of their training focused on control—on body coordination, precision, and restraint. And all that control? He'd been drilling it into himself even before he came to this world.
He'd trained himself since childhood. His flexibility, sense of balance, and muscle control far exceeded the average person's—honestly, even most umamusume couldn't keep up with him there.
Compared to that, Kitasan Black's self-control during motion was clearly lacking.
Umamusume races weren't for the faint of heart. They were high-speed clashes, with competitors colliding at over 50 kilometers an hour. A crash could end a career—or worse, their life.
"I know, Teio-senpai…" Kitasan finally spoke up, her voice low, but now tinged with something else—gratitude, even admiration.
"My dream is to become a legendary umamusume like you. But I know I'm no prodigy."
"A lot of my teachers and coaches have said the same thing—that I should probably stick to short-distance races instead of trying to match your long-distance records."
"But I still want to try. No matter what, I want to try!"
Suddenly, her voice rose in determination. Her whole posture shifted, as if energy had rushed back into her.
"Watching you on the track has always inspired me. That's why I swear, I won't give up until the very end!"
"Even if no trainer will take me on, I'll still challenge the Classic Triple Crown you conquered!"
Her outburst caught the attention of several people in the milk tea café. Even Makoto couldn't help but glance at her in surprise. Tokai Teio, meanwhile, remained calm as ever.
"You can't challenge the Triple Crown without a trainer," she replied, arms crossed, her voice cool and composed. "You'd need a trainer's endorsement just to apply for those races."
"Ah—right."
The fire in Kitasan's eyes flickered. She scratched her head and gave a sheepish grin.
"I guess… that's true. Eheheh…"
Tokai Teio let out another quiet sigh.
"Seriously, were you even paying attention in class? That's basic race knowledge."
Then, her eyes shifted to Makoto—this time more serious.
"But," she added, "we've actually got a pretty exceptional trainer right here."
"An 18-year-old who already passed the Central Trainer Qualification Exam. That's unheard of."
"I've noticed, too—ever since you came to the academy, Trainer Yasui, you've been looking for an umamusume to work with. But so far, no one's accepted."
"So I have a request."
"This isn't a request from the student council president," she clarified. "It's a request from someone who cares about Kitasan."
"I want to ask you to become her trainer. What do you say, Trainer Yasui?"