After finalizing the arrangements for group running training with Tatsuko Yuzuhara, everything was set.
The four Uma Musume she brought — including Inari One — were all battle-hardened veterans in their Older Horse Year.
Each had participated in multiple top-tier local graded races.
These races were nothing like the Baby Cup Fujimasa March ran back in Kasamatsu.
Tougher races forged tougher competitors. While the three others besides Inari One weren't exactly monsters, to a "weakling" like March — a girl who had only stepped into her Classic Year two months ago — they were formidable beyond belief.
Even the South Kanto Triple Crown might not present opponents as strong as these three.
Kuroha and Yuzuhara each gathered their respective team members and explained the upcoming training session.
"March, you'll be doing group running drills with three of Yuzuhara-senpai's Uma Musume."
He pointed to the three girls standing beside him with arms crossed, his tone stern. "Each set is 600 meters. They'll simulate early-race pressure and final-phase sprints."
"You'll start with three rounds, ten-minute rests in between. I'll adjust later depending on the situation."
He paused, then turned to Tatsuko and said earnestly, "Yuzuhara-senpai, you're far more experienced. If you see any issues in March's performance, I'd appreciate your guidance."
Tatsuko gave a slight nod.
"As for Inari One…" Kuroha turned toward the small, tearful-looking Uma Musume being tightly reined in by her trainer.
"You, come with me."
[Temporary Entry: Uma Musume – Inari One]
[Inari One]
Track Aptitude: Turf A / Dirt A
Distance Aptitude: Short F / Mile B / Medium A / Long A
Running Style Aptitude: Front Runner G / Pace Chaser B / Late Surger B / End Closer A
Unique Skill: Fast Running, Fast Running!
Skills: End Closer – Straight, Tail Up!, Dusty Adaptation, Winter Specialist, Tail To The Skies, Straight Line Accel…
Speed: 834 / Stamina: 842 / Power: 911 / Gut: 605 / Wit: 355
Looking at these stats, Kuroha was at a loss for words. He couldn't think of a single reason why Inari One would lose a local race…
Only possibility? She was just bad at using them.
A natural-born stat monster.
But in the world of Uma Musume, stat monsters were everywhere.
To carve your name into history, you needed to be exceptional in body, technique, spirit — even luck.
Kuroha reviewed his previous teachings on the Bad Condition Track skill and tweaked the approach to better fit Inari One's current situation. Then, training began.
Meanwhile, Fujimasa March had been led to a more open area by Tatsuko Yuzuhara, who took out a whistle.
"Alright, first round!"
With a firm tone, Tatsuko gave the cue — then blew the whistle.
Peeeeep!
March, completely focused, burst forward like a white blur — but the other three were even faster!
Their reactions were perfectly synced with the whistle.
After all, they were Yuzuhara's own charges — long used to her pacing.
March had been placed in the second lane for this round.
The sound of hooves pounding the dirt resounded as the four girls launched forward, practically shoulder-to-shoulder.
Wind whipped at their faces, and horseshoes splashed up droplets of wet mud.
March gritted her teeth.
Normally, she'd burn extra leg strength to seize the inner rail and set the pace.
But the Number 1 runner was holding that spot firmly — not overtaking, but also not yielding — boxing March into the outer lane and forcing her to expend unnecessary stamina.
The other two runners followed closely behind, breaking wind and conserving energy.
In March's view, the tailwind she usually enjoyed had turned into chaotic air currents swirling around her.
It was just the starting dash, yet an invisible pressure loomed over her like a stormcloud.
She couldn't break through. Wasting energy was out of the question.
She made a snap decision to shift tactics — slowing slightly to cut inward and switch to a Pace Chaser approach.
But the other two had already stacked up in a vertical line behind the leader — March had no choice but to fall to the back.
Da-da-da-da—!
Their hooves thundered like war drums across the track.
Three hundred meters passed in an instant.
March locked onto the leader in front, saving strength for the final bend. With the help of centripetal force and skills like Corner Adept, she primed her legs for a surge.
Just as she was about to launch forward—
Boom!
Her momentum dissipated. Eyes wide, she looked to her left — the lead runner had anticipated her move and used the curve's momentum to shift slightly, blocking her exit from the inside.
"Timing and hidden intention…"
Back at the start line, Tatsuko Yuzuhara murmured softly.
In her eyes, March was indeed an excellent Uma Musume.
Her technique and physical stats were both impressive for her generation.
But in high-intensity races, her tactical instincts were far too underdeveloped.
A front runner — unless she had fully committed to the role — needed to make a snap judgment during the initial scramble for the lead.
If the fight for the lead became too taxing or unrewarding, she should've shifted into a favorable position and switched to a different style.
But March didn't realize she had lost the lead battle until nearly ten seconds later.
By then, all ideal positions were taken — she had no choice but to drop to the rear.
Same in the final stretch — she telegraphed her attack too early in the final corner, making her intent obvious.
If the front-runner didn't want to engage yet, all they had to do was block just enough to force March to waste power looking for a different route.
And this wasn't even deliberate — it was practically muscle memory for veterans.
The difference between top-tier graded veterans and a green Classic-Year Uma Musume was clear.
Beep!
Tatsuko pressed her stopwatch. The round was over.
This wasn't a race, after all. This was joint training meant to expose March's shortcomings. There was no winner or loser.
March understood that too — so when she found a potential gap during the final straight but realized she was running out of stamina, she didn't force a breakthrough.
"Round one — five-minute break!" Tatsuko called out, giving March time to reflect.
After issuing her command, she turned to look across the track.
In the distance, Kuroha was smacking Inari One on the head with his notebook, frustration all over his face.
Inari One clutched her head with a pitiful expression… but the second Kuroha turned away, she started baring her teeth and making faces behind his back.
"This kid… when he gets mad, he really has the fire of a proper trainer."
Tatsuko smiled nostalgically — only to see Inari One sneak a glance in her direction. Their eyes met, and Tatsuko shot her a fierce glare.
"Eep!"
Caught red-handed, Inari One instantly looked away and focused hard on her training.
Kuroha nodded in approval and made a note in his notebook.
"Suppressed Anger — Released Fury!"
He wrote the phrase in bold.
This would become a part of Inari One's future training methodology.
For now, he was simply using it to help her absorb the Bad Condition Track skill more efficiently.
As for what came later?
Well… Inari One wasn't his Uma Musume, after all.
The future could wait.
(End of Chapter)
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