With the introduction of the new training system, there was clearly a lot more to do than before.
The trainers had to get familiar with the operation of the new equipment, while the horse girls needed time to adjust to running inside the wind tunnel. Once those basic tasks were completed, it was nearly noon.
However, compared to the other teams and trainers at the Central Academy, their efficiency hadn't dropped at all.
Outside of the Eisei team, most training still followed conventional routines. For example, running training mainly involved using indoor treadmills to build up fundamental abilities and practicing on actual tracks to adapt to real race conditions.
The wind tunnel, however, could simulate natural environments to a large degree, and its running belts were specially designed to mimic the feel of turf. In other words, a single session could achieve the combined effect of two conventional methods.
Furthermore, the interior was equipped with highly sophisticated instruments capable of collecting and analyzing data in real time—saving a great deal of time overall.
After the morning session, Kitahara confirmed with Komiyama and the others that the new system had improved training efficiency by over 30%. With further optimization, it could go even higher.
"At this rate, we'll have much more confidence in any upcoming race."
Kitahara was pleased by the results but remained calm rather than complacent.
"Alright then," he said steadily, "we can move on to addressing Oguri Cap and the others' potential issues."
He had already discussed the matter of untapped potential as soon as he returned to Tokyo and briefly mentioned his phone conversation with Sunday Silence.
Kitahara knew how special Sunday Silence was as a horse girl, but for Komiyama and the others, this was their first time hearing such a thing. After some initial shock that such an extraordinary being existed, they quickly accepted it—perhaps even faster than Kitahara himself.
He soon realized why: compared to him, people in this world were already used to divine beings like the Three Goddesses and divine blessings.
Once they grasped that premise, Komiyama and the others immediately understood what needed to be done next.
"I didn't expect the wind tunnel to be this effective," Komiyama nodded in approval. "Just the saved analysis time alone justifies its high cost. That extra time can push our training progress even faster."
But she frowned a moment later.
"Still… according to what your senpai and that kid, Silence, said, Tama's potential wasn't fully realized because of malnutrition in childhood."
Kitahara nodded.
"Yeah, I've seen signs of that before through race data analysis. I've even talked to Tama and Kyoko about it. But if the problem lies in her past, there doesn't seem to be a mature solution yet."
Komiyama crossed her arms, gripping one elbow with the opposite hand, her brow furrowed.
"According to current theory, the most effective way to compensate for early malnutrition is proper nutrition in later years—but Tama eats just fine now. Kyoko's been very thorough with meal planning for her and the others. Nutritionally, there's no problem at all. So how do we fix this?"
Hearing that, Kyoko Miyamura also frowned.
"Komiyama's right. Nutrition's always been my top priority. Whenever I call my grandfather or go home, it's what we discuss the most. And after working with the Choeutsu team, I've learned a lot from their nutritionist, Coach Konai. Our current meal plans are definitely more balanced than ever."
She fell silent, thinking deeply.
"In this case, it's not just Tama's issue…"
At that moment, Yuzuhara spoke up gravely.
"Actually, many of our horse girls are facing issues that current theory can't yet solve. For Tama, I've read some overseas studies. The approach should start with data modeling."
"To put it simply, since Tama's already fully matured as a racer, we can model her condition using data from other horse girls with similar bloodlines and potential. By simulating and comparing the two, we might find the key differences—and thus, a solution."
"In Inari's case, though, it's a personality problem. She's too hot-headed. You can see it in her behavior during races like the Tenno Sho (Spring), Hanshin Daishoten, or even regular training. For lower-level races, it's fine since her strength makes up for it—but in major races where all the competitors are elite, this impulsiveness becomes a real weakness. And personality isn't something that changes overnight. We'll need a way that suits her temperament while still training her self-control."
He looked toward the horse girls running inside the wind tunnel.
"As for Oguri, Super Creek, and Ardan—their issues are stamina and domain-related."
"The latter's manageable; we've gathered a lot of experience recently. A bit of focused training should fix it. But stamina… Oguri's endurance is already incredible. Improving it further won't be easy."
He sighed, smiling wryly.
"That's not something we can fix in a short time either."
The air among the trainers grew heavy, but Kitahara chuckled.
"You're overthinking it. Or maybe, things have been going so smoothly lately that you've all gotten too used to it."
"Overthinking? Used to smooth sailing? What do you mean, Senpai" Komiyama blinked in confusion. Kyoko and Yuzuhara looked similarly puzzled.
Kitahara spread his hands.
"You said it yourselves—these aren't problems that can be solved in a short time. So why rush? Tama's health, Inari's personality, Oguri's stamina—none of these are impossible to fix. They just take time and effort. We've dealt with long-term issues before."
"Back in Kasamatsu, Super Creek's inflammation and Tama's PTSD both took ages to heal. After moving to Central, Inari's heavy-ground adaptation and Ardan's leg structure also needed months. It's normal for some problems to take longer. There's no need to panic."
At that, everyone's expressions brightened with understanding.
"You're right, Senpai," Komiyama said with a laugh. "We've handled stuff like this before—it just takes patience."
"Exactly," Yuzuhara added confidently. "We figured out how to trigger domains—something no one ever did before. We can solve this too."
Kitahara smiled faintly, pleased they'd recovered their spirits. Then his face turned serious again.
"It's good you've regained your focus—but don't forget: our recent streak of success has made us too comfortable."
His tone grew firm.
"Yes, I'll admit, since we came to Central Academy—especially before the Satsuki Sho—the number of problems we faced dropped drastically. Our horses debuted one after another, our win rates soared. But that won't last forever."
"From now on, Tama and Inari's older-horse races will be full of powerful rivals. Every match will pit them against the best of their generation—and sometimes even against each other. Smooth sailing isn't guaranteed."
"The same goes for Oguri, Super Creek, and Ardan. The Japan Derby and Kikuka Sho aren't glorified just for prestige—they're glorified because winning them is so hard. And later, in the Arima Kinen, they'll face Japan's most celebrated horse girls. Even before that, in the Japan Cup, they'll go up against the strongest in the world. There's no room for complacency."
"Maybe I'm being harsh, but it's true. Things have gone too smoothly for us recently, so you've all become a bit too uneasy when faced with long-term challenges."
He'd originally wanted to say something like "don't get cocky" or "don't lose your cool over small setbacks," but decided to phrase it more gently.
After all, except for him, everyone in the team was still young and relatively inexperienced. Komiyama, Yuzuhara, and Kyoko were all brilliant and hardworking—perhaps the best among their peers—but they hadn't gone through as much as he had.
He, in contrast, was a "veteran" with decades' worth of life experience (mentally, at least). So it was his job as chief trainer to steady the team when things started drifting.
And fortunately, he had both the leadership and the caution born from understanding the unpredictability of racing—whether horses or horse girls.
Even the most prepared race could end in an upset. In the "game" he came from, no matter how high the stats, morale, or skills, victory was never 100% guaranteed. One bout of "race anxiety," getting trapped on the inside, or a rival triggering a nasty debuff skill could ruin everything.
He'd seen it too many times before—sometimes to the point of nearly giving himself a stroke. He didn't want that uncertainty in this world, not if he could help it.
That constant awareness of risk—that was his drive. And maybe it would never truly fade, not until that ideal world of horse girls he dreamed of finally arrived.
Watching his teammates' now-determined faces, Kitahara nodded to himself. Smooth sailing was never a reason to relax.
He was just about to continue outlining their afternoon training when a teasing voice interrupted:
"Wow, I show up for one minute and the great Eisei Chief is already giving a speech. Very imposing."
He turned reflexively toward the voice—and saw two familiar figures smiling at the doorway.
A tall brown-haired woman with crescent-shaped blue eyes and a hand on her hip—Maruzensky.
Beside her, arms folded and expression thoughtful, was Mejiro Ramonu.
"You two…?"
Kitahara blinked in mild surprise.
Before his trip to Hokkaido, these two legendary horse girls had officially been appointed by Yayoi Akikawa as new members of the Student Council's special training support division.
Maruzensky had practically been doing that job unofficially already; this just made it formal. Ramonu, meanwhile, was newly assigned.
Earlier that morning, Kitahara had called to invite them to test out the new wind tunnel. They'd said they had council matters to handle and would come by later. He hadn't expected them so soon.
Smiling, he explained,
"Just wrapping up morning training and giving a quick talk, that's all. What brings you two here now? It's lunchtime—you didn't go to the cafeteria?"
"We were heading there, but then I mentioned you to Ramonu, and we decided to drop by first."
Maruzensky's eyes sparkled as she examined the wind tunnel.
"So this is how it's used! I knew it—you actually run inside it. Fascinating!"
As members of the "Joint Team Support Department," they'd both seen the equipment during installation and guessed its purpose. Seeing it in use confirmed their hunch.
With a grin, Maruzensky hooked her arm through Ramonu's.
"So, Ramonu, want to give it a try? Looks fun!"
Kitahara couldn't help but laugh.
Are you here to train… or to play?
He was about to agree—thinking the session was almost over anyway—when Ramonu gently pulled her arm free.
"I only promised to come take a look, not to play. If you want to mess around, do it yourself."
She then fixed her gaze on Kitahara, studying him intently.
"Impressive. The courage to buy such an expensive piece of equipment—and the ingenuity behind this training method. Funny, I didn't notice that talent the last time we met."
Folding her arms, she began circling him slowly, eyes glinting with amusement.
"If you'd shown this much ability back then, perhaps the Mejiro family wouldn't have let you leave so easily."
That line made everyone freeze—including Kitahara himself.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Maruzensky asked with a chuckle. "Don't tell me your family was planning to kidnap him?"
"Kidnap? Don't make it sound so bad," Ramonu replied smoothly. She then looked straight at Kitahara, her tone calm yet suggestive.
"What I meant is—if he'd shown such promise earlier, the family head might have wanted him to marry in."
If Kitahara had been drinking water, he would've spat it all over the floor.
"Wait—what?! Me? Marry into the Mejiro family?!"
His voice shot up an octave as he pointed at himself in disbelief.
Komiyama and the others were just as stunned for a second—then burst out laughing.
"Yoho, Senpai, I think that's actually a pretty good idea."
The woman's gossiping instincts flared to life instantly. Komiyama beamed and, just like Mejiro Ramonu earlier, began circling Kitahara, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
"Well, how should I put it… Senpai, your looks are… acceptable, I guess? Not the kind of guy who's instantly handsome at first sight, but pretty easy on the eyes."
"Mainly, your physique's really good — tall, well-built, definitely eye-catching."
"And your ability is beyond question. You're in your twenties, right? You've already got this many race wins, including G1 victories. That kind of ability is rare even in all of URA's history."
"I feel like my own success probably rubbed off from your luck."
"So, I'm just saying…"
With a mischievous smile, she leaned closer and nudged the dazed Kitahara with her elbow.
"How about it, Senpai? Want to think about the Mejiro Committee's suggestion — try becoming a live-in son-in-law?"
She even winked at Kyoko Miyamura beside her. "Hey, Kyoko, don't you think so too?"
Kyoko, who'd been covering her mouth and giggling, blushed at the sudden attention.
"Uh… well… I've never even dated anyone before, so I'm not really sure about that sort of thing…"
She flushed in embarrassment but then smiled again after a moment's thought.
"But, you know, things aren't the same as before."
"In our generation, public opinion used to be against trainers and horse girls dating or marrying."
"But nowadays, that kind of talk's pretty much gone."
"So if Kitahara-san really has thoughts about it, I don't think it's a problem."
"Yeah, there's really no need to worry about what outsiders say anymore."
Maruzensky, who had been staring blankly at Mejiro Ramonu, unsure if her friend was joking or serious, now turned gleefully mischievous. Rubbing her chin, she grinned at Kitahara.
"Actually, this shift in attitude — Ramonu, Rudolf, and I all know it very well."
"Because the whole change about trainer–horse girl relationships? You could say it all started with CB."
"Oh — more precisely, with CB's parents."
The gossip fire burned brightly in Maruzensky's eyes as she spoke like a seasoned storyteller.
"Back in CB's parents' generation, public opinion was strongly against trainers being romantically involved with horse girls."
"Her father was actually her mother's trainer."
"Sometime around her retirement, or maybe during her racing career — anyway, the two of them fell in love over time."
"But back then, people didn't approve of such relationships, so they eloped. And that's how little CB came to be."
"Whoa, seriously?!"
Komiyama's eyes widened in surprise. Kyoko, equally curious, leaned forward as Komiyama pressed, "So—so what happened after that? It turned out fine, right?"
"Of course it turned out fine."
Maruzensky shrugged with a smile. "If it hadn't, CB probably wouldn't even have been allowed to race — let alone win the Triple Crown later."
"If I remember right, Japan was very much against their marriage back then."
"But then CB's grandmother stepped in."
"Her grandmother was an Arc de Triomphe horse girl, and, well, you all know how Japan reveres the Arc and Europe."
"That senpai said — what's the big deal about a trainer and a horse girl getting married? Happens all the time in Europe and the West."
"She said, if Japan doesn't welcome CB's parents or CB herself, then as her grandmother, she would — and they could just move to Europe."
"With that kind of background, the URA Association had no choice but to step in, shift public opinion, and even amend some regulations. They couldn't stand to lose a bloodline like CB's to Europe."
"And after CB went on to win the Triple Crown, attitudes toward trainer–horse girl relationships gradually softened into what we see today."
"Ah, so that's how it happened! Learned something new today."
Komiyama and Kyoko looked satisfied after hearing this bit of ancient gossip. Komiyama turned to Kitahara with renewed teasing:
"Hey, Senpai, you heard that? It's perfectly fine now — trainers and horse girls can date and marry."
"You seriously don't have any thoughts about that?"
She even dragged Yuzuhara into it. "Right, right, Yuzuhara-san, you agree it's fine, don't you?"
Even the usually serious Yuzuhara couldn't help but joke along under the infectious mood.
"I don't see a problem."
He kept his face straight, pretending to be solemn, but his eyes sparkled with amusement.
"After all, we're talking about the Mejiro family. Even if Kitahara becomes a son-in-law, it's not really a bad thing."
"But if you're worried about the title, Kitahara, you could always discuss it with the Mejiro patriarch. With your ability, I doubt they'd object to anything."
"That's not even an issue," Mejiro Ramonu nodded. "From what I know of the family head, if Chief Kitahara were open to the idea, anything could be negotiated."
"For the Mejiro family, having Chief Kitahara join us would only be a good thing."
"In terms of training ability, your win record, win rate, and match data all speak for themselves."
"Even more impressive — from the development of Kawawan Enterprises, your cooperation with the Nishini Company, and President Kurokawa's praise — it's clear you're not just an excellent trainer, but also have a first-class sense for management."
"The patriarch often says, for a family or even the entire horse girl industry, racing alone isn't enough for long-term prosperity."
"One weak generation could bring decline."
"Strong management insight prevents that and secures a foundation for the future."
"And Chief Kitahara has that talent. So…"
"—Wait, wait, stop right there."
Kitahara, who had been frozen for quite some time, finally snapped out of it, smiling helplessly as he interrupted.
"Hey, hey, what are you guys even talking about?"
"How did this turn into a serious debate about me becoming a son-in-law?"
"Mejiro Ramonu, you're not actually serious about this, are you? This isn't funny at all!"
At first, he really thought she was joking.
After all, her personality was a lot like Maruzensky's — elegant, teasing, and hard to read. Many people found her unpredictability charming, and before she was even inducted into the Hall of Fame, she already had countless fan clubs across Japan.
According to them, her dangerously captivating beauty and alluring demeanor had a magical pull that left people willingly ensnared.
And knowing that, Kitahara had assumed she was just teasing him.
But as the conversation went on and Ramonu stayed serious, he began to doubt himself.
"I don't have any intention of becoming a son-in-law. Honestly, I'm a bit of a traditionalist — don't expect me to think that way."
"I'd rather not get tangled up in talk about family status. I've never thought about it."
"As for romance or marriage with a horse girl, that's never even crossed my mind."
"All I think about every day is training and racing — maybe some management work on the side. So please, spare me from anything beyond that. Thanks."
"Eh? How boring, Senpai…"
Komiyama slumped, disappointed. Kyoko and Yuzuhara just smiled wryly — they knew Kitahara too well.
He really only ever focused on training, racing, and business — even his "vacations" were rare and short.
It was hard to imagine someone like him falling in love, which was exactly why everyone found teasing him about it so amusing.
Maruzensky, who also knew Kitahara's personality well from working together, chuckled and shrugged.
"Well, that's exactly the kind of answer I expected."
She grinned. "What was that word again? That term the academy horse girls use to describe men like him…"
"Oh right — straight man, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, that's it! You're such a straight man, Senpai!"
Komiyama pouted, feigning indignation. "Only a total straight man would say something like that at a time like this!"
"Guess I'm still up-to-date with slang after all," Maruzensky laughed, then looked at Ramonu again.
"So, Ramonu — what do you think? Any plans on how to persuade this straight-laced man?"
She expected Takamine to at least add a few teasing remarks. But instead, Ramonu simply crossed her arms and said coolly, "No."
"I already knew he'd probably say that."
"So what I said earlier was just a casual remark. Don't take it too seriously."
"…Wait, so it was a joke after all?!"
Kitahara froze again.
Then all that effort explaining himself just now—
Didn't that make him look stupid?!
"W–wait, it was just a joke?"
Komiyama and the others were stunned. Komiyama blinked. "But joking about the Mejiro family name like that…"
Then Ramonu spoke again.
"I wasn't joking."
Her tone was calm, almost puzzled. "I said it casually, but casually saying something and joking aren't the same thing."
"The patriarch and many of us in the Mejiro family do genuinely recognize Chief Kitahara's value."
"And I don't think it's impossible for the patriarch to have that kind of thought."
"But Chief Kitahara just said himself — he's not thinking about that sort of thing right now."
"And knowing his personality, that's exactly the answer I expected."
"So I was just speaking casually."
"Anyway, that's all there is to it."
She glanced around, then nodded toward the wind tunnel equipment.
"Oguri Cap and the others should be done with training by now."
"Maruzen and I already checked their status."
"So — shall we go have lunch?"
Whether Mejiro Ramonu's "casual remark" was truly a joke or not, none of them could figure it out even during lunch.
But by then, the topic had shifted back to training.
As usual, Oguri Cap and the other big eaters had occupied several tables — one to eat, and the rest just to hold food.
Kitahara sat with the core training staff.
"I see," Maruzensky mused after analyzing the reports. "From what Ramonu and I observed, and based on how they felt during joint runs, Oguri and the others don't have any urgent issues right now."
"With their current abilities, they have high winning chances in most races."
"Even in top-tier events like G1s or the Japan Derby, their odds of victory aren't low."
"If they can resolve their lingering issues faster, they'll barely face any real difficulty — and even if not, their current form won't be affected."
"At most—"
She thought for a moment."At most, these problems would only have a significant impact when facing certain specific opponents."
"For example, the difference in how Tamamo Cross and Inari One handled things during the Tenno Sho (Spring)."
As seasoned racehorse girls who had long experience on the track, Maruzensky and Mejiro Ramonu quickly grasped the current situation of the Eisei team. After listening to her friend's analysis, Mejiro Ramonu pondered for a moment.
"In my opinion, the domain issues with Ardan and Super Creek are actually the easiest to solve."
Twisting a lock of black hair around her finger, the horse girl mused, "The two of them are really just one step away from reaching that stage."
"I've watched Ardan grow up since she was little. I know very well what the domain is about. Before coming to Eisei, I had already thought of privately training with her. Under sufficient pressure, she's completely capable of entering the domain state."
"As for Super Creek, her situation is about the same. I don't know her that well, but Maruzensky should be able to help her reach that step."
"No problem with that — I'm confident," Maruzensky nodded in agreement.
"As for this kind of domain activation you're talking about…"
After hearing the opinions of the two legendary horse girls, Kitahara thought for a moment."I do have one question," he said.
"It's not a doubt about your abilities — rather, it's about the result of this activation." He added by way of explanation before continuing,"I'm wondering, if the domain is triggered with your help, could it end up being different from the one they would naturally awaken?"
"Different?" Maruzensky and Mejiro Ramonu asked in unison, glancing at each other afterward.
"That… shouldn't be possible."
Maruzensky frowned slightly. "Whether from past experience or among horse girls like us who have mastered domains, there's never been a case of someone excelling in more than one domain."
"Why would you think that?" she asked curiously, as did Mejiro Ramonu.
Kitahara hesitated.
The idea of mastering multiple domains had occurred to him a long time ago — ever since he confirmed that domains were tied to each horse girl's unique skill.
Now, after hearing Maruzensky and Ramonu say that a horse girl who has already mastered a domain can assist another in reaching theirs, he couldn't suppress a new hypothesis.
Could a horse girl's domain be inherited?
"Inheritance" — it was a concept from the mobile game.
Before starting the training process, players could choose two already-trained horse girls as inheritance factor sources.
During the training phase, in April of the horse girl's second and third years, a special "Three Goddesses Event" could occur.
In this event, there was a certain chance that the horse girl being trained could inherit the unique skills of the two selected horses.
In other words, if successful, the horse girl could end up with up to three unique skills — essentially, three "ultimate moves."
The inherited skills weren't as powerful as when used by the original horse, but an ultimate was still an ultimate. Many victories in the game came from horse girls who, having inherited three ultimates, unleashed them all at once in a breathtaking sprint to the finish.
For example — in the game, Oguri Cap's own unique skill activates in the last 200 meters, Mejiro Ramonu's at around the 1000-meter mark, and Maruzensky's in the final corner — around 400 to 600 meters left.
So, if Oguri Cap inherited Ramonu's and Maruzensky's uniques, and her "stamina" and "intelligence" stats were high enough, she could maintain a terrifying pace from the 1000-meter mark all the way to the finish line.
Kitahara certainly wished that "inheritance" could exist in this world as well.
If horse girls in his team could truly master multiple domains, he couldn't imagine anyone outside their own group being able to defeat them.
But since Maruzensky and Ramonu had made it clear that such a thing had never happened — at least not yet — he had to suppress the thought.
"I just think there's a possibility," he finally said. "After all, the way we triggered domains before was based on Oguri and the others' real match conditions."
"If Maruzensky and Ramonu are the ones to trigger it instead, I think the outcome could end up being a little different."
"…That actually makes some sense."
Maruzensky and Ramonu exchanged glances, their expressions thoughtful."After all, it was you, Kitahara, who first discovered how to actively trigger domains," Ramonu said.
"And more importantly," Maruzensky added, "it's something unheard of — yet you managed to do it."
"Maybe… mastering another horse girl's domain… could that really be possible?!"
Her voice rose in excitement. "Alright then! Ramonu and I will confirm this during the next training sessions — leave it to us!"
That was exactly what Kitahara wanted. He fully understood why Maruzensky was so excited — and why Ramonu and Komiyama beside her were moved as well.
A domain alone was already immensely powerful. If a horse girl could truly master more than one, its meaning to them would be extraordinary.
And since the act of triggering a domain had already defied all known logic — and Kitahara had accomplished it — the entire Eisei team couldn't help but feel hopeful about his bold speculation.
But Kitahara himself only allowed a brief moment of excitement before returning to business.
As the team leader, he had far more to think about.
"Komiyama, Yuzuhara — earlier, we talked about Tamamo's situation. You said it'd be best to model it through a horse girl with a similar bloodline and enough talent, right?"
The sudden change of topic startled both of them, though Yuzuhara was the first to react.
"Yes, that's right. It's a fairly advanced line of research," he explained. "It's mostly being done in Germany. They found that collecting data from an already fully-developed horse girl isn't enough to study evolutionary progression — that's what led them to the concept of career modeling."
"If we follow that logic, and can find the right young horse girl, then…"
He trailed off mid-sentence — suddenly realizing something, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wait, Kitahara — don't tell me… you've already thought of one?"
"I have reason to believe our senpai has, in fact, thought of one," Komiyama said excitedly, his eyes shining. "After all, every step of the way, he's always managed to go one step further than anyone else."
"Come on, don't keep us in suspense, Senpai! If there really is such a horse girl, we could finally find a direction for Tamamo's situation!"
Kitahara didn't intend to keep them guessing for long. He soon gave a name — though his expression turned rather strange as he did.
"There is one… but… well… let's just say, you'll understand once you meet her."
After hesitating a bit and meeting their expectant gazes, he sighed softly and said,
"Her name is Gold Ship."
(End of Chapter)