Some time later, as the Mainichi Hai drew closer, the three Trainers gathered once again, leading their Uma Musume in training on the track.
The three of them were like a Team, helping each other.
Gradually, the Uma Musume, who originally belonged to different classes and dorms and had little interaction, became familiar with each other.
After a few days of training together, their relationships also became very good.
"Doto, your leading technique still needs refining, keep going, don't stop!"
"Gold Ship, McQueen, keep up with Doto's rhythm!"
"Curren Chan! Slow down! Try to conserve your stamina and sprint directly in the final stage!"
"Yes!"
The Trainers' voices, rising and falling, prompted the four Uma Musume to respond in unison.
By now, the four Uma Musume were familiar enough to train together in a spirited manner, each focusing on their strengths as per their Trainer's instructions.
It's worth mentioning that McQueen and Doto had successfully lost weight several days ago, but they were still wearing weights and training with Gold Ship and Curren Chan.
After more than a month, both McQueen and Doto felt that this weighted running method significantly improved their explosive power, and they began to enjoy training with weights daily, hoping to achieve even greater bursts of speed on the racetrack.
Curren Chan and Gold Ship also wanted to try this training, but after Imanami brought them the weights, Curren Chan couldn't even take a step with them on, and Gold Ship gave up after running one lap, completely exhausted.
After that, they didn't continue with weighted training.
"It seems that Doto and McQueen's talents are developing the fastest right now," Imanami said, nodding as he watched the four Uma Musume training together on the track.
"Logically, Doto should be a late bloomer, but Wada, you actually stimulated her potential.
McQueen is now showing a will that is no less than what we perceive.
It seems that Uma Musume really cannot be generalized like the Racehorse we know."
"Yes, their emotions are like ours.
The more we communicate with each other, the faster we can understand each other's intentions," Ikezoe said, sighing with emotion.
His time with Curren Chan had greatly healed the pain in Ikezoe's heart caused by Giant's disdain.
Curren Chan neither made Ikezoe feel difficult to train nor resisted races.
Even if Ikezoe arranged some training items that Curren Chan was not good at, she would obediently do them after some pouting, until Ikezoe's task goal was completed.
Even the real Curren Chan would probably not be able to do what this obedient Racehorse did.
It can be said that the biggest beneficiary of "being able to communicate" was probably Ikezoe—he truly experienced the real "love" from Curren Chan.
"But in terms of progress, Wada, your side is much more harmonious!" Ikezoe patted Wada's shoulder, his gaze unconsciously falling on Doto, who was running at the front of the pack, and said with a hint of envy:
"You lucky guy, last time it was Opera O, this time it's Meisho Doto.
I initially thought this Horse Girl's timidity would affect her performance, but now she doesn't even feel like the same Uma Musume from before."
"Hmm… Doto is more courageous on the track than usual," Wada said, not elaborating much.
His gaze was completely focused on Doto at this moment, and he said intently: "This is my last gamble."
"Next week is the Mainichi Hai, isn't it, Wada?
Your current training… is it to strengthen Doto's Last Spurt ability?" The most experienced Imanami naturally saw the recent focus of Wada's training for Doto.
It could be said that he hadn't focused on stamina at all, but entirely on strength and speed, clearly a training regimen specifically for the Mainichi Hai race.
The Mainichi Hai, a 1800-meter turf race, could only be considered a mile race.
For Doto, who excelled in middle and long distances, stamina was not an issue.
Instead, the goal was to get into form as quickly as possible within the limited distance, thereby suppressing other Uma Musume from the start and successfully utilizing her Last Spurt strength.
But, Last Spurt also depended on who she was competing against.
Doto's Last Spurt power was not weak; even the current McQueen was outmatched by Doto—but her opponent was not Mejiro McQueen, but Opera O.
And everyone knew how terrifying Opera O's Last Spurt was.
"Hey, hey, hey, seriously? Competing in Last Spurt with Opera O? I thought even Gold Ship wouldn't necessarily win against her, right?"
Ikezoe was startled by Imanami's judgment and quickly said to Wada: "Wada, are you serious? Letting Doto compete with Opera O in Last Spurt? How is that a place where she can beat Opera O?"
"But this is the most likely chance to beat Opera O," Wada knew how terrifying Opera O's Last Spurt was, and he was also very clear that letting Doto compete with Opera O in Last Spurt offered almost no chance.
However, as he said, to win a race, one must unleash the power of the Uma Musume's most Areas of expertise.
If Doto wanted to beat Opera O, she had to focus on speed and strength.
Only by suppressing Opera O in these two areas would they have a glimmer of hope.
To put it bluntly, the current Wada was more like someone who knew it was impossible to beat Opera O with skill alone, so he could only make Doto suppress Opera O in terms of stats.
When her base stats were high enough to suppress Opera O's skill bonuses, they would have a chance to win.
Of course, this was very difficult, which is why Doto's training intensity during this period was higher than that of the other Uma Musume.
She was exhausted every day, but she still gritted her teeth and persevered.
In order not to disappoint Wada's promise and expectations, Doto was working harder than anyone imagined at this moment.
Her training intensity was so high that Imanami felt a little nervous several times.
"Wada-kun, you shouldn't train with such high intensity before a race," Imanami, acting as a stable hand, gave Wada his advice, saying calmly:
"Although Doto undergoes health checks every day and her legs are fine, continuing this way will not be worth it in the long run."
"…" However, in response to Imanami's words, Wada opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately closed it silently, merely nodding humbly.
What could he say? That he didn't even agree with these training regimens at first?
But Doto was getting more nervous day by day, exhausting herself every day, and even these high-intensity trainings were her own request.
Wada also watched Doto on the track, panting but still moving, and silently sighed.
He, as a Trainer… was truly a bit incompetent.
"Wada! Wada Ryuji! Get out here!"
However, just then, a sharp female voice suddenly rang out from the side.
Wada, whose name was called, immediately turned his head and saw Tojo Hana, with a furious Presence, rolling up her sleeves and walking towards Wada, looking as if she was about to start a fight.
Beside Tojo Hana, there were two Uma Musume who had come with her, none other than El Condor Pasa and Taiki Shuttle, members of her Team—they seemed to be there to keep order.
Wada was also stunned by the aggressive Tojo Hana.
It wasn't until Tojo Hana reached him and grabbed his collar that he barely managed to react.
"Wada Ryuji! What kind of spell did you cast on Opera O?! Tell me honestly! What exactly did you do to Opera O?!"
"—Miss Tojo! Please calm down!"
Tojo Hana's actions also alerted Ikezoe and Imanami.
Imanami immediately stepped forward to persuade her, while Ikezoe firmly grasped Tojo Hana's arms, telling her to let go of Wada.
Tojo Hana was extremely unwilling, but she still maintained a trace of calm, slightly loosening her grip, but still not letting go of Wada, and asked word by word:
"Wada Ryuji, I admire your determination and consider you an opponent, but isn't it going too far to use such underhanded tactics to affect Opera O's performance?!"
"What did I do?" However, Wada was also bewildered.
What could he do to Opera O?
"You still won't admit it!" However, Tojo Hana thought Wada was playing dumb, and she became even angrier, shouting sharply:
"Tell me the truth, what exactly did you do to Opera O?! Why did her condition suddenly decline so quickly? Why did she suddenly stop listening to my commands?!"
"?"
Tojo Hana's sharp shout, however, made Wada Ryuji's expression suddenly turn subtle.
He suddenly realized that perhaps this matter really had something to do with him…