No matter how she ran, the odds seemed stacked against her... Platinum nearly let out a derisive snort, thinking Okino was just being dramatic.
After her debut race and that run against Tokai Teio, Platinum had a fair grasp of her own capabilities. She knew she had top-tier talent—given a little time, she'd easily catch up to the frontrunners.
That was exactly why she was so dead-set on clinching the Satsuki Sho.
She was about to speak up, but the words caught in her throat.
Because there stood Symboli Rudolf, her expression dead serious, not a hint of a smile.
Even though Platinum sometimes felt Rudolf wasn't quite as infallible as she'd imagined, she still trusted her judgment. If Rudolf took this seriously, then Platinum would respect that.
Having spent so much time in hospitals, Platinum lived by one rule: always follow the doctor's orders.
"It's not that easy for me to just take your word for it," Platinum mused. "...Can you tell me why you think that way?"
"I was just getting to that." Okino reached out casually and snagged Special Week, who happened to be munching on a carrot nearby. "Come here a sec, Spe."
Special Week gulped down her carrot. "What's up, Trainer?"
"Tell me, when did you start running?"
"Running?" Special Week tilted her head. "That's a weird question, Trainer. I've been running since, like, as long as I can remember."
"And when did you start consciously training to become an Uma Musume, focusing specifically on running techniques?"
"I wasn't really conscious about it myself…" Special Week thought for a moment. "But my mom definitely had plans for me early on. She started me on all sorts of special training way back… probably around when I first started elementary school."
"McQueen, let me ask you," Okino turned to the other side. "When did you start intentional running training?"
"Huh? Me?" Mejiro McQueen looked puzzled but answered after a moment's thought. "Around four years old, I guess? Basically, as soon as I could remember, I was already training."
Okino turned back to Platinum. "Well, Platinum? Starting to see the picture here?"
Platinum wasn't stupid—she got the point. "You're saying… I haven't had systematic race training? But isn't that why I came to Tracen Academy?"
"You're on the right track, but not quite there." Okino shook his head, pointing at Mejiro McQueen. "McQueen here started consciously training her stride at four. That's over a decade of practice."
He then gestured toward Special Week. "Special Week, a transfer student like you, grew up without ever seeing other Uma Musume. Even she began specialized training around six or seven."
"And at Tracen Academy, that's just the baseline."
"I get it, Platinum—you're a genius—"
Okino's tone shifted.
"But what kind of genius can master in three years what others have spent over a decade ingraining into their very muscle memory?"
"Those three years I mentioned refer to your active career—the time you have to compete on the track. Racing is a young person's game; it takes a toll on the body. Three years is already a long time."
"Do you understand, Platinum?"
"Your control over stride length is practically nonexistent. Your footwork is a mess. You don't even try to command the race. These things—even with three years of training—you might never catch up."
"That means you could be facing this issue your entire career."
Platinum stood there stunned, because honestly, she couldn't make heads or tails of what he was saying.
Forget racing—she'd only just learned to walk properly a short while ago.
Seeing Platinum's bewildered expression, Okino sighed inwardly. This young prodigy must have never even considered this path before—what a waste of incredible natural talent.
Seriously, where were her parents? Someone ought to answer for this!
It wasn't Platinum's fault. It all came down to how she was raised.
"Let me break it down," Okino said, walking a few steps toward the training field and pointing at the track. "At the first turn earlier, during that fierce duel with Tokai Teio, you got forced off the track."
"But Tokai Teio didn't. She even managed to pick up speed mid-turn. That's partly because her ankles are nimble, but it's also her superior stride control."
"That's the gap between you two just now. If you were taking that turn, not only would you struggle to hold the inside, but you'd probably have to slow down just to get through it, right? And just like that, you'd fall behind."
"That's what I mean when I say you're at a disadvantage, no matter how you run."
"And from what I see now, you don't even understand blocking, breaking through packs, or cutting off opponents. That means whether you're in the front group or chasing from behind—if you get boxed in, you're finished."
As Okino went on, Platinum's brow furrowed deeper. She still didn't fully grasp it all, but since Rudolf didn't object, it meant Okino wasn't exaggerating.
Besides, being able to deduce so much from just two races—one watched on tape, the other from footprints—proved Okino really was a top-tier trainer.
So he wasn't just about "running by feel" after all.
"Well then—" Platinum bit her lip and stepped out from behind Rudolf. "Since you've said all that, you're not just trying to kill my motivation, are you? You must have a solution, right? A way for me to win?"
"I should mention—my contract is with Symboli Rudolf. But if even the president says so, and if you can help me… I'm willing to go with you."
"I choose my words carefully. I never make promises I can't keep." Okino sucked on his lollipop. "So I won't guarantee you'll catch up to everyone right away, but I do have a way to compensate."
"—At the very least, I can promise you this."
"There's about half a year until the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho."
"You want to compete in the Triple Crown too, don't you? To earn the title of Triple Crown Uma Musume?"
Okino held out his fist toward Platinum. Because of the height difference, he lowered it slightly.
"I promise you this: on the stage of the Satsuki Sho, you'll be able to compete on equal footing with every other racer."
"…If you say so." Looking at Okino, Platinum took a deep breath, sighed slightly, and reluctantly bumped her fist against his.
Just as their fists were about to meet—
A flat hand slid between them.
"Yes! Paper covers rock—Victory for the great Gold Ship!"
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T/N: New Uma Musume fic up!
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.