"?"
Kuroha stared blankly at the visitor.
"You're asking Fujimasa March and Oguri Cap to do parallel training together?"
Standing in front of him, Ginjirou Musaka bent his old back and bowed deeply.
Fortunately, the other Uma Musume were currently gathered at the track, and only the two of them were in this area. Otherwise, people might have reported Kuroha for "abusing the elderly."
After listening to Ginjirou's long explanation, Kuroha finally understood everything.
"So you want a week's worth of time, to help Oguri Cap adapt to races longer than 2000 meters…"
Kuroha fell into thought for a moment but didn't immediately agree.
"Ginjirou-senpai, you should know, Obey Your Master is my Uma Musume now."
"And Oguri Cap is her direct opponent in the Japan Cup."
"Whether emotionally or logically, I shouldn't be helping my enemy!"
Behind his sunglasses, Ginjirou's gaze dimmed slightly.
Though Kuroha's response wasn't outside his expectations, he still felt regretful.
Just then, Kuroha turned slightly and looked toward the training ground.
There, Oguri Cap had just happily thrown herself onto Fujimasa March, looking overjoyed.
And Fujimasa March, in contrast, wore a helpless yet indulgent expression.
After a moment of silence, Kuroha suddenly said:
"I'll ask March her opinion."
"If she agrees…"
"Then I'll allow one day. March can accompany Oguri Cap for one day of training on distances over 2000 meters."
"One day?"
Ginjirou frowned.
Kuroha smiled. "Trust me, Ginjirou-senpai. One day is more than enough."
Then, his tone sharpened, carrying a trace of cold determination:
"No matter what Oguri Cap learns from March in that single day—when it comes to the Japan Cup—"
"I will win!!!"
For a moment, Ginjirou froze. Then, as if ignited by that fiery spirit he hadn't felt in years, a forgotten fighting spirit burned inside him.
On his deeply wrinkled face, surprise appeared first—then slowly transformed into a wide grin, and finally burst out as a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha!"
"Good! Good lad! That confidence—that's how a trainer should speak!"
Straightening his back, his eyes gleamed with complex light.
"Then I'll be watching closely."
"Of course."
Kuroha chuckled lightly and nodded.
The two of them left the semi-open trainer's room together.
When asked for her opinion, Fujimasa March didn't immediately agree. Instead, she looked toward Obey Your Master.
"No worries. No matter who it is, I'll win."
Obey Your Master gave an answer almost identical to Kuroha's.
So, the next day, Ginjirou arrived at Kuroha's training grounds with Oguri Cap—and another strikingly beautiful platinum-haired girl.
Inside the trainer's room, two silhouettes sat drinking tea.
Out on the track, three long, graceful figures raced at astonishing speed, the wind currents sweeping across the turf, leaving clear hoofprints behind.
Watching the scene silently, Kuroha couldn't help but mutter with exasperation:
"Ginjirou-senpai, isn't this a bit much?"
"You brought in two pacemakers—one is the teammate of an entrant, and the other… is an entrant herself."
The "other" pacemaker he'd found—
Was none other than Gold City, the superstar Kuroha had seen countless times in magazines or on billboards.
Touted as a once-in-a-century beauty.
Even in the Uma Musume world, where beauty was nearly universal, her looks stood at the absolute pinnacle.
And compared to her beauty, her strength was equally remarkable.
She had placed in the top three of multiple G1 races, and held the prestigious G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies title.
Currently, within Central Tracen Academy, Gold City was counted among the strongest of her generation—second only to monsters like Tamamo Cross.
And she, too, would be running in the upcoming Japan Cup.
It was clear how shrewd the old man's choices had been.
"Ahem, this is called networking. Something a brat like you wouldn't understand!"
Ginjirou huffed, beard bristling, eyes glaring.
"Right, right. Networking."
Kuroha nodded with a smile.
The two of them chatted idly.
Then Ginjirou suddenly asked:
"Kuroha, do you really believe March can teach Oguri Cap anything in just one day?"
Kuroha froze briefly, then chuckled, shaking his head. He raised his thumb and pointed toward the trio training.
"Ginjirou-senpai, you can't see it… nor can Gold City."
"Can't see? What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
Kuroha didn't elaborate. He simply stood, gazing toward the track.
"Oguri Cap doesn't need to learn anything. She only needs to feel it again…"
"If the Tenno Sho course had been just 100 meters longer, she would've already shattered that barrier."
"Now, March is only giving her the chance to feel it for the third time."
At that, Kuroha's voice fell to a murmur, smiling faintly to himself:
"Unbelievable… just a third time, and she'll break through. What talent."
And in the direction of his gaze—
Within the silver-white blur of light streaking across the track, a vast, pitch-black aura silently surged upward…
—
When training ended, the platinum-haired girl leaned on her knees, gasping for breath.
Lifting her eyes slightly, her pupils quivered as she stared at the two figures laughing together in the distance.
"What… monsters these rookies are."
Gold City shook her head with a wry smile.
She hadn't held back in the training, but had still been easily surpassed by the two newcomers.
More terrifying than their speed, though—was that overwhelming, indescribable pressure radiating from them.
Something she had never felt before.
At that moment, Oguri Cap walked up.
"Gold City, you're running in the Japan Cup too?"
Gold City blinked, stunned, then gave a dazed nod. "Eh… y-yeah, I am."
"I see—"
Oguri's ash-grey face broke into a radiant, sincere smile as she reached out her hand.
"Let's do our best together!"
Off to the side, March folded her arms, smiling softly at the scene.
"Oguri is still the same as always."
"But…"
Her gaze shifted elsewhere, eyes turning solemn.
Looking out at the training grounds—
"With how strong she is now, Oguri might not even be my match."
"Can she really win the Japan Cup?"
The thought of that silhouette cloaked in starlight, like a storm of stars surging forward, made March shake her head.
Oguri's brief special training soon ended.
And time, carried on the sweat of the Uma Musume, ticked forward.
Very soon—the day of the Japan Cup arrived.
(End of Chapter)
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