Led by Berno Light,
the two rode through a few familiar streets and arrived at the Mejiro training grounds—not far from Central Tracen Academy.
"This is the facility the Mejiro family sponsors for Trainer Kuroha. You came last year, right, Gold City?" Berno explained.
"Ah, mm."
Gold City forced a smile.
She really had come last year to train with Oguri Cap—and got thrashed for a dozen days straight…
Whooosh—!
They hadn't even stepped into the main ground when several waves of almost tangible, searing pressure rolled out to meet them.
"!"
Gold City's usually languid blue-gray eyes snapped wide; she stopped on reflex.
Berno was long used to that aura and only tilted her head at the reaction.
But all of Gold City's attention was already locked on the sight ahead.
Out on the impeccably kept turf, several horse girls were in the middle of brutally intense sets.
Every stride was sharp enough to seem like it would tear the air.
The moment she crossed the threshold, a formless weight pressed down over her—raising goosebumps, stilling her heart.
"This… is daily training?" Gold City's voice rasped a little.
It wasn't this terrifying last year…
She watched the girls on course.
Two of them she knew well—her juniors by a year:
Mejiro Ardan and Sakura Chiyono O.
Right now, both radiated the same terrifying end-spurt pressure she'd felt long ago facing Tamamo Cross.
She was a G1 veteran—but this already exceeded her understanding of the word "training."
All of them—current top class?!
"Mm, yeah."
Berno nodded as if that were normal. "Ardan-chan, March-chan… they're always like this."
"…"
Gold City fell silent.
After being used as a speed bump twice by Inari One,
she was again witnessing with her own eyes what kind of monster collective "Chasing Light" really was.
And she finally understood the scale of the miracle wrought by this trainer named Kuroha.
Soon the two arrived outside Kuroha's office.
The door wasn't fully closed. Berno knocked, then pushed it open.
"Trainer Kuroha, I'm here to pick up Oguri."
"Oh, Light—perfect timing."
Inside, Kuroha was giving Oguri Cap a few last instructions. Seeing them, he nodded.
"I was just about to take her to the next room for a leg massage."
"Oh, Light!"
Oguri waved brightly when she saw Berno.
Berno stepped forward, concern in her voice. "Trainer Kuroha, how is Oguri?"
"Her condition? Nothing serious. With normal rest, about half a month."
Kuroha's tone was light. "But here—roughly three days."
Three days?!
Gold City stared at Kuroha, wondering if she'd misheard.
Cutting a half-month recovery down to three days—was that something people could do?
Ignoring her shock, Kuroha led everyone to the adjoining lounge.
"Alright, Oguri—up on the table."
"Okay."
Oguri hopped up obediently.
Kuroha pointed at the massage bed, then matter-of-factly rolled his shirt sleeves to reveal solid forearms.
When he turned back, he found Gold City and Berno still at the doorway, watching like curious kittens.
He arched a brow, a bit speechless. "Why are you two still here? Want to see how I treat it?"
Berno nodded earnestly. "Will it cause any trouble?"
"…"
Kuroha shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Forget it—it's a small thing. Stay if you want."
He stopped minding them, moved to the bedside, and had Oguri lie prone to expose the strained calf.
The gray filly sank her cheek into the soft pillow, docile as could be.
Kuroha drew a breath and flexed his fingers; a string of crisp click-click sounded from the joints.
He didn't start at once. First, his fingertips drifted lightly over the calf,
from the ankle up to the back of the knee, feeling each texture and knot of muscle.
Then his hands found a few precise points, and he began to work with an expert, rhythmic pressure.
No strange lights. No supernatural spectacle.
Only the purest, highest-level bodywork.
Sometimes his touch skimmed like a dragonfly kissing water; sometimes it settled with the weight of a mountain.
Each press, each knead, each glide landed exactly on the key fibers and fascia.
A beauty of strength fused with technique—enough that even Gold City felt dazzled.
"Mmph… nn…"
Quiet on the pillow a moment ago, Oguri suddenly let a soft, stifled whimper slip from her throat.
Her body gave a little jolt; the relaxed muscles clenched, and her ears shot up.
"Relax, Oguri." Kuroha's voice was steady, calm. "If the muscle's too tense, the effect drops."
"B-but… it feels weird…"
Oguri's voice trembled with confusion; she nuzzled the pillow, cheeks flushing scarlet.
A strange mix of ache, tingle, and an indescribable comfort
was coursing through her whole body like a current under Kuroha's fingertips.
It felt as if warm hands fully wrapped her calf, kneading it through; every stiff band unfurled, gently and surely.
Kuroha didn't slow—if anything, his touch grew more exquisite.
"Hmm… ah…"
This time Oguri couldn't hold it back.
Those kitten-cute sounds rang clearly through the quiet room.
Her body melted, soft as sun-warmed wax—letting Kuroha work without the slightest resistance,
and, like Tokai Teio, after a brief flush of shyness, only enjoyment remained—
eyes half-lidded, savoring the professional flow.
"…"
"…"
At the door, Gold City and Berno were completely petrified.
Berno's face burned red; not sure whether to look or not, she could only stare at the floor.
Gold City's mouth hung slightly open; shock and disbelief filled her blue-gray eyes.
T-this… is treatment?
Then why does it… sound so… so…
She couldn't even find a word for the overly stimulating scene.
About ten minutes later, Kuroha stopped.
He straightened, wiped his hands with a towel, and spoke mildly to an Oguri who was nearly lulled to sleep by comfort:
"All set. Get up and try moving."
"Mm… o-okay."
Oguri pushed herself up, wobbling a bit, eyes still hazy.
She stood, tested the sore leg, then gave a light bounce.
"Eh?"
A cry of surprise—eyes lighting up.
"It doesn't hurt! It feels… just a little bit sore still, but it doesn't affect pushing off at all!"
"No high-intensity work for three days. Come morning and evening each day. After three days, you'll be completely fine," Kuroha instructed.
"Okay! Got it!"
Oguri nodded hard, eyes full of gratitude.
Beside her, Gold City had fallen into utter silence.
She looked at the relaxed Oguri, then at Kuroha—like he'd done something trivial—and her mind went blank.
So… that's how it is?
As a top Central racer with three years of campaigning, even if she couldn't parse every detail of the legendary trainer's hands,
she could see it from Oguri's state.
Her condition was excellent.
Gold City stared, dumbfounded.
Technique on a level beyond imagination and common sense—substituting for the usual post-race recovery,
and even powerfully accelerating injury healing.
If half a month could truly be cut to three days—that's nearly five times faster.
And five times means what?
Even a conservative take says:
daily training time and intensity could be safely raised, and a racer's competitive lifespan—the number of meets she could enter—might practically double.
Is this one of the reasons Chasing Light's mares are so strong?
Gold City didn't fully understand—but she was deeply shaken.
Yet seeing recovery this potent, the platinum girl's heart suddenly stirred.
Speaking of which…
The Chair is planning to hold the first URA meet next year…
Could I also…
(End of Chapter)
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