"October 25th. The cool autumn breeze has replaced the summer heat. The temperature at Himeji Racecourse today is very pleasant, perfect for watching a race like this."
The commentator on TV was giving the familiar opening remarks,
"The race is in its second half, and T.M. Opera O is starting to accelerate! So fast! What a beautiful forward-leaning sprint posture!"
A familiar black figure Burst out from the pack, her vigorous form steadily widening the gap. She even cast a glance at the camera with her signature upturned eyes before crossing the finish line.
"The crowd favorite, T.M. Opera O, wins without a doubt, leading the runner-up by a full nine lengths. For an Uma Musume who should have been running in Central to win her Local Debut Race, no one will be surprised..."
"She seems to be doing it with ease; opponents like these just can't make her show her full strength!"
...Takeda Makoto silently noted down the key points to watch for in dirt track races and switched the TV to another Local event.
As it stands, Local races are mostly held on dirt tracks and sand tracks. Uma Musume accustomed to turf tracks will face great difficulties if they run without practice.
dirt tracks demand more power from an Uma Musume; without enough strength, they can't complete their acceleration. Footsteps that are too light will fail to grip the ground on dirt.
Sand tracks refer to racecourses paved with river sand and gravel. For instance, the famous Kasamatsu Racecourse is a sand track. Of course, in 1985, it wasn't famous yet; after all, the Uma Musume who would make Kasamatsu famous is still rolling around in the dirt right now.
The texture of sand tracks is a bit harder than dirt tracks, but they also require power for support. There isn't much difference between the two; both are the primary surfaces for Local venues because maintenance is much cheaper than turf tracks.
The situation where Central uses turf tracks and Local uses dirt tracks has led to turf Uma Musume having higher status than dirt Uma Musume in Japan. However, in some horse racing countries abroad, the status of dirt tracks is higher than turf.
If one aims to dominate Japan and enter the world stage, the importance of dirt tracks is equal to that of turf tracks, and it's necessary to improve an Uma Musume's aptitude through practice.
And Tamamo Cross's current aptitude is: Surface Aptitude: Turf: D, Dirt: F, Artificial: D, Sand: G.
Her turf aptitude has improved from E to D through training at Hanshin, but the situation for dirt and sand tracks is not optimistic.
Hanshin is the largest urban area in Japan besides Tokyo, so it naturally belongs to the Central Racing area where the tracks are all turf. If one wants to train on dirt or sand, they have to specifically go to Local venues... "Having no Central qualification but living in a Central area is really a headache..."
While complaining, Takeda Makoto opened the map app on his phone and searched for racecourses across the country.
For Local racing, the strongest is naturally the South Kanto region, which has many races linked with Central. Representative racecourses include: Oi, the strongest Local racecourse and the only Local venue with a turf track; and Funabashi, Urawa, and Kawasaki, which are all very strong Local racecourses.
In the Central region, Nagoya is also a large Local racecourse where many strong competitors choose to debut. Kasamatsu and Kanazawa are slightly inferior.
None of the above racecourses were within Takeda Makoto's consideration for one reason: they were too far from Kansai.
Takeda Makoto remembered clearly what was written in Tamamo Cross's personal graduation report.
Tamamo Cross: Severe motion sickness, mild anorexia, short-tempered, afraid of crowds. (All derived from Tamamo Cross's real-life horse counterpart.)
If the mild anorexia was already this terrifying, Takeda Makoto didn't even want to think about the severe motion sickness.
Better look at nearby ones. Let's not talk about the weaklings; Saga and Kochi can be completely ruled out. Both courses are pushovers even in the already weak Kansai region, and they are far from Hanshin.
After thinking it over, there were only two choices: the Hyogo Prefecture Local racecourses near Kobe—Himeji and Sonoda. Both belong to Hyogo Prefecture and are close by. In fact, there isn't much difference between the two; it just depends on which course has a Debut Race at the right time.
One month of training, so around the end of November—a debut in Hyogo!
Having finalized the plan, Takeda Makoto breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the debt collection letter on the desk.
After repaying 2.13 million yen of debt last month, there was only 1.6 million yen left this month. Unable to repay the debt, he could only postpone it, but for three months at most. If he couldn't pay within three months, Takeda Makoto would have to declare bankruptcy and pack his things to get out of Takeda Horse Farm.
With one more month of training, only one month would be left. Considering Tamamo Cross's condition, she would need some rest after every race. The Debut Race was almost his only hope; he had to win.
*Click*... "I'm home!"
"Onii-chan!"
Hearing the voices, Takeda Makoto quickly stuffed the debt collection letter into his trouser pocket.
Opening the door were Tamamo Cross and Takeda Kanya. Carrying her small schoolbag, Kaya rushed over with a 'whoosh,' climbed into Takeda Makoto's arms, and began to act spoiled, hugging his neck.
"Ani, I want to watch little uma musume princess!"
Takeda Makoto tapped her little head with a dark expression.
"The first thing you want to do when you get home is watch TV. Go do your homework first."
"Waaaah ┭┮﹏┭┮, Brother is a meanie!" Clutching her head, Kaya hopped down from Takeda Makoto's arms in a huff and sat at her little desk with her schoolbag.
The back of the small, custom-made chair for Uma Musume had a hole. Kaya's little tail swished back and forth; she didn't seem truly unhappy.
Sitting in front of Takeda Makoto, watching the race on TV with a serious face, was an Uma Musume only 140cm tall. Although she hadn't grown at all, her physique was well-proportioned and healthy compared to her thin appearance a month ago.
"Tama, it's a huge help that you're willing to pick up Kaya from school."
Tamamo Cross shook her head dismissively, her gaze fixed on the running Uma Musume on the TV without wavering.
For an Uma Musume who loves to run, this month of not being able to run freely must have been very difficult.
"T.M. Opera O's Debut Race was a huge success, leading the second place by nine lengths..."
Tamamo Cross echoed like a robot.
"Must be nice..."
Takeda Makoto gave a light smile, stood up, and slowly walked to the door of the reception room.
"Get ready. Training starts tomorrow. Tama, our time is tight. November 24th, the Sonoda Debut Race. If there are no issues, I'll go submit the entry application."
"Ah?!"
Tamamo Cross was stunned for a moment, then she jumped up happily, her sky-blue pupils shining with a radiant longing.
"No problem at all! I've been waiting for this!"
... "It's nowhere near enough."
Takeda Makoto looked at the training records in front of him and then at Tamamo Cross struggling on the track, and he couldn't help but frown.
During the past month, with only light training, all of Tamamo Cross's stats showed some decline. However, because she watched races frequently, her running form and the timing of her tactics had improved significantly.
More strangely, during the training process, Takeda Makoto discovered a peculiar anomaly.
"I say, Tama, can't you run like you did back then?"
Panting, Tamamo Cross shook her head.
Whether it was the extreme forward-leaning sprint posture from that time or the magnificent inner-side acceleration through the curve, Tamamo Cross claimed she had no idea how to do it!
"At that time... I didn't know either. I just thought... I must win, and my body just moved like that on its own."
Tamamo Cross took the water Takeda Makoto kicked over, took a big gulp, and lay down contentedly on the grass outside the track.
"That's really strange."
Takeda Makoto sat beside her, rubbing his chin with his right hand, thinking carefully and recalling the knowledge he had learned at the Trainer school.
Upon careful reflection, Takeda Makoto discovered much knowledge that couldn't be explained by science.
The extreme forward-leaning running posture and inner-side acceleration through curves don't exist in human running sports, yet they are logical in this world?
In a world with Uma Musume, some unscientific settings are probably normal... "If I heard correctly, your Uma Musume entered *that* state, didn't she?"
A voice came from behind the two of them; it sounded like a very gentle male voice.
Takeda Makoto and Tamamo Cross looked back to see a quiet-looking young man who appeared to be a recent graduate. He wore glasses, had squinted eyes, and a harmless smile that felt very approachable.
He seemed a bit embarrassed to be stared at and said with a somewhat shy expression.
"S-Sorry, I was observing my Uma Musume's training and happened to overhear your conversation..."
The patch of grass where Takeda Makoto was sitting offered a great view of the entire racecourse, making it a prime observation spot for most Trainers. It was normal not to notice someone nearby.
He shook his head dismissively. "It's fine. Please, continue."
The male Trainer adjusted his glasses, and his entire aura changed. Professional and serious, he spoke with clear logic and smooth phrasing.
"The Trainers in Kyoto conducted an observation study on Central's G1-winning Uma Musume and discovered a startling potential. Besides their superhuman physical capabilities, there seems to be a hidden spiritual power within them."
"Those Uma Musume who won Graded Stakes races seemed to exhibit a state of mind and spirit far more active than normal at the critical moment of victory. That terrifying mental strength allowed their bodies to unleash power beyond common logic..."
"The most prominent example is the current ruler of Central, Symboli Rudolf. Her exaggerated final sprint was so powerful it caught the attention of all researchers, and it was also the catalyst for this study..."
"The evidence that truly determined the existence of this ability was Rudolf herself. She personally admitted that during a race, she would intentionally enter a state of 'Total Devotion.' In that state, the Emperor is omnipotent..."
"And she herself calls it... the Zone."
The man with glasses paused for effect. Takeda Makoto and Tamamo Cross looked at each other and cooperatively let out an 'Oh~~~~~~' to express their surprise and anticipation.
The man with glasses continued with satisfaction.
"The Emperor herself can already activate the Zone state at will; she has mastered this super ability. In fact, many famous Uma Musume do not have this ability. Most of them only trigger the Zone by chance when in a predicament, driven by intense emotions. They have no control over it at all, and..."
The man's expression suddenly turned grave, as if he were about to say something terrifying.
Takeda Makoto and Tamamo Cross looked at each other again and cooperatively put on a scared look.
Takeda Makoto: This is exhausting.
Tamamo Cross: This is actually quite interesting.
The man continued with satisfaction: "This ability, when activated without skillful control, is not called the Zone, but 'Berserk.' Berserk unconsciously drains the body's potential, regardless of the damage caused. That is the price. Countless famous Uma Musume, after winning through Berserk, see their condition plummet or even retire due to injury..."
This time, Takeda Makoto and Tamamo Cross truly gaped in shock, with no element of acting.
A flash of inspiration crossed Takeda Makoto's mind, and everything became clear. He spoke tentatively.
"You mean, Tama was only able to achieve that forward-leaning sprint posture and accelerate through the inner curve because she was in a 'Berserk' state?"
Everything made sense now. After the race, Tamamo Cross had indeed collapsed in his arms from exhaustion. The reason for her weight plummeting was indeed not just simple mild anorexia... Makoto had been wondering for a while how mild anorexia could be so extreme. His mother, Takeda Kanae, had managed to nurse Tamamo Cross back to health even without enough information; she truly was a top-tier nutritionist in the country... Just as Makoto felt he had grasped the truth, the man with glasses shook his head.
"It's not as simple as you think. This was just the preamble. The Emperor's Zone piqued the researchers' curiosity. Based on the hypothesis of this spiritual power, they conducted further research and discovered that its effects aren't limited to just the Zone..."
"The name 'Zone' is destined to be a place not just any Uma Musume can step into. There are two preceding stages, named 'Burst' and 'Awakening.' The boost in ability isn't as strong as the Zone, nor is it as harmful to the body. Researchers thought these three stages were the entirety of spiritual power..."
"But in fact, they were wrong. Soon, there was a new discovery. A spiritual state called 'Pitch Black Fighting Spirit' was found..."
"This ability manifests as an Uma Musume's mind being consumed by her desire to win, reaching an effect similar to the Zone. It can only be triggered by chance by an Uma Musume who is naturally competitive and has not yet tasted victory."
Tamamo Cross slapped her palm, interrupting the man: "Yes! That's it! The Trainer had me suppress my competitive spirit, and the moment I let it go, I felt like something had swallowed me. I don't remember much of what happened after... It was a strange feeling, like I was watching myself run..."
The man nodded eagerly: "Exactly, that's the feeling. You must have unleashed the spiritual ability called 'Pitch Black Fighting Spirit.' Uma Musume with this ability are born to dominate the racecourse."
Tamamo Cross stood up excitedly. Since she was a child, except for her family and Trainer Takeda Makoto, most people didn't have high hopes for her future. It was rare to hear someone speak so highly of her.
She patted the man's shoulder with satisfaction: "I didn't expect you to know your stuff. Well-read people really do have good eyes, hahahahaha, awu~"
Takeda Makoto cut off her nonsensical Kansai-accented laughter with a palm strike and stood up to formally extend his hand.
"Trainer, Takeda Makoto. This is my Uma Musume, Tamamo Cross."
Tamamo Cross scratched her head and said sheepishly, "Hello, excuse my rudeness just now. Please don't mind it..."
The man waved his hand to show he didn't mind, then lightly shook Takeda Makoto's hand.
"My name is Gensei Reiichi. I just graduated from the Kyoto Trainer Academy and have just arrived in Hanshin. Please take care of me."
Since she had been praised, Tamamo Cross found Gensei quite likable. She patted her flat chest with an air of importance and said like a big boss, "Sure, sure. If you have trouble in Hanshin, just look for Lady Tamamo... Ouch."
Takeda Makoto gave a light karate chop to the head of the carried-away Tamamo Cross.
"Torare-na-san! If you keep hitting me, I'll turn into a dummy!"
Tamamo Cross huffed, wanting to jump up for revenge... The 1.8-meter tall Takeda Makoto reached out a hand to hold down the jumping Tamamo Cross.
"Who told you to brag? You're also just a Ritto Uma Musume who arrived in Hanshin two months ago."
Tamamo Cross: "Waaaaah ┭┮﹏┭┮," waving her short arms wildly.
Makoto: (﹁_﹁). It feels like as our relationship improves, Tama is becoming more and more like a spoiled child. What happened to being 'Big Sister Tamamo'... Gensei Reiichi seemed to be observing the interaction between Makoto and Tama with curiosity, which made Takeda Makoto slightly uneasy.
"Even though we both graduated from the Trainer Academy, you seem to know much more than I do."
Praising the other person before asking a question—this was Takeda Makoto's conversational tactic from his two lifetimes.
Gensei Reiichi waved his hand again: "It's nothing like that. It's just that my mentor happened to be one of the initiators of this research, so I'm more familiar with it. The professors are currently organizing the data, and this information will be released soon. Besides, there are still many spiritual abilities I don't know about waiting to be discovered."
Gensei Reiichi suddenly changed the subject: "Actually, I really admire you, Mr. Takeda."
"Just call me Makoto," Takeda Makoto waved his hand as well.
Strange. Is this a Kyoto habit? How did I start waving my hand unconsciously too?
After a brief conversation, Takeda Makoto decided that Gensei Reiichi was a well-educated, knowledgeable, and humble Trainer from a prestigious school. It wouldn't be bad to make a friend.
Gensei Reiichi also saw through Makoto's thoughts and nodded happily.
"You can call me Gensei or Reiichi. I'm envious of you, Makoto, being able to get along so well with your Uma Musume. This is my first time officially being a Trainer, and I don't have much confidence in myself."
Takeda Makoto shook his head; he felt there was no need for Gensei Reiichi to worry about such things.
"It's fine. Uma Musume are all simple and kind. As long as you help them wholeheartedly, once they feel the Trainer's sincerity, they will support you back. You're so outstanding, Gensei, you'll definitely be fine."
Gensei Reiichi laughed a bit awkwardly, while Tamamo Cross stared at Takeda Makoto with rolling eyes.
Gensei Reiichi's gaze suddenly drifted into the distance, and he smiled with narrowed eyes.
"I will work hard to do as you say. I hope she can forget the unpleasantness of being hurt by a Trainer."
Takeda Makoto realized that Gensei Reiichi was likely talking about his own Uma Musume.
"Yeah, definitely. By the way, where is your Uma Musume?"
Gensei Reiichi pointed behind Takeda Makoto's back.
"She's running back after her warm-up."
Takeda Makoto and Tamamo Cross turned around and saw a familiar figure slowly approaching.
A blue and white tracksuit, short black hair, and a face that didn't look very friendly.
"Eishin Flash!?" the two said in unison.
Eishin Flash stared at Tamamo Cross and said through gritted teeth.
"Shorty... Tamamo Cross, where have you been hiding this past month? Race me, I'm definitely going to beat you!"