Chapter 175: I Need to Cut It Off Quickly
When Air Groove heard the proposal for a comprehensive physical examination, she agreed without much hesitation.
That surprised Makoto at first, but he soon understood why.
Although he wasn't a "fortune-teller" like Matikanefukukitaru or Copano Rickey, in a certain sense he really could foresee the future—and perhaps that was a unique ability he alone possessed in this world.
Judging from Duramente's past performances, injuries were something almost impossible to imagine. After all, getting hurt "while out to pasture" sounded far too absurd.
So, from another person's perspective, his suggestion of a comprehensive checkup right now would likely be taken as an attempt to reassure Duramente.
No one knew how he'd come up with it, but Kitasan Black's words just now had undoubtedly moved Duramente. She was no longer stubbornly fixated on racing together in the Kikuka Sho.
Seen this way, their earlier training together might not have changed Duramente's personality, but it had clearly made Kitasan Black extraordinarily important to her.
From then on, whatever they did—spending more time together—would, one way or another, make the seemingly stubborn Duramente much easier to put at ease.
Perhaps because she was busy with affairs, after agreeing, Air Groove quickly suggested that they go for the comprehensive examination together the very next day. She also said she would help communicate with Almond Eye's family.
"Almond Eye… I don't know her that well," the Umamusume said when making the suggestion. "All I can say is that my intuition tells me she's an excellent prospect."
"And you, Makoto-san, are also a rare genius among trainers these years. If you're the one guiding her, I believe Almond Eye will achieve remarkable results."
"I understand her family's situation better. It may be better if I'm the one to explain things to them."
In Makoto's heart, he likewise believed he could guide Almond Eye well, and he also knew that Air Groove was more suitable than he was to communicate with Almond Eye's family.
So he agreed without hesitation. Soon, the two of them decided that there was no need to rush Duramente back home that night. Instead, they would stay the night at the hotel Makoto had booked, and discuss things again after the examination the next day.
…
That night, in the hotel room, warm yellow light fell softly over the space.
Humming a cheerful little tune, Kitasan Black moved enthusiastically between the two beds, deftly helping Duramente make hers.
She first gave the quilt a vigorous shake, smoothing it out neatly over the bed. Then she carefully tucked in the edges of the sheet, and finally made sure to fluff the pillow until it was soft and plump.
After finishing everything, she wiped imaginary sweat from her brow and smiled toward the other side.
"Dura-chan! I've made your bed for you—"
Halfway through, she suddenly opened her mouth wide and cried out.
"Careful, Dura-chan!"
Sitting cross-legged on the floor with a controller in her hands, quietly watching Kitasan Black make the bed for her, Duramente froze when she heard the shout.
"Careful about what—"
Before she could finish, her vision blurred as Kitasan Black dashed in front of her and snatched away the controller.
"You've got to use mikiri right away, or you'll get caught by the cat— hey!"
"Caught by the cat…?" Duramente froze for a second before realizing that Kitasan Black was using game jargon.
She didn't understand why Air Groove hadn't forced her to go home, or why she'd said they'd be doing a comprehensive checkup tomorrow—but she was very happy.
A checkup was no problem; she had one every month or two anyway.
Not having to go home tonight, not having to face parents she didn't know how to deal with—there was nothing wrong with that either.
She didn't know what would happen after this, but being able to stay together with Kitasan Black was, in itself, something that made her happy.
Since getting to know her, although she didn't know exactly when it had happened, she had come to really enjoy training together with this enthusiastic, cheerful friend, going shopping together, and spending time having fun together.
Gradually, she also came to realize that, outside of training and racing, Kitasan Black seemed to really enjoy playing games.
Now that they were staying in the same hotel room, the two of them had agreed to play some console games for a bit before going to sleep.
It seemed to be called something like something-something Hunter.
She didn't really understand it, but judging from how enthusiastically Kitasan Black introduced it—and how flustered she looked gripping the controller just now—it seemed like a very fun game.
Hmm… when I have time later, maybe I'll buy this game and try learning it myself.
As she was thinking that, she suddenly heard a cheerful jingle from the speakers beside the screen, and the words "Quest Complete" appeared on the display.
"So… is it over?" After a moment of silence, she asked curiously.
"Mm-hmm! It's over!"
Nodding excitedly, Kitasan Black set the controller down, then looked over apologetically.
"Dura-chan, it looks like you don't really like playing games… sorry, I kind of forced you into it…"
"No, it's not that I don't like them. I just haven't really played before."
Duramente shook her head quickly. "Later on… I'll try learning."
After saying that, she glanced at the neatly made bed. Feeling grateful, she also wanted to find some common topic the two of them could talk about.
A moment later, she realized regretfully that, aside from training and racing, she didn't really know what else to talk about with Kitasan Black.
So she pressed her lips together, looked at Kitasan Black, and hesitated for a second.
"Kitasan… um, the Kikuka Sho—how is your preparation going?"
"The Kikuka Sho?"
Kitasan Black froze for a moment, then broke into a radiant smile.
"It feels like… I'm really well prepared!"
"I've been doing endurance special training for over a month now. Suzuka-senpai and Rice Shower-senpai have helped me a lot. This Kikuka Sho—I feel really confident!"
"Oh, right! Before the Kikuka Sho, there's also the St. Lite Kinen. That race… I don't think there'll be any problems either! My trainer has everything planned out!"
"So the next race is the St. Lite Kinen…"
Nodding, Duramente followed up, "Then… have you thought about how you want to run?"
"Huh? Didn't I say I'd listen to my trainer?" Kitasan Black asked in confusion.
Duramente shook her head slightly and said seriously, "I know. But what I want to know is—Kitasan… how do you want to run, in your own heart?"
Kitasan Black was stunned. She opened her mouth, then realized that all this time, she really had been training and racing wholeheartedly according to her Trainer arrangements, and truly hadn't worried much about how she herself wanted to run.
Her trainer… really had thought about everything.
Warmth spread unconsciously in her chest, and she couldn't help but ask in return:
"I guess I really haven't thought about it much… but Dura-chan, why bring this up all of a sudden?"
Letting out a soft sigh, Duramente shook her head.
"Actually… I'm not really sure myself."
"It's just… since getting to know you, I've felt like you always have more ideas than I do."
"I thought that every race, you had your own plan already in mind."
Kitasan Black hurriedly waved her hands. "That can't be right!"
"My trainer is amazing. Every time I ask him something, he can answer—whether it's about races or opponents, anything at all."
"And a lot of the instructions he gives end up coming true during the race, just like— Oh right, just like Rickey-senpai and Matikanefukukitaru-chan's fortune-telling predictions—they're that accurate."
"So of course I have to listen to him!"
She spoke with clear pride, as if she were the one doing the predicting.
At the end, she looked curiously at Duramente.
"So… Dura-chan, does that mean that every race, you just decide on the spot how you're going to run?"
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/1617249?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/155512898?collection=1617249
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