Chapter 201: The Bakushin Spirit
This wasn't Makoto's first time visiting the Tracen Academy's university division, and Kitasan Black had also been here many times thanks to Tokai Teio.
Still, since this visit was specifically to meet Sakura Bakushin O, Kitasan Black couldn't help but look around curiously the entire way.
Compared to the academy campus filled with laughter and lively voices, this place was much quieter.
Seniors who were clearly far more mature than active racers walked in small groups along the tree-lined paths and main roads, seemingly discussing important matters in low voices.
Before long, the two arrived at the training area belonging to the sprint division, the spot they had reserved in advance.
From a distance, Kitasan Black spotted an Umamusume with cherry-blossom-colored long hair.
She had a straight, upright posture, her long hair tied into a high ponytail. She looked energetic and sharp at the same time.
With one hand on her hip and the other holding a large megaphone, she shouted at several figures on the track:
"Too slow, too slow!"
"Bakushin harder, everyone! How can you be role models for your juniors like this?!"
"Bakushin, bakushin, bakushin!"
"Uh… um…"
With an awkward smile, Kitasan Black pointed over there.
"That's Bakushin-senpai…"
Before she even finished speaking, the cherry-haired Umamusume somehow noticed them and snapped her head around.
Like fireworks suddenly blooming in the night sky, her sakura-pink eyes lit up, and she dashed toward them in a flash.
Just a few seconds later, Makoto and Kitasan Black both shut their eyes and raised their arms to shield themselves from the oncoming gust of wind.
At the same time, Sakura Bakushin O's delighted voice rang out.
"Kita-chan! Kita-chan! You actually came to see me on your own!'
"Have you had a change of heart?!'
"Hahaha! I knew it! Your Bakushin spirit was bound to awaken!"
Overflowing with excitement, she stuffed the megaphone into her waistband, clasped her hands together, and trembled slightly as she gazed at Kitasan Black with eyes full of anticipation.
"Kita-chan, you're planning to devote yourself to short-distance racing now, right?!"
Lowering her arms, Kitasan Black smiled awkwardly and took a step back, sneaking a glance at her Trainer before taking a deep breath.
Summoning her courage, she met Sakura Bakushin O's gaze and spoke earnestly:
"Bakushin-senpai, I… I'm truly grateful for all the expectations you've had for me."
"But deep down, I still want to shine in races like the Kikuka Sho and the Arima Kinen, just like my idol, Teio-senpai."
"That is my unwavering dream."
This was the honest answer she had thought through on the way here, after discussing it with her Trainer.
After saying it, she subconsciously bit her lip, her heart filled with unease.
After all, Bakushin-senpai meant no harm, and her intentions were kind.
She had avoided her again and again before, and now she was rejecting her outright to her face. Kitasan Black had no idea how Sakura Bakushin O would respond.
She'll be disappointed… maybe even angry. If I were treated like this, I probably would be…
Just as that thought crossed her mind, Kitasan Black realized in surprise that the smile on Sakura Bakushin O's face hadn't faded.
Not only that, it had grown gentler.
"I see…"
Nodding, Sakura Bakushin O walked over without changing her expression, gave Kitasan Black's shoulder a firm pat, and suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Excellent, excellent! Kita-chan, I knew I wasn't mistaken. Just like me, you truly do have the Bakushin spirit within you!"
"…Senpai?"
After standing there stunned for a long moment, Kitasan Black asked in confusion:
"You're not angry? I just turned you down…"
"What's there to be angry about?"
Now it was Sakura Bakushin O's turn to look puzzled as she asked back, then once again laughed heartily while patting Kitasan Black's shoulder.
"The Bakushin spirit doesn't belong only to short-distance races!"
"Chasing the dream you long for and never giving up, no matter what—that is the Bakushin spirit!"
"Middle and long distances require extraordinary perseverance and strength as well—but I believe in you, Kita-chan!"
"You will definitely achieve your dream!"
A warm current suddenly surged through Kitasan Black's chest, her eyes growing slightly hot.
She couldn't quite explain why, but every time she met Sakura Bakushin O, putting the awkwardness aside, she always felt a genuine sense of closeness deep in her heart.
It was like seeing her grandfather, seeing family, or seeing her elementary-school-era instructor, Kuroshio Current-senpai.
At that moment, Makoto smiled and stepped forward.
While the two Umamusume had been talking—or rather, passionately "discussing"—the Bakushin spirit, he had taken the opportunity to glance around the training grounds.
Relying on his knowledge of race records, he quickly recognized the figures on the track as famous sprinters whose names were etched into racing history.
Nishino Flower. Biko Pegasus. North Flight.
Even Bamboo Memory was there.
Before becoming a patrol officer, she had also been a top-class sprinter during her active years, known as the "First Sprint King."
So this was a rehearsal? For upcoming sprint races…?
But the Sprinters Stakes had already ended, so maybe this was a review session?
Makoto thought it through quickly, then stopped himself and turned his attention to Sakura Bakushin O.
"Sakura Bakushin O-san, I'm Makoto Yasui—the one you exchanged messages with earlier—and Kitasan Black's assigned trainer."
"To put it simply, as I mentioned before, I came today to exchange ideas and ask for guidance on front running training, especially regarding power."
"So—"
Before he could finish, Sakura Bakushin O rather rudely swung her arm and burst into laughter.
"Then you've come at exactly the right time!"
"Come on, come on! Kita-chan, let's get started right away!"
"Bakushin! Bakushin!"
Without giving them any chance to object, she grabbed Kitasan Black's hand. Amid the stunned looks from both Kitasan Black and Makoto, Sakura Bakushin O raised her arm high, shouted "Bakushin," and charged toward the training ground.
After being dragged along for a few steps, the look of surprise on Kitasan Black's face quickly changed.
As if she'd been infected by the energy, she suddenly laughed brightly, raised her arm as well, and shouted back, "Bakushin!"
—This was a development he really hadn't expected.
Despite being surprised by Sakura Bakushin O's decisiveness, Makoto still didn't forget the purpose of their visit.
He jogged over to the side of the training ground and, only then finding the chance, nodded to Bamboo Memory—whom he had met once before—before focusing his full attention on the two Umamusume who had begun warming up.
Before long, he felt a faint sense of shock.
An hour or two later, that shock hadn't faded, in fact, it had only grown stronger.
Since becoming a trainer, setting aside video footage, he had personally witnessed quite a few races, including many with explosive starts in the opening phase.
He had also worked with many Umamusume—Kitasan Black among them—and Vodka and Gold Ship were likewise known for their sheer power.
In terms of raw strength outside of races, Sakura Bakushin O might not necessarily surpass them.
But during an actual race—or even just that simple side-by-side run just now—this was the first time Makoto had truly felt what "terrifying power" meant.
It probably wasn't his imagination. At the instant she launched forward, the ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble.
In the next moment, a large chunk of turf where she'd planted her foot was blown apart, grass roots and dirt flying everywhere.
And what followed was an equally terrifying burst of instantaneous speed.
As a fellow front runner, Kitasan Black had trained alongside Daiwa Scarlet, and alongside Silence Suzuka.
Even during her very first paired runs with those seniors, she had still been able to snatch the lead position once or twice.
But in her paired runs with Sakura Bakushin O… the number of times she managed to take the lead was… zero.
So compared to another power-explosion-type racer… did Kitasan still have untapped limits left to explore in this area?
Amid his astonishment, Makoto's eyes began to shine.