Chapter 261: Where Exactly Am I "Small" Now?
After breakfast, the dining table was filled with laughter, the atmosphere as warm and pleasant as a spring morning.
As they chatted, Almond Eye suddenly remembered something. She excitedly jumped up and exclaimed:
"Oh right, right, Kita-senpai, Trainer!"
"My parents want to invite you to dinner, Trainer! And they'd like to talk with you about signing a contract!"
At this point, her face lit up with uncontrollable joy:
"And also, even though the entrance exam for Tracen Academy hasn't started yet, I'm super confident that I'll pass!"
"That means in about two months, I'll officially become a student at Tracen Academy and truly become Kita-senpai's junior!"
A hint of surprise flashed through Makoto's eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously.
He knew clearly that this seemingly sudden invitation was actually quite expected.
After all, he had already considered that after guiding Kitasan Black to a series of brilliant achievements, his reputation had been rising. It was only natural that Almond Eye's parents would change their minds.
At the same time, he recalled that Almond Eye's debut year happened to coincide with the year Kitasan Black would retire.
Entering the academy a year early for training fit perfectly into that timeline.
Thinking this through, he nodded slightly and replied:
"No problem. I'm also looking forward to meeting your parents. When would be a good time?"
Seeing him agree so readily, Almond Eye beamed and answered:
"That's up to your schedule, Trainer! My parents know you're injured, so they specifically told me to tell you to focus on recovery—they're not in a hurry."
Meanwhile, Kitasan Black was also smiling brightly.
During the process of cooking breakfast together with Almond Eye, the strange and conflicted feelings she had earlier had quietly disappeared without a trace.
Realizing this, she couldn't help but laugh at herself inwardly.
Why had she thought like that? Why had she felt so upset?
Training together with Almond Eye was something she had always looked forward to.
And besides, Trainer was so capable and outstanding, there was no way he would neglect one of them or fail to take good care of both.
With those thoughts in mind, seeing Almond Eye's cheerful expression, she couldn't help but smile and gently pat her head:
"Then you need to study hard and pass the exam, Ai-chan."
"That way, we can train and have fun together at the academy."
"I'm really looking forward to that day."
Watching this scene, Makoto smiled, finding the scene heartwarming.
But suddenly, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
Taking it out and glancing at it, his expression shifted slightly as he stood up.
Then, he silently walked into the bedroom on his own.
Closing the door behind him, he was about to answer the call—when it hung up, replaced by a message.
[Tokai Teio: How's your injury, Yasui-san? Call me back when it's convenient—preferably a video call.]
After thinking for a moment, Makoto returned the call with a video request.
The call connected quickly, and Tokai Teio appeared on the screen.
And not just her—standing beside her were Mejiro McQueen, Deep Impact, and Orfevre.
…Such a lineup? What exactly is going on…
Makoto couldn't help but feel a bit stunned.
Before he could react, Tokai Teio spoke first, her face full of concern:
"Yasui-san, how's your injury? Are you feeling okay?"
Her eyes were filled with worry as she asked, her high ponytail swaying slightly, making her concern even more apparent.
Feeling a warmth in his heart, Makoto smiled and replied:
"The examination results show it's nothing serious. As long as I rest properly, I'll recover. And with Kitasan taking care of me—she's handled all three meals since yesterday—I feel completely fine."
Relief appeared on Tokai Teio's face as she nodded:
"I know. I personally approved Kita-chan's leave request, and I told her to take good care of you."
"With her around, there's definitely nothing to worry about."
After saying that, her tone suddenly shifted, her expression turning serious:
"Even though it's not the best time to disturb you… there's something very important we need to discuss."
Makoto had already guessed as much.
They all knew about his injury, and over the past couple of days, they had deliberately avoided disturbing him while he received treatment, even helping to turn down interviews, banquets, and other obligations.
Given that, for them to initiate a video call now—and even gather all the key decision-makers from the student council—it had to be something major.
Thinking further about the responsibilities handled by Deep Impact and Orfevre, he had a rough idea of where this was heading.
Sure enough, Tokai Teio continued:
"Yasui-san, have you ever considered overseas expeditions?"
Hearing the words "overseas expeditions," Makoto nodded in understanding, though he couldn't help but frown slightly.
It wasn't that he had never thought about competing overseas—or that he hadn't expected Tokai Teio, or rather the academy and the association, to bring it up.
Umamusume racing in Japan's had started relatively late. Compared to places like the UK, where the sport originated, it lagged behind by more than a century.
Because of this, the racing system, training philosophies, and even commercial operations in Japan were largely modeled after more developed international systems.
At the same time, this influence fostered a kind of admiration—both explicit and implicit—toward overseas races and foreign Umamusume.
Simply put, achieving success in Japan's Twinkle Series could certainly establish a runner as strong.
But to earn unquestionable recognition, one had to compete overseas—in Europe or America—defeat the Umamusume there, and win international G1 races.
This admiration wasn't baseless. It was rooted in a long-standing pattern that reflected the industry's regard for overseas competitors.
The Japan Cup was one of the earliest international G1 races. When overseas Umamusume first began participating, none of the early champions were from Japan.
Not only that, even placing near the top was once out of reach for Japanese competitors.
This situation continued until the emergence of Katsuragi Ace and Symboli Rudolf.
But even after them, the Japan Cup once again came under the dominance of overseas Umamusume.
Because of this, the idea that "the Japan Cup champion isn't Japanese" was once practically considered common sense.