"Still, seeing it with my own eyes like this... I'm honestly at a loss for words. I reviewed all the training programs you put together, but to think Maya actually completed all of this..."
Trainer Sakahara stared down at the tablet in his hands, though his gaze frequently shifted back to Mayano Top Gun as she tore down the turf. Having stepped into the role of Pleiades' sub-trainer immediately upon his return, he had faithfully followed Rampage's directive to make Maya his primary focus. Yet, he couldn't hide his utter astonishment at her current capabilities. What shocked him even more was the realization that the vast majority of the regimens that built this foundation consisted of incredibly basic, fundamental exercises.
"Trainer-chaaan~! Did you see Maya's run just now?!"
"I saw every single step," Sakahara called back with a warm smile. "Let's adjust the next set to focus more on your upcoming race strategy, alright?"
"Roger that~!!"
Maya was, for better or worse, a textbook prodigy. No matter the technique, she could master it almost instantly. She was equally sharp academically, which unfortunately meant her classroom attitude left much to be desired, and she rarely bothered to do her homework. For a girl like that to listen so intently and follow repetitive, grueling fundamental drills without a single word of complaint was a massive testament to just how phenomenal of a leader Rampage truly was.
"Actually, I think you're misreading the situation a bit."
"Ah, Kamitsuru-san."
"Please, drop the 'san.' You're older than me and my senior in every way," Ue-chan replied, stepping up beside him.
"Then... Kamitsuru-kun? Calling you 'chan' like the girls do feels a bit much."
"'-kun' works perfectly."
Ue-chan offered a gentle smile, as if perfectly picking up on the older trainer's internal modesty.
"Rampage is certainly a brilliant trainer, but more than that, her capabilities as an Umamusume are still completely off the charts. The sheer weight of her past achievements gives her advice an undeniable persuasive power. She's incredibly skilled at finding the right angle to make the girls understand why they need to do something. But on top of all that..."
"On top of that?" Sakahara asked.
"Maya is just ecstatic to finally be by your side again."
Maya still addressed Rampage formally, and she affectionately called Ue-chan 'Ue-chan.' The only person she strictly and proudly referred to as 'Trainer' was Sakahara. She had fully expected to charge through the Twinkle Series with him from day one, only for his devastating accident to tear that future away. In a strange way, that painful separation had left a profoundly positive mark on her growth. Right now, she was simply overflowing with joy at the mere fact that Sakahara was back.
"So, you're saying she's cooperating out of pure happiness?"
"More like... she finally realized how much she was taking things for granted before," Ue-chan mused.
"Maya, you can't just keep babying yourself around Trainer-chan. You need to get strong—strong enough that you can protect him next time!!"
Those fierce, parting words from Tamamo Cross during the summer training camp had struck a deep, permanent chord in Maya's heart. Was it really okay to just be a sheltered child protected by her trainer? Was it okay to stay weak? No. I need to have the grit to stand tall and protect him instead.
To the Maya of the past, those words would have felt impossibly heavy. But to the Maya of today, they had transformed into a solemn vow. Now that Trainer Sakahara had safely returned to active duty, she had firmly resolved to become a towering wall of strength capable of shielding him from any harm.
"I see... So Tamamo Cross-san said that to her..." Sakahara murmured softly, looking touched. "I'll have to go thank her properly the next time I see her."
"Knowing this team, you'll probably get a chance sooner rather than later," Ue-chan chuckled. "Rampage has a habit of casually bringing incredibly famous, legendary figures right to our doorstep."
"No, I should be the one to go seek her out. When it comes to expressing gratitude, taking the initiative to go in person is what matters most."
Watching him speak, Ue-chan couldn't help but admire the older man's unshakable integrity. He really is a remarkably virtuous person. It made perfect sense why Maya trusted him implicitly and had celebrated his return with every fiber of her being.
"By the way, where did the guest of honor disappear to? Where is Rampage?"
"Ah, she's over with Team Canopus right now. Minamizaka-san won't be back in Japan until the Breeders' Cup wraps up, so Rampage's schedule is going to stay absolutely hectic for a while longer."
"Then I'll just have to work twice as hard to lighten her load as much as possible," Sakahara said, rolling up his sleeves.
"You're still technically recovering from a major illness, so please promise me you won't overdo it," Ue-chan warned with a wry smile.
"Phew... Alright, let's take a breather!"
"As expected, running alongside you really ignites a fierce competitive fire."
"You're about the only one who can crack jokes with a straight face right after a sprint like that, Ikuno."
On a separate track far removed from the Pleiades training grounds, the members of Team Canopus were in the middle of a brutal running session. While nearly everyone else was hunched over, gasping for breath, the 'Iron Lady' Ikuno Dictus stood completely upright, conversing with absolute, unbothered composure. Even Rampage was visibly breathing hard. It was a stark, humbling reminder that when it came to sheer, bottomless stamina, no one could truly best Ikuno.
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