A perfect chance!
Sakuraba Ryo thought carefully about Kitahara Jo's question and realized this was exactly the opening he needed.
He had no idea why Kitahara had come to an outsider like him for advice on training Oguri Cap, but if he could use this chance to fill Kitahara's head with a bunch of useless suggestions, then Oguri Cap's rate of improvement would slow down, wouldn't it?
And if that happened, the odds of a delayed Oguri Cap winning the Japanese Derby would drop too.
Holy hell.
Wouldn't that be a great way to choke off Oguri's money-making potential?
I'm a genius.
So Sakuraba Ryo cleared his throat and asked Kitahara, "What do you think the essence of a domain is?"
First, hit him with a mysterious counter-question. Sure, I've got no clue what a domain actually is, but once Kitahara answers, won't I know?
"Mm... probably a kind of state. A state of intense mental focus. Supposedly, once an Umamusume enters that state, she can bring out strength far beyond her usual level."
Oh...
Got it.
Kitahara's explanation was clear enough. Sakuraba Ryo more or less understood what a domain meant in Kitahara's mind.
Key intel acquired for making stuff up. Next came the time to show off his talent for talking out of his ass.
"Kitahara, let me tell you something..."
Sakuraba Ryo lifted his chin slightly and stared at the ceiling with unfocused eyes, looking calm and profound.
"So that's all your understanding of a domain amounts to? I'm disappointed in you."
"Wha...?!"
Kitahara had not expected those words from Sakuraba Ryo at all.
"You think a domain is just simple concentration? Wrong!"
"A true domain can mentally pressure your opponent! It can restore stamina on the turns! It can increase the power of your final spurt in the final sprint!"
"That's exactly why Umamusume who've mastered a domain are so strong!"
Sakuraba Ryo rattled off those supposed effects with complete seriousness. He had played similar online games before. Going by Kitahara's description, this so-called domain was basically some kind of ultimate move with trigger conditions.
And if it was the effect of an ultimate move, then he could make up whatever effects he wanted.
"As for how to train a domain..."
Sakuraba Ryo gave Kitahara a mysterious smile.
"It's actually very simple!"
"All you have to do is tell Oguri Cap that once she learns how to eat while running, she'll master a domain."
"?"
This time, Kitahara was the one who couldn't make sense of it.
"Wait, Sakuraba-san, what does that mean?"
"Rotten wood cannot be carved. I can only say this much: I've laid it all out for you. Those who get it, get it. Those who don't, there's nothing I can do."
Faced with Kitahara's questioning, Sakuraba Ryo put on an unfathomable expression.
That was the proper bearing of a professional cryptic bastard.
Believe it or don't.
Either way, Kitahara had no way to verify whether anything he said was true, so Sakuraba Ryo just leaned all the way into the act.
As for Kitahara actually teaching Oguri Cap to master a domain through his method?
Hell no.
He'd made up those domain effects from scratch.
And the training method was just something he blurted out on the spot. There was no way that could produce anything real.
It was rock solid.
"That's all the advice I've got. I still have things to take care of, so you can take your time thinking it over, Kitahara."
"O-Okay..."
Watching Sakuraba Ryo's back as he pushed open the clubroom door and left, Kitahara sank into deep thought.
"Why does he want Oguri Cap to eat while running... what's that supposed to mean?"
Taken literally, Sakuraba Ryo's advice sounded like a fast track to appendicitis.
But would Sakuraba-san really give advice that unreliable?
Of course not.
If that was true, then his words couldn't be understood at face value.
But if not literally... then how was he supposed to interpret them?
"Mm... maybe if I ask Oguri Cap, I'll get an answer."
If he, as her Trainer, couldn't understand Sakuraba-san's intentions, then maybe Oguri Cap, as the Umamusume herself, would have some clue.
...
Tamamo Cross brought Oguri Cap to a quiet corner of the academy grounds.
"Tamamo... what did you want to say?"
Oguri Cap was a little puzzled. Why had Tamamo Cross picked somewhere so secluded to talk? Was she about to say something she didn't want others hearing?
"What kind of person is Sakuraba Ryo to you?"
Tamamo Cross turned around and got straight to the point.
"Why ask that all of a sudden?"
"Just answer."
"Ryo..."
Oguri Cap thought for a while, hesitated for a long time, and then said:
"Ryo is my investor... my friend... and someone important to me!"
"Someone important to you...?"
Tamamo Cross nodded after hearing her answer.
"Then do you know what Sakuraba Ryo's goal is?"
"Ryo's goal?"
Oguri Cap's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"He invested in both you and me, so naturally he has a purpose of his own."
"If you really see him as someone important, don't tell me you don't even know that much."
"..."
Oguri Cap fell silent.
The truth was, she really didn't know what purpose Tamamo was talking about.
Come to think of it, Sakuraba Ryo had been helping her selflessly all this time, yet she didn't even know what he truly wanted to do...
"Tamamo, please tell me. Sakuraba Ryo's goal."
Oguri Cap looked at Tamamo seriously and asked in an earnest voice.
Tamamo Cross folded her arms, sighed, and shook her head.
"So you really don't know anything... I thought that guy would've told you what he was thinking..."
"Forget it."
Tamamo Cross turned to face Oguri Cap.
"If I'm not mistaken..."
"Sakuraba Ryo's goal is actually very simple. He wants the regional circuit to rise again—so much that it can even surpass Central!"
"That's why he invested so much money in the two of us."
"However... right now, in Central, I'm here. I've already won the Tenno Sho Spring, so restoring the regional circuit's reputation only needs me alone."
Tamamo Cross looked at Oguri Cap and said seriously:
"In other words, if Sakuraba Ryo wants to achieve that goal..."
"All he needs is me."
"Oguri Cap."
"He doesn't need you by his side anymore."
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T/N: OOOOOOOOOOOOOH BUT GUYS?? ONE THING THATS NOT HIS GOAL :sob: