Chapter 27
That same evening, after Kitasan Black's paired training session with Daiwa Scarlet.
"Ehh?! So I'm actually suited for the Escape running style?"
In the sparsely populated dance studio, Kitasan Black exclaimed in surprise.
"Then why did you make me run from the back during my debut race, Trainer…?"
Sitting cross-legged across from her, Yasui Makoto was still scrolling through his tablet when Daiwa Scarlet, who was examining the resistance bands Kitasan Black had just used, casually replied
"That was for the sake of your future, Kitasan."
"Future? What do you mean, Daiwa-senpai?"
Kitasan Black looked at Daiwa Scarlet in confusion.
"…Has Trainer Yasui not done a post-race review of your debut with you yet?"
Daiwa Scarlet looked at Kitasan Black in surprise, then turned to Yasui Makoto with a slightly apologetic expression.
"My apologies. I spoke out of turn and disrupted your training plan."
"It's fine. I was planning to explain it to her after the paired training anyway."
Yasui Makoto replied casually, then turned his tablet toward Kitasan Black.
"Kitasan, you should have learned the basic requirements of an Escape runner in class, right?"
"Yes!"
Kitasan Black raised her hand confidently.
"Dash at full speed right from the start, quickly take the lead, and maintain that advantage all the way to the finish line.
"Trainer, did I get it right?"
"Very good."
Yasui Makoto nodded with a smile and continued:
"This running style demands very high instantaneous explosiveness and sustained speed. On top of that, rhythm is also crucial.
"If you're running alone at the front the entire time, you need to be aware of how far and how long you've run, how much distance is left, and how much time you still have. Otherwise, you'll quickly deplete your stamina.
"Do you remember what I told you at the very beginning of training?"
"Hehe… that my stride was a mess and my sense of rhythm was terrible…"
Kitasan Black scratched her head with a silly laugh, then her eyes suddenly lit up with realization.
"So that means… back then…"
"Trainer had already figured out the running style that suits me best?!"
"And all the training after that was arranged specifically for that?!"
The moment she said that, a look of astonishment flashed across Daiwa Scarlet's face. She stared at Yasui Makoto in disbelief.
If it was basic stride training, that was usually arranged right after signing the contract…
If she remembered correctly, Dr. Tachyon had said the two of them didn't even know each other before that…
They didn't know each other at all, yet he could tell at a glance what running style suited Kitasan and even arranged corresponding training for it…
What kind of genius trainer is this?!
Daiwa Scarlet couldn't help but be shocked.
Choosing a running style is an extremely complex matter. Physique, foot bone quality, strength, speed, explosiveness, stamina, all of these factors influence the decision.
Even veteran trainers with long careers wouldn't dare claim they could determine a newcomer's ideal running style with just one look. They usually needed a large amount of training data and at least some races before reaching a conclusion.
In fact, many horse girls only found their best running style one or two years after debut.
She knew plenty of such cases, including some of her own friends and familiar juniors and seniors.
So... did this trainer just did all that calculate the best running style for Kitasan in a few days?
While Daiwa Scarlet was quietly stunned, Yasui Makoto patiently explained to Kitasan Black.
"To be precise, it was only a guess at the time.
I looked through the public data of trainees from the past ten years and evaluated your explosiveness and endurance. I could tell that, among newcomers, your level in those areas was quite good.
Given that, it was natural to consider Escape and Leading.
As for why Escape suits you better, it's because…"
He paused for a moment.
"Your closing speed is fall short."
"Closing speed…"
Kitasan Black repeated the words, looked down at her own feet, then subconsciously glanced at Daiwa Scarlet.
"I'm sorry, Kitasan. My closing speed isn't great either."
Daiwa Scarlet openly admitted her own weakness, then spread her hands.
"But back then, I didn't need a strong closing speed to win except when I ran into… Cough, anyway…"
She suddenly cleared her throat and awkwardly changed the subject.
"Closing speed is a very special ability.
With it, you can concentrate all your remaining stamina into your legs during the final stretch and unleash terrifying speed.
In theory, every running style benefits from having this ability, but not everyone can develop it.
Compared to that, an Escape runner can gain a distance advantage through positioning and awareness. Even if their closing speed isn't great, they can still win.
Your instantaneous explosiveness and ability to accelerate and maintain speed over a certain distance are both good.
But your force control hasn't reached the level where we can seriously discuss closing speed yet.
So overall, Escape and to a lesser extent Leading and Free Leading are the most suitable styles for you.
Ah, I ended up talking too much again. This should have been Trainer Yasui's explanation…"
She looked a little embarrassed.
"It's fine. It doesn't matter who explains it."
Yasui Makoto didn't mind at all. He smiled, then looked at Kitasan Black seriously.
"Daiwa is right. Your most suitable running style is Escape, followed by Great Escape, Leading, and Free Leading.
"In other words, the tactic you used in your debut race was not the one best suited for you.
"That tactic carried quite a bit of risk, and I had mentally prepared myself for the possibility that you might lose your debut race."
"Lose… the debut race?"
Kitasan Black was stunned.
"How could that be…? I felt like I was running really comfortably at the time, and I even won in the end."
"That just means my judgment was accurate and that I didn't betray your trust."
Yasui Makoto smiled and continued explaining
"Before your debut race, your rhythm had already been adjusted to a certain level, and your instantaneous explosiveness and speed maintenance were already your strong points.
At the level of a debut race, you and your opponents basically had no technique to speak of. So in my view, forcing your way through and using a long-distance acceleration was enough to win.
The risk was there too.
If you had performed poorly, failed to time your move correctly, or the pack was too chaotic and you couldn't break through, there would have been nothing I could do.
But that risk was worth taking.
You can't be in the lead at every moment of every race. You will definitely encounter situations where you get overtaken.
The more important the race, the less suitable it is to use it just to get used to being overtaken.
Debut races and the few races after are different. The impact of winning or losing isn't that big. Even many top horse girls lost their early races.
So if it helps build a foundation for more important future races, even losing would have been worth it.
Of course, I'm not saying you can just lose whenever.
The opponents in your next races won't be complete newcomers. I will make detailed adjustments based on the situation.
I didn't explain these adjustments to you in detail before because you didn't have the experience yet.
But from now on, I'll gradually tell you more. Kitasan, you need to try to understand."
Without any hesitation, Kitasan Black nodded firmly.
"Yes! As I said before, no matter what instructions Trainer gives me, I will listen carefully and follow them to the letter!"
Hearing this, not only Yasui Makoto, but Daiwa Scarlet also smiled with satisfaction.
After smiling, the horse girl quietly glanced at Yasui Makoto, who had begun explaining the training details.
…If there's something to gain from it, even losing a debut race is worth it.
That was the logic, but to say it so casually and then actually use that strategy in a horse girl's very first race…
This trainer… really is a genius.
---
Bonus chapters
200 Stones - 1 chapter
400 Stones - 2 chapter
600 Stones - 3 chapters
And so on
Also visit my patreon for 30 advance chapters!
patreon.com/liztl