Yasui Makoto nodded to himself.
Air Groove's mother had also been an outstanding Uma Musume who won the G1 Oaks. After retiring, she first became a trainer and later worked at the elementary school affiliated with Tracen Academy.
From the records he had seen before, Duramente had attended that same elementary school. That meant the two of them had known each other for a very long time. On top of that, since they came from the same distinguished family, it was only natural that they had a close relationship.
"After talking it over with my mother and my trainer, we decided we should try to do something about her personality," Air Groove continued. "Even though I don't work here anymore, I've always kept an eye on each new batch of students at Tracen Academy.
"Kitasan Black is quite famous around the academy. I often see her in the school broadcasts or on the honor boards, noted for helping other students here and there.
"I haven't met her in person yet, but from what I've seen, she seems very cheerful and outgoing.
"That's why I was thinking... if Dura-chan could spend more time with such a lively classmate, it might help loosen up her personality a little. What do you think, Trainer Yasui?"
Listening to her explanation and seeing the troubled-mother look on Air Groove's face, Yasui Makoto thought it over. At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved.
Duramente's issue was not unique.
Uma Musume were pure, kind, and gentle by nature. That much was true. At the same time, their competitive drive was incredibly strong. It was exactly that spirit that gave rise to events like the Twinkle Series.
When handled properly, that competitive spirit could draw out even greater power during a race. When it wasn't, it could become a major obstacle.
What Air Groove described was a common problem known as race anxiety.
In that state, an Uma Musume would ignore the overall race strategy and her own physical condition. She would focus only on overtaking a specific opponent, accelerating at the wrong times and using energy when she shouldn't. This often led to wasted stamina and missing out on victory.
It was something nearly every Uma Musume could face at some point.
However, Kitasan Black's bright and cheerful personality made her much less likely to fall into that kind of anxiety. It was a very reassuring trait.
With that in mind, Yasui Makoto looked at the earnest Air Groove and said,
"Duramente has very strong competitive awareness. Only someone who cares so deeply about winning and losing would show this level of anxiety so early, even before and after her debut race.
"It just so happens that Kitasan Black has a very optimistic personality. She might really be able to help balance Duramente out in that regard."
Air Groove's eyes lit up.
"So, Trainer Yasui, you're okay with it?"
"If they train together, we can certainly give it a try."
Yasui Makoto nodded. "Besides, many things have both strengths and weaknesses. While Kitasan Black's cheerful nature helps her avoid race anxiety, it also means she sometimes lacks a certain sharpness... or rather, a single-minded dedication to the race itself.
"From what I've seen of Duramente, she's exceptional. She consistently finishes official races with a powerful late surge of 33.7 seconds. That's not something just anyone can do.
"Spending more time with a classmate like that should benefit Kitasan Black as well."
When he agreed, Yasui Makoto had considered many factors.
Having Kitasan Black and Duramente train together would allow their personalities to complement each other. But there was another important reason: knowing your enemy.
In another timeline, Kitasan Black and Duramente had been rivals who faced each other many times. In those encounters, Kitasan Black had never managed to come out on top.
Especially during her Classic year, she had been thoroughly defeated. In the Satsuki Sho, Duramente took first while Kitasan Black placed third. That was still a respectable result. But in the Japanese Derby, Duramente won again while Kitasan Black finished fourteenth, dead last. She didn't even appear on the final leaderboard after the race.
In this world, things might not play out exactly the same, especially with his involvement. Still, based purely on training performance and racing ability, Duramente was definitely an opponent worth studying closely.
It might be good to let the two of them interact earlier than they had in that other timeline.
Through that process, Kitasan Black could learn more about this rival and perhaps change the outcome of those future races.
Of course, knowing your enemy worked both ways. While he helped Kitasan Black understand Duramente better, Air Groove and Duramente would also come to understand him and Kitasan Black.
However, avoiding contact simply to prevent an opponent from learning about you was nothing more than running away.
Even if they didn't interact before a race, the race itself would reveal everything anyway. Refusing to engage was just hiding from reality.
Yasui Makoto was not the type of person who ran away from challenges. He never had been, and he never would be.
He preferred to face things head-on and do everything in his power to overcome them.
There was also the matter of his own future to consider. Air Groove had spent a long time involved with the Tracen Academy student council and now handled matters for the university division. She knew far more about the Twinkle Series than he did.
From a trainer's perspective, she was practically his senior.
More importantly, Uma Musume tended to be straightforward. If he asked her something directly, she would likely answer honestly without hiding anything.
Spending more time with such a senpai could only bring him benefits.
As Yasui Makoto was lost in thought, Air Groove looked at him with clear appreciation.
"Trainer Yasui really lives up to the rumors. No wonder you're ranked at the top of this year's assessment. It makes sense that Kitasan Black has been winning so consistently.
"Would you mind if we exchanged contact information?"
Yasui Makoto had no reason to refuse.
...
Meanwhile, at another table in the dining hall.
"Um... Dura-chan. Is it okay if I call you that?"
"...Yeah."
"Wait, do you not like it? If not, then... just Dura? Or Duramente?"
"...Mm."
"Okay then... I'll go with Dura-chan. Hey, Dura-chan, are you really only eating that much? Is it enough?"
"...Yeah."
"Uh... Do you want some of mine? Or should I order more for you?"
"...No need."
"Oh... okay..."
After the awkward exchange, Kitasan Black pressed her lips together and buried her face in the large pile of food in front of her.
She had no idea how to keep the conversation going with Duramente.
At first, she had assumed her new classmate was simply the shy type. She had dealt with quiet personalities before and thought she could handle it.
But no matter how she tried to start a conversation, Duramente remained quiet and distant. Kitasan Black even began to worry that she was talking too much or being too pushy.
Still, after eating for a while, she told herself it was probably because they had only just met. Duramente was likely just too shy to open up right away.
With that thought, she tried changing the subject.
"Um... Dura-chan, why did you decide to become an Uma Musume...?"
She expected another simple "mm" or "ah" after a long pause, just like before.
Instead, Duramente slowly lifted her gaze from her plate and looked over with cool, steady eyes.
"Because... I want to be the fastest... the strongest... and the supreme."