Yasui's Extreme Stunts had initially astonished Kitasan Black, but she quickly grew fascinated by them. Especially once her trainer explained and demonstrated more movements.
Just the wall climb and aerial spins left her with a novel, cool feeling she could hardly contain once she came back to her senses.
The spinning heel kicks, flying armbars, and that other move she'd dubbed "Yellah" captivated her even more. Compared to those, splitting cobblestones suddenly seemed ordinary.
But when she returned to Tracen Academy for regular training, she found the tasks unchanged.
I guess I'll only get to start the new training after I finish these, she thought.
That mindset only deepened her disappointment once training ended.
"...Trainer, didn't we agree to practice Extreme Stunts?"
Pouting, fists clenched and swinging, Kitasan Black looked at Yasui with hopeful eyes.
"When do we start? Oh, right—you said Extreme Stunts needs a lot of special tools. Why haven't I seen any?"
She glanced around, belatedly noticing the lack.
Yasui looked up from his tablet, surprised—and delighted—by her enthusiasm.
Since deciding to become a trainer, he'd spent most of his time studying, weaving various training methods from his past into physical regimens and occasionally reading reports on Extreme Stunts in this world. Those reports often brought back memories of discussions with old colleagues. He still dreamt of performing on cliff edges, glaciers, and thousands of meters in the air. The adrenaline rush, the genuine thrill, the passion—he could feel them vividly even in dreams.
Extreme Stunts hadn't just been his career. It was his passion. The very reason he'd turned it into a profession. Each challenge to the limit only made that fire burn hotter.
Seeing Kitasan Black's excitement now, he regretted how focused he'd been on theory and logic earlier. He hadn't shared his deep love for it with his Uma Musume. If he had, they might have become fellow enthusiasts beyond just trainer and trainee.
But it wasn't too late.
Having survived a flight accident, he understood the dangers of Extreme Stunts better than almost anyone alive here. Safety came first—before indulging his own hobby.
"I know you're eager, but don't rush, Kita-chan."
When talking about Extreme Stunts, Yasui's tone grew more relaxed, though no less passionate.
"This kind of special training is tough, and the risks are real. It needs specific tools. You heard my talk with Kitajima-sensei yesterday, right? The tools should arrive soon. Until then, you'll have to practice calmness, patience, and waiting."
"Calmness... patience... waiting..."
Kitasan Black repeated the words, fists still clenched. She took a deep breath—then suddenly smiled.
"Trainer... you've gotten really strange all of a sudden."
"Strange?"
Yasui blinked. "What's strange about me?"
"It's just... you're usually so careful with everything you say and do." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Even when we play games, you're all about strategies and calculations. Dia-chan told me you lecture like a teacher even in games. But the moment you talk about Extreme Stunts, it's like you're a completely different person. You get so excited."
Yasui thought back and chuckled.
"Can't I have a hobby? What's wrong with getting excited about something I love?"
He saw the lingering disappointment on her face and considered.
"How about this? The special tools aren't here yet, but if you really want to try, we can start with something simple... or just play around a bit."
Her ears perked up, tail wagging nonstop. Kitasan Black's eyes sparkled.
"Really?! Trainer, you're the best!"
Smiling, Yasui looked around and pointed toward the spectator stands beside the track.
"Let's head over there."
What he had in mind was "vertical wall running"—an introductory but classic Extreme Stunts technique. Compared to the true wall climb they'd do later, this was more of a basic version.
Parkour formed the backbone of many Extreme Stunts movements. Precise jumps, cat leaps, quick obstacle navigation—all built on vertical wall running. In real performances, terrain was rarely flat. Being able to move along vertical surfaces made everything else easier. In advanced vertical techniques like wall climbing, single-foot wall runs, and rebound jumps, vertical wall running was the essential foundation.
The upcoming Japanese Derby featured multiple uphill and downhill sections with constant undulations. Especially the final 460 meters: a 140-meter continuous uphill stretch, followed by a 300-meter straight to the finish. Handling that slope well was key. Uphill sections drained stamina fast, forcing speed adjustments for gravity and control. The straight after was the last push—demanding top sprint speed. Strong vertical displacement ability would let her crest the hill quickly and smoothly, setting up a strong finish.
Vertical wall running and wall climb both trained exactly that.
A moment later...
"Wow! I remember now!"
Following Yasui's instructions, Kitasan Black pushed off the spectator stand wall a few times, then hopped lightly on her tiptoes.
"I knew Extreme Stunts sounded familiar! I've seen it in movies, in the Noh plays Grandpa took me to, and in the games I play with Satono Diamond! It's ninjas!"
She clasped her hands together, index and middle fingers extended like a ninja seal.
"Trainer, will I be able to run 'swish, swish, swish' across walls and rooftops like a ninja too?"
With more excitement than he realized, Yasui tapped the wall with a bent finger, a smile on his lips.
"Ninjas, huh... First, try running three or four meters up the wall. Your run-up was a bit slow just now—totally normal for beginners. Your starting angle was too wide. The first few steps might work, but you won't generate power later. Your first foot placement was too low. It should be about waist height, and you want contact with the ball of your foot or the side of your toes. Your strides were off—the run-up ones were too short, and the wall steps were too long. Also... never mind."
Just like during the earlier walking climb demonstration on the stone pillar, he rolled up his sleeves, unbuttoned his collar and cuffs, and smiled wider.
"I'll show you how it's done."