During the final two days of training for the Japanese Derby, Kitasan Black found her thoughts drifting back to that strange dream from time to time. Little by little, she could feel the heat rising inside her for this race.
It was an odd feeling.
The Japanese Derby stood among the greatest stages in all of horse racing, carrying special weight even within the Classic Triple Crown. As the day drew closer, attention from every corner of the industry converged on it.
Even on her usual days off, when she went shopping, she would see highlights from past Derbies, interviews with previous winners, expert analysis, and promotional features playing on screens at intersections and on the sides of buildings.
The spotlight on the upcoming runners burned especially bright.
For her, fresh off four straight victories and already the Satsuki Sho champion, she was the clear favorite.
Headlines blared everywhere: "First Battle Victorious! Can Kitasan Black Recreate the Undefeated Triple Crown Legend?" "Experts' Roundtable: Data Analysis of Kitasan Black's 2400 Meters," "Fan Art 'Festival Girl' Tops Charts: Kitasan Black's Derby Decisive Battle Image Ignites Creative Boom"...
Yet even at the very center of it all, she didn't feel anything particularly special.
It wasn't that she was taking the race lightly—being the focus of so much attention was exciting in its own way. But beyond that, there was nothing more. Her daily routine stayed exactly the same as it had been for the Satsuki Sho and every race before it: train when it was time to train, rest when it was time to rest.
That dream, though, had quietly made her aware of something she had been consciously setting aside amid all the excitement.
If she won the Japanese Derby... wouldn't that mean she would be standing in the same place as Tokai Teio-senpai?
The thought came with quiet clarity. She hadn't been oblivious before—she had simply chosen not to dwell on it.
She had watched countless races, both on screen and in person. She had stood on real racecourses herself. By now she understood that victory and dreams weren't things you could grasp just by wishing for them.
She was working hard. So was everyone else.
It had been a long time since she had gone out to play with Satono Crown. Every time she called or texted, or asked Satono Diamond, the answer was always the same: training. Duramente was no different—every morning, not long after Kitasan Black arrived at the track, she would spot that familiar figure already out there. Even in the evenings and on days off, training sessions continued without pause.
The same was true for Manhattan Cafe, Satono Rasen, and Musée Sultan, rivals she had faced before.
Sometimes, when she compared herself to them, she wondered if she wasn't training hard enough and needed to squeeze in extra sessions on her own.
Of course, she already had Yasui's instructions, so self-training remained just a passing thought.
In the end, everyone was pouring everything they had into their own victories and dreams. There was no point in entertaining "what ifs."
Rather than getting lost in speculation, the only path forward was to make the most of the time she had—to train properly and rest properly.
With that resolve, she completed the final two days of training without any loose ends.
===
On the afternoon of May 31st, in Kitasan Black's preparation room at Tokyo Racecourse.
Just like before every race, Yasui stood beside a large whiteboard covered in track diagrams, instructions, and numbers. His voice was steady as he laid out the plan.
"...In summary, the strategy for this race comes down to one thing: respond to all changes with no change."
"Deep Impact's reminder is crucial here, and Special Week and Vodka both strongly agree."
"The Japanese Derby is too important. New ideas, new running styles, new tactics—anything is possible."
"There are seventeen other participants besides you. Trying to account for every possible surprise move from all of them just isn't realistic."
"So I'll say it again: respond to all changes with no change. No matter how the others run, never lose sight of your own rhythm."
Kitasan Black listened carefully, jotting the phrase in her small notebook, carrot-shaped ballpoint pen resting against her chin. She thought for a moment.
"So... like Deep Impact-senpai did in the Training Race?"
Yasui nodded. "You could put it that way."
He paused, then continued. "But there are differences."
"Deep Impact's strength gives her a clear dominance in her generation. A lot of standard strategies simply don't apply to her."
"For example, in that Training Race—did you notice, or did she mention, that she often feels an uncontrollable urge to accelerate during races?"
Kitasan Black considered it. "It doesn't seem like it... though senpai did say something along those lines."
"Exactly," Yasui said. "I've seen interviews with her trainer. Your senpai has a very strong temperament and an extraordinary desire to run, whether in training or in actual races."
"So in races, she's often told to control her speed. That Training Race was the first time she was really allowed to run freely and enjoy herself."
"I'm telling you this because your thinking is on the right track, but..."
He hesitated for a beat.
"You can't simply copy her specific running style. Your strength isn't at that level yet."
Kitasan Black felt a small warmth in her chest at his careful phrasing—he clearly didn't want to hurt her pride. But she understood.
"Don't worry, Trainer. That's not what I meant," she said, reassuring him instead. "I feel the same way. I won't let my opponents throw me off. I know what my rhythm is."
Yasui nodded, satisfied. His Uma Musume had grown a great deal since her debut.
After a brief moment of reflection, he returned to the briefing.
"Strategy is one thing, but we still need to prepare for different scenarios."
"Beyond the usual start from the gate, the turns, and the straightaways, the biggest variable in the Japanese Derby is the slopes—especially the uphill section right before the final straight."
"The other slopes you've already mastered the techniques for. You can handle those."
"As for the final straight... let's assume you don't manage to take the lead."
As he spoke, he picked up a whiteboard marker of a different color and began marking the diagram while giving detailed instructions.
Kitasan Black listened intently, taking notes the whole time.
The pre-race briefing continued until nearly three o'clock.
The appearance segment was next. Yasui gathered his things, and together with Kitasan Black—now changed into her racing silks—they left the preparation room and headed for the underground passage.
He had planned to part ways with her at the entrance, but before they even got close, a group of Uma Musume appeared, led by Tokai Teio. They smiled and waved.
"One, two, three... Go, Kita-chan!"
Kitasan Black's face lit up. She rushed over, surprised and delighted.
"Seniors... you all came..."
For a moment, excitement left her at a loss for words. Then she bowed deeply, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Thank you. I'm truly grateful to all of you. In this race... I'll give everything I have. I won't let you down!"