Chapter 197: The Portfolio
As for what Kitasan Black was talking about, Makoto wasn't unaware of it.
After all, Satono Crown's race schedule wasn't some kind of secret, one look at the race-related platforms would show it clearly.
To be honest, from a trainer's perspective, withdrawing from the Kikuka Sho and switching to the Autumn Tenno Sho wasn't a problematic decision at all.
Especially when viewed from the standpoint of a conglomerate like the Satono family.
Aside from Satono Crown and Satono Rasen, who had competed on the same stage as Kitasan Black, there were quite a few other racers from the Satono family currently active in the Twinkle Series.
For example, Satono Noble—a senpai of Kitasan Black and the others—had debuted one generation later than Gold Ship and was still active on the racecourse.
However, compared to Kitasan Black, Satono Crown, and Gold Ship, Satono Noble's results weren't particularly outstanding.
A second place in the Kikuka Sho was her best result so far.
In this year's races, she had finished 11th in the New Year Stakes and 10th in the Sankei Sho—none of her appearances had gone well.
Beyond that, there were many other "Satono" Umamusume who didn't even qualify for graded races, instead running in OP, Pre-OP, or other events.
With so many Umamusume under its banner, even a family as financially powerful as the Satono Group couldn't possibly distribute resources evenly to every single one. There were inevitably priorities.
Satono Crown and Satono Rasen were clearly among those who received more attention.
At the same time, even that attention had its own focus—or rather, strategies that were more beneficial to the family's overall development.
You shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket, a saying that also exists in Japan.
Since both had the strength to challenge G1 races, one could run in the Autumn Tenno Sho while the other ran in the Kikuka Sho.
That way, they wouldn't compete against each other, and the chances of winning a G1 would increase.
That was probably the Satono family's line of thinking.
He felt that he himself could accept such things.
In his previous life, he had experienced plenty of similar situations, so much so that it had become second nature. He understood that this was simply reality.
He also felt that, for the straightforward racers, these matters might be too complicated. Just because he could understand them didn't mean Kitasan Black could.
And besides, these things had little to do with training or racing. It would be better to change the subject and talk about something else.
But over this period of time—especially just now—he suddenly realized that while racers were indeed pure, that didn't mean they were incapable of understanding the complexity of reality.
Take Kitasan Black, for example. Her career wasn't just about training and racing, it also involved conflicts, contradictions, and relationships with other racers who were both rivals and friends.
Satono Crown and the others were likely the same. They were all growing, their states of mind constantly changing.
Perhaps he should have noticed this earlier.
When racers like Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen had first stepped onto the racecourse, they were probably just as simple-minded as Kitasan Black once was, focused solely on training and racing.
It was only after clashes with other Umamusume outside of training and competition, after experiencing success and failure, injuries, and many other things, that they gradually grew into what they were now—leaders among racers.
If that was the case, then perhaps there was no need to avoid anything.
He could simply tell Kitasan Black what he knew.
Having made up his mind, Makoto turned to face Kitasan Black and said after a moment's thought:
"Actually, I know a little about Satono Crown's situation—"
After explaining what he knew about the Satono family, he continued:
"—So that's the reality of it. From our point of view, it's hard to say whether that decision is right or wrong—after all, there are only two of us."
"That's why I wanted to tell you what I know. Maybe with this, you'll be able to figure out how you want to respond to Satono Crown."
"That's what you were hoping for when you asked me, right?"
As she listened to her Trainer explanation, Kitasan Black started out with a serious expression. Gradually, her mouth fell open, and that seriousness turned into a complicated, thoughtful look.
Hearing his question, she fell silent for a long while. Biting her lip, she nodded and let out a long breath.
"So… Crow-chan really doesn't have a choice?" Her voice was so light it felt like it might be carried away by the wind like a dandelion seed, yet the tips of her ears were faintly red with emotion.
The ponytail behind her swayed slightly with her movement. Her posture, usually straight, now curved like a question mark. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her tracksuit until they turned pale.
Makoto noticed the light in her hair in the sunlight—the radiance that only bloomed in moments of victory—now veiled by a shadow.
"A choice… when it comes to considerations like portfolio investment, probably not," he replied carefully.
"Just like how you adjust your stride before every race, families adjust their race allocations as well."
"If you want there to be a choice, then actually—"
His words were suddenly cut off by Kitasan Black's movement.
She abruptly lifted her head, her red pupils narrowing into thin lines under the sunlight before slowly widening again, as if she were struggling to focus on those invisible, complicated connections.
"—If…"
She suddenly turned around, her hair brushing against Makoto's arm.
"If I had been born into the Satono family… would I have been arranged like that too?"
Her eyelashes cast scattered shadows beneath her eyes. The corners of her mouth, however, lifted stubbornly. Before Makoto could answer, she suddenly took a deep breath and said:
"If that really were the case… I'd definitely sneak out to run in the Kikuka Sho."
"Even if I were found out, even if I were stopped…"
"I'd still find a way to run the entire race!"
Looking at the sudden light in her eyes, Makoto realized that he had underestimated the girl—or perhaps the resilience of Umamusume as a whole.
They were indeed pure, and at times they seemed fragile, yet they could also be like reeds in a typhoon, finding balance amid the storm.
"Thoughts like mine… Crow-chan might not necessarily have them. And even if she does, she might not be able to act on them."
Kitasan Black spoke again. This time, her voice was no longer heavy with worry, but had returned to its usual brightness.
"But I want to tell her what I think."
"Because even without thinking like me, Crow-chan will definitely keep running."
"All I can do is tell her that no matter what race she runs, we'll still keep running together."
She hopped back two steps, her sneakers tapping crisply against the ground, a lively, energetic smile spreading across her face.
"Since I said we'd keep running together, I can't let Crow-chan—or everyone else—leave me behind."
"The Kikuka Sho is in just two weeks now. I can't afford to waste time."
Then she ran back over with another smile and grabbed Makoto's hand.
"Alright, then—let's keep going, Trainer!"
Pulled unexpectedly toward the edge of the track, Makoto looked at Kitasan Black, who had stepped out of her worries and returned to her usual self, and couldn't help but smile knowingly.
This vibrant, energetic girl before him was the Kitasan Black he knew so well.
After experiencing so much, she had indeed matured considerably. Through training after training and race after race, her mindset had undergone many changes.
Yet no matter what situation she faced, her heartfelt cheerfulness, positivity, and diligence had never changed.