About three days later, Grand Ekinoks was discharged from the hospital. During this time, other fans who heard about her condition visited her.
It was clear that the time had come to enter a race at G level. It would take place in about two weeks on a 2000-meter turf track. For Grand Ekinoks, who had run a maximum of 1600 meters up to now, preparations for the Gazı Derby would officially begin.
Even though the race was at G3 level, it was a race. It was time for Grand Ekinoks to train for longer distances. It had also become apparent that the pain caused by her slight hunch was not as significant as I had thought.
I made some changes to the training program. We needed to prepare for longer distances. She would continue with light weights on her feet for the turf conditions. After training, I instructed her to do push-ups and sit-ups before going to the swimming pool.
The swimming pool program continued as before. The only difference was that we continued breath-hold training underwater.
Additionally, I kept an eye on what Grand Ekinoks ate. I can say that Melisa's advice was a lifesaver.
Not only the famous "Queen of the Outer Course" but other Umamusume would also be unable to race for several months.
In such an environment, a decrease in competition isn't good but we can say that the chance of winning the Gazi Derby has somewhat increased.
Up to the last three days there hadn't been many problems but today she hadn't come to training. I found this strange and spoke on the phone with the director of TJC Academy.
She said she wouldn't be coming to school today either, and I began to worry.
To find out what happened, I headed toward Grand Ekinoks's dorm.
There would surely be a dorm leader in any dorm who knew who was doing what and could track the status of other Umamusume. The dorm leader at Grand Ekinoks's residence was Johny Guitar.
A umamusume who always wore an eye patch, with long, rather messy, purplish-brown hair and a somewhat sleepy look. She was very tall and had curvy body lines. Like every umamusume, she wore a school uniform.
When I asked her about Grand Ekinoks's condition, she said that Cannon, her roommate, had told her that Grand Ekinoks was sick.
How could Grand Ekinoks suddenly fall ill if she had been very healthy until yesterday?
After learning where her room was from Johny Guitar, I climbed a few floors to the stairs and reached her room. I knocked on the door but there was no response.
"I'm coming in."
I was entering Grand Ekinoks's room for the first time. In dormitories, two Umamusume would stay in a room, living on their own sides.
Cannon's side was quite tidy, and there were posters of famous athletes on the wall.
Grand Ekinoks's side, on the other hand, was... I have to admit it was a bit messy.
Grand Ekinoks didn't seem to be expecting me. She sneezed loudly as she looked at me. Then she wiped her nose with a tissue and tossed it into the trash can, but she missed the target.
Grand Ekinoks was really sick.
This also explains why her side was so disorganized.
After sneezing again, she pulled the blanket over herself and even hid her face beneath the blanket.
I think I should be the umamusume that looks after her the way my mother looked after me when I was sick.