[67]
Regarding the plans for the second half of the year and the coming year, Kitahara ultimately wrote down both the domestic campaign and the overseas expedition parts. After saving a copy for himself, he uploaded copies to Akikawa Yayoi, Kashimoto Riko, and the Student Council respectively.
The reason he was hesitant before was that this work was not just an internal matter for the trainer and the team, but also a school assignment.
The job of a trainer is somewhat similar to that of a teacher; the arrangements for training and competitions are like a lesson plan, part of the job, and in other words, they need to be reviewed by superiors.
The purpose of the arrangement is also this: if the follow-up plan cannot be finalized for a long time, there will be some problems with competition registration, and some races might be missed.
In the parallel world, the regret of Oguri Cap failing to register for the Classic Triple Crown was directly modified. In this timeline, she did not encounter this situation, which conversely meant that these regulations have not yet been formally changed.
Currently, Kitahara took the time to suggest this to Akikawa Yayoi, and the Chairwoman is now working hard to address it.
Therefore, after struggling with the regulations, his approach of submitting several copies of the plan also had a bit of a desire to find others to share the headache with.
In any case, if this set of arrangements can get a clear answer, it will be very beneficial for both current races and future development. Surely, those big figures can't just watch and do nothing.
So, after submitting both proposals, he patiently waited for a response and set about the special training for the Uma Musume's races.
Targeting specific races, Oguri Cap , Super Creek, and Mejiro Ardan are naturally preparing for the Japanese Derby.
For Tamamo Cross and Inari One, after deliberation with Kitahara and Komiyama, they decided to wait for the voting results of the Takarazuka Kinen and the Takamatsunomiya Cup.
These two races are slightly special.
Generally, most Central G1 and Local SP1 races in the Twinkle Series have a specific priority determination.
For races like the Classic Triple Crown and the Spring/Autumn Tenno Sho, the entry qualification priority is sequentially:
Uma Musume who won or placed in the top two of the preliminary race (the prep race).
Those with a high ranking in fan popularity.
Those within the specified fan range who win an entry slot via lottery among designated participants.
Uma Musume who registered for the race but failed to qualify, i.e., reserve runners. If the aforementioned qualified runners withdraw for various reasons, these reserves will be filled in order based on fan popularity, lottery qualification, etc.
However, the Takarazuka Kinen has no prep race, and neither does the Arima Kinen at the end of the year.
These two races can be seen as the "All-Star Games" of the Japanese Uma Musume world. As long as they sign up for the popularity vote organized by the URA association and receive enough votes during the fan voting phase, they can choose to participate.
In addition, these two races are the final battles of the spring season and the entire year's season, respectively. After 2017, they also became the tail ends of the "Senior Spring Triple Crown" (Osaka Hai, Spring Tenno Sho, Takarazuka Kinen) and the "Senior Autumn Triple Crown" (Autumn Tenno Sho, Japan Cup, Arima Kinen).
Therefore, these two races hold very special significance for the entire Japanese Uma Musume world.
The Takamatsunomiya Cup is another special case, and this race is quite different from its later form.
Historically, the race was initially named the "Chukyo Daishoten," then renamed the "Takamatsunomiya Cup," scheduled in July, with a distance of 2000m (Middle distance), and a G2 classification.
In '98, it was renamed the "Takamatsunomiya Kinen," changed to a 1200m turf sprint, upgraded to an International G1 race, and moved to March, becoming the first turf G1 race of the year and the final decider for the Spring Sprinter's King title.
This means that at the current time, the Takamatsunomiya Cup can be considered the opening of the summer and even the second half of the year's middle-distance races, also holding extraordinary significance.
Winning such a race would naturally greatly assist the future development of Tamamo Cross and Inari One and hold crucial meaning for the team's future. Kitahara certainly did not want to miss such a victory.
Fortunately, the Japanese Derby is at the end of May, while the Takarazuka Kinen and Takamatsunomiya Cup are in June and July respectively, allowing the times to be perfectly staggered. Tamamo Cross and Inari One can also serve as training opponents during this period to strengthen the abilities of Oguri Cap and the others.
Since forming the team, this aspect has become much more convenient. There is no need to rely on luck, like in the game, waiting for "Support Cards" to provide a "Friendship Training bonus"; adjustments can be made anytime and anywhere.
So, after a wind tunnel training session that day, and referencing the newly released data, Kitahara divided the team into two parts, similar to the preparation period before the Satsuki Sho prep race.
"Creek and Ardan's upcoming training task is to trigger their respective domains as soon as possible. There has been sufficient preparation for this in previous races, and it should be achievable through training races now."
Facing his team, Kitahara instructed, "Maruzensky, Oguri, and Inari, you will conduct this training with the assistance of Tora and Kyoko."
"Others who want to come and observe the training should follow Tahara's arrangements."
The participants in the training venue are not limited to members of the Eisei Team.
After previous races and events like the Welcome Ceremony, the team's trainer, Uma Musume, and their various methods have become quite famous within the Academy. Uma Musume who come seeking to learn are virtually endless.
Uma Musume who had previously come to run upon Gold City's (黄金城) invitation have been coming more frequently recently. Katsuura Kaitei , Dyna Cosmos
Gold City herself did not come today. Through her friends, Kitahara learned that this recently retired Uma Musume is currently accompanying her friend Sakura Star O, who has recently finished her recuperation and started restorative training, seemingly with the intention of returning to competition.
In addition to these familiar faces, there are "newcomers" in this training session: Mihono Bourbon and Narita Brian.
Kitahara was not very surprised by Narita Brian's arrival.
At the Welcome Ceremony, this Uma Musume specifically came to ask for his autograph. Whether she was interested in him personally or in his training methods, it indicated a significant inclination toward Eisei. Therefore, it was reasonable for her to want to observe and participate in the training.
He was surprised that Mihono Bourbon was drawn over. However, after specifically asking her, her answer made perfect sense to him.
"Master Kitahara's training methods are very strict, precise, and accurate, which aligns with my father's teaching. I hope to learn more here."
Well, it turns out she was attracted by the data-driven coaching approach here. It's not completely unexpected.
Kitahara knows that this Uma Musume's personality is very rational. The training she received since childhood was also in this style. She habitually measures things with numerical values and guides others and Uma Musume with precision down to the "meter." She can also only accept this form of communication herself.
Because of this personality, she has the nickname "Cyborg" at the academy, and many students once speculated, "Is she a mechanical Uma Musume?" and "Does she drink engine oil normally?"
Kitahara naturally wouldn't refuse Narita Brian and Mihono Bourbon wanting to train alongside them. The former historically possessed Triple Crown potential, and although the latter lost to Rice Shower by a length and a quarter after her undefeated Double Crown, this does not affect her ability rating.
[Rice shower after destroying both Mihono Bourbon and Mcqueen's records: 😔😌]
The arrangement for Creek and Ardan involved most of the team, but Kitahara felt that the personnel for training Oguri Cap were sufficient.
The focus here is to analyze Oguri Cap's state during cornering and high-speed sprinting to determine the necessary conditions for an "Ultra-High-Speed Lane Change" and thus design corresponding running technique training.
Within the Eisei Team, Tamamo Cross is currently the most adept at position switching. Even though her sprinting power and speed are different from Oguri Cap's, the similarities can still be used as a reference.
Komiyama naturally also had to follow. She watched Tamamo Cross grow up from childhood, so she has spent more time with her. Therefore, she might discover more details during the specific training.
Also joining this group are Oguri Roman, Gold Ship, and Just A Way.
The presence of Oguri Roman and Gold Ship was within Kitahara's plan.
The two main Uma Musume training here are gray coats. Oguri Roman and Gold Ship are also gray coats. Following the initial concept, Gold Ship, who has not yet entered her proper blooming phase, will be used to collect relevant data, and similarly, Oguri Roman's data can also be collected.
In this way, the data of these four Uma Musume can construct a complete dataset for the gray coat bloodline: pre-Blooming, early Blooming, mid-Blooming, and mature Blooming. This will allow for a more rational completion of an entire "Gray Coat Bloodline Data Model."
The arrival of the little one, Just A Way, was both unexpected and somewhat reasonable for Kitahara.
After obtaining permission from Imina Ryuji and applying through the school and the kindergarten, he can now allow Gold Ship to regularly come to Central Tracen to assist with training. However, this matter must have been leaked by the little one.
Then, upon learning that there were "many gray coat Uma Musume" here,Just A Way, the "gray coat enthusiast," begged her parents for a long time. Finally, under the pretext of "visiting and studying," she followed Gold Ship to the Central Tracen Academy.
Given this situation, Kitahara could only think, "If she's here, she's here. I can't just send the little one away after she came all this way." He then added a slightly uneasy instruction:
"Little Way, if you are here to study, remember not to neglect your kindergarten homework. You must listen carefully when tutoring Gold Ship after training."
Facing Kitahara's instruction, little Ichiro-tsu nodded obediently.
"Mm-hmm, don't worry, Uncle Kitahara. My grades are very good. Actually, I'm the one who usually helps Gold Ship and the others with their schoolwork."
"Besides, to get Gold Ship to agree to my coming this time, I also agreed to write some of her homework for her, so don't worry about my studies."
...When you say that, I'm more worried about Gold Ship's schoolwork. This girl is truly mischievous. Does she know how to negotiate with her friends from a young age? Is she preparing to learn negotiation skills in advance, so she can sell yakisoba later?
Thinking of Gold Ship's eccentric habit of selling yakisoba during races in the anime, Kitahara sighed internally and decided to temporarily leave the two little ones aside, letting them quietly observe the training to prevent any trouble.
"Little Oguri, watch your sister and Sister Tama's training later."
After making Gold Ship and Ichiro-tsu stand obediently on the side, Kitahara instructed Oguri Roman, "You have just enrolled, so you haven't encountered many professional concepts yet, or you've only just heard them."
"So, when the training starts, watch as much as you can understand. For what you don't understand, record it first, and ask me or Sister Komiyama promptly during the break time."
"Do you understand?"
Oguri Roman's attire at this moment was similar to Kitahara's and Komiyama's. Except for not wearing a stopwatch around her neck, she was also carrying a pair of binoculars and a clipboard.
"Y-yes, I understand... Ouch! I bit my tongue..."
It seemed to be her first time experiencing such formal training, and the little one was a bit nervous. Seeing this, Kitahara couldn't help but smile, patted her head, and signaled her to relax.
At this time, Just A Way, who was standing obediently on the side, couldn't resist. She approached somewhat ingratiatingly and took Oguri Roman's hand.
"Sister, you don't need to be nervous. If you are nervous, you can do it like this."
Saying this, she wrote the character "気" (ki, meaning spirit/energy) on Oguri Roman's palm, helped her clench her fist, and then smiled, "Sometimes when I go out of kindergarten to participate in activities, I also get a little nervous."
"Then Gold Ship told me that as long as I write a character like this in my hand and clench it, I won't be nervous anymore."
Gold Ship, who was initially pouting her lips enough to hang a teapot because she saw Just A Way befriending Oguri Roman, instantly changed her expression upon hearing her friend attribute the credit to her and walked over with a cheerful grin.
"That's right, that's right! This is Gold Ship's exclusive secret. It's definitely useful, Try it, and you won't be nervous!"
The interactions between the little ones brought a knowing smile to Kitahara and Komiyama. Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross, who were already ready at the trackside, also couldn't help but laugh.
"Next, I need to explain the key points of this training to you, Tamamo."
Holding the clipboard and looking at the organized content on it, Kitahara looked at Tamamo Cross, then glanced at Oguri Cap beside her.
"She is already familiar with the training content. To put it simply, it is to reasonably reduce the negative impact of inertia at high speed on the race and try to utilize inertia to optimize running."
The guidance method for Oguri Cap is mainly practical, but Tamamo Cross is more receptive to theory. Her usual performance is excellent, and providing some theory will allow this Uma Musume to perform even better.
"Your physics class covered that every object has inertia. The relevant formula can be expressed as F=ma."
"F is the net external force on the object, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration of the object."
"This concept means that when an object has acceleration, the inertia of the object will cause it to have a tendency to maintain its original state of motion."
"At this time, if the object is taken as a reference frame, and a coordinate system is established on that reference frame, it appears as if an oppositely directed inertial force is acting on the object, causing it to displace within the coordinate system."
"Newton's laws of motion do not hold true in a non-inertial system, so mechanical problems cannot be dealt with directly using Newton's laws of motion."
"If one still hopes to deal with these problems using Newton's laws of motion, an inertial force acting on the object must be introduced."
"This is the source of inertia."
After explaining the theory, Kitahara clearly saw Tamamo Cross thoughtfully pinching her chin, while Oguri Cap's eyes were rolling, looking as if stars were spinning in her eyes.
"...Tamamo, can you understand?" Oguri Cap, who obviously hadn't understood the theory, lowered her voice and asked.
"I can understand it, but..."
Tamamo Cross pondered, then wordlessly curled her lip to the side, "I can't explain it to you, Oguri..."
"You'd better listen to Uncle Kitahara's explanation later. He will likely accommodate you and explain it again, although I feel you actually know what's going on..."
Kitahara doesn't have the excellent hearing of an Uma Musume and could only see the two Uma Musume whispering, so he continued without much concern:
"Specifically in training and races, the impact of inertia is that even if both of you choose to accelerate at the same time, the effect on you will be different."
"This can actually be further explained using a formula. F=ma can be re-expressed using momentum and impulse, which is mv=Ft."
"From the formula, we can see that mass, velocity, force, and time have a certain relationship."
"That is to say, the greater your mass, the more you want to change your velocity within the same time, the more force you will need."
"Or, using the same force, the more you change your velocity, the longer the time you will spend."
He pointed to Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross respectively.
"Oguri Cap's mass (weight) is much greater than Tamamo's, and her power is also much stronger."
"So, even in regular training, you can feel that compared to Tamamo, Oguri Cap needs to either spend more time or expend more stamina to change direction during the sprint phase."
"Oh, now I understand!"
Afraid of being criticized for speaking too slowly, Oguri Cap raised her hand somewhat happily, "It does feel much easier for Tamamo in the bends and during the final sprint phase."
"It is indeed very exhausting for me to adjust direction at those moments, and if I hesitate for a moment, the opportunity instantly passes."
"So, the purpose of this training is to make the direction change faster at that time, but without reducing speed, right, Kitahara?"
Kitahara first nodded, then turned to Tamamo Cross.
"That's about right. This is also what you felt while watching the car races. I explained it that way just now because I hoped Tamamo could understand the principle so that she could also attempt that kind of switching in subsequent training."
"Tamamo has to do that training too?"
"Me too?"
The two Uma Musume asked in unison and confusion. Immediately, Oguri Cap scratched her head.
"But didn't Kitahara just say that Tamamo's weight is much less than mine? It should be difficult for her to have the same inertia as me, right? Although too much inertia is not good either."
Tamamo Cross had a similar thought.
"Yes, Oguri needs this special training on high-speed position techniques precisely because her power is monstrously huge."
She asked, confused, "But my speed, power, and everything else are very balanced. It doesn't seem necessary for me, right?"
Hearing this, Kitahara looked at Komiyama, who was focused on recording notes on the side. Noticing his gaze, Komiyama looked up, paused for a moment, and then smiled and began to explain to Tamamo Cross.
"Tamamo's physical metrics are certainly balanced, there's no doubt about that."
With a smile, she held up her clipboard, showing some of the data displayed on it to the two Uma Musume in front of her.
"But, Tamamo, don't forget, that is your speed and acceleration in a normal state."
"However, your acceleration and the subsequent speed in your Domain (Field) state are definitely what we'd call high-speed."
"In the Hanshin Daishoten, you only utilized the Domain very superficially to shorten the distance between yourself and Inari One, without too many complex maneuvers. But as we proceed with the training here, you, Oguri, Inari, Creek, and Ardan will all master the Domain state."
"To change position under those circumstances, theoretically, it can be accomplished through 'a high degree of control over the body.'"
"But if you can master the 'Ultra-High-Speed Lane Change' and similar abilities from the beginning, you can further utilize the Domain to enhance these abilities and bring their effect into better play."
All these analyses had been discussed by the Eisei Team trainers. Kitahara was also very clear about what Komiyama was saying.
Seeing that Komiyama had finished, and both Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap looked thoughtful, Kitahara pondered for a moment and added, looking at Oguri Cap:
"Simply put, we can treat the Domain as a kind of 'multiplication'."
"With this 'multiplication,' you can enhance various abilities across the board in a race. An ability that was originally '90' can become '99' or even '100,' or '100-plus' in the Domain. Naturally, the better your normal abilities are, the better."
"Hmm, I can understand that. Tamamo's training here is probably preparation for the Domain state. In that case..."
Oguri Cap suddenly frowned, "Then will my training be even more difficult?"
"Because my strength and burst are already very strong, I need specific training to master the ability to switch lanes at high speed."
"After being enhanced by the Domain, my strength and burst will be even stronger, and thus require even more practice to master."
"Am I right, Kitahara?"
"That's excellent, Oguri Cap."
Kitahara praised her with a smile, "Those were the points I was going to make. It's even better that you could figure them out yourself."
"Then, here are the training details," he said, his expression becoming serious, and he instructed directly:
"The principle of the 'Ultra-High-Speed Lane Change' is very similar to the car drifting we discussed before. The conditions boil down to one point."
"The rotational moment created by the lateral force at the rear end of the body around the center of mass must be less than the rotational moment created by the lateral force at the front end around the center of mass. In this situation, the entire body will continue moving forward while maintaining high speed, and may even continue to accelerate."
"For a race car to perform this maneuver, it needs to create a difference in rotational moment between the front and rear wheels."
"For you Uma Musume to achieve the same effect, you need to create a certain distance between your upper body and lower body, so that there is a difference between the rotational moment of your arms and the rotational moment of your legs, achieving a similar drifting effect."
"Oh! Just what I thought!"
Oguri Cap suddenly became excited and assumed her customary running posture. "When I watched the car races, I thought that if I could swing out my rear like a sports car, then my posture would be very suitable."
"Although it's just a feeling, I thought that by adjusting the swing, force, and stride of my arms and legs in this posture, I might be able to achieve that drift."
Since before she entered Kasamatsu Academy, Oguri Cap's running posture has been very unique, and Kitahara noticed it the first time he saw her run.
Her center of gravity is exceptionally low, to a degree that most Uma Musume could absolutely not achieve. Whether training or running, she can maintain her center of gravity at a height of about 70 centimeters from the ground.
With her height of 1.67 meters, a center of gravity at this height means her legs can only move at a height of slightly more than half a meter.
It is difficult for ordinary Uma Musume to stride under these conditions, especially if their tissue flexibility is insufficient; forcefully moving the legs can easily lead to strains, cramps, and other problems.
The ability to achieve this, besides her exceptional speed, is due to the unusually good flexibility of her joints and muscles.
Running in this posture has the most significant advantage: the frontal wind resistance area is very small, meaning less wind drag. This results in more effort-efficient running and greater speed.
Secondly, because the wind resistance area is small, she is less likely to be obstructed when there are Uma Musume blocking her in front or when they lose speed.
However, she was previously more accustomed to overtaking on the far outside lane, so this advantage of being less obstructed has not been fully utilized.
Now, this running posture is obviously very similar to that of a race car. After adapting to specific techniques, she can completely master the "Ultra-High-Speed Lane Change" ability and put the "less obstructed" point into practice.
"Yes, you are correct. That is exactly what I wanted to say. Your subsequent training will be based on this unique running posture."
Looking at Oguri Cap's stance, Kitahara let her hold it and began instructing.
"Specifically in a race, whether on a straight or a bend, when you want to change lanes, relax your body in advance, and then accelerate when the moment to switch arrives."
"You need to practice the corresponding exercises in specified track sections."
"If it's a straight, we will pre-plan the route with obstacles on the track to form a curve."
"Then, start running directly toward the curve's tangent point, accelerate in a straight line for a segment, and then enter the curve."
"The next part is the most crucial."
"When cornering, you must ensure your body is leaning inward toward the tangent point. The swing, force, and angle of your outer arm must be greater than those of your inner arm."
"The forward swing of your outer leg should be outward, landing on the outer edge of the forefoot, with a larger stride, force, and angle."
"Correspondingly, the forward swing of your inner leg should be slightly inward, landing on the inner edge of the forefoot, with a slightly smaller stride, force, and angle."
"In this way, on the 'curve' within the straight and on a true curve, your body will maintain an inward lean, overcoming the effects of inertia and eliminating centrifugal force to a certain extent."
"Once this set of exercises is perfected, you will have the ability to go around a bend without having to slow down, and also 'pass and overtake' on a straight at a moment your opponents find unimaginable."
As he spoke, Kitahara demonstrated the corresponding posture. After finishing the theory, he couldn't help but smile.
"In this regard, I strongly agree with Maruzensky's saying."
"Speed on the bend is true speed; everyone can accelerate on the straight."
After a quick quip, he looked at Tamamo Cross, "Tamamo's practice is the same. Although your running posture is different from Oguri Cap's, you can also develop an 'Ultra-High-Speed Lane Change' ability suitable for you."
"From now until the Japanese Derby, I need you to practice this with Oguri Cap. Afterward, before your Takarazuka Kinen, you two will switch roles."
"So, do you feel you have a grasp of this theory? Can you try it now, or do you need a more detailed explanation?"
Hearing this, the two Uma Musume exchanged glances, and Tamamo Cross was the first to scratch her head and speak.
"The theory, I can understand..."
She slowly showed a distressed look, "The cornering techniques I practiced before have many similar points to this, but what you're saying now is much more detailed, requires more precision, and can be used on straights in addition to just corners."
"But..."
She swung her two arms separately, and the distress on her little face grew stronger.
"In the past, when cornering, the difference between the swing of my arms and legs was never this big!"
"According to the way you demonstrated just now, it's like the left arm and right arm, and the left leg and right leg, are going their separate ways! How... how do we practice this?"
As Tamamo Cross said, compared to regular cornering, the left/right difference Kitahara demonstrated was indeed quite large, but he felt it couldn't be adjusted.
"We will definitely further analyze the data obtained from your practice and adjust your posture. "
He also showed a distressed look, posing again with the different amplitudes for his left/right arms and legs. "But no matter how much we adjust later, this gap must exist."
"In fact, we previously simulated your past training and race data in the wind tunnel, and this difference is the result of that analysis."
"Uma Musume are already very fast. You are among the most elite of this generation. If the rotational moment difference between the upper and lower limbs is not sufficient, it will be no different from ordinary cornering."
"...That makes sense, but I still feel like this will be difficult to implement..."
Tamamo Cross's little face was almost crumpled up in a frown. "I am naturally the type with good balance; I'm used to left-right coordination, whether on a straight or a bend."
"Suddenly changing like this seems like it will take a lot of time to adapt..."
"Because, like I just said, with this running style, I feel like my body is split in half! The left and right sides are separate and running their own races..."
Seeing Tamamo Cross spreading her hands in frustration, and Oguri Cap showing a similar expression after a moment of thought, Kitahara smiled.
"In that case, let's first try a little trick for left/right brain adaptation."
"Left/right adaptation trick?" the two Uma Musume asked in unison.
"Hehe, that's what Senpai means by this little game."
At this point, Komiyama suddenly interjected, picking up her clipboard again and placing it on top of one of the track's railing posts. She then took out two pens.
Holding one pen in each hand, she simultaneously wrote and drew on the clipboard with both hands.
"Like this, drawing with two pens at the same time: drawing a circle with the left hand and a square with the right."
As she spoke, the two pens in her hands had already left marks on the clipboard.
As she said, the pen in her left hand drew a not-very-regular circle, and the one in her right hand drew a not-so-square square.
"Hmm, I'm still not very good at it, but that's the general idea."
She put down the pens, picked up the clipboard, and faced Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross. Seeing the two Uma Musume's surprised, curious, and amused expressions, Komiyama giggled.
"Senpai already considered many possibilities for your training."
"Things like techniques and theories, and even the possibility that you might not adapt well to such a large difference between the left and right sides of your body—he considered that too."
"When he talked to us about this training before, he said that it might be difficult to adapt to all at once, and you might initially suffer from left/right body, or rather, left/right brain discoordination."
"The rest of us quickly realized this problem and were planning to find a solution, but unexpectedly... oh no, I should say it's to be expected—Senpai had already thought of it, hehe."
After laughing a few more times, she pointed to the two irregular circle and "square" she had just drawn.
"The solution is this 'drawing a circle with the left hand, a square with the right' game. If you practice it a little, you can adapt to your left and right arms and legs doing different things simultaneously."
"The rest of us tried it too, and we feel this method should be very effective and not difficult to master."
"Of course, I might be a little slow; I only managed to draw this much after several tries. Don't learn from me, you two," she said, sticking out her tongue.
"Oh! That sounds like fun. I'll try it first."
Oguri Cap walked over with interest, thought for a moment, and reached out to Kitahara, "Kitahara, lend me your clipboard. Do you also have two pens?"
Tamamo Cross was also very interested and asked Komiyama, "Then I'll try it too! It looks fun!"
The two Uma Musume suddenly felt like playing a game, which also piqued the interest of Oguri Roman, Gold Ship, and Just A Way, who had been quietly watching.
"Huh? You can do that...? I want to try too..."
Oguri Roman, who was emulating Kitahara and Komiyama with her own clipboard and pens, now imitated Komiyama's actions, placing her clipboard on the railing post, taking out two pens, and attempting the task.
This made Gold Ship and Ichiro-tsu a bit anxious. Although they brought their homework, their school bags were in Kitahara's office, so they didn't have pens with them right now.
"Hey, Gold Ship, let's go back and get them... Huh? What are you doing, Gold Ship?"
Ichiro-tsu subconsciously wanted to go to the office to get her bag, but as soon as she called out to Gold Ship, she saw her friend rubbing her chin, looking up at the sky, and then suddenly squatting down.
"You're so dumb, A Tong."
After an unceremonious complaint, Gold Ship scraped a small patch of grass off the ground, exposing the dirt underneath.
Then, ignoring whether it was dirty or not, she quickly smoothed it out with her small hands, extended her left and right index fingers, and pressed them onto the ground.
"Now we can play that game, can't we? See? You're so dumb!"
Wrinkling her nose proudly at Just A Way, Gold Ship immediately began attempting to "draw a circle with the left hand and a square with the right" on the ground.
"Oh, you're so smart, Gold Ship! I'll try it too."
Also ignoring the dirt, Just A Way squatted down, pushed her hips out to create a small, flat patch of ground, and began playing the fun "game" they had just discovered.
Seeing that all the Uma Musume around them were interested in "drawing a circle with the left hand, a square with the right," and were eager to try it, Kitahara did not stop them. Instead, he smiled and began to explain.
"Komiyama wasn't entirely correct. I only came up with this method by chance. In fact, Tahara deserves the credit for truly confirming it."
"The reason I thought of this was because we recently did that martial arts willpower special training with Senior Trainer Dieno. After suddenly thinking of that training, I remembered a novel I had read that had a similar training method, and there are relevant theories in psychology."
"Then, I proposed this idea, and Tahara confirmed it was viable. He encountered it during his training in England."
"This falls under the category of Cognitive Neuroscience. Simply put, much of its research is aimed at solving the conflict and coordination between the left and right hemispheres of the brain."
"When our hands and legs execute instructions issued by the brain, there is actually a competition in the brain."
"For example, when we want to pick up a cup on the table to drink water, whether to use the more accustomed right hand or the left hand that is closer to the cup—there is an underlying competition that we are not consciously aware of."
"Both the brain's premotor area and supplementary motor area can execute this operation. That is, when the command 'pick up the cup' is thought, two parts of our brain simultaneously issue the order. The 'competition' is eventually resolved in the corpus callosum, achieving coordination."
"In other words, our brain's commands are conflicting in many situations. We cannot consciously process multiple things at once. Those conflicting instructions only lead to action after they have reached coordination through 'competition.'"
"This is clearly reflected in the data."
"Specifically, the left and right hemispheres of the brain correspond to the right and left sides of the body, respectively. The corpus callosum performs a 'competitive' analysis of the electrical signals from the left and right hemispheres. The one with higher intensity determines the final action."
"For example, if the electrical signal in the left hemisphere is stronger, the right hand will initiate the movement, and vice versa for the left hand."
"This process is very brief; the interval from the appearance of the stimulus to the generation of the action is about 700 milliseconds, or 0.7 seconds. That is why we often don't notice this competition."
Kitahara explained all this to Oguri Cap and the others, not just to present the theory, but to tell them the secret to "drawing a circle with the left hand, a square with the right."
During his explanation, all the Uma Musume, big and small, had failed to complete the "game." Either the "Circle" was drawn too squarely, the "square" was drawn too roundly, or they just drew something unrecognizable.
"How is this happening? I clearly intended for one side to draw one shape and the other side to draw the other, but they all look so round..."
"I'm the same way... Oh wait, both of mine are quite square."
"Sister, I also drew both as circles..."
"Hahaha, ATong, you're so silly! What did you draw there, a pretzel?"
"...Gold Ship, you're one to talk! What did you draw? An alien? Are you trying to paint?"
A crowd of Uma Musume struggled and complained for a while. Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross quickly realized that Kitahara had just said a lot and was probably explaining how to draw well, so they intended to ask him.
However, Kitahara had already taken the two pens from Oguri Cap's hand and began drawing on the clipboard.
"The trick is not to 'think about drawing a circle with the left hand and a square with the right,' but rather to not think at all, or to 'realize that drawing a circle with the left hand and a square with the right is actually the same thing.'"
"As I just said, from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience, our brain can only process one thing at any given moment. So, if drawing a square and drawing a circle seem like two things, just think of them as one."
"For instance, drawing a circle with the left hand is very simple—just make a loop."
"Then, you can think of drawing a square with the right hand as 'just making a loop,' too. It's just that this way of looping feels unfamiliar at first. So, if you concentrate on practicing this 'square loop,' you can manage to draw with both hands simultaneously."
As he spoke, Kitahara had already drawn a fairly round "circle" and a quite square "Square" on the clipboard.
After drawing, he held up the board for the Uma Musume to see, then chuckled, looking at their astonished expressions.
"Don't overcomplicate this. I'll give you a simpler example, and you'll understand."
"You all take quite a long time to eat your meals. During the meal, aren't you able to eat while playing on your phone, or eat while reading a book or watching TV, or even eat, watch, and chat simultaneously? And your chat is completely coherent."
"This is exactly what I just said. You weren't consciously trying to 'eat, watch, and chat' at the same time. These three things are essentially the same thing. You could call it 'a relaxed meal' or 'a comfortable chat,' nothing more."
"Similarly, whether it's drawing a circle or a square, or the different movements of your left and right body halves while running, all you need to do is treat them as one single action."
Saying this, he once again assumed his previous running posture.
"Look, if I'm hugging the inner rail on the left, the action on the left side is just a very standard lane-changing run. So, the entire action is simply: 'While switching lanes normally, swing the right arm and leg with more force,' nothing more."
When articulating this final, most crucial trick, he did not use a serious tone. Instead, his voice was deliberately relaxed. He wanted Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross to feel relaxed about the training and not find this task too difficult.
The result was that, whether it was because his tone was too effective or because Oguri Cap's natural talent as a born competitor kicked in, she suddenly looked thoughtful for a moment, reached out and took the two pens from his hand, and then, to the astonished gazes of him and everyone else, she quickly achieved what Kitahara had just done.
She drew a perfect Circle and a perfect square almost effortlessly
"...Nani?! Oguri, how did you do that?! How did you suddenly learn it?!"
"Oh, wow! Oguri's drawing is even better than Senpai's. Is she that amazing?!"
"Wow! Big Sister is so great!"
"Wow! Big Sister is so amazing!"
"...Darn it, was it that easy? No, I have to try again..."
Komiyama and all the Uma Musume were astounded by Oguri Cap's uncanny level of comprehension.
Kitahara was also surprised, but only for a moment before he felt it was perfectly normal.
He had just mentioned that the trick to this game, or training, was precisely "not to think about it," and that was exceptionally easy for a naturally simple-minded Uma Musume like Oguri Cap.
"Is it that amazing? I feel... it was quite easy."
Seeing Tamamo Cross, Komiyama, and her sisters looking astonished, Oguri Cap was bewildered in turn. She instinctively picked up the pens again and muttered:
"Just... don't think about anything, and you can just draw it easily. And in that case, I should be able to write some characters too..."
By the time she reached the middle of her sentence, she had already started writing.
When she finished speaking, two lines of text had been written simultaneously on the clipboard: one reading "Kitahara Jo," and the other "Oguri Cap."
All eyes watched her hands move simultaneously, the speed of the pen tips flowing without any difference, and the resulting handwriting was incredibly neat, looking as if they had been written by one hand separately.
"See? It's very simple, right?"
Having successfully tested it, she held up the clipboard, looked at the two lines of names, and happily showed them to the group, "Why don't you all try it?"
"Where is it simple?! I... I... I'm so annoyed! Oguri, why are you always like a monster in these weird places?!"
"...Indeed. I can understand drawing a square and a circle, but writing characters simultaneously... Senpai, can you do that?"
"...If you think I could, would I look this shocked?"
"Big Sister is so amazing!"
"Big Sister is so great!"
"...Darn it, why can't I draw it? Am I drawing some kind of abstract art?"
After sighing with the Uma Musume and Komiyama over Oguri Cap's "special ability," Kitahara felt more certain that a naturally pure Uma Musume like Oguri Cap indeed possessed unique talent in having a clear, empty mind.
For contrast, Gold Ship is the opposite of Oguri Cap.
According to the information provided by the kindergarten, Gold Ship is a very intelligent Uma Musume, with an IQ level much higher than her peers.
The reason she seems eccentric is precisely because she has too many ideas in her head, and she moves on to the next one before finishing the previous one. A mind like that is relatively difficult to adapt to this kind of training.
However, "difficult to adapt" is relative. Without systematic theory and corresponding techniques, this ability might never be mastered, even after a lifetime of practice.
Yet, research like Cognitive Neuroscience is not aimed at one type of special existence; rather, it means that all intelligent beings can find a suitable cognitive method.
For a complex mind like Gold Ship's, a more detailed theory can be provided, allowing her to master various abilities, even particularly complicated ones.
...In that case, perhaps the research on "bloodlines" can incorporate this cognitive aspect later. These things can be slowly arranged later...
Kitahara's thoughts briefly drifted before he quickly returned to the main topic.
"Alright, that's essentially all the training methods and relevant techniques for the 'Ultra-High-Speed Lane Change.'"
Looking at Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross, he said seriously, "Oguri Cap currently has a personality advantage. Tamamo, don't be discouraged. You just need to spend a little more time practicing to grasp the core. Don't look so glum."
"For today, you will just attempt this running style initially. The data collection will proceed as usual, and we will analyze and adjust it later."
"In addition..."
After some thought, he decided to mention a tactical arrangement in advance.
He originally planned to bring up this arrangement only after both Uma Musume, or even the entire team, had mastered the 'Ultra-High-Speed Lane Change' ability, but given Oguri Cap's unexpectedly advanced progress, he could mention it now.
"The 'Drawing a Circle with the Left Hand, a Square with the Right' technique for the 'Ultra-High-Speed Lane Change' can also be used as a deceptive tactic."
"Deceptive tactic?" Except for Gold Ship, who was still struggling with her drawing on the ground, and Komiyama, who had heard Kitahara mention "deceptive tactics," the remaining Uma Musume were surprised.
"Yes, this tactic, as the name suggests, allows opponents to misjudge your running style and tactical arrangements. It is a by-product of the 'Lane Change' ability."
Nodding, Kitahara said deeply, "When you master the technique, the movements of your left and right body halves are different."
"On the track, your opponents can often only see the movements of one side of your body. It is difficult for them to know what the other side looks like."
"They will make misjudgments."
"Your timing for acceleration, timing for overtaking, timing for lane changes, and so on—all will be misjudged because they only see half of your movement."
(End of Chapter)