Kitahara froze for a moment before reacting. What Oguri Cap was talking about should be the promise he made before the swimming training began, something he said to motivate her.
"Ah… taking you out alone to eat something good…"
He smiled silently, thought for a moment, and said, "Actually, if you really want to walk around Nagoya, we can just go directly during our break."
"This round of pre-competition training will be pretty tight. Considering performance at the venue, you'll need plenty of rest, so the day before the race, we'll arrange for you, Super Creek, and Ardan to relax for half a day to a full day."
"There'll still be plenty of time. We can go in the afternoon or evening to some famous snack shops, or stroll around a night market."
"As long as you don't eat anything too spicy or overly stimulating."
There was only one week left until the three races of the Meitetsu Cup, and all kinds of special training currently underway were very intense.
That morning's session was a special swimming workout to strengthen endurance, arranged specifically to avoid the intense sunlight from noon to afternoon.
Although swimming looks like it happens in water, if the sunlight is too strong—especially in summer—the risk of heatstroke is actually higher.
The water surface reflects sunlight, meaning the skin absorbs more heat than it would on land.
Even with seawater cooling the body, prolonged exposure to sunlight combined with training fatigue could still easily lead to heatstroke.
Even if one was lucky enough to avoid heatstroke, prolonged exposure could still cause sunburn, pigmentation, or acute dermatitis.
Therefore, swimming training over these days was basically scheduled in the morning. Only when the weather was more overcast would they consider training in the afternoon.
Afternoons were generally reserved for beach running training.
After putting proper sun protection and heatstroke prevention measures in place, running along the part of the beach washed by the waves could avoid sunlight reflected off the water surface and reduce discomfort.
The waves also lowered the temperature of the sand, further reducing fatigue and discomfort during training.
The constantly washing waves provided additional resistance as well. Training in such an environment effectively improved strength, lower-body stability, and impact resistance.
Especially during this season, the tide near Nagoya rose from around 3 p.m. to about 10 p.m., which meant that environmental factors would make afternoon training progressively more intense.
The Eisei Team had very complete equipment—things like wind tunnels that could theoretically simulate many environments.
However, for horse girls, the best training environment was still the natural one, as long as adequate protective measures were in place. Only then could they fully unleash their innate running talents.
According to Kitahara's thinking, even if Oguri Cap felt she hadn't performed very well in today's training, after enduring training of this intensity, she could naturally eat whatever she wanted when it came time to truly relax.
So after explaining a bit, he made another suggestion.
"So over the next few days, after evening training, you can look through the resort's travel brochures, or ask the staff, and see what's good to eat or fun to do around Nagoya. Pick a place in advance."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Or you can just come with me."
"Back when we were still in Kasamatsu, to help with Kawawan Enterprises' development, I often came to Nagoya. I'm fairly familiar with the area."
"The night view around Sakae Station is really nice. If you want to go check it out, I can take you."
"If I remember correctly, even though you also grew up in Kasamatsu, you never really got to explore Nagoya properly. This time would be a good chance."
"Or we could go eat miso-grilled meat, or hand-dripped coffee and omurice… oh, you've already had coffee and omurice. Then miso-grilled meat it is."
"It's a shame it's not during the Osu Night Market season, otherwise we could go there too. After all, that's a big event held only twice a year in Nagoya."
"Of course, the regular night markets are also pretty good."
"In short, you can think it over."
Just like his training style, Kitahara also preferred an orderly, well-planned approach in daily life.
He hadn't specifically prepared for sightseeing in Nagoya.
But having handled matters here many times before, just paying a bit of attention was enough for him to remember some of the more famous places and attractions.
With those memories in place, he could now organize things on the spot using the same mindset he used for training and race planning. For him, this wasn't difficult.
Oguri Cap was naturally very familiar with this style of expression.
That morning's swimming training had indeed consumed most of her energy.
At the moment, even speaking made her feel soft and weak. Her body was limp as she sprawled against Kitahara's back, completely lacking her usual lively energy.
Even so, she listened carefully to her trainer. After he finished speaking, she smiled weakly.
"Oooh… that sounds pretty fun."
She said it with a bit of excitement, then quickly shook her head.
"But what we agreed on was that if I performed better than Creek and the others today, I'd go eat something good with you."
"In the end, not only did I take longer to finish training than they did, but now they can still walk on their own, while I need you to carry me."
"I feel like I don't have any strength left at all."
As she spoke, she tried shaking her head, and her legs subconsciously moved as well, her pale bare feet slowly swaying on either side of Kitahara, leaving two faint white arcs in the air.
"By any standard, this doesn't count as performing especially well, right?"
Though she was evaluating herself, her tone wasn't discouraged at all—if anything, it sounded confident.
"But in this afternoon's running training, I don't think I'll lose to them."
"And even though today's swimming training was really tiring, I've picked up a lot of tricks."
"As long as I train for a few more days, I think I'll be able to catch up to Creek, Ardan, and Tamamo when it comes to swimming."
"And also…"
She paused, suddenly looking a little embarrassed.
"If it's just me and you going out to eat something good, it kind of feels unfair to Super Creek and the others. If possible, I'd still like everyone to go out together and eat and have fun."
"Do you think that's okay, Kitahara?"
"So that's what you were thinking. That's no problem at all."
Smiling, Kitahara nodded and continued, "But going out alone isn't a problem either. You don't need to think too much about it."
"Back when I went to the Mejiro household, or when I took Creek to races and training, I'd also go out alone with them to eat and have fun."
"Just like that time I took you to Hokkaido."
"So it's really not a big deal."
"Eh? I guess that's true…"
Oguri Cap nodded blankly, then her tone turned strange.
"Wait, if you put it that way, Kitahara, whenever you take a break, it always feels like it's just something you do on the side of work, right?"
"When you put it like that, whether it's me,Creek, Tamamo, Inari, or anyone else, after training or races we can go out specifically to have fun."
"Komiyama and the others seem to be the same."
"But you, Kitahara, usually just rest a bit in the middle of work, right?"
"If we're talking about resting specifically, it feels like only that one time in Hokkaido counts… hmm, no, that's not quite right."
She suddenly shook her head.
"That time was supposed to be a trip, but when we got to Hokkaido, aside from the first day and the last day—when we actually played a bit and soaked in the hot springs—you were still working the rest of the time."
"First you helped Special Week finish her transfer and testing, and then you analyzed Tamamo and Inari's Tenno Sho (Spring) race."
"So you didn't really rest much at all. I'm not wrong, am I?"
"That's not wrong, but…"
Kitahara really wanted to scratch his head, but his hands were supporting Oguri Cap's thighs, so he couldn't free them. He could only shake his neck a little instead.
Then he smiled helplessly.
"I guess that's just what adult life is like. There's always a lot to take care of."
"Not just training and races, but also the team, the industry, and things with the academy and the association."
"All in all, completely resting probably doesn't really exist for someone like me."
"Then let's try it this time."
Oguri Cap replied immediately.
"Try it…?" Kitahara looked startled.
"Yeah, this time before the race."
As if she'd suddenly recovered her strength, Oguri Cap nodded vigorously, and Kitahara could feel the heavy impact against his back.
"It just so happens we mentioned Hokkaido."
"I think I mentioned before that both my mom and I really like hot springs. Back in Kasamatsu, we often went to one place, and everyone there knows us really well."
"So after this round of training, on the rest day before the race, let's go to that hot spring together."
"We'll have a good rest, and then compete properly the next day."
"That should count as truly resting, right?"
"And also, after the Japan Derby, Mom's been back for a while now. Little Oguri and I haven't seen her in a long time."
"This time, we can see her."
"And after we return from Kasamatsu, we can take her to watch my race."
A few months earlier, in order to entrust the trainer's daughter—his adopted daughter, Little Oguri Roman—to Kitahara, and also to cheer Oguri Cap on, White Narubi had deliberately gone to Tokyo.
Originally, the mother had planned to stay until the end of the Triple Crown season before returning to Kasamatsu. However, some time ago, when the entire Eisei Team went to Europe, she didn't go along.
Coincidentally, there were also some matters back home in Kasamatsu, so she returned from Tokyo early.
In reality, from the Europe trip until now, it had only been about a month. The separation between mother and daughter wasn't actually that long.
But for a daughter, feeling that a month is a long time isn't hard to understand.
"I see. That's a pretty good idea."
After thinking it over, Kitahara felt that Oguri Cap's idea wouldn't affect training or race preparations.
Especially with the emotional boost of chatting with her mother and bringing her to watch the race, it might even lead to an even better performance.
So he quickly agreed.
"Then let's do it your way."
Then he smiled again.
"Come to think of it, it's kind of funny. I grew up in Kasamatsu, but I've never actually been to my hometown's hot springs."
"This time, I'll be in your care, Oguri Cap. I'll properly experience Kasamatsu's hot springs."
"Mm-hmm! Then it's settled!"
Oguri Cap seemed to have fully recovered her energy and spirits, her tone returning to its usual liveliness.
"And since this is a rest, Kitahara, you're not allowed to bring work with you."
"I remember my race is in the afternoon."
"So we can go back to Kasamatsu the day before, soak in the hot springs, sleep well at night, and then still have plenty of time to come back the next day."
Perhaps from being influenced over time—often being around someone like Kitahara who liked to have everything arranged in advance—when Oguri Cap started planning familiar matters, she actually looked quite competent.
Hearing this, Kitahara couldn't help but find it amusing.
"No problem. I'll listen to you. That day, I won't bring any work."
After saying that, he suddenly felt Oguri Cap starting to slide down from his back. He instinctively loosened his grip, and soon saw his horse girl walk from behind him to stand in front.
"Mm! It's a promise!"
She nodded vigorously, confirming it again. Seeing her trainer nod seriously, Oguri Cap smiled even more happily.
Then her eyes shifted, and her attention quickly moved elsewhere.
"Oh! We're at the place to eat!"
"Food, food! This diet has been too painful—I feel like I'm about to starve!"
"Today I'm definitely eating a big meal!"
And so, after chatting all the way to the resort's restaurant, Oguri Cap—who hadn't eaten anything all morning—charged toward the table amid Kitahara's helpless gaze, her companions' amused expressions, and the restaurant staff's stunned looks.
Kitahara still valued Oguri Cap's thoughts highly. Since she was as enthusiastic about resting as ever, and his own analysis suggested it wouldn't affect training or racing, there was no reason to dampen her spirits.
So over the next few days of training, he put in twelve points of effort, striving to perfect the swimming endurance training, beach strength training, and so on, so that he could go soak in Kasamatsu's hot springs without any worries.
He admitted that he was a workaholic, but being a workaholic didn't mean he didn't look forward to resting at all. It was just that, compared to rest, work came first.
And finishing all the work thoroughly so he could enjoy himself without distractions—that was the best arrangement.
However, when it came down to actual training, it was naturally impossible for everything to be perfect.
Progress in swimming and beach running was very smooth.
With the former, thanks to Maruzensky's assistance, Oguri Cap basically mastered the basics of the dog paddle technique within two days.
Although her form had nothing to do with elegance, the purpose of training wasn't to look good. As long as she mastered swimming skills and could use them to improve endurance, that was enough.
Improving endurance was a long-term process. As long as the start was solid, everything that followed was something to look forward to.
Beach running posed no problems either. When first encountering the difficult-to-push-off surface of sand, Oguri Cap and the others did struggle for a while.
But just like swimming, once they grasped the details of force application, balance, and so on, they could easily enter proper form.
The only problem was that the training for "domain inheritance" wasn't going well at all.
It could even be said that there wasn't the slightest clue.
According to the plan, Maruzensky was supposed to run alongside horse girls other than Creek The latter had already accepted Maruzensky's running habits in past training and, by chance, had mastered a domain beyond her own innate talent.
Ardan had accepted Mejiro Ramonu's running habits, and her corresponding domain was also Mejiro Ramonu's.
The ideal outcome was that through running alongside Maruzensky, Ardan, Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, and later Inari One—after finishing her post-race break—would all be able to master domains beyond their own innate talents.
However, after a week of running together, not only did they fail to master anything, but even in terms of habits alone, aside from Creek, the other horse girls seemed unable to fully accept some of Maruzensky's running details.
This left Kitahara very troubled, and also somewhat puzzled.
Could it be… related to "compatibility"?
In the game, "unique skill inheritance" had a "compatibility" setting.
Simply put, horse girls had a state of "suitable or not" between each other.
If the inheritance target had run certain races during training—such as the Triple Crown—and the inheritor also followed the same campaign, then their compatibility would be very high.
The same logic applied to running style adaptability, track adaptability, and distance adaptability.
This meant that even though, in theory, all horse girls could inherit each other's "unique skills," in actual training, differences in "compatibility" would affect inheritance difficulty and effectiveness.
In the game, this was easy to understand and operate. Play long enough, and you'd naturally grasp the key points.
Or, if you wanted to be lazy, you could just follow a guide and "copy the homework," proceeding step by step according to a mature training process.
But in reality… what exactly was "compatibility"?
Could running style, track type, distance, and past race experience also affect "domain inheritance"?
Could it also be related to physique?
For example, height, weight… or even bust size?
If you put it that way, Maruzensky's figure did seem visually closer to Creek's…
But surely the Three Goddesses wouldn't really be that tasteless, right…?
Kitahara was truly confused.
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[After some very comtemplation this is my Umawife list: Duramente, Satono Diamond, Kitasan Black and Daiwa Scarlet. What's yours]
(End of chapter)