Chapter 13
Looking at the comments on the phone, a flash of envy passed through Satono Diamond's heart again. She then glanced at the total fan count and paused.
"Only 310 fans… that doesn't seem like a lot…"
"Hm? Diamond-chan, what did you say?"
Still immersed in the joy of finally having an official race account, Kitasan Black was scrolling through her phone and didn't quite catch what her roommate said.
After hesitating for a moment, Satono Diamond shook her head and asked with concern:
"Nothing… I was just saying, now that you have an assigned trainer and an official race account…
"Have you or your trainer thought about what racing route you'll take from now on?"
Kitasan Black's finger stopped scrolling. The excitement on her face gradually faded, and her expression became serious.
In truth, besides being roommates, Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond were also childhood friends.
They had known each other since they were very young, attended the same elementary school, and entered Central Tracen Academy together right before their Proper Maturation phase.
However, in all the time they had known each other, Satono Diamond could hardly remember her friend ever showing such a solemn expression.
Oh no… Did I ask something I shouldn't have…?
Satono Diamond nervously clenched her fingers.
The room fell silent for a while.
"I've decided…"
Unlike her usual energetic self, Kitasan Black spoke with great determination after taking a deep breath.
"I want to challenge the Classic Triple Crown."
Satono Diamond's eyes widened instantly, her mouth slightly agape.
In the Sparkle Star Series, G1 races were the highest level and the rarest, with only 25 such races held each year.
Among those 25 top-tier races, three were extremely special.
The year when horse girls fully entered their Proper Maturation phase was called the "Classic Year," after which they were referred to as "Older Horse Year."
Satsuki Sho, Japanese Derby, Kikuka Sho.
These three special G1 races could only be entered by Classic Year horse girls.
Because of this, they were collectively known as the Classic Triple Crown.
In other words, every horse girl only had one chance in her lifetime to participate.
Every year, roughly 10,000 horse girls across Japan passed the entrance exams for various Tracen Academies.
The Classic Triple Crown only happened once a year, and each race had only one champion.
Winning even one of these three G1 races could be described as one in ten thousand in terms of talent and ability.
Yet Satono Diamond clearly remembered that just a few days ago, her friend had been feeling lost and dejected.
She had been upset because many trainers told her she should focus on short-distance races.
She had been confused about what she should do.
The Classic Triple Crown consisted of 2000m, 2400m, and 3000m races — all middle to long distance. Focusing on short-distance would make it impossible to participate.
Kitasan Black's dream since childhood had been to step onto the Classic Triple Crown stage like her idol. Faced with the conflict between reality and her dream, Satono Diamond knew she would have felt just as lost if she were in her friend's position.
But in just a few short days, her friend had suddenly made up her mind and set her goal on the route every horse girl dreamed of.
…Could it be because of her trainer?
The thought suddenly occurred to her, and the more Satono Diamond thought about it, the more convinced she became.
Ever since Kitasan Black excitedly told her she had found an assigned trainer, she had barely shown any more signs of dejection or confusion.
Or rather, she had completely forgotten about those worries and was fully immersed in the joy of having a trainer.
And today, she hadn't come back since after school.
At dinner, her sister mentioned that Kitasan Black had been training all afternoon in the dance studio under the guidance of that trainer.
Satono Diamond had a strong impression of that unusually young trainer.
Passing the Central Trainer exam at 18 years old was unheard of and had caused quite a stir a few months ago. People in school still occasionally mentioned it.
However, from the gossip she had heard, that trainer didn't plan to start as an assistant like most seniors. He wanted to sign a horse girl right from the start.
In the past, Satono Diamond would have thought this was unrealistic.
Training wasn't something you could do with just knowledge — experience was also essential. Her sister and others thought the same.
So when she first heard that her friend's trainer was this person, she had honestly been a little worried.
But now, it seemed this trainer really was special.
Not only could he teach Kitasan Black those strange mudras and postures.
At dinner, her sister also said that the afternoon training in the dance studio seemed to have real substance.
Whether the results were good or not remained to be seen, but Kitasan Black had looked like she was genuinely enjoying the training and had adapted well to the new methods.
That alone was impressive. Adapting to a trainer's style was already difficult, let alone doing so right after first meeting them.
It showed that the trainer's ability was just as outstanding as his exam results.
Since even her sister thought the trainer was unusual, perhaps…
After thinking for a while, Satono Diamond asked tentatively:
"Kitasan, did your trainer recommend the Classic route?"
"Huh? Hehe, no…"
Like a soap bubble being popped, the serious look on Kitasan Black's face instantly turned into a silly grin as she scratched her head.
"Trainer only asked me what kind of horse girl I thought was outstanding and dazzling. He also asked if I had thought about what races I wanted to run in the future.
"I… well, Diamond-chan, do you remember the dream I had when I entered Central Academy?"
Her friend suddenly changed the subject. Satono Diamond was momentarily stunned, then nodded.
"Yes. You wanted to become a miraculous horse girl just like Emperor-senpai."
"Yeah… Emperor-senpai…"
Kitasan Black nodded with a look of admiration mixed with hesitation, then fell silent for a moment.
"That's what I told Trainer at the time.
"Then he asked me — how did I define a 'miracle'?
"I suddenly didn't know how to answer."
Even as she said she didn't know how to answer, the black-haired, red-eyed girl continued murmuring:
"But at that moment, I suddenly understood what Trainer was really asking.
"Being outstanding, dazzling, or miraculous — these are all vague and uncertain things.
"Compared to those abstract concepts, my trainer probably cares more about things that are visible and tangible.
"I couldn't understand what he was doing these past few days — especially today — for my training.
"But whether he was observing my runs, adjusting my stride, or calculating all those numbers, they were all things you could see and touch.
"So as his horse girl, I should also think about things that are certain.
"I don't know what 'outstanding' really means, but individual races are very clear.
"And Emperor-senpai's miracles were also built race by race. If that's the case…"
She took a deep breath.
"Then I'll start from the Classic Triple Crown, just like senpai.
"No matter what others say, I believe in my trainer. He said he would help me achieve my dream.
"I also believe in myself — I won't let Trainer down.
"And I won't let the fans who are already supporting me down either."
After a brief silence in the dorm room, gentle applause rang out.
"Diamond-chan…"
Looking at her friend who was clapping for her, Kitasan Black was surprised to see Satono Diamond smiling as she took out her phone, tapped a few times, and showed the screen — she had just followed Kitasan Black's race account.
"I believe in you too, Kitasan. I believe you won't let this fan down."
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Bonus chapters
200 Stones - 1 chapter
400 Stones - 2 chapter
600 Stones - 3 chapters
And so on