T/N: Huge shout out and thank you for marcus bruguera for giving me your support, I really appreciate it, thank you.
Chapter 54
More than two weeks later, on Friday afternoon during training class, at the edge of the practice field.
In front of a group of horse girls wearing sports shorts and short-sleeved shirts, a teacher holding a clipboard spoke loudly.
"I hope everyone reviews the content we practiced today carefully after class.
"For those who have already debuted, your trainer's schedule takes priority. If you feel there's any difference between what was taught in class and your trainer's plan, make sure to ask right away. Don't keep any questions bottled up inside.
"Alright, that's all for today's lesson. Thank you for your cooperation. Class dismissed!"
"Thank you, teacher! Thank you for your hard work!"
After bowing and thanking the teacher together with her classmates, Kitasan Black glanced toward the stands and bit her lip with a slightly downcast expression.
She followed the other horse girls a few steps toward the exit, then scratched her head and turned back toward the track.
She had only taken a couple of steps when she heard a voice calling from behind.
"Hey— Kita-chan—!"
Kitasan Black turned around instinctively. Before she could see who it was, something flew toward her in a gentle arc.
"Catch!"
"Eh?! O-okay..."
She reached out and caught the object. When she looked down, she saw it was a bottle of drink. She looked toward the voice in confusion.
"Crown-chan, this is...?"
The one who had called out to her was her classmate, Satono Crown.
"It's for you."
Satono Crown walked over with a bag full of drinks, smiling brightly.
"After winning the Yayoi Sho last week, I wanted to treat myself, so I ordered some from overseas.
"But I ended up buying way too much. I gave a lot to my family and still had extras, so I thought I'd bring them over and share with everyone.
"I'm not sure if you'll like the flavor. If not, I have other flavors here."
Kitasan Black unconsciously looked at the drink in her hand.
It was a bottle of milk. The packaging said "Alfalfa" flavor.
Besides the flavor description, there was a photo of a mature and beautiful horse girl on the front.
She felt it looked a little familiar and squinted at the endorsement name written beside it.
"Eh? Chinese characters?"
"Yeah, I bought it from HK."
Satono Crown had already walked up to her. She took out a bottle of "Royal Bamboo" flavor for herself and smiled.
"It's endorsed by senpai. You probably saw her in the Glorious Race History, right?"
"Senpai... Ah, I remember now."
Kitasan Black's ears twitched. "That's Special Week-senpai... I mean, the Japan Cup race, right?"
"That's right. Even though she didn't win that race, second place was still an incredible achievement."
Satono Crown nodded.
"For some reason, I always feel a sense of closeness when I see her, so I often buy products she endorses online."
"I see..."
Kitasan Black nodded in understanding. She looked at the drink in her hand and didn't stand on ceremony.
"Can I swap for banana flavor then? I like that one better."
"Banana flavor, huh? Let me see... Here you go."
"Mhm! Thank you, Crown-chan!"
After swapping the drinks, Kitasan Black inserted the straw and took a big sip. Her eyes immediately lit up.
"The taste is really different from the ones in Japan."
"Right?" Satono Crown laughed. "Since many trainers at home come from overseas, I like trying things from outside Japan."
"Mhm! When I go to play at your place with Diamond-chan, I always see lots of stuff from other countries."
Kitasan Black nodded repeatedly, then her expression changed slightly.
"Oh right, on the day of your victory party, those foreigners... were they all trainers?"
The victory party was of course for Satono Crown's Yayoi Sho win.
Not only was it a graded race, it was also a major preview for the Satsuki Sho.
Winning the Yayoi Sho meant Satono Crown had already secured priority entry into the Satsuki Sho.
In other words, while other horse girls still had to rely on fan numbers for ranking and lottery, as long as she didn't voluntarily withdraw, Satono Crown was guaranteed a spot in the Satsuki Sho.
Realizing this, Kitasan Black felt a quiet pang of envy. She glanced at the practice track.
It was now mid-March, early spring. The track was covered in tender green sprouts.
Even though class had ended, many horse girls were still doing voluntary training on the grass.
Among them were the opponents for her next race.
Crown-chan had already won the Yayoi Sho, so she definitely wouldn't miss the Satsuki Sho...
But what about me...?
"Are you thinking about the Spring Stakes?"
"Mm... Ehh?!?!"
Her thoughts had been seen through so easily. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she looked awkwardly at Satono Crown, who was smiling teasingly.
"How did you know, Crown-chan...?"
"It was written all over your face."
Satono Crown gave a light laugh and looked toward the stands.
"During class I noticed it too. Normally at times like this, your trainer would be watching you from over there.
"Today for some reason he didn't come, but during the breaks you kept glancing in that direction, Kita-chan~"
"W-was it that obvious?"
Kitasan Black was surprised and scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
"Hehe... I guess I'm just not used to it yet..."
"I understand. Not every trainer is as dedicated as yours, focusing only on you..."
As she said this, a brief look of sadness and resignation flashed in Satono Crown's eyes.
Kitasan Black froze for a moment. She wanted to ask what was wrong.
After learning some things from the seniors, besides wanting to help Yasui Makoto share his burdens, she also wanted to find a chance to comfort Satono Crown.
But no matter how many times she thought about it, she felt like there was nothing she could do.
After all, it was a matter between Crown-chan and her own trainer. Plus she had two close friends and Opera O-senpai to talk to. Asking rashly might have the opposite effect.
Especially since she had just beaten her and had such a good relationship with her own trainer — bringing it up now might seem like she was showing off.
Kitasan Black really liked helping others. Seeing someone in trouble made her feel bad, and she always wanted to do something.
At the same time, she understood that good intentions alone weren't always enough.
If you didn't have the ability to help, sometimes your kindness could just become a burden.
So during this period, except when she was with Trainer Yasui and the seniors, she had been pretending not to know anything in front of others.
Even at the victory party, she had only secretly observed Satono Crown from afar. Seeing that her classmate seemed to be doing okay and no longer stuck in the past, she had felt relieved.
But seeing her good friend show that kind of expression just now, she thought something similar might be happening again and couldn't help wanting to ask.
Before she could speak, Satono Crown smiled and smoothly changed the subject.
"By the way, if it's not too much trouble, can I ask where your trainer went today? Just curious. If it's a secret related to racing or training, just forget I asked."
Kitasan Black secretly observed her friend and, seeing she didn't look particularly sad, breathed a small sigh of relief. She smiled and shook her head.
"It's not a secret. He went to the university division today, so he couldn't come."
"University division?"
Satono Crown blinked. "So he went to learn about some training research over there? Got it."
She nodded and didn't ask any further.