T/N: Heya~ Huge shoutout and thank you to Hunter1, Vester 1 and Avelino Favela for your support~ I really appreciate it, you guys are the best š
Chapter 64
After her reflection, Yasui Makoto also turned his attention to the large screen opposite them.
In the center of the screen, the energetic black-haired girl waving enthusiastically at the camera was none other than his own horse girl.
At the same time, the announcer was introducing Kitasan Black.
"Overcoming all the doubts before her debut. Announcing her talent beyond short distances with two straight victories. Full of momentum and overflowing with energy. Entering the track is Gate 1, Kitasan Black!"
A loud cheer erupted across the stands.
Kitasan Black raised her arm high and waved vigorously, then smoothly pulled off her jacket and flung it toward the outside of the parade ring.
"Mhm, not badā¦ she's got real spiritā¦"
Watching Kitasan Black on the screen, Yasui Makoto had just begun to praise her when he suddenly let out an awkward laugh.
At the same time, good-natured laughter rose both inside and outside the screen.
The announcer continued smoothly.
"Kitasan Black is in excellent spirits! She threw her jacket all the way into the stands in one go. It looks like she'll be showing off that impressive power in the race ahead. Let's look forward to it!"
Just as the announcer said, Kitasan Black had looked quite cool and dashing when she took off her jacket and threw it. But she had clearly used a little too much strength. The jacket flew more than ten meters and landed right in the middle of the stands.
While the announcer smoothly covered for her, the black-haired girl jumped down from the stage with an embarrassed face, retrieved her jacket from the audience, bowed repeatedly, and then dashed back behind the parade ring without looking back.
"Well, there are always unexpected developments, huh."
Looking at the screen, Yasui Makoto shook his head with a helpless smile. "Her debut, the last race, and now this one tooā¦"
Special Week had also been laughing at Kitasan Black's antics. Hearing Yasui Makoto's comment, she looked over curiously.
"Her debut and the last race? What happened, Yasui-san?"
"Wellā¦"
Yasui Makoto cleared his throat and gave a brief summary of his horse girl's previous blunders, then shook his head helplessly.
"Kita-chan isn't particularly careless by nature, but at times like this she always makes some small mistakeā¦"
"A mistakeā¦? Well, that's not so bad."
Special Week smiled with a nostalgic look. "During my own debut parade, not only did I walk with the wrong gait, I even tripped and fell.
"My Winner's Stage was a disaster too. I couldn't sing or dance at all. I had to practice a lot with Teio later before I could do it properly.
"So a little mistake like thatā¦ I think it's normal for rookies."
After laughing for a moment, she suddenly became thoughtful.
"Butā¦"
Yasui Makoto had been amused by Special Week's own embarrassing story. He blinked when he noticed her change in tone.
"But whatā¦?"
"Ah, wellā¦"
Special Week hesitated, then scratched her head with a sheepish smile.
"Ah, it's nothing. You don't have to worry about it, Yasui-san."
Yasui Makoto paused again, not quite understanding what she meant. After thinking for a moment, he decided Kitasan Black should be fine and shifted his attention to the other horse girls' parade introductions.
Once he confirmed everything matched his earlier analysis, he gave a small nod and looked toward the underground passage entrance leading to the stands.
A short while later, the moment the black-haired girl's figure appeared in his line of sight, he raised his arm.
"Kita-chanā¦"
His voice was instantly drowned out by an excited shout from beside him.
"Hey, Kita-chan! I came to cheer for you!"
Cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, Special Week yelled at the top of her lungs, then jumped up and down while waving frantically at Kitasan Black.
Kitasan Black was clearly startled at first, but then her face lit up with joy as she waved back. She ran all the way to the railing directly in front of the stands.
"Special Week-senpai! Y-Youā¦ you came?!"
After her surprised and delighted cry, Kitasan Black's expression changed as realization hit her.
"I see! So the old friend Daiwa-senpai and Vodka-senpai were talking aboutā¦ was you, Special Week-senpai!"
"Heheā¦ heave-ho!"
With a silly laugh, Special Week suddenly vaulted over the railing in front of the astonished gazes of Yasui Makoto and the surrounding spectators. She rushed up to Kitasan Black and gave her a big hug across the fence.
"Surprised? Heheā¦ to be honest, I feel like I've been a pretty lousy senpai."
After the hug, Special Week took both of Kitasan Black's hands and said apologetically:
"I didn't even know you had already debuted. If Daiwa and the others hadn't told me, I wouldn't have found out until who knows whenā¦
"Congratulations, Kita-chan! Two straight wins right after debuting. That's amazing!"
"Hehe, thank you, Special Week-senpaiā¦"
Kitasan Black smiled just as sillily, then shook her head vigorously with joy.
"Please don't say that, senpai. I know you've been helping your mom run the ranch back home in Hokkaido these past few years, so you must be really busy.
"I'm already so happy just knowing you watched my race. I never expected you to come cheer for me in person.
"Don't worry, senpai! I'll give everything I have in this race and I definitely won't let you down!"
"Mhm! I believe in you!"
Special Week nodded firmly. Her gaze drifted to Kitasan Black's chest, and her smile grew even wider.
"But cheering for you can't just be words. Here, Kita-chan, let me fix your number cloth for you."
"Number cloth?"
Kitasan Black blinked and looked down at her chest.
"Mhm! During my debut I was so nervous I forgot to bring it."
Smiling, Special Week reached out and helped Kitasan Black remove the number cloth. With a nostalgic expression, she sighed softly.
"My trainer purposely didn't remind me about itā¦ Here, Kita-chan, lift your arms a bit."
Kitasan Black obediently raised her arms while asking curiously:
"He purposely didn't remind youā¦ was it so you'd remember the lesson?"
"No, not quite."
Special Week smiled as she fastened the cloth.
"I was super nervous before my debut and couldn't calm down no matter what.
"My trainer noticed and purposely didn't remind me about the number cloth. Instead, he had Silence Suzuka-senpai bring it to me.
"You know Silence Suzuka-senpai's personality. She's very gentle and considerate.
"The night before my debut, she kept encouraging me, and when she brought the number cloth she helped me put it on too.
"For some reason, the moment I saw her specially bringing it for me and helping me wear it, I suddenly stopped feeling nervous."
After smoothing the edges of the number cloth, Special Week stepped back and looked Kitasan Black straight in the eyes with a gentle smile.
"You see? That's how it is.
"I don't have Silence Suzuka's kind of gentleness or thoughtfulness. I'm always clumsy and forgetful.
"But even someone like me can still do what little things I'm able to for you, Kita-chan.
"I'm passing on the encouragement and support Silence Suzuka-senpai gave meā¦ along with mine and everyone else's.
"Go on, Kita-chan.
"No matter what, I, everyone, and all the people supporting you will stay with you the whole wayā¦ No.
"We'll keep running together with you."
Kitasan Black stared at Special Week in a daze for a long moment before she finally came back to herself and nodded firmly.
"Mhm! I absolutely won't let anyone down!"
"That's the spirit!"
Special Week patted Kitasan Black's shoulder and watched with a smile as the girl excitedly ran toward the gate.
After a while, a hint of amusement flashed in Special Week's eyes.
"She's still a little nervous though. She put the number cloth on backwards. Good thing it's the number '1'. You can't really tell unless you look closelyā¦"