T/N: Heya~ TL here, since we've reached 100 chapter milestone I'm gonna start working on a new fic.
YAY! right? you guys are happy right???!!!
ANYWAYS!
Stay tune for this new fic coming soon~
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Almond Eye had never imagined a two-thousand-meter race could feel so different from the short sprints she knew. The moment she crossed the finish line, the roar of the crowd blurred into a distant haze. All she truly registered was the announcement that she had won. Everything else simply faded.
When her mind finally cleared, she found herself staring up at a stark white ceiling. The familiar scent of antiseptic hung in the air. She blinked slowly, taking in the crisp sheets beneath her and the soft beeps of medical equipment nearby.
This… this is the Tracen Academy infirmary, isn't it?
Before she could sit up, an anxious voice rang out right beside her, tight with worry.
"Almond Eye! How… how are you feeling? Do your feet hurt? Please, tell me…!"
She recognized that voice instantly. Kitasan Black. A wave of warmth washed over Almond Eye as she turned her head. There stood her senpai, eyes wide with concern, leaning close to the bed.
"Senpai… I… I did win, right?" Almond Eye's voice came out steady, though a faint uncertainty lingered. Even now, the details of that final stretch felt foggy.
Kitasan Black's face lit up with pure delight.
"Mmm-hmm! I watched every second! You were incredible! That last spurt… I couldn't have done anything like it!"
She stood right beside the bed, practically bouncing with excitement as she praised her junior. Then her gaze dropped to Almond Eye's feet, and her expression clouded with worry once more.
"So… Almond Eye, how exactly are you feeling right now?"
My feet…?
Almond Eye followed her senpai's worried stare and realized for the first time that her racing shoes and socks had been removed. Her pale, slender feet rested bare against the sheets. She wiggled her toes experimentally. They moved freely, without any sharp pain.
Nothing feels wrong…
Just as she opened her mouth to answer, she noticed the band-aids carefully placed on the insides of both feet. A faint stinging sensation bloomed when she gently pressed them. Confusion flickered across her face.
Before she could ask, her eyes drifted past Kitasan Black. A little farther back, a familiar young man stood speaking quietly with the infirmary doctor. Almond Eye's pulse quickened with recognition. She had seen his face in race coverage and team updates many times before. This was Kitasan Black's trainer—Yasui Makoto.
"I feel fine… really. My feet are okay," she said, glancing once more toward Yasui Makoto before turning back to her senpai. Worried that Kitasan Black might not believe her, Almond Eye pushed herself up into a sitting position. She slowly lifted both legs, stretching them high until her feet hovered above her head in a smooth, flexible motion.
"My legs feel perfectly fine too. If anything… how did I even get these injuries?"
Kitasan Black rubbed the back of her head, looking a little sheepish as she glanced over her shoulder.
"According to Trainer, it's because your flexibility is outstanding and your speed is off the charts… but your footwork still needs polishing. Basically… your back foot accidentally clipped your front foot during the sprint."
Almond Eye's eyes widened. She had never heard of anything like that before.
Before she could ask for more details, Kitasan Black turned and waved toward Yasui Makoto with a bright smile.
"Trainer! Almond Eye seems to have rested enough now. Why don't you explain it to her yourself?"
Almond Eye's heart lifted. She had been hoping for exactly this. In her mind, anyone who could guide her talented senpai through distance barriers had to be extraordinary. If Yasui Makoto had helped Kitasan Black break through her limits, maybe… just maybe… he could understand the dream she carried and offer her some real guidance.
Besides, she was genuinely curious about this strange "back foot hitting front foot" phenomenon.
Yasui Makoto nodded toward them, exchanged a few quiet words with the doctor, and walked over with a gentle smile.
"Hello, Almond Eye. I'm Yasui Makoto, Kitasan Black's trainer. It's nice to meet you. Please take care of me."
Almond Eye stayed seated on the bed, offering a polite nod in return.
"Please take care of me as well, Trainer Yasui."
She touched her ankle lightly. "So… what exactly happened?"
Yasui Makoto's gaze softened as he looked at the band-aids on her small feet. Admiration shone in his eyes.
"It's pretty much what Kita-chan told you. Your flexibility is exceptional, and your stride is much longer than most. On top of that, your speed and explosive power are outstanding."
He stepped closer, holding his hands one in front of the other to demonstrate her running form.
"Because of all that natural talent, when you pour everything into a sustained final spurt without the right rhythm and footwork… your back foot can overtake your front foot mid-stride."
His hands moved smoothly at first, then accelerated. The back hand suddenly caught up.
"Like this. Your front foot hasn't finished pulling back yet, but your back foot has already shot forward and overlapped it while you're still in the air. With no solid ground under you, adjusting your balance becomes incredibly difficult."
He brought his hands together with a soft clap.
"Just a light brush. That's what happened to your feet."
Almond Eye listened intently, her eyes sparkling with understanding. A quiet thrill ran through her.
"It's actually quite rare," Yasui Makoto continued. "Not many horses have the combination of flexibility, stride length, and raw burst speed that you do. But don't worry. Once you start proper training after your debut, this will be easy to fix."
A flash of realization crossed her face, quickly followed by a spark of hope.
"I see… Thank you, Trainer Yasui." She paused, then met his eyes directly. "In your opinion… could I run middle-distance races? Or even long-distance ones, like Senpai Kitasan Black?"
Yasui Makoto felt a quiet stir in his chest.
He had rushed to the infirmary the moment Kitasan Black told him about the minor accident at the finish line. When he learned it was nothing serious—just a training issue—he had relaxed. Still, he had asked his Uma Musume a few quick questions about Almond Eye out of pure curiosity. After all, he was amazed that his own horse had managed to befriend a future queen of the track.
What he learned surprised him. In this world, Almond Eye's family expected her to focus only on short-distance races. In the world he remembered, her bloodline traced back to the mighty Lord Kanaloa, but it also carried the powerful influences of King Kamehameha and Sunday Silence—lines that produced champions across every distance.
Different worlds, different paths, he reminded himself. It makes sense that things aren't exactly the same.
"Long-distance… I'm not entirely certain yet," he answered honestly. "But middle-distance? Definitely. The race you just ran might not have been the highest level, but it proved something important. Your explosive power, stamina, and flexibility are all excellent. Most of all, you have a natural gift for that dramatic final spurt. Those are exactly the qualities middle-distance races demand."
He smiled warmly.
"With proper training, I'm confident you'll shine on the middle-distance stage. And long-distance… it's not impossible either."
Almond Eye's heart pounded harder with every word. She fought to keep her voice calm, though excitement fluttered wildly inside her chest.
"Thank you, Trainer Yasui. Then…"
She looked straight into his eyes, steady and sincere.
"If the chance ever comes up… would you be willing to guide me?"
The request caught Yasui Makoto completely off guard. He had no idea how much his ordinary talent looked like genius in her eyes, nor did he yet know the full depth of the dream she carried. Even so, his answer came without a moment's hesitation.
"Of course. If you're willing, I'd be happy to."
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Bonus chapters
200 - Stones
400 - Stones
600 - Stones
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