After the training race, complex emotions still lingered in Yasui Makoto's heart.
He knew that Kitasan Black, who had yet to finish her Classic year, would face enormous pressure when she competed against powerful seniors. Even so, he felt the seniors had gone a little too far in this training race.
It wasn't about the ranking. Kitasan Black finishing last again, just like last time, was something he could accept.
Nor was it about any unexpected incidents. He had sensed midway through the race that Deep Impact's performance carried special intent. This Uma Musume had clearly wanted to test certain aspects of Kitasan Black, which was why she had shown no mercy from start to finish.
The real issue was that this was only a training race, yet one after another, the others had entered the Domain state. Wasn't that a bit much for his Kita-chan?
Yasui Makoto had held back for a long time, but in the end he kept his complaints to himself. Aside from Kitasan Black, every other Uma Musume had entered the Domain during the race.
Thinking about it calmly, this unexpected development wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
After the Satsuki Sho, he and Tokai Teio and the others had confirmed repeatedly that Duramente had definitely entered the Domain in the final straight. In that state, mental focus became extremely sharp, various abilities could be unleashed far beyond normal limits, and even the aura around her changed. That much was certain.
During this period of guiding Kitasan Black, Yasui Makoto had been researching and pondering the phenomenon. However, understanding of this state remained shallow worldwide, and even those who experienced it could not clearly explain what was happening.
Since it could not be artificially triggered, Kitasan Black had gained a tremendous benefit from this unexpected experience in the training race.
On the other hand, all the Uma Musume who had taken part were completely exhausted. Although entering the Domain allowed for extraordinary performance, it was not some kind of superpower. In the end, it consumed stamina at a far more intense rate than usual.
Just like Duramente after crossing the finish line in the Satsuki Sho—she had barely been able to stand and had recovered slowly with Kitasan Black's support. Deep Impact and the rest were the same. After finishing, they had managed a slow jog for a while before lying down one after another, left with only enough strength to breathe.
Suppressing his urge to complain, Yasui Makoto, along with Daiwa Scarlet and her two companions and Kitasan Black—who had rested a little—got busy handling the aftermath.
First, they headed to the infirmary and queued for physical check-ups to make sure no one was injured.
Next, they asked about weekend plans to avoid delaying any important matters.
Once they learned that the Uma Musume would all be resting afterward, they returned the gates, equipment, and other items they had borrowed from logistics.
Finally, Yasui Makoto thought for a moment and suggested taking everyone to a hot spring. They could review the eventful training race while they relaxed. Hot spring therapy had long been part of their training routine, and the suggestion received unanimous approval.
...
That afternoon, at the hot spring inn that Yasui Makoto and Kitasan Black had visited several times before.
In a private room, Deep Impact lay on a lounge chair, casually flipping through a copy of Uma Musume Weekly. When she heard a knock at the door, she answered without looking up.
"Please come in."
"Excuse me, Deep Impact-senpai."
Kitasan Black slid open the paper door, carrying a plate of fruit salad. She asked with concern, "How are you feeling, senpai? Are you still very tired?"
Deep Impact placed the magazine on the tea table beside the lounge chair, stood up, and took the fruit plate.
"I'm fine. Where are the others?"
"Can I ask you a question, senpai?" After a brief hesitation, Kitasan Black posed a question that was not quite an answer.
Deep Impact nodded without speaking.
"Senpai… you don't seem to like interacting with people?"
Kitasan Black waved her hands quickly. "I just felt that way. If I said anything wrong, please forgive me, senpai…"
After a moment of silence, Deep Impact picked up a piece of fruit with a toothpick and ate a few bites. She looked at Kitasan Black.
"Why do you think that?"
"It's just… a feeling."
Kitasan Black pursed her lips. "I remember I've been to your house before, right, senpai?"
"That time with my sister?" Deep Impact replied quickly.
"Yes. Kuroshio-senpai often tells me about you, senpai."
Kitasan Black nodded. "I've also watched your races, and that time I wanted to get to know you better, senpai, but I didn't see you…" She hesitated.
After another stretch of silence, Deep Impact jabbed at the fruit a few times with the toothpick, then suddenly stared at Kitasan Black and changed the subject.
"In the final bend, what were you… thinking?"
"The final bend… you mean today's training race?"
Seeing Deep Impact nod, Kitasan Black lowered her head and fell quiet.
Deep Impact did not press her. She turned, sat back down on the lounge chair, picked up the magazine again, and flipped through it casually.
A long time passed.
"Unwilling… and regret, I guess." When Kitasan Black finally spoke, her voice was soft and a little uncertain. She unconsciously clenched her fists.
"Why unwilling? Why regret?" Still flipping through the magazine without looking up, Deep Impact asked softly, as if the question were casual.
For a moment, it felt as if Kitasan Black had returned to the training race. The familiar oppressive pressure washed over her again, and the two consecutive questions left her feeling suffocated.
A moment later…
"I'm not sure, but…"
Kitasan Black clenched her fists even tighter and gritted her teeth.
"If an opponent like you, senpai, appeared in the Japanese Derby and I backed down again like I did today, then victory would definitely…"
"It's not 'if'."
The magazine rustled as Deep Impact turned a page. She interrupted without raising her eyes. "It's 'definitely.'"
"In the Japanese Derby, there will definitely be opponents that make you feel unbeatable." She emphasized the words.
Kitasan Black was stunned.
She did not quite understand what Deep Impact meant. She had almost never interacted with this senpai before, and even after the recent training race she still felt the gap was huge. Yet she knew this senpai's strength definitely ranked among the very top in all of Japan.
Such powerful Uma Musume were rare. Could the upcoming Japanese Derby really have opponents that felt insurmountable, just as senpai said?
"Japanese Derby—Tokyo Racecourse, turf, 2,400 meters, left-handed course, G1."
Deep Impact set the magazine down and finally looked directly at Kitasan Black again. She began speaking about the race.
"It originates from the oldest Epsom Derby and is the first race of the Classic Triple Crown. Its other name is Tokyo Yushun, which means 'selecting the most outstanding Uma Musume.' It used to be the race with the highest popularity requirement."
"Do you know what your opponents will do for this race?"
The string of information left Kitasan Black a little dazed. Hearing the question, she answered instinctively.
"Do… what?"
"Fight for their lives."
Deep Impact picked up the magazine once more, turned to a page filled with race records, and spread it out in front of Kitasan Black. Her voice deepened.
"Middle-distance races greatly test the balance between stamina and final spurt. Most of them start slow and finish fast, relying on that late burst."
"But the Japanese Derby is different."
"There are too many cases of horses fighting with everything they have for the title of Derby Uma Musume. In more than half the races, the first 1,000 meters are run in under 60 seconds."
"That's the kind of speed you see at the start of other middle-distance races that end with a big spurt."
"You should understand now why I ran the way I did in the training race."