Kitasan Black and Yasui Makoto were no strangers to Tracen Academy's university division. After all, Kitasan had visited plenty of times because of Tokai Teio.
Yet this time, specifically coming to meet Sakura Bakushin O, Kitasan Black couldn't help but look around curiously along the way.
Unlike the lively, bustling atmosphere of the academy division, it was much quieter here.
Mature upperclassmen, clearly past their active Umamusume days, strolled along the tree-lined paths and main roads in small groups, murmuring seriously to each other.
Watching them from afar, the pair soon reached the training grounds for the sprint division—the very place they'd reserved in advance.
From a distance, Kitasan Black spotted an Umamusume with chestnut-brown hair.
Standing tall, with her long hair tied into a high ponytail, she appeared vibrant, crisp, and efficient.
One hand rested on her hip, while the other held a megaphone as she shouted instructions to several figures on the track:
"Too slow, too slow!"
"Bakushin it up, everyone! How can you be role models for your kouhai like this?!"
"Bakushin, bakushin, bakushin!"
"Um… uh…"
With an awkward smile, Kitasan Black pointed hesitantly. "That's Bakushin-senpai…"
Before she could finish, the ponytailed Umamusume—somehow noticing them—snapped her head around.
Like fireworks blooming unexpectedly in the night sky, her cherry-pink eyes instantly lit up, and she dashed over in a flash.
Within seconds, Yasui and Kitasan Black squeezed their eyes shut and raised their arms instinctively, shielding themselves from the sudden gust of wind.
At the same moment, Sakura Bakushin O's delighted voice rang out:
"Kita-chan! Kita-chan! You came to see me all on your own!"
"Did you finally change your mind?!"
"Ha ha ha! I knew it—your Bakushin spirit has awakened!"
Still overflowing with excitement, she tucked the megaphone into her waistband, pressed her palms together, and trembled slightly, eyes full of anticipation as she gazed at Kitasan Black.
"Kita-chan… you're finally ready to dedicate yourself to sprint racing, right?!"
Lowering her arms, Kitasan Black backed away a step, glancing awkwardly at Yasui before taking a deep breath.
Summoning her courage, she looked straight into Sakura Bakushin O's eyes and spoke earnestly:
"Bakushin-senpai, I… I really appreciate how much you've believed in me."
"But deep down, I still want to shine in races like the Kikuka Sho and the Arima Kinen—just like my idol, Teio-senpai."
"That's my unwavering dream."
This was the honest answer she'd settled on during their walk here, after discussing it with Yasui.
After speaking, she bit her lip instinctively, feeling uneasy.
Her senpai meant well—Kitasan Black had dodged her invitations many times already, and now she was rejecting her outright. She had no idea how Sakura Bakushin O would react.
She'll be disappointed… maybe even angry. If someone treated me that way, I would…
Yet, as these thoughts raced through her mind, Kitasan Black unexpectedly realized that Sakura Bakushin O's smile hadn't faded at all.
Not only had it not faded, it had become gentler.
"I see…"
Without changing her expression, Sakura Bakushin O nodded and stepped forward, giving Kitasan Black's shoulder an encouraging pat before suddenly bursting out laughing.
"Ha ha ha! Good, good! Kita-chan, I really didn't misjudge you! Just like me, you truly have the Bakushin spirit inside you!"
"...Senpai?"
Kitasan Black stared in confusion, finally asking, "You're not angry? Even though I just turned you down…"
"What's there to be angry about?"
Looking equally puzzled, Sakura Bakushin O shot back, laughing again as she patted Kitasan Black's shoulder once more.
"The Bakushin spirit isn't just limited to sprint races!"
"Pursuing the dream you cherish and never giving up—that's the Bakushin spirit!"
"Middle and long distances also require extraordinary perseverance and strength. And I believe in you, Kita-chan!"
"You'll definitely fulfill your dream!"
A warm rush surged through Kitasan Black's chest, her eyes stinging slightly.
She couldn't really explain why, but every time she saw Sakura Bakushin O—awkwardness aside—she always felt a natural closeness.
Like seeing her Grandpa, or family… or perhaps her elementary-school instructor, Tide-senpai.
At that moment, Yasui smiled and stepped forward.
While the two Umamusume had been discussing—or rather, debating—the Bakushin spirit, he'd been observing the training grounds.
Based on their files, he quickly identified the other Umamusume as renowned sprint specialists who'd etched their names into racing history.
Nishino Flower was there, along with Biko Pegasus and North Flight.
Even Bamboo Memory had come—now a police officer, but once a top-class sprinter in her prime, famously known as the "first-generation Sprint King."
Is this a dress rehearsal? The next sprint race… but the Sprinters Stakes already ended, so maybe it's a review?
The thought crossed his mind briefly, but Yasui didn't linger on it. Instead, he turned to Sakura Bakushin O.
"Sakura Bakushin O-san, I'm Yasui Makoto. We spoke earlier on the phone—I'm Kitasan Black's assigned trainer."
"To put it simply, as I mentioned before, we came to exchange notes and seek your advice on Front Runner training—especially regarding the strength aspects."
"So…"
Before he could finish, Sakura Bakushin O waved an arm enthusiastically—almost rudely—and laughed aloud.
"Then you've come at just the right time!"
"Come on, Kita-chan—we're starting right now!"
"Bakushin! Bakushin!"
Without waiting for another word, she grabbed Kitasan Black and, to Yasui's and Kitasan's astonished expressions, Sakura Bakushin O thrust an arm skyward, shouted "Bakushin!" and charged toward the training field.
Dragged along for several steps, Kitasan Black's stunned look quickly shifted.
As if catching her senpai's energy, she suddenly laughed brightly, thrusting her own arm upward as she joined in the shout, "Bakushin!"
This… is definitely not how I expected things to go.
Surprised by Sakura Bakushin O's decisive, no-nonsense approach, Yasui nevertheless remembered why they'd come.
Jogging to the edge of the field, he managed to nod politely at Bamboo Memory—someone he'd met once before—before turning his full attention back to the two Umamusume, who had already begun warming up.
Moments later, Yasui's expression shifted from surprise to shock.
And after an hour or two passed, the shock hadn't faded—it had deepened.
Since becoming a trainer, he'd personally watched numerous races, not counting video footage, and had seen plenty of explosive starts.
He'd also trained several prominent Umamusume, including Kitasan Black herself, as well as strength-focused runners like Vodka and Gold Ship.
If they were measuring raw physical power outside the racetrack, Sakura Bakushin O might not necessarily surpass them.
But in that race-like—or rather, simple partner-run setting just now—it was the first time Yasui truly felt what an Umamusume's "terrifying strength" could mean.
It wasn't his imagination. The instant Sakura Bakushin O began running, the ground near him seemed to quake.
An instant later, chunks of turf exploded from where she'd pushed off, roots and dirt scattering through the air.
What followed was an equally frightening burst of acceleration.
As a fellow Front Runner, Kitasan Black had previously run partner drills with Daiwa Scarlet and even Silence Suzuka.
Even during her first practice with those elite senpai, she'd managed to seize the lead occasionally.
But paired with Sakura Bakushin O, she hadn't taken the lead…
Not even once.
So compared to another explosive power-type… Kita-chan still has untapped potential?
Even as he reeled from the shock, Yasui's eyes began to sparkle with anticipation.
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