"I'm sorry, Kitahara-kun. In all the research I know of, there's never been any mention of being able to 'control the domain voluntarily.'"
Tarō looked apologetic.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Kitahara-kun."
But Kitahara wasn't disappointed.
"Maybe it's a bit far-fetched," he mused, "but I don't think we need to dismiss the possibility just yet."
As he thought, faint memories about "voluntarily controlling the domain" surfaced. Slowly, he said:
"Tsubakihara, what you said was that in the research you know, it doesn't exist — not that it absolutely doesn't exist."
"You mean…" Tsubakihara blinked, then fell into deep thought.
Komiyama and Miyamura Kyōko also pinched their chins, thoughtful.
"Maybe there are some highly classified studies — ones you haven't come across yet, Yuzuhara."
Kitahara's tone grew firmer suddenly.
"Because I just realized — maybe among the Uma Musume here, there are some who understand the domain far better."
"Senpai, are you talking about… those legendary Uma Musume?"
Komiyama's eyes widened.
"Exactly."
Kitahara nodded.
I remember now.
Bringing the memory with him, he explained slowly:
"I recall that there's a prerequisite to entering the domain — that the individual's level has to be extremely high."
"If that condition is correct, then we have plenty of such Uma Musume here."
"Mejiro Ramonou, Miho Shinzan, Symboli Rudolf, Nihon Pillow Winner, Katsuragi Ace, MR CB…"
Listing the names in reverse chronological order, one after another, a green silhouette flashed in Kitahara's mind. Instinctively, he skipped several generations and continued:
"And earlier still — Tosho Boy, Saint Lite, Tokino Minoru"
"With so many Uma Musume of such remarkable achievement, I don't believe that not a single one of them ever encountered the domain. In fact, some of them very likely mastered it completely."
"Meaning — they could enter that state at will."
As he stated his view, Kitahara also carried a private intention: he wanted to find out whether Tazuna was actually Tokino Minoru.
According to Oguri Cap and the others, this woman who might be a Uma Musume carried no trace of a Uma Musume's aura — yet countless little details suggested she possessed speed far beyond that of ordinary humans.
So if she really was Tokino Minoru, and had, for some reason, lost part of her Uma Musume traits — then what allowed her to retain that extreme speed might very well be the ability to "enter the domain at will."
But Kitahara had already spent time specifically looking into it — and had found absolutely no trace of Tokino Minoru. Not in data, not in reports — the name didn't appear anywhere.
It was as if such a Uma Musume had never existed at all.
He was curious, but also suspicious — perhaps he hadn't looked thoroughly enough. So he deliberately mentioned that name, to see how Tsubakihara and the others would react.
"What Kitahara-kun is saying… that's actually quite plausible."
Taro nodded thoughtfully.
"We're all just enthusiasts, after all. Our knowledge of races can't compare to that of the Uma Musume themselves — especially not the legendary ones you just mentioned."
"We can do this. I think we absolutely can."
His energy rose.
"Once we get into Central — or even starting now — we can pursue this angle. We can investigate whether those legendary Uma Musume really have mastered the domain."
"If that's true, then not only would Tama-chan and the others gain a new trump card, but we might even make a major breakthrough in this field of research!"
"We might leap ahead of the rest of the world!"
His eyes shone brightly.
"Man, whenever research comes up, you really get fired up, Tarō-nii."
Komiyama laughed.
"But no problem — if it can help Tama-chan and the others, I'll put in the work too! And senpai, you know, a bunch of the horse girls you listed — I actually know them. I'll go ask them later!"
Well then — it seemed this little sister's overly friendly nature could sometimes lead to pleasant surprises.
Kitahara chuckled silently, his spirits lifting. He was just about to assign the next steps when Miyamura Kyōko suddenly spoke up in surprise.
"Um… not sure if it's just me…"
She hesitated, her eyes flicking between Kitahara and the others for a moment.
"This Tokino Minoru… is she even a Japanese Uma Musume? How come I've never heard of her?"
Kitahara froze.
"Huh? You haven't heard of her either, Kyōko-nee? I thought it was just me who hadn't."
Komiyama froze too, glancing at Kitahara, then Tsubakihara.
"Could she be an imported Uma Musume? Born abroad, not well-known in Japan?"
"…Probably not."
Tsubakihara hesitated, shaking his head, his eyes drifting, intentionally or not, toward Kitahara.
"I know a fair bit about imported and overseas horse girls — I even wrote a thesis on it in undergrad — but…"
"I've got no impression of that name either. So, Kitahara-kun…"
…No one's ever heard of her…
Then… just who — or what — is Hayakawa Tazuna?
The doubts in Kitahara's heart grew heavier and heavier, though his expression betrayed nothing.
"Must be my mistake."
He decided to shelve it for now.
"Anyway, Tama-chan's condition can basically be considered cured. There's just over a week until the official race. Let's focus on training and preparation."
"Inari One is from Ōi — next, she needs to get accustomed to Kasamatsu for the Master's Special."
"Tamamo Cross has been away from the Hanshin course for nearly a month — she definitely needs to go back and reacquaint herself with it."
"Tomorrow's the scheduled rest day. Everyone — after resting, let's double our efforts!"
After the meeting, Kitahara thought for a moment, then headed toward the girls' dorms.
He wanted to reconfirm Oguri Cap and the others' impressions of Tazuna.
He still felt that she was Tokino Minoru.
Only — for some unknown reason, someone or some group had erased that name, even her career, from the records, hiding it away — which was why their younger generation couldn't find it.
Right — he and Komiyama were only in their twenties, separated from that era by many years. If there really had been a cover-up, then maybe it was only natural that they didn't know.
Which meant… maybe he should go ask his uncle — and Dr. Kokobu — about it…
Yeah, next… huh?
Approaching the dorm entrance, Kitahara suddenly froze.
At the door, wearing a tracksuit, Oguri Cap walked out slowly, head lowered.
Was this… self-training?
Kitahara frowned.
He wasn't one to forbid Uma Musume from training on their own — but based on all his calculations and arrangements, he was certain that their daily training was already sufficient. What they needed after training was proper rest.
Rest was part of training. Without good rest, not only would the next day's training be affected — the rhythm of upcoming training sessions could be disrupted, ultimately impacting their races.
Especially now that Komiyama and the others were assisting — the training plans were more precise than ever, with no need for extra sessions.
Seriously, why is she… wait!
Just as he was about to step forward and tell Oguri Cap to go back and rest, Kitahara suddenly paused.
He remembered something.
In today's training race — Oguri Cap had lost.
This was her first loss.
(End of chapter)