Chapter 12: Tamamo Cross
As soon as the words were spoken, a light knock sounded outside the activity room.
"Come in," Kisei responded.
The door was pushed open a crack, and a small head peeked in. Upon seeing the two inside, the petite face immediately broke into a bright smile.
"Hehe~ Sorry to bother you!"
"Little Tamamo, don't block the doorway."
Katsumi's gentle voice came from behind.
The Uma Musume called Little Tamamo finally pushed the door fully open and bounced into the activity room. She was not tall, with long gray hair casually draped behind her.
"This is Tamamo Cross, the Uma Musume I'm in charge of," Katsumi followed her in, introducing her to Kisei before turning to Sakura Bakushin O. "You two have probably met before, right? You're in the same grade."
Tamamo Cross blinked, her Kansai dialect lighthearted and familiar: "I just came to see the new neighbor! Oh~ So you're Sakura Bakushin O? You ran super amazingly in yesterday's race!"
Sakura Bakushin O smiled somewhat sheepishly: "Thank you, you're amazing too, Tamamo-san."
In truth, she hadn't seen Tamamo Cross run before, and the two hadn't known each other previously.
Kisei stood up, his gaze lingering on the Uma Musume who had suddenly visited. Almost simultaneously, the familiar data panel appeared before his eyes.
[Name: Tamamo Cross]
[Track Aptitude: Turf (A), Dirt (F)]
[Distance Aptitude: Short Distance (G), Mile (E), Middle Distance (A), Long Distance (A)]
[Running Style Aptitude: Leader (G), Front Runner (A), Stalker (A), Closer (A+)]
So many As! Turf, middle and long distances—these were all As like Bakushin O's, and there was even an A+ in Running Style Aptitude! With proper training, it could even reach S!
"This little Uma Musume has quite the talent."
Suppressing his surprise, Kisei turned to Katsumi: "Senior, have you already signed a contract with Tamamo Cross?"
"What do you mean?" Katsumi immediately widened her eyes. "Trying to poach from me, are you? You little rascal!"
"Just joking." Kisei smiled and looked at Tamamo Cross. "So you're Tamamo Cross? I've heard about you for a while. Komiyama-senpai always says she has an Uma Musume who's like a little sister."
Hearing this, Tamamo Cross placed her hands on her hips and turned to Katsumi: "So you've been telling everyone outside that I'm your little sister?"
"Hahaha, Little Tamamo really is like a little sister." Katsumi carelessly ruffled Tamamo Cross's hair, their closeness evident.
After a brief introduction, Kisei began conducting basic physical tests for Tamamo Cross. The process went smoothly, and the examination was completed in less than five minutes. Other detailed data had already been sent to his email by Komiyama in advance.
"All done. I'll send you the diet plan tomorrow." Kisei put away the examination tools and added, "But Tamamo Cross hasn't started her blooming yet. When that time comes, we'll need to reassess, and the diet plan will have to be adjusted."
Komiyama waved her hand dismissively: "We'll just trouble you to make a new one then."
"No problem." Kisei checked the time—exactly 3:30. He turned to Sakura Bakushin O: "Bakushin O, go warm up at the training field first, as planned."
"Understood, Trainer-san."
"Little Tamamo, you go too."
"Got it, got it. Komiyama, you're so naggy."
After the two Uma Musume left the activity room, Kisei glanced toward the door: "Where's Trainer Fumino? Didn't she say she'd bring an Uma Musume over too?"
"She's still a trainee trainer at this point. She's definitely helping other teams this time of day, unlike you with all this free time," Katsumi said with a laugh.
"Almost forgot about that." Kisei picked up his training clipboard. "Let's head to the training field then."
Though only half an hour had passed since school ended, many teams had already begun their afternoon training on the field. Thanks to Tracen's ample facility resources, Sakura Bakushin O and Tamamo Cross were warming up on adjacent grassy areas while chatting.
"Hey, aren't you about to run your Debut Race soon?" Tamamo Cross, being straightforward by nature, asked whatever came to mind.
Sakura Bakushin O paused. Debut Race... she hadn't really given it much thought. With her right leg issue still unresolved, she wondered if Trainer-san would postpone the plans?
"I'm not really sure yet. I'll have to follow Trainer-san's arrangements."
"I see..." Tamamo Cross responded quietly, a barely noticeable flicker of anxiety in her eyes.
Many Uma Musume in their grade had either already debuted or, like Sakura Bakushin O, completed their blooming and were preparing to launch. But she herself hadn't even shown signs of blooming yet.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't worried.
"Tamamo-chan, over here."
Komiyama's voice called out at just the right moment. Tamamo Cross acknowledged and, after nodding farewell to Sakura Bakushin O, turned and ran off.
After Tamamo Cross left, Kisei and Sakura Bakushin O finally began their first official training session.
During a break, Sakura Bakushin O accepted a towel and wiped sweat from her temples, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitating.
"What's wrong?" Kisei glanced at her. "Hesitating like this really isn't like you."
"Trainer-san." Sakura Bakushin O put down the towel. "About the Debut Race..."
Kisei, who had been organizing training records, set down his notebook.
"Well," she hesitated briefly before asking, "will my right leg problem affect the Debut Race schedule? Like, would it need to be delayed or something?"
Kisei put down his tablet and looked at her seriously. "Do you want to delay it?"
"No!" Sakura Bakushin O immediately shook her head, her ponytail swaying. "I want to stand on a proper race track as soon as possible."
"Then we won't delay it."
"But..."
"Your right leg issue isn't major, and muscle growth isn't something that happens overnight—it's a long process."
Kisei pulled up a schedule. "Correcting your right leg strength and preparing for your debut can proceed simultaneously. In fact, moderate race stimulation can actually promote neuromuscular coordination, as long as we control the load properly."
He swiped the screen, revealing a clear phased plan.
"Understand?" Kisei pointed at the timeline. "If your correction progresses smoothly, we could schedule your Debut Race in as little as a month and a half. Of course, that's provided you pass every assessment."
Sakura Bakushin O's eyes lit up. "I'll definitely pass them all!"
"Good to have that determination." Kisei put away his tablet, his tone softening slightly. "But remember, the Debut Race is just the starting point, not the finish line. Our goal is the classic races, stages much further ahead. So no need to rush—take it step by step."
"Hmm!" Sakura Bakushin O nodded firmly, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right, about Tamamo Cross..."
"She has her own pace." Kisei looked toward the other side of the training field, where Katsumi was accompanying Tamamo Cross through basic drills. "The timing of reaching full potential varies from person to person—forcing it prematurely can be harmful. Komiyama-senpai understands that well."
"Let's continue training."
"Okay!"