Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Ten Meters Chapter 114: Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Ten Meters [114]

Kitasan Black couldn't quite understand the sudden panic she'd felt earlier.

Still, whenever she ran into sothing she didn't understand, she had a habit of simply ignoring it, never wasting energy on unnecessary worries.

So when she finally t up with Yasui Makoto and Almond Eye, she greeted Yasui with her usual excitent and scooped Almond Eye into a delighted hug.

"It's been so long, Almond-chan! We're headed for a big feast soon—co with us!"

Caught off guard by the hug, Almond Eye stiffened briefly, shifting awkwardly before calming herself.

"Congratulations, Kita-senpai, on winning the Satsuki Sho…I watched the race. It was incredible. I promise to work hard so I can compete in races like that soday."

"Mm-hmm! I believe in you, Almond-chan!"

Kitasan nodded enthusiastically before deliberately trying to put on a stern expression.

"But skipping lessons isn't okay, you know!"

"If I rember right, during our video call a few days ago, you definitely said you had private tutoring today!"

"If you want to win races, neglecting your studies is absolutely unacceptable!"

After an event a while back, Kitasan and Almond Eye had exchanged contact info. She had grown very fond of this quiet little kouhai, often texting or calling whenever she had free ti, always checking if Almond Eye was eating properly or keeping up with her studies.

She'd even specifically instructed Almond Eye to focus on her howork, promising to take her out for so fun once the Satsuki Sho ended.

When she'd learned about Almond Eye's tutoring schedule, she'd planned to push their outing back a bit until Almond Eye was free. With the Japanese Derby still a month and a half away, there was plenty of ti to spare.

She never expected Almond Eye to skip her tutoring session, and honestly, she was a little annoyed.

"I… umm…"

Looking guilty, Almond Eye hesitantly turned away, casting a pleading glance toward Yasui Makoto.

Noticing Almond Eye's silent plea, Yasui smiled wryly and stepped forward.

"Actually, Kita-chan, Almond Eye already knows she did sothing wrong."

Almond Eye's eyes imdiately brightened, but Kitasan regarded him suspiciously.

She had clearly seen Almond Eye's silent appeal and had expected Yasui to pretend not to notice.

Since she'd t him, her trainer had always seed laid-back when it ca to daily life. Whenever she went out with Crown-chan and the others, Yasui happily tagged along if he had free ti.

However, during training or studies, he was incredibly strict. Every mistake she made was corrected without rcy, and he always reminded her to pay close attention in class.

"…Trainer, you're not making excuses for Almond-chan, are you?"

Recalling their past interactions and comparing them with Yasui's current behavior, Kitasan puffed out her cheeks in mild annoyance.

"But when I got caught spacing out in class, you definitely scolded …"

"Ah…that's a different matter, isn't it?"

Yasui sounded sowhat helpless.

Since that event, he and Almond Eye had talked many tis.

Her desire to break free from the race distances her family set for her—to challenge greater lengths—wasn't re rebellion.

She had done plenty of research, carefully writing notes about longer-distance training strategies. Though those notes were naive by professional standards, each careful stroke was sincere and thoughtful.

Today's tutoring was about short-distance races, so from Almond Eye's perspective, choosing to watch the Satsuki Sho instead was understandable.

Besides, knowing how things played out in a parallel world, Yasui was confident of Almond Eye's talent for distances beyond short and mile races. He genuinely didn't think she'd done anything wrong.

However, that was only his own opinion. From Kitasan's viewpoint, his reaction probably seed out of character.

"I actually did lecture Almond Eye already, you know…"

Glancing at Kitasan's slightly dissatisfied expression, Yasui shifted his gaze as if seeking confirmation from Almond Eye:

"When she ca to the administration hall earlier, I reminded her not to skip lessons again."

"She promised not to repeat this mistake and said she would properly apologize to her parents and tutor."

"That's correct, isn't it, Almond Eye?"

"Yes, I'll apologize sincerely."

Almond Eye nodded earnestly, then bowed deeply toward Kitasan.

"I should also apologize to senpai for causing trouble."

Kitasan suddenly felt embarrassed.

She didn't doubt Yasui or Almond Eye's sincerity. Slowly, it dawned on her that Almond Eye had probably skipped tutoring specifically to watch her compete.

"Oh, no, you don't have to apologize like that… Just don't skip lessons again, alright?"

Patting Almond Eye's head affectionately, Kitasan turned curiously back to Yasui.

"So…what do we do about Almond-chan now?"

"I'd love for her to join our celebration, but did her parents agree?"

"Shouldn't the staff here have contacted them already?"

Just as Yasui was about to reply, his gaze suddenly shifted to sothing behind them.

Night had fully fallen, and the trio stood inside Nakayama Racecourse's administration hall.

With the races long since finished, the hall no longer bustled like during the dayti. Most staff looked ready to head ho, though one particular group hurried by as if rushing to another appointnt.

Noticing Yasui's gaze, Kitasan turned curiously and imdiately spotted the figure at the front of that group.

Long, jet-black hair cascading down her back, highlighted by a striking silver streak at the center of her bangs—like a shooting star slicing through the night sky.

Her ears and tail were also pitch-black, and she possessed strikingly rare heterochromatic eyes: her left eye glowed amber-gold, while the right was ocean-deep blue.

Her expression was cold—almost chilly—and she wore a long black coat accented by silver embellishnts around the cuffs and collar.

She was surrounded by several neatly dressed figures in suits, clearly professionals, speaking quietly but insistently to her.

The Uma Musu's responses were brief and curt, nodding coolly with only an occasional terse reply.

Seeing her clearly now, Kitasan gasped softly in surprise.

"I-Isn't that… Chairwoman Yukishiro…? Wasn't she overseas?"

Kitasan's startled voice wasn't quiet; the Uma Musu nad Yukishiro turned imdiately toward them, approaching calmly.

Stopping in front of them, Chairwoman Yukishiro silently studied Kitasan Black for a mont before giving a faint nod.

"Your pacing at the start deviated by over 20% from previous races at this track. Every turn you took was unusually tight, and your decisive move at the third corner instead of the hostretch…"

"Such unreasonable tactics haven't been seen in Japanese races for quite so ti."

"An exceptional performance, Kitasan Black."

After this calmly spoken evaluation, Yukishiro turned to Yasui Makoto, extending her hand.

"My apologies, Trainer Yasui. The eting took far longer than expected."

"You've probably seen around, and we've communicated briefly before, but let properly introduce myself."

"Yukishiro Sakuya, current Chairwoman of Central Tracen Academy. A pleasure to formally et you."

After shaking Yasui's hand, Yukishiro closed her eyes briefly, took a gentle breath, and then opened them again, looking resignedly at Almond Eye, who had quietly lowered her head at so point.

"Are you satisfied with watching the races? If so, I'll take you ho shortly."