Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Ten Meters Chapter 28: Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Ten Meters [28]

For the next few days, Kitasan Black and Daiwa Scarlet trained together for over an hour each morning and evening.

Throughout these sessions, Yasui Makoto was pleased by Kitasan's noticeable improvent, but he was equally impressed by Daiwa Scarlet's natural talent and enduring strength.

Generally, an Uma Musu's pri racing career spanned roughly three years, after which their abilities gradually declined.

But a few elite athletes were different.

Their skills deteriorated far more slowly, and even though they couldn't maintain their peak forever, they often remained at a consistently high level.

Daiwa Scarlet was exactly this kind of Uma Musu.

The data clearly showed that Scarlet handled each training session with ease, and in every aspect—speed, power, technique, and racing awareness—she thoroughly outclassed Kitasan.

Having such a senior as a practice partner had been highly beneficial even for Yasui himself, let alone for Kitasan. If possible, Yasui wished Scarlet could continue training with them indefinitely.

Unfortunately, that was impossible.

Daiwa Scarlet had her own responsibilities and research to pursue upon returning to the Academy, and Yasui knew better than to impose further.

After their morning session today, Scarlet announced that this would be their last joint training session for a while; the next session might not occur until two or three weeks later.

...

"Ahh, this was really great."

Drinking deeply from her energy drink and wiping sweat from her forehead, Daiwa Scarlet sighed contentedly.

"Coming back here was the right choice after all. Not only do I get to train with Kitasan again, but it even feels like I'm back in my student days."

Also sipping her drink and toweling off, Kitasan wore a slightly regretful look.

"It's just a sha you'll be so busy afterward, Daiwa-senpai. I wanted to train with you even more often—ouch!"

Lowering her hand from delivering a playful flick to Kitasan's forehead, Scarlet laughed.

"What's with that tone, Kitasan? You sound like we won't see each other again!"

"Don't forget, I'm about to be the dorm manager at Ritto Dormitory. We'll practically see each other every day."

"Just don't ever let catch you coming back late, or I'll lock you out like a suspicious Uma Musu."

ntioning "suspicious Uma Musu," Scarlet seed to recall sothing amusing, and she giggled softly to herself.

Holding her forehead where she'd just been flicked, Kitasan asked curiously, "What's so funny, Daiwa-senpai? I'd never co back late!"

"I'm not laughing at you," Scarlet said, rubbing her nose nostalgically. "I was thinking about your Spe-chan-senpai."

"Spe-chan-senpai?"

Kitasan's curiosity intensified. "What about Spe-chan-senpai?"

"The very first ti Special Week-senpai ca to Tokyo, she went straight to Tokyo Racecourse first," Daiwa Scarlet explained cheerfully. "That's when she saw Silence Suzuka-senpai race and decided she wanted to join Suzuka-senpai's team."

"After watching the race and the Winner's Stage, Spe-chan-senpai finally rembered that it was the day she was supposed to report to the Academy. She panicked and dashed straight back from the racecourse to school. Oh right—she had gotten off at the wrong station in the first place, so she had run to the racecourse too."

"All the way back…?" Kitasan's eyes widened. "Wow! That's just like Spe-chan-senpai—amazing!"

"Well, not literally in one breath," Scarlet laughed. "But she was incredibly fast, overtaking several cars on the road and startling a lot of drivers. Anyway, Spe-chan-senpai rushed and rushed but still ended up arriving late. Fuji Kiseki-senpai almost locked her out, mistaking her for so weird Uma Musu."

"S-so that's how it was? Haha…"

Kitasan laughed awkwardly but quickly assured her senior, "Don't worry, Daiwa-senpai! I'll never trouble you by needing you to open the door for late at night!"

"Good. You said it yourself—so don't bla if I really lock you out."

Scarlet smiled playfully, then turned her gaze to Yasui Makoto.

Yasui had been quietly analyzing data on his tablet but had still caught every word of their conversation.

It was rather amusing, especially hearing their anecdotes about Special Week, affectionately known as "Spe-chan."

Spe-chan was also a legendary racer, having won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and becoming only the second Uma Musu in history to conquer both the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho, earning her the impressive nickna "Great General of Japan."

Yasui recalled URA promotional videos featuring Special Week, where she had appeared incredibly dignified and inspiring.

Hearing Scarlet's anecdote, it was pleasantly surprising to discover such an endearingly goofy side of that sa Uma Musu.

Noticing Scarlet's glance in his direction and mistakenly thinking she ant to remind him of sothing, Yasui nodded politely.

"I'll keep an eye on our training schedule and remind Kitasan to return to the dormitory on ti."

"Oh, I trust you completely on that," Scarlet replied with a relaxed smile. "But actually, I was just curious—how are you planning this afternoon's training, Trainer Yasui?"

Her curiosity was genuine.

After spending several days training together, Scarlet had beco increasingly aware of Yasui's extraordinary nature as a trainer.

Forget eighteen—even among trainers nearly thirty years old, she'd rarely encountered soone with Yasui's temperant.

Most new trainers hesitated constantly, terrified they'd make mistakes. Even more seasoned trainers typically hid their anxiety well but secretly panicked, imdiately seeking senior trainers' help as soon as their Uma Musu weren't looking.

Yasui, however, was different. Despite his youth, he was surprisingly calm and mature in his training approach.

He wasn't flawless—he sotis made common rookie mistakes in minor details. But he recognized those errors quickly, openly acknowledged them to Kitasan, and swiftly found solutions.

Scarlet was even more impressed by his flexibility in training thods.

Most trainers she knew closely followed either traditional senior advice, textbook thods, or their own stubborn experience.

Yasui was refreshingly different. He didn't care about tradition. If he believed a thod would help Kitasan, he used it without hesitation and adjusted imdiately whenever needed, never bound by convention.

Given such flexibility, aside from joint runs, Scarlet wondered what Yasui might have planned next…

"The afternoon training will be the sa as yesterday," Yasui answered casually. "However, on Friday evenings, I usually don't schedule training. It's good for Kitasan to get proper rest."

He glanced warmly at Kitasan and continued, "Besides, she told yesterday that she'd arranged to go to karaoke with her friends tonight and asked to finish training a bit earlier. Of course, I agreed."

"Oh right! Trainer, you're coming too?" Hearing this, Kitasan's excitent soared imdiately.

"No, I'll pass," Yasui gently shook his head, pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket.

"When studying for the trainer exam, I learned so basic music theory. In my free ti, I also wrote a few songs. You can try singing this one at karaoke tonight. If you think it's good, I can arrange to record it later and upload it to your official race account."

"Race account?" Kitasan blinked in surprise, unfolding the paper. "Huh? Trainer, you know how to write musical notation?"

"Music theory was an elective in the trainer exam, so I studied it a little," Yasui replied modestly.

Smiling at Kitasan, he added gently, "But you're the real expert here. If anything seems off, please feel free to tell ."

"I-I'm not really an expert…"

Kitasan shyly smiled but quickly nodded. "Alright! Then I'll try humming it first!"