Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Ten Meters Chapter 54: Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Ten Meters [54]

Two weeks later, on a Friday afternoon at the training field.

Standing at the edge of the track, a group of Uma Musu dressed in sports T-shirts and shorts listened attentively as their teacher held a clipboard, calling out loudly to the gathered students.

"Everyone, please make sure you review today's practice thoroughly after class. Those of you who've already debuted, follow your trainers' guidance first. If you find any differences between your trainer's instructions and today's lesson, discuss them promptly. Don't keep any uncertainties bottled up."

"That's it for today. Thanks for your cooperation, class dismissed!"

"Thank you, Sensei!"

"Sensei, thank you for your hard work!"

After bowing and expressing thanks in unison with her classmates, Kitasan Black glanced toward the grandstand and chewed her lip anxiously.

She took a few steps with the others toward the field's exit, then hesitated, scratching her head thoughtfully before turning back toward the track.

Suddenly, she heard soone shouting behind her.

"Hey—Kita-chan—!"

Instinctively turning around, Kitasan barely made out who'd called her before sothing ca flying in a gentle arc through the air.

"Catch!"

"Huh? O-oh, got it!"

Reaching out and catching the object, Kitasan saw it was a bottle of milk. She stared at it, puzzled, then looked in the direction of the voice.

"Crown-chan…what's this for?"

The one who called her was none other than her classmate, Satono Crown.

"It's for you!" Satono Crown smiled, approaching her while carrying a bag full of various bottled drinks.

"I ordered these online from overseas as a reward after winning the Yayoi Sho last week. But I accidentally bought too many. After giving plenty away at ho, I still had so left, so I figured I'd share them here with everyone."

"I don't know if this one suits your taste. If you don't like it, I have other flavors here too."

Curious, Kitasan glanced at the milk in her hand. The flavor was labeled "Alfalfa," and the bottle bore a stylish photo of a mature-looking Uma Musu who seed familiar.

She squinted at the language written beside the image.

"Eh? Chinese?"

"Yep, I ordered it from HK," Satono Crown explained cheerfully, pulling out another bottle labeled "Royal Bamboo" flavor.

"It's endorsed by Indigenous-san. You might rember her from Twinkle Series history."

"Indigenous… Ah, right, I rember!" Kitasan's ears perked up. "She raced against Spe-chan—um, Special Week-senpai—in that Japan Cup, right?"

"Yeah," Satono Crown nodded. "Although Indigenous-san didn't win that race, placing second was already quite amazing. Sohow, every ti I see her, I feel a special kind of warmth, so I sotis buy products she endorses."

"Oh, I see." Nodding, Kitasan glanced at her drink again, then smiled shyly. "Then, um, can I swap this for banana flavor? I prefer sweeter ones like that."

"Banana, huh? Let see... Here you go!"

"Thanks, Crown-chan!"

Exchanging her drink and eagerly popping in a straw, Kitasan took a sip, eyes imdiately sparkling. "Wow, the taste is really different from Japan's!"

"Right?" Satono Crown laughed softly. "Since many of our family's trainers are from overseas, I often try things from other countries."

"Yeah, I did notice lots of foreign things at your place when I visited you and Dia-chan," Kitasan nodded enthusiastically, then suddenly hesitated.

"Oh, by the way, Crown-chan... Those foreigners at your victory party last ti—were they trainers too?"

The victory party she ntioned was naturally celebrating Satono Crown's win at the Yayoi Sho. This race was not only a graded stakes race itself but also a crucial trial for the upcoming Satsuki Sho.

By winning the Yayoi Sho, Satono Crown secured priority entry into the Satsuki Sho. Unlike other Uma Musu, who had to qualify through fan rankings or draws, she was guaranteed a spot unless she voluntarily withdrew.

Realizing this, Kitasan couldn't help feeling a bit envious, and she quietly glanced back toward the training track.

It was already mid-March, early spring, and young, fresh-green grass was sprouting everywhere. Even after class ended, several Uma Musu continued training diligently on the lush turf.

So of them were competitors in her upcoming race.

Crown-chan has already secured her spot in the Satsuki Sho... She definitely won't miss it.

What about …?

"Thinking about the Spring Stakes?"

"Yeah… Eh?! Wait—!"

Caught off-guard as her inner thoughts were suddenly exposed, Kitasan felt her cheeks heat up, and she shyly looked toward Satono Crown, who wore an amused expression.

"How'd you know, Crown-chan…?"

"It's all over your face." Satono Crown gave an easy smile, looking toward the grandstand thoughtfully.

"I noticed earlier during class. Usually at tis like these, your trainer's over there watching you practice, right? Today, for so reason, he's not here. And every ti we paused during practice, you kept glancing over there, Kita-chan~."

"Was it really that obvious?" Kitasan laughed awkwardly, rubbing her cheek self-consciously. "Hehe, I guess I'm just not used to it."

"I can understand," Crown said softly. "After all, not every trainer is like him, completely focused and dedicated only to you."

As Satono Crown spoke, a flicker of sadness and resignation briefly appeared in her eyes.

Kitasan paused, sensing sothing wasn't right, and imdiately wanted to ask what was wrong.

Ever since she'd learned from her senpais about Satono Gallant's situation, she'd wanted to help not only Yasui-san but also Gallant-san. Yet every ti she thought about it, she realized there wasn't much she could actually do.

After all, this was a delicate matter between Gallant-san and her trainer. Besides, Gallant-san had close friends like Crown-chan, Dia-chan, and even Opera-senpai looking out for her. If Kitasan rashly interfered, she might even cause more harm than good.

Especially since she herself had recently defeated Gallant-san and maintained such a close relationship with her own trainer—approaching Gallant-san at a ti like this could easily seem like showing off.

She genuinely liked helping others. Seeing soone suffering made her instinctively want to comfort them. But at the sa ti, she knew good intentions alone weren't always enough. Sotis, acting kindly without the ability to genuinely help could actually burden others.

Thus, over the past few weeks, aside from her trainer and senpais, Kitasan pretended not to notice anything unusual.

At the victory party, she'd quietly observed Gallant-san from afar and felt relieved to see her friend in better spirits, seemingly past the worst of it.

But seeing Crown-chan with such a troubled expression now, Kitasan feared sothing similar might be happening again and wanted to ask.

However, before she could speak, Crown smiled gently, shifting the topic.

"Oh right, if it's okay to ask, do you know why your trainer isn't here today? I'm just curious—if it's sothing secret related to your training or racing strategy, then please ignore this question."

Quickly checking that her friend appeared alright, Kitasan breathed a small sigh of relief and shook her head lightly, smiling.

"It's nothing secret like that. Trainer had to go to the university departnt today, which is why he couldn't co."

"The university departnt?" Satono Crown tilted her head curiously. "Ah, so he went there for so training research? I see."

After nodding once, she asked nothing more.