Chapter 260: A New Chapter
Pulled back to reality by Almond Eye's raised voice, Kitasan Black froze for a moment and instinctively asked:
"H-huh…? What's wrong…?"
"Kita-senpai, you…"
Almond Eye looked at her with confusion, her eyes full of concern and sincerity:
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Ah… n-no, I'm fine! M-maybe… I just got a bit tired from running around buying groceries earlier, haha…"
Forcing out a smile, Kitasan Black quickly shook her head, trying hard to recall what Almond Eye had just said.
"Oh right, I bought all this to make something tasty for Trainer. It'll help with his recovery."
"Wow! Kita-senpai is so thoughtful!"
Not noticing anything unusual, Almond Eye's eyes lit up:
"I know a little bit about cooking too—let me help you!"
"Let's make an amazing breakfast together for Trainer!"
"Y-yeah… o-okay…"
Doing her best to smile, Kitasan Black lowered her head slightly in a fluster, continuing to gather the ingredients from the ground, trying to use busyness to cover up the complicated emotions in her heart.
Standing at the doorway of the apartment, Makoto actually wanted to help.
But earlier, when he tried to step forward to pick things up, both Umamusume had refused him in unison—naturally, because they were worried about aggravating his injury.
So now, as he watched Kitasan Black and Almond Eye busy themselves, he felt warmth and comfort… yet at the same time, he couldn't help but fall into thought.
Although he had heard about the Honkakuka stage, he had never truly witnessed it in person.
The changes in Almond Eye before and after this stage had genuinely shocked him and broadened his perspective.
From what he remembered, the last time he saw Almond Eye was about a month ago.
Back then, he and Kitasan Black were busy preparing for the Arima Kinen, and Almond Eye had come specifically to visit and cheer them on.
At that time, Almond Eye still looked like a little elementary schooler—small limbs, a childlike face, and a short height—only reaching about Kitasan Black's chest.
But now, she was nearly as tall as Kitasan Black. Her limbs, like the latter's, faintly revealed powerful strength.
Her figure had matured significantly, and her features had fully developed.
One could even say she had developed beyond that of an ordinary girl—or even most Umamusume. Aside from a slight trace of childishness on her face, she now appeared almost like an adult.
And precisely because of that, neither he nor Kitasan Black had recognized her at first.
It could only be said that Umamusume truly were remarkable.
Now that Almond Eye had revealed her identity, while he marveled at her astonishing transformation, Makoto also began thinking about something else.
Almond Eye's parents… had most likely changed their minds and agreed to let their daughter sign a contract with him.
In other words, barring any surprises, Almond Eye would be under his guidance from now on.
This wasn't an impossible scenario.
Perhaps he was indeed very young—just over 19 years old—but his achievements were undeniable.
If it had only been one or two graded race wins, or even just a single G1 victory, people could chalk it up to coincidence or luck.
But within just one year of debut, the first runner he trained had already won 5 graded races and 3 G1 titles. Calling that mere luck would be hard for anyone to believe.
Of course, some people argued that it was all due to Kitasan Black's talent—that his success might not hold up with a different Umamusume.
While recovering over the past couple of days, he had browsed various platforms out of boredom, and indeed, he had seen such opinions.
He didn't deny those claims, and he understood clearly that if he hadn't known Kitasan Black's potential almost as if he could foresee it, he might not have been able to achieve these victories with another Umamusume.
However, he also knew that this "foresight" was itself an ability that had to be properly utilized. It was precisely because of this unique capability that he could ensure Kitasan Black would perform even better than in the original world.
Otherwise, if it were someone else, at best they might only reach the same level as in the original world—it would be difficult to surpass it.
Given that, what outsiders thought didn't really matter.
What mattered was this: if he truly signed a contract with Almond Eye, how could he fully bring out her already exceptional talent and achieve even greater success?
Of course, he would also need to put even more effort into planning and researching for Kitasan Black. She was about to enter her senior racing year, where the challenges would be even greater than during her classic year—there was no room for carelessness.
Moreover, training two Umamusume wasn't as simple as one plus one. There were many details to consider.
From what he could see, Kitasan Black and Almond Eye had some overlap in their preferred race distances—such as middle distance—but there were even more differences.
After a year of training, Kitasan Black was actually best at long-distance races, with middle distance coming second.
As for Almond Eye, based on past information, she should be strongest in mile races, followed by middle distance.
This meant their training would need to be staggered, and their race schedules would need careful adjustment to avoid conflicts and ensure proper attention to both.
With differences in training and racing, their coaching approaches would naturally need to be tailored as well.
And beyond that, how he guided and communicated with them daily—and even how the two of them interacted with each other—were all things he needed to pay attention to.
Thinking of all this, Makoto felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders grow heavier—but at the same time, he felt invigorated.
It was precisely because he carried such responsibility that he, as a trainer, had to give it his all and not betray the trust and expectations of the two Umamusume.
And this, too, marked a brand-new chapter in his career.
While Makoto was lost in thought, the two Umamusume had already swiftly finished organizing the ingredients.
Carrying a large bag of groceries, Kitasan Black walked over, her eyes full of anticipation as she said excitedly:
"Trainer, everything's ready! Let's head inside—I promise Ai-chan and I will make a breakfast that'll amaze you!"
Almond Eye quickly nodded, her face lighting up with confidence:
"That's right! Trainer, just get ready to enjoy a feast!"
Looking at them, the pressure in Makoto's heart eased considerably.
"Alright, then I'll be looking forward to tasting your cooking."
With a smile, he walked into the apartment first and sat down on the living room sofa, quietly watching as the two Umamusume entered and got busy in the kitchen.
Kitasan Black skillfully tied on an apron and began washing vegetables and preparing ingredients.
Almond Eye assisted from the side, handing over utensils and seasonings as needed.
Though they had only just started working together, their coordination was surprisingly seamless, occasionally exchanging a few quiet words about cooking details.
Amid this harmony, the kitchen filled with the rhythmic sounds of chopping, running water, and the clinking of pots and pans, all blending together into a unique kitchen symphony.
Before long, the aroma of food began to spread through the air. Makoto took a deep breath, a smile unconsciously forming on his lips.
He was already looking forward to tasting this breakfast.