It has been about a week since I became Grand Ekinoks's trainer and in this week I learned new things about her and arranged her training program.
The first adjustment I made was to give 10 minute breaks while doing push-ups, sit-ups and squats. This decision was due to her back pain caused by a slight hunch.
The second change was to completely remove running on the dirt run because she doesn't like running on dirt at all. I don't think she will run on dirt race during her career. Since sand runs are smaller in scale, this isn't a big deal.
Moreover, Grand Ekinoks definitely has a stubborn personality and I think not every Umamusume has this trait. Perhaps because of this stubbornness, I might have canceled her dirt runs, but I significantly increased the time she spends running on turf: from 15 minutes of light jogging to 25 minutes, from 3 laps on the track to 5 laps and I doubled her swimming training.
Of course, I also increased the rest periods between these activities. As a result, we have a longer training program than the standard one. I suppose Grand Ekinoks is also somewhat antisocial like me. She didn't object to my training plan, and even if she didn't say so, it was clear she enjoys training.
But this situation might be a sign of a problem.
TJC Academy not only trains umamusume but also trains trainers and thanks to the education I received there I became a trainer. In that education, I was told:
If an Umamusume isn't very social, she is probably not very good at dancing.
For umamusume, besides running, there's something as vital as singing and dancing and I don't want the umamusume I train to be bad at it, just like every trainer who wants to prove themselves.
The next day, after finishing the usual training, I told Grand Ekinoks I would be waiting for her in the gym.
A few minutes later, Grand Equinox came to me and started staring coldly at the woman next to me.
I know I forgot to mention this, but yes, I wasn't alone. Melisa was with me. She was my senior mentor and one of the youngest trainers who won the "Trainer of the Year." This award allows each winner to select an extra umamusume.
For example, if you've won this award twice, you can choose three umamusume. If you've won it three times, you can choose four umamusume. So winning this award even once is very valuable.
Back to the topic, I heard one of the two umamusume Melisa chose this year is very good at dancing and I agreed with Melisa to arrange a joint dance lesson.
We told Grand Ekinoks about this and I could see her face fall. It seemed my feelings were not mistaken.
"I don't like dancing, and my voice isn't very good."
"But didn't you say you want to win the Gazi Race? After you win the race, everyone in the audience will say your name."
"Tch. You say that, but the woman next to you won't be in a position to teach me dance. Where did her umamusume go?"
"Well… Tolikopa has always been late to trainings. I wasn't surprised she's late again."
"Tolikopa? Did I mishear? Are you really her trainer, Melisa?"
"Tolikopa…"
"CO-M-ING!!!!!"
Suddenly, an umamusume ran into the gym, clearly much smaller than Grand Ekinoks. She had darker, shorter hair tied in a ponytail and eyes the color of wine that reminded me of Grand Ekinoks's eye color.
She wore the tracksuit set given to each student, the same one Grand Ekinoks wore. Her smile was sunny and she looked quite flustered.
"I'm really, truly, incredibly sorry, trainer! I promise I'll never… Hello Grand. What are you doing here?"
"Um… You obviously know Tolikopa, right?"
"She's always buzzing around me at school. She thinks I'm so cute…"
"But you are, Grand."
"Are we really going to practice dancing with her?"
"Tolikopa is a not champion a races but she is champion of dance and you certainly have a chance to learn something from her."
"Okay…"
Strangely, convincing her was easier than I expected. I wonder how this dance practice will end?