Tolikopa is really good at dancing, and even practicing with her once a week positively affected Grand Ekinoks's dancing skills.
We can at least say that she avoids sudden clumsiness or nonsense while dancing more often.
Besides slightly increasing the rest breaks due to back pain, I didn't change the training program and tried to closely Grand Ekinoks's development.
I must act thinking about what kind of racer she wants to be, because she will have her debut race in three days. I knew she was very serious about winning the Gazi Race, saying she would win it one day. The Gazi Race is a 2400-meter race on the turf track. Considering the length of the race, I need to train Grand Ekinoks to run long distances.
But I didn't know if she could run long distances because of the back pain caused by her slight hunch.
I think 1600 meters would be ideal for her debut race. Moreover, I want to give her a gift for her first race. So when she came to my side today, I told her we wouldn't train today.
TJC Academy is located in Istanbul and with Grand Ekinoks we wandered through the streets of Istanbul for about half an hour. We didn't talk much and people around us mostly asked if we were from TJC Academy. People don't see umamusume in daily life every day.
Together we entered a blacksmith shop in Grand Bazaar. I asked the apprentice, a boy about 13-14 years old, to call his master from in front of the counter. A few minutes later an elderly man came up to us. He held a pair of horseshoes that looked brand new.
"The order is complete, trainer."
After taking the horseshoes from the old man, I felt a pinch in my arm and turned my face toward Grand Ekinoks's area. Grand Ekinoks was giving me an unhappy look.
"Did you really have them made? But I had horseshoes already?"
Before I could say anything, we had left the blacksmith and I kept looking at this girl who seemed almost impossible to deal with for a while. I wonder if anyone else could tolerate her.
If Gazi will be won, maybe, but it wasn't clear that she could achieve it. In fact, nothing is certain in this world. So people must do what they want. What I want to do is to realize the dreams of this stern-acting umamusume.
"Of course but I'm really curious which era those horseshoes came from. You would have raced with those horseshoes you use for training, which have long since worn out, right?"
"I… Well…"
"Also I'd recommend you take a look at the horseshoes."
After saying this, I handed the horseshoes to her, and she started looking at the brand-new horseshoes. There was a clearly visible "G.E." inscription on them. Those were the initials of her name, crudely carved in a very ornate way.
"These are… wonderful."
I could see that her eyes filled with tears.
"So you liked them, huh?"
"Liked them? I loved these, trainer."
In the midst of everyone, a Umamusume who exuded such cheer shouted, and Grand Ekinoks clearly felt embarrassed realizing that everyone was looking at her. As I watched the shy girl behind that stern exterior, I felt strange emotions. Grand Ekinoks ignored the people around and spoke to me again.
"I don't want to be under this gift's burden. Could we go to your house?"
"There's really no need. And why would we need to go to my house?"
For some reason, I sense something off about this.
"My mother used to bake me very nice carrot cake. I want to bake you a carrot cake as thanks."
I must have misread the situation.
"Carrot cake? Do you know how to cook?"
"Of course I do. My mother used to make me carrot dishes…"
Not wanting to distress her further by remembering her mother, I accepted this gesture. It seems we will have a lovely meal this evening.