Oguri Cap's debut win brought something very different to others and to Kitahara.
For the ordinary people of Kasamatsu, seeing a talented Uma Musume appear locally was nothing but pure joy.
This was a small place. The Hashima District, where the academy and racetrack were located, had only about 50,000 residents. Most people lived off farming, with modest income and very little entertainment.
Now that there was an outstanding Uma Musume, with more victories the URA Association and central organizations would surely take notice, bringing in resources. In the future, there would even be activities like watching or visiting this Uma Musume.
More importantly, in a place where most were plain and ordinary, an excellent Uma Musume could bring hope, inspire effort, and give them a sense of pride.
These changes and feelings were even more apparent to those at Kasamatsu Tracen Academy.
For example, Kitahara clearly felt that his colleagues treated him more warmly than before. Even the director, principal, and instructors gave him special encouragement. It wasn't just envy—it was approval.
In the past, Kitahara had been infamous for being slovenly. His colleagues and superiors had only treated him politely out of courtesy. But now, no one would ever see him that way again.
Everyone had seen Oguri Cap's brilliance and also Kitahara's effort since the start of the semester.
Of course, the fact that the academy could produce an Uma Musume like Oguri Cap was also one reason why his superiors and colleagues felt so proud and enthusiastic.
However, Kitahara didn't immerse himself in all the surrounding praise.
He was very clear: Kasamatsu was only the starting point. The next stage was the Central circuit, and later—the entire world. He couldn't afford to stop at a taste of success or grow complacent.
Compared to himself, he was more concerned about Oguri Cap and Belno Light.
That day, at the cafeteria table, Kitahara asked the two Uma Musume about their life at the academy.
Since Uma Musume lived in dorms, as a man, Kitahara naturally couldn't follow them around everywhere. But he still needed to ask and care about such things.
"I heard your classmates' attitudes toward you two have improved lately?"
Sitting at the table, holding a copy of Kasamatsu Sports News, Kitahara casually asked as he glanced at the two Uma Musume across from him, who were eating heartily.
Of course, those two were Oguri Cap and Belno Light, both members of Kitahara's team.
To be precise, only Oguri Cap was wolfing down food. Belno Lighi had already finished and was now helping tidy up Oguri's empty dishes.
Oguri Cap was eating even more than usual today.
According to her, one reason was that she had just raced yesterday, and she always felt especially hungry after races.
The other reason was that she would have to "fast" for quite a while until the next meal, so she had to eat more now.
Calling the time between meals "fasting" was, of course, Oguri Cap's unique expression. Kitahara and Belno Light had gotten used to it after being around her for so long.
Hearing Kitahara's question, Oguri Cap was too busy eating to answer. Instead, Belno light smiled and replied:
"Yes! Oguri is the class idol now. Lots of classmates admire her." She spoke excitedly, but then her tone suddenly shifted:
"Oh, right! I never told you and Oguri this before, but there were some really nasty girls in class. They used to bully her all the time. Oguri's too pure and never noticed, and I didn't say anything because I didn't want her to feel sad—or for you, Kitahara-sensei, to worry."
"But now, after Oguri won her debut and yesterday's race too, it seems they've been scared—or maybe they've finally started respecting her!"
Two weeks after her debut victory, Oguri Cap had also run a 1400m dirt race.
That time, Fujimasa March didn't participate, and the other opponents weren't very strong. Oguri Cap practically crushed the field for another win.
Belno Light continued: "Anyway, last night those girls actually came to apologize to Oguri."
"Look, Kitahara-sensei! They even gave her these dance studio vouchers. They said if Oguri wants to practice dancing, she can go for free!"
Grinning, she pulled a stack of coupons from her pocket and placed them on the table.
"Is that so."
Kitahara responded in a flat tone while flipping through his newspaper. He glanced at the coupons on the table, then smiled faintly without much comment.
He had never told Oguri Cap or Belno Light, but he had already known about Norn Ace and the others ostracizing Oguri.
From the very start, he had decided to let Oguri's strength speak for itself. He'd simply watch and wait. If it really came to it, he wouldn't hesitate to use harsher means—like submitting evidence of bullying to the academy and having them expelled.
Since he remembered the original story, Kitahara knew that once Oguri proved her strength, no matter what people had thought of her before, in Kasamatsu, no one would dare belittle her anymore. So he had deliberately held back.
Now that things had turned out exactly as expected, Kitahara naturally carried a relaxed attitude.
Perhaps because he was too relaxed, Belno Light, who had happily pulled out the coupons, now looked suspicious:
"Huh? Why do I feel like Kitahara-sensei already knew everything?"
Kitahara neither confirmed nor denied. He just waved the newspaper in his hand and changed the subject:
"Dance studio vouchers, huh? Well, I'm not much good at dance training, so it's about time Oguri practiced dancing. I'll arrange a time for us to go." He didn't want to talk about unpleasant matters in front of the pure and innocent Uma Musume.
"Otherwise, the victory stage will always just be the Kasamatsu Ondo. It's down-to-earth, sure, but if you go to the Central circuit, just that one folk tune won't cut it." With a teasing smile, he lifted his newspaper.
Belno Light also giggled, covering her mouth as she glanced at Oguri, who was still busy eating:
"Hehe, true. Both of her wins so far, she danced the Kasamatsu Ondo on stage. Honestly, it startled me."
What Kitahara and Belno Light called the Kasamatsu Ondo was a festival song and dance used here for celebration and blessings. For comparison, it was like China's "Hebei Bangzi," "Yangge," "Er Ren Zhuan," or "Shaman Dance"—a popular folk performance.
It wasn't unpleasant or joyless to watch, especially with Oguri's graceful looks and clear, cool singing voice.
Still, on a victory stage, watching a girl in a stylish pleated skirt perform a "shaman dance" looked undeniably strange.
On the front page of the newspaper Kitahara was holding was a photo of Oguri Cap "dancing like a shaman."
At that moment, Oguri finally noticed their laughter. She paused in her eating and looked up, puzzled:
"Isn't the Kasamatsu Ondo nice? I think it sounds great! I even asked my mom how to dance it properly."
Hearing her mention her mother, Kitahara and Belno light immediately stopped laughing. After all, they both knew how much Oguri adored her mom.
Still, Oguri quickly corrected herself:
"But… what Kitahara said makes sense. If I go to the Central circuit, I should probably learn more kinds of dances."
At that, Belno Light widened her eyes in shock:
"Ehh?! Kitahara-sensei, are you planning to send Oguri to the Central circuit?!"
Kitahara's expression grew serious.
Because after Oguri Cap's debut victory and her win yesterday, what concerned him most was exactly this—what direction she would take next.