After Mejiro Ardan crossed the finish line, Kitahara and the others responded with calm, unhurried applause. Leading the clapping was Symboli Rudolf, and Maruzensky soon joined in.
"A wonderful race, especially the offensive and defensive exchanges right after the start and after the slope."
As one of the most outstanding horse girls since the establishment of the URA Association, Symboli Rudolf could of course perceive the brilliance of the race. She remarked with a hint of emotion:
"There's a sense of poetic justice in it—Yaeno Muteki restricted Mejiro Ardan's move to the inside right from the start, and then Ardan returned the favor with the exact same tactic in the final stretch. Both ability level, tactical awareness, and fighting spirit were excellent. Truly, my respects to both trainers for their hard work."
"I'm deeply grateful for all your dedication."
Saying so, Symboli Rudolf stood up and gave a deeply respectful bow.
Rudolf knew very well—outside, people remembered her not only for her legendary racing record, but also for her majesty and authority as student council president. But she herself understood: whether it had been her effort back then on the track, or her tireless work now as president, it was all for one purpose—so that more horse girls could gallop freely across the track.
Her own career had not been without hardships.
Originally, she had planned to challenge the Takarazuka Kinen before heading overseas. But an accident during training the day before the race left her injured and limping. She had to rest for a long time and even risked trying the controversial bamboo-needle therapy before she could return to racing.
Even her comeback had its obstacles. Half a year after her injury, when she stepped back onto the familiar yet unfamiliar track, she dreamed of winning both the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho. But in the end, Dyna Gallop, overtook her on the outside, and she had to settle for second.
She had tasted failure, had once almost been forced out of racing, and had known the depths of despair. It was precisely because of this that she now wished even more for her juniors to have more fulfilling careers.
Thus, she held deep respect for horse girls who fought with all they had, and for trainers who gave everything to support them.
However, those present did not understand her feelings in that moment. Seeing her bow, they were stunned and hastily returned the gesture.
"President Rudolf overpraises us. This is simply an old man's duty."
It was Deno Yoshiyuki who first responded, his voice resonant and firm. Though his hair and beard were white with age, his spirit remained vigorous—his voice boomed like a great bell, cutting off Kitahara before he could reply.
After bowing, he turned toward Kitahara, raised his hands, and clapped just as Rudolf had.
"If we're speaking of who truly shone today, it should be Chief Trainer Kitahara and this race's champion."
His broad hands clapped together, eyes shining with curiosity. The trainer of Yaeno Muteki, Deno Yoshiyuki, looked at Kitahara and spoke loudly:
"What astonishing willpower… that Mejiro horse girl of yours."
"I truly admire you, Chief Trainer Kitahara—for having nurtured such extraordinary willpower in Mejiro Ardan. Might I ask, how exactly did you train her to such an extent?"
"…Willpower?"
Already stunned from being cut off earlier, Kitahara froze completely. "Why do you say that?"
"Why…?"
Repeating the word in surprise, Dino Yoshiyuki frowned deeply.
"It's obvious, isn't it? In the final stretch, both horse girls were in full acceleration. Their stamina was nearly exhausted.
"To tell the truth, Yaeno Muteki's basic tactics are solid—her finishing kick is actually stronger.
"Which is why, normally, in such situations, she could swing wide outside and surge ahead straight to the goal.
"And yet, that Mejiro horse girl used just enough technique to block Muteki from making her sprint."
The massive old trainer's voice grew heavy and solemn.
"These techniques weren't complicated—they were simple, the same ones Muteki herself had used earlier. So I wasn't surprised at the tactics themselves.
"What surprised me was that, with her stamina drained, Mejiro Ardan still had such clarity of mind, executing the tactics so precisely. If that's not the power of sheer will, then what is?"
Having spoken his thoughts, his tone softened into sincerity.
"Perhaps such blunt questioning is improper, but… Muteki is strong-willed yet sometimes stubborn. Unless I bark at her, she won't listen.
"In my eyes, that's a flaw of willpower. Which is why I wished to learn from you, Chief Trainer Kitahara, how to cultivate such strength."
Kitahara finally understood why this veteran was so fixated on "willpower."
Indeed, Muteki sometimes had a tendency to get stuck on things. If Dino Yoshiyuki didn't scold her harshly, she might spiral into gloom. To him, that was a lack of willpower.
Nodding knowingly, Kitahara rubbed his temples, thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Trainer Deno. I may disappoint you, but Ardan wasn't trained in willpower. What you saw in that race was actually another of her strengths."
At first, hearing the apology, Deno thought Kitahara was refusing to answer and almost apologized himself for asking rudely. In his world, many trainers kept their methods secret. The URA Association had always respected this. So he wouldn't have blamed Kitahara.
But then Kitahara told him—he had misjudged.
"Ardan's case is not complicated. She simply rehearsed, again and again, every possible scenario that might arise in a race."
Kitahara did not hide their strategy. He knew—once a tactic was used once or twice, experienced trainers and talented horse girls could analyze it anyway. Deno's misunderstanding was only because he had been watching from outside. If Muteki herself talked it over, she'd probably understand Ardan's choices quickly.
Besides, Kitahara had done his own analysis during the race, considering his horse girl's situation in more depth.
Clearly, Ardan's "Racecourse Waltz" tactic worked well against debut-level opponents. But against someone as strong as Muteki, it was stretched to the limit—hence the narrow victory.
That meant they now had two options: raise Ardan's base abilities, or adjust and optimize the strategy—or both. Either way, changes were inevitable.
So, since Deno had asked directly, it was better to explain generally and build goodwill.
"We compared Ardan's indicators in exhaustion states with Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, Super Creek, and Inari One. We even used thermal imaging for evidence. The results were clear—Ardan was better at keeping her brain active under extreme fatigue."
Looking at Dino, Kitahara explained in detail:
"In conversations too, we saw only Ardan could stay mentally clear when drained.
"That's why rehearsals were so valuable for her.
"She memorizes every opponent's data—stats, running style, tactics—then simulates key turning points. By running alongside teammates, she sharpens her ability to seize those moments. That's her strategy.
"It takes tremendous time and effort. But as the latest debutant in our team, she needed this to maximize her strengths and secure more victories.
"So, rather than 'special training,' it's better to call it a tactic built from her unique strengths."
When Kitahara finished, Dino furrowed his brows, thinking long. He murmured with his assistant, Konai Tadashi, expressions shifting from realization to contemplation. Finally, he looked at Kitahara and nodded firmly.
"My deepest thanks, Chief Kitahara, for clearing my doubts—and please accept my apology."
He sighed. "I misunderstood. I thought you simply didn't want to reveal your methods. But now I see otherwise. It's natural to keep methods secret—were it me, I might not share with other trainers either.
"But you, younger as you are, not only master training methods but openly share them. Such openness—I respect it deeply."
Kitahara could understand this perspective. From Musaka Ginjiro, he had heard that old-generation trainers were indeed very conservative, sharing unique techniques only with close friends or official disciples.
For Kitahara, though, sharing ideas within the team—or even with trainers outside—wasn't difficult.
Quite the opposite. He believed only by doing so could the industry future he hoped for become reality. His teammates, like Komiyama, thought the same—and acted the same.
But hearing Deno bring up training methods left Kitahara pensive.
Because he had begun to realize the challenge facing his team.
The team format was incredibly effective at amplifying trainers' and horse girls' strengths while compensating for weaknesses. Just looking at his own Eisei (Eternity) Team, Oguri Cap and the others were already stronger than their parallel-world selves had been at the same point.
The examples were obvious.
Oguri Cap had no health troubles so far—her stats all above average. Her record stood at 13 wins from 13 starts, including a central graded race, much better than the other timeline.
Similarly, Super Creek and Mejiro Ardan had solved their leg issues earlier, making training and racing smoother. Tamamo Cross and Inari One had also resolved their own problems, performing in ideal states.
Even though not every horse girl's specialized tactics had been refined, they already had "Swinging Maestro" and "Racecourse Waltz," which secured wins for Creek and Ardan.
Most importantly—domains.
In the original history, Tamamo Cross should have reached the threshold for a Domain at the Takarazuka Kinen in June. But here, thanks to team training, she had already touched it months earlier, in practice races. That alone showed the immense benefits of team synergy.
But the problem was—Eisei Team was not the only one using the team system.
This was the true source of Kitahara's challenge and pressure.
In that very race just now, he had already seen the formidable power of Fumino Naise's Transcendence Team.
(End of Chapter)