Kuroha only had to glance at Teio's stat sheet, and he couldn't help clicking his tongue to himself.
Absurd.
Completely absurd.
An "undebuted" rookie Uma Musume with an all-around average of around 700?
You could tell people she'd just won a G1 in her Classic Year, and they'd believe it.
Compared to the start of the year, it was nothing short of a complete transformation.
Beyond the massive, across-the-board surge in physical ability, what surprised Kuroha most was the rise in her aptitudes.
"Her Dirt aptitude actually went from C to B…"
Kuroha fell into thought. "Even though for these five months, ninety percent of our time was spent in intensive training specifically for Turf tracks."
"Looks like the general technique work paid off as a side benefit."
At this pace, even without dedicated specialty training, Kuroha felt that by the end of the year, Teio's Dirt aptitude could reach A.
And as for running style, her Pace Chaser tactics had evolved straight up to S.
Paired with nearly ten gold skills, Teio right now, if she faced anyone of her generation, would be a one-woman army.
Everyone else would look like a speed bump.
Of course, stats were only the foundation. What truly made Kuroha certain Teio had already broken out of her shell were the two most crucial lines of description.
[Unique Skill: Sky-High Teio Step] rose from Lv. 3 to Lv. 4.
[Unique Trait: A proud growth curve that doesn't lose to any Uma Musume].
That kind of improvement meant Teio's understanding of every muscle fiber in her body, every breath, and every running form and technique had become far deeper.
And the awakening of [Domain — Crimson Feathers' Dream Throne] signified that her heart, body, and skill had completed a perfect integration.
The Teio whose body couldn't keep up with her will was gone.
What stood here now was a monster that, with nothing but time to settle and mature, would be enough to shock the world and bring an era to an end.
…
"Alright. Don't just stand there spacing out. Go rest for a bit."
After carefully wiping the sweat from Teio's small face, Kuroha put the panel away. As naturally as always, he took her hand and led her toward the shaded area beside the track.
The moment she flopped into a lounge chair, Teio couldn't wait. She snatched the sports bottle Kuroha handed over, tilted her head back, and gulped down water in big mouthfuls.
"Hah—!"
She slammed the bottle down and let out a long, intensely satisfied sigh.
She swung her legs, which now felt light as air, and grinned. "As expected, drinking water after going all-out feels the best. It's like my whole body came back to life!"
Kuroha sat beside her, watching that vibrant smile, eyes blinking softly.
He patiently waited until her breathing fully settled, then spoke, his tone carrying a trace of seriousness.
"Teio. Your debut date has been set."
Teio's ears shot upright in an instant, and she snapped her head toward Kuroha.
"June 21." Kuroha held up four fingers. "Ten days from now."
"That's great!"
At the news, Teio's eyes lit up, her excitement so intense it practically swept away her fatigue.
"I can finally debut! Trainer, I've been waiting for this moment for so long!"
She clenched a small fist and looked at Kuroha with absolute conviction. "Don't worry, Trainer. I'll bring the victory back with me!"
"No matter who's in front of me, I'll show them no mercy— I'll blow right past them!"
When she said "no mercy," she even threw a couple of little punches at the air.
"Your strength is the one thing I'm not worried about." Kuroha smiled and nodded, his calm voice threaded with unquestionable confidence. "Across Central, among your generation, there isn't a single Uma Musume who can stand against you now. This debut is just a formality for you."
"Heheh, of course! Teio-sama is invincible!"
Hearing her Trainer praise her, the girl proudly puffed out her slightly rounded chest, her face practically screaming, Praise me more.
"But—" Kuroha's tone shifted. The gentle warmth in his eyes sharpened into something keen and deep.
Teio froze for a beat, her puffed-out chest not even having time to deflate.
"Don't get it into your head that you're already amazing, and start treating these 'ordinary' races like they don't matter."
Kuroha met her gaze and spoke slowly, clearly, word by word.
"The goal I set for you all isn't in Tracen. And it isn't limited to Central Tracen's Classic Triple Crown, either."
He lifted his thumb and pointed up toward the vast blue sky overhead, a light laugh in his voice.
"Your future is the world."
Teio stared at him, stunned.
"One day, you'll be competing on the same stage as the world's strongest. The Arc, the Breeders' Cup… that's a playground for monsters."
Kuroha's voice dropped, heavy and forceful. "So you must cherish and take seriously every single chance you get to race."
"Debut races, G1s, G3s, even OB-class events…"
"Don't run only to win."
Kuroha's palm landed gently on the soft crown of her head, rubbing with a hint of indulgent affection. "Run to go one step further."
"Mm…"
Struck right at her "weak spot," Teio narrowed her eyes like a cat being petted the right way. Her fair cheeks puffed up as if filled with air, a faint, adorable blush blooming along the edges.
Trainer's words, as always, made sense…
They were a little hard to fully grasp, but that didn't stop her from feeling the weight of expectation inside them.
"Phew—" She let out a long breath, then blew the air out of her cheeks.
Next, her expression turned serious. She raised her right hand and slapped her slightly rounded chest with force, producing a crisp smack.
"Heheh, I might not totally understand what you mean yet, Trainer…"
Teio lifted her chin. In those eyes reflecting the blue sky, a fire called confidence burned brightly.
"But that's fine! No matter how far the goal is, I'll achieve it!"
She looked at Kuroha, lips curling into a wild, radiant smile, her clear voice ringing out across the open trackside.
"Whether it's my dream, or your dream, Trainer…"
"I'll run them over and bring them all to us with these legs!"
"So you'd better get ready, Trainer— watch me put on the greatest performance on the winner's podium, for the whole world to see!"
Watching the girl before him, shining like a blazing star, Kuroha paused for a moment—then smiled and nodded.
"Then I'll be looking forward to it."
"Ehehe, leave it to me, okay!"
(End of Chapter)
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