Chapter 230: A Vote Born From Love Turned to Hate?
Perhaps she didn't really notice her Trainer correcting himself, or maybe her attention was still mostly on the track.
In any case, after glaring at her Trainer with a slightly resentful look for a moment, Kitasan Black puffed out her cheeks and looked down.
She shuffled her feet and finally caught sight of her toes.
…That shouldn't count as fat, right?
Ah, forget it. It's all the trainer's fault. I'll deal with him after training!
Her attention returned to the track.
Pretending to focus for a moment and noticing no movement beside him, Makoto glanced over from the corner of his eye. Seeing her concentrating on the track, he quietly sighed in relief and went back to analyzing and explaining.
Though they had only just started applying his notes, from earlier results it seemed Super Creek had been right.
Preparing for opponents together with Kitasan Black really was more effective than doing everything alone.
She already had great intuition. She understood most training methods and race instructions the moment he explained them.
Even if she couldn't yet extrapolate further on her own, that was fine, doing so required enough race experience, which she simply lacked for now.
But thanks to that intuition, she could already notice many things while observing opponents.
For example, Sounds of Earth's strategy, and the differences between that rival and herself.
Sounds of Earth's cornering wasn't on Super Creek's top-tier level, but it was still G1-class, near the front of the pack.
The current corner acceleration clearly wasn't her first time practicing it, meaning she likely used it in past races and would probably use it again in the upcoming Arima Kinen.
Based on her performances, her specialty was a late surger style, with Pace Chaser as her secondary.
If she used that acceleration method in the Arima Kinen, then countermeasures couldn't wait until the straight or even until the corner. Preparations had to start before entering the turn.
Especially since just because she used Pace Chaser less didn't mean she wasn't good at it.
If she chose that style during the race, they would have to respond even earlier.
After confirming the notes were effective, Makoto continued bringing Kitasan Black to observe their Arima Kinen rivals' training over the next several days, reviewing everything thoroughly each night.
She took it very seriously.
This kind of preparation was new to her.
Before, she simply followed whatever her Trainer arranged, training how he told her to, racing how he instructed. It was easy and effortless.
But she had often thought: if only she could become stronger and help him more.
She already had classes, training, and races—plenty to handle.
Yet her Trainer had only been a trainer for just over a year. Even with her grandfather's help, most of the work still fell on him. He must be busy all the time.
Sometimes when she rested, he was still working.
Like right after the Kikuka Sho, when she asked him out several times, he kept mentioning interviews and social obligations.
He always sounded busy.
So now, being able to prepare for the Arima Kinen together… Not only did she feel like she was finally helping, she also felt a fresh kind of excitement.
How should she put it…
It felt like fighting side by side.
Yeah. Side by side with her trainer, winning the Arima Kinen together!
With that thought, she grew even more eager for the year-end G1 race.
…
That day, in the cafeteria of Tracen Academy.
Chewing on a carrot, Duramente looked at the girl across from her.
Opposite her, Kitasan Black was also chewing on a carrot, eyes fixed on a small notebook in her hands, muttering to herself.
"I've checked Lovely Day-senpai twice… then Rouge Buck… next is Rifaru…"
"…Are those your opponents for the Arima Kinen?" Duramente suddenly asked curiously.
"Next is… Gold Ship–senpai… huh?"
Startled, Kitasan Black suddenly looked up. Her ears twitched as she glanced around blankly.
"Just now… did someone say something?"
Seeing her like that, Duramente couldn't help letting out a quick laugh. Laughter came from beside her as well.
Sitting at the same table, REAL STEEL stirred the carrot-with-sauce set in front of her and smiled.
"Duramente was asking you. She was wondering if you were muttering about your opponents for the Arima Kinen."
Then she sighed a little enviously.
"Arima Kinen, huh… Kitasan gets to run in it… must be nice."
"Ah? Um…" Kitasan Black froze again.
Before she could finish, a loud voice mixed with envy and frustration burst out from nearby.
"Right?!"
Angel Wing, who had also run in the Kikuka Sho together with Kitasan Black and REAL STEEL, looked at her resentfully, resting her chin on her hand and pouting.
"Seriously, how did I even get injured in that kind of race last year…"
"Damn it. If I hadn't gotten hurt, with my two straight wins plus placing in the Kikuka Sho, I should've at least qualified for the Arima Kinen, right?"
Hearing that, Kitasan Black's mouth twitched. She scratched her head awkwardly and couldn't help glancing at Duramente and REAL STEEL.
Getting into the Arima Kinen depended on fan voting, that much she knew. But after paying attention to public opinion for a while, sometimes she really couldn't understand how the voting worked.
If it were based purely on results, she felt that either Duramente or REAL STEEL should have a much higher chance of qualifying than Angel Wing.
After all, in terms of number of races, race level, and results, the first two were clearly better.
Still, it was strange.
Duramente's inflammation had mostly healed, but she was still in recovery and couldn't participate in the Arima Kinen, so voting didn't really matter for her. That made sense.
But REAL STEEL, whether before or after the Classic Triple Crown races, had delivered consistently strong results, yet she still didn't receive a high vote ranking.
Kitasan Black had checked before. This classmate, friend, and rival of hers only ranked around twentieth in popularity across platforms.
Even with the final vote not yet announced, popularity like that probably wouldn't be enough to get into the Arima Kinen.
As usual, when she couldn't figure these things out, she instinctively went to her Trainer.
"Maybe it's because… people are emotional and impulsive by nature."
After thinking for a while, Makoto gave that answer.
"Trainers like us can vote for the Arima Kinen, and there are professionals too, but most of the votes come from passionate fans."
"Results, training, preparation… what they really want to see is whether the races are exciting and satisfying."
"So people vote on impulse."
"Like REAL STEEL, for example. If her popularity has dropped recently, it's probably because many fans who supported her couldn't accept her failing to win the Classic Triple Crown, and their love turned into resentment."
"That's probably it. Not sure if that makes sense."
Kitasan Black wasn't sure whether she truly understood.
She only felt that REAL STEEL was clearly strong, yet couldn't run in the Arima Kinen, it seemed such a waste.
And she couldn't help wondering whether what Angel Wing had just said might have hurt REAL STEEL… or even Duramente.
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