Chapter 237: Reshaping the Understanding of Racing
Hearing her Trainer's final conclusion, Kitasan Black nodded instinctively. Then it suddenly occurred to her that if he had been able to analyze things to this extent, he must have obtained this information quite a while ago.
"Then… these things… Trainer…"
She couldn't help looking straight into her Trainer's eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier…?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. It sounded as if she were complaining, which wasn't her intention at all.
She waved her hands hurriedly and apologized repeatedly.
"Ah, that's not what I meant! I wasn't blaming you for not saying anything—"
"—It's alright."
Before she could finish, Makoto suddenly smiled and gently shook his head, interrupting her.
"I more or less expected you would ask that. And… it's true that I hesitated, which is why I'm only telling you now."
"Because…"
Under Kitasan Black's surprised and puzzled gaze, he paused briefly before continuing.
"I didn't want you to feel like you only won because your opponent had problems."
"And I especially didn't want you to develop a sense of luck or complacency because of that, and then unknowingly fail to give it your all."
As he spoke, he suddenly turned around and pulled out a black notebook from the pile of documents on his desk.
He flipped through it quickly. When Kitasan Black glanced over instinctively, she was surprised to see that inside the cover and across many pages were photos of herself from various races.
"Look at this."
Makoto stopped flipping the pages, walked over, and placed the notebook in front of her.
"This is the psychological training plan I prepared for you."
Lowering her head unconsciously, Kitasan Black saw that the open page was densely filled with notes such as "pressure conversion training," "competitive mindset adjustment," and "opponent observation feedback."
The page they had opened seemed to be the most recent revision of the plan, because the date written at the top was clearly today.
Looking at all of this, Kitasan Black suddenly realized that even though she had been "fighting side by side" with her Trainer in preparing for the Arima Kinen these past days, what she herself had done in that preparation was still only the tip of the iceberg compared to the work of her trainer.
During the moments when she had been hesitating, worrying, and tossing and turning in bed, the things she struggled with had already been anticipated by him.
"That's why before I showed you Gold Ship's test results, I first let you look at her physical condition."
Watching Kitasan Black's expression, Makoto lightly tapped the medical report.
"Think about her physical state. Even if her mental strength isn't at the very peak, do you think she could be easily defeated?"
Kitasan Black found herself unable to say a word. Her Trainer's words, her earlier thoughts, and the scenes from their preparations for the Arima Kinen all rushed through her mind at once.
For a moment she felt dazed, as if she had understood something—but couldn't quite put it into words.
Seeing that Kitasan Black seemed to be on the verge of realization, Makoto sensed the moment and continued while the momentum was there.
"And it's not just Gold Ship. None of the opponents in the Arima Kinen are without flaws."
"But at the same time, those flaws don't mean they suddenly become full of openings that make them easy to defeat."
As he spoke, he flipped another page in the notebook and took out a folded document.
"We watched Sounds of Earth's corner-acceleration training together. That kind of training takes up a considerable portion of her daily routine, which shows she has some weakness in that area."
"But her mastery of the pace chasing racing style, and her sprint on the straight—especially her closing kick—are still not something you can easily claim to surpass right now."
He pulled out another document.
"Lovely Day is a formidable rival, no less than Gold Ship."
"It's true that both she and Gold Ship lost to Shonan Pandora in the Japan Cup."
"But don't forget: in the Autumn Tenno Sho, Shonan Pandora only finished fourth, while Lovely Day took first place."
"Maybe the loss in the Japan Cup happened because she hadn't fully recovered after the Tenno Sho. But for the upcoming Arima Kinen, I don't think she'll make the same mistake again."
He pulled out several more documents.
"And there's also Gold Actor."
"I originally planned to analyze her with you tomorrow. Since you came today, I can explain some key points in advance."
"She's good at front running, just like you. And as a senior, her tenacity when fighting for the lead will definitely surpass someone like Ribbon Victory, who is from your generation."
"And there's also Marialite. She'll very likely adopt a front running style in the Arima Kinen, and she's also very experienced."
At this point, Makoto paused and began counting on his fingers.
"You, Sounds of Earth, Gold Actor, and Marialite."
"Leaving aside the others for now, just the presence of the four of you alone means that this Arima Kinen is very likely to turn into a fierce battle for the lead right from the start—just like your Kikuka Sho."
"No, it should be an even harsher struggle."
"More importantly, the Nakayama Racecourse doesn't have the kind of breakthrough opportunity at the fourth corner that Kyoto Racecourse offers."
"If you fail to seize the front running position at the start, the chances of taking it later…"
His finger tapped the stack of documents as he emphasized his words.
"…are basically zero."
At that point, seeing the thoughtful expression now on Kitasan Black's face—and recalling the changes in her expression earlier, from contemplation to confusion, then surprise, and now deep thought—Makoto remained silent for quite a while.
As her Trainer clear, methodical, and incisive analysis continued, scenes of her past training sessions—once carried out step by step—as well as the past month of preparation for the Arima Kinen, interwove and connected in Kitasan Black's mind like a film playing at high speed.
In her previous understanding, a race had seemed to mean little more than the track beneath her feet, the predetermined running style, and the tactics planned in advance.
As for her opponents, they were usually just vague outlines that gradually formed in her mind during the pre-race instructions.
Just like with Ribbon Victory, if it hadn't been for the conflict before the St. Lite Kinen, she probably wouldn't have truly paid attention to that rival until they were already on the track, perhaps not even until the moment they fought for the lead.
But now, that entire understanding was being reshaped by an invisible force.
It was as if what had once been a flat painting had suddenly been filled with rich colors and layers, becoming three-dimensional and vividly alive.
The race was no longer just a simple competition. Instead, it had become a complex game filled with challenges and opportunities.
Those opponents were no longer just thin labels like "same generation," "senpai," "classic year," "older horse year," "friend," or "rival." From the very beginning, they were powerful competitors actively present in her racing world.
Their characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses now shone before her eyes like starlight.
What surprised her even more was that the small thoughts and feelings she once had—whether tangled, lucky, or uneasy—were now fully laid bare deep within her heart.
And she could actually examine them with the calmness of an outside observer, rather than being trapped by them.
This sensation—of a flat perspective turning three-dimensional, of subjective feelings merging with objective observation—was subtle and fragile, as if it might shatter at the slightest touch. Yet it undeniably existed, leaving her deeply shaken.
At the same time, she faintly felt that she had finally touched a tiny corner of the iceberg that was her Trainer daily work.
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