Chapter 241: I'm Glad I Entrusted Her to You Back Then
"How could I tell? Well, you were just too obvious about it."
Picking up where Makoto had left his unfinished question, Tokai Teio smiled and gestured toward the grandstand.
"Come on, let's walk and talk."
She took the lead and started walking.
Makoto instinctively nodded and followed. As he did, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
The president… could it be that she noticed my mood and came specifically to comfort me?
While he was thinking that, Tokai Teio continued after a few steps.
"Originally, I came with Deep Impact and the others to inspect the racecourse. After this there's still a pile of things to do—interviews, press conferences, banquets, and so on."
"After all, it's the Arima Kinen. Stuff like that can't be avoided."
"And since we were already here, we figured we'd drop by and cheer on the juniors too."
Turning halfway around, she pointed in the direction they had come from and looked at Makoto.
"So you know, we actually passed right by you earlier. But you looked completely absent-minded—when we greeted you, you didn't react at all."
"With how you looked, anyone could guess you were nervous about Kita-chan's upcoming race."
Hearing this, Makoto tried hard to recall it, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't remember anything Tokai Teio had described.
In the end, he could only apologize.
"Sorry… I was really too nervous. I didn't notice at all."
"There's nothing to apologize for. If it were me, I'd be nervous too."
Tokai Teio shook her head with a smile, then looked at him again, her tone slightly more serious.
"I mean it. When I ran in the Arima Kinen back then, I was so nervous that I couldn't notice anyone else either."
Then, right after that earnest remark, she waved her hand with a grin.
"Of course, I'm not talking about the race where I finished 11th in a crushing defeat. I wasn't nervous that time, but I lost terribly. I definitely wouldn't use a race like that to encourage Kita-chan."
"Encourage Kita-chan? You mean…"
Makoto said in surprise, "You already went to see her?"
"I also saw the other runners."
Tokai Teio didn't deny it and nodded.
"And compared to you, the trainer, Kita-chan actually seemed more composed."
"Of course, I mean more composed than you are right now."
"I imagine that in the preparation room—probably before you came out—you wouldn't have shown this level of nervousness in front of her."
"And if I hadn't happened to pass by, someone with your personality and working style… would probably have calmed down very soon, right?"
Makoto didn't answer immediately.
Many people probably thought of him as someone who was always calm and rational. But the truth was, he also felt nervous and uneasy.
He wasn't the type to hide those emotions either.
When facing something important and uncertain, feeling that way was perfectly normal. Forcing those feelings down was useless.
Rather than suppress them, it was better to let them pass naturally.
Especially at the racecourse, many things could help shift that nervous energy.
For example, right now, as he followed Tokai Teio closer and closer toward the grandstand, the familiar roar of the crowd was already washing over them. The lively atmosphere diluted his tension almost perfectly.
"Probably," Makoto said modestly. "I mean, I would've calmed down pretty quickly. I've got a bit of experience dealing with this kind of thing."
Then he added gratefully,
"Also… thank you, President Teio, for taking care of Kitasan."
"Well, it's not like I comfort her or anything, I just encouraged her a bit."
Tokai Teio said this in a slightly mischievous tone, raising a finger in front of her and gently shaking it.
"Like I said earlier, Kita-chan was much calmer compared to the you just now."
"So I just told her to do her best, and that I'd be waiting for her at the finish line."
"As for saying that races like the Arima Kinen make me nervous too…"
She pointed at Makoto with a playful grin and nodded.
"That line was originally meant to comfort you. But it looks like you don't need it anymore."
By the time they finished talking, the two of them had already reached the grandstand area.
From afar, they could see Deep Impact and the others who had arrived earlier, along with the seats they had reserved.
After thanking them, the two took their places.
Then Tokai Teio said with a smile:
"To be honest, for a trainer whose runner has only been debuting for just over a year, to be this calm… I really haven't seen many trainers like you."
After they stopped, Tokai Teio gazed toward the parade ring and continued:
"You really don't seem like someone your age—calm, steady, rational, and mature."
"Privately, McQueen and I have actually talked about how curious we were to see what you'd look like when you were flustered… or what you'd be like when you lost your composure."
"Of course, thinking like that might be a little rude. But just now, we really did get to see it."
"How should I put it… although it satisfied our curiosity…"
She looked at him seriously and emphasized her words.
"My evaluation of you hasn't changed."
"Calm, composed, rational, and mature—far surpassing many trainers."
"Yasui-san, I'm truly glad that I chose to entrust her to you back then."
While Tokai Teio looked toward the parade ring, Makoto also found himself looking there unconsciously.
The parade presentation had already begun.
The first to appear—tall and imposing—was Gold Ship, who hopped onto the stage with a sideways one-legged jump.
Today, Kitasan Black wasn't the top favorite; she was ranked fourth in popularity. Two more Umamusume would appear before it was her turn.
If he hadn't come here with Tokai Teio—or if he had watched this parade order alone—Makoto didn't know whether he would be becoming calmer like he was now.
Maybe he would have.
Or maybe he would have grown even more nervous.
Yet even though Tokai Teio had said earlier that it seemed like he didn't need comforting anymore, what she said afterward was clearly meant to reassure him.
Her words weren't particularly complicated.
But the sincerity and gratitude within them—and the faint yet unmistakable sense of relief—instantly steadied his heart.
Silently, he watched the parade ring, waiting for his runner to appear.
And Tokai Teio's encouragement didn't seem to end there.
"So," she continued, "a trainer as outstanding as you, and a runner as exceptional as Kita-chan—you both deserve to be confident."
"There's no need to be nervous. No need to worry. No need to feel uneasy."
"Step confidently onto this stage—a stage that creates emotion and miracles, dreams and challenges."
"And then…"
"Fight with everything you have until the very last moment."
"That… is enough."
. . .
Amid the grand and celebratory atmosphere, the entire racecourse felt like a pot of boiling water, bubbling with excitement.
The cheers and shouts of the crowd blended together into a roaring wave of sound. Colorful flags and streamers fluttered wildly in the wind. The air itself seemed filled with tension and exhilaration, as everything waited for the decisive moment to arrive.
The commentator's highly infectious voice echoed through the loudspeakers, spreading across every corner of the racecourse and instantly pushing the atmosphere toward its first peak:
"Everyone! Look!"
"The greatest runners of this generation have gathered here at the magnificent Nakayama Racecourse!"
"They are like brilliant stars converging in one place, about to begin a breathtaking battle!"
"Look! The final runner is ready and is steadily entering the starting gate, poised and prepared!"
The commentator's speech grew faster, his excitement rising:
"Today, this track is destined to witness history!"
"A new champion will be born, and a new summit will be conquered!"
"The final turf G1 of the year—2,500 meters at Nakayama—every step will write a legend!"
"And now…"
"Right here…"
As those words were spoken, the entire racecourse fell silent.
Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the tightly closed sixteen starting gates.
"Start!"
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
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