Chapter 39: Can She Become a G1-Level Umamusume?

Chapter 39: Can She Become a G1-Level Umamusume?

Back when he happened to catch that Saburo interview, Makoto had been deeply moved.

Even if he included the experiences of his past life, he still wasn’t some kind of genius. He had seen plenty of true prodigies back when he was studying at the Trainer Academy.

Some of them had humble beginnings, while others, like him, came from families of trainers.

There were even those with far more prestigious backgrounds—so well-connected that, as soon as they enrolled, big-name families were lining up to have their Umamusume daughters trained by them.

And yet, none of those prodigies ended up outperforming him. Some transferred schools halfway through. Others were still stuck in the academy even now.

Recalling that interview, and thinking about all the time he’d spent with Kitasan Black lately, Makoto suddenly understood the kind of personality his Umamusume had—and where it came from.

Cheerful and enthusiastic. Bright and generous.

Nervous at times. Prone to hesitation.

But during training, she was always diligent and focused. She listened obediently and followed instructions to the letter—if she was told to give 100%, she’d give 120%.

At first glance, she could seem a little clumsy—like she was just charging forward with her head down. But step by step, steadily and earnestly, she kept moving forward.

And in the end, she always made it happen.

She was exactly like her grandfather.

“Thank you, thank you everyone! Thank you for listening to Grandpa and me sing—Huh?! Trainer?!”

Just as he was feeling sentimental, Makoto was jolted by a sudden excited voice from afar. Instinctively, he turned to look.

A black-haired girl’s beaming face lit up as she ran toward him, eyes sparkling. In the blink of an eye, she had thrown herself into his arms, locking her arms around his neck.

“Trainer! Did you see that?! My second race— I won again!!”

“Haha, yeah, congratulations, Kitasan—but…”

Feeling the weight hanging off his neck, Makoto let out a bitter smile.

“Could you maybe… get down first? I think my neck’s about to snap…”

At the same time, he couldn’t help but think:

…Even though I’ve seen the stats before…

She really is heavier than the other Umamusume…

“Ah—ah?! S-sorry, Trainer! I got too excited again…”

Flustered, Kitasan Black quickly let go of his neck and stepped back, eyes wide with worry.

“Trainer, is your neck okay…?”

“That was just a figure of speech. I’m fine.”

He rubbed his neck and rotated it a few times before giving her a reassuring smile—then looked behind her.

“More importantly—Kitasan, is that your grandfather?”

“Yup yup!”

Spinning on her heel, Kitasan Black took a few quick steps and grabbed the hand of the man who had just walked over. Tugging him along with a cheerful rhythm, she brought him forward.

“Trainer! This is my grandpa!”

“Grandpa! This is my trainer—Makoto Yasui!”

Though he was a household name in the music world—and all over Japan—Saburo Kitajima didn’t act the part of some lofty celebrity.

His clear, undimmed eyes were filled with affection as he looked at Kitasan Black, and when they turned to Makoto, they held nothing but warmth and appreciation.

“Pleased to meet you, Kitajima-san. I’m Kitasan Black’s trainer—Makoto Yasui.”

Makoto bowed politely. “It’s an honor that you were able to take time out of your busy schedule to watch Kitasan’s race.”

“Hahaha, what are you saying?”

Letting out a hearty laugh, Saburo Kitajima replied with a gentle smile:

“A granddaughter’s race—of course a grandfather should be here to watch.”

“If anything, I should’ve come last time, too. But this kid didn’t want to draw too much attention. Otherwise, no matter how busy I was, I would’ve been here.”

“Well, that’s because you’re too famous, Grandpa!”

Though she was smiling, Kitasan Black’s tone held a hint of playful complaint, and she was looking around anxiously.

“See? In such a short amount of time, a lot of people have gathered…”

“If you had come last time, everyone would've just been staring at you instead of watching my race.”

Just like she said, a crowd had already formed at the entrance of the rest area.

Most of their eyes were glued to Saburo, faces lit up with excitement and admiration.

Because the crowd managed to keep their excitement in check—and because several burly men in black suits were holding them back—no one dared come too close. One quick glance told Makoto the men were highly trained bodyguards.

That was only natural: Saburo Kitajima was practically a national treasure in the music world, and a racecourse packed with spectators was no place to slack off on security.

“Alright, alright—Grandpa’s in the wrong, Grandpa’s in the wrong,” Saburo said, flashing an apologetic smile in response to Kitasan Black’s playful complaint. “Why don’t we head inside first?”

“Nope.”

Kitasan Black shook her head without hesitation, then explained seriously, “The rest area is only for Umamusume, trainers, and staff. Grandpa, you can’t go in.”

“I need a short break, and then I have to get ready for the Winner’s Stage. You just wait by the stage for my performance, okay? I promise I won’t let you down!”

“Alright, alright. Grandpa will wait and look forward to it.”

Saburo nodded, then turned to Makoto.

“But before that, I’d like to have a word with your trainer, if that’s alright, Kitasan?”

“Of course!”

Kitasan Black’s head bobbed up and down. “I’ve wanted Grandpa to meet Trainer for ages! Grandpa, my trainer is amazing—you’ll see once you talk to him!”

“Of course, of course. If Kitasan keeps winning, Trainer Yasui is surely a big reason. I already know he’s remarkable.”

Smiling, Saburo watched his granddaughter wave goodbye and disappear into the rest area. Then he bowed lightly to the red‑haired and chestnut‑haired girls standing nearby.

“My apologies—I was so busy chatting with Kitasan that I didn’t get the chance to greet you properly. I’ve been following the Shining Star Series, though. You must be Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka—am I right?”

“You flatter us, sir.”

Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka hurried to return the bow, and Scarlet added with a smile, “We grew up listening to your songs. We should’ve introduced ourselves first.”

“That’s right, sir,” Vodka added, eyes shining. “Kitasan’s mentioned you many times, but we never found the right moment to visit. Your singing is so full of spirit—I love it! I—”

Before she could launch into a full‑blown fan speech, Scarlet gently flicked Vodka’s hip with her tail.

“We’re here to cheer Kitasan on,” Scarlet said smoothly. “Let’s go help her prepare for the Winner’s Stage. Please excuse us.”

“Oh—right! The Winner’s Stage!” Vodka caught on at once. “We’ll make sure everything’s perfect for her!”

Both Umamusume bowed again and followed Kitasan Black into the rest area.

Makoto hadn’t said a word throughout. He’d expected that meeting Kitasan Black’s family would involve a few probing questions—after all, she was their precious granddaughter—but… what exactly would this man ask?

“Ah, youth is wonderful,” Saburo mused, watching the girls disappear. “Supportive seniors, rival classmates, mentors to guide you… Those chances come only when you’re young.” He turned back, smiling thoughtfully.

“Yasui-san, this may be a bit direct, but I’m sure you’ll understand why I ask this.”

“In your professional opinion… can that child of ours—Kitasan Black—truly become a G1‑class Umamusume?”

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