After spending the night at the Gold family home, Yasui Makoto and Kitasan Black enjoyed another lavish breakfast carefully prepared by Imanami Takatoshi.
Around the table, the Umamusume chatted and laughed as they looked back on the fun they had had the night before. Lucky Lilac had shaken off yesterday's nerves and worries as well, her face bright with an easy smile as she exchanged the occasional word with Kitasan.
After breakfast, Imanami led everyone in seeing Yasui and Kitasan to the door. Yasui gave a small bow and said with heartfelt gratitude, "Imanami-senpai, thank you so much for your warm hospitality during our visit. We've gained a great deal from this."
Kitasan bowed respectfully beside him as well. "Yes, Grandpa Imanami, and all of you seniors too. I learned so much from being with everyone, and I really had a wonderful time!"
Imanami smiled kindly and waved a hand. "No need for that. I was happy just to have you here. I hope you'll come by often from now on. Kita-chan, keep giving it your all on the track."
Orfevre stepped forward and patted Kitasan on the shoulder, speaking with earnest gravity. "Kita-chan, train hard when you get back. I'll be looking forward to seeing what you do on the track."
Gold Ship, meanwhile, threw an arm around Kitasan with her usual bold carelessness and laughed. "Kita-chan, don't forget our promise. When you win a race someday, you'd better treat me to something good!" The other Umamusume offered their blessings too, saying their goodbyes to Kitasan and Yasui one by one.
After parting with Imanami and the others, Yasui and Kitasan returned to their schedule of guiding Almond Eye's training. That remained their top priority for the time being.
Drawing on what he had gained from his earlier discussions with Imanami, as well as his deeper analysis of Almond Eye's traits, Yasui put together a far more detailed, targeted training plan for her.
Every morning, before the first rays of sunlight had fully lit the training grounds, Almond Eye would begin her morning run with Yasui accompanying her. Kitasan joined in as well, sharing her own training experience and techniques.
During training breaks, the two of them also found time to look into the other examinees.
They asked around everywhere, gathering all kinds of information, from the other examinees' training results to the events each of them excelled at, and recorded every detail.
While they were investigating and analyzing all this, even Yasui sometimes felt that treating a mere mock race as if they were preparing for the Arima Kinen might be a little excessive.
Especially given Almond Eye's abilities. Even if she skipped the mock race entirely, her results in the remaining events would still be enough to get her admitted.
But after thinking it over, this was surely how Almond Eye would prepare once she made her official debut as well. Getting used to it a little earlier would do no harm.
Besides, with Almond Eye's personality, if her results in any event were truly unsatisfactory, she would definitely sulk over it for a while. When that happened, he and Kitasan would still have to find some way to comfort her.
There had only been about a week left before the exam to begin with. Time flew by, and amid the busy training and preparations, the day of the exam arrived before they knew it.
The exam venue was Central Tracen Academy. It was not only the participating students and their parents who took it seriously; the Association and the Board placed great importance on it as well.
At the request of the Association and the Board, student council officers such as Tokai Teio had led teachers and students in helping prepare the exam grounds two days in advance.
They carefully inspected every piece of track equipment to ensure it was safe and suitable for use. They meticulously arranged the surroundings of the exam area, hanging brightly colored banners covered in words of encouragement. They also placed signboards in every corner so examinees and parents could easily find the proper areas.
As a result, on the day of the exam, while Tracen Academy was not so packed as a G1 race with over a hundred thousand spectators, it could certainly be called a sea of people.
At the school gates, carriages and cars pulled up in orderly lines, bringing young Umamusume carrying their dreams and parents filled with expectation.
Inside the campus, the crowd flowed in dense streams. The examinees wore neat training uniforms, their eyes shining with nerves and anticipation. Their parents stood beside them, offering quiet reminders, their gazes full of concern and encouragement.
The different exam events were assigned to different areas of the school. Parents were allowed into the academy, but they were not permitted near the exam areas.
They could only wait anxiously yet patiently in the waiting area under the guidance of Umamusume wearing volunteer armbands.
Neatly arranged benches had been set out in the waiting area, with drinking-water stations and information desks nearby so the parents could feel a little more comfortable and reassured during the long wait.
Almond Eye's parents stood among the crowd. Her mother gently held Almond Eye's hand and reminded her reluctantly, "Sweetheart, don't be nervous during the exam. Just do your best. We'll be waiting for you outside." Her father nodded firmly beside them, his eyes filled with steady encouragement.
As a trainer, Yasui was not subject to that restriction, and Kitasan had signed up as an exam volunteer long ago.
So after finding Almond Eye's family in the crowd and reassuring her sincere, repeatedly pleading parents, the two of them led Almond Eye toward the exam area.
Even though the parents were all waiting outside, there were still quite a few students taking the exam, seniors accompanying them, and trainers present.
The crowd surged along the way. Yasui stayed close to Almond Eye, carefully shielding her for fear she might be swept away by the press of people.
Kitasan walked ahead, clearing a path for the two of them.
Strict security checkpoints had been set up at the entrance to the exam area as well. Every examinee had to undergo a careful inspection to ensure they had brought no prohibited items.
Yasui straightened Almond Eye's training uniform with care and reminded her, "Almond Eye, remember the key points from our training. Relax. You can definitely perform at your best."
Kitasan stepped forward too and gave Almond Eye a warm hug, smiling as she said, "Almond-chan, good luck. We all believe in you! Once your exam's over, I'll treat you to something good."
Almond Eye took a deep breath and nodded firmly, her eyes shining with resolve. "Mm. I'll do my best! Thank you, Mr. Yasui. Thank you, Kita-senpai."
Then, with confident steps, she walked into the exam area.
Yasui and Kitasan stood at the entrance, watching Almond Eye's back gradually recede into the distance, their hearts full of concern and expectation.
Just then, an announcement came over the broadcast saying the exam was about to begin, the voice echoing through the sky above the campus.
Yasui and Kitasan exchanged a look, then began moving according to their respective duties.
Kitasan headed for the volunteer post she was responsible for, ready to offer help and guidance to the examinees.
Yasui walked toward the venue for Almond Eye's exam event. He would observe her performance from the side so he could give more precise guidance in her later training.
Meanwhile, in the waiting area, Almond Eye's parents, like the other parents, waited with uneasy hearts, silently praying for their children and hoping they would achieve excellent results in this important exam.
As Almond Eye moved through the bustling crowd, she looked at the lively scene around her and clenched her fists tightly, her palms damp with a faint sheen of sweat.
She had originally thought she was fully prepared, and that today's exam would be no problem at all.
But now, seeing so many examinees and the confidence on so many of their faces, an irrepressible nervousness surged up inside her like a tide.
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T/N: almond eye.........................su goi