"Front-runner, obviously." Hayato didn't even hesitate.
His hand moved across the board again, filling in Seiun Sky's data in quick, practiced strokes.
Seiun Sky: Short G, Mile B, Medium A, Long A
Running Style Aptitude: Front-Runner A, Pace-Chaser B, Late Surger D, End-Closer E
Her aptitude spread looked way better on paper compared to King Halo's. Aside from the short distance being terrible, she could handle pretty much everything the triple crown threw at her.
"You're better at leading, but considering stamina issues, pace-chaser in the beginning, then go to the front would be better with your current power." Hayato tapped the marker against the board. "But if you have enough stamina, pretend I didn't say anything."
In-game terms, of course, there was nothing to debate. Seiun Sky was built for a frontrunner.
Her style differed completely from Suzuka's, though. Suzuka's talent was pure escaper, that's why in the last spurt she be damned if she didn't have stamina. This is the reason why Rigil Team recommends her change to pace-chaser.
Seiun Sky's run style was much smarter, not the type to blow everything in one explosive run. Her strength lies in reading the race situation, controlling tempo, and manipulatingpositioning, which is why her unique skill is closely tied to angling and scheming.
Leading by just three to five lengths, for example. Enough to stay ahead without burning out. That guaranteed stamina recovery for her running-style.
This method worked even in long-distance races.
With real horse girls, it became even more effective. Way craftier than any game simulation. Front-Runner or Pace-Chaser, both styles suited her perfectly.
'Seiun Sky's intelligence gave her an advantage here. She understood stamina distribution and positioning instinctively from reading the race situation, and that's what made her suited for two running styles.'
More importantly, her personality is more aligned with the front-runner. She loved being out front, controlling the entire field, setting the pace while everyone else scrambled to keep up.
Every horse girl's running style aptitude is connected directly to personality.
Seiun Sky propped her chin on her palm atop the desk, eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. A faint, knowing smile tugged at her lips.
"Trainer… how did you even come up with this data?" she asked. "It's way too accurate."
"Ahem, watched your races, gathering some data, made comparisons, then I noted it." Hayato coughed once while his eyes slid away from hers.
"Oho? You can gather some data and make comparisons just from watching races?" Her laugh carried a note of doubt.
Hayato's eyes refused to meet hers, which told her everything she needed to know. Yeah, he definitely wasn't telling the whole truth here.
"Of course, this is the judgment a first-rate trainer should have." The words came out quickly. Too quick. He immediately pivoted. "Alright, that's all for today. Suzuka, come with me. I'll teach you methods to recover stamina even while leading."
"Yes."
Silence Suzuka fell into step behind Hayato without hesitation.
Seiun Sky could only sigh and head off to do basic training with King Halo.
The training grounds stretched out under the afternoon sun.
"Do you prefer three steps one breath, or five steps one breath?"
Silence Suzuka's head tilted slightly. "What is that?"
"Hah?" Hayato confused.
"Sorry, I didn't pay attention to counting."
Hayato had no idea if human running methods would be good to Silence Suzuka's abilities, so he decided to start simple. "Try running one lap first. When you can't exert strength anymore, adjust your breathing slightly. Three steps one exhale or five steps one exhale."
Hayato paused because something else needed saying. "Don't exceed your body's capacity. If it feels wrong, stop immediately. Especially that sudden acceleration ability of yours. At most once per race."
"Sudden acceleration ability?" Confusion flickered across Silence Suzuka's face.
"That day I took you to see the scenery, that trick you used to accelerate past me. I call this ability a unique skill. You can understand it as a winning technique."
Something clicked in her memory, and she nodded slowly. "Ah! That day, you brought me to that place just to make me learn that?"
"Sort of." No point denying it. His expression turned serious. "I'll remind you once more. At most once per race. After each use, at least a thirty-minute interval."
"Um... thank you. I understand." The words came out awkwardly since Silence Suzuka wasn't practiced at expressing gratitude. Her face flushed red.
Silence Suzuka didn't realize the Silent Zone she entered was a total concentration state, something her body accessed unconsciously.
Hayato had no problem with her using zones, but the degree mattered. Overuse could be fatal.
Skills and zones weren't the same thing, though. Zones were pure concentration states that pushed speed and power beyond normal limits. Beyond yourself, essentially.
Skills combined with technique and ability.
Silence Suzuka's ultimate skill merged both technique and zone usage. A skillful application that reduced the burden on her body. But even a reduced burden didn't mean she could spam it freely.
Take a horse girl who has entered the zone as an example. Any horse girl could learn and use it even without Oguri Cap's monstrous strength backing them up, but after the race it will burden their body.
If Silence Suzuka learned some escape runner-specific skills, she could naturally avoid the burden of activating zones unconsciously on her body.
Silence Suzuka took her position and started running.
Hayato pulled out a timer with a click. Timing would tell him if the training was working.
She hit nearly a thousand meters before fatigue crept in. Just slight tiredness. Nothing a deep breath couldn't push through, so she kept running.
Stamina depleted. Guts is carrying her forward now.
Twelve hundred meters.
Her Guts hit its limit, and deceleration kicked in.
She had to slow down, regulate her breathing, let her stamina crawl back up bit by bit.
In an actual race, this would be a disaster. Other horse girls would surge forward the moment they saw her slow. She'd get swallowed by the pack in seconds.
Silence Suzuka tried what Hayato mentioned. Three steps, one exhale. Two steps, one inhale. Her stamina actually recovered some, though not enough. Not nearly enough. She kept the breathing pattern going while forcing herself through the full distance.
When she finally stopped, her breath came in heavy gasps.
"How was it, trainer? Was it effective?"
Hayato shook his head. What seemed useful to Silence Suzuka didn't register as progress in his notification system.
'The skill hadn't developed yet.'
'Multiple training sessions might be needed before get the recovery stamina skill. These things took time.'
Hayato dug through his memories of Uma Musume skills.
"Rest for ten minutes, then run again. This time run 2500 meters. Run the way you think is best."
After Silence Suzuka finished one lap, he scribbled notes before adding, "This time, when you reach the final straight, remember to take a deep breath."
"Yes."
Ten minutes evaporated fast.
Silence Suzuka launched into her second run. 2500 meters with no stamina conservation meant her tank hit empty by the second half, way earlier than ideal.
She didn't slow down to recover this time. Instead, she gritted her teeth, letting Guts alone keep her legs moving until the final straight came into view.
"Right now, take a deep breath."
She inhaled deep and relief flooded through her immediately. Her original speed held steady as she completed the full distance smoothly. Energy still lingered in her legs. Enough for a final sprint if needed.
"How was it, trainer? Is it okay this time?"
Sweat soaked through Silence Suzuka's clothes completely. Her body relaxed, and weakness crept into her limbs.
Hayato compared her condition to the timing record in his hand. Two seconds faster than the run without deep breathing. A genuine breakthrough.
"Not bad. Progress made. Rest a bit. Continue later, just like that. Take a breath at the final straight, maybe you can get some idea naturally."