Creak.
Takeda Makoto had just parked the car when the special door swung open and little Kaya burst out. She darted past her brother's outstretched arms and dove straight into Tamamo Cross's embrace.
"Tama-nee, you're finally back!"
Tamamo Cross ruffled Kaya's hair and lifted the plastic bag of groceries.
"Kaya-chan, today you get to taste the Nishino family's special hamburg steak. When I cook it at home the kids fight over it."
"Yay, yay! Kaya wants it too—hamburg steak!"
Kaya danced with joy, dragging Tamamo Cross inside and forgetting her own brother.
Helmet in hand, Takeda Makoto caught up with the two Uma Musume and asked Tamamo Cross, puzzled, "How did you two become best friends overnight?"
"Mahaha, maybe because I've got little siblings at home too. Kids like me." Tamamo Cross scratched her cheek, embarrassed.
"Tama-nee is a cool Horse Girl! I want to be just like you," Kaya declared, suddenly turning serious.
"Wah, straight balls must run in the family—how embarrassing! Then I'll give it everything! Kaya-chan, behold the legendary double-layer secret hamburg steak!"
For some reason Tamamo Cross was suddenly fired up.
"Oh!"
Little Kaya matched her enthusiasm with sparkling eyes.
"Once training starts, though, we'll have to watch our diet. Champions can't eat whatever they want."
Takeda Makoto watched the two Horse Girls' perked ears droop in unison.
"Y-yeah… nothing we can do…" Tamamo Cross sagged.
"Aah… my double hamburg steak…" Kaya wailed.
Takeda Makoto chuckled. "Then let's start tomorrow. I want to try that double-layer hamburg steak too."
"Yay!"
"Big brother is the best!"
…Under the amber desk-lamp, the thick pages of a Renma-brand notebook felt good beneath Takeda Makoto's pen. He'd picked it up while shopping with Tamamo Cross to log her daily workouts.
After a day of observation he could finally line up the in-app numbers with real ability.
Tamamo Cross—on paper her stats were nothing special among this year's Horse Girls.
Not particularly fast, stamina abysmal; strength decent but with no sense of pace, just bull-headed sprinting that left her fading in the stretch.
Without foreknowledge of her future glory, no one would guess this filly would be called the strongest of her generation.
Her talent wasn't like the legends whose gifts even casual fans could feel—horses like the great emperor Maruzensky, born monarchs who'd shine without a trainer.
Tamamo Cross was different. Just as the real-world Tamamo didn't race until four, this two-year-old hadn't yet revealed her gifts.
As the app showed, her stamina sat at a rock-bottom 94, willpower at 83—numbers that screamed unsuited for middle distances.
Yet her hidden potential for both stats was S.
In her later career she'd reel off eight straight Graded Stakes wins at middle distances.
Her secret was a monstrous heart, plus short legs that forced a blistering stride frequency and a low center of gravity.
An innate pitch style: high turnover that rocketed to top speed in seconds—a lethal weapon in short dashes.
That's why she could constantly seize the early lead.
Less air-time meant less stress on the cannon bones and healthier long-term legs.
Shorter ground contact kept her from bogging in dirt or turf, giving an edge on bad going.
But pitch style had a cost: every extra stride burned more energy, the very reason she faded late.
Normally pitch runners can't stay middle-distance, yet Tamamo excelled there. Why? Takeda Makoto scratched his head.
He mulled it over, rechecked the stats, and when he saw the growth potential it hit him—there was only one answer!
S-grade stamina and willpower would one day let her use pitch style over middle distances, and that breakthrough would spark the eight-race winning streak!
Takeda Makoto's pulse quickened—he'd uncovered Tamamo Cross's hidden weapon!
Which meant she needed time to grow.
But time was the one thing he didn't have; he had to use Support Cards to accelerate her development so she could debut strong at three.
Stamina and willpower.
He circled the words twice—those stats had to rise, fast.
He tore the old schedule to pieces and, brimming with energy, drafted a month-long stamina-and-willpower crash program.
Night deepened yet Takeda Makoto felt no sleepiness; he would ride this flash of insight and map out every next step.
A soft click announced the door; a sleepy Tamamo Cross, water glass in hand, peeked into the office. She'd woken thirsty, seen the light, and wandered over.
Behind the desk Takeda Makoto saw her in cartoon pajamas.
"What's up, Tama? Kaya's sleep-talking wake you?"
He knew the kid often mumbled about carrots—maybe tonight it was hamburg steak.
"Huu~ Not really." Yawning, Tamamo Cross padded closer and lifted her glass.
"Just thirsty. You're still at it? What're you working on?"
She propped her chin on her hand and peered at the notebook.
"Mm… new training plan."
He slid it toward her.
"The old one wasn't good enough?"
She skimmed a page and handed it back.
"Nope, this one's better!"
"So you're writing before bed?"
"Exactly."
"Can't be helped—then I'll keep you company a bit longer—huuah."
She slumped onto the desk, another yawn escaping.
Honestly, if you're that sleepy just go to bed, Takeda Makoto thought, but he didn't turn down her company; instead he asked her opinion on the workouts.
A custom plan had to fit the athlete.
"Weighted hill sprints okay?"
"No problem at all!"
"Afternoon sled pulls?"
"No problem."
"Swimming helps stamina too."
"No… pro… zzz."
"If you're asleep, go to bed!"
"Zzzzzzz."