After hearing Almond Eye say she wanted to receive his guidance, Yasui had been considering the matter of a training contract.
To break through the limitations of short and mile distances and participate in longer races, he felt quite confident in his grasp of that.
In his memory, Almond Eye's strength from mile to middle-distance events was very high, with quite astonishing results.
Setting aside those memories, this could also be observed from the previous event race and the attention she received afterward.
Uma Musume who haven't undergone Honkakuka yet don't receive high training intensity. Their distances are generally focused on 1000 and 1200 meters.
Almond Eye's performance at these distances wasn't bad, ranking near the top of her class, but she couldn't be counted among the very top tier of her peers.
In such cases, it's either because she hasn't undergone specialized training and her talent hasn't unfolded yet...
...or the race distance isn't long enough, her body can't reach its peak output, and her late-stage sprint, breakout ability, and especially her finishing kick aren't fully utilized.
Combined with the final straight of the event race, it was much more likely that Almond Eye's situation fell into the latter category.
Adding his memories to the mix, he could almost conclude that her optimal distance was longer than 1200 meters... perhaps much longer.
Now that she had entered Honkakuka, perhaps it was time to contact her family. After assessing Almond Eye's situation, Yasui thought to himself.
While Yasui was silently pondering, Almond Eye also belatedly remembered that her parents seemed to have mentioned going to the hospital for a check-up in a while.
At the time, she felt she wasn't sick or uncomfortable, so she hadn't paid much attention. Now she realized that the so-called check-up was likely because of Honkakuka.
Realizing this, while responding to Kitasan Black and the others, she cast occasional glances toward Yasui.
Noticing her gaze, Yasui thought for a moment and was about to try asking for confirmation when he noticed a figure approaching from the corner of his eye.
From the build, it was a girl, but her attire was strange.
It was currently the scorching heat of August, and it was already quite sweltering by nine in the morning, yet this girl was wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, a mask, and a thin long-sleeved jacket.
Her lower body was also tightly covered, with long light-blue jeans wrapping her long legs, though her feet were coolly clad in low-heeled sandals.
Kitasan Black and the others also noticed the strangely dressed girl. Kitasan Black watched curiously, and seeing the other party walking straight toward her, she couldn't help but be stunned.
Feeling as if the person was coming for her, and with a build and aura that seemed vaguely familiar, she couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"...Hello, may I ask who you are..."
"...It's me."
A low, muffled voice came from under the mask. The strangely dressed girl slightly pulled down her sunglasses, revealing eyes with a purple-blue gradient.
"Ah! Dura... mmm mmm mmm..."
Recognizing that the "girl" who came over was actually Duramente, Kitasan Black had just let out a cry of surprise when her mouth was covered.
"Shh, shh..."
With a finger held up to her mask and eyes full of awkwardness and embarrassment above her sunglasses, the tightly wrapped Duramente looked sheepishly at Yasui and the others before glancing around.
"Keep your voice down. I... Kita-chan, you... can we find another place to talk...?"
===
A moment later, in a corner of the spectator seats at the very top of the stands.
Looking with a strange expression at Duramente, who had already taken off her baseball cap and sunglasses, Kitasan Black's mouth twitched.
"...So, because you wanted to participate in the Kikuka Sho, you had a fight with your family and then secretly ran out today to watch the Dream Cup...?"
"Yes, that's it."
Duramente nodded with a serious face.
"I made a promise to you, so I will definitely participate in the Kikuka Sho."
"But... but..."
Kitasan Black's heart grew complicated.
She certainly remembered the promise to compete together with Duramente in future races.
However, she also remembered that on the day they met, the other girl had said she wanted to become the strongest Uma Musume and achieve the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe that her family desired.
After that time, she had looked up the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and asked Yasui about it, learning that it was one of the world's top G1 races.
From long ago until now, many seniors had launched challenges toward that race.
Yet up to now, the best result achieved by those seniors was only second place.
Yasui had said that Japanese Uma Musume are no different from those anywhere else in the world... or rather, the talent of Uma Musume does not have regional differences.
She believed this, and precisely because of it, since the seniors had yet to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, one could perhaps say that winning it truly made one the strongest.
She hadn't expected Duramente to change this dream, let alone that this change was because of her.
If Duramente really gives up on the Arc de Triomphe and has a falling out with her family, what should I do...?
Biting her lower lip in helplessness, she locked eyes with Duramente's serious gaze for a moment, then instinctively looked at Yasui beside her, and then at the oblivious Almond Eye.
The box wasn't large. Besides the two of them, there were only Yasui and Almond Eye inside.
Silence Suzuka and Rice Shower seemed to have anticipated this situation... or perhaps not. In any case, on the way here, both seniors had excused themselves, saying they were going to cheer for their friends.
Receiving Kitasan Black's plea for help, Yasui felt a major headache coming on.
He had also heard Duramente's explanation earlier, and compared to Kitasan Black, he knew more.
During past idle chats, he had heard Air Groove mention that the family Air Groove and Duramente belonged to placed great importance on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Or rather, the whole of Japan placed great importance on this European G1. Almost every powerful Uma Musume or their Trainer had considered this event, and many had truly attempted the overseas expedition.
And not just in the past decades, but in the next few years or even decade, no Japanese Uma Musume had yet won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
This situation hadn't dampened the fans' enthusiasm. Instead, they became increasingly fanatical about that race.
Whenever news broke that someone was going to participate in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, it caused a stir both inside and outside the industry. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were obsessed.
Against this background, he could roughly guess what Kitasan Black was thinking, and he also knew he couldn't really say anything about such a matter.
He couldn't exactly say, "Give it up, Duramente. A race like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is just a wasted trip for you," could he?
Furthermore, Duramente clearly looked like she had run away from home. In terms of both reason and courtesy, he had to explain things to Air Groove.
Not to mention, the other side already knew.
"Duramente should be with you, Yasui, right? She used my credit card to book a seat at the racecourse. I checked with the staff and heard you and Kitasan Black went there. Please help take care of her. Don't let her run off, and don't let her know that I know. Please, please."
This was a message Air Groove had just sent. From the tone, one could feel through the screen that this Uma Musume was holding her forehead, looking completely out of sorts.
Recalling the message and thinking it over, Yasui suddenly had an idea.
"...Keeping a promise is certainly good, but matters regarding future races still need to be handled with caution.
"Of course, Duramente should also be in the middle of summer training camp during this period. Just consider today a rest. Otherwise, being too exhausted can easily lead to various problems."
Giving an intentional reminder, he looked toward the track and changed the subject.
"Let's relax for now and watch the race."