Kaito’s silence was deafening.
He had known Agnes Tachyon was a genius, but this was on another level entirely!
He needed to confirm it, though.
With that thought, he asked her, “Could I take a look at it?” “Of course!” Agnes Tachyon agreed readily.
Kaito watched as she lifted the hem of her school uniform from underneath her white lab coat.
Her smooth, flat stomach was briefly exposed, and his eyes involuntarily locked onto it for a few seconds.
A moment later, Tachyon fumbled around inside her uniform and pulled out a long black strap with a small sensor attached, holding it up and giving it a little shake.
A heart rate strap!
Kaito examined Tachyon’s invention repeatedly, confirming that this wasn’t just a basic heart rate monitor for tracking physical data, but a step further—a proper heart rate strap.
Meanwhile, Agnes Tachyon explained, “This is what you asked for.
I made some improvements based on the ideas you provided and designed it as a strap-style monitoring device.
This way, the data we get is much more accurate.” “As for its effectiveness, you don’t need to worry.
I already wore it and ran some tests this morning.” She handed the heart rate strap, still retaining her body warmth, along with a portable screen for receiving the data to Kaito.
She looked quite satisfied at the shocked expression on his face.
“Alright, let’s see how you’ll make use of this invention, guinea pig-kun?” “Ah, sure.” Kaito calmed his excitement.
If Rice Shower wasn’t watching, he would have knelt and worshipped Tachyon as a deity.
After all, the applications for a heart rate strap were too numerous!
“Rice Shower-san, go ahead and strap this around your chest.” “O-okay!” Rice Shower took the heart rate strap from Kaito and, with Agnes Tachyon’s “assistance” (which mostly involved her taking the opportunity to grope her), finished putting it on.
Naturally, Kaito kept his back turned to the two of them the entire time, only able to hear the faint rustling of fabric.
Once the preparations were complete, he had Rice Shower repeat the interval training from the first two days of the week.
But unlike before, this time, in addition to observing Rice Shower’s running form and condition, Kaito kept a close eye on the data streaming onto the receiving screen.
He took out his notebook, drew up a chart regarding heart rate and training volume, and noted the relationship with speed and distance on the side.
Simply put, the data fed back by the heart rate strap allowed Kaito to clearly see Rice Shower’s progress.
For instance, if she ran the same distance at the same heart rate but her speed kept increasing, it indicated improved cardiac output and effective physical conditioning.
Conversely, if her speed remained constant during cruising runs but her heart rate steadily dropped, it meant her stamina was growing and her pacing was improving.
Using this data, Kaito could fine-tune the training regimen, addressing Rice Shower’s weaknesses or trimming unnecessary workload.
“I see, so heart rate can reflect so much related data.
How interesting!” Agnes Tachyon stood to the side, watching with great fascination.
She kept getting closer and closer, until the tips of her hair were brushing against Kaito.
Even so, Agnes Tachyon didn’t mind at all, only becoming more and more excited.
“Speed, stamina, heart rate, time…
Ah, collaborating with you was indeed the right choice, guinea pig-kun.
I can’t wait to conduct experiments on you!” Kaito asked, “Should we start right now, then?” “That won’t be necessary.” Agnes Tachyon shook her head.
“You and Rice Shower-san have a race this Sunday, don’t you?
We can run the experiment after that.
It gives me a whole week to meticulously record the wonderful applications of the heart rate monitor while you use it.
I’m sure it’ll be highly fruitful, hehe…” As she spoke, Agnes Tachyon’s expression grew increasingly animated, clearly having thought of some fascinating new observation she was eager to make.
Kaito smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Since Agnes Tachyon wasn’t in a hurry, he would focus all his efforts on Rice Shower’s training first to prepare for Sunday’s race.
“Rice Shower-san, rest for ten minutes, then run another lap!” “Okay!” An energetic shout echoed across the training grounds, and time flew by swiftly as day and night alternated.
Under the blazing sun and clear skies, Rice Shower’s petite figure ran tirelessly.
During the continuous autumn rain, the two took shelter under a large tree, drying their soaked hair with towels.
In the shade of the trees, Kaito monitored Rice Shower’s food portions.
In the evening lab, he and Agnes Tachyon pored over mountains of data, debating endlessly.
And on the walk home at night, they strolled beneath the streetlights, endlessly reviewing the day’s training.
Through their all-out training, the data fed back by the heart rate strap improved every single day.
Her top speed broke through the 11-second barrier, dropping from an initial 12.2 seconds, while her cruising pace stabilized at 12.5 seconds, down from 12.7.
Kaito and Rice Shower were making tangible progress.
The morning dew, the midday sun, and the evening autumn breeze bore witness to it all.
The day before the race, Kaito shifted his day off to Saturday so Rice Shower could get some proper rest.
He also helped her center her mindset and prepare herself completely.
And just like that, Sunday arrived.
…
Sunday.
Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture.
Hanshin Racecourse.
Outside the magnificent and sprawling racecourse, countless spectators surged forward in a massive tide.
The air was filled with the hearty, boisterous laughter unique to the Kansai region—a stark contrast to the refined, elite atmosphere of Tokyo, brimming instead with a loud and passionate energy.
Hanshin Racecourse was one of the four major tracks in the Uma Musume Twinkle Series.
Its host city was home to the Takarazuka Revue, Japan’s oldest and most prestigious theatrical troupe, which had produced countless famous entertainers.
The racecourse itself hosted numerous high-profile events, including G1 races like the Osaka Cup and the Takarazuka Kinen.
Its scale and prestige were on an entirely different level compared to the Niigata Racecourse where Kaito and Rice Shower had first met.
“There are so many people.” Standing outside the racecourse, Kaito and Rice Shower gazed at the sea of faces, both wearing expressions of sheer awe.
People were fiercely debating race predictions, giving interviews to TV crews, and marching in with massive support banners.
Tens of thousands of spectators had flocked here just to watch today’s races.
“There are so many more spectators than there were at Niigata.” Rice Shower clutched her hands tightly, her voice trembling slightly.
Kaito had given her the previous day off, which she’d used to center herself.
To prevent any mishaps, she had even brought twice as many bandages as usual and tied her shoelaces into double knots that wouldn’t come undone no matter what.
Yet, despite all her preparations, the sheer scale of the event still intimidated her.
Kaito nodded with a wry smile.
“Of course.
There’s a G1 race today, after all.” The Asahi Hai Future Stakes, a G1 event, was being held on the exact same day as the Heather Stakes, which Rice Shower was entered in.
Although Debut Class G1 races didn’t usually draw as much attention as those in the Classic or Senior Classes—since the runners hadn’t fully matured yet—a G1 was still a G1.
Winning one meant standing above tens of thousands of Uma Musume.
As a result, the competitors in the G1 were the absolute strongest of their generation, and the turnout of spectators was vastly larger than for a regular race.
“But that has nothing to do with us,” Kaito said, easing the pressure on Rice Shower.
The Heather Stakes was scheduled before the Asahi Hai, so no matter how strong the runners in the latter race were, it wasn’t something they needed to worry about right now.
Rice Shower understood what Kaito meant and nodded earnestly.
“Onii-san, let’s head inside.”