But Kenji didn’t have X-ray vision, nor did he look at Silence Suzuka with a lewd gaze.
His eyes were fixed on nothing but data.
He had fully slipped into his role as a Trainer now.
This was his job, after all.
With adaptability and attributes out of the way, it was time for the most crucial part: running style.
“Now, regarding your running style… this is going to be important.”
Seeing Kenji’s serious expression, Silence Suzuka swallowed hard, her throat clicking audibly from nervousness.
Running style was the cornerstone that determined an Uma Musume’s future.
What if she wasn’t naturally suited for Front-Running?
Would her dreams shatter right there?
That was exactly what was eating at Suzuka right now.
The pursuit of victory was every Uma Musume’s obsession.
None of them didn’t crave winning.
And running freely, exactly how they wanted, that was their nature too.
Career versus passion.
It was the same dilemma so many people faced.
If she had to choose just one… she genuinely couldn’t do it.
So whatever Kenji said next would decide her fate.
At this moment, Suzuka was so tense she’d almost forgotten how to breathe.
She hadn’t even been this nervous when she first stepped onto a victory podium.
Finally, Kenji delivered his “verdict,” writing down her running style adaptability on the whiteboard.
Front-Runner: A Pace Chaser: C Late Surger: E End Closer: G
“Looks like you’re best suited for Front-Running, Suzuka.
Pace Chasing is decent too, Late Surging isn’t great, and End Closing is completely out of the question.”
Silence Suzuka couldn’t believe her eyes.
Front-Runner?
Was it really… Front-Running?
So she really was best suited for leading from the front?
Did she truly have what it takes to run at the very front?
Victory and passion, reason and instinct, could they both be satisfied after all?
This is great…
It’s really, really great…!
Biting her lower lip, Suzuka pressed both hands against her chest.
Tears threatened to spill over.
She was more moved than when she’d first received her acceptance letter from Central Tracen Academy.
Watching her relief wash over her, Kenji felt genuinely happy for her, and took the chance to lightly tease her about her previous Trainer.
“Looks like your last Trainer gave you the wrong advice after all.
You were right, Suzuka.
But when you said you went against her instructions… does that mean you already knew Front-Running and Pace Chasing suited you best?”
“Yes… I think… it’s an instinct stamped into my soul.”
“Between Front-Running and Pace Chasing, which do you prefer?”
Kenji hesitated.
Judging purely by her stats, Suzuka clearly fit the lead role better.
But given how shy she was, he figured she probably wouldn’t enjoy being in the spotlight at the very front.
She seemed more like someone who’d lurk near the front, then strike unexpectedly to snatch first place.
While respecting her own preference was important, Kenji still hoped she wouldn’t waste such rare talent, so he tried steering her gently.
“Even though you can Pace Chase, it’s no match for Front-Running anyway.
But if that’s what you prefer, I’ll…”
Silence Suzuka cut him off immediately, her voice ringing out louder and firmer than ever today.
“Front-Running!
I love running at the very front!
There’s nothing better than seeing a track with absolutely no one ahead of me!”
“Oh!
That’s fantastic!”
Hahahaha!
Heaven sent!
Kenji felt an incredible rush of satisfaction.
The Uma Musume herself loved the exact style she was best at, what could be more perfect?
This training is gonna be a breeze!
After riding that wave of joy and relief, Suzuka’s expression shifted back to her usual cautious demeanor.
She raised her hand timidly.
“But… Trainer-san, I… can I keep using Front-Running?”
“Hm?
Why wouldn’t you be able to?”
“Well… because don’t just want to be in the front.
I…
want to ‘runaway’.”
“Ah… runaway…”
Runaway.
It was an ultra-extreme tactic even among Front-Runners: charging at full throttle from the starting gate, pulling a massive gap on everyone behind her, and holding that lead all the way to the finish line.
During races, Uma Musume positions weren’t fixed; they shifted dynamically.
There wasn’t just one horse leading the pack either.
Often multiple horses took turns at the front, chasing each other in a tight race.
After all, with sixteen runners per race, sometimes eighteen, sometimes limited to fourteen, there was no point obsessing over temporary rankings.
Only final victory mattered.
Even if you led for ninety-five percent of the race, getting overtaken in the last hundred meters would render all that lead meaningless.
In races spanning 2000m or even over 1000m, wind resistance had a massive impact.
That’s why many Uma Musume preferred Late Surge or End Closing styles: conserving energy mid-pack or at the back, then exploding with a final sprint near the finish to maximize their chances of taking first place.
Staying at the very front meant no one else was breaking the wind for you.
On top of that, to keep your distance from those behind, you had to maintain maximum speed while enduring the psychological pressure of being chased…
It was an extreme style where risk and reward didn’t match up, and if handled poorly, it could lead to injury.
Kenji hadn’t expected Suzuka to favor such a “solitary” running style.
It practically screamed: “First place belongs only to me!”
Judging by her appearance alone, you’d never guess she had that kind of possessive drive.
Logically speaking, a Trainer shouldn’t let their charge gamble everything on such a reckless approach.
But Kenji wasn’t an ordinary guy.
He had the System.
It could help Suzuka acquire skills strong enough to support her Runaway style.
So why not?
“Isn’t that pretty cool?
Leading from start to finish, ahead of every other Uma Musume, that’s about as good as it gets for showing overwhelming strength, right?”
“…!”
She’d been acknowledged!
And he felt the same way… Their minds were in sync!
Suzuka was thrilled, but her delicate and sensitive nature meant she still hadn’t fully let go of her worries.
She was exactly the type to overthink things alone.
Fortunately, she now had a Trainer she could confide in.
“But my previous Trainer told me… if I didn’t give up this reckless Runaway style, my career might be very short…”
Suzuka wasn’t some self-destructive maniac.
Of course she wanted to keep running for a long time, to become a perennial star in the racing world.
At least during her three years at Tracen Academy, she didn’t want to miss races due to injury, or worse… get forced out.
“Oh, looks like your last Trainer was pretty thoughtful after all.
She’s right, if you keep using such an extreme style, you’re very likely to get injured.
And not just a minor one; something hard to recover from.”
This wasn’t information fed by the System; it was Kenji’s own conclusion based on everything he’d seen so far.
It seemed Suzuka’s previous Trainer wasn’t incompetent at all.
In fact, she knew exactly what she was doing.
She understood that if she let Suzuka run completely unchecked, she might fall into a despairing abyss where she could no longer race.
So rather than chasing short-term victories, she’d apparently prioritized keeping Suzuka healthy and able to finish races safely.
A classic “tough love” Trainer with a soft heart.
“I see… so I really have to give it up…”
Suzuka’s ears drooped instantly.
Uma Musume were never very good at hiding their emotions; their ears and tails always betrayed them.
“Hm?
When did I tell you to give it up?”
“Eh?”
Suzuka had officially maxed out her surprise meter for the day.
“Runaway does carry huge risks, but that’s not something you need to worry about.”
“…?”
Suzuka’s blank expression basically said: Then what am I supposed to worry about?
Kenji pointed at himself, then at Suzuka.
“I’m your Trainer.
My job is to solve problems like this for you.
The only thing you need to focus on is how to win races.
Leave all the adjustments off-track to me.”
“Ah…”
Right… I have a Trainer now… A Trainer, Mr.
Kenji.
He’s different from the others.
He’ll find a way for me.
“If you love Runaway, then let’s go all out with it.
I’ll make sure you can keep running exactly like that.”
“You said earlier that your favorite thing is seeing an empty track ahead of you… so…”
“That view from the very front… you don’t want to give that up to anyone, do you?”
Those words struck straight at Suzuka’s soul, echoing loudly in her head.
“…!!!”
Right… I don’t want to give it up!
Not to anyone!
No matter who it was, even Spe-chan… she’d never let go of that spot!
“So I’m not going to make you change your style.
But, Suzuka, you must follow my training methods completely.”
At this moment, all of Suzuka’s worries melted away.
For the first time in front of Kenji, a bright, genuine smile finally broke across her face.
“Trainer-san!
As long as I can keep running like this, I’ll do whatever you ask!”
Heh.
That’s exactly what I’m looking for.
Inside his head, Kenji wore an evil grin.
Capturing an Uma Musume’s heart?
Easy as pie!