Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 272 The Problem of Almond Eyes

After Yasui Makoto finished speaking, Hokubu Genko was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

She subconsciously looked at Almond, thinking that Almond would be nervous and uneasy if she mentioned running alongside her.

After all, Almond Eyes has only just entered the professional training stage, his body has not yet developed to the same level as hers, and he has no competition experience.

In her opinion, facing such a challenge, almond-shaped eyes would inevitably feel timid.

But when she saw the expression on Almond's face, she was surprised again.

What comes into view is an almond-shaped eye brimming with competitiveness.

Those eyes gleamed with a burning light, and he was eager to try, radiating an aura of impatientness to show off his skills on the track and compete with himself.

Inspired by Apricot's enthusiasm, Northern Genko felt a surge of exhilaration welling up inside him.

She looked at Yasui Makoto, nodded vigorously, and replied energetically, "Yes, trainer!"

"I'm ready too!"

Not to be outdone, Almond Eyes loudly replied, "We can start anytime!"

Seeing the two racehorse girls full of energy, Yasui couldn't help but smile, then pointed to the starting line on the track:
"Then the usual rule applies. Listen to my countdown of three, and go!"

Upon hearing the command, Northern Black Horse and Almond Eyes eagerly sprinted towards the starting line of the track.

Standing side by side, ready for the starting line, Kita Genko stared straight ahead, while Almond glanced furtively in Yasui Makoto's direction. The two waited intently for the starting signal.

At this moment, the entire training ground was silent, with only a gentle breeze blowing, stirring their hair and clothes.

Yasui Makoto stood to the side, glanced around briefly, pondered for a moment, and then calmly counted down:

"Three...two...one!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Northern Black Steed reacted extremely quickly, rushing out like an arrow released from a bow.

Her movements were fluid and swift, her leg muscles contracting and extending powerfully, each step striking a firm rhythm, breaking the stillness of the air.

However, at the same moment, both Kita Genko and Yasui Makoto frowned slightly.

The almond-shaped eyes opened too late.

Compared to the swift attack of the Northern Black Steed, her starting speed was a beat slower.

When she takes the starting position, her right foot is placed behind her, which is fine; most female racehorses are used to using their right foot as their starting foot.

But it was as if she was being dragged by an invisible force; she started too late and her strength was not strong enough.

This momentary slowness and lack of strength prevented her center of gravity from shifting forward in time at the start, causing her body to lean slightly backward and disrupting the smoothness of her starting motion.

Moreover, her arms, which should have been powerful and coordinated with her leg movements, momentarily paused and froze at her sides, failing to provide immediate assistance for her sprint.

In that split second of error, she instantly created a distance of more than half a meter between herself and the Northern Black Steed that charged out like lightning.

But soon, this panic was replaced by an even stronger fighting spirit.

With her almond-shaped eyes tightly pressed against her lower lip, burning with a fierce determination, she immediately gave chase.

Her legs moved like a high-speed motor, alternating rapidly, each step carrying a fierce determination to instantly close the gap.

Running ahead, keeping an eye on the movements behind him, Beifang Xuanju's brows furrowed even more, and he unconsciously bit his lower lip.

Seeing this scene clearly on the runway, Yasui's brow remained furrowed as he quickly began to analyze the situation in his mind.

One reason for Almond's poor start was that she was too concerned about how others, the outsiders, perceived her. Her pre-race glances at herself revealed that she subconsciously wanted to present her best self.

This excessive concern became a psychological burden for her at the start of the race, unconsciously interfering with her movements.

In a real match, the environment is far more complex than it is now.

There are thousands of eyes in the stands watching the game, and the constant noise, especially the commentator's incessant announcements, fills the air.

However, a good racehorse girl must not let these external factors disturb her mind or distract her attention.

Every tiny distraction, like what happened to Xingmu just now, could cause an irreparable disadvantage at the starting line.

On the other hand, a lack of proficiency in exiting the gate is also a key factor.

For racehorses, leaving the gate is not an innate instinct.

Just like how humans rely on starting blocks in races, it takes a lot of practice to turn this into a natural bodily response.

Clearly, Almond Eyes is still lacking in this aspect, and has not yet mastered the gate-opening action to the point where it can be executed perfectly without conscious thought.

As a result, at this crucial starting moment, there was a sluggishness in exerting force.

However, Yasui Makoto did not provide further analysis.

Each racehorse girl has a unique temperament, habits, and delicate thoughts.

To accurately identify the details of various issues, it is essential not only to rely on the trainer's observations and judgments from their own perspective, but also to actively and thoroughly communicate with the racehorse girl.

Trainers' views are inevitably limited, and if decisions are made hastily based solely on subjective assumptions, it is highly likely that many crucial pieces of information will be misjudged.

This could lead to a series of troubles, and may even result in unexpected consequences.

Take Xingmu's distraction this time, for example; the reasons behind it may be far more complex than they appear on the surface.

Perhaps she simply developed a long-standing habit of looking at familiar faces before a competition to gain reassurance and strength.

Or perhaps, compared to a normal starting method, she is actually more suited to the environment of a gate start in terms of physical coordination and psychological adaptability.

There are many similar possibilities hidden beneath the surface, which cannot be seen through at a glance.

Therefore, Yasui Mari wisely decided to hold back for the time being.

He decided to wait until after this run, then have a discussion with Xingmu, and hear Beibu Genko's opinion before drawing conclusions, so as to accurately confirm the specific training ideas and tasks for the next step.

Due to their lagging start, the gap between Almond and Northern Genko became increasingly apparent.

In terms of physical fitness, Almond Eyes was already at a disadvantage, and its physical reserves were not as good as those of the battle-hardened Northern Black Steed.

In terms of racing experience, Northern Black Horse has honed its skills through numerous races and is adept at controlling the rhythm and mastering cornering techniques, while Almond Eye is still a blank slate.

In terms of technique, the experience that Northern Black Horse has accumulated in daily training and actual combat makes her running movements more efficient, and she can exert her power to the extreme with every step. In contrast, Almond Eyes seems much more inexperienced.

Therefore, the distance that the almond-shaped eyes fall from is visibly increasing.

But Yasui Makoto keenly noticed that, under the strong stimulation of his competitive spirit, a surprising change was taking place in Aloe.

She seemed to be ignited with fighting spirit, her steps became more and more firm, and every step was filled with the spirit of burning one's boats.

This change was clearly displayed on the speedometer that Yasui Makoto's mobile phone was connected to.

At first, Xingmu struggled a bit with his speed lagging behind, but as the race progressed, the numbers steadily increased, and his overall speed kept picking up.

(End of this chapter)