Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

The problem not fully resolved in Chapter 357
Yasui Makoto didn't ask or check the value of the gift from the Northern Genko.

After all, in Japan, it's considered quite impolite to care about how much a gift cost, even if he's very familiar with Kita Genko.

Compared to the real worldly value or price, what he cared more about was the sentiment from the Northern Black Steed contained in the pocket watch.

He was certainly aware of the legendary racehorse Eclipse's story; in fact, any trainer or anyone in the industry knew about her.

He had a perfect record in his career, with no opponent daring to compete in a total of 10 races. His retirement wasn't because he couldn't run anymore, but because he had no rivals left...

Such a legend is not only the goal that all female racehorses undoubtedly aspire to, but also the object of aspiration for any trainer.

It was because of this that, upon receiving the gift and learning of the Northern Genko's wishes, Yasui Makoto wanted to constantly remind himself of the gift, which is why he replaced his stopwatch with a pocket watch during training.

I originally thought that mechanical timers would be inferior to electronic timers, for example, they might have errors.

The results showed that the pocket watch, whether it was the hour hand or the timer, not only had no errors, but also had a peculiar feel to it.

Compared to the one-button reading of modern electronic stopwatches, the mechanical structure of pocket watches requires manual winding and calibration.

This process, and the "click" of the gears meshing when holding a pocket watch to keep time, can enhance one's tactile perception of time.

This shouldn't be an illusion.

As mentioned by Beibu Xuanju, or rather, "I'll decide later," the bimetallic balance wheel, spiral hairspring, and lever escapement of the Arno pocket watch not only address the effects of temperature changes, isochronism, and errors, but also provide very important functional and targeted service designs.

That is, the design of each pocket watch of this brand, and the frequency and rhythm of its mechanical rotation, are all unique to a particular racehorse girl.

This rhythm is reflected in one of the two small chronograph dials.

Without a doubt, the timekeeping rhythm of Yasui Makoto's pocket watch naturally belongs to the Northern Genko.

If this were his previous life, he would never have believed that a pocket watch could have such a function.

It's simply impossible for a purely mechanical device to be linked to the physiological phenomena of a racehorse without any errors.

Unless a miracle occurs.

However, miracles do happen in this world.

In the world of Uma Musume Pretty Derby, there are three goddesses, so it's not surprising that a pocket watch would be a bit magical given that they exist.

As it's been used ever since, Yasui Makoto has discovered that the clicking of the gears inside the pocket watch really does match the stride, breathing, and rhythm of Hokuto Genko...

The same.

"It seems that if you want to achieve any dreams in this world, you really do... have to devoutly worship the three goddesses?"

He couldn't help but think that.

However, when it comes to training-related issues, he prioritizes scientific analysis and judgment.

So after a training session, he loudly ordered Kita Genko and Apricot Eyes to rest. After analyzing the training results, he came to a specific conclusion.

Instead of stating a conclusion directly, Yasui Makoto jotted down his thoughts on his tablet, then looked at Kita Genko, who was wiping his sweat, and asked:
"Xiao Bei, in the 3200-meter test just now, in the final stage... did you feel strained? Or did you find it difficult to increase your speed?"

While wiping away sweat with a towel and chatting casually with Almond-eyed, Genkoto Kita paused for a moment upon hearing Yasui's question, thought for a moment, and said uncertainly:

"Hmm... I didn't realize it until the trainer said it, but now that you mention it, it seems..."

"I really do have that feeling?"

"It's like I still have the strength, but I can't run like before. It's like... I'm being restricted?" Almond, who was standing next to her, was also very curious. She subconsciously stopped wiping her sweat and looked at Yasui Makoto.

Yasui nodded, pondered for a moment, and concluded, "That's right, they're restricted."

"Or rather, the problems you had in mud events have also appeared on grass."

"Huh? A problem with mud track racing...?" Both Kita Genko and Apricot were taken aback, then their expressions changed to one of realization.

Almond-eyed suddenly realized something because it remembered Hokusho Genko's performance in previous dirt races, while Hokusho Genko suddenly realized something because it remembered its own problems in dirt races.

Indeed, as Makoto Yasui said, he had enough stamina in the mud track event, but he was unable to perform to his full potential in the competition against California Shining, which ultimately led to his failure.

I just didn't expect that the muddy ground was an unfamiliar place for me.

But the grasslands are his forte, and yet this problem... has resurfaced in the current training.

"Unable to exert my full strength...being restricted...yes, it feels exactly the same as California-chan's match..."

Thinking of the Northern Black Horse, he asked in confusion, "But... Trainer, why is that?"

"It was fine during the mud track competition, but then there was a grass practice race. My problem... wasn't it already solved?"

Yasui Makoto pondered for a moment, then shook his head and explained, "It's not completely resolved."

"Our strategy during the previous training matches on the grass in Dubai only temporarily alleviated the problem, or rather, avoided it."

"They avoided this problem?" Northern Black Horse was even more puzzled.

Yasui nodded and continued, "That's right, we avoided that problem."

"Because of the resistance of the mud, your pace and rhythm in mud races are affected, making it impossible for you to perform at your full potential."

"The strategy we adopted in the subsequent grass practice matches was not fundamentally different from the past."

"However, you should remember very clearly that the intensity of that practice match was unlike anything you had ever experienced before; the entire match was exceptionally intense."

"It is in that intense environment that you unleash your greater potential and seize the key opportunity."

"However, this does not mean that your problem has been completely solved; it simply means that we have temporarily avoided the problem through this unstable performance."

"And now that this problem has reappeared during normal training, it means that your problem has not been fundamentally solved."

While Aloe was still pondering Yasui's explanation, Kita Genko had already seemed to understand.

"I see. If we're talking about intensity... then this is indeed something I've never experienced before."

Northern Genko muttered, "So, I'm going to use a similar tactic at the 3200-meter... or rather, at the Emperor's Spring Appreciation race?"

Compared to last year when he followed Yasui Makoto's instructions completely, Kita Genkoma is now more accustomed to thinking about things on his own.

Whether it was the Arima Kinen last year or the two races held in Dubai recently, she considered a lot and took the initiative to communicate and ask Yasui Makoto a lot of questions.

Most of these communications were things that their trainers had already thought of, but there were also quite a few things that they came up with entirely on their own.

This excited her greatly, and she felt that she could share Yasui Makoto's burdens.

(End of this chapter)