The mediocre trainer doesn't want to reopen

Chapter 339: Sakura King, competing in the Japanese Derby?

As for Kitano, who had been rubbed... or stepped on the head by Kushang Fei's small feet wrapped in black pantyhose, he seemed to be unaware of Kushang Fei's secret. After all, Kushang Fei didn't actually step on Kitano's head that day, but only stepped on his hair, and only a few toes touched.

Although the only touch coming from the hair was a little bit wrong, the other party was Kusanagi after all. If Kitano had not witnessed it with his own eyes, how could he have guessed that the well-educated Ms. Kusanagi would actually want to play with such fancy things?

So, after that day ended, Kitano was pushed out of the door by the shy Cao Shangfei, hopping on one leg. For the next half day, Kitano didn't see Cao Shangfei again.

However, soon, with the arrival of the next day, Kitano immediately ushered in the harassment of a tangled horse girl...

"Trainer-san! Please let me participate in the Japan Derby! Please!"

Yes, Sakura Shinou persisted, trying to convince Kitano to let her participate in the Japan Derby. And faced with this application again, Kitano, after yesterday's conversation with Kusanagi Hibiki, did not immediately reject Sakura Shinou's application. Instead, he gave Sakura Shinou another chance to convince him.

"Prince Jin, please sit down first."

Kitano took the application from Jin Wang's hand, but did not read it. Jin Wang seemed surprised that Kitano was willing to listen to her. After a slight pause, he was ecstatic and brought a stool and sat upright in front of Kitano.

"Shin-sama, why do you want to participate in the Japanese Derby?"

Kitano, looking at Sakura Shinou in front of him, immediately asked his first question: "You should know this, right? I've said before that running two 2-meter races is equivalent to running a 1200-meter Japanese derby."

"Yes, I know what Trainer-san said!" Sakura Shin-oh nodded first, then said with a firm expression on his face, "But, I also answered. If that's the case, doesn't it mean that no distance can faze me, Sakura Shin-oh? So, there's no problem for me to participate in the Japan Derby!"

"Besides, Trainer-san would never lie to me! If I can run 2 meters twice, then running 1200 meters should be no problem! Right, Trainer-san!"

However, Sakura Shinou, who was fooled by Kitano's theory, opened his mouth but could not say anything to refute it for a long time - after all, this was what he meant at the beginning, but he did not expect that Shinou in this round would think in reverse, and instead blocked his words.

If I refute it, how can I refute it? Wouldn't that make my whole "theory" fall apart? Wouldn't that mean I've really been deceiving the king?

Looking at Sakura Shinou who now had unconditional trust in him, Kitano still couldn't say anything. He shook his head and said, "Okay, let's change the subject."

"So, King Jin, what exactly are your thoughts and reasons for participating in the Japan Derby this time?"

"Although the application process is not complicated and we can apply now, your results and performance will not affect your participation in the Japan Derby. However, you must tell me the reason for participating. After all, this is not a competition we have planned. If you participate, it will definitely affect our future arrangements."

"Oh, by the way, I don't accept the excuse of going to the Japanese Derby in place of Xiaocao, so Jin Wang, you'd better think it over carefully before you speak."

For Kitano, the logic behind Jin Wang's behavior is very simple and easy to understand. Most of the time, there is only one reason. And this time, Kitano guessed that there was only one reason for Jin Wang, and that was because of the controversy caused by Kusanagi Fei's injury.

After all, although Sakura Shinou was the only one in the entire Tresen Academy who was kept in the dark about the fact that he could only run short distances, the outside world's criticism of Kitano was known to the entire Tresen Academy.

This matter has now become a hot topic, and many rumors have spread to Tresen College. Although Kitano had accumulated a lot of good reputation in the college in the past, and everyone in the college, whether trainers or horse racing girls, spoke well of him, but two fists cannot beat four hands.

Compared with real media publicity, the voice that Tresen College can make is really very small. Although Rudolf and Aldan are already trying their best to save them, it takes time to suppress these rumors, even for the two major families. Therefore, a lot of... not-so-nice rumors that have been passed to Kitano and everyone in the team can easily make people lose their minds.

Especially everyone on the team, all of whom had a good relationship with Kitano. Because of these words, they now worked extra hard during training. After training, they all picked up their phones and frantically played online, spending the whole day with high blood pressure...

There are even some unscrupulous media outlets that directly published the news that "there is little hope for Cao Shangfei to return to the field" in order to increase sales, and this kind of news is not uncommon.

Kitano also judged that Sakura Shinou was influenced by the rumors about Flying Grass, which was why he insisted on playing in the Japan Derby. But if that was the case, Kitano would never let Sakura Shinou "replace" Flying Grass on the field.

Because there was no need for it, Cao Shangfei didn't get angry about these words. Moreover, how could Sakura Jinwang replace Cao Shangfei? Her participation in the Japanese Derby was simply a gift.

Therefore, Kitano needs Jin Wang to give him a good reason, a reason that can convince him.

"No, I didn't think about it. I was going to replace Kusagami-kun."

Upon hearing this, Jin Wang unexpectedly shook his head. At this moment, Kitano saw a look of determination in Jin Wang's eyes. He said to Kitano, "Although this is partly the reason...but I want to participate in the Japan Derby more to prove myself!"

"Trainer-san, you know what I'm doing, right? I've always had to hold my breath while running. I'm not very good at breathing."

Sakura Shinou was also frank about her shortcomings, with no intention of hiding anything. Or perhaps, she felt that Kitano understood her more thoroughly than she did, so she said without giving it much thought, "Every time I run a race, I sprint to the finish line in one breath! That's a very powerful momentum!"

"And Trainer-san, you told me that the Japanese Derby is 2400 meters, right? If I only need to hold my breath for the 1200 meters, then I only need two breaths for the 2400 meters, right?"

"As for me... hehe, I'm not very good at breathing, but it sounds easy, so I thought I'd give it a try! It just so happens that I'm in good shape and still eligible to participate in GI events!"

Sakura Shinou's answer was very simple, and he even regarded the "breathing" of the game as something he could do if he wanted to. In fact, it was indeed very easy for the other horse girls of the Kitano team, or even for any horse girl from Tresen Academy.

However, Kitano's previous experience with Sakura Shinou told him that some things...cannot be achieved just by determination.

Hadn't Kitano explored this method last week? But the fact is, if Sakura Shinou takes a breath mid-sprint, her sprint and power will drop drastically, just like a stalled balloon.

Kitano also tried to find the reason, but to no avail. He even asked Sakura Shinou to try to control her physical strength. As long as Sakura Shinou took a breath in the middle of the process, no matter how much physical strength she had left, she would suddenly gasp like a broken hair dryer.

With such a special physique...it's no wonder that everyone in Tresen Academy knows that Sakura Shinou can only run short distances, but no one has exposed Shinou's flaw and maintained this "lie".

Therefore, Kitano guessed that there would be only one result for the confident Jin Wang going to the Japanese Derby - he would lead the field in the first two corners, then lose speed at the beginning of the third corner, and then fall directly to the last place.

This way, the blow to King Jin will only be greater, even no less than the last Arima Kinen in their previous round!

"Also, what I want to prove is about Trainer-san."

But Sakura Shinou didn't finish his words. He then opened his mouth, his eyes flashing with a more determined look as he said, "I want to use my victory to tell them that Trainer-san is definitely not a loser!"

"Trainer-san is my most precious treasure! Although Trainer-san taught me how to win the Triple Crown, I will never allow him to deny my Trainer status just because I didn't participate in the Triple Crown!"

"I want to tell them that Trainer-san is also using our method to help me win the Triple Crown! A method that can be won even without participating in the Triple Crown! But it's definitely not because I'm afraid of participating in the Triple Crown!"

"So this time, I want to participate in the Japanese Derby. Trainer-san, please! I will definitely not let you down this time!"

After Sakura Shinou finished speaking, Kitano didn't respond for a long time. He stared at the determined Shinou in front of him. This expression... he had seen it on many Uma Musume faces in previous rounds. It was an expression of determination.

It was just like when Rudolf was about to join the expedition; when Hehao Opera was at its lowest point and was determined to win quickly; and when Mi Yu was about to participate in the Takarazuka Kinen and Sheng Wang was about to participate in the Classic Triple Crown, it was exactly the same!

This wasn't something he could change just by stopping them, but perhaps, by supporting them, there might be a glimmer of hope...

Although there is little hope, giving up is the only way to completely lose hope. Only by doing it can there be at least a little hope...

"Starting tomorrow, I will teach you how to breathe, King Jin."

Kitano looked at the application in his hand and suddenly smiled with relief. He seemed to realize that Cao Shangfei was right. Lies will eventually fall apart. But now, this big web of lies is riddled with holes. No amount of repairs can fill this huge loophole.

So, why not give it a try? At least... even if you fall on the track, it will be more valuable.

"I will support you in the Japanese Derby, Jin Wang. This time, let's try again and cross this threshold."

"Yes!"

Faced with Kitano's compromise, Sakura Shinou's eyes flashed with surprise, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Shin's cherry blossom-like pink eyes were staring at Kitano in front of him, and he muttered to himself, "Really... he hasn't changed at all, what a cunning trainer."

Chapter 340: Prove with the Faith of Friends

It is almost impossible to transform Sakura Jinou from a short-distance horse girl to a middle-distance horse girl in just one month. It sounds like the difficulty can be solved by genetic modification like in mobile games. It is not unheard of that someone has raised a genetic modification master with adaptability to middle and long distances of level A.

But the reality is not a mobile game, and Kitano does not have a cheat system like other time travelers. He does not even have a shameful system like the hedgehog cat. He can only rely on himself. Therefore, for Kitano, it is impossible to genetically modify King Jin.

But even so, Kitano did not tell Sakura Shinou anything like "You can't win the Japanese derby, don't go and get eaten."

Kitano knew that he had agreed to Sakura Shinou's request to participate in the Japan Derby. This lie, which was now full of loopholes, would fall apart the moment Shinou stepped onto the track of the Japan Derby. However, Kitano still did not choose to expose this lie that could still maintain order before that moment came.

He hopes that this future will affect Sakura Shinou's character, and even change her worldview that has always been "protected" and her understanding of herself. Before the huge change comes, he hopes to make Sakura Shinou as powerful as possible.

In this way... even if Shinou will be greatly shocked in the future, or even unable to accept the reality and quit the team, then at least Kitano has already taught Shinou all the methods to win in the future.

In this way, even if he is not in the future, Jin Wang can still go on alone. As for how much changes Jin Wang's heart will undergo... that is not something Kitano can decide.

But at least, during this training process, Kitano will let Jin Wang slowly accept what will happen in the future step by step. He will hint at it and try to make Jin Wang slowly realize that he is caught in a big web of "lies".

Although… Sakura Shinou is quite straightforward and a bit slow-witted, that doesn't mean he's slow to understand everything. Therefore, Kitano needs to make Sakura Shinou realize all this himself… That way, he can ensure that on the day of the Japan Derby, Shinou won't be caught completely unprepared, as he was in last week's final match, the Arima Kinen.

That dazed expression on Sakura Shinou's face when he was defeated in the Arima Kinen, that stunned look, as if the whole world had collapsed... Kitano didn't want to see it again at all.

In a month, under Kitano's guidance and suggestions, and with the tacit cooperation of everyone in the team, Sakura Jinwang was fully prepared to participate in this Japanese derby.

……

"The Japan Derby, the second game of the Classic Triple Crown! As the most anticipated classic annual event in Japan, this year's Japan Derby once again attracted countless enthusiastic spectators and fans!"

"It's a shame that Kusanagi Hi, the winner of the last Satsuki Sho, had to sit out the Japan Derby due to injury. We all hope she recovers quickly and returns to the court."

"However, in this Japanese Derby, we welcome a new Uma Musume. She's from the same team as Kusagami Fei, and has the same trainer, San. She was once withdrawn from the Classic Triple Crown competition by her trainer, but now she's taking to the track, carrying the wishes of her teammates!"

"Let us welcome the third most popular person - Sakura Shinou!"

On the field of the Japanese Derby, as the commentary voice fell, Sakura Shinou, wearing the victory suit, stepped onto the popular stage of the Japanese Derby amid the warm cheers and applause of the audience. On there, she was as confident as ever, as if this victory had already been in her pocket.

She raised her hand high and extended two fingers to show her determination to win. This action ignited the atmosphere of the whole audience and attracted more applause and cheers.

In the audience, Kitano and his group were in a completely different mood. Rudolph, who was standing next to him, did not wear any makeup this time. He only appeared here wearing a mask and sunglasses. Fortunately, everyone around was focusing on the field at the moment, and almost no one noticed Rudolph's presence.

"Although Jin Wang is participating in the Classic Triple Crown for the first time in this Japanese Derby, his popularity has unexpectedly soared... I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing."

"After all, 'stepping onto the field with the faith of friends'—at least, that's what the reporters who got the news after the entry list was announced wrote in the news."

Aldan on the side did not have any feelings about this. It should be said that everyone in the entire team had already anticipated this. Kitano had already guessed all kinds of ideas, and among them, he had already guessed that the popularity of Jinwang would be very high this time.

After all, this kind of "stepping onto the field with the wishes of teammates" drama is extremely lethal to people all over the world. It is too heroic. If Sakura Jinou at this moment were in an anime, it would definitely be comparable to the last game of the East China Sea Emperor, Arima Kinen, in the second season of Uma Musume, with a strong protagonist color.

However, Kitano and everyone knew that this was impossible. Kitano and everyone came here not only to support Sakura Shinoh's Japanese derby, but also to end the game quickly after it was over.

If he were surrounded by those eagerly waiting journalists, no one knew whether it would be another blow to Jin Wang, who had already suffered a huge shock.

So this time, everyone from the Kitano team, including Cao Shangfei, who had just recovered from his injury for a month and was able to walk and jog, came to the scene to help deal with things after the game.

"Once the race is over, Aldan, Rudolf, please follow me and stop our journalist friends who are hungry for news." Kitano, who had already made all the preparations, turned and said, "Good Opera, Holy King, please quickly take the King away from the racecourse. Do you all know what you are supposed to do?"

"Yes."

Kitano's words were also responded to by everyone. Although everyone's reason told them that they had no chance of winning the championship in this game, they still looked at the field with full of expectations. At this moment, they held their heads high and chests high, appearing extremely confident of winning the championship.

What if… what if, they were thinking, Prince Jin had really been hiding his true abilities the entire time? Someone who confidently stood up in a critical moment, according to the descriptions in those works, was usually just playing the pig to eat the tiger, right?

Although all the horse racing ladies think this is unlikely, they are now really hoping that Jin Wang is really hiding his shortcomings and can really win the Japanese Derby this time.

Only Kitano vaguely felt that this time when Sakura Shinou stepped onto the field, the feeling was different from the past.

Although Sakura Shinou looks very confident now and seems to go into every game with the determination to win, the conversation between Kitano and Shinou before stepping onto the field this time gave him a different feeling.

"Prince Jin, there's still time. Do you really want to go?"

Before Shin-oh went on the field, Kitano gave Shin-oh a final pre-match psychological counseling. In this week, Kitano spoke out for the first time to stop the horse girls from stepping onto the field. Kitano, who had originally made up his mind not to stop any of the horse girls' decisions and to fully support them, finally spoke his true words at this moment.

"Once you step out of this door, we'll see each other after the competition, King Jin. After this competition, it's likely that many things will change."

"Have you really made up your mind?"

That was also the first time Kitano felt that Sakura Shinou was hesitant. After more than a month of hints, Kitano also felt the subtle changes in Shinou. Obviously, even a fool like Shinou could sense that something was wrong as Kitano thought.

But even so, she never proposed to withdraw from the competition, nor did she question any of Kitano's decisions. And this time, facing Kitano's obstruction, Jin Wang paused slightly, then turned around again, still with the confident smile that Kitano was familiar with.

"Of course I won't regret it! I'll do whatever Trainer-san says! Trainer-san would never lie to me!"

"If I can run 1200 meters in one breath, then I can definitely run 2400 meters in two! That's what Trainer-san taught me! If I don't do it, it's definitely not Trainer-san's fault, it's my own failure as a horse girl."

"And now the competition is about to begin, Trainer-san, everyone is looking forward to my 'rush', and I will definitely bring you victory as always!"

Sakura Jinwang said this, but his words still vaguely revealed a feeling that he already knew the result.

Obviously, even Jin Wang had guessed what Kitano meant, but as she said, she had already decided to step onto this arena. Is there any way back now?

But even so, Jin Wang did not show her worries on the surface. She chose to believe in her trainer as always. Even in the face of this situation where failure was inevitable, she had to give it a try. She did not want to prove anything to the outside world, but only wanted to prove one thing for Kitano - that is, he can change everything.

What Jin Wang was thinking at this moment was to use this race to convey his changes and beliefs to Kitano and all the words he wanted to say, to encourage him not to care about the rumors in the outside world.

It's just like... the last Arima Kinen. That Arima Kinen changed everything for Shinou, and now, she wants to pass on everything she has learned to her trainer San.

"Sakura Storm King, it's time to attack!"

"This time, I will never lose to myself again! Absolutely!"

Chapter 341: Take responsibility and admit everything

Carrying the faith of his friend, he embarked on a journey that his friend wanted to embark on but had never embarked on. As Kitano said, if this plot really appeared in anime or novels, then as long as the ending was a victory that was laid out for a long enough time, it would definitely become a truly legendary work.

This was exactly the scene that everyone was expecting. Therefore, when Sakura Jinwang stepped onto the field this time, even though everyone knew that she had stopped running the Classic Triple Crown before, her identity and the timing she chose were really great.

Even though Sakura Shinou and Kitano never said that this was done for Cao Shangfei, the media was willing to publicize it this way, and the public was willing to believe it. This Japanese derby was understandably so grand.

What's more, because Kitano had previously asked Sakura Shinou to give up the classic triple crown, the dissatisfaction that had just been suppressed also fermented at this moment and broke out - who made Shinou undefeated under Kitano's arrangement?

Sakura Shinou and Kusanagi Tobi are both undefeated and are horse girls under the same trainer. How big can the difference in their strength be?

Not many people care about the different distances run by Sakura Shinou and Kusanagi Hibiki, not even the media. All people see in the publicity are two undefeated horse girls who win every battle, and they don't consciously feel that there is any essential difference between the two horse girls.

Therefore, when Jin Wang participated in the Japanese Derby, almost everyone felt that with the support of Cao Shangfei's belief, Sakura Jin Wang would definitely be the favorite to win this time. Therefore, he was pushed to the third place in popularity in one breath, second only to the most popular Special Week and the second most popular Condor.

Even if they couldn't win, they should still be in the top few, right? Everyone naturally thought so. Almost no one noticed Kitano's explanation for withdrawing Sakura Shinou from the Classic Triple Crown competition.

So, at the moment when this Japanese derby ended, a strange scene happened...

"Special Week! Special Week No. 3, unexpectedly, made a last-minute push and defeated the Condor by a tiny margin! Japanese Derby! The winner is Special Week!"