Following Kitasan Black's impressive debut in Tokyo not long ago, Satono Diamond once again displayed astonishing strength in her debut race.
Not only did she significantly outpace Leukerbad from the prestigious Leuker Clan, but she also broke the Kyoto 2000 Meter Turf Debut record.
At this moment, Satono Diamond had undoubtedly become the focus of attention in the arena.
Satono Diamond's father listened to the praise and discussions surrounding Satono Diamond, wearing a visibly joyful expression.
"It seems Miss Sakura has truly kept her promise from school," he remarked.
Satono Diamond's mother, noticing the excitement on her husband's face, also spoke highly of Sakura Baimu.
"Indeed, although she's young, she's definitely got some talent," Satono Diamond's father said with a smile. "I suddenly had an idea; I'd like Crown to join her team."
"This… this is a bit difficult…" Satono Diamond's mother hesitated. "You weren't very nice to Ms. Sakura in the car. Asking for Crown to join her team now seems a bit…"
"She won't refuse. Crown is also an Umamusume of my Satono Clan. Dia-chan's performance this time was far superior to Kita-chan's. I think Ms. Sakura understands the difference in talent between a prestigious Umamusume and a commoner Umamusume. Crown even studied abroad; why would she refuse?"
Satono Diamond's father spoke with great confidence, certain that Sakura Baimu wouldn't refuse Satono Crown's request to join the team.
"Besides, I can tell she's strapped for cash. Look how much she cares about the Shinkansen fare for the team."
"Honey, your attitude is too…" Satono Diamond's mother frowned at this.
"I'll go talk to her. Trainers earn their fame and income based on Umamusumes' results, right? Crown's talent is no less than Dia-chan's. She'll definitely agree immediately."
Satono Diamond's father said this as he walked toward the TCB group, who were talking to Satono Diamond in the stands beside the track.
--
"Not bad, Dia-chan."
Sakura Baimu gave Satono Diamond a thumbs-up through the fence.
"Hehe, it's all thanks to Trainer-san's excellent training~"
Satono Diamond's face, flushed from the match, was beaming with joy, clearly thrilled to have won her debut race.
"Great run, Dia-chan," Mejiro McQueen praised her little fangirl.
"Thank you, McQueen-san, hehe~♪"
"Dia-chan, you're amazing~!"
Satono Diamond received encouragement from her trainer, her idol Mejiro McQueen, and her teammate Kitasan Black, feeling enveloped in happiness.
Before enrolling, Satono Diamond had rarely felt this happy.
It was at this moment that she truly felt a sense of belonging to the TCB team.
Without exaggeration, being with Trainer Sakura and her teammates was far happier than being at home.
Just as Sakura Baimu was watching Satono Diamond, who was practically beaming from the praise of her teammates, with a smile in her eyes, she suddenly heard a voice behind her.
"Trainer Sakura."
Upon hearing this voice, the smiles on the faces of everyone in TCB except Sakura Baimu froze, then slowly vanished.
Sakura Baimu remained unfazed, her elegant and serene smile unchanged, and turned to look at Satono Diamond's father without saying a word.
"You've truly met my expectations. I can now entrust Dia-chan to you with peace of mind."
Satono Diamond's father walked over with a smile and addressed Sakura Baimu.
"Meet the requirements?"
The TCB Umamusumes frowned upon hearing Satono Diamond's father's words, finally realizing what he was referring to.
So, if Trainer-san doesn't meet the requirements, Dia-chan can't let Trainer-san train her anymore?
The TCB Umamusumes all understood this.
Sakura Baimu listened to Satono Diamond's father's words without changing her expression and smiled modestly.
"As Dia-chan's father, it is my greatest honor as a trainer that you would entrust your daughter to me."
Still inside the arena, Satono Diamond, hearing Sakura Baimu's words, felt a faint blush rise to her elegant face, warmth spreading through her heart.
She knew her outstanding achievements were all thanks to the training plan devised by Sakura Baimu.
Yet Sakura Baimu still sincerely expressed to her father the honor of training her, which deeply moved Satono Diamond.
After all, it wasn't Sakura Baimu who approached her in the first place; it was she who went to Sakura Baimu.
Just as Satono Diamond was feeling touched, her father spoke up.
"The Satono Clan also has an Umamusume named Satono Crown, who entered the same Umamusume class as Dia-chan. She just returned from studying abroad and is equally talented but hasn't joined a team yet."
Satono Diamond's father left it at that, confident that Sakura Baimu would ask Satono Crown to join after hearing this.
"Oh, that's really impressive." Sakura Baimu nodded and smiled, seemingly oblivious to the underlying meaning.
Satono Diamond's father frowned, "I think Dia-chan might be a little lonely on the team. Since Crown hasn't joined one yet, how about they train together?"
"Father!!"
Seeing that her father clearly wanted Satono Crown to join TCB but was waiting for Sakura Baimu to ask, Satono Diamond immediately interrupted him.
She felt extremely uneasy about her father's attitude toward Sakura Baimu. Satono Diamond was always terrified whenever she saw her father interact with Sakura Baimu, fearing that Sakura Baimu would develop a grudge against her because of him.
"If it's just training together, then of course you're welcome," Sakura Baimu said with a smile.
"So, Ms. Sakura, you're willing to let Crown join the team?" Satono Diamond's mother was also delighted to hear this.
"No, I meant that training together is fine, but our team is already full, and we're not accepting any new members. I'm so sorry."
Sakura Baimu, her expression remaining amiable, politely declined Satono Diamond's father's request to include Satono Crown on the team.
"Crown, like Dia-chan, is an Umamusume of the Satono family, possessing noble lineage. She's certainly superior to ordinary Umamusumes…" Satono Diamond's father quickly interjected upon Sakura Baimu's refusal.
"Head of the Satono family."
Sakura Baimu interrupted Satono Diamond's father, her smile still present.
"I disagree with that statement. Of all the legendary Umamusumes, besides McQueen, who comes from a noble family? If you truly believe Miss Crown's talent surpasses that of ordinary Umamusumes, then perhaps…"
Sakura Baimu gestured to the three Umamusumes beside her, excluding Mejiro McQueen.
"You decide the time, location, and track distance. If Miss Crown can beat anyone present except McQueen, I will grant your request. How about it?"