Oguri Cap's words gave Kitahara a strange mont of clarity.
Could it be that this thing called "Domain" really was a gift bestowed upon the Uma Musu by the Three Goddesses?
Sothing like "True Form"?
It seed plausible. After all, even on the international level, "Domain" was still a phenonon not yet fully understood. "True Form" was similar — both gave the Uma Musu obvious performance boosts. It was hard to say there wasn't so connection between the two.
Thinking this far, Kitahara had the urge to run back to the dorms imdiately and pull an all-nighter, comparing and analyzing every bit of data he could get his hands on to see if his guess was correct.
Because, just like Tōra had been so excited about earlier, "Domain" was cutting-edge research even by international standards — no conclusions existed yet. If he could uncover the truth of "Domain," it would be a discovery that could shake the world.
Not only that — if they could master Domain, every Uma Musu in his team would effectively gain a trump card, boosting their win rates in dostic races, even giving them a real shot on the world stage.
He wanted to stay up and get to the bottom of this, to help his Uma Musu advance to the next level.
But in the end, he didn't follow through.
After walking Oguri Cap back, he returned to his dorm. He only stayed up a short while before receiving a phone call — from Oguri Cap.
"Hello? Oguri Cap? What's wrong? I'm in the middle of—"
"You should rest now, Kitahara."
"Uh, I… actually, this is really—"
"You should rest now, Kitahara."
"Next ti then. Next ti for sure, okay? I—"
"You should rest now, Kitahara."
"Fine. Good night."
"Mm. Good night."
And so, Kitahara could only reluctantly shut off the computer, turn off the lights, and obediently lie back down in bed.
Lying there, he couldn't sleep. His mind was spinning with theories — but this ti, he cald himself.
His guess had too many flaws.
First of all, "True Form" was indeed a phenonon unique to Uma Musu — but "Domain" was not.
Uma Musu could access it, yes — but so could humans.
And it didn't even require extraordinary talent; enthusiasts like Tōra and Komiyama could tap into it as well. That suggested Domain might not be sothing exclusive to Uma Musu at all.
Second, while "True Form" was originally described as a divine blessing, it had already been explained scientifically.
Biologically, the structures of Uma Musu and humans were largely similar, yet full of key differences.
For example, the hormones driving growth in both species originated from the pituitary gland. Both were generically labeled "Growth Hormone," distinguished by prefixes "Umamusu" and "Human."
But the number of amino acids, their arrangent, the biochemical chanisms — all of it differed significantly. They weren't the sa hormone at all.
In addition, the calcium structures in bones, muscle fiber composition, blood composition ratios — countless details diverged.
In other words, "True Form" could be fully explained through physiology, chemistry, and other fundantal sciences. It wasn't so mystical, unknowable doctrine.
But Domain was different. Neither Japan nor any other country, group, or individual could clearly explain what Domain actually was.
Most importantly, "True Form" had an oracle tied to it — a genuine "divine attribute."
And there was no contradiction there.
The oracle regarding True Form was that so Uma Musu did indeed sense from the Three Goddesses that this phenonon existed to protect their most golden years of racing, allowing them to display their full talents without restraint.
Science rely provided a human-understandable perspective on it.
Domain, however, had no such explanation — no divine revelation, no scientific model. No Uma Musu, at least publicly, had ever clearly known what Domain truly ant to them.
…Alright then. Looks like Domain is sothing that still has to be gradually probed through science — better wait until Kyoko's data analysis cos back.
Good thing I didn't rush over to Kyoko and the others to bring this up. Otherwise, I'd have panicked and thrown out so half-baked theory even I couldn't explain — that would've been embarrassing.
Turning over in bed, Kitahara let out a quiet, self-mocking sigh.
Step by step, then. Use the equipnt they had, collect data, analyze slowly.
And also…
A sudden thought struck him. Kitahara slowly sat up, walked over to the window, and gazed wistfully across the moonlit courtyard toward the Uma Musu dorms.
Over a month of training together — and soon it would all co to an end.
Just one more week…
No — maybe less. Tama would soon be heading back to Tokyo to race in the "Naruo Kinen"…
Once the "Shiwasu Special Cup" on the sa day was over, Inari and Tōra would return to Ōi as well…
They would et again, of course. But still…
A farewell is still a farewell.
Hah. Guess I really am getting old. Just like my juniors said — here I am sighing like so middle-aged uncle.
He slowly clenched his fist, walked back to bed, and lay down again.
Do everything right. Prepare for Naruo Kinen and the Shiwasu Special Cup.
Deal with the farewells later.
With that resolve, he drifted into a deep sleep.
Kitahara had now realized that this team was approaching a parting. The others were beginning to sense it, too.
No one knew exactly when each person first noticed, but as that final week of training went on, the mood began to shift — among both the trainers and the Uma Musu themselves.
Tōra and Komiyama increasingly sought out Kitahara and Kyoko Miyamura to plan training together, analyze data together. Originally, each trainer handled their own duties, carefully avoiding overlap.
Oguri Cap and the others also seed to throw themselves harder into practice, preparing for their upcoming races. Laughter on the training grounds grew rarer; their sessions beca more focused, and afterward, the girls spent nearly all their free ti together.
Kitahara didn't try to separate them for efficiency anymore. He allowed it.
He knew — everyone was quietly saddened by the impending farewell, treasuring the ti they still had together.
December 3rd ca. Three days remained until the Naruo Kinen and the Shiwasu Special Cup. This day was their final day off.
He took Oguri Cap and the others to watch their favorite "Godzilla" movie — the newly released Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
The film featured four of the franchise's most famous kaiju: Godzilla, King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan — all appearing together.
Throughout the screening, the theater was filled with cheers from fans, sotis loud enough to drown out the deafening sound system.
And amidst that thunderous audio and cheering, Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, Super Creek, and Inari One all quietly fell silent.
They watched the entire movie without a word.
So did Kitahara and the others.
Tamamo Cross and Komiyama's train was right after the movie.
Inari One and Tarō's would depart the sa ti tomorrow, after the Shiwasu Special Cup.
Reviews
All reviews (0)