Chapter 25: The Art of Tag!!

"Tag!?" the five Uma Musume exclaimed in unison.

"Yup," I said, unfazed.

"Trainer-kun, we're here to train, not play games," Narita Brian said, frowning.

"I'm dead serious," I replied. "I could have you do this as a warm-up, but it's the main event today."

"But… what does tag even mean here?" Silence Suzuka asked, tilting her head.

"I explained the distance, times, and running style," I said. "Here's the deal: you'll run a mile in a single-file line. The first four are the 'runners,' and the last one's the 'tagger.' You make your move between the third and fourth corners—before that, keep a normal pace. To tag, just pass someone—no touching, that's dangerous. The finish is marked past the straight. Your place determines the next order and who's the tagger. Got it?"

"So, we conserve energy until the mid-corners, then avoid getting passed by the tagger or others?" Symboli Rudolf clarified.

"Exactly," I said. "Except for Suzuka, you're all front-runners or closers. Staying ahead means mastering corner gaps and movement. Today's single-file, but I'll mix it up later. Clear?"

They nodded or voiced agreement, catching my drift.

"Alright, you five play rock-paper-scissors," I said. "Winner picks the lead, and the loser's the first tagger."

"Didn't think I'd be playing tag in high school," Air Groove muttered.

"I get the idea, but I'll probably understand it better after running," Brian said.

"It's weird running with someone ahead of me…" Suzuka added.

"It's training, Silence Suzuka," Rudolf said. "Someday, you might face someone faster. Think of this as prep."

"It's good for learning to overtake, too…" Rice Shower said shyly.

Rock-paper-scissors sorted them: Brian, Air Groove, Suzuka, Rice, then Rudolf. Rudolf as the first tagger? That's a wild start.

"Run it normally first," I said. "You'll see how tough this is."

"Your explanation could use more detail," Air Groove said. "You'll break it down after, right?"

"Yup, after hearing everyone's thoughts," I said. "The lead sets the start signal. Brian, you're up for the first run."

"Got it, Trainer-kun," Brian said.

Let's see what kind of race they put on…

"Everyone ready?" Narita Brian called.

"Rice is good anytime!" Rice Shower replied.

"I'm set," Silence Suzuka said.

"No issues," Air Groove said.

"I'm ready," Symboli Rudolf added.

"Alright… Ready, start!" Brian shouted.

According to Trainer Hikitani, we make our move between the third and fourth corners, passing to tag. Compared to a normal mock race, there's fewer of us. Should be easy to pass, right?

We're nearing the mid-corners, I thought, watching from the sidelines. Brian aside, the rest are about to realize how tough this tag game really is.

"Past the corner!" Brian called. "Here we go!"

"I'm not giving up the lead—!" Suzuka started, then gasped.

"The front's… turning into a wall!?" Rice stammered.

"No choice but to go outside…!" Rudolf grunted.

Outside? Wait—that's it!

The result? No one changed positions. Same order, meaning Rudolf's the tagger again.

"So, Suzuka, Rice, Rudolf—what was that?" I asked. "Thought passing would be easy, didn't you?"

"I did," Suzuka admitted. "But Air Groove went outside to pass Brian, so I had to go even further out."

"Rice felt the same," Rice said. "With Suzuka-san ahead, I had to go way outside…"

Rudolf stayed silent, her expression thoughtful.

"Something wrong, President?" Air Groove asked.

"Looks like Rudolf's the only one who really got the point of this tag game," I said.

"What do you mean, Trainer-kun?" Brian asked.

"I'm leaving out the lead and second place for now," I said. "Why didn't you save your energy on the inside? Why not cut in from there?"

"Because the front was a wall…" Suzuka started.

"Exactly," I said. "It was a wall. But think about it. In a straight, a duel's fine, but in a corner? The outside runner's screwed—longer distance, plus centrifugal force, the ultimate enemy."

The group froze, realization dawning.

"That's why none of you passed anyone before the straight," I continued. "In a normal race with more maneuvering, you'd have options. But your fixed mindset led to this. The usual tactic is to pass on the outside—inside's too tight. But this training's enemy isn't just the rival ahead or even yourself. There's an invisible foe: centrifugal force. My advice? Build your options. The straight isn't the only battleground. You can outmaneuver others mid-corner."

"One option's cutting inside, right?" Rudolf said.

"Bingo," I said. "Figure that out, and other answers will follow. Let's hit the second run—I'm expecting some position changes."

Didn't expect to be schooled like this. But it's not just tag—it's strategy. Next time, I'll watch their moves and push through.

"Oh, Air Groove," I added. "I forgot to mention—keep working on your leaning during this. You were so focused on not getting passed, your form was stiff. That's why I brought this group—their movements are clean."

"I-I know!" Air Groove stammered. (Damn, I forgot! What a blunder!)