Special Training!
This page contains spoilers. Proceed with caution! |
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| Special Training! | |
|---|---|
| Season 1, Episode 04 | |
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| Kanji | 特訓ですっ！ |
| Romaji | Tokkun Desu! |
| Air Date | April 16, 2018 |
| Director | Yuriko Abe |
| Songs | |
| Opening Song | Make debut! |
| Ending Song | Grow-up Shine! |
| Episode Guide | |
| Previous | First Big Win |
| Next | The Derby With Rivals |
Special Training! (特訓ですっ！, Tokkun Desu!) is the 4th episode of the 1st season of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby anime.
Plot
Still reeling from the loss in the Satsuki Shou, Special Week finds out that she has gained weight. To gain muscle, Special Week goes on special training with the other members of Team Spica.
Summary
Special Week and Silence Suzuka spend time together as Spe's inner monologue describes her lament to her mother of how she lost in her last race. However, she's resolve to win the next one she partakes in. When Special weighs herself in the bathroom, she's shocked by the results.
At dawn, Spe does some jogging training by a river bank and during it, gets startled by a barking poodle being walked by its master. Its owner apologizes for its poodle's behavior and tries to offer Spe a carrot, however, she refuses it and rushes off.
Later in the day at lunch, Spe enjoys lunch with her friends at a table in the cafeteria and they talk about the upcoming derby. Amid the discussion, Urara appears in the cafeteria having returned from Kochi. She elaborates her experience in Kochi and gives each of her friends a special souvenir from her trip. Haru was a popular racer even though she placed in 5th during the race. After a brief talk with Sky, Special asks what race El will race in. It's then that a commercial about El Condor airs on the tv noting her racing winning streak and announcing her next race the NHK Mile Cup.
Around dusk, Team Spica perform jogging exercises in the park and take a break by some benches. A taiyaki food truck is spotted in the park and Trainer treats the girls to some taiyaki, all except Spe who reveals that she's on a diet. This is because of an incident involving her clothes in the Satsuki Sho race. Trainer knew about it deducing that Spe gained *censored* amount of kilos. Surprised by Trainer's astute deductions, he informs Special of the positive facts of overeating which helps build strength and muscle. In light of this, her team offer to help Special with her diet and then continue with their jogging. Suzuka who stays with Trainer is informed by him that she'll be racing in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), but before that she'll race in the Mainichi Okan as well as the Takarazuka Kinen. Suzuka, sounding completely uninterested, agrees to all of it.
In a letter written to her mother how she's doing special training with her team. Part of Scarlet's training is going on a strict diet, Vodka's involves arduous exercises, and Golshi involves doing a high dive in the pool area. Although hesitant to do this, a smart remark from Sky gives Spe the courage to make the dive. At the faculty lounge, Trainer reviews a video of the race that Spe lost to Sky in and spots something.
Eventually, Trainer visits Hana as she monitors Team Rigil's practice and gives her a letter of challenge to a mock race with Taiki Shuttle against Spe. After reviewing Spe's analytical data, Hana accepts the challenge. The announcement is formally made to Team Spica in their base. Although everyone is happy about it, Suzuka voices her opposition to the race as she believes Spe will hate running if she loses. Despite Suzuka's opposition, Spe still wants to race in it and Suzuka understands.
On the day of the mock race, Spe tries her hardest to win the race, making it neck to neck with Taiki, but falls inches short of winning. The two racers bond a bit after the race and Taiki is impressed by how cute Spe was with her. Spe is then embraced by her teammates and they later watch the TV as El wins the NHK Mile Cup. In her winning speech, El openly calls out Spe who looks forward to their race together and Spe announces she'll win that race against El.
