Uma Musume: This Trainer Doesn't Do His Job, Ch 31-35

Chapter 31 - Restless

Late autumn had brought a chill to the air, yet Urara and Tachyon were still training.

If you wanted to be stronger than everyone else, then you had to work harder than everyone else. To get stronger, there was only one way: push yourself even more. Put in more effort.

Miracle sat beside Yuu.

He propped his chin on his hand, watching the two Uma Musume still training on the field. The temperature was a bit low, but for someone with his excellent physical condition, it was actually quite comfortable.

"Urara, your form! Your form has to be correct! You can slow down and shorten the duration if you need to, but your movements and force application must be precise!"

He suddenly stood up and shouted toward Urara.

"Yes!"

She shouted back just as loudly.

Miracle stretched her legs, resting them on the step below, a smile on her face.

"That's really nice."

"Hm? What's really small?"

He sat back down, having only caught half of what she said.

"I said really nice, not really small."

She looked at him with a smile.

"Oh, is that so… then what exactly is really nice?"

He leaned closer, smiling at her.

Yeah. My Miracle really is beautiful.

"Everything."

She gently took his hand. "Everything right now is good."

He smiled faintly and turned his gaze back to the track, where Urara and Tachyon were training alongside Uma Musume from other teams.

"That really is nice. This is only the beginning. Later on… Miracle, you might be so happy that you’ll wake up smiling in your sleep."

Miracle followed her Trainer’s line of sight.

"That’s not quite right, Trainer."

She rested her head lightly against his shoulder.

"Even now, I’m already so happy that I wake up smiling."

……

Life returned to its quiet routine.

Because Tachyon had activated Zone during her last race, she was forced into a suspension for a while. Yuu said he needed time to observe whether there were any issues after she used Zone again.

(If there are no problems, I’ll arrange a race as soon as possible. I talk tough, but Tachyon is already considered an older racer. Her competitive career won’t be very long.)

Then there was Urara. For her, it was simple: her overall stats just didn't meet the standard yet, and she needed time to grow.

But she was incredibly, unbelievably hardworking.

That was why her recent improvement had been so dramatic. She did have some talent.

More importantly, she possessed a truly extraordinary talent: effort.

Lastly, there was Miracle.

Her body was recovering at a rapid pace, but honestly… it was still complicated.

If it was just a Debut Race, she would be fine. But higher-level races were out of reach. Realistically, she probably couldn’t win.

To be even more cruel, there was still a chance she could lose even her Debut Race.

"Tch."

What a headache.

Yuu admitted he was being greedy. He wanted everything at once.

Miracle wanted to race. If she raced and won, she would be happy. Just for that reason alone, he wanted her to compete even more than she did.

But if she lost her very first race…

A soft sensation brushed against the top of his head. Tachyon hugged him from behind.

"Guinea Pig-kun, feeling troubled?"

"Yeah. A little."

He leaned back against her. She might look unreliable at first glance, but in reality, she was incredibly dependable.

You could trust Tachyon completely.

"Is it because of Miracle?"

She slowly moved around to stand in front of him, then naturally sat down in his lap.

Holding her, he felt the agitation in his chest fade away at a remarkable speed.

This was Tachyon’s magic.

"Just move forward at your own pace, like I did back then. Guinea Pig-kun, you’re rushing."

She gave him a meaningful smile.

"Let me guess why~ Ah!"

She clasped her hands together lightly and leaned close to his ear.

"Could it be that Guinea Pig-kun wants to *** already~?"

His eyes flew wide open. "W-what kind of outrageous nonsense is that?! Even I wouldn’t be that impatient! I just… I just want to see Miracle’s happy smile!"

Looking at Tachyon’s smile, he understood.

In this round of mind games, he had lost to her once again.

"Honestly, I can’t do anything with you. Is teasing me really that fun?"

He pinched her soft cheek, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

She buried her head back into his chest. "Guinea Pig-kun teases me plenty too~"

"Hmph."

The corner of his mouth slowly lifted as his arms tightened around her.

"My dear Tachyon, do you really think I’ll be the one at a disadvantage~?"

She lifted her head, sitting up like a beautiful serpent, her arms wrapping around his neck.

"Then how does Guinea Pig-kun know that this isn’t exactly what I want~?"

His eyes widened.

Oh no. A trap.

Looking down at Yuu pinned beneath her, Tachyon smiled.

Then let me make Guinea Pig-kun forget everything.

…………

She kissed him. Soft at first, her lips barely touching his, like she was checking something. Then deeper, her mouth opening against his, and the taste of the tea she'd been drinking earlier was still on her tongue. Yuu's hand came up to the back of her head without thinking about it. She made a small sound into his mouth when his fingers slid through her hair.

They'd done this enough times to know where everything went. He still wanted her just as badly. Miracle's races, training plans, all of it, gone.

Tachyon pulled back. Looked at him.

"You're still thinking," she said.

"I'm not."

"You are. I can tell." She touched his forehead with one finger, pressing lightly between his brows where the tension always sat. "Here."

He caught her hand. Kissed her palm. She watched him do it, and her ears twitched, just once, barely noticeable.

"There you go," she murmured. "Stay with me, Guinea Pig-kun."

She pulled her top off over her head, her hair falling messy around her shoulders. The oversized sleeves caught on her wrists and she shook them free, tossed the shirt somewhere behind her.

He ran his thumb along her collarbone, down between her breasts, across her ribs. She was thinner than she looked under those baggy clothes. He could feel each rib under his fingertips. She shivered but didn't move away.

"Cold?"

"Your hands are warm."

He sat up and pulled his own shirt off. She put her palms flat on his chest, and for a moment she just left them there, feeling his heartbeat. She had her lab face on, the one she wore when she was measuring something. But her cheeks were flushed.

"Lie back," she said.

He did. She undid his pants with steady hands, pulled them down with his underwear in one motion. Her fingers wrapped around him, and his breath left him in a rush. She adjusted her grip, loosened it, tightened it again, watching his face the whole time. When he made a sound she liked, she repeated the exact motion.

"There," she murmured. "Like that."

She'd mapped him out weeks ago. She knew where to press and how hard and what made his hips jerk. Her lips were parted, her cheeks flushed, and she was watching him like she'd forget it if she blinked.

She stroked him until his hips shifted on their own, then leaned down and put her mouth on him. Warm, wet, her tongue flat against the underside. Yuu's hand found her hair again. He didn't push, just held. She took more of him in, slow, her cheeks hollowing, and the sound he made was low and helpless.

She pulled off. Licked her lips.

"Guinea Pig-kun," she said, and her voice was rougher than before. "I want you."

He pulled her up toward him by her hips. She wriggled out of her shorts, nothing underneath, and settled over him. His cock pressed against her and she was already wet, slick enough that when she shifted her hips he slid along her slit and they both flinched at the sensation.

She reached down between them. Held him steady. Sank down.

The sound she made was quiet. A short breath through her teeth. He was inside her and she was tight around him. Her thighs trembled on either side of his hips.

"Okay?" he asked.

She exhaled. Nodded. Moved.

Just a slow roll at first, finding the angle. When she found it her eyes fluttered shut and she bit her lip, grinding down against him, working herself on his cock with small, deliberate motions. Yuu held her hips but let her set the pace. He watched her face, every twitch of it.

Her breathing got rougher. She braced her hands on his stomach and started moving faster, lifting herself and dropping back down, taking him deep. The wet sound of it filled the room. Her breasts moved with each stroke and he reached up, cupping one, rolling the nipple between his fingers. Her rhythm stuttered.

"Don't, if you do that I'll... I can't..."

He did it again. She moaned, sharp and surprised, and clenched hard around him. He groaned at the pressure.

"Yuu." His name. Not Guinea Pig-kun. "Yuu, I need... more..."

He sat up, wrapping both arms around her. She clung to him, legs around his waist, her face pressed into his neck. He thrust up into her from below. Slow. Deep. Feeling every inch of her around him, the way her body gripped him like it didn't want to let go.

"Like this?" he said against her ear.

She nodded into his neck. Her fingers dug into his back.

He moved faster. She gasped with each thrust, these small broken sounds that came from somewhere deep in her chest, muffled against his skin. He turned his head and kissed her ear, the soft, sensitive base of it, and she jerked in his arms, whimpering.

Ah. He'd found that spot by accident the first time they'd slept together. She'd nearly thrown him off the bed.

He kissed it again. Slower. Let his lips drag down the length of it while he fucked her. Tachyon's nails broke skin on his back. She was shaking, her whole body tight, her breathing nothing but ragged gasps.

"I'm—" She couldn't finish the sentence.

He held her tighter. Pressed his mouth to her ear and said her name, her real name. She went rigid against him, a choked sound buried in his shoulder, her nails digging crescents into his back. He could feel her clenching around him in pulses. He kept moving, kept holding her, and when it hit him he pushed in deep and stayed there, his breath ragged against her neck.

…………

She didn't climb off him. She stayed there, wrapped around him, her weight slight and warm. Her fingers traced absent patterns on his shoulder blade, over the marks she'd left.

"…Sorry about your back," she said.

"Don't be."

Silence. He rubbed her spine with his thumb, slow and repetitive, and felt the tension drain out of her, vertebra by vertebra.

"Guinea Pig-kun."

"Mm."

"Are you thinking about Miracle again?"

"No," he said. And for once, it was true.

She let out a breath that might have been a laugh. "Good."

She pulled back just far enough to look at him. Her hair was wrecked, her eyes still glassy, a red mark on her collarbone he didn't remember making.

"Let's stay like this for a bit," she said.

He kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes.

Outside, the autumn wind rattled the windows.

Chapter 32 - Hishi Amazon Gets Completely Handled

"Feeling calmer now?"

Tachyon traced lazy circles on her… lover’s—yes, lover’s—chest with her fingertip.

"Yeah. Even though we’ve done this kind of thing plenty of times already, it still hits me right in the heart every single time!"

She looked at Yuu, who seemed on the verge of tears, and couldn’t help but laugh. Her arms and cheek were pressed snugly against his chest.

Seeing her like this, he couldn’t stop smiling. Seriously… she was just too cute.

"Let’s drop it for now. For the sake of winning the first race, and keeping momentum after the Debut Race, we won’t arrange Miracle’s Debut Race yet."

"I’m really happy that Guinea Pig-kun likes Uma Musume so much, but don’t lose your own pace because of that fondness."

The corner of her lips curved upward.

"That said, even if you do lose your rhythm, that’s fine too. I’ve never seen that side of you before. As long as it’s you, Guinea Pig-kun, I’ll like you and accept you all the same."

"Tachyon, kiss! I love you the most~"

That earlier moment had only been halftime, after all.

With no races coming up anytime soon, letting themselves indulge a little was perfectly fine.

……

"Good morning, Trainer!"

Yuu looked at Urara, who had arrived at the training grounds bright and early.

"Morning—wait, no, isn’t it already noon?"

He casually patted her head.

"Hehe~"

Urara had already finished her morning classes. Most Uma Musume only needed to attend two classes a day.

After all, this was a Uma Musume training academy. Developing their running ability was the priority.

"Miracle's on duty today, and Tachyon's taking the day off. We don't need to wait for them. Let's start today's training."

"Okay!"

Watching Urara’s radiant smile, he couldn’t help but think that she always looked this fired up.

In her world, there was only 100% and 200%, nothing in between.

Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

……

A pink figure shot past the speed sensors as Yuu’s fingers flew across the keyboard.

"This is… kind of terrifying."

That rate of improvement really was frightening for an Uma Musume.

Speed and power, the two stats they had focused on, had grown at an astonishing rate. Stamina hadn’t been the focus, so while it had improved, the increase wasn’t nearly as dramatic.

At this point, Urara’s speed, power, and stamina were more than enough to handle short-distance races.

"You’re seriously ridiculous."

He glanced at the Uma Musume sitting beside him. "Hey, hey, hey!"

His expression was deadly serious. Her ears twitched. Had she said something wrong?

"Even if you praise me like that, I’m not going to be happy!"

"Who’s praising you?!"

Hishi Amazon looked helpless. She had heard Tachyon mention before that her Guinea Pig-kun was a bit unreliable, but seeing it firsthand…

This was on another level entirely.

So why was she here?

That was something only she herself knew.

"Want to join my team?"

"Huh?"

Her eyes widened as she stared at him in shock.

He blinked back at her.

"What’s with that reaction? You came to see me because you wanted to join, right? Haven’t you been checking things out these past few days?"

"W-what are you even saying?!"

She sprang to her feet, her brown skin flushing visibly red.

Hey—why?!

How did Trainer Tsukimori know what she was thinking?!

"Eh? Did I guess wrong?"

He scratched his head. "Your recent race results have been dropping pretty hard, but you haven’t shown any intention of retiring. On top of that, you’ve been hanging around Tachyon a lot lately, pretending not to care while asking about me. And you’ve kept casually probing whether I’m confident I could help an Uma Musume who’s already preparing to retire win again."

He spread his hands. "I thought that meant I had a chance to have Hishi Amazon on my team~"

"What a shame Looks like me and my super-beloved Hishi Amazon are just fated to miss each other"

"Y-you—Trainer Tsukimori! Saying things like that, don’t you feel even a little embarrassed?!"

The normally bold, rough-and-tumble Uma Musume was completely flustered.

No matter what, she was still just a girl.

He leaned in with a sly grin.

"So? Looks like I was right You really won't consider it? I'd love to hear Hishi Amazon call me Tore-kou"

"D-don’t get so close!"

She pushed his face away. Th-this guy really had no sense of shame at all!

After pushing him back, she lowered her head.

"I-I know I don't really have the right to say this, but I still hope that the one I call Tore-kou can prove his excellence to me. Trainer Tsukimori probably doesn't think much of me anyway, since I…"

She trailed off.

He looked at her with a gentle smile.

At first, Hishi Amazon had also called her current Trainer "Tore-kou." But after several races, she'd switched to just "Trainer" instead.

In the original story, her Trainer should have been Hana Toujou, a truly capable Trainer, trusted by her Uma Musume. But the timeline seemed to have shifted slightly.

Now, her Trainer was a petite boy. By anime standards… a shota, perhaps?

Hishi Amazon wasn’t the kind of big-sister Uma Musume who liked small Trainers. She wanted someone stronger, more independent, more outstanding.

At the very least, someone who could show masculinity and an unyielding spirit.

Her current Trainer wasn't bad, but he was far from the Tore-kou she envisioned.

It wasn’t a gap in skill; it was a gap in personality.

(Yuu would say: Baby, I’m versatile. Whatever you need me to be, I can be~)

"What do you mean you’re not qualified? Everyone has the right to choose. Wanting a better Trainer, one more in line with your ideals, isn't wrong."

He smiled.

"Hishi Amazon, you don’t need to belittle yourself. In my eyes, you’re already more than excellent."

"R-really?"

"Of course. Whether as a wife or as an Uma Musume."

Her face flushed even redder.

"S-stop saying things like that! You're way too weird. Do you really have to say such strange stuff?!"

She quietly shuffled a step away, only for him to follow immediately.

"Baby I'll prove it to you. I'm your one and only destined Tore-kou~"

"Aaaah! I can't take this anymore! You jerk, fight me one-on-one! I'm gonna punch you!"

Looking at the shy expression that completely clashed with her usual vibe, he smiled.

"Then set the challenge. In my eyes, Hishi Amazon is a super outstanding Uma Musume worth fighting for. I’ll prove my excellence."

"Then let Urara win her Debut Race."

He blinked.

"Hishi Amazon, do you really want to become my Uma Musume that badly?"

"?"

At some point, Urara had appeared beside him. Trainer and Uma Musume stood back-to-back!

At the same time, they each pressed one hand to their forehead and pointed at Hishi Amazon with their index finger.

"It’s just a Debut Race. We’ll win it in style!" *2

Yes, after spending so much time together, Urara and Yuu had somehow synced up perfectly.

Chapter 33 - He’s That Strong?!

"Tachyon! Tachyon! Tachyon! It's Tachyon, she's caught up again! No surprises! No miracles! This is pure, overwhelming strength! Tachyon has displayed astonishing power! With absolute ability, she's shattered every doubt—she's back!! The Superluminal Princess… is back!"

The commentator leapt to his feet, his face flushed with excitement.

It was unbelievable. An Uma Musume who had retired due to severe injuries had miraculously returned.

After all, what Tachyon had gone through was completely different from Tokai Teio, who hadn't even appeared yet. Tokai Teio’s injuries were recoverable, even if the risk of reinjury later kept her off the track.

But Tachyon was different.

Her injuries had been so severe that everyone believed her racing days were over for good.

And yet, here she was, miraculously revived.

Not only that, but three consecutive G-grade feature wins. If someone said she was in her prime, you’d believe it without question.

……

Clap.

Yuu and Tachyon exchanged a light high-five.

"Not bad at all, Tachyon."

Her performances had been getting more and more impressive. The current Tachyon had already surpassed her former peak.

"Hmm~ Then where’s my reward?"

Like an oversized sloth, she clung to him.

Guinea Pig-kun’s presence made her feel safe.

"How about I give myself to you as the reward?"

He reached out to support her. Her tail brushed back and forth across his hand, surprisingly comfortable.

Nearby, Hishi Amazon’s face was bright red. These two really had zero awareness of their surroundings when it came to flirting.

Ever since that promise was made, she had been showing up around the Phoenix training grounds pretty often.

Today, she had gone straight to Tachyon’s race venue.

Yuu glanced at her.

"Urara’s Debut Race is coming up soon."

A wicked grin spread across his face. "I can’t wait to make you mine~"

"Hey! Don’t say weird things like that!"

……

Hishi Amazon lay face-down on her bed, staring at the video playing on her phone.

"She’s improving so fast… that’s incredible…"

She might not admit it out loud, but she had already acknowledged Yuu.

He really was amazing.

She knew exactly how weak Urara had been.

And yet, under Trainer Tsukimori’s guidance, in less than two months, she had transformed into what she was now.

Forget feature races; her Debut Race and Local Races would be no problem at all.

At this pace, feature races weren’t far off either.

Her finger scrolled slowly. She had recorded plenty of Urara’s training.

Before she realized it, her attention drifted to the corner of the video, toward Yuu.

His expression was so serious, completely different from his usual self.

As she kept watching, her face warmed.

"Seriously… that weird guy. Always saying weird things… so annoying!"

"Who made you annoyed?"

The bathroom door suddenly opened. Symboli Rudolf stepped out, wrapped in nothing but a bath towel, rubbing her damp hair with another towel.

"Nothing."

Hishi Amazon buried her face into the pillow.

Symboli Rudolf glanced at her roommate, puzzled. It was rare to see her like this.

Wasn’t her personality all about speaking her mind and acting on what she wanted?

This look… was completely out of character.

Her gaze drifted to the phone Hishi Amazon had tossed aside.

"This is… Phoenix?"

Whoosh!

The moment she heard that, Hishi Amazon shot upright, sitting straight up.

"You know that team too?"

Symboli Rudolf sat back down on her bed and turned on the hair dryer.

The technology in this world was surprisingly considerate.

As if it knew many Uma Musume hated loud noises, the dryer was exceptionally quiet.

And worth mentioning, this world's technology was incredibly advanced.

Being a century ahead of the original world wasn’t an exaggeration. Even space travel projects existed.

Anyway, back on topic.

"Of course I do. Honestly, it’d be harder not to know that team."

Symboli Rudolf looked at the boy’s face on the phone screen, a hint of admiration flickering in her eyes.

"Trainer Tsukimori is the person I admire the most. No contest."

Hishi Amazon blinked. "You admire him?"

Seeing her surprise, Symboli Rudolf was confused.

"Don’t you admire Trainer Tsukimori?"

"Well… I do admire his training ability. That much is true. But Emperor, why do you admire him?"

Realizing she wasn’t pretending, Symboli Rudolf set the dryer aside.

"You don’t know Trainer Tsukimori?"

"I mean—are you unaware of his other identities?"

"He… has other identities?"

So much for everyone knows him. That really was a bit exaggerated.

For a filly who only cared about racing and nothing else, maybe it made sense, but still, not knowing at all?

Symboli Rudolf couldn’t wrap her head around it.

Trainer Tsukimori’s reputation as Doctor Tsukimori was massive. How could she not know?

……

"These… these… and these too."

Hishi Amazon stared blankly at the information Symboli Rudolf had pulled up.

A monster.

All of these honors… were earned by a single person?!

And what did it mean that before even reaching adulthood, he had cured thousands of Uma Musume and become the youngest professor ever?

With achievements this outrageous, he still chose to be a Trainer?

You had to be kidding.

"This… this is Trainer Tsukimori?"

Symboli Rudolf looked at the materials she'd found; there were photos, after all.

"Obviously, yes."

"That’s… that’s way too amazing!"

She sat back down.

"And this is only his achievements in the medical field. His accomplishments in nutrition and culinary arts are nothing to scoff at either."

"They just pale in comparison to his medical contributions, so I didn’t even mention them."

"What do you mean?! You're saying he's involved in those too?"

"Not involved."

Symboli Rudolf corrected her seriously.

"He’s mastered them. Trainer Tsukimori is extremely proficient in nutrition and cooking."

Hishi Amazon swallowed.

This guy… is he even human?!

Symboli Rudolf unlocked her phone. Her wallpaper was Yuu in a doctor’s white coat, his expression focused and serious.

Even though it felt a little unfair to Hana, if her Trainer were Trainer Tsukimori… she really would be happy.

Trainer Tsukimori is the real deal!

Chapter 34 - You’re Seriously Not Normal, Are You?!

Unimaginable. It really was unimaginable.

Unimaginable that their own president would actually have someone she admired. Symboli Rudolf tried her best to act like it was nothing, like she didn’t care at all.

But Hishi Amazon, her roommate of many years, saw right through it.

She knew exactly how much Symboli Rudolf admired Yuu.

And more than that, it was impossible to imagine that someone so young could already have achieved so much.

Hishi Amazon buried her head back into the blanket.

This was… just too embarrassing.

She’d gone to him half-prepared, barely understanding anything herself. She already felt like she didn’t measure up, and now it was even worse.

If—if this were her from three years ago, she never would’ve had thoughts like this.

Back then, she was the best.

No matter what kind of opponent stood in front of her, she was confident she could win. But now… she couldn’t return to her peak anymore.

She knew it clearly. Her decline was irreversible.

All she wanted now was to stay on the track a little longer. Just a little longer. A bit more.

Lost in those tangled thoughts, Hishi Amazon eventually fell asleep.

This wasn’t supposed to be who she was. But the string of losses, and the undeniable drop in ability no amount of effort could stop, forced her to think about things she’d never considered before.

Even the boss lady was lost.

…

“Ehehe so cute, so cute Hishi Amazon like this is adorable!”

Whoosh!

A high jump, frog landing!

With a phone in one hand, Yuu went wild taking photos of Hishi Amazon, who was sitting on the steps with her cheeks burning red.

“I can’t take it, seriously, I can’t take it!”

"You bastard! Go die already!!!"

…

On the training field, Yuu watched Hishi Amazon, whose face was flushed from embarrassment and anger, with a smug grin.

“Never thought you’d come to me with something like this. And saying you’re not joining anymore, too.”

He tilted his head and casually leaned against Hishi Amazon's shoulder.

“Hishi Amazon-chan finally losing confidence in yourself, huh?”

“Not at all.”

Hishi Amazon silently scooted to the side.

Yuu followed right along.

(He stared at her with disgustingly watery eyes.)

“With that look, I really might punch you!”

“Hehe~”

Yuu finally stopped teasing the horse girl who was just about at her limit.

Even though he wasn't leaning on her shoulder anymore, the distance between them was still close, barely a fist's width apart. The training field was lively at this hour, with many Uma Musume teams in the middle of practice.

"So," he said, "you gonna tell me why you suddenly decided not to join?"

“It’s nothing. I just… don’t feel like joining anymore.”

Yuu glanced at her. "You... who exactly are you?"

Hishi Amazon looked at him in confusion. "W-What do you mean, who am I? Of course I'm—"

"Cut it out. Stop hiding behind Hishi Amazon's face and spouting nonsense. I'm sick of it. I was already sick of it back when you first said you wanted to join."

Yuu stood up and brushed the dust off the back of his pants.

"The Hishi Amazon I know is overflowing with confidence, hungry for victory. A girl who believes in herself completely and doesn't overthink things. The way you are now… makes me sick."

He turned to leave.

One step. Two. Three. Four.

That should be enough, right…? You’re not gonna stop me?

A tiny bit of panic crept into Yuu’s chest.

“Stop talking like you know everything!”

Yuu smiled.

Finally.

…

"It's not that I can't—it's that I really can't! If I were still like before, that'd just be blind confidence! It's fine for ordinary people to be confident, but not to look down on everything else!

"Ordinary people don't get to choose, but I still want to choose!"

Watching Hishi Amazon vent her anger and frustration, Yuu finally smiled for real.

"I know~ I kinda guessed what you were thinking. And now that I see it… I nailed it. Not a single word off."

Hearing that, Hishi Amazon froze.

“Huh?”

Yuu crossed his arms and grinned smugly. "Curious why I said all that even though I already knew?"

He spread his hands. "It's simple. With that mindset, forget joining my team.

"And even if you did join, there'd always be a wall between us. We'd barely manage a normal Trainer–Uma Musume relationship. How are we supposed to move on to the next steps like that?"

He took a step forward and reached out, pinching Hishi Amazon's chin.

“Woman… no, girl. I’m very interested in you, you know—”

Thud.

Hishi Amazon looked down at Yuu clutching his stomach on the ground.

“You brought this on yourself.”

Yuu trembled as he raised a thumbs-up. "G-Girl… damn… strong…"

Hishi Amazon smiled.

“You wanted to see my confident side, right? Me?”

She squatted down, looking at the boy in front of her.

"I never once gave up on myself. If I had, I wouldn't have come looking for you. And now… you really are the Tore-kou I dreamed of. The one who fits me best."

That long-lost presence returned to Hishi Amazon once more.

"Tore-kou, let's work together and climb back to the top!"

Smack!

Yuu didn't take her hand. Instead, he grabbed her arm.

“Hehehe Hishi Amazon’s arm is so soft too hehe so good, I love it”

“Go die already!”

Urara, who’d been watching for a while, stroked her chin.

"So… my Debut Race promise just disappeared like that? No way! Hishi Amazon, you can't join right now. You have to wait until I finish my Debut Race! That's not what we agreed on!"

She ran over as well.

Miracle, who’d just finished this round of training, watched the scene helplessly.

It felt like the future Phoenix was going to get even livelier.

But could Yuu really help Hishi Amazon be reborn like a phoenix from the ashes?

The corner of his mouth slowly lifted.

If it was him… there shouldn’t be any problem.

Yeah. Definitely no problem.

…

“We’re going right away? I thought in movies and novels, stuff like this usually happens after the race,” Hishi Amazon asked, puzzled, inside Phoenix’s activity room.

Yuu naturally leaned against her shoulder.

“C’mon I can’t wait to make Hishi Amazon mine”

"Don't say it like that, it's gross! I'm just your Uma Musume, that's all!"

She reached out and pushed Yuu’s face away as he tried to get closer.

Hishi Amazon blushed again. Ever since meeting Yuu, she’d blushed more times than in the rest of her life combined.

“It’s the same thing, it’s the same thing.”

Feeling the touch on his face, Yuu put on that lecherous grin again.

“Hishi Amazon’s soft little hands, hehe~”

“You seriously have something wrong with you!”

After they finished messing around, Yuu sprawled lazily across the table.

"That's just one reason The main reason is that Urara is guaranteed to win"

“That’s right!”

Urara flashed a confident smile.

She and Yuu exchanged a look, then laughed together.

Will she win?

Of course she will.

Chapter 35 - Hishi Amazon Leaves Her Original Team

The afternoon sun was warm, yet it couldn’t quite melt the trace of unease gathered between Hishi Amazon’s brows.

Walking along the tree-lined path toward her former team’s training field, her expression looked slightly stiff. No matter how she thought about it, what she was doing now amounted to abandoning her old Trainer.

Sure, the relationship between a Trainer and an Uma Musume was mutually beneficial. She didn’t owe her former Trainer anything, but still… she couldn’t shake the uneasiness.

“What, getting scared?” Yuu bumped her lightly with his shoulder.

“As if!” Hishi Amazon shot her head up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her voice rising as she forced a bold tone. “Don’t joke around! I never regret my decisions! It’s just…”

She paused, her gaze drifting toward a familiar direction, her voice dropping a notch.

"That guy… his skill's pretty average. But we worked together for a long time. Suddenly going over there and saying I'm leaving just feels… tch, troublesome!"

She masked her deeper discomfort with irritation.

Was she afraid of being rejected? Or… guilty over even the slightest attempt to make her stay?

Yuu’s lips curled into a knowing smile as he turned back and kept walking.

"Got it. You're worried he'll cry? Relax, I brought tissues."

“Hey! Be serious!” Hishi Amazon snapped, thumping his shoulder with a not-too-heavy punch.

“He won’t refuse. Or rather, he’ll probably be happy to handle your withdrawal paperwork,” Yuu said calmly.

After Hishi Amazon’s win rate started dropping, her race schedule had been sharply reduced.

Others might not notice, but a Trainer couldn’t possibly miss it.

It was a silent suggestion, telling her to stop racing.

A team’s overall win rate, the win rate per Uma Musume… to a lot of Trainers, those things mattered more than life itself.

After all, it affected the team’s future.

“What do you mean?” Hishi Amazon asked.

“Meh, just trust me~” Yuu replied with a grin.

They stopped in front of a training room labeled Gale Squad.

The door was slightly ajar, rhythmic clanks of strength equipment echoing from inside.

As a team with years of debut experience, Gale Squad had its own dedicated large training room within Tracen Academy.

“Let’s go~” Yuu shrugged, that lazy expression returning to his face as if his earlier seriousness had been an illusion.

“Go on.”

He raised his hand and knocked twice with his knuckles. Without waiting for a response, he pushed the door open.

The room wasn’t large, filled with the familiar mixed scent of sweat and anti-slip powder.

Several Uma Musume in Gale Squad uniforms were working up a sweat in the equipment area.

In the center, on an open patch of floor, a small, slender young Trainer held an electronic tablet, his expression focused.

Hearing the door, he turned around. When he saw Hishi Amazon, a professional, gentle smile appeared on his face.

“Amazon, you’re here? Finished warming up?”

Then his gaze shifted to Yuu beside her.

That smile immediately gained a layer of polite courtesy, along with a hint of subtle scrutiny.

Yuu’s name, and that face, were fairly recognizable among Trainers at Tracen Academy these days.

“Trainer,” Hishi Amazon hesitated for two seconds before stepping inside and stopping in front of him.

She tried to keep her voice calm and natural, but the slight straightening of her back gave away her nerves.

“There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

The Trainer’s eyes flicked quickly between Hishi Amazon and Yuu, as if he understood.

The smile on his face faded, replaced by something closer to… relief?

“Mm. What is it?”

He gestured for the training Uma Musume to take a short break and turned his full attention to Hishi Amazon.

She took a deep breath, like she was heading into battle.

"I want to leave Gale Squad and join Trainer Tsukimori's team, Phoenix."

She spoke quickly, as if slowing down even a little would drain her courage.

After that, she stared straight at the young Trainer’s face, waiting for the shock, the questions, or the attempt to hold her back.

But the air only froze for an instant.

The Trainer’s expression didn’t change at all. Not even his eyebrows twitched.

His slightly boyish eyes calmly met Hishi Amazon’s, then briefly glanced at Yuu leaning casually against the doorframe like he was just watching a show.

Then he nodded and answered cleanly, “Okay.”

“…Huh?”

The overly decisive response left Hishi Amazon stunned, every explanation she’d prepared getting stuck in her throat.

She asked reflexively, “…That’s it? It’s… okay?”

“Yes.”

The young Trainer nodded again, his tone flat.

“I’ve received your request. I’ll take care of the withdrawal process. I’ll also notify Secretary Hayakawa to assist with transferring the relevant files.”

He lowered his head and tapped rapidly on the tablet, his fingers gliding across the screen with smooth, detached efficiency.

“Thank you for your contributions to Gale Squad. I wish you better development in Phoenix.”

He looked up and gave Hishi Amazon a perfectly formal smile, one devoid of emotion.

Purely businesslike.

He didn’t ask “why.” He didn’t show any regret over losing a veteran Uma Musume. He didn’t display the slightest curiosity about her future.

His gaze was calm and still, as if Hishi Amazon’s departure was no more than crossing out an ordinary name on a training schedule.

Yuu leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

So it wasn’t just a guess after all.

What he cared about really was just results.

Before, it had only been speculation based on Gale Squad’s race entries and scheduling. Seeing it in person now confirmed it.

Yeah. Exactly as expected.

There was nothing wrong with that. After all, being a Trainer was just a job.

Not everyone treated it as a lifelong calling or a dream like he did.

Hishi Amazon scratched her head. She wasn’t stupid.

With things this clear, what was there left not to understand?

“I see. Then, Trainer Hoshino, I’ll be heading out.”

She walked over to Yuu with a bright smile. "All done. Let's go, Tore-kou!"

They bumped elbows and left in high spirits.

The whole thing didn’t dampen their mood at all.

Hishi Amazon had been worried about being held back, and he didn’t even try, letting her go so coldly… that was great!

And for Yuu?

You’re letting her go? Even better!

The young Trainer watched the two leave, an inexplicable irritation rising in his chest.

“Trainer?”

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Let’s keep training. I’ll definitely make you into an amazing Uma Musume!”

Trainer Hoshino put on a “cute” smile.

Well, at least that’s how it looked to his Uma Musume.