Inviting a woman to his dorm at night, and even reminding her to prepare for an overnight stay...
If it had been anyone else saying that, Hayakawa Tazuna would probably have smiled sweetly, restrained him on the spot, and marched him off to the police station under charges of harassment.
But the one who said it was Kitahara Sota.
That log named Kitahara Sota—the finest-quality block of wood in all of Tracen.
Already, thanks to urban legends, his name carried weight among trainers.
And as time went on, as more trainers noticed his team expanding at a ridiculous speed, and the strange atmosphere within it, his reputation only grew.
To the point that now, trainers had even opened betting pools in private: when would he get jumped, and to what degree would his pelvis end up shattered.
As for the Chairwoman and Tazuna, who stood above the trainers, they too had heard these rumors.
Especially since the two of them, working closely with him, had gathered even more information than other trainers, their understanding of him was deeper still.
So they knew very well: Kitahara's "wooden" quality was far beyond what anyone imagined. To call him the finest log in Tracen was no exaggeration at all.
Therefore, though his words sounded a little delicate, none of them thought in that direction. Instead, their interest in the matter only grew.
And then...
...
Five hours later.
At the door of Kitahara's dorm.
After hearing the knock and opening the door, Kitahara looked at the three silhouettes—two tall, one small—standing there, and fell into silence.
"I seem to recall... I only invited Tazuna-san, didn't I?"
"Curiosity! And besides, I've finished my work, so I came along to keep her company."
"I just came back from Teio, and wanted to discuss something with you about her. Then I ran into these two, so I simply joined them."
Akikawa Yayoi and Symboli Rudolf answered with calm voices—but their eyes flickered faintly.
It was true: Tazuna was here for nursing, and she was indeed the busiest in Tracen.
But that didn't mean the Chairwoman or the Student Council President had it easy.
In fact, in terms of sheer paperwork, Akikawa Yayoi's load even exceeded Tazuna's.
Tazuna's extra burden came from also managing execution and security. But that didn't make the Chairwoman's side "light."
And as for Symboli Rudolf—hers was an endless grind: handling Council duties on one hand, and the Symboli family's messes on the other.
The time she stole to watch Tokai Teio's training with Kitahara was practically her only moment of leisure each day.
So not just Tazuna—if the chance arose, both the Chairwoman and Rudolf also wished they could have a top-class caretaker ease their fatigue after work.
So, aside from curiosity, they were also here to judge Kitahara's nursing ability.
If it was truly of top-class caretaker standard, then in the future...
Akikawa twirled her fan lightly, and Rudolf kept her poised smile—neither revealing what they were thinking.
Upon entering Kitahara's dorm, their eyes first caught on the nursing bed placed in the small outer office, surrounded by tools that looked highly professional.
But that wasn't what drew their gazes most.
What truly caught their eyes was the little black rice ball sitting on the sofa nearby—Eclipse, looking freshly bathed, dressed in pajamas, staring off in a daze.
"Tazuna-san, does Eclipse live here with Trainer Kitahara?"
Tazuna asked curiously.
Kitahara, checking his tools by the bed, answered offhandedly:
"No. I only thought, after nursing, you might not be able to move easily, and it wouldn't be proper for a man to take care of you alone. So I asked her to help."
Not convenient to move?
The three exchanged glances, the same question flashing in each of their eyes.
They knew Tracen didn't currently have any top-class caretakers.
But standing at the very peak of the academy, they weren't strangers to nursing knowledge.
And none of them had ever heard of nursing that left someone unable to move, much less requiring aftercare.
Of course, that wasn't their misunderstanding.
Because Kitahara's team actually did have a legitimate top-class caretaker: Agnes Digital.
And under Kitahara's tutelage, Digital's skills had risen to the very front rank of caretakers.
Yet even so, when she nursed Tachyon, Tachyon at most looked pleased or hummed a little.
That was all. Once done, she felt lighter than ever—ready for experiments, activities, whatever.
Even Kitahara himself could receive Digital's nursing calmly, giving her advice mid-session, and afterwards moved with ease, only feeling the exhaustion drain away.
That—was what top-class nursing was supposed to be.
As for Kitahara's version... well.
One could only say it wasn't normal.
And soon, the three in the room realized as much.
Before their doubts could form words, Kitahara finished checking his tools and invited Tazuna over.
She had already bathed and changed into casual clothes as requested.
So she needed no further prep. She lay down on the bed as he instructed.
Everything seemed normal. The doubts in the other two's eyes slowly faded.
And then—just as their suspicion eased—
Kitahara pulled out a pair of heavy, black shackles from beneath the bed.
Tazuna blinked, stared to make sure she wasn't seeing wrong, then spoke with difficulty:
"Um... Trainer Kitahara, those are..."
"Shackles," Kitahara answered without hesitation. Then added:
"Specially ordered, adjustable-alloy, reinforced several grades above the standard for Uma Musume. Strong enough to restrain you, Tazuna-san."
"No, I mean..."
Click.
Before she could finish, the cuffs locked around her wrist, fastened to the reinforced frame of the bed.
Her baffled expression met Kitahara's calm explanation:
"Don't worry about wrist damage. I had them add a lining inside—hard outside, soft inside. Even if you struggle, there'll be no harm."
By then, Symboli Rudolf's composure had cracked, and she spoke:
"Um... Trainer Kitahara, I think what Tazuna-san wanted to ask was—why restrain her at all?"
"Eh? Isn't it obvious?"
Kitahara gave her a strange look, then tapped the shackles.
"To stop her from thrashing around during nursing."
Originally, these were ordered for Neccha.
He'd feared her reactions during treatment might overwhelm him, now that she was already matured.
But since she'd surprised him by being far calmer than expected—and the later girls had all behaved as well—he'd never had to use them.
Until now. With Tazuna's deep-rooted issues, he figured strong reactions were inevitable. Perfect timing.
Before Rudolf could press further, Kitahara picked up a clean towel, looked down at Tazuna, and said:
"Tazuna-san, please open your mouth."
Her eyes flickered, unease stirring.
"Um... Trainer Kitahara, this is..."
"Trust me. You'll need it."
His face was solemn, voice steady.
Looking at his seriousness, then glancing at Akikawa and Rudolf...
Tazuna hesitated. But finally, she opened her mouth.
Kitahara swiftly stuffed the towel inside, so deftly she felt no discomfort.
Even so, the gazes from the side grew stranger and stranger.
But Kitahara, already in his work mode, paid no mind.
With shackles secured, gag in place, and all preparations complete—
He exhaled deeply. His eyes sharpened with resolve, and his hand reached out toward her body.
The instant his fingers touched her skin, an overwhelming wave of disharmony and pain, fiercer even than Tachyon's, crashed into his mind.
And that was just the beginning.
The deeper his inspection went, the more corrosive the ache became. Kitahara almost groaned himself.
He had seen ruined legs and ruined bodies aplenty.
He had thought Tachyon's hidden condition—her "perfectly fine" outside masking a body full of hazards—was already the pinnacle of trouble.
But now, facing Tazuna, he realized: he had been too young then.
It wasn't that Tazuna's body was weaker—on the contrary, her body was far stronger, multiple levels above Tachyon's fragile frame.
But that strength let her absorb and endure far more damage before showing a single sign.
And more tolerance meant more hidden gunpowder packed into the barrel. When it finally blew... the explosion would be terrifying.
What his fingers touched now was exactly such a powder magazine, stuffed near to bursting.
Hidden injuries. Sediment. Flaws piled deep.
Tazuna's body shivered beneath his touch. Kitahara's face grew heavier.
If this were his usual self, he'd be demanding of her, how did you ruin such a fine body like this?
But now, all he could think about was how to fix it.
When the inspection ended, his fingers stilled.
Tazuna exhaled shakily, tension fading, cheeks flushing faintly.
She turned toward him, as if to speak—then remembered her mouth was stuffed.
But it didn't matter.
Because before she could gather words, his fingers pressed down.
Her eyes went wide, her body jerked, shackles rattling, muffled cries spilling past the towel.
Unlike the other girls—what she felt was not pleasure.
But pain. Sharp, like nails driven into the bone marrow.
"Relax, Tazuna-san. Relax."
Realizing she couldn't endure direct force, Kitahara pulled back, waited for her to calm, then tried again.
This time, he worked her limbs and waist instead.
No stabbing pain now—no overwhelming pleasure either. Instead, a gentle warmth spread outward, soothing as sunlight after lunch, as bed after a long day's toil.
Her fear and vigilance faded. Satisfaction seeped in.
Especially when he moved to her head, fingers working with faint fragrance—her mental fatigue lifted, too.
Bit by bit, her breath steadied. Her body grew accustomed.
Then—he returned to the problem area.
The pain burst again.
But this time, his other hand pressed her face, feeding the gentleness in tandem, blunting the agony.
"Relax, Tazuna-san. Don't be afraid. It'll be over soon..."
His voice was soft, coaxing her like a child.
With his countermeasures, her resistance lessened. Not gone, but enough for him to proceed.
And when the pain finally eased, lightness flooded in. A release beyond anything she'd felt before.
"Good. Just like that, Tazuna-san... relax."
He pressed harder, dispersing the knots faster, then patted her lightly.
Pat. Pat. Pat.
A shiver ran through her.
And then—tingling pleasure, subtle but unrelenting, spread outward, teasing her nerves, never fading.
Her foggy comfort, nearly shattered by pain, returned richer than before.
She felt as if sinking into an impossibly soft bed after days without sleep. Her blurred mind melted deeper still.
At this point, the shackles were no longer needed.
Kitahara unfastened them cleanly, set her arms to rest properly, and continued deeper treatment.
Ache dissolved. Fatigue unraveled. Lightness bubbled from every part of her body.
Wrapped in soft sweetness, even the towel in her mouth seemed... delicious.
From wakefulness, to haze, to complete scatter.
Akikawa and Rudolf, watching, bore witness to this strange process. Their expressions shifted with the room's mood.
They couldn't deny it: Tazuna's condition had improved greatly.
Her face relaxed, her aura lighter. Proof of Kitahara's skill—explaining why he needed those bizarre preparations.
And yet, though they were veterans who had seen much, neither had ever heard of nursing like this.
And its effectiveness... wasn't it almost too much?
...
Half an hour later.
Tazuna lay slack, consciousness scattered. Kitahara gestured to Eclipse, who carried her with practiced ease into the dorm's inner room.
With the session done, Kitahara washed his hands at the sink, muttering:
"How did this woman... end up like this..."
"At this rate, she'd be lucky to live another ten years. Is she trying to throw her life away..."
Then he froze.
Wait. Wasn't there something he'd forgotten?
After a moment's thought, he remembered: the Chairwoman and Rudolf were still right there.
He turned—ready to apologize—
And saw their eyes.
Shock. Suspicion. Even horror.
When he faced them, they reined in their expressions.
After a silence, Rudolf spoke first.
"Um... Trainer Kitahara. Do all the people you nurse... end up like that?"
"Not really."
Kitahara shook his head.
"Tazuna-san's problems are just severe, so her reaction is bigger than usual."
Right then, Eclipse returned, lay down on the nursing bed herself with wordless clarity.
Kitahara decided action would speak louder than explanations, and simply began nursing her.
And as they watched Eclipse accept treatment without the slightest reaction, calm as still water, the suspicion in their eyes shifted again—into puzzlement.
Could it be... the problem lay with Tazuna herself?
And then...
There was nothing more.