After settling Mejiro McQueen following her True Blooming,
Kuroha finally wrapped up the tasks at hand and was just about to head to the training track for a closer look when a text message came in.
He pulled out his phone and frowned.
"Ginjirou-senpai?"
The sender was Ginjirou Musaka.
"A meeting… with me?"
Since the start of the year, after Oguri Cap's injury was discovered and she went on rest, Kuroha had rarely seen him around the Academy. No idea where he'd wandered off to.
As for Oguri Cap's injury—
Kuroha had considered using the Panacea to heal the Grey Monster.
But after thinking about the cause of the injury, he gave up on that idea.
The reason was obvious without much thought:
—— The streak of G1s last autumn!
Competing back-to-back at Central's highest intensity with less than a month between races…
Tamamo Cross had sensed her peak was nearing its end, so she staked everything on a final dance.
And Oguri Cap?
Was it just pride in the heat of the moment?
Or the sense of responsibility deep down—unwilling to betray anyone's expectations?
Kuroha couldn't shake the feeling that the Cinderella who had arrived in Central like a blank sheet of paper… had already picked up that faint hint of "obsession" from last year's campaign.
Fortunately, this injury wouldn't leave any sequelae.
Taking this chance to truly rest might be the most beneficial path for her.
Still, handling it this way did make the spring races for Fujimasa March and the others feel a bit… quiet…
"Tap—"
Just then, a silver-haired horse girl—apparently fresh from training—jogged over.
She didn't flop down to rest by the rail.
Instead, she ran straight to Kuroha.
A glassy-eyed beauty followed just behind her.
"March? Ardan?" Kuroha blinked.
The silver-haired girl clearly had something on her mind. She'd worked up the courage to come over, but after facing her own trainer she lowered her head again, hands unsure of where to go.
Only after Mejiro Ardan gently tugged her sleeve did she haltingly ask, "Trainer… are you busy tonight?"
"Mm… tonight?"
Kuroha thought for a moment. "I'm heading out to find Ginjirou-senpai in a bit. If it's tonight, I probably won't be free until around 18:00."
Receiving an answer that wasn't a rejection—but wasn't an immediate yes either—
the tiny bit of courage Fujimasa March had just puffed up deflated like a pricked balloon with a little "whoosh."
Her head drooped even lower.
Her beautiful silver hair fell like a waterfall, nearly spilling over her chest.
Seeing this, Mejiro Ardan leaned in and whispered, urging her friend, "March, say it…"
"...Why don't you say it."
Fujimasa March bit her lip and shot Ardan a glare.
She was the one who'd made the suggestion—why was she the one executing it?
Though…
She didn't exactly… dislike the idea.
She was just super embarrassed!
"…."
Watching the two of them struggle to speak, faces red to the ears,
Kuroha had no trouble reading the room.
These two little devils had been peeking his way all training session, eyes darting around—guilty as charged.
He chuckled inwardly but kept a straight face, pretending to be puzzled as he asked,
"What is it? Something important?"
At the key moment,
Mejiro Ardan stepped up first.
She drew a deep breath, as if making up her mind,
lifted her clear eyes to meet Kuroha's, and said—trying very hard to sound composed, in a small voice:
"Y-Yes, Trainer.
We… we have some very profound 'insights about racing' we wanted to, um… ask you about—privately. In depth. Tonight…"
"…You two."
Kuroha blinked, then couldn't help letting out a sigh tinged with amusement and helplessness.
He stood from his chair and walked up to the two horse girls, who looked about ready to bury their faces in their chests.
He raised two fingers and, one after the other, gave each smooth, full forehead a light, crisp flick.
"Thunk." "Thunk."
"Kyah!" "Mmph!"
They yelped in unison, hands flying to their foreheads, big eyes swimming—glossy, aggrieved, and impossibly cute.
"All you think about is that stuff…"
Kuroha snorted. "What do you two keep in those little heads all day? Honestly…"
Fujimasa March mustered her courage and whispered a defense, "Trainer… we haven't… been together much lately…"
At that, Kuroha couldn't find a comeback.
He was beginning to understand why horse girls had such a low marriage rate.
Over winter break,
Obey Your Master had practically wanted it every day.
Once the term began, the others had the exact same idea.
Even the tsundere Inari One wasn't an exception.
Which left Kuroha feeling a bit… outnumbered.
Right now in the Chasing Light squad,
aside from the still-young Tokai Teio and the freshly True-Bloomed McQueen…
only the still-a-bit-naïve Sakura Chiyono O hadn't… taken that next step with her trainer.
Four horse girls.
Even if it was one a day, that's still a four-day rotation.
Impossible to keep up with their… demand.
Especially since Kuroha had a pile of work—he couldn't make time every day.
As things went on, even "once a week" was getting tough.
And thanks—apparently—to last year's summer camp, March and Inari One got along really well.
They'd even come up with the idea of "going together"…
Add in their tremendous stamina and physical fitness—who on earth besides him could handle that…
With that thought, Kuroha paused, then replied with a helpless smile, "I'll come by tonight."
Seeing their eyes light up immediately, he put on a mock-stern face:
"Before that, finish your training for today. No more daydreaming—got it?"
"…Yes!"
They answered in perfect sync.
Getting the response, Fujimasa March and Mejiro Ardan practically skipped back to the track—joy in every line of their retreating backs.
"Honestly…"
Watching those long-legged silhouettes, Kuroha shook his head with fond exasperation.
Then he pulled out his phone again, glanced at Ginjirou Musaka's message, hesitated, and sent a reply.
[My Pony: Okay]
Before long, Ginjirou replied with thanks and shared the time and place.
(End of Chapter)
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