"Trainer!"
A little brown-haired, golden-eyed bundle raced from the finish line toward the outside of the track. Like a tiny cannonball, she launched herself straight into a young man's arms.
"Slow down, Bright."
Kuroha caught Mejiro Bright with ease, then brushed aside the strands of hair stuck to her sweat-dampened cheek.
"Bright, you're covered in sweat..."
So stop rubbing yourself against Trainer.
Mejiro Dober never managed to say the second half aloud.
Instead, she stood in the direction Bright had come from, gazing longingly at them.
The little girl parted her lips slightly as though she wanted to say something, but ultimately closed them again. Her cheeks puffed up adorably, giving her a distinctly sulky appearance.
"Ardan-nee made some pork floss cake. If you're tired, go rest in the pavilion and have some."
Kuroha spoke with a gentle smile.
"Okay!"
Bright nodded vigorously before happily skipping toward the nearby pavilion.
"Dober, you should go with Bright! Today's training is already over, so make sure you get some proper rest."
Kuroha raised his voice and called out to her.
Unlike the cheerful and outgoing Mejiro Bright, Mejiro Dober was introverted and awkward. She needed to be guided in a more natural and indirect manner.
Dober paused when she heard him. Her little face tensed slightly before she finally nodded and hurried after Bright.
After watching the two girls leave, Kuroha turned his smiling gaze toward the nearby track.
Aside from Bright and Dober, several other small figures were gathered around Aoi Kiryuin, performing exercises designed to develop their basic athletic abilities.
Silence Suzuka, Sea the Stars, and a little white-haired bundle were following closely behind Aoi, seemingly afraid of falling too far behind.
Happy Meek.
Meek was not one of Kuroha's charges. She was here as Aoi Kiryuin's first-ever assigned Umamusume.
As an elementary division student, she was one of the oldest among Chasing Light's Umamusume who had yet to undergo their growth spurts, second only to Narita Brian.
Of course, "oldest" was entirely relative.
As for Narita Brian...
"Huff... Hah..."
A black figure was running alone along the outermost lane.
Unlike the other young Umamusume, she was not performing basic exercises under Aoi's supervision.
Brian ran by herself, her breathing steady and rhythmic.
Each push of her compact calves left a shallow mark in the grass.
Her growth spurt was drawing closer. As a result, she was gradually becoming capable of handling more professional Umamusume training.
Naturally, she no longer trained together with the younger girls.
"Brian! Don't run too fast. Control your pace."
Kuroha called out at just the right moment.
The black figure on the track trembled slightly, but obediently began slowing down.
A thin layer of sweat covered the black-haired girl's face, and her breathing had grown somewhat hurried.
Although a trace of nervousness remained in her eyes, they were exceptionally bright.
Kuroha nodded in approval.
This future Triple Crown winner was steadily polishing both her speed and her ability to control it.
Her growth was not limited to her physical abilities. Her mind was maturing as well.
At the very least, her timid nature had improved considerably. She was no longer so frightened that even her own shadow while running could terrify her.
"Kuroha-kun!"
A clear voice suddenly called out from behind him.
Kuroha turned around and saw Maruzensky approaching gracefully with Suave Dancer and Dancing Brave. Mejiro Ardan and Sakura Chiyono O followed behind them.
"Dancing Brave-san, Suave. You're here."
Kuroha greeted them with a smile.
"Trainer!"
Without another word, Suave crossed the remaining distance in a few quick strides and bounced to a stop directly in front of Kuroha. Her eyes sparkled brightly.
"We came to mooch another meal today!"
A bead of sweat formed on Dancing Brave's forehead, though she maintained her smile.
"...She was the one who wanted to come. I was dragged along."
"Oh, it's all the same!"
Suave waved her hand dismissively, then craned her neck and peered around the training grounds.
"Where's McQueen? Isn't she training with you today?"
"She's at the other training ground with Godolphin."
"Godol..."
The instant she heard that name, Suave's expression stiffened. She awkwardly pulled her neck back.
"Th-Then never mind."
"If McQueen is still training, we shouldn't disturb her."
During the two months Suave had spent at Chasing Light, Kuroha had gradually accepted her as a prospective team member.
Because of that, she had finally learned the true identity of the Umamusume who had dared to bear the same name as one of the Three Goddesses.
Godolphin...
She did not merely share a name with one of the Three Goddesses.
She was the genuine Godolphin Barb herself!
Ever since discovering that truth, the usually fearless and unruly Suave became several levels more restrained whenever Godolphin was nearby.
Most of the time, she would even take a detour to avoid her.
"Is she really that frightening?"
Kuroha looked at her in amusement.
"Godolphin actually likes it when you visit and play with her."
"Uh... Right."
Suave awkwardly scratched her cheek.
It was probably similar to Nüwa from traditional Tōkō mythology. Naturally, she would not dislike it if the humans she had personally molded came to visit her.
However, fear of one's elders was different.
Unless someone experienced it for themselves, they could never understand!
Seriously...
Kuroha helplessly shook his head and smiled.
"All right. I'll take you over there."
"If you truly intend to transfer to my team, you'll inevitably have to interact with Godolphin and the others. You can't keep hiding from them forever."
Suave listened to Kuroha's gentle voice while staring at his warm, cheerful smile.
The tanned girl froze briefly. Then, the corners of her mouth shot upward.
Delighted, she placed her slender hand in his while mentally pumping her fist.
Yes! I scored big again today!
Sure enough, acting timid once in a while really does pay off!
The group followed the gentle slope and gradually arrived outside the fence surrounding the other training ground.
They immediately spotted Mejiro McQueen working up a sweat on the track.
Tap, tap, tap!
The purple-haired figure flashed across the track at incredible speed. She ran like a raging wind wrapped in thunder, each long stride filled with fierce explosive power.
Boom! Boom!
Every time McQueen accelerated, visible ripples of compressed air spread around her.
The sight was downright terrifying.
Compared with the leisurely foundational training performed by the elementary division girls, this existed on an entirely different level.
Three figures occupied the shade beneath the trees at the edge of the training ground.
The yellow goddess, Byerley Turk, stood perfectly straight with a clipboard in her hands. Her unblinking eyes followed McQueen's every movement.
From time to time, she lowered her head and rapidly wrote several notes, her expression strict and focused.
At her feet, the blue goddess, Godolphin Barb, sat cross-legged on the grass without the slightest concern for her image.
She was completely engrossed in a handheld game console.
"As expected... They dumped all the work on Byerley again."
Upon witnessing the scene, Kuroha covered his forehead and released a weary sigh.
Godolphin was just as willful as ever, physical body or not.
Ever since Kuroha liberated them from that strange world high in the heavens, Godolphin and Darley had become even more playful than they had been as divine avatars.
The only activity they consistently approached with tremendous enthusiasm was their regularly scheduled "horseplay."
Byerley was usually not much better.
However, her commitment to her responsibilities and promises clearly outweighed her desire to have fun.
Whenever McQueen required guidance, Byerley would always step forward and fulfill her duties without complaint.
Among Chasing Light's currently active Umamusume, Byerley was responsible for guiding Mejiro McQueen.
Darley trained Tokai Teio.
Meanwhile, Fumino Nase and Shindo Hanasuzume helped look after Mihono Bourbon, Rice Shower, and Urban Sea.
As a direct result, Kuroha currently had so little to do that he had been reduced to spending his time playing with the younger Umamusume.