As a being who could be infinitely reincarnated, he had, in the name of "acupuncture," inadvertently appreciated the legs of many of his charges. When his physical condition was still relatively good, he had used this acupuncture therapy for them.
And besides treatment, as a trainer, he naturally remembered the leg condition of each of his charges clearly.
Oguri Cap's legs were very much in line with the impression given by her bottomless stomach. They felt fleshy and soft to the touch, but once on the racetrack, she would prove that every bit of flesh on her legs was not for nothing. Under the huge consumption of a race, she and her legs would often become a circle smaller—he could clearly state that the feel of her legs at that time was one of the best he had ever touched.
Stay Gold's legs, every time he saw them, he would have the feeling of "are these really her legs?" Because this eldest sister of the Gold Family's legs were unexpectedly slender, and sometimes there were even some scars left from racing accidents. Every time he touched them, she would express her dissatisfaction with a silent gaze, which was very cute.
And in this playthrough, he had also admired the legs of the two sisters, Nakayama Festa and Gold Ship. The first impression these sisters' legs gave him was "powerful." Gold Ship's legs had better skin quality than Festa's and were longer, looking like the long legs of a long-distance runner. Festa, in comparison, had more muscle, her explosive power was stronger than Gold Ship's, but in a relaxed state, they were not without a fleshy feel.
But if he really had to judge, just from the perspective of "legs," he felt that among all the horse girls he had ever seen, few could compare with Silence Suzuka.
Suzuka, who was not good at long distances, did not have the fleshy and slender feeling of Gold Ship. Her "explosive escape" tactic also did not give her the muscular feeling of a late-kick monster like Festa. And since she usually wore long pants or black stockings for races and training, the impression her legs gave him was only slender, white, and just the right amount of thinness.
Like a stretched lotus root, from the slightly fleshy thighs to the slender calves that had almost no excess fat, everything felt so harmonious. Even the best fashion designer could not imagine such a perfect model leg shape.
And by the way, Silence Suzuka was the first beneficiary of his "acupuncture therapy." She was not only the first person to let him use this therapy to help relax her muscles, but she was also the first to accompany him and voluntarily act as his "practice partner."
He still remembered, when he thought he had enough confidence after several playthroughs of practice and guidance to do something for his charge, the first time he went into battle, Suzuka had lain gently in front of him. Seeming to see his nervousness, this girl, who was not good at expressing her emotions, had encouraged him with a gentle smile:
"It's okay, Trainer-san. I can endure pain very well. But because of this, you have to trust your own ability a little more. Because if you insert the needle in the wrong place, I might accept it without saying a word."
"So, please treat me like a practice doll and be calm. As long as you believe in yourself, I will also feel at ease."
—And so, Suzuka, as his charge, had become his first and, in that playthrough, only "guest" since he had mastered the art of acupuncture. And at that time, she did not know that she had completely fallen into this happiness... and in the end, it was this happiness that led her to a persistence that resulted in a tragedy she would regret for the rest of her life...
...
"—Trainer-san, even if Suzuka-san's legs are very beautiful, you can't keep staring at them like that."
However, a smiling reminder from C.B. brought both the lost-in-thought Suzuka and Kitano back to their senses. And now, lying on the bed, her heart filled with mixed feelings, Suzuka covered her eyes with her arm, pretending not to look, to hide her unnatural expression.
And on the other side, under C.B.'s reminder, he finally completed a full course of acupuncture. After silently removing the last thin needle from her foot and looking at her originally jade-white calves, which were now flushed with blood circulation, the swelling eliminated, and looking a healthy rosy color, a satisfied smile finally appeared on his slightly pale face.
But at this moment, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and subconsciously leaned forward. Fortunately, C.B., behind him, immediately supported his body. C.B., who had been teasing him a second ago, now turned pale and said in a失声 voice:
"Trainer-san?! Are you okay!"
"Trainer Kitano?!"
And C.B.'s失声 also made the lying Suzuka sit up abruptly. And when she saw his dizzy, pale face, she felt her breathing stop for a moment, her heart was fiercely squeezed, and a look of fear appeared in her eyes.
But just as the nervous Suzuka was about to stand up and help C.B. support him onto the bed, the weak Kitano waved his hand with extraordinary persistence. After clutching his chest and coughing violently, he insisted intermittently:
"Don't get up in a hurry... the acupuncture has just finished, your foot is still in the process of blood circulation... for a short period of time, don't do anything to stimulate your foot. That's where the most nerves are concentrated in the human body, otherwise it will be a waste of effort."
"I just need to rest a little, don't worry. I won't faint as easily as before."
But though he said so, he knew his own physical condition better than anyone. He looked at his arm, at the display that showed three more days of his lifespan gone, and a bitter smile couldn't help but appear on his face... though it was a bitter smile, he had no regrets.
He could no longer accompany the Suzuka of that playthrough to the end. He also knew how much damage his sudden death would cause her... What he was doing now, whether it was out of love for the house and its crow, or to prevent his own conscience from condemning him, was what he was willing to do for her.
And not just her, but any other charge. As long as they really needed him, he would do the same for them. It's just that this time, it happened to be the charge he was most worried about.
"So, how do you feel?" He calmed his breathing, throwing the loss of three days of life out of his mind, and looked at her with a carefree smile. "The swelling on your ankle has gone down, but what's important is how you feel."
"Now, do you still feel like you can't put any force into your left leg? Although my acupuncture doesn't have the magical effect of treating the after-effects of a fracture, if it can make you feel a little better, I think it was worth it."
"...No, thank you, Trainer Kitano. Your acupuncture technique is very good. Please don't force yourself anymore."
And hearing him sound as if he might continue to give her acupuncture in the future if she said no, Suzuka was startled and quickly waved her hand, refusing the matter. The next moment, as if to completely dispel his idea, she naturally revealed what she had been hiding in her heart:
"Actually... I know. My inability to exert force has nothing to do with my recovery. I'm just... scared."
"As expected," C.B., as a senior, upon hearing her frankly state her problem for the first time, was a little surprised and turned her gaze to him. Her eyes scanned back and forth between him and her, and she seemed to have vaguely understood something, but she pretended not to see anything and joined the conversation:
"I thought it was strange when I saw you not only not exerting force, but even holding back in the final straight. At first, I thought you were out of stamina or willpower, but now it seems that's not the case."
"Yes," Suzuka nodded quietly. She also found it a little incredible that this was a topic she most wanted to avoid. Everyone knew how big a blow it was for her not to be able to run at full speed. Even her best friend, Special Week, was very careful in this regard and did not dare to stimulate her at all.
But this time, she had expressed it so smoothly... Was it because her psychological defenses had weakened after venting? Or...
Suzuka didn't know what she was thinking. She, who was usually so desireless, was now blushing for the umpteenth time. But fortunately, she quickly shook her head, driving away her predicament, and quickly said:
"Ever since I recovered from the fracture, I've been trying to get my condition back to race form. But I've never been able to get over the shadow of that Tennō Shō (Autumn)."
"...I'm sorry, Trainer Kitano. Am I... a bit too disappointing?"
Saying this, she couldn't help but turn her gaze to the thoughtful, pale face of the man in front of her. However, the more she looked at him, the more her gaze uncontrollably softened...
He's the one who should be the most frustrated, the one who should be just as worried about being stimulated as she is. Fate has been unfair enough to him, making him suffer from such a tormenting illness, not even allowing him to leave without pain.
But why is he still smiling so gently? He should be the one in the most pain, yet he is unconcerned about his own suffering, but is here worrying about her, who is able-bodied, and planning for her, who can still run.
He should... care more about himself. Compared to him... she was really lacking in more than one way.
"—Wait a moment, Suzuka. I'll think of a way for you."
And just as she was looking at his face and couldn't help but show a concerned and gentle smile, he, who had been thinking for a long time, suddenly broke the silence. She trembled visibly and immediately restrained all her smiles, turning her head away, as shy as a middle school girl with a crush on her deskmate.
However, at this moment, he did not pay attention to her expression. His top priority was to help her overcome her psychological barrier. And just now, he seemed to have remembered an item that might help her gain some courage.
Although it was a rather superstitious attempt, because of Oguri's precedent, he also held the attitude of "give it a try, what if it succeeds?" He drove his wheelchair to the closet, slowly opened a drawer, revealing a small storage bag inside.
I never thought I would open this again. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. After opening the bag, his pupils reflected the many small objects inside. Among them, a slightly damaged heart-shaped pendant was particularly conspicuous—of course, this was not what he was looking for this time.
"The Three Goddesses allow me to bring one item to the next playthrough each time. I've collected so many things without realizing it..."
"Then, for Suzuka... it should be this."
Finally, after some fumbling, he took out a relatively large object and put the package back in the drawer. But all his actions were seen by C.B. and Suzuka. They both looked at his storage bag with curiosity, as if the secrets hidden in it were more attractive than jewels and gold.
"Suzuka, although I can't do much about your psychological shadow, perhaps... this little guy can make you feel a little better."
He drove his wheelchair forward again and handed the object to her. And after she took it with both hands, looking at the plush toy in her hands, she was lost in a daze for a long time.
"What... is this?"
The plush toy in her hands was a small, four-legged creature with a long face, black roan hair and tail like a horse girl, and even more eye-catching was the long, white bang in front.
"It looks like Spe-chan," she reacted almost immediately after seeing the plush toy. This hair, this bang, it really looked like her good friend Special Week!
"Congratulations, you guessed right." And he also smiled gently, sighing in his heart at the "brotherhood" of these two. Although they had almost no interaction in the original story, in the world of horse girls, even with this doll he had made in the image of the real Spe-chan, she could recognize it at a glance. Their relationship was indeed very good.
But this also put him at ease. After his death in her playthrough, he believed that when Special Week enrolled, she would definitely take good care of her... she would not lack companionship.
This doll was specially made for her and the not-yet-fully-developed Special Week in that playthrough. He had made a toy in the image of each of them and gave the other's to them. It was also then that he, Suzuka, and Special Week had made this little promise:
"When you enroll in Tracen in the future, Spe-chan, use this doll to find me, or to find Suzuka. Then we will know who the fully developed Spe-chan is. So, you must keep it well."
As for the one in his hand, it was a replica that Special Week and Suzuka had specially made and given to him later. He also had a Suzuka doll in his storage box, but he felt that perhaps this one would be more effective for her.
"Keep this doll with you. Whenever you feel scared, just think of Spe-chan. She has always been by your side, right? Maybe she can give you some courage."
"Spe-chan's courage..."
And Suzuka murmured to herself, playing with the doll in her hands. And after feeling the soft touch, a heartfelt smile finally appeared on her face. Clearly, this Special Week plush toy had won her heart.
But her joy was not because of what he said about "getting courage from Spe-chan," but because this toy he had given her made her feel warm from the bottom of her heart.
This warmth... at this moment, it seemed to make her left leg feel not so heavy anymore. And as she carefully held the doll in her palm, faced with his equally relaxed smile, she suddenly looked up, stared at him, and finally said what she had been planning all along:
"Trainer Kitano, I—want you to be my trainer."
Yes, she understood one thing—she had joined this bet, but the content of the bet was that the winner would become his "assistant trainer." But if she, as a horse girl, had him as her trainer, then for her, these two results were the same.
She actually didn't need to be entangled with the position of "assistant trainer." The only thing she wanted to confirm was whether she could get her lost courage from him. And today's events had already proven her judgment.
—Then, since her judgment was correct, why should she be entangled with her position in the team? As long as she was by his side, as for the position... she could fight for it herself.
However, her abrupt words made even the warm smile on C.B.'s face freeze for a moment. But before he and C.B. could react, she took the initiative to put the doll aside, grabbed his hands, and said in a calm but extremely firm tone, word by word:
"Also, please agree to one selfish request of mine."
"I want to participate in a race. My comeback race. Trainer-san, until the day of my comeback, can you... always be by my side to encourage me?"
In the dormitory, the quiet horse girl held his hands and gently spoke her request and wish. And what she didn't know was that when she made this decision, the gears of fate had started to turn once again. It was her destiny. From this moment on, she would start a different life from her previous one.
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