Chapter 259: Kitasan Black Feels Disappointed
For a brief moment, as Kitasan Black looked at the Umamusume hugging her Trainer, a strange sense of familiarity rose from the depths of her heart.
But she didn't have time to think about it. After only a few seconds of shock, she shot forward like an arrow released from a bow and cried out:
"Trainer! And… who exactly are you?!"
Makoto had already been trying hard to push the Umamusume in his arms away. When he suddenly noticed someone rushing over, he instinctively looked up.
The moment he realized it was Kitasan Black, he inexplicably panicked. His uninjured right hand pushed even harder.
But the other girl was holding on too tightly. Worried about hurting his injured left arm, he didn't dare use too much force. His face flushed red as he stammered and fumbled his explanation:
"Kitasan, um… don't misunderstand! I thought it was you coming back. When I opened the door, I realized it was—"
"Wait, who are you, anyway?!"
He turned his gaze toward the Umamusume holding him, his face full of confusion.
The chestnut-haired girl finally released him and slowly turned around. She first looked at the wary Kitasan Black, then at Makoto.
Her eyes were astonishingly beautiful—like a brilliant blue galaxy, with faint starlight shimmering at their very center.
After observing them for a moment with those dazzling eyes, she suddenly blinked playfully and broke into a bright smile. Instead of answering, she asked back:
"Kita-senpai, Trainer… have you really not recognized me?"
"Kita… senpai?"
Kitasan Black froze for a moment. The way she was addressed felt strangely familiar. But the next word—"Trainer"—made her cheeks puff up unconsciously, her ears drooping slightly.
Seeing the girl's face clearly, that sense of familiarity grew even stronger. The way she acted suggested she knew them very well—so logically, Kitasan Black should have met her before.
And yet, in her understanding, she was the only one who called her Trainer "Trainer."
Hearing someone else use that same term so casually filled her with an inexplicable sense of dissatisfaction.
"Recognize you…? Do we know each other?" she frowned and asked.
Then she turned to her Trainer again, full of doubt, hoping to get a reasonable explanation from him.
Sensing her gaze—and the unmistakable suspicion within it—Makoto suddenly felt that something was off.
So… where exactly was this guilty conscience coming from…?
I didn't do anything wrong, did I…?
Then why does this feel like I'm being interrogated…?
These strange thoughts lingered in his mind for a moment. Seeing Kitasan Black still staring at him, he quickly spread his hands and gave a helpless smile:
"Um… I really don't know her. The moment I opened the door, she suddenly jumped in and hugged me… I'm completely confused too…"
"If Trainer says so…"
Kitasan Black didn't truly her Trainer Makoto, but the suspicion in her eyes hadn't faded. She turned to look at the Umamusume again.
"Who exactly are you…?"
The girl looked at Kitasan Black, then at Makoto again, and suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hehe~~ so you really didn't recognize me. I guess after my full development, my appearance really has changed a lot…"
She muttered to herself, then suddenly stepped back. Spreading her legs wide and throwing her arms open in an exaggerated, dramatic pose, she raised her voice excitedly:
"It's Almond Eye, Kita-senpai, Trainer! I'm Almond Eye!"
For a moment, the scene fell into a few seconds of silence.
"…Almond Eye?!" Both Kitasan Black and Makoto cried out in shock at the same time.
…
As they picked up the ingredients that had fallen in the hallway together, Almond Eye chattered excitedly like a cheerful little bird:
"Kita-senpai, Trainer—you have no idea! After my full development, I've changed so much that a lot of people can't even recognize me anymore!"
"My classmates at school, my close friends, even the familiar uncles and aunties on the street—once they find out I'm Almond Eye, they're all so shocked they can't even close their mouths."
"Even my mom and dad were stunned by how much I grew overnight!"
As she spoke, she looked up at Makoto by the doorway, her face full of apology:
"But… I'm really sorry."
"As soon as I heard that you were injured, Trainer, I rushed over in a panic to check on you."
"But when I got to the door, I got carried away and thought I'd play a little prank on you."
"I didn't expect to scare both you and Kita-senpai. I'm really, really sorry."
By now, the morning had fully arrived. Sunlight streamed in through the window at the end of the hallway, illuminating Almond Eye's apologetic yet slightly playful expression.
Hearing her explanation, Makoto smiled helplessly:
"So that's what happened… but that prank really was sudden. I definitely got startled."
"Hehe~ I'll be more careful next time."
Sticking out her tongue, Almond Eye picked up a bag of vegetables from the ground and grew curious:
"By the way, Kita-senpai bought so many ingredients—are you planning to make a big feast?"
After asking, she didn't get a response. Surprised, she looked at Kitasan Black:
"Kita-senpai…?"
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar, enthusiastic yet slightly reckless Almond Eye in front of her, Kitasan Black felt a little dazed—and somewhat awkward.
She didn't even understand what had just come over her.
When she saw a "stranger" Uma hugging her Trainer, she had felt an inexplicable sadness, as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out, leaving an empty void.
Even now, although she knew it was Almond Eye, that feeling had mostly faded—only to be replaced by a different kind of disappointment.
Ai-chan… is calling him "Trainer" too…
That's right… Doctor Tachyon had mentioned it before. He was becoming more and more well-known, and many Uma were hoping to have him as their trainer…
Someone as capable and renowned as him—Almond Eye's parents would definitely no longer oppose it like before. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come here…
So… it only made sense for Almond Eye to call him "Trainer"…
Wasn't this what she had been hoping for before? Training together with Almond Eye…
This kind of thing should make her happy, right?
Then why…
Did it feel so painful?
Her gaze unconsciously fell on her Trainer. Seeing him looking at her with concern, Kitasan Black suddenly froze.
Memories of everything they had experienced together flashed through her mind—
Their unexpected first meeting, the gradual process of getting used to each other, and all the times they had fought side by side…
Every single moment was precious.
So now that Almond Eye had arrived, what would happen next…?
"Kita-senpai?"
"Ah… huh? Huh?!"