Faced with Grass Wonder's sudden request, Shinji Kitahara felt no surprise at all. In fact, he felt a sense of, "So you've finally come."
The reason was simple.
Although Grass Wonder had nominally joined his team, she was, in reality, just a bodyguard arranged by the student council out of concern for Black Forest's actions.
And now, Tazuna Surukawa was back, and the Tracen security team had returned to their posts. After a thorough crackdown, forget Black Forest, even the other horse girls on campus didn't dare to act out of line. At least for a short while, he didn't have to worry about security issues, and she no longer had a reason to stay on this team.
But the question was, would she really want to leave?
After getting along for so long, although he hadn't had much interaction with her, Shinji had more or less discovered one thing: Ms. Grass had very, very few friends.
Take the others on his team for example. Agnes Digital, that social terrorist, went without saying. If not quite someone who could rally a hundred responses with a single call, she was at least a "brother to all within the four seas." From the Chairwoman down to the newly enrolled horse girls, there were few she wasn't familiar with.
Special Week and Tokai Teio were both cheerful, outgoing, and lively children. They also had their own social circles. During regular training, you could often see various horse girls coming over to greet them, and they would also go out to play with their friends during the holidays.
Tachyon, Oguri, and Eclipse, the three of them, didn't have many friends. But the problem was, one was a mad scientist with only experiments in her head, another was a pure foodie with only food in her head, and the last was a mysterious existence with who-knows-what in her head. They didn't care about trivial matters like having friends.
But Ms. Grass was different.
Shinji didn't know why she had so few friends, but he could see that she really liked the feeling of being with others. Although she usually wouldn't step forward to participate for certain reasons, just watching from the side would visibly improve her mood.
And there was another point. Through his previous conversations with other trainers, Shinji also knew that a horse girl like Ms. Grass was not easy to find a team for, and she hadn't had a team before coming to his.
Gentle, virtuous, a standard Yamato Nadeshiko, and also possessed of formidable strength. In the eyes of other charge horse girls, she was practically a first-class danger. It wasn't that they were all worried their trainers would have a change of heart, but the problem was, Ms. Grass's brilliance as a woman was simply too dazzling. Without any effort, just by standing there, she could highlight their own shortcomings.
As for those teams where the charge and trainer had a more normal relationship, they also didn't really welcome an existence like Ms. Grass. Because her talent and strength were a bit too overwhelming, and most importantly, her aura was a bit too serious. The atmosphere in those more normal teams was usually more relaxed, even cheerful. Adding Ms. Grass in would easily make things awkward.
As for an exclusive trainer, that sounded fine, and was actually the most suitable option for her. But the problem was, she was in the same grade as Special Week and hadn't even run her debut race yet, so she couldn't find an exclusive trainer.
Although if she really insisted on finding one, with her strength, she could definitely find a team. But the problem was, she was doing quite well on his team now.
On one hand, of course, Special Week was here. On the other hand, after getting along for this period of time, she found that she got along very well with Eclipse. They would often stand together when they had nothing to do, not saying much, but the atmosphere just felt very harmonious.
From her usual behavior, you could tell that she was not very good at getting along with horse girls with lively personalities. Someone like Eclipse, who was quiet and calm, was just right for her. If she really transferred teams, she didn't know if she could make this kind of friend again.
And, besides the reason of her teammates, Shinji also knew that her impression of him probably wasn't too bad. Although the two of them rarely had any interaction, it was obvious that she had noticed his previous "assist" behaviors, so her impression of him certainly wouldn't be too bad.
As for his ability as a trainer, that goes without saying. She had definitely seen the changes in Special Week, so she certainly wouldn't doubt his ability in that area.
So, it was very normal for her to want to stay on the team. In fact, if she didn't want to stay, he would instead be worried if she had been provoked in some way, was looking for an excuse to leave, and then would find a chance to stab him or Special Week.
So, since Ms. Grass wanted to stay on the team, what did he, Shinji Kitahara, think about it?
Of course, he didn't want her to stay.
After all, no matter how you put it, Ms. Grass was still one of the four heavyweight dangerous figures in his mind. If possible, he of course didn't want to have anything to do with her.
But the problem was, Special Week was on his team right now. Even if he kicked Ms. Grass out, she would always have a chance to come over. And if she saw some more intimate interactions between him and Special Week, then the result... he couldn't say.
Furthermore, although they didn't interact much, after getting along for so long, seeing her various defeats, and even fighting alongside her as an assistant, he and Ms. Grass had developed a bit of brotherly affection. If you really asked him to kick her out so forcefully, his conscience would feel a little guilty.
And there was another point, the most fatal one.
Eclipse was standing right behind him. And, after Ms. Grass submitted her request to stay, her gaze was locked directly on him.
Shinji had no doubt that as long as he showed even the slightest intention of refusing, that gaze from behind would immediately start to operate, through a few precise backstabs, directly blowing up the refusal plan he had drafted, and then happily letting Ms. Grass stay.
Even taking ten thousand steps back, if he forcefully endured his uneasy conscience, and through clever means defused the backstab from Eclipse, and finally forcibly kicked Ms. Grass out, and guaranteed that she would never come back to see him again—what then?
What would a moody Eclipse be capable of... He didn't know, and he didn't want to know.
And he also didn't want to know why she was always carrying that bottle of green potion that Tachyon had given her—it might have even expired by now!
So, facing Ms. Grass's request, without much consideration, Shinji made a decision.
He gave up.
Anyway, resistance was probably useless. And Ms. Grass was already so pitiful. If he continued to persecute her, his conscience would feel a little uneasy. So he might as well not even try and just agree.
"Of course, it's no problem." Shinji smiled and nodded.
It wasn't a fake smile, but a real one.
Since it's already like this, why not think more openly?
After all, based on her performance last Saturday, it was basically certain that Ms. Grass saw him as a good brother or a brother-in-law. Plus her yuri attribute, maybe she was even safer than the others?
It's just that he didn't know if he could still smile if he knew what was going through her mind right now.
Trainer Kitahara, he's a very nice person...
Looking at the man in front of her, Grass Wonder thought with some emotion. As a master of—oh no, I mean, as an ordinary Yamato Nadeshiko who had dabbled a little in psychology, she had actually seen his fear of her from the very beginning when she joined the team.
But at that time, she hadn't cared. After all, plenty of people were afraid of her. One more or one less didn't make a difference. She was just here to be a bodyguard and, by the way, to see Special Week. As for what the trainer thought of her, she didn't care.
But slowly, as time went on, the situation gradually changed.
At first, her evaluation of him was that he was a strange trainer, because his behavior was completely different from the other trainers at the main campus.
Slacking off, goofing around, getting by, ignoring his charge horse girls, and rarely guiding or even communicating with his team horse girls. He would just throw two plans at them and let them train on their own. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he lacked the most basic sense of responsibility.
But later, as they spent more time together, she slowly realized that this person was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.
He wasn't irresponsible. On the contrary, his sense of responsibility was a bit too heavy. Even for an existence like her, whom he was clearly afraid of and wanted to avoid, when she was in trouble, he would struggle to come and help, and his face would show clear regret afterwards, but the next time it happened, he would still forget the lesson and continue.
As for slacking off in training, it was because he had enough ability that just by taking a little bit of time to plan and arrange, he could achieve results far exceeding those of other trainers. And once he got serious like the other trainers... Grass Wonder didn't know what would happen, but she was sure it would be something beyond people's conventional understanding.
Although her impression of him was not very good at their first meeting, after a period of getting along, as her understanding deepened, her evaluation of him also continued to rise, and now it had reached a considerable level.
However, evaluation is one thing, but if you were to ask if she had romantic feelings for him, the answer would definitely be no.
After all, so far, they had had very little interaction, and it was basically all centered around Special Week. Their understanding of each other was not deep. At most, their current relationship could be considered that of ordinary acquaintances.
But if you were to ask if she liked him, the answer would be yes.
It's just that this "like" was not the kind between a man and a woman, but more like the love for a beautiful flower blooming on the roadside. Or, perhaps "appreciation" would be more appropriate? In short, it was that kind of feeling.
So, she could also understand why so many people on his team were attracted to him.
Yes, that's right. As a master of... no, as a Yamato Nadeshiko who had been involved in some psychological knowledge, Grass Wonder was actually the one who was enjoying the gossip the most on the entire team. Not just Teio and Tachyon, she could even sense some of Special Week's feelings.
Putting other things aside, she had known Special Week for more than a day or two. Although like Silent Suzuka, she had not heard her talk about their past, she was at least very clear that Special Week was not comfortable with men.
And for a girl who was not good at, and even somewhat resistant to, men to be so intimate with a man, only a fool like Suzuka, whose brain was only filled with running, would not realize what that meant.
As for how she felt about it?
She didn't care.
Who Special Week liked had nothing to do with her, Grass Wonder.
Although through some of Shinji's actions, she had gradually realized that he seemed to think she had some strange feelings for Special Week, and she didn't deny it. But the problem was, his definition of "strange feelings" and hers might be a little different.
Perhaps in his eyes, her feelings for Special Week were based on some unspeakable desire. But in reality, she just saw Special Week as her best friend, or that kind of rival and friend. She didn't have many friends to begin with, and only one could be called a best friend. Is it not normal to feel down when being neglected?
Because she was that kind of rival and friend, so she wanted to come here to see her training situation, and by the way, find a chance to compete, urging each other to grow and improve. Isn't that also very normal?
When a concept is preconceived, and one wears colored glasses, then the subsequent series of judgments will be based on the subjective results in one's own mind, and not objective facts.
And if you take off these glasses, discard those preconceived notions, and re-examine her behavior so far, you will find that she has not done anything out of line at all, let alone admitted that she is a yuri.
She knew there were indeed many yuris in Tracen Academy, and she didn't discriminate against them, but she wasn't one. In fact, she was as straight as they come. And think about it, she held herself to the standard of a Yamato Nadeshiko. And a Yamato Nadeshiko, in a sense, represents "tradition," and it wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say she was old-fashioned. Naturally, it would be difficult to be compatible with some progressive views on love.
She just saw Special Week as a very good and important friend. Although in terms of performance, it might have been a bit over the top in some aspects, she really had no feelings for her in that way.
If you had to say, in terms of a certain emotion, she had more for Shinji than for Special Week. After all, his personality, way of doing things, and ability were quite in line with her definition of a good man. It's just that the fact that he attracts girls and is unaware of it is a bit of a headache.
But that's okay. Whether he attracts girls or not has nothing to do with her. After all, she doesn't plan to intervene in this battlefield and just plans to be a spectator.
When she's free, she'll have tea and chat with Eclipse, or talk with Special Week about races, practice, or life, or go out to play. If there's a chance, since he's a nice person, she'll give him a hand when she can.
As for the rest... Even if she's a Yamato Nadeshiko, she's still a woman. How could she not like to watch this kind of show?
And... Recalling the thoughts that had stirred in her heart when she had misunderstood Eclipse once, a certain taboo thought flashed in her mind and was then suppressed. Her brows furrowed and then gradually relaxed.
But even so, even though the thought had been suppressed, thinking about her encounters in the past two weeks, thinking about Special Week and Silent Suzuka sticking together and ignoring her, thinking about that figure who always appeared by her side when she was at her lowest, her steps still faltered slightly, a black wave beginning to ripple in her heart.
Even Special Week, if her favorite thing was taken away, she would definitely be sad and down for a long time, right?
Just like her before.
But soon, in the face of something called dignity and self-control, that wave was quickly suppressed.
No, that's not right. Grass Wonder, what are you thinking?
She gently patted her face, slapping some strange thoughts out, and her eyes also returned to normal after a moment of strangeness.
That kind of behavior is not something a Yamato Nadeshiko should have. Even just thinking about it is rude enough.
With a soft sigh in her heart, the strange emotions were suppressed, and the waves also sank to the bottom of the sea, unable to stir up the slightest ripple again.
...
Meanwhile, after agreeing to Ms. Grass's formal request to join the team, and the gaze from behind also slowly moved away, he took out his notebook and prepared to make some plans for her.
As for the danger of her staying on the team, since he had already agreed, there was no need to dwell on it. And just as he had said before, based on her performance last Saturday, it was basically certain that she saw him as a good brother or a brother-in-law. Plus her yuri attribute, she might even be the safest one on the team.
And even if she wasn't the safest one, at least, as long as her gaze didn't leave Special Week, he was absolutely safe.
And when it did... then they'll talk when it does. Anyway, for now, it's certain that she's safe and there are no problems.
While these random thoughts were swirling in his mind, he began to write and draw in his notebook, drafting a new plan for Ms. Grass.
And just as he was writing and thinking, he heard two footsteps stealthily approaching him from behind.
However, he didn't care.
On one hand, this was the training grounds. It couldn't be said to be deserted, but at least it was bustling with people, and there were also Tracen security team members on guard nearby. Safety was definitely guaranteed.
On the other hand, it was because Eclipse was standing right behind him. If the other party really had malicious intentions towards him, then even if they broke through Tracen's security, the moment they made a move, they would be torn to shreds by Eclipse.
So although he heard that the two footsteps sounded a bit strange, light, and not like those of a Tracen student, he didn't pay too much attention to it, nor did he have any intention of turning around. He remained focused on the notebook in front of him.
And just as he had expected, although those two footsteps sneaked up behind him, they didn't make any further moves, and Eclipse also didn't react. He thought there wouldn't be any major problems. At most, it was just two horse girls who wanted to play a prank and scare him from behind.
However, with this kind of prank, it's fine if the person doesn't know. Once they've been detected, it's impossible to scare them...
After finishing the plan in his hand, he turned his head with a smile, wanting to see which two little fools wanted to scare him.
And then, the moment he saw those two "little fools" clearly, his smile froze, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Good morning, Mr. Kitahara!"
Kitasan Black greeted him with a big smile.
Behind her followed a nervous-looking Satono Diamond, her gaze shifting away.
-------
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