After Inari One finished washing up and getting ready, she quickly slipped into her casual clothes.
She and Fujimasa March gave each other a once-over, then both nodded.
"Alright—looks good!"
"Let's go!!"
They left the dorm together.
Crossing the quiet academy paths, they soon arrived at Kuroha's dorm room.
But instead of the lights being on as expected, the interior was pitch-dark.
Fujimasa March knocked softly and called out,
"Trainer, we're here. Are you inside?"
"I'm here—come in!"
After a few seconds of silence, Kuroha's voice came from inside.
The two girls exchanged a knowing glance, took a deep breath, and gently pushed the door open.
The instant the door cracked open—
Bang! Bang!
The darkness was shattered by the sudden glow of warm yellow lights, and along with it came not silence, but—
A cascade of colorful paper confetti burst like tiny fireworks, fluttering down to cover their hair and shoulders.
The table had been moved to the center of the room, covered with a dazzling array of dishes. The air was thick with mouthwatering aromas.
Kuroha stood by the door, holding the just-fired party popper in his hand, his smile warmer than the lights themselves.
"Surprise!"
His voice carried a joyful laugh. "You've all worked hard! Tonight's our victory celebration—dig in!"
The two Uma Musume blinked, momentarily stunned at the elaborate setup, before instinctively stepping inside, glancing around.
The walls were lined with colorful paper chains, and a dozen balloons drifted from the ceiling.
The decorations were simple, but the atmosphere was festive—and the spread of food was impossibly rich.
"Trainer, you made all this in just one hour?"
Inari One looked up in disbelief, her little horse ears twitching rhythmically.
Kuroha paused, rubbing his cheek with his thumb thoughtfully. "Was it too simple?"
"Mmm… maybe the ingredients weren't enough, next time I'll—"
Fwoom!
Before he could finish, a slender figure pressed into his chest.
Looking down, he saw Fujimasa March with her head buried against him, arms wrapped around his waist, saying nothing.
But from Inari One's 1.39-meter perspective, it was easy to spot the faint blush on March's cheeks and the shy, excited gleam in her eyes.
The little twin-tailed fox felt as if she'd taken a thousand points of damage—critical hit!
Kuroha, feeling the warmth of the gray-haired girl in his arms, froze for a moment before gently patting her head.
"Congratulations, March~"
"…It's all thanks to you, Trainer," she murmured into his chest.
"Alright, then let's—Hey! Inari One, why are you already eating?!"
At the table, Inari One was already venting her "grievance" through her appetite, picking up a piece of fried tofu and popping it into her mouth.
"A banquet's for eating!" she declared righteously.
"Trainer, try this."
"Hey! That special carrot steak was for me!"
"Here, March!"
Soon the room was filled with playful banter as Fujimasa March's victory banquet rolled on in lively fashion.
...
Time slipped by unnoticed.
By 2 a.m., Kuroha gave his head a small shake—on his left leg, Inari One was resting; on his right shoulder, Fujimasa March was leaning, both girls sound asleep.
They hadn't been drinking—there had only been juice tonight—but they'd played themselves into exhaustion.
March had come straight from the race and Winner's Stage already tired; the post-banquet fun had been too much for her.
As for Inari One, her body clock had simply run out.
Feeling the warm weight on his shoulder and leg, Kuroha gave a helpless smile.
Inari One's sleeping posture was restless, her head shifting around, while March's breathing was steady, her long lashes fluttering faintly under the moonlight.
What now?
He couldn't exactly wake them and send them back to their dorms.
"…There's a guest room. I'll set up two fresh futons and let them stay here tonight."
Ōi Tracen Academy's trainer dorms were generously equipped—the standard was a three-bedroom, one-living-room setup.
Carefully laying the two girls on the sofa, Kuroha prepared the guest room and then gently carried them in one by one.
"Don't you kick the blankets off, Inari," he whispered, switching off the light and softly closing the door.
But as soon as the door clicked shut, Inari One's eyes cracked open. Sleepy, but not as deep in slumber as she'd seemed.
"I won't kick them," she muttered before yawning, curling into the blanket, and drifting back off.
"You owe me one, March."
Carrying Fujimasa March into the room, Kuroha set her down on the bed with care, tucking her in.
"Good night, March," he said softly, smiling before turning to leave—
Snap!
A gentle tug on his wrist stopped him. Turning back, he saw March's eyes open, her gaze unsteady, her ears drooping with nervousness.
"…Trainer, I'm feeling a bit unwell… could you give me another massage?"
Her clear voice was hesitant, tinged with shyness.
"Not feeling well?"
He instinctively activated [Body and Breath Perception]. After scanning her condition, he fell silent for a moment.
"…Are you really not feeling well, March?"
"…Trainer, I…"
She shrank deeper under the blanket, face burning red, her mind a complete mess.
The Trainer's looking at me. What do I do? Should I say it? How?
Her mind flashed through memories—his gentle invitation back in Kasamatsu, the days they'd trained side by side, the way he focused before a race, the smile when they won.
'Trainer's a blockhead!' Inari One's teasing echoed in her mind.
Was he really a blockhead?
March lifted her head to meet his eyes—familiar, starry, and deep—and her courage ignited.
"I…"
Clenching her teeth, she suddenly sat up, her face fully crimson.
"I like you, Trainer! I want to be with you!"
There—it was out!
Before she could even close her eyes to brace for rejection, she felt a warm embrace wrap around her, and a gentle voice said—
"I like you too, March."
She froze, and in the next moment, the sharpness in her expression melted into softness. She curled up quietly against him.
Kuroha, feeling the girl's calm breathing, let out a breath of relief.
No one could have guessed what he'd seen when he'd activated [Body and Breath Perception] just now.
If her request for a "reward" back in the Keihin Cup was a "1," then just now was a "10."
Not shocking enough to startle him—but definitely surprising.
Still, he would never ignore the feelings of one of his girls.
"Feeling better now?" he asked, ruffling her hair.
Glancing at his still-active skill's readout—
Wait… 20?! What the—
"Trainer… didn't you say if I won the Haneda Hai, I could get what I wanted?"
Her voice grew smaller with every word, occasionally peeking up at his face.
"…Well."
His eyes drifted to his system panel:
[Stamina: G1-Class] (Possesses stamina comparable to a G1-entry-level Uma Musume)
…He should be able to handle it, right?
That night, neither of them slept.
(End of Chapter)
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