After seeing off the Chairwoman and Hayakawa Tazuna, discussion immediately resumed in the conference room.
The trainers' faces showed a wide range of reactions. Some looked utterly hopeless, already picturing the consequences awaiting them after breaking the news to their tantou.
A few trainers had even pulled out their phones to contact the campus clinic, preemptively booking hospital beds for fractured pelvises—just in case they were all snapped up later.
Others appeared slightly anxious but still felt hopeful, grouping together to discuss paying Mihiro Taishi a visit in the hospital, hoping he might teach them how to balance relationships within a larger team.
Yet others remained indifferent. After all, they already had established teams and seldom concerned themselves with matters beyond training. The new rules or even Black Forest were irrelevant to them; instead of worrying unnecessarily, they preferred to just return to work early.
Kitahara Sota belonged to this last group.
The new rules had little to do with him, and as for Black Forest, the Chairwoman had already assured they'd handle it. That meant everything else was none of his concern.
The explosive growth of Uma Musume and new students transferring in, likewise, had nothing to do with him.
After all, he couldn't control how many Uma Musume existed, and with his team already large enough, even if the student body doubled overnight, it wouldn't affect him at all.
So, after the meeting ended, watching the panicking trainers around him, Kitahara felt utterly calm, even a bit amused—That's what you get for making life complicated. Regretting it now?
Couldn't you all have just learned from me and kept a respectful distance from your Uma Musume? Isn't a nice, clean, money-based relationship perfect?
Shaking his head wistfully, Kitahara didn't linger, quickly chatting with some fellow trainers before heading out. After all, the girls were waiting for him at the activity room.
But just as he left the building, he received a message from Eclipse, telling him they'd already left the activity room and were at the training grounds instead. She asked him to meet them there.
Kitahara didn't doubt this. Uma Musume usually couldn't sit still for too long, often heading to the training grounds when bored. Thus, he went straight over.
As he entered the training grounds, he spotted them from a distance. Before he could even approach, he heard Tokai Teio's voice ring out:
"Trainer-san! Stop right there!"
Kitahara froze for a second. He didn't know why, but he obediently stopped—and then…
Clink.
An object traced a perfect arc through the air and landed squarely in his pocket, ringing clearly against another key already inside.
In that instant, Kitahara realized exactly what was happening.
These girls are treating my pocket as a basketball hoop?!
Face darkening, he reached into his pocket, pulled out both keys to confirm they were intact, and strode over to scold them about losing keys and other potential troubles…
Under normal circumstances, despite his righteous lecturing, these little troublemakers would at least attempt to argue or use their cuteness to charm their way out of trouble.
But today, oddly enough, they remained perfectly docile, accepting every scolding without a single retort, their voices genuinely apologetic.
Agnes Digital, standing nearby, seemed to want to speak up, but after sensing the meaningful glances from the others, she hesitated and eventually lowered her head guiltily without saying anything.
Kitahara briefly suspected their strange behavior, but suddenly remembered he'd uncharacteristically treated them to drinks earlier that afternoon, and suddenly everything made sense.
At least they still have a conscience.
Satisfied by his reasoning, he didn't press the issue, halfheartedly wrapped up his lecture, and reverted to his usual relaxed state, fiddling with his phone.
Seeing he wasn't suspicious, the others exchanged glances and sighed in relief, cheerfully resuming their usual playful banter—just as if nothing had happened.
Peaceful days passed quickly, and before anyone knew it, the third week of training had come to an end.
Aside from Monday's chaotic mess, Kitahara had smoothly coasted through the rest of the week—so smoothly, in fact, that he started to doubt himself.
Given his previous experiences, especially during the first two weeks, he'd almost convinced himself he had some curse that immediately punished him whenever he even thought about slacking off. He'd fully prepared himself for more trouble.
But nothing happened.
The team's Uma Musume had become strangely obedient since Monday. They now assembled punctually each morning, waiting patiently for his arrival before greeting him and starting their training—so much so that he even felt slightly embarrassed.
Outside the team, Black Forest hadn't troubled him again either. He didn't know specifics, but rumors suggested the Chairwoman's actions had gone smoothly, leaving Black Forest too busy protecting itself to threaten Tracen.
Then there was next week's race.
Last Friday, Tokai Teio had told him she planned to enter a basic race next week. Kitahara subsequently spoke separately with Eclipse and Agnes Tachyon regarding their racing schedules.
"Let's schedule them all for the same day to save time," Eclipse suggested. Tachyon and Teio readily agreed.
Unlike major races, basic races happened several times a day. Most Uma Musume might never participate in official races their whole lives, but basic races allowed them practice, relieving boredom or preparing for bigger competitions. Availability was plentiful; booking a few days in advance usually sufficed, sometimes even just the day before, if they didn't mind competing against opponents of uneven skill.
Of course, though scheduled on the same day, Kitahara sensibly put them in separate races. Tachyon and Teio were both top candidates; there was no point in making them compete directly.
As for Eclipse…
Well, Kitahara figured whatever made her happy was fine.
After settling the races, preparation naturally followed—information gathering, course inspection, targeted training, opponent evaluation, and strategy formulation.
Normally, trainers took care of this—even for basic races, which were good practice opportunities for rookies.
But Kitahara did none of it.
Instead, Agnes Digital enthusiastically took over, with Tachyon assisting her, making Kitahara feel like he'd somehow sold her out, yet she was happily counting the money for him.
Digital's own training wasn't neglected, of course; with some help from Kitahara, she had already signed up for a G1 race in June.
Still, Kitahara wasn't heartless. Guilty about continually taking advantage of Digital, he invited her out this Saturday to visit the older Uma Musume's shop, hoping to commission another racing outfit and also fulfill the shop's demand of four visitors.
Digital gladly accepted without hesitation, trusting Kitahara's judgment.
Next, Kitahara considered additional companions. After all, the older Uma Musume had warned him explicitly—less than four people and he wouldn't even be allowed inside.
And knowing her, she'd absolutely enforce it.
He decided to invite Oguri Cap and Special Week, conveniently collecting data on them. As for Grass Wonder…
Kitahara initially hesitated. After all, the group was full already.
But recalling her recent unfortunate circumstances made him waver.
Originally, he'd tried to help Grass Wonder seize a chance with Special Week, who'd been temporarily incapacitated. Yet Grass Wonder hadn't even managed a confession before Special Week summoned Silence Suzuka to her side.
Subsequent opportunities slipped away—first due to Grass Wonder's absent-mindedness, then because she'd returned home to visit family precisely when Special Week was finally alone again.
Now, as Special Week fully recovered and Suzuka still hovered protectively nearby, Grass Wonder could only helplessly watch them interact from afar, entirely excluded.
To make matters worse, as an outsider, Grass Wonder didn't interact much with the rest of the team either, leaving her isolated and increasingly miserable.
Truthfully, Kitahara wanted no part in her tangled affairs.
But witnessing her slow torment—partially caused by his own actions—left him feeling uneasy.
And honestly, Kitahara worried if this continued, Grass Wonder might mentally collapse, triggering darker consequences.
Like a knife. Or maybe a knife. Possibly a knife.
Eclipse could likely restrain her, but the risk still existed.
Besides, he'd previously pushed Special Week toward her purely for self-preservation—doing nothing more felt morally questionable.
After careful consideration, Kitahara finally sighed, deciding to give her another chance.
"Grass Wonder-san, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
He explained the outfit plan and "casually" mentioned Special Week would also join.
Grass Wonder's eyes instantly brightened. She quickly agreed and expressed sincere gratitude.
After two weeks, she'd already vaguely sensed Kitahara's subtle help, but now it was practically explicit.
Seeing her reaction, Kitahara relaxed slightly.
Good luck. This is all the help I can give you.
After confirming Oguri Cap and Special Week's availability, the group was set, plus Eclipse who was practically attached to him anyway.
But later that evening, just as he'd stepped out of the shower, Kitahara received a message from the older Uma Musume:
Two of the three previously ordered outfits—Teio's and Tachyon's—were already finished. She requested he bring them along this Saturday for fitting.
Kitahara: "..."
She did this deliberately. She absolutely did.
First demanding four guests, making him gather everyone else, then suddenly adding Teio and Tachyon the night before—clearly planned.
Yet Kitahara couldn't fathom why.
It was too suspicious.
Moreover, weren't these outfits supposed to take much longer? How had she finished two in less than a week?
He'd known her a long time and recognized her skill, but this speed was absurd…
Yet, sighing deeply, he messaged Eclipse anyway.
Eclipse immediately replied:
[Eclipse]:They both agreed.
Kitahara: "...?"
Why do I feel like someone's deliberately setting me up?