Those people.
Special Week hadn't said exactly who, but Kitahara Sota instantly knew what she meant.
After all, she was different from the others—she'd personally experienced those horrors herself.
But hadn't she forgotten all that? How did she even know…
"Because they're the only ones you'd proactively go after, right, Sato-san?"
Her voice was very soft, completely different from her usual cheerful tone.
"Special Week—"
Kitahara finally realized something was very wrong, but as he opened his mouth, she spoke again, interrupting him.
"If you want me to get off, I will. If you want me to leave, I'll leave. If you don't want me involved, I absolutely won't interfere."
She unconsciously tightened her arms around him, but immediately relaxed her hold, treating him like some precious, fragile treasure.
"I'll listen to whatever you say. But…can I stay here just a little longer?"
"Just a little bit…"
Is she remembering those awful memories and feeling afraid again…?
Feeling her trembling slightly in his arms, Kitahara hesitated but ultimately decided not to push her away.
After another pause, he gently reached up, one hand softly patting her back while the other ran through her hair, comforting her as he'd done countless times before.
"It's okay, everything's fine… I'm right here."
At his gentle reassurance, Special Week's trembling gradually ceased, the dangerous edge in her eyes slowly fading.
No, Special Week...
If you act like this, Sato-san might dislike it. Even worse, he might start to worry about me…
She didn't want him to worry or feel troubled. That's why she carefully restrained her emotions.
Unlike the other Uma Musume, she'd known him practically the longest, spending far more time with him. She'd seen his truest self, knew exactly what he liked and disliked.
So even though her heart stirred dangerously, even though the warmth she desperately longed for was mere inches away, she made no reckless move.
Because she knew clearly—if she ever crossed that line, this precious warmth might disappear completely.
Moreover, the fact that Sato-san allowed her this closeness demonstrated his trust. To betray that trust—forget Sato-san, she herself wouldn't be able to bear it.
Sato-san was her most treasured person, and knowing his likes and dislikes intimately, she would never risk doing anything that could hurt or disgust him.
Of course, no one else would be allowed to either.
But…
Feeling his gentle warmth enveloping her, his soft pats on her back, and the pleasant tingling of his fingers combing through her hair, a quiet contentment crept onto her hidden face.
If he wasn't objecting, she'd gladly indulge a tiny bit of selfishness to satisfy the quiet longing within her.
"Special Week, there's nothing to fear. Those people can't hurt you. Besides, I've talked it over with the URA and reviewed the case files. Maybe thanks to me—I mean, thanks to the Three Goddesses' protection, none of their attempts have succeeded yet. So, you really don't need to worry…"
Considering Special Week didn't know about his own secrets, Kitahara shamelessly credited the three useless goddesses.
"I wasn't afraid..." Special Week muttered softly, leaning her head gently against his shoulder, looking even more satisfied.
This much is fine. Anything more might put Sato-san in an awkward position…
"Alright, alright, you're not scared."
Kitahara continued gently patting her back, pausing briefly before speaking again.
"Anyway, this isn't something you need to worry about. The Chairwoman, Hayakawa-san, and plenty of trustworthy adults will handle it. This is our job, so you just stay here and don't stress yourself."
"I won't."
She obediently nodded without arguing, then paused a moment, her tone turning serious.
"But in exchange, Sato-san, you have to promise me three things."
"...What things?"
"First, if there's ever anything I can help you with, you have to tell me."
"Second, please be careful. I don't want to see you hurt."
"Third, don't leave me behind ever again…like before."
When Special Week spoke the last condition, Kitahara felt a headache coming.
Especially as her voice dropped toward the end, filled with faint pleading, like an abandoned young animal calling for its mother.
"No, that's… Fine, forget it."
Gently patting Special Week's back again, Kitahara sighed deeply, then answered earnestly.
"Alright. I promise you everything. And I'll never leave you behind like before."
"Then pinky swear. Anyone who breaks it is a puppy."
Special Week straightened up, her face returning to its usual silly smile, extending her pinky finger.
Seeing her regain her usual spirits, Kitahara relaxed and hooked his pinky finger around hers.
"No matter when, no matter what happens, no matter what reason you have, you absolutely must never leave me behind again."
Wait a minute, doesn't that wording sound a bit suspicious…?
A faint unease flickered in Kitahara's mind, but before he could examine it closely, Special Week's pleading eyes broke his resistance, and he sighed, nodding reluctantly.
"Alright. I definitely won't."
After making the promise, Special Week happily curled up in Kitahara's arms again, shamelessly enjoying this rare intimacy—even her hair growth slowing slightly from sheer contentment.
Time gradually slipped by as she savored the moment, until finally, the clock on the wall approached curfew, less than half an hour left before the dormitory would close.
"Hey, wake up. It's almost curfew—want me to walk you back?" Kitahara asked gently.
Special Week blinked slowly.
"I don't wanna go back… Can't I just stay here with you tonight…?"
"Nope. I'm walking you back." Kitahara immediately cut her off, his voice firm.
They had indeed lived—and even slept—together before, but that had been out of necessity, and back then Special Week had been just a tiny thing.
Now, without such an emergency, and Special Week fully grown into an attractive young woman capable of eliciting reactions from him, he naturally couldn't agree.
Special Week didn't really expect him to agree either, and after pouting like an annoyed pufferfish for a few seconds, she finally climbed out of his arms.
But before leaving, she paused at the doorway, suddenly remembering that he might've misunderstood her earlier behavior. Feeling bold, she spoke up again.
"Um, Sato-san."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, her tail softly swishing behind her.
"I was wondering if... maybe I could have one of your worn clothes? I mean, for tonight..."
If any other Uma Musume had asked this, Kitahara would've been suspicious of their intentions.
But this was Special Week.
She'd slept cuddled up to him before, and given how his recent actions might've triggered uncomfortable memories, it wasn't unreasonable for her to want something comforting—like his clothing—to hug at night.
Though slightly uneasy, seeing her anxious expression, Kitahara sighed once more, finally agreeing.
But which clothing should he give her?
Previously, due to financial constraints, he barely had any clothes to begin with. And recently, despite having money, he'd been so busy he hadn't even had time to shop, merely popping by the elderly Uma Musume's clothing shop briefly before rushing to the detention center to gather intel.
Fortunately, before he could stress further, Special Week shyly offered a suggestion.
"If you haven't thrown it away yet...that shirt you tore before would be fine…"
Speaking of that incident, Special Week's eyes flashed briefly.
If only I'd been with Sato-san back then… If only I'd been strong enough then like I am now...
"Oh, that one? I haven't thrown it away—I washed it and even had it patched. Let me get it for you."
The shirt had accompanied him during his toughest days, so he'd had the elderly Uma Musume repair it, intending to keep it as a memento. But now it seemed perfect to give it to Special Week.
Afterward, blushing Special Week accepted the clothing, thanked him shyly, and left his dorm.
Once certain he'd closed the door, she quietly slipped into a dark corner, hugging the shirt tightly to her chest and burying her face into it, her expression blissfully satisfied.
Ehehe...it smells so strongly of Sato-san…
This will help me endure until I can properly get closer to Sato-san again…
…
Meanwhile, after sending off Special Week, Kitahara suddenly remembered something critical.
He'd completely forgotten to reply to his senpai's messages...