Setting up matchmaking dates for Kitahara Sota was a decision Symboli Speed had made before learning he'd joined Tracen Academy.
After all, such an outstanding talent couldn't be allowed to slip away to some foolish rival family, could he?
In fact, forget recently—years ago, she'd even entertained the idea of directly snatching him up and raising him under the Symboli household, though certain complications had prevented her from following through.
And now…
"No, absolutely not. This is a terrible idea."
The moment Speed finished speaking, Kitahara shook his head vigorously.
Matchmaking? What a joke.
At Tracen, the word "matchmaking" was essentially a ticking bomb. If a trainer with complicated relationships attempted something like that, disaster would strike; even someone relatively innocent could quickly find trouble.
Although he had carefully maintained proper boundaries with his Uma Musume, Kitahara wasn't about to risk stepping on that minefield.
So, he firmly rejected her suggestion, preparing himself for her inevitable anger.
Yet nothing happened.
For some inexplicable reason, his senpai was unusually agreeable today.
Not only did she not show even a hint of displeasure, but after he declined, she gently reassured him there was no hurry, saying his career should come first. She'd just hold onto these arrangements until he was ready—
It felt oddly suspicious.
Once finished discussing matchmaking, Symboli Speed promptly excused herself, citing other matters, and left without another word.
Shortly afterward, Kitahara returned to his dorm, taking out the portraits, photographing each, and systematically contacting the young Uma Musume to confirm identities.
Time passed.
Before dinner, he confirmed the accuracy of the portraits, selected the three deemed most accurate by the girls, and sent them to his senpai.
After checking the time, he bought beverages as usual, joined his Uma Musume at the training grounds, ate dinner with them, relaxed briefly in the clubroom, and then—
He arrived at Agnes Tachyon's lab.
It also doubled as her living quarters.
Since he'd agreed to take care of Tachyon while Agnes Digital prepared for her upcoming race, naturally he had to fulfill that promise.
Of course, "care" didn't entail much beyond ensuring she strictly followed the lifestyle plan he'd designed.
That meant enforcing a healthy schedule, regulating her diet, making sure she engaged in pre-sleep activities, and preventing her from getting lost in her experiments for too long.
Realistically, another Uma Musume would have been better suited—after all, he couldn't exactly check whether Tachyon slept on time in the middle of the night.
But Tachyon had specifically requested him, and given he owed her a favor, there weren't many other options. Grass Wonder was preoccupied with Special Week, and Nice Nature came with too much intimidating aura baggage.
Thus, after careful consideration, he realized it really had to be him.
Still, Kitahara wasn't overly worried.
Agnes Digital's race was only days away, after which things would return to normal. He just needed to ensure Tachyon didn't create any trouble during this short period.
Minor details—like small deviations in sleep or diet—could be adjusted later if necessary.
The only real concern was Tachyon's habit of sneakily using him as a guinea pig.
But when it came to drugging someone, Kitahara could practically serve as Tachyon's master.
Tachyon might excel at concocting odd potions, but her methods were straightforward, even childish, thanks to her limited experience and school-bound restrictions.
Kitahara, on the other hand, was a master of deadly precision. His drugging techniques were cunning, varied, and entirely ruthless, honed through real-life situations. That experience had made avoiding Tachyon's daily drugging attempts trivial.
Regarding his actual caretaking responsibilities…
After leaving the clubroom and returning to her lab, Agnes Tachyon promptly resumed her daily routine.
Bathing, changing clothes, reading, and promptly burying herself in experiments.
Only to be forcibly dragged out by Kitahara, then made to perform a carefully planned set of physical adjustments before reluctantly drinking a large glass of milk under his watchful eye.
"Don't sit in the same position for too long, pre-sleep stretching is important, particularly leg care. And absolutely no late-night experiments. Sleep early, and remember to drink another glass of milk before bed…"
Kitahara nagged like an overbearing mother.
"I know already," Tachyon drawled lazily, flicking her tail, clearly not taking his instructions seriously.
Yet even while acting dismissive, Tachyon discreetly brushed her sleeve, feeling the vial concealed there, her eyes glittering with excitement.
Ever since being toyed with last time, she'd been plotting revenge—to remind him who was really in control here. Two weeks earlier, she'd finally completed this special potion.
She'd even personally tested it on her "good friend" and herself, ensuring the effects were exactly as desired.
"Excess Pleasure Inhibitor" was what she'd named it.
As the name implied, this potion suppressed excessive sensory pleasure, bringing sensations down to manageable levels.
Overwhelming sensations like tickling or ear-rubbing wouldn't actually become less intense initially—but by the time they reached the brain, they'd be greatly muted, turning unbearable sensations into perfectly manageable ones.
Miraculously, it appeared free from serious side effects. Neither she nor her "good friend" had experienced issues during testing, meaning any potential side effects were likely trivial.
As for exactly how she intended to use it…
After exchanging a brief glance with Eclipse—confirming her silent support—Tachyon seized the chance to drag Kitahara, who'd been reluctantly tidying her lab, into her private bedroom under the guise of needing his help cleaning up.
And then—
Click.
Hearing the door lock behind him, Kitahara raised an eyebrow, turning around to find Tachyon smiling mischievously.
I walked right into this one…
Sighing quietly, he wasn't nervous—just mildly annoyed.
"What now? Failed at sneaking it into my drink, so you're going to force-feed it to me?"
"What do you think, my little guinea pig?" Tachyon teased.
Kitahara shrugged casually. "If you try anything, I'll just call Eclipse."
Tachyon blinked innocently, stepping closer, voice playful yet ominous.
"But, Guinea Pig-kun… This room is almost completely soundproof, you know?"
Silence filled the air.
Then Tachyon chuckled softly.
"Just kidding~" She gently patted his shoulder before walking past him. With him staring in confusion, she sat down calmly on her bed, slowly raising her legs and giving him an inviting wink.
Kitahara froze.
Wait…what exactly is she doing…?
"It's time for leg care, of course," Tachyon stated matter-of-factly.
"Although you listed it as optional, Digital's been strictly following your instructions. Especially since that last race, she's been using your methods on me every day. Honestly, the effects are pretty good, and now I'm used to it. So…"
She gazed meaningfully at Kitahara, patting her legs lightly. Her intentions were unmistakable.
Tachyon admitted she wasn't as naturally lovable as other obedient Uma Musume.
But she at least had these legs—legs she believed Guinea Pig-kun liked very much.
At least, that was her impression.
Even though this felt inappropriate, even though she burned with embarrassment at the idea, the mere thought of someone else stealing him away—of being forced to watch others happily standing beside him while she faded into obscurity—filled her with panic.
He was her guinea pig. How could she possibly let anyone else take him away?
Thus, she had to act decisively to keep him—even if it meant crossing her personal line of comfort slightly.
Yet, as Kitahara faced Tachyon's bold request, his expression grew subtly complicated.
This girl… really now…
Does she never learn?
Although half a month had passed since the preliminary races, Kitahara Sota still vividly remembered Agnes Tachyon's reaction—the resistance and annoyance she displayed towards him afterward.
Yet here she was again, barely a few days after recovering, repeating the same—wait?
He suddenly noticed Tachyon slipping something back into her sleeve, with faint purple traces lingering at the corners of her mouth.
Kitahara paused for a second before realizing what was going on, his eyelid twitching slightly.
Oh god. This girl took something to withstand this? Seriously?
Did it really warrant going this far?
Then again, thinking about it more carefully, girls her age tended to be stubborn. Combine that with the competitive nature of Uma Musume, and it wasn't strange for her to harbor some resentment after losing face last time. It was understandable she might want to regain her pride, or even take a bit of revenge.
Still… taking a potion for that?
Kitahara sighed inwardly, then walked over to her.
Originally, he'd been worried that this kind of personal care might unintentionally increase affection. But after experiencing it firsthand during the last session, he realized it was probably safer than he'd initially thought. Far from raising affection, he was lucky it hadn't plummeted further.
Realistically, true "personal care" involved more than just leg massages—some elements even required close physical contact, which was his real concern. If it was only about a regular leg massage, he supposed it was acceptable.
Plus, based on Tachyon's determined look—clearly, she intended to settle the score, even resorting to drugs—he likely wouldn't escape without indulging her this once.
And admittedly, her previously negative reaction to his massages made Kitahara wonder if occasionally doing this might actually help keep her affection manageable.
Thus, after some hesitation, he agreed to her request, a subtle gleam flashing in his eyes.
Though Tachyon clearly came prepared, he was genuinely curious: would her potion win out, or would his skills prevail?
After all, last time he had barely put in any effort—purely out of professional habit. This time, however, he'd test the true limits of her potion's effect.
Seeing Kitahara suddenly grow serious and steadily approaching, Tachyon's earlier confidence began to falter slightly. She quickly reassured herself internally.
It'll be fine. I tested the potion myself.
It worked flawlessly, even on her notoriously sensitive ears, which no one else had ever dared touch. Compared to that, a simple leg massage shouldn't pose any challenge at all…
"Ah…"
When Kitahara gently grasped her ankle, Tachyon nearly squeaked—but purely out of embarrassment this time, not pleasure.
Unlike last time, however, despite her initial reaction, she quickly regained her composure. Even the nervous swishing of her tail slowed down significantly.
Because the potion had indeed worked.
She felt clear stimulation from her legs, possibly even stronger than last time—but by the time it reached her brain, it had been reduced to a manageable, mild comfort.
It was a fascinating feeling—her body clearly registering sensations, yet her consciousness felt detached, as if observing everything from a third-person perspective.
Guinea Pig-kun's really getting serious now…
Watching his focused expression, Tachyon grew steadily calmer, gaining confidence. Interest and mischief sparkled in her eyes, distracting her from noticing something was subtly off.
Playfully, she began wiggling her foot, gently poking at Kitahara's arm with freshly washed toes.
When he lightly swatted her away in annoyance, she pretended curiosity, leaning forward to closely observe his massage technique. Her face moved closer to his ear, a teasing smile spreading.
"Guinea Pig-kun, you're working so hard…"
Her voice was sweet, yet carried an obvious challenge—almost as if she were saying, "Is this all you've got?"
Kitahara's eyes narrowed slightly.
Just as expected. She'd come fully prepared.
Looks like it was time to get serious.
The next instant, his movements intensified sharply, both speed and strength rising dramatically.
"Ah—!"
The sudden escalation nearly drew a cry from Tachyon. Luckily, thanks to the potion, by the time it reached her mind, the sensation was still within tolerable limits.
Once calm again, she sensed his seriousness and felt her excitement build, her smile widening brazenly. Boldly, she reached out and gently touched his cheek.
"Guinea Pig-kun, if you're tired, you can rest, you know?"
Tired? Heh, we're just getting started.
Kitahara's eyes grew colder.
For a caregiver, a client having zero reaction during a massage felt like an insult to their skill.
Provoked by Tachyon's casual taunts, Kitahara ramped things up another two notches, doubling his previous intensity and using both hands now.
Yet Tachyon remained unruffled, even playfully stroking his hair, her face moving even closer.
"Guinea Pig-kun…"
Fifty percent!
At her next teasing whisper, Kitahara's massage instantly intensified even further.
Finally, this time Tachyon couldn't utter another teasing word.
Ha! Just as I thought—a mere potion could never withstand my carefully honed technique—
Kitahara mentally sighed in relief, prepared to continue at this level to prove his superiority without causing her discomfort.
But suddenly, his thoughts froze.
Mid-massage, a warm, soft sensation enveloped his earlobe.
A gentle sucking sensation followed, and something warm, moist, and soft brushed along the edge, carefully, hesitantly probing deeper.
The girl was clearly inexperienced, her movements stiff and clumsy—but there was earnestness in her hesitant efforts, a genuine desire to do it right.
Kitahara's hands stopped abruptly.
"Tachyon, you—"
"Oh, was it uncomfortable?"
She pulled back, embarrassment mixed with apology in her eyes.
"Sorry, it's my first time trying this. I just thought since Guinea Pig-kun always makes me feel good, maybe I should repay you a little. But I guess I just made things awkward instead…"
"Wait, no—Tachyon, you…"
Even Kitahara could clearly sense something strange about her condition.
Outwardly she seemed calm—even serene—but her aura had shifted drastically from moments ago.
"Hm? Me? Ah…you noticed, then…"
Tachyon smiled gently, her tone calm and explanatory.
"To put it simply, to avoid embarrassing myself during your massage, I took a potion I developed that suppresses excess sensations."
"It worked fine during tests, but now it seems there were some unforeseen side effects. Currently, I might appear, hmm…a little different than usual."
She paused thoughtfully, then continued reassuringly.
"But it's okay, Guinea Pig-kun. My current state isn't dangerous, so don't worry—in fact, it feels even better than normal. If you don't believe me…"
"How about touching my ears? Normally, I'd never allow anyone to do this."
Saying this, Tachyon removed her earmuffs, gently taking his hand and placing it on her exposed ear. When Kitahara hesitated, her ear even pressed itself eagerly into his palm, rubbing lightly.
"How is it? Feels good, doesn't it?"
Her face flushed lightly, due to the sensitivity of her ears.
Watching Tachyon's strange and suddenly bold behavior, Kitahara felt his eyelid twitch.
"Tachyon, please act normal. You're making me uneasy…"
"You don't have to worry so much, Guinea Pig-kun. I won't hurt you."
Sitting serenely, Tachyon offered him a gentle smile.
"Or if you're really worried, I'll give you all my potions. I can even show you every hiding spot in this room."
"And if that's still not enough, I have a potion that temporarily immobilizes Uma Musume. Its side effects are uncertain, but I'm sure it's safe—"
Suddenly pulling out a vial filled with grayish liquid, she prepared to drink it without hesitation.
Alarmed, Kitahara immediately snatched the vial away.
But before he could even sigh in relief, small arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him gently into her embrace.
"See? Guinea Pig-kun, you're too kind. That kindness might get you tricked someday."
She held him softly, smiling happily.
Tachyon's arms weren't forceful; Kitahara easily slipped free, stepping back cautiously, expression turning serious.
"Tachyon, what exactly happened to you?"
"You still can't guess? Guinea Pig-kun, you're truly dense sometimes."
Tachyon considered answering honestly but playful impulses resurfaced.
"How about this? Let's make a deal. Touch my ears again, and I'll tell you everything."
Kitahara hesitated, but Tachyon's expectant gaze forced him to concede. With a resigned sigh, he carefully stroked her ears twice, then quickly withdrew his hand.
"Alright, I did it. Now explain!"
"You're so stingy, Guinea Pig-kun… I never let anyone else touch my ears, you know."
Kitahara shot her a frustrated look. "Get to the point!"
"Well, it's actually simple." Tachyon gazed earnestly into his eyes, speaking softly.
"I just realized that the potion doesn't merely suppress pleasure. It seems to chemically convert excessive stimulation into something else, like…"
"Affection."
Kitahara stared blankly, doubting his ears.
"…What?"
Smiling gently, Tachyon repeated clearly:
"I mean, the potion's unexpected side effect converts excess stimulation into affection—or, specifically, affection toward you, Guinea Pig-kun."
His eyes widened in horror.
"Wait—then that means—"
"Yes, exactly what you're thinking."
Looking up at him tenderly, her eyes overflowing with warmth, she admitted softly:
"Right now, I don't think I can focus on anything but how much I like you."