After finalizing all his arrangements, Kitahara Sota's life gradually became hectic.
And naturally, the main cause of his newfound busyness was Agnes Digital.
Though he had previously managed to contain her negative emotions, the potion's effects lingered, leaving her emotionally fragile and barely able to withstand any setbacks.
To ensure she didn't get hurt during this sensitive period, Kitahara decided to keep her by his side nearly twenty-four hours a day.
He stuck to their regular daytime training schedule, kept her close during breaks, shared meals and leisure time together, and even arranged for Eclipse to keep her company in his dorm at night.
And it wasn't merely companionship.
Due to Agnes Digital's identity, she had a considerable workload:
Fan interactions, forum moderation, creating fan art and fiction, costume design…
With the potion-induced condition affecting her, she found even basic training difficult, let alone handling all these responsibilities.
Worse yet, any minor mishap during her duties risked triggering massive emotional breakdowns, and that would spell disaster.
Some tasks could be postponed under the guise of illness, but others simply couldn't be avoided.
Though forcibly canceling was an option, if Agnes Digital learned that her absence had caused trouble, her mental state would spiral out of control.
After much deliberation, despite his lack of experience, Kitahara steeled himself to shoulder her responsibilities.
Yet to keep Agnes Digital from realizing how much trouble he was having, he couldn't ask her directly. After agonizing over it, he reluctantly turned to the last person he wanted to approach...
Symboli Rudolf.
As Tracen's revered "Emperor," Symboli Rudolf might struggle with interacting gently with children or minor nuances, but her skill in handling practical affairs far surpassed Agnes Digital's—and she was well-versed in practically everything.
Of course, when Kitahara approached her, Rudolf didn't refuse.
After all, she'd been wracking her brain on how to redeem herself after previously leaving him with a negative impression.
Now, this opportunity presented itself neatly—allowing her to both rectify their relationship and assess his capabilities, possibly even nurturing his growth. Where else could she find such a perfect chance?
Listening to his explanation, Rudolf's admiration for Kitahara only grew deeper.
Agnes Digital was merely one of the Uma Musume in his team; simply helping contain her negative emotions was already more than commendable. There was no obligation to take things this far; he could have left the rest to Rudolf or Chairwoman Akikawa.
Yet, without hesitation, he stepped forward himself.
Averse to trouble, inexperienced in handling these matters, yet still unhesitatingly standing on the front lines…
Of course, Rudolf admired someone like him—though she couldn't help but feel slightly concerned.
After all, seeing the atmosphere in his team, if Agnes Digital were also to fall for him, his pelvis…
Rudolf was already considering whether she should request a specialized pelvis-care team from the Symboli family.
Besides Rudolf, another unexpected figure also provided substantial help:
Satono Diamond.
Although she and Kitasan Black had maintained relatively low profiles recently, Satono Diamond's progress behind the scenes had been anything but modest.
She hadn't openly tried inserting herself into Kitahara's life or requested him as a trainer.
In fact, she'd subtly hinted multiple times that the Satono family had already assigned trainers for her and Kitasan; once they formally enrolled, those trainers would immediately step into their roles, severing any connection between herself and Kitahara.
This significantly lowered Kitahara's guard, allowing him to overlook how Satono Diamond had gradually grown closer.
Casual greetings evolved into ordinary conversations, then gradually progressed to discussing personal interests…
From bringing snacks in Kitasan's name, to innocently requesting small favors and gifting him in return, and eventually even asking him to taste test desserts she'd personally prepared under the pretense of culinary critique…
Satono Diamond wasn't impatient—she was boiling him like a frog, slowly but persistently turning up the heat.
And, after days of gradual progression, though the water wasn't boiling yet, it certainly wasn't cold anymore either.
At precisely this moment, upon learning of Kitahara's predicament, she took the initiative to offer assistance for the first time, generously sharing knowledge she'd acquired in the Satono family's private schooling.
Thanks to these two exceptionally capable allies, combined with Kitahara's earnest efforts, he transformed from a complete novice into someone just competent enough to manage these responsibilities—in merely three days.
Yet, precisely at this moment, another unexpected situation arose.
"Um…Kitahara-san, can I stay over at your place tonight, too?"
Grass Wonder looked utterly exhausted as she asked, while Special Week, standing awkwardly nearby, avoided eye contact.
Initially, when Grass Wonder entrusted Special Week with her care, she was thrilled—after all, any additional time spent with her dear friend was always welcome.
But after the first night passed, she secretly began to regret her choice.
It wasn't that Special Week was unwilling or deliberately mistreating her.
On the contrary, Special Week's enthusiasm for caregiving was genuine; her attitude was impeccable, and her intentions were sincere.
The problem was that Special Week had spent her entire life being cared for by others and lacked any practical experience in looking after someone else.
Though Special Week's intellect had improved somewhat recently thanks to her personal growth, her inherent clumsiness remained unchanged—or rather, had worsened with her rapid mental maturity.
And then…
No. There was no "and then."
After enduring two nights of torment, Grass Wonder desperately sought help from her hot-blooded, airheaded roommate, hoping for temporary relief.
But instead of improving things, switching caregivers only intensified the suffering—and now her room reeked of chili sauce after an entire night of chaos.
At this point, Grass Wonder truly reached her limit.
Although she knew it was highly improper for a dignified Yamato Nadeshiko to stay overnight at the men's dorm, she feared she wouldn't survive the next two weeks otherwise.
Seeing Grass Wonder's pitiful state and catching a whiff of the lingering chili scent around her, Kitahara hesitated briefly before finally agreeing to her request—despite some reservations.
Even Agnes Digital, upon hearing Grass Wonder's traumatic tale, nearly burst into sympathetic tears.
Thus, on the fourth evening, Grass Wonder joined the growing occupancy in Kitahara's dormitory.
However, it was only after Grass Wonder had settled in that Kitahara suddenly remembered something important...
Today, if nothing unexpected happened, it seemed like… probably… perhaps…
...
It was time for Nice Nature's second round of care.
Back during those two previous months, Kitahara Sota had performed daily treatments without fail.
But this time, since the care had just resumed, even though he felt confident theoretically, he still needed intervals between sessions to observe effects and potential side effects.
More importantly, he worried that continuous daily treatments right after restarting might mentally overwhelm Nature, so he deliberately allowed some buffer time.
Yet, precisely because of this, the timing of the second treatment couldn't be postponed further.
The interval had already been stretched to its limit to give Nature ample rest. If he delayed longer, the effects of the first treatment might fade completely before the second could reinforce them, risking a relapse—or worse.
As for concerns about others losing sleep because of Nature's presence—that was minor.
After each session, Nice Nature's overwhelming aura weakened significantly, becoming even milder than an average Uma Musume's. It wouldn't fully recover until the following morning.
But that wasn't the real issue.
The real issue was that, barring any unexpected incidents, this time he'd be performing Nature's treatment under the watchful eyes of Agnes Digital and Grass Wonder.
Because of that, he privately contacted Nice Nature beforehand, carefully asking her how she felt about the situation.
Although Nice Nature felt deeply embarrassed—her tail had practically spun into fifth gear behind her—she still resolutely agreed.
She had already lost him once because of her own cowardice and avoidance.
This time, no matter what, she wouldn't shrink away or run.
Since Nature had already agreed so bravely, Kitahara naturally couldn't refuse.
And so, later that evening, he brought Nice Nature to his dormitory and began her treatment under the curious gazes of Agnes Digital and Grass Wonder.
Bathing, changing clothes, placing the towel in her mouth, applying the medicine—and finally, beginning the official treatment…
Up until the medicine-application stage, both Grass Wonder and Agnes Digital still found the scene somewhat strange, but not entirely unacceptable.
After all, plenty of trainers practiced massage techniques to help their Uma Musume relax after a tough day. Some even went beyond relaxation straight into the bedroom—this wasn't unheard of.
But why did he put a towel in her mouth?
They were puzzled.
However, their confusion lasted only a few seconds longer. As soon as Kitahara's hands touched Nature's body, they immediately understood.
Unlike other Uma Musume who knew nothing about specialized care, Agnes Digital was well-versed in this field.
Her knowledge was quite deep. Instantly recognizing the subtlety and precision in Kitahara's technique, she quickly found herself fascinated.
Grass Wonder, though unfamiliar with these specific treatments, had dabbled—or rather, deeply studied—psychology, as befitting a proper Yamato Nadeshiko. Observing closely, she could determine the sincerity of someone's reactions from subtle movements and details.
She swiftly realized that Nature wasn't acting at all. Nature was genuinely reacting to intense stimulation—even beginning to lose consciousness toward the end.
After finishing Nature's treatment and instructing Eclipse to carry her off to rest, Agnes Digital immediately approached Kitahara eagerly, asking if she could learn this technique.
"Sure," Kitahara replied casually, not seeing any harm.
But the problem was, Agnes Digital acted far too quickly.
The moment Kitahara agreed, she asked if they could start lessons immediately.
Kitahara hesitated briefly. "Uh, Nature's already resting. Maybe next time…"
"It's fine! I'll do it myself! Besides, personally experiencing it will deepen my understanding."
Without waiting for a response, Agnes Digital voluntarily lay down on the treatment table.
Now, Kitahara was truly at a loss.
He knew perfectly well how intense his treatment could be. Given Agnes Digital's current fragile mental state, if he accidentally caused her to feel repulsed, it would create huge problems…
But refusing wasn't an option either. He saw the hopeful gleam in Agnes Digital's eyes. If he refused her now, she might start doubting his sincerity, undoing all his careful efforts…
And he didn't have the luxury of thinking too long—because given her current condition, prolonged hesitation might lead Agnes Digital to believe he found her burdensome or troublesome.
After quickly weighing his options, Kitahara ultimately nodded in agreement.
Although he accepted her request, he had no intention of going full strength. He decided to perform a highly restrained, watered-down version of the treatment. That way, if she asked later, he could explain it as purely instructional.
After all, making her lose consciousness immediately wouldn't help her learn anything useful.
But when he began, Kitahara soon realized he had worried unnecessarily.
In a certain sense, pleasure was a form of positive feedback—which, because of the potion's effects, was blocked from overwhelming Agnes Digital. She managed to endure the entire treatment with perfect composure, clearly experiencing each step.
"Kitahara-senpai, you're amazing…"
Afterward, Agnes Digital praised him wholeheartedly, her internal defenses loosening further.
But Grass Wonder, observing this, became increasingly perplexed.
Nature's reaction hadn't seemed fake, yet Agnes Digital's composure also felt completely genuine. The same treatment, yet two entirely different reactions—so which was normal…?
At this moment, having watched Kitahara care for two others, Eclipse also began feeling nostalgic about past sensations.
Without even consulting Kitahara, she simply lay down on the treatment table next.
Kitahara smiled helplessly at Eclipse's sudden action, yet obediently gave her the treatment too.
And this time, he exerted far more strength than with Agnes Digital—fully unleashing about thirty percent of his true capabilities.
Yet even then, Eclipse's reaction remained mild. She wore a faint expression of contentment, not even blushing slightly.
This didn't surprise Kitahara.
After all, the reason he could accurately gauge his strength levels was precisely because he had practiced extensively on Eclipse, using her reactions as the standard.
Seeing Eclipse's understated response, Grass Wonder became even more curious.
Could it be that Miss Nature was simply overly sensitive? Why did the other two seem unaffected…?
While Grass Wonder pondered this deeply, Kitahara turned toward her, offering politely, "Would you like to try as well?"
Honestly, Kitahara hadn't really wanted to invite her.
But after treating three others, leaving Grass Wonder out would make him feel awkward—like she might suddenly blurt out, "What about me?"
Moreover, thanks to recent events and their growing camaraderie, their bond had steadily strengthened.
Considering Grass Wonder's calm demeanor, Kitahara figured a bit more contact wouldn't create any major issues.
Under normal circumstances, Grass Wonder would politely refuse Kitahara's suggestion.
A proper Yamato Nadeshiko should carefully maintain an appropriate distance from men, after all.
Plus, Kitahara had just treated three people in a row, undoubtedly exhausted. Imposing further would be inappropriate.
But the issue was, she was just too curious.
It was merely a simple therapeutic massage. Could it really cause such extreme reactions?
After briefly hesitating, her curiosity finally won out. With Eclipse's gentle assistance, Grass Wonder slowly lay down.
And then, in the very next moment, the instant she felt Kitahara's hands on her body—
Her gentle smile froze.
...
Half an hour later, on Kitahara's bed...
Eclipse and Agnes Digital silently exchanged glances, sighing softly before each taking responsibility to care for one of the two currently incapacitated, barely conscious individuals.
Curiosity truly did kill the cat.