Looking at Grass Wonder, slumped on the grass not far away, Kitahara Sota could sum up his feelings toward her in one phrase:
Pity her misfortune, rage at her incompetence.
That was the elegant way of putting it.
The plain way?
I gave you the chance, and you still blew it!
Same team. Already half-in a "deadweight" state. Kitahara constantly creating opportunities, constantly handing out assists…
Not to mention—July, August, those two months during summer camp.
Silence Suzuka was away the whole time.
And because she had to keep an eye on Mikuni Taishi's horse girls, she was so drained she rarely even talked to Special Week on LINE.
Meanwhile, Grass Wonder spent those two months practically glued to Special Week, day and night.
Countless chances to bond. Countless openings to grow closer. And Kitahara himself, tossing in assists from the side whenever he could.
How huge was that advantage? Anyone could see it.
"Dragon knight spawn-camping the face," wasn't even an exaggeration.
But despite this—despite a 180-pop army versus 120-pop army, a completely one-sided situation—Grass Wonder still lost.
And not just lost. Lost so hard it couldn't have been worse.
Because, according to what Kitahara later learned—within just a couple days after he left the training ground, Silence Suzuka came over to his team.
And it wasn't anyone dragging her—Special Week herself had invited her.
And once Suzuka arrived?
Special Week clung to her without hesitation. "Suzuka-chan, Suzuka-chan," all day, every day.
Not that she was ignoring Grass Wonder on purpose. But Grass Wonder wasn't the type to push forward herself.
So she could only watch silently from the sidelines, looking more and more withered each day.
And Kitahara's opinion?
What else could he think?
So many chances, and she hadn't seized a single one. In the end, she'd simply watched Special Week walk away in front of her eyes. Couldn't even muster the courage to compete with Suzuka.
If that's not "losing dog," what is?
As for why Silence Suzuka was in his team at all—Kitahara had later dug into it.
"This was earlier this year. Mikuni Taishi nearly snapped again—tried to take in three new charges all at once…"
"Though his girls stopped him in time, the discussion with his family, his girls, and even the Chairwoman made it clear. He couldn't go on like this. They wanted him to retire early."
"Taishi didn't object. But he asked for one thing: that Suzuka temporarily leave his team."
"Not that he wanted to abandon her. But he couldn't rely on her forever. He wanted to try facing his girls alone, as preparation for life after retirement."
"And Suzuka was his last charge, only debuted a year ago, with far more talent than his others. If he retired early, the older ones could quit with him. But her? No way."
"So, yes, part of it was practice for life without her. But also, he wanted her to find a trainer and team of her own. Not have her future ruined by his."
That was what Komata Hajime had told him.
Looking at Suzuka now, already completely blended into his team, Kitahara thought.
"So… she's here because…"
Komata nodded.
"Mm. She wants to apply to join us. Though honestly, it wasn't Suzuka who brought it up. Special Week saw her troubled and pulled her in herself. And now… you see."
On paper, it should've been odd.
With the Kitahara Cup growing harsher, no one should want more competitors joining.
But Special Week aside—she and Suzuka were close, even roommates. Of course she'd welcome her.
But the others?
They were welcoming too.
The reason was simple.
Once they understood Suzuka had acted as a "safety valve" in Mikuni Taishi's chaotic harem-like team, they realized—she might be exactly what they needed now.
Any other horse girl wanting to join would've been met with reluctance, at best polite neutrality.
But Suzuka was different.
Everyone at Tracen knew the legend of Mikuni Taishi.
Since the school's founding, almost no trainer had carried sixteen charges on his shoulders. A legend, in his own way.
And Suzuka had been the "safety valve" that kept such an impossible team stable. Her value was obvious.
And with the Kitahara Cup intensifying, the girls were realizing something.
Yes, rules were anything goes. Yes, everyone was secretly "sneaking runs" behind the scenes.
But they all agreed on one thing.
They did not want to hurt Kitahara Sota.
That was the Cup's bottom line.
Because the point of victory was to take the trophy with him.
If they harmed him to get it—never mind others' hatred, they themselves wouldn't forgive it.
But as competition escalated, who knew what could happen?
One day, in the heat of it, someone might cross a line that couldn't be undone.
So, though unspoken, they all knew.
The Cup needed an outsider as insurance.
And Suzuka, who had once been Taishi's safety valve, seemed perfect.
…What they didn't know was that the rumor wasn't quite true.
Yes, Suzuka's presence had eased some pressure. But it was icing on the cake at most.
The real survival of Mikuni Taishi's insanity was his own effort. His careful picks of non-talented, mild-tempered, non-possessive girls. Tracen's support. The Guard's supervision. Free high-level medical aftercare.
But above all—his own will.
Suzuka's contribution, most days, was just standing there as his sister-in-law.
The girls didn't want to act out too wildly in front of family. That was all.
But that detail never left the team, so the outside world only saw her as an expert at surviving heavy track conditions.
So, when news spread she wanted a new team—Kitahara's girls didn't just accept. They welcomed her.
Because to them, Kitahara's situation looked exactly like Taishi's.
Having Suzuka here meant fewer chances for accidents.
Suzuka herself didn't know any of this.
So when everyone welcomed her, she only felt flattered. Relieved, too.
Because when she had first arrived, Kitahara was already busy with the hunter mess.
She only saw the girls during training, never after.
And with Komata Hajime being reliable and present through the holidays, she thought the team was "normal."
Special Week was here. The girls welcomed her. The atmosphere seemed wonderful.
And, best of all—it was far away from heavy track conditions.
After a month of this, her view of Kitahara's team grew ever more favorable. She was already discussing with Special Week how to join.
Kitahara didn't oppose.
Partly because he and Mikuni Taishi were on good terms.
Taishi had even asked him privately to look after Suzuka.
Partly because this made him feel safer.
Taishi's example was clear—his own team would block new girls fiercely.
But here—before Kitahara even said a word, his girls were already welcoming Suzuka in.
Wasn't that proof their relationship with him was normal? That they had no weird designs?
So after hearing Komata's explanation, Kitahara thought—he'd talk with Taishi again.
If nothing seemed wrong, he'd accept Suzuka.
A favor returned, and a nod of respect to a fellow trainer.
But that was for later. She couldn't officially switch until the break ended.
Right now, he had something more pressing.
His gaze drifted from Suzuka and Special Week—to Grass Wonder, huddled lonely on the grass.
Kitahara was silent a moment. Then sighed, stepping forward.
Yes, a loser who wasted every chance didn't deserve pity.
But…
For the sake of brotherhood, I'll pull you up one more time.