Stunned by Oguri Cap's utterly clueless behavior, the two of them exchanged glances, both feeling the same mix of exasperation and the urge to do something about that big lug.
'That Oguri Cap… I really need to give her a proper talking-to one of these days.'
"Oguri, I swear I'm going to teach you the right way to ask people for favors someday…"
Though their ideas of what to do about it were clearly quite different.
Taking a few deep breaths to cool his head, Kitahara Jo silently tucked the letter away. Even though he felt like his heartfelt emotions had just been fed to a certain dappled-haired creature, he still carefully slipped the letter into his pocket.
Nearl noticed this and gave a slight nod of approval.
"Cherishing his companions—that alone makes him worthy of being my trainer."
As someone who aspired to become an Uma Musume, Nearl naturally had some understanding of what it meant to be a trainer. Her criteria for choosing one, however, likely differed from that of most other horse girls.
Ability didn't matter, because Nearl was certain she would win every race. Financial resources weren't important either; she had no interest in luxury, not even a victory celebration.
Whether a trainer could constantly focus on her wasn't a concern—she knew everyone had their own responsibilities, and it wasn't fair to expect a trainer to revolve solely around her.
Nor did it matter if they could intuitively understand her feelings; she wasn't the type to make unreasonable demands. As long as the trainer's words made sense, she would rationally consider them.
But character was important. Nearl could never accept a trainer who was dishonorable or malicious.
If someone was underhanded or cruel, she wouldn't even give them a second glance. That said, she could tolerate a trainer who was somewhat greedy for money or fame, as long as it wasn't excessive.
There was one more thing: Nearl demanded that her trainer must value their horse girls, treating them as companions and family rather than tools. She would never accept anyone who viewed Uma Musume as mere instruments.
So, in many ways, Nearl's standards for a trainer were quite low. On top of that, she herself had extensively studied training knowledge. Her trainer wouldn't need to worry about causing errors in her regimen due to their own inexperience. In fact, if they were willing to learn, Nearl could even act as their teacher, sharing everything she knew.
Now, Kitahara Jo had preliminarily passed Nearl's assessment. With Oguri Cap's endorsement and what she had just observed, Nearl felt confident that Kitahara was a trainer who genuinely loved and cared for horse girls. That alone made him qualified in her eyes.
Unaware of the shift in Nearl's gaze, Kitahara turned and pulled the door open, apologizing with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
"I'm really sorry for doubting your identity and intentions earlier. Please forgive me. Here, let's talk inside—we can't just stand out here forever."
"It's fine. I was the one who showed up unexpectedly. I should be the one apologizing."
Nearl shook her head to show she didn't mind, then followed Kitahara into what used to be a training room. But the scene that greeted her made her pause mid-step.
The room was in complete disarray. Stacks of books and papers were haphazardly piled on the floor and desk, taking up so much space that the already small training room felt cramped, barely able to accommodate more than a few people.
Besides the books and papers, there were also instant food containers and trash piled in the corner, making it clear that the room's owner usually just scraped by to fill his stomach.
Nearl casually picked up a sheet of paper from the floor and skimmed it. Sure enough, it was covered in notes for the Central Trainer Exam.
'It seems Mr. Kitahara is still working hard to reunite with Oguri Cap in the Central district. He really is a dedicated trainer.'
After surveying the room, Nearl felt even more satisfied with Kitahara. She admired hardworking people most of all, and the fact that he was striving for a promise and a dream made him, in her eyes, the ideal candidate for her trainer.
'But judging from these notes, Mr. Kitahara really isn't cut out for studying. The key points are messy and repetitive, which only makes learning harder. It looks like I'll have to help him out later.'
Nearl placed the note back where she found it, quietly making a mental note.
"Haha, have a seat. The room's a mess—I'll clean it up properly someday," Kitahara said, offering his usual chair to Nearl while he simply sat cross-legged on the floor. Perhaps embarrassed by having a stranger see the room in such a state, he wore an awkward grin on his rough-featured face.
"It's alright. These books and papers are proof of your hard work, Mr. Kitahara. There's no need to feel ashamed. But the clutter does affect the atmosphere—I'll help you organize it later."
"Hahaha, thanks for being so understanding, Nearl. Now, let's talk about why you're here."
Kitahara pulled Oguri Cap's letter out of his pocket again, his expression turning serious.
"Why would Oguri Cap want me to be your trainer? She knows I'm still studying for the Central Trainer Exam—I don't have time to properly train an Uma Musume. Any horse girl under my care right now would have her future ruined. So, I'm sorry, but even if it's Oguri's request, I can't accept."
"Regarding that, please allow me to explain, Mr. Kitahara."
Hearing his refusal, Nearl didn't falter in the slightest. She simply looked calmly at Kitahara Jo and prepared to make her case.
"I don't actually need a trainer to plan my daily workouts. I already have the relevant knowledge and can ensure that even if you have no time to guide me, I can train independently. So, a trainer's ability isn't my primary concern. What I'm looking for first and foremost is a trainer like you—one who truly cares about horse girls."
"What?! How does an Uma Musume end up learning trainer knowledge? That's not something to joke about."
"It's no joke. This is my certification from passing the Local Trainer Exam."
Nearl pulled a booklet from her schoolbag—one whose appearance was all too familiar to Kitahara.
"..."
Kitahara Jo was floored. Was he really that much of a failure? How could an Uma Musume's side hobby studying match his own dedicated efforts?
"So, Mr. Kitahara, all I need is to be registered under a trainer's name. I can handle everything else on my own. The reason I came to you is on Oguri Cap's recommendation. She said you're a wonderful trainer with a heart that always considers your horse girls."
With that, Nearl rose from her chair, stepped closer to Kitahara Jo, and leaned forward, extending her right hand.
"I would like you to be my trainer for the time to come. I hope you'll agree."
Nearl's sincere words hung in the air. Kitahara looked at the slender, pale hand offered to him, his heart tangled in conflict.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.