"...Hah... hah..."
Beside a secluded riverside path, a horse girl in a baseball cap bent over, hands braced on her knees as she panted for breath.
Sweat slid down her cheeks, soaking into her training top until it turned faintly see-through, the warm tone of skin beneath showing through and lending her a subtly alluring air.
This drenched, breathless horse girl was none other than Fujimura Hikaru, fresh off a long run.
"Finally... I'm done..."
Staring at the system panel hovering before her—its clear "Mission Complete" prompt shining—Hikaru let out a long sigh.
Damn it. I actually finished.
The final leg of the classic Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho, was exactly 3,000 meters. For top-tier horse girls who trained properly, a mere three kilometers was nothing—easy work finished in just a few minutes.
But for Fujimura Hikaru, it was anything but funny.
Ever since he'd become a trainer, he hadn't run even a single kilometer in who knew how long. Jumping straight into three thousand meters had gone exactly as badly as you'd expect.
With "trash-tier stamina," he crawled through the distance at a turtle's pace. Just three kilometers, and it still took him nearly half an hour.
He panted like an ox. Sweat poured down. The lactic acid flooding his calves made him bare his teeth in pain, his expression edged with an involuntary murderous glare.
"Still... not a total waste."
[Mission: Accumulate 3 KM of running. Current progress: 3.1 KM. Reward: 10 Basic Attribute Points]
[Remaining transformation time: 9 hours]
Seeing the completion prompt, Hikaru nodded in satisfaction.
"Allocate points."
The dim blue system panel switched to his attribute screen.
[Surface Aptitude: Turf (A), Dirt (B)]
[Distance Aptitude: Sprint (B), Mile (A), Medium (A), Long (B)]
[Running Style Aptitude: Front-runner (C), Pace (A), Stalker (A), Closer (A)]
[Unique Skill: None]
[Speed: 73, Stamina: 50, Power: 70, Guts: 100, Wisdom: 80]
"Stamina's so low... no wonder that nearly killed me."
His mouth twitched as he stared at the glaringly pathetic stamina value among the five stats.
Then he dumped all ten newly earned points straight into stamina, pushing it past sixty.
Speed and power being a bit low didn't matter much for now—he wasn't racing. There was no urgency to invest in those.
If anything, focusing stamina would give him more endurance for clearing future missions.
The instant he confirmed the allocation, a warm current surged through his body, spreading into every limb. The exhaustion from the three-kilometer run eased noticeably.
"I do feel stronger. So the reward actually works."
Ding.
As he considered his next move, a crisp alert sounded, and the next mission appeared before his eyes.
[Mission: Accumulate 6 KM of running. Current progress: 3.1 KM. Reward: 10 Basic Attribute Points]
[Remaining transformation time: 9 hours]
"So it's not a one-and-done mission."
Hikaru wiped away some sweat and assessed his condition. Another three kilometers should be manageable, but if the system refreshed yet another mission after that, he wasn't planning to chase it.
Too much running in a single day put real strain on the body—something a seasoned trainer like him understood perfectly.
Around six kilometers was probably the maximum daily load this body could handle right now. Any more, and even with system rewards, his body would give out first. That wouldn't be worth it.
He looked around. The riverside path was quiet—barely a passerby in sight.
He'd chosen this route deliberately. The fewer people, the better. The last thing he wanted was unnecessary attention.
Especially while he was still in horse-girl form. Running into someone he knew—even if they didn't recognize him—would be mortifying enough to make him want to die on the spot.
"There's still time. I'll finish the rest."
After a short rest, Fujimura Hikaru started running along the river again.
—
Mejiro McQueen had a headache.
She'd only meant to jog a little outside for some light training, but the riverside ground was damp and slick—and she'd twisted her ankle.
"Ugh... what rotten luck."
Sitting on a bench by the path, McQueen lowered her head, pulled off her running shoe, and rolled up her pant leg to expose her ankle. It should have been porcelain-white, but now it was swollen and red. Even touching it lightly brought a prickly, numb sting.
"This is bad... how am I supposed to get back?"
She looked up at the empty surroundings, her face clouded with gloom.
Lately, she'd eaten a bit too much sweets—enough that her weight had spiked. Sensitive about her figure, she'd snuck out to do extra training, hoping to get back to her normal range.
To avoid anyone discovering her "diet mission," she'd specifically chosen a route with hardly any foot traffic.
And now, one slip, and her perfect plan went up in smoke.
"W-Whaaat do I do now...?"
No passersby meant no help.
She could call the Mejiro household butler for rescue—but if she did, he would inevitably find out she'd done something as stupid as twisting her ankle while trying to lose weight.
No. Absolutely not. That was too humiliating.
McQueen stared at her ankle, conflicted. She was a fair distance from Central Tracen. Limping all the way back on an injured leg was obviously unrealistic.
"So... I have to ask for help...?"
She took out her phone and opened her contacts. The word "Butler" stared back at her from the screen, and her finger trembled above the call button.
"So embarrassing... I've only been at Central Tracen a few days, and I'm already making a mess like this. If the family finds out, they'll definitely lecture me to death..."
Tap tap tap—
Just as she wavered, a quick rhythm of footsteps sounded from the distance. She turned toward it, and a shadow came jogging slowly into view.
"So beautiful...!"
Ink-black hair danced in the air. A refined face, a well-proportioned figure—among horse girls, where beautiful girls were everywhere, this unknown runner still stood out as exceptional. And most striking of all were her crimson eyes, like glittering rubies—unforgettable at a glance.
Even by McQueen's standards, the girl's looks were genuinely stunning.
"You're hurt?"
The black-haired girl stopped in front of her and asked.
"Ah... I twisted it by accident..."
McQueen answered, embarrassed.
"A sprain, huh? That's troublesome. This is pretty far from the academy... and getting back like this isn't realistic..."
The girl looked tired. Judging from her training outfit, McQueen guessed she'd been doing intense training herself.
"I-I'm sorry, but... could you call someone to help me?"
"Mm..."
The girl seemed to consider it, but after only a moment, she turned around and crouched down in front of McQueen.
"Huh? What...?"
McQueen blinked, startled by the stranger's actions.
"Hospital first. You can't drag out a leg injury."
"B-But..." McQueen hesitated. Having a stranger carry her all the way to a hospital felt like too much to ask.
"If it's a normal sprain, going now is best. Get an ice pack on it and you won't affect your normal activity later."
The girl's calm, mature tone surprised McQueen. It didn't feel like she was talking to a classmate—it felt like she was talking to an older trainer.
"...Won't that be too much trouble for you?"
"It's fine. Just a few extra steps."
With the girl insisting, McQueen couldn't bring herself to reject the kindness. She obediently climbed onto the girl's back.
The stranger seemed a bit taller than her. Pressed against her back, McQueen caught a faint rose-like fragrance.
"By the way... I don't even know your name yet..."
If someone helped her like this, she needed to thank them properly.
At her words, the black-haired horse girl's body stiffened—just slightly.
"Name... oh hell... what do I even say...?"
She muttered something under her breath; McQueen couldn't quite catch it.
"...Hm?"
"Call me Feitong."
The girl carrying her said it plainly.
"Feitong... Miss Feitong?"
McQueen repeated the name, and it instantly made her think of those distinctive crimson eyes.
Feitong. It suited her.
"Thank you, Miss Feitong. I'm Mejiro McQueen. Please take care of me."
—
Following his planned route, Sato Hikaru finished the "accumulate 6 km" mission and started heading back toward the Tracen staff dorm.
A run outside, a bump to his physical condition, and a clean verification of the system's rewards—killing three birds with one stone.
Just as he was returning in a satisfied mood, he spotted a horse girl by the roadside, staring at him with a troubled expression.
Injured?
Seeing the swelling around her pale ankle, Hikaru immediately understood what had happened.
Twisted it while running, probably.
Faced with her small-animal plea for help, he couldn't pretend he hadn't seen her. He walked up and spoke.
"You're hurt?"
"Ah... I twisted it..."
She looked embarrassed. Hikaru stepped closer and examined the injury carefully.
Swollen, yes—but not severely. With some ice and proper care, she should recover quickly.
As a trainer, Hikaru had plenty of experience dealing with horse girls' injuries.
A horse girl's legs were essentially a second life. For girls dreaming of stepping onto the Glittering Series stage, a serious leg problem was no different from a death sentence.
To protect those legs, he'd voluntarily studied relevant medical knowledge—which was why he could judge the severity now.
It was minor, but leaving it alone could still turn into a major problem.
"Hospital first. You can't drag out a leg injury."
Going to the hospital was the safest option. He didn't have any emergency supplies on hand, so a hospital was clearly the right call.
And with her like this, she couldn't move on her own. This place was also fairly far from Tracen...
Better to carry her to somewhere with more people, then take a taxi.
With that decided, he moved in front of her, turned around, and crouched—signaling her to get on.
She still looked a little tense, but after his persuasion, she finally climbed onto his back.
He hooked his hands under her thighs, feeling the firm muscle there—power packed into every line.
Untrained thighs wouldn't feel like this.
Uh... maybe what Okino said—about "feeling talent with your hands"—was actually true?
No. Not the time. Getting this kid to the hospital mattered more than anything.
With that, he carried her and started toward the hospital.
Then her voice came again from behind him.
"By the way... I still don't know your name..."
The moment he heard the question, Hikaru nearly lost control of his expression.
Of course. He couldn't dodge it forever...
What should he do? Give his real name? No way. She was wearing a Tracen training outfit—if she came looking, his horse-girl transformation would be exposed.
No. He couldn't use his real name.
He needed something that fit...
Suddenly, the image from that morning's mirror flashed through his mind.
Black hair. Red eyes...
Maybe, like Anmoku, he could name himself after his eye color.
"Call me Feitong."
Fujimura Hikaru said to the girl on his back.
And so, on this day, the horse-girl named Feitong was officially born.
-------
Enjoy 20% off our Patreon membership to celebrate Christmas. You can join starting today
My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (400 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (254 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (140 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (158 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (400 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (140 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (172 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(80 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (200 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (200 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (120 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (96 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (140 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (160 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (140 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (Ending)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (70 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (80 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (140 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (165 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (70 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (100 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (100 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (80 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (80 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (40 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (40 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (180 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (120 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (150 Chapter)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (160 Chapter)
Naruto : My Uchiha Girlfriend is Too Tsundere (130 Chapter)
Type-Moon: Reincarnated in a Lostbelt, I Became the Alien God (90 Chapter)
The Way These Horse Girls Look at Me Is Terrifying! (160 Chapter)
Naruto: Tsunade's Deskmate (130 Chapter)
I Just Want to Live a Normal (50 Chapter).
Genshin Impact: A Hundred Confessions? It's Just a System Task (70 Chapter)
OnePiece : Starting as a Veteran of the Roger Pirates (60 Chapter)
Uma Musume : I Have Special Horse Taming Techniques (180 Chapter)
Uma Musume : My other self is a Horse Girl (110 Chapter)
Jujutsu Kaisen : All Affection Stats Maxed Out (190 Chapter)
Satou Kazuma's Decision to Live by Swindling, Starting from Re:Zero (60 Chapter)
Bleach : Ichigo! Take Over the Soul Society (78 Chapter)
Crossover Anime: The Master of Plagiarism with a 'Love Obstacle (130 Chapter)
Arknights Succubus Nurturing System, But I'm a Quiet Office Worker (80 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: Using My Personas to Break the Hearts of Players (50 Chapter)
One Punch Man : i am King? (140 Chapter)
Genshin: My Stats Are Irresistible (50 Chapter)
Naruto: Master of Dream Fulfillment! (60 Chapter)
Why Are All My Chat Group Friends Spin-Off Characters? (100 Chapter)
Arknights : Batman System (30 Chapter)
Chat Group: Swapping Bodies with the Bad-Ending Herta from the Start (49 Chapter)
DanMachi: Why Did My Dungeon Turn Into a Soulslike Game? (55 Chapter)
Losing Money on Uma Musume...What Do You Mean You Actually Won? (72 Chapter)
I'm Gotou Hitori—Who Are You? (40 Chapter)
Were You Ever Even a Uma Musume? Stop Making Things Up! (51 Chapter)
Moon Project: A Full-Time Love Adventure for the Lobotomy Corporation (50 Chapter)
Umamusume: Trainer's Time Is Running Out (30 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it