"Trainer Kaito, did something go wrong with the test?"
Looking at the lifelike Hayakawa Tazuna before him, Kaito realized he had triggered another scenario. Even in VR, the system still popped up prompts directly into his mind.
The permissions on this system were absurd—he could literally see its notifications in his consciousness!
"Trainer Kaito?" Tazuna tilted her head, watching him as he drifted into thought.
Before he confirmed anything with Arisuco, Kaito wanted to take advantage of being back in the real world: he needed full control over the VR system.
"Tazuna."
"Yes?"
"Would you… become my Uma Musume?"
Tazuna blinked her stunning green eyes, a rare note of confusion in her voice. "Eh…?"
"Be my partner. My Uma Musume."
As soon as she understood, her heart skipped a beat. She glanced nervously around, then tiptoed close to Kaito's ear.
"Trainer… my identity as an Uma Musume must remain secret. Even though I've shown you, you absolutely cannot tell anyone else."
Shown me?
Wasn't that… something he'd seen for himself?
It didn't matter. What mattered was Tazuna.
"I'm retired now. I'm not racing anymore. Even if you train me, Trainer Kaito, you won't gain anything. Not only that, it'll take up your time. Honestly, your energy might be better spent training other Uma Musume."
That wasn't why he wanted a contract!
He needed command authority. Full access to VR at any time. He couldn't see the computer screens and had to wait for Tazuna to invite him in. Even ordering Tokai Teio and the others was pointless—they had no idea how to operate anything themselves.
"It's fine. I want you."
Tazuna's expression twisted with worry. "Trainer, even if you sign a contract with me, you can't train me. I can't enter the training field. You know that. If you still want a contract… you must have other intentions, right? Surely it's not just about wanting the usual trainer-Uma Musume relationship?"
She had read him perfectly.
…Or almost perfectly.
"That's men's possessiveness, isn't it? Trainer Kaito wants a special relationship with me so that I seem unique… how cute…"
Cute?
Cute my foot! Kaito's thoughts weren't even close to that.
But Tazuna had already decided she knew his intentions. A teasing smile tugged at her lips; her eyes glittered.
"I may not be able to become your Uma Musume, but I can form a special bond with you. One no one else could ever rival."
She licked her lips, hands sliding over Kaito's body.
"You'll definitely like it, Trainer."
Her warm breath brushed his ear.
"I… that's not exactly the kind of bond I meant…"
"Don't you like it, Trainer Kaito?"
"I do… in a sense…"
"Then there's nothing to worry about."
Before he could protest, Tazuna pushed him backward onto the bed attached to the VR monitoring unit.
"Tazuna, I'm not talking about…"
"Trainer," she whispered against his ear, her voice playful yet commanding, "today I'm wearing the strappy set."
"… …"
"Do whatever you like."
"Cough! Teio is still in VR!"
"It's fine. That child is having the time of her life. She won't even know what you and I are doing. By the time she comes out… you'll already be mine."
Kaito's eyes followed as the green figure slowly engulfed him…
"Ah! It's out! It's all flowing!"
Sunlight poured into the room, casting a warm glow. Outside, two Uma Musume's voices floated in:
"Geez, stop touching it! My ice cream is melting!""Who cares? If it melts, just drink it.""Glug… mmm… so much…""Haha, look at your face—you're covered!""Not my fault! You were the one touching me!""Can't help it, your head feels so soft! And look at that face—you're enjoying it!""I'm not! Ugh… it's spilling again!""Drink it then. Don't waste it.""Got it… and don't touch me again! I can't take it!""But you look happy! So dishonest.""Ugh…""So cute.""I'm not!"
Blushing, the girl happily ate her melting ice cream.
"Glug… glug… mmm… messy everywhere… but… so delicious… how can she be this cute…"
…Trainer.
Time passed.
Tokai Teio finally leapt out of the VR capsule, shouting angrily:
"Damn it! Those AI Uma Musume mocked my dancing! What a joke! My moves are ten thousand times better than theirs!"
In the test stage, Teio had performed a flashy dance. A few rebellious AI had challenged her, and a K-style dance battle broke out.
"Pathetic AIs! I'll take every one of you down! Trainer, where were you, Trainer?!"
Sweat dripping, Teio saw Kaito lying on the bed.
"Trainer!"
She jumped, landing squarely on his stomach, giving him a sharp jolt.
Kaito opened his eyes.
"Teio… you came to my room again?"
"What do you mean my room?! This is the test room!"
Teio's frustration erupted. She had danced so hard in VR, and her Trainer wasn hadn't even watched—he'd been sleeping outside!
You wasted the chance to appreciate my imperial dance!
I'll crush you! I'll crush you!
She stomped her sweaty little feet on him, the pungent scent dizzying Kaito.
Even though Teio had been lying in the VR capsule, her body reflected every movement from the virtual world.
It was essentially imagination-based training—the brain simulated the real training scene, stimulating physical growth.
This method lacked some aspects of real-world training but had the huge benefit of safety. No risk of injury.
Just after dancing, Teio was soaked with sweat, her knee-high socks clinging to her legs, revealing pink soles.
"Ugh… ugh! Tra- Trainer… ugh…"
Her muffled voice reached Kaito as he waved a hand at her.
"Feeling my strength now, Trainer?"
Teio laughed, all the VR frustrations melted away. She took delight in seeing her trainer flustered and helpless.
Wait… is there a weird smell in the room?
After her mood lifted, Teio noticed a faint aroma on the bed—like heather flowers?
Before she could think more, her soles' teasing attention drew her focus again. After a playful assault on the Trainer, she happily straddled him.
"Trainer, I want you to help me defeat that annoying AI!"