"Trainer, why did you suddenly start running?"
During training the next day, everyone stared at Fujiwara Chiya as he jogged alongside them and threw out the question.
Ever since coming back from Europe, Fujiwara Chiya had rarely trained together with the uma musume anymore. Even when he did, he kept a pretty serious distance, as if he was terrified someone might get too close.
"Trainer, what're you spraying on yourself?" Gold Ship sidled up beside Fujiwara Chiya.
"Antiperspirant."
"Isn't that the stuff you spray after training? Why're you using it during training?"
"I sweat a lot. Got a problem with that?"
"Ohoho? Trainer, is that any way to talk to the great Gold Ship-sama? Don't forget what I'm holding in my hands."
"My dearest Gold Ship-sama, would you please be so kind as to lift your noble feet and return to the team?"
"Ha! Good. Glad you know your place, you foot-fetish Trainer."
With that, Gold Ship ran back.
That damn girl…
Just you wait. Once Shirayuki's race is over, he was going down together with Gold Ship!
The reason Fujiwara Chiya had stopped training with the uma musume was because of his scent.
During his time in Europe, he had completely evolved into an uma musume. As a result, his body had developed the same abnormal trait as Shirayuki's, giving off an intensely sweet fragrance.
That scent was addictive to uma musume. It made them want to get intimate with him.
To avoid that scent causing trouble, Fujiwara Chiya had done his best to stop training with the uma musume. As a man, he was far more alluring than Shirayuki.
Back in Paris, Fujiwara Chiya had been groped more than a few times. Those tall, dark-skinned European uma musume would deliberately brush against him, then tease him by asking if he wanted to go have some fun at a bar.
Now that he had Agnes Tachyon's antiperspirant, Fujiwara Chiya could spray himself from time to time and keep his scent from leaking out.
Honestly, other people smelling it was one thing.
The real problem was Shirayuki.
If she caught that scent, she would genuinely lose her mind and pounce on him.
Agnes Tachyon had said Shirayuki's desire was far stronger than other uma musume's. Fujiwara Chiya did not want to admit it, but he had no choice. Shirayuki really did often stare into the mirror and drift into fantasies. She often had those kinds of dreams too. The first time she smelled Chiya's scent, her instincts completely took over and she climbed right on top of him.
Shirayuki was, without question, a very lewd girl.
Of course, half the blame for that belonged to Fujiwara Chiya himself.
Anyway, that was getting off track.
The main issue right now was training.
Chiya wanted to try pushing this body into the Zone.
Unlike Shirayuki, Chiya's body had more raw power, but it lacked a bit of flexibility. His running form was also different from Shirayuki's.
And different running forms led to different sensations when entering the Zone.
Rice Shower, for example. When she ran glued to someone's back, her stride had the sharpness of a blade. Mejiro Dober felt like restraint. Narita Brian, Hayakawa Tazuna, and the others were all different too.
Even if Chiya and Shirayuki were the same person, the condition of their bodies meant their methods of entering the Zone would naturally differ.
Since he specialized in power, Fujiwara Chiya decided to find a sparring partner from among the uma musume who also specialized in power.
At the moment, there were three candidates.
Oguri Cap.
Narita Brian.
Orfevre.
Fujiwara Chiya decided to start with the closest one.
"Orfevre."
"Hm? What is it, Trainer?"
"Train with me."
Orfevre's ears flicked.
"With you?"
"Yeah."
"Not for me?"
"No. This time, I'm the one being trained."
Orfevre fell silent for a moment.
Then she laughed.
"I see. So that is what this is. Trainer, you wish to assert your status, do you not? Ordinarily, I order you around as I please, and while you may be dissatisfied, your duty as my trainer forces you to accompany me regardless. Thus, you intend to express the hierarchy between superior and subordinate by directly commanding me to train with you. That is what you mean."
Her blue-violet eyes turned toward Fujiwara Chiya.
"So Trainer has grown tired of me…"
What!?
Fujiwara Chiya was stunned.
I just wanted you to train with me! How did you manage to imagine all that nonsense!?
Are you a girl in the middle of puberty!?
"Hm? Was that not what you meant?" Orfevre asked after noticing the strange look in Fujiwara Chiya's eyes.
"Of course it wasn't! I never said I was tired of you! In my heart, Orfevre has always been a good girl."
"Eh? Hm. Well… yes. As my retainer, Trainer has been reasonably diligent. Then what do you mean by asking me to accompany your training?"
"Obviously, it's because I want to get stronger."
"I see…"
Orfevre understood again.
"Trainer has realized I am drawing ever closer and has begun to feel the pressure of being defeated by me soon. Your forward-looking spirit is worthy of praise. However, my growth is not something Trainer can hope to match. Very well. I accept. I shall let Trainer experience for himself the despair of being overtaken by me."
With that, Orfevre cracked her knuckles and began preparing for the race.
Orfevre's growth really was terrifying.
Her strength was already approaching the first tier of uma musume. In another few months, she would probably surpass Chiya and charge straight toward Shirayuki.
That sense of pressure also forced Fujiwara Chiya to pick up the pace.
Shirayuki's basic training was almost at its limit. Her stamina, endurance, and other physical attributes were becoming harder and harder to improve through normal training.
What Shirayuki needed now was the Zone and technique.
She needed to bring out the full extent of her body's advantages.
Once they were ready, Fujiwara Chiya and Orfevre began their race.
After entering her Classic year, Orfevre's growth had surged forward at a ridiculous speed. She was about to advance toward the Triple Crown with an undefeated record.
It was not just because of her overwhelming physical ability.
There was also Orfevre's talent.
She had already brushed against the threshold of the Zone. Back then, Fujiwara Chiya had forcibly interrupted Orfevre and wasted one opportunity. Yet through training afterward, Orfevre had managed to produce that sensation again.
She really was exceptional.
The race began.
The two of them started at the same time.
This time, Fujiwara Chiya failed to smoothly take the lead. Instead, Orfevre seized the front position from him.
Following behind that golden figure, Fujiwara Chiya carefully observed her movements.
After entering the Zone so many times, Fujiwara Chiya was already familiar with that sensation. But because his running form was different from Shirayuki's, he could not simply copy the answer.
Fujiwara Chiya had to summarize his own way of running.
He stared hard at Orfevre.
From the moment they met, Fujiwara Chiya had always felt that Orfevre's movements were packed with power. But he had never been able to explain where that feeling came from.
Was it her posture?
Her force?
Her speed?
What exactly was it?
Thud!
Orfevre's foot struck the ground. Her blue-violet eyes shone.
There was not a single wasted motion.
Just watching Orfevre run gave off a vast, overwhelming sense of power.
"Trainer, allow me to show you my strength…"
She gave a small snort.
Then Orfevre's lips curled into a grin.
In the next instant, her body transformed into a golden meteor, flying down the track.
Watching her figure, Fujiwara Chiya's pupils suddenly contracted.
He felt like he had finally understood the true reason every Zone was different.
It was presence.