Overrun Trap truly did not understand.
And after seeing Saintly Halo seated on Teruizumi Shinji's left and Narita Brian on his right, she understood it even less.
How did things end up like this…?
She had won the highest-caliber Japan Cup in history. Her trainer had finally earned the right to form his own team. Two happy things had come together at once, and those two joys should have created even more happiness. What she should have gotten was a dreamlike, blissful stretch of time…
So why had it turned out like this?
[Negative Emotion +100]
[Negative Emotion +100]
[Woohoo! Shinji, lately your emotion energy has been going up so fast! Which horse girl are you planning to slot runes onto first?]
The system chirped excitedly in his ear, its voice full of barely contained joy, and it only made Shinji more irritated. But the mare in front of him still refused to sit down, so he had no choice but to suppress his annoyance and ask Overrun Trap why she was still standing. Back and forth it went, and in the process his tone inevitably got a little rougher.
[Negative Emotion +100]
Overrun Trap stared at Teruizumi Shinji in shock. She had never imagined that, when the problem was obviously those two newcomers, her trainer would still snap at her.
The sour ache and grievance welled up instantly in her chest. So the things Sakura Chiyo no O had said, the things written in those books—were they all true after all? Trainers, especially male trainers, really did forget their first partner the moment they got someone new?
She had been here first.
Overrun Trap turned her gaze toward Saintly Halo. Narita Brian, at least, was her friend. But she did not know this little brat at all. Sitting there with that demure, composed face, Saintly Halo still could not hide the awkwardness on her features. Her cheeks were faintly pink. Overrun Trap clenched her fists.
Putting on a face like she did not really want to be sitting there—if you do not want to sit there, then move!
Then she looked at Narita Brian. Back then, Brian had looked at her in open shock when she refused to go to the victory stage after the Autumn Tennōshō, so how was she now sitting there as if it were the most natural thing in the world?
If she was not even all that compatible with her trainer, then she should stop sticking her nose into their team affairs.
Overrun Trap's expression darkened further. Narita Brian, who knew her well, immediately sensed something was wrong. She had only been sitting there because she had stayed in the team room and was asking Shinji about her upcoming training. When Saintly Halo arrived, she had simply greeted her, thinking that once Overrun Trap came back they could all talk a bit.
Now, seeing her friend's increasingly stormy face, Brian knew something was very, very off.
So she stood up, about to say something—
And suddenly Overrun Trap's eyes lit up. Before Brian could fully rise, Overrun Trap darted over and shoved her aside.
Narita Brian froze. She slowly turned her head, only to find Overrun Trap already seated beside Shinji, clinging to his arm and pressing herself close enough that he immediately frowned.
"It wasn't that I didn't want to sit down," she said sweetly. "My hair is still a little wet, and I was worried I'd get your clothes damp."
"Then sit over there and let Brian come back here."
"…Huh?"
[Negative Emotion +50]
Overrun Trap inhaled deeply and forcibly steadied herself. Then she pulled out a hair dryer from beside her.
Sakura Chiyo no O had specifically told her this trick: after showering, do not dry your hair all the way. Just shake it out and go straight to your trainer. Then find a chance to ask him to dry it for you.
She had even gone out of her way to find one with a very long cord, so that no matter what the team room was like, it would definitely reach an outlet. She knew Shinji—there was no way he would get up for something as "trivial" as drying her hair.
"So… since I was in a hurry, I didn't have time to dry it all the way. Could you do it for me?"
Sakura Chiyo no O had said the trainer would definitely take the dryer from her on his own. Her intention was already so obvious.
So why was this man not moving at all?
Maybe that was why he was such an amazing trainer.
That was how she tried to comfort herself.
Then her eyes met Saintly Halo's. The girl's expression held shock, contempt, and a very clear I've seen right through you look.
Overrun Trap could not care less. This girl had come to steal her trainer from her, and one look was enough to tell she was no good. During the initial test she had practically given up every chance she got. Someone like that did not deserve her trainer.
Who knew what backdoor she had used to get in.
Thinking that, Overrun Trap found herself growing more and more puzzled. Until recently her trainer had been completely unknown—so why was he suddenly in such high demand? Had Sanshou Drum really foreseen this development all along, and started laying the groundwork in advance…?
At that thought, Overrun Trap tightened her hold on Shinji's arm.
She would never be like that betrayer—trying to keep him for herself, even if it meant letting him get hurt.
Shinji looked utterly baffled at the strange little expression of pride blooming on the mare's face. He could clearly feel the moisture soaking into his sleeve. Alarmed, he tried to pull his arm free, only to discover that he could not break her grip at all.
He stared at the hair dryer she had placed right on his lap. Today, this mare was truly acting bizarre. She had come in and immediately started pulling all kinds of stunts. Something must have happened at the airport. She was obviously not in her right mind.
Without much thought, he picked up the dryer and tossed it into Narita Brian's hands.
Overrun Trap watched with her own eyes as the dryer arced through the air in a beautiful curve, and with it went the light in her eyes.
"Brian, you dry her hair for her. Don't let her catch a cold. She's got early training tomorrow, and more races after that. She needs to stay in good condition."
Shinji finally managed to yank his arm free. Overrun Trap opened her mouth, but could say nothing. She had been the one to make the request. Now Shinji had simply reassigned the task to someone else, and she had no grounds to object.
On the other side, Saintly Halo was practically trying not to laugh. Usually so careful with her manners, the girl could not suppress her amusement now. The scene was just too ridiculous. This scheming mare had gone to all that trouble, only to crash and burn like this in the end.
When she thought back to the enormous pressure Overrun Trap had put on her during that very first test run, Halo understood perfectly well that it had been deliberate. Overrun Trap had not wanted her to pass.
The sense of vindication made her turn toward Shinji's profile. His expression was serious, and he truly did look concerned that Overrun Trap might catch cold. There was even unmistakable care in his eyes. This man really was different from other trainers. Saintly Halo could not help admiring that aspect of him.
So she edged a little closer, ready to quietly ask about tomorrow's training plan—
Only to see Shinji suddenly stand up.
"No matter what, our team's full lineup is finally assembled. If nothing unexpected happens, when the team competitions come around, all of you will be teammates."
He continued speaking, wholly oblivious to the wildly different looks on the faces before him.
"So try to talk a little tonight. That's the whole reason I called you all together in the first place." He stretched slightly. "I'm a bit tired today, so I'll head back first."
…What?
…What??
The three mares stared at him and then at each other.
Did this man seriously not realize that the main reason they were all here was him?
[Negative Emotion +60]
[Negative Emotion +40]
[Negative Emotion +20]
Listening to the steady stream of prompts in his ear, Shinji still did not fully understand the exact mechanics behind it, but the expansion of the team clearly had an excellent effect on harvesting emotion energy. That alone made him feel even more satisfied with his decision to take on two new partner horse girls.
"All right, I'll leave the place to you then, Little Yue."
"Hm?"
Overrun Trap's eyes instantly lit up. The ears that had been drooping perked straight up, and her tail began to sway again.
"Remember to lock the door. The key's on the table."
[Negative Emotion +20]
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 138)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter155)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter98)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter172)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 158
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 144
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 100
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 165
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 140
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 120
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 69
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 90
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 95
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 70
Uma Musume: I Want All 80
I Can Copy Unique Skills 65
Summoning an Evil God, but the 52
Supernatural Multiverse 65
My Harem Is Indescribable 50
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 55
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 40
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 50
Still playing traditional Honk 30
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