Chapter Text
1 - I Have a Horse Girl to Take Care Of
The rain grew heavier, the white knee-high socks splattered with mud, even the short skirt's original color blurred within the curtain of rain.
Nishizaki Ryu felt somewhat worried, watching the silent Terai Shinji beside him, hesitating to speak.
To conduct such high-intensity training the day after the Takarazuka Kinen—as a veteran Trainer at Tracen Academy, Nishizaki Ryu was witnessing something unprecedented.
"Aren't you going to let her stop for a while?"
His voice was somewhat swallowed by the heavy rain, and as expected, Nishizaki received no response. He wasn't sure whether it was truly unheard or deliberately ignored, but he knew the stubbornness of his friend.
Just like Terai Shinji's completely drenched clothes—he could have chosen to stand under the same umbrella as Nishizaki Ryu.
"I don't quite understand, why are you so convinced it's her?"
Determined to get Terai Shinji to speak, Nishizaki asked loudly. He was certain Terai could hear, so he fixed a resolute gaze on him, forcing Terai to relent and meet his eyes.
"I just trust my own judgment."
Terai Shinji's voice was pleasant—this was something Tōjō Hana had said, which once annoyed Nishizaki. But he wasn't in the mood to dwell on that now.
He still remembered earlier in the year, in an effort to pull Terai Shinji out of his slump, Nishizaki had asked him on Tracen Academy's largest training ground: among all the Umamusume here, who could become this year's brightest star?
This wasn't just a question but also an implicit wager. Before Terai gave his answer, Nishizaki had already offered his own.
Silence Suzuka—that was Nishizaki's answer. He didn't shy away from naming his own Assigned Horse Girl, as he knew Suzuka's potential better than anyone. It was a talent unmatched by any other Umamusume on the field, even though Silence Suzuka had achieved nothing in the Classic Line and had no convincing major victories to her name.
Compared to Silence Suzuka, Nishizaki had initially thought Terai would choose a well-established Veteran Horse Girl like Air Groove—undoubtedly the safest choice. Failing that, he might pick from among those about to enter the Classic Line, placing them on a different track from Suzuka and ensuring he couldn't lose.
Offside Trap—that was the name Terai Shinji gave, so unfamiliar that Nishizaki struggled to even picture her in his mind. It was only through Tōjō Hana's surprise and explanation that Nishizaki learned some basic information.
A contemporary of Narita Brian, three bouts of tendonitis, struggling to even win a Graded Stakes race. This was an Umamusume Nishizaki saw no potential in whatsoever.
"Suzuka has already become a G1 Umamusume, with consecutive Graded Stakes wins, but she's still struggling in the mire of Graded Stakes dominance. Forget placing in the Takarazuka Kinen—she can't even rank in the top half of the participating Umamusume."
Nishizaki's tone carried a hint of irritation. He felt Terai was wasting his abilities. This young man, who had become a Trainer with the second-highest score in his class, now resembled his rain-soaked, disheveled appearance—utterly lacking fighting spirit.
"She may follow your guidance, but she's not even willing to become your Assigned Horse Girl."
Spurred by his rising anger, Nishizaki's sharp words slipped out, leaving him momentarily regretful.
Biting down on his lollipop, Nishizaki Ryu stubbornly refused to look away. Perhaps it was because Terai Shinji’s expression showed no fluctuation at all, making Nishizaki feel that his words had fallen on deaf ears, which only fueled his anger further.
“Ever since Silence Suzuka transferred to Spica, I no longer acknowledge her.”
Nishizaki Ryu’s indignant expression stiffened. He opened his mouth but found himself speechless. After a moment of silence, he finally said, “Horse Girls aren’t someone’s pet dogs, wagging their tails only for one person. They need to choose their own futures. They have to take responsibility for themselves.”
“Responsibility?”
Terai Shinji’s expression finally shifted. He looked at Nishizaki with a faint, ambiguous smile, causing Nishizaki’s expression to darken.
Fortunately, Terai Shinji didn’t intend to dwell on the topic. From a certain perspective, a Trainer who hadn’t even reached G1 level had no right to criticize a G1-level Horse Girl.
“She recovered from her injury in April and has made significant progress since the Takarazuka Kinen.”
This was an explanation on behalf of Offside Trap. Nishizaki Ryu remained silent.
There were plenty of Horse Girls who had made progress, but strength was strength, and weakness was weakness.
The heavy rain continued. Nishizaki Ryu exhaled forcefully. By now, he had become aware of the difference between himself and the younger man. The rain had drained away the warmth, leaving him shivering from the cold, but the young man beside him, fueled by his fiery spirit, watched indifferently as the Horse Girl gradually slowed to a stop on the track.
Offside Trap began walking toward the two Trainers, which gave Nishizaki a slight sense of relief. If the Horse Girl hadn’t come over, he felt he would have frozen to death sooner or later, too embarrassed to leave on his own.
However, he failed to notice that Terai Shinji, who had maintained a calm expression until then, had begun to frown slightly.
“I don’t recall calling for a stop.”
Only when Offside Trap had already walked up to them did Terai Shinji speak, causing her to pause mid-step.
Exhausted, she lifted her gaze. The steam rising from her body condensed into visible white mist.
“I’ve… already run many laps.”
She had lost count toward the end, her trembling calves telling her she had reached her limit.
“But it’s not enough.”
Offside Trap glared resentfully at the man before her. If he had shown her even a hint of kindness over the past two months, she would have agreed to become his Assigned Horse Girl long ago.
A Trainer who didn’t understand a girl’s heart didn’t deserve an Assigned Horse Girl, Offside Trap grumbled inwardly.
“Her tendonitis has only just healed.”
“But you didn’t show any sympathy for her when you said she was completely inferior to Silence Suzuka earlier.”
Nishizaki Ryu flushed with embarrassment, caught off guard. He glanced awkwardly at Offside Trap and, seeing her gaze fixed on him, quickly shifted his eyes to the side.
Offside Trap believed Terai Shinji’s words, but compared to that rising star, she truly fell far short.
Quietly standing behind Terai Shinji like a prisoner awaiting sentencing, Offside Trap seized every moment to catch her breath. After two months of training, she was well aware of Terai Shinji’s strictness.
The reprimand she expected never came. Instead, the rain above her head stopped first. Offside Trap froze for a moment before noticing Nishizaki Ryu staring incredulously at the umbrella now sheltering her. He pointed at Terai Shinji, then at himself.
“Consider it compensation for talking behind someone’s back.”
Terai Shinji said without a hint of embarrassment, pressing the umbrella handle into Offside Trap’s hand.
“That’s enough for today. Tomorrow morning at five o’clock.”
Offside Trap's eyes lit up, his previously dazed thoughts suddenly snapping back into focus. Just as he was about to react, the man before him casually waved his hand and began walking toward the training ground's exit.
"Shinji-san."
The crisp voice cut clearly through the heavy rain. Terai Shinji stopped in his tracks.
"May I become your Assigned Horse Girl?"
The gaze filled with anticipation was intense. Terai Shinji's lips curled into a smile, but as usual, he simply raised his hand and gave an "okay" gesture.
The complaints from Nishizaki Ryu behind him and Offside Trap's expression no longer mattered. Terai Shinji stared at the layers of electronic screen-like interfaces unfolding before him. The flood of pop-up information was dizzying, but he had waited and worked hard for nearly a year for this moment. Now, he had all the patience in the world.
From selecting the right Umamusume to building a deeper bond with her, the effort he had poured into this journey made the prompt ringing in his ears—"System officially activated"—sound utterly delightful. Terai Shinji felt an urge to burst into laughter.
[Congratulations, Host, for completing the Assigned Horse Girl mission]
[Emotional Mall unlocked]
[Beginner's Gift Pack distributed]
[Host Panel opened]
[Assigned Horse Girl Panel opened]
[...]