Watching this scene unfold, Maruzensky did not approach nor make a sound. She simply watched the two of them in silence, a gentle smile gracing her lips. Her amber eyes remained fixed on the embracing pair as if she were admiring the most beautiful sentiment in the world.
She had seen Fujimasa March's initial, instinctive avoidance and her forced composure; she had seen the struggle between the girl's reliance on him and her own self-loathing.
She had also seen how Fujimaru Ritsuka broke through the girl's defenses with decisive yet tender actions, providing a solid pillar of support just as she was on the verge of collapse.
In her eyes, Ritsuka's actions were more than simple comfort. This was a Trainer who truly understood the Horse Girl in his charge, one who could keenly capture the truest needs deep within her soul. He didn't just train their bodies and techniques; he guarded their hearts, allowing them to grow healthily and freely.
Maruzensky lowered her eyes, sighing inwardly: What a truly reliable Trainer.
Then, she laughed at herself, thinking: Honestly, what am I thinking? Isn't this exactly why I started paying attention to Fujimaru-kun in the first place?
With that thought, her gaze fell once more upon Ritsuka's calm profile.
She could tell that Fujimasa March wasn't crying because she had lost the race. She was crying because she felt she had failed Ritsuka.
This wasn't a sign of weakness; it was an emotion called "dependence," one that could only arise from a foundation of absolute trust.
Yes, this was the deep reliance that only reveals itself in moments of failure and vulnerability—and it was precisely the most precious, rarest type of relationship between a Trainer and a Horse Girl.
Maruzensky loved the scene before her: no hypocritical pleasantries, no restless opportunism, only the most genuine outpouring of emotion.
The Trainer guarded his Horse Girl, and the Horse Girl responded to his expectations and depended on him. This was a positive, healthy relationship—the indispensable nourishment for a Horse Girl to thrive.
Maruzensky smiled slightly. An excellent Trainer produces more than just champions, she thought.
What did they produce? She believed they produced the ultimate, most inspiring [Idols]!
However, her smile soon turned playful. She mused: But Fujimaru-kun, if you keep this up, the space around you is going to get smaller and smaller until you're completely walled in.
The relationship between Trainer and Horse Girl had always been one of mutual selection. After seeing such an exceptional Trainer, what Horse Girl could control her emotions? Who could force herself not to fantasize about having a Trainer like him?
Fantasies were ethereal and untouchable, but Fujimaru Ritsuka was someone who could be reached.
Maruzensky could already imagine the changes Central would undergo once Ritsuka arrived. It was bound to be "catastrophic."
After a long while, Fujimaru Ritsuka finally finished comforting Fujimasa March. Although her eyes were still rimmed with red, she was able to control her emotions and smile at him. She decided to go congratulate Oguri Cap in a moment.
She gave Ritsuka a bashful look, thinking: Just consider this... thanks for the comfort.
Ritsuka was Oguri Cap's primary trainee, while she, Fujimasa March, was just an ordinary Horse Girl. She shouldn't cross the line. If she did cross it... well, then she'd just tell Oguri, "Your Trainer is amazing."
Thinking this, March felt unexpectedly excited, and her face flushed. She quickened her pace, fleeing the scene as if her life depended on it.
The bitterness of defeat hadn't fully dissipated, but March felt it didn't matter anymore. She felt her weakness had been accepted by Ritsuka; she felt his silent support.
To her, that was enough.
Because she was no longer alone. No matter what happened, Ritsuka would be there to face it with her. The thought made the corners of her mouth curl up unconsciously. She felt profoundly at peace.
Watching her leave, Ritsuka shook his head with a smile. I didn't expect March to have a shy side too, he thought. I figured her head was filled with nothing but racing and winning.
Seeing March depart, Maruzensky stepped slowly from the shadows of the corner. Her eyes were curved with a smile as she spoke in a languid, charming voice:
"My, my~ What a moving scene, Fujimaru-kun."
"The mature, reliable Trainer comforts the heartbroken, lost Horse Girl, giving her a warm shoulder to lean on and encouragement. It's a textbook scene from a youth drama—practically perfect."
She approached him with the elegant gait of a cat. "It seems that in addition to raising champions, Fujimaru-kun is also an expert in 'matters of the maiden's heart.' That top-student miss seemed very dependent on you."
"It's my responsibility as a Trainer. I believe a Trainer's role is to guide their Horse Girls," Ritsuka replied, his gaze so clear it practically shouted "I have a clear conscience."
Maruzensky agreed, though she really wanted to say: Does that include providing your chest as a pillow while they cry? The scope of your 'official duties' is quite broad and tender.
She could have continued teasing him: But this reliability and kindness can sometimes invite even more dependency. Careful the backyard doesn't catch fire, Fujimaru-kun~
The thought brought a mischievous glint to her blue eyes, but she felt saying it too early would only make Ritsuka more guarded, which wouldn't be fun. So, she took the conversation in a completely different direction.
Her eyes roamed over Ritsuka's chest as if she could see a flower blooming there.
However, she wasn't checking out his muscles; her focus was on the damp tear stain that hadn't yet dried. She shifted her tone, teasingly saying, "If you don't take care of that, the other Horse Girls are going to sniff it out immediately~"
She winked, making no effort to hide the amusement in her voice.
Immediately after, she proposed a solution: "How about Big Sis walks with you? Big Sis has some perfume right here~"
Use the scent of perfume to mask the scent of another Horse Girl; that way, the girls Ritsuka taught wouldn't know he had been "cuddling" with Fujimasa March.
Would the scent of perfume draw even more attention? Yes, but it didn't matter. As long as they walked together, they would have been chatting for a while, making it perfectly reasonable for her scent to linger on him.
Maruzensky wore a look of pure kindness, as if saying: Even though Big Sis jokes around sometimes, I always have a sense of propriety. See? I'm even lending you a helping hand.
What else could he say? Ritsuka decisively accepted Maruzensky's help. If anyone asked, he could just say Maruzensky personally attended the race because she valued Eperlan so highly.
Why was Maruzensky doing this?
Firstly, out of genuine interest—she was fascinated by Ritsuka. Secondly, she had noticed Le Glorieux's intentions and Double Bell Luster's "high-alert" state. Now, she had also seen through Fujimasa March's extraordinary trust and attachment.
To this experienced, amused "Grand Senior," the subtle and complex maidenly feelings sprouting around Ritsuka were far more captivating than the results of a single race!
And so, Maruzensky accompanied Ritsuka back to find the Horse Girls he was officially responsible for.
After a brief curtain call, the spotlights on the stage brightened once more, and Oguri Cap reappeared in the center. This time, she was to make an announcement to the entire crowd—to all of Japan!
She had claimed the championship trophy of the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun and earned the title of Regional Horse of the Year. This was equivalent to holding the golden key to the supreme temple of Japanese Horse Girls: Central Tracen Academy.
Facing the gaze of the audience, Oguri's voice trembled slightly with emotion. Her blue eyes were terrifyingly bright, filled with pure joy and excitement. She said:
"Thank you all for your support. And next year, as a representative of the regional circuit, I will transfer to Central! I'm going to show the Horse Girls in Central exactly what regional girls are made of!"
To her, this trophy and this status meant far more than the "undefeated myth" she had built in the regions.
Because the blueprint Ritsuka had designed for her was built on this foundation. Together, they would go to Central, shake its foundations, and restore the glory of the regions so that regional Horse Girls could receive better treatment!
When poor, focus on your own virtue; when successful, benefit the whole world. It was as simple as that!
This was the very reason she and Ritsuka had started from that tiny training field and walked, step by step, to where they were now!
"That's right! The next goal is Central!" Oguri spoke again, almost shouting directly into the cameras this time.
A brilliant, shadowless smile of ambition bloomed on her face. Her mind was filled with the images of the Central powerhouses she and Ritsuka had analyzed—of wider tracks, fiercer competition, and the stage for true champions that Ritsuka had once described to her!
She was completely immersed in the massive joy watered by sweat and victory, and in the infinite longing for the future. In her eyes, there was only the track ahead, the companions by her side, and the brand-new adventure about to begin.
Her straightforward mind, focused only on running and becoming stronger, was filled with the thoughts of higher speeds, stronger rivals, and the firm belief in "realizing ideals with the Trainer." There was no room for any other voices.
The announcement sent a shockwave through the crowd.
There were only two slots for Regional Horses of the Year, so did that mean only two regional girls could go? Not exactly. They could renounce their regional status and register as Central Horse Girls to start new races and embrace richer purses. Thus, many regional girls transferred to Central.
However, those who actually achieved results were few and far between.
In Japan, nearly seven thousand Horse Girls debuted every year. The regions accounted for the vast majority, and the "geniuses" discovered there were as numerous as carp crossing a river. Yet, a "genius" was merely a stepping stone to Central.
According to reliable statistics, the win rate for a regional girl's debut race in Central was only 9%. If one only counted Graded Stakes, that win rate dropped even further. Therefore, even though Oguri Cap had left behind an undefeated myth, the crowd's first reaction was: Transferring to Central? Is it happening again? This cycle of despair?
For a moment, the atmosphere in the stadium turned cold.
It wasn't that they didn't believe in Oguri Cap; it was simply that they had seen hope turn to despair too many times. They didn't think going to Central was bad; they just felt a regional girl's life was much broader and safer if she stayed in the regions. After all, most who went to Central eventually crawled back; it was better to stay and win prize money in the regions than to go to Central and eat someone's dust.
Between a guaranteed win and a high probability of failure, everyone knew which one they should choose, right?
Oguri Cap hadn't expected the scene to be like this. She felt a bit lost.
At that moment, a massive "noise" erupted.
It was Fujimaru Ritsuka.
He had taken the stage with a microphone in one hand and a guitar in the other, launching into a fierce guitar solo for the audience.
"Trainer... san?" Oguri's mind was already a bit slow; this development practically caused her brain to crash on the spot. She had no idea why Ritsuka was doing this.
Ritsuka was a Savior with vast experience. On his long journey, he had learned one thing: sometimes, words are the way to deliver one's heart to others.
In such situations, the standard operating procedure for a Master of Chaldea was basically "throw a punch first, then ask the questions while you're swinging."
In this world, a violent approach certainly wouldn't work, but they had the Winner's Stage. Horse Girls were both athletes and idols. Therefore, shouldn't he just use the "Idol Method" to settle the score?
Just as a certain famous guitar-playing lead singer once shouted: Mountains! Galaxy! Listen to my song!
The audience had no idea what Ritsuka was up to. They only heard a powerful, driving guitar rhythm and felt a sense of: "I don't know what's happening, but this is amazing!"
Infect the audience with song, deliver your heart's message, and then bid a temporary farewell to the regions. This was the backup plan Ritsuka had prepared for Oguri Cap.
After the two of them stepped off the stage, the other girls immediately surrounded them, shouting and cheering. They felt Ritsuka's behavior was completely "un-Ritsuka," yet incredibly rock and roll.
Maruzensky teased, "Is this what they call an 'unpredictable stage'? Fujimaru-kun, you really are interesting."
The atmosphere is bad, so you just start shredding? Is this really not an Indian movie trope? But regardless, it worked. The audience's passion was reignited, and their silent skepticism toward Oguri's ambition transformed into roaring cheers. A world where no one was hurt had been created.
And so, Maruzensky proactively extended her hand to Ritsuka.
"In the coming year, I'll be in your care, Fujimaru-kun."
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