The race that had just finished was clearly intense. Staff members were already rushing onto the track to check on the situation.
Hearing Yasui's words and seeing what was happening on the track, the Uma Musume exchanged glances. Tokai Teio, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
"Trainer Yasui, you go first. We'll follow soon.
"It might be overthinking things, but I think if we all went to see Kita-chan together right now… the pressure on her would be immense."
Yasui nodded. He said nothing more and turned to head toward the back corridor.
Watching his retreating figure, Mejiro McQueen tilted her head toward Tokai Teio and whispered,
"Tokai Teio, what exactly is he thinking…?"
Tokai Teio was silent for a moment.
"I can't guess what he's thinking.
"It's not unheard of for a Trainer to take on a G1-level Uma Musume right after their debut, but to show this kind of attitude toward a near-success that ended in failure… it's as if he's run just as many races as we have.
"To be honest, I've never met a Trainer like him."
"I haven't either," Mejiro McQueen said, thinking back. "But… this shouldn't be a bad thing for Kita-chan."
"Of course it's not a bad thing," Tokai Teio's spirits rose. "On the contrary, I can now fully confirm that he is a perfect match for Kita-chan.
"McQueen, I think it's time we discussed overseas races with him and Kita-chan. What do you think?"
===
Before he had even drawn close to the infirmary, Yasui saw Kitasan Black just stepping out of it.
Kitasan Black also spotted Yasui. She instinctively smiled and took a step toward him.
But then her expression stiffened. Her gaze shifted away, and her steps came to a halt.
Noticing the change in her face, Yasui walked over and spoke softly.
"How is it? Any problems with the check-up?"
The moment his familiar voice reached her from above, Kitasan Black's ear twitched.
After a long silence, she lowered her head, nodded without a word, and interlaced her fingers in front of her body.
As if he hadn't noticed these small gestures, Yasui casually looked toward one end of the corridor.
"If there's no problem, get some good rest. There's still the Winner's Stage later… Should I go with you?"
Once again she lowered her head and stayed silent for a long while before giving a slight nod.
As they walked toward the lounge area, Yasui deliberately slowed his pace. Only when he heard footsteps following him did he return to a normal walk.
The path to the lounge was used by the contestants who had just raced. After a few simple greetings with some of them, the corridor gradually emptied.
After turning a corner—
"Trainer…"
"Hmm? What's wrong…?"
"Wait… wait a moment. You… don't look back yet…"
Just as he was about to turn, Yasui paused and remained facing forward as instructed.
He couldn't see the girl's expression. He could only hear her voice, which was much lower and steadier than usual.
"I… I don't know what to say.
"I also wondered what you would say to me, Trainer…
"But… thinking about it carefully, this current situation seems like exactly what you would do, doesn't it…?"
…So what does that mean?
Just as the question formed in his mind, Yasui suddenly felt something lean against his back.
Then a taut yet warm body pressed fully against him, and a pair of arms slipped under his, gently wrapping around his chest.
The tension in her body gradually melted away. She relaxed against him, soft and clinging.
At the same time, a long, warm breath brushed just below the back of his neck.
The touch and warmth against his back made Yasui's entire body stiffen.
…So what does this mean…?
Before he could make sense of it, a soft voice completely unlike her usual tone came from behind him, matching the soft, clinging sensation.
"I don't know what to say…"
Repeating those words, the voice behind him continued.
"Comfort or encouragement… or even blaming or scolding me…
"I can accept any of those. I can even imagine them…
"But this… this should be what a Trainer is like. Never saying those kinds of things…
"No… you've said comfort and encouragement before, but only during training…
"What happens when I lose a race… This should be the first time you've faced a situation like this, right…?"
Subconsciously, Yasui shifted.
He wanted to say that he had experienced losing races before, but before he could speak, the arms wrapped under his held him firmly in place.
"I… I told you… Trainer, don't look back yet…"
The pressure from both sides increased. The warmth against his back grew hotter, the sensation softer, as if he were sinking into a warm spring.
Then the voice fell silent for a while before returning with a quiet, mumbling quality.
"Still don't know what to say… or how to say it…"
Repeating similar words for the third time, as if afraid he might slip away, the arms tightened even further, creating a brief moment where it felt hard to breathe.
"But… Trainer, we still have races after this, right?
"I won't let anyone take you away. So… you'll still guide me after this, right?
"I've always listened to what you said. I've always tried my hardest. And I've never forgotten what I promised you…
"So for the races ahead… Trainer… we'll still be together, right?"
"…Yes. That's right."
Finally understanding the meaning behind the words from behind him, Yasui nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"As for comfort… I really don't know what to say.
"'You did your best. Your results are already very good'… those kinds of words mean nothing to me.
"It's not that I've never lost a race. Of course, I'm talking about outside the Twinkle Series.
"After losing a race, there's only one thing I think about.
"Win it back next time.
"Races are that simple. Win, and if you lose, win it back.
"You don't have to worry. You said you'd make me a G1 Trainer, and you've already done it.
"So you don't need to feel sorry, and you don't need to worry. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me as the Trainer…"
The arms around his chest suddenly tightened, and Yasui nearly choked, swallowing the rest of his words.
"Who should apologize… Isn't that also the kind of meaningless talk you just mentioned, Trainer?"
The voice from behind suddenly mumbled. In an instant, every sensation vanished, and a familiar figure appeared before his eyes.
"You suddenly said a lot of strange things, but anyway… Please continue to guide me from now on, Trainer!"
The tips of the girl's eyelashes still held a faint glimmer of moisture, but her crimson eyes reflected a sharp intensity.
The smile on her lips was still energetic and lively, yet its curve seemed a few degrees lower than usual.
Looking at that smile, which sat somewhere between energetic and quiet, Yasui couldn't help swallowing as he averted his gaze for a moment.
A moment later, meeting those crimson eyes again, he slowly raised his hand and gently brushed a few damp strands of hair from the girl's forehead.
"Please continue to guide me, Kita-chan."
---
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200 - Stones
400 - Stones
600 - Stones
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