Some time later, at an izakaya outside the school.
Kitahara Shinji and Koyoi sat opposite each other, the latter's face slightly red.
But not from shyness, but from anger.
Although she had been at Tracen for several years, Koyoi rarely went out.
On the one hand, of course, it was because the work was quite competitive. On the other hand, it was her appearance.
Imagine if every time you went out to clear your mind, people would come up to you one after another and ask, 'Little sister, are you separated from your family?', 'What's your family's contact information?', or even directly call the police. You wouldn't want to go out either.
As for places like izakayas, they were even more of a disaster area.
Basically, as soon as she entered the shop, a waiter would immediately come up and say that this place was not suitable for minors and want to send her away.
And this time, it was the same situation.
Although this shop was very popular among the nearby trainers, and Koyoi had been here a few times, those were all with a large group.
And this time, it happened to be a somewhat stubborn newcomer in the shop. Seeing Kitahara Shinji bring her in, he almost thought that Kitahara Shinji was a trainer with some strange fetishes, and even wanted to call the police at one point.
In the end, it was only after Koyoi took out a bunch of documents, proving that she was an adult and his senior, that she dispelled the other party's idea of calling the police, and bought two bottles of sake at her own expense as an apology.
Kitahara Shinji didn't drink, so he gave his bottle to Koyoi.
As for Koyoi, although she usually barely touched alcohol.
But on the one hand, she wanted to show her maturity in front of Kitahara Shinji.
On the other hand, she was indeed in a bit of a bad mood, so she didn't refuse, and even directly opened a bottle and poured it into her own cup.
Kitahara Shinji had no intention of advising her.
After all, Koyoi was an adult a few years older than him, and the alcohol content of this sake was not high.
In some rural areas of JP, some places even drink low-alcohol sake as a beverage. I think drinking a little won't be a problem.
After that, as the dishes were served, Kitahara Shinji was the first to speak.
"Senpai, you said before that you had something important to talk to me about. I wonder what it is?"
"Ah, that..."
Speaking of this, Koyoi's already not-so-good face fell a few more points. After hesitating for a while, she stammered.
"Let me ask a question first. Have you recently, when you're training, felt that someone is watching you... or something..."
"Yes."
Kitahara Shinji nodded frankly.
"I noticed her situation a long time ago, and I was also startled when I first discovered it."
Koyoi was stunned for a moment, and the light in her eyes dimmed a few points.
"Is that so..."
She paused for a moment, then mustered up her courage and spoke.
"Then what do you think of her, Little Kitahara?"
"This..."
Kitahara Shinji showed a somewhat troubled expression.
"To be honest, although she didn't say it, I can probably guess her thoughts. But to be honest, I'm also in a difficult position. After all, senpai, you..."
"...It's okay with me."
Koyoi spat out this sentence with some difficulty. After drinking a sip of wine, she raised her head and looked at Kitahara Shinji, saying firmly.
"Don't worry about me, Little Kitahara. I know very well that your ability is stronger than mine, and your character is also trustworthy. In your team, Tamamo will definitely be able to better display her talent..."
As she spoke, Koyoi's voice gradually became smaller.
It wasn't that her determination was wavering, but that she found that as she spoke, the expression on Kitahara Shinji opposite her gradually became strange.
"Um, Little Kitahara, what's wrong?"
Looking at his strange expression, Koyoi was a little uneasy.
Kitahara Shinji was silent for a moment, and then he spoke.
"Senpai, were you talking about Tamamo Cross just now?"
"...Yes."
Koyoi nodded, and then her eyelids twitched.
"Wait, Little Kitahara, then in that case, you were talking about..."
Kitahara Shinji was silent for a moment, then spat out a name.
"Mejiro Ardan."
Mejiro Ardan, nicknamed 'Chinese daughter-in-law', is a member of the top horse girl family, the Mejiro family.
She is also a very famous horse girl, but the reason why she is famous is different from other horse girls.
Mejiro Ardan is not strange, and her personality is that of a gentle and sheltered young lady.
She is well-read, gentle to others, and if it weren't for the behemoth of the Mejiro family behind her, Kitahara Shinji would probably have listed her as a safe horse girl.
So since she is so normal and doesn't have any strange outstanding points like Oguri Cap and Special Week, what is such an existence famous for?
The answer is being frail and sickly.
And to what extent is this frail and sickly?
That is, at the beginning, even Agnes Tachyon could be considered a model of health compared to her.
But the problem is that her frailty and sickness were not caused by bad habits later in life, but were innate.
So although she relied on the behemoth of the Mejiro family behind her, and the Mejiro family was willing to spend money on her treatment.
But until today, she is still as fragile as a piece of glassware.
Especially those glass legs that even Tokai Teio's would be considered as solid as a rock compared to hers, were directly given a verdict by the doctor, saying that she 'cannot participate in races'.
And let alone races, Mejiro Ardan could only use the lowest intensity for even her usual training.
But even so, she was frequently injured and hospitalized, and even because of injuries, she almost couldn't get into the Tracen headquarters.
And not long after Agnes Tachyon's race, Kitahara Shinji noticed that she had appeared at the side of his team, looking at him from a distance, but for some reason, she did not come forward to talk.
So when Koyoi mentioned that someone was watching him with that expression just now, Kitahara Shinji immediately thought of her.
As for the unfinished sentence at the end...
"Um, I was actually trying to say, after all, you also know, senpai, that the Mejiro family is a big family. It's fine if I can cure her legs. If something unexpected happens and I mess up, that would be troublesome..."
Kitahara Shinji was not surprised that Ardan would come to him.
After all, through previous conversations, he already knew that his reputation outside had already been spread as something as outrageous as a 'horse girl wishing machine'.
And Ardan's situation was something that even the Mejiro family was helpless with, so after hearing his name, it was a very normal development to want to come over and try her luck.
But that was not something that needed to be considered now. The most important thing now...
"So senpai, you were talking about Tamamo Cross just now?"
Kitahara Shinji quickly reacted and probably guessed why Koyoi had said so.
However, Koyoi, who was opposite him, was not as calm as him.
After discovering that all the courage she had mustered had hit empty air, the immense embarrassment almost made her want to crawl into a hole.
Her face instantly turned as red as a boiled shrimp, and then to cover up the embarrassment, she began to drink continuously.
After drinking for a long time, and even finishing a whole bottle of sake, along with the increase in the blush on her face, Koyoi finally managed to stabilize her emotions.
But then, just as she had stabilized her emotions, before she could think about how to speak, Kitahara Shinji opposite her spoke first.
"Senpai, I probably understand what you meant just now. You want Tamamo to transfer to my team, right?"
Koyoi was silent for a moment and slowly nodded.
"Yes."
Kitahara Shinji's expression became a little more serious, and then he asked.
"Did you two have a fight?"
"...No."
"Is there something wrong with you that you can't take care of her?"
"...No."
"Have you asked for her opinion?"
"...No."
Kitahara Shinji was silent for a moment, and then spoke in a rather serious tone.
"Then may I ask, Senior Koyoi, why did you suddenly talk to me about this?"
Silence.
Koyoi lowered her head, her lips pursed.
"I..."
"Please don't say it's because you think my ability is stronger and can better display her talent, so you want me to help guide her."
He looked at Koyoi, his expression calm and his tone serious.
"In that case, the academy might as well just assign horse girls directly according to the trainer's ability ranking. The nomination system would have no reason to exist."
"And please don't say it's because you think my character is good and you think I will be responsible for her, so you want her to join my team, because that is a denial of yourself, senpai."
"Since you can make this kind of decision, there are only two possibilities. One is that you are extremely irresponsible and are anxious to find someone to shift the blame to. The other is that you are very responsible, and would rather sacrifice yourself to let her have a better future."
"I don't think you are the former, senpai."
"And also, please don't say that this is her own wish, because you just said that before you came, you did not consult her opinion."
"By the way, and please be sure not to use the reason 'I'm doing it for her own good', because I was just angered several times a few days ago by an idiot who always says this and doesn't learn her lesson."
"So if you really say that you came to me for this reason, senpai, I will really get angry."
Silence.
After a long while.
A wronged voice came from Koyoi's mouth as she lowered her head.
"But, it's clearly you and Little Tamamo who get along better..."
"I admit that."
Kitahara Shinji nodded readily, and then spoke.
"And then?"
Hearing his question, Koyoi was stunned for a moment, and then subconsciously spoke.
"Then she would definitely be better off with you..."
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of a forefinger tapping on the table sounded.
Then, a serious voice sounded.
"Senpai, please raise your head and look at me."
Koyoi hesitated for a moment, then raised her head with some difficulty.
"What is it, Little Kitahara..."
Kitahara Shinji looked at her and said seriously.
"Senpai, now tell me, what is our profession."
"...Is a trainer."
"What is the duty of a trainer?"
"...Responsible for guiding and training horse girls, helping them pursue victory and dreams."
"Then what does this have to do with getting along?"
Hearing Kitahara Shinji's words, Koyoi was stunned and subconsciously wanted to answer, but then suddenly stopped.
And immediately after, Kitahara Shinji also spoke again.
"I admit that from a friend's point of view, I get along very well with Tamamo Cross, and I enjoy her company very much."
"But in terms of being a trainer, I may not be able to do better than you, senpai. After all, I also know that I am sometimes soft-hearted, and have been tormented by those little ones for this reason."
"But if it were you, senpai, perhaps you wouldn't be like those strict trainers, but at least in terms of management, you would definitely be stronger than me."
"And to be honest, let alone strict, I actually can't manage them at all. The reason why I've been able to support myself until now without any accidents is all because they are good children who know how to work hard and restrain themselves, and has nothing to do with me."
"There is no perfect person in this world. I may know a little more than you in terms of trainer knowledge, senpai."
"But in other aspects, such as dealing with horse girls, such as team management, such as understanding some situations at Tracen, etc., I all have to learn from you."
"If it were a trainer who was indeed lacking in level, or had some problems with his character, and made this request to me, I would agree without hesitation. After all, I don't want to let Tamamo Cross be defeated by such a person."
"But as for you, senpai, I don't think you are lacking in level, and your character is also unquestionable. In many aspects, I still have to learn from you, and sincerely think that you are a very excellent and responsible trainer."
"If even a senior like this feels that she is not competent enough to be Tamamo Cross's trainer, then I, who am far inferior to you in many aspects, probably don't have this qualification."
After Kitahara Shinji finished speaking, he quietly looked at Koyoi in front of him, his expression quite serious.
As for Koyoi opposite him...
She was about to faint.
It might be the effect of alcohol, it might be Kitahara Shinji's words, or it might be both.
But in short, after Kitahara Shinji finished speaking, Koyoi's face was even redder than before.
Her head was also dizzy, and his words were constantly spinning in it. Her whole person was a little light-headed.
"Little Kitahara..."
She subconsciously murmured, and her gaze towards the man in front of her became more and more dazed. She even subconsciously wanted to reach out and touch his face.
But in the next second, along with Kitahara Shinji's words, her body froze on the spot.
"And I think, if we are to talk about this kind of thing, it's better to let the person concerned also participate."
As he spoke, Kitahara Shinji turned his head and looked at a certain table of customers who were trying to dodge by his side, and spoke with some helplessness.
"Next time you follow me, it's better to have fewer people. A group of more than a dozen people, it's hard not to be exposed—especially you, Super Creek, you're so big, and you're still with them. Don't you think you're very conspicuous?"
Hearing his words, the horse girls of the two teams hesitated for a moment, and then walked over sheepishly from over there.
And looking at the approaching Tamamo Cross, Koyoi's body gradually stiffened, and her mind went even more blank.
"Um, Tamamo, the conversation just now, did you hear it all..."
Tamamo Cross nodded with some embarrassment.
"Um, I really didn't know you wanted to talk about this before. Everyone came, so I came along. It wasn't intentional to eavesdrop..."
Koyoi's body completely froze, and her mind was a blank.
It's over, it's all tama over. I'll have no face to see Little Tamamo in the future...
Then, the next moment she was thinking this, she felt herself being hugged.
Then, a familiar voice sounded.
That always cheerful voice, that even when complaining was full of vitality, today for some reason sounded a little sad.
"Are you an idiot? Trainer."
"I admit I quite like chatting with Trainer Kitahara, and I know I've been spending more time with Trainer Kitahara recently."
"But, but..."
The strength of the embrace increased slightly, and Tamamo Cross's voice gradually became wronged.
"I never said I don't like you, Trainer. Otherwise, why do you think I would agree to be your charge..."
"When I heard you wanted me to transfer just now, I was worried for a long time, thinking if I had caused you too much trouble these days and you were annoyed with me..."
Hearing Tamamo Cross's wronged words, Koyoi was stunned for a long while.
After reacting, her gaze subconsciously drifted to Kitahara Shinji on the other side.
The latter returned an encouraging look and then nodded slightly.
So, after a moment of hesitation, Koyoi carefully hugged Tamamo Cross in her arms, and then spoke with a slight apology.
"Sorry, Little Tamamo, it's my fault. I shouldn't have said this, and I should have discussed it with you..."
But just then, a voice that was not in harmony with the atmosphere suddenly sounded.
"But Tamamo-chan, you actually also want to join Trainer Kitahara's team, right?"
As her voice fell, everyone's gaze instantly focused on Super Creek.
But she was not flustered at all. She held her cheek with one hand and spoke slowly.
"Please don't misunderstand, I have no intention of persuading Tamamo-chan to transfer. I also think Trainer she is very excellent..."
Excellent in various senses.
"It's just that the current situation is that Tamamo-chan obviously gets along better with Trainer Kitahara, and definitely wants to have more contact with Trainer Kitahara."
"And Trainer Kitahara also just said that although he is better at trainer knowledge, in some other aspects, he is not as good as Trainer she..."
"And, as far as I know, at present, Trainer Kitahara, your team size is already so large, but up to now, you are still the only one responsible..."
When Super Creek had just spoken, Kitahara Shinji had already realized that something was wrong.
And when she said what she said now, especially looking at her gaze firmly nailed on him.
If Kitahara Shinji still couldn't react to what kind of trick she was trying to pull, he might as well find a piece of tofu and kill himself.
However, before he could think of any countermeasure, Tokai Teio on the other side spoke directly.
"Super Creek, do you mean..."
"Yes, I wonder if you have heard of 'team merger'."
Super Creek smiled and nodded, and then her gaze swept over everyone.
"And not only Tamamo-chan, I also think that Trainer Kitahara is a very excellent trainer, and just happens to be able to complement Trainer she's shortcomings. And he also gets along very happily with everyone, so I had this idea. I just don't know what everyone thinks about this matter..."
Just as Super Creek finished speaking, a voice sounded.
But it was not the voice of a horse girl.
"I want to merge teams with Little Kitahara!"
As her voice fell, everyone simultaneously turned their gaze to Koyoi.
Then they saw that Koyoi in Tamamo Cross's arms was struggling with a drunken look, trying to drill towards Kitahara Shinji.
And, after they looked over, Koyoi found that she couldn't break free from Tamamo Cross's embrace and couldn't get to Kitahara Shinji's side. She immediately started acting like a child.
"I don't care, I don't care. Anyway, I just want to be in the same team as Little Kitahara."
"Little Kitahara, you better nod quickly, otherwise I won't like you anymore."
"Wuwah, Little Kitahara, look, they're all bullying me—"
The words came to an abrupt halt.
Super Creek smiled and stuffed Koyoi's head into her broad chest, pressing her down so that she couldn't move, and could only make 'wuwu' sounds. Then she turned her head and looked at the others.
"As for the rest, let's talk about it back at the academy?"
"...Okay."
....
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