"Trainer, where are we going now?"
Sunday Silence poked out her little head and lifted her face to look at Kuroha.
She looked unusually obedient.
"First, we should make a trip to the Academic Affairs Office. We need to enter your information into the academy system first."
Before Kuroha could answer, Rudolf, who was standing nearby, spoke first.
As the student council president, this was part of her duties to begin with.
"And since you are joining Chasing Light, the process will be more troublesome than it would be for other teams. Handling it right now will be somewhat difficult."
However, when the black-haired girl heard that voice, her red eyes narrowed slightly, and the smile on her face faded. She only answered with a single, "Oh."
"..."
Rudolf's expression stiffened slightly.
This race Uma Musume from the United States really did have an unusually bad temper!
And more than that.
What Rudolf found most incomprehensible was why Sunday Silence only treated Kuroha differently and behaved so obediently toward him.
Toward everyone else, she acted as if she could not be bothered to respond.
The "Emperor" could not help sinking into thought.
Although Kuroha himself did not really understand why Sunday Silence only listened to him, as long as this "problem child" could stay temporarily well-behaved and avoid causing trouble for now, he would already be thanking the heavens.
Thinking of that, he looked down at the girl and asked gently, "Sunday Silence... Mm, that name is a little long to use casually. Can I call you Shizu?"
At that.
Sunday Silence, whose face had been cold just a second earlier, softened like ice melting in spring rain.
She nodded lightly, and the corners of her mouth curved upward again. "Yes, Trainer."
"All right, Shizu."
Kuroha nodded and began arranging the schedule from there.
"You ran into the kamigakushi before you even got off the plane, so you definitely don't have a place to stay yet."
"Later, go with Luna to the Academic Affairs Office and register your information first. After that, I'll take you to our Chasing Light dormitory."
At that point, he turned slightly and pointed to the Swiss girl beside him, the one with the crescent-shaped forelock.
Then he formally introduced her with a smile.
"Oh, right. Luna is this Uma Musume here. She is the student council president of Central Tracen Academy—Symboli Rudolf."
"As a race Uma Musume who transferred from overseas, you two will likely have plenty of contact from now on."
"..."
Sunday Silence quietly looked at Rudolf. After two seconds of silence, she gave a lukewarm greeting in a soft voice.
"President Rudolf."
"Er... Hello."
A helpless drop of sweat slid down Rudolf's temple.
Her double standard was far too obvious...
...
On the way to the Academic Affairs Office.
Kuroha casually asked Sunday Silence when she first discovered that she had entered the kamigakushi state.
The black-haired girl lifted her head and seriously thought back for a while. Then she gestured as she spoke.
"At the time, I just went to the bathroom."
"But when I pushed the door open and came out, I found that all those flight attendants were acting blind. None of them could see me! No matter how I shouted, it was useless."
"But a few days ago, there were two... Uma Musume...?"
When she mentioned those "two Uma Musume," Sunday Silence frowned, and a trace of uncertainty entered her tone.
"They seemed to be able to see me. Then they told me, 'It'll be resolved in a few days, so just wait.' After that, they left right away."
"I originally wanted to chase after them and ask what was going on, but for some reason, I suddenly got this creepy feeling, so I didn't really dare to follow them."
Of course you didn't dare...
After all, those two are gods to your entire species...
Kuroha silently muttered to himself. He felt the urge to laugh, but held it back.
"Right."
Kuroha changed the subject and said, "You probably haven't bought any daily necessities yet, have you?"
"After we enter your information into the system, I'll take you to the shopping street first. We'll temporarily buy some basic toiletries and changes of clothes."
"After you settle in over the next few days, you can buy whatever else you want yourself. When the time comes, you can charge it directly to the team account."
At that, Sunday Silence, who had always seemed fearless, rarely showed a hint of awkwardness.
She said quietly, "Trainer, you don't have to. I have money... and I should have quite a lot of it!"
Of course I know you have money.
You're a classic American Triple Crown runner-up and a legend who claimed six G1 races.
It would be stranger if you didn't have money.
Kuroha chuckled softly.
Looking at the little ahoge sticking up from her head, he habitually reached out and stroked the girl's small head as though soothing a cat. His voice was gentle.
"Whether you have money is one thing. But your Trainer has even more money than you."
"Don't worry. Since you have become a race Uma Musume of Chasing Light, all you need to do is live happily and enjoy running. You don't need to worry about anything else."
"...Okay."
Sunday Silence lowered her head slightly, allowing that large hand to ruffle her hair. A faint blush rose on her cheeks, and she answered in a small, muffled voice.
"..."
Walking beside them, Rudolf narrowed her eyes and quietly watched the warm scene.
For some reason, that inexplicable irritation rose in her heart once again.
...
Sunday Silence's information registration went very smoothly.
However, just as everyone was about to leave the Academic Affairs Office building, Rudolf suddenly came over to Kuroha's side and asked in a seemingly casual tone, "Kuroha, now that you're back this time, how long are you planning to stay at Central Tracen?"
"I should be staying for quite a while this time. About a month or so."
After Kuroha answered honestly, he asked back with some confusion, "Why?"
That question, in turn, stunned Rudolf.
Right. What does how long he stays have to do with me?
Why did I come over and ask this question?
An awkward silence spread between the two of them.
A moment later, Rudolf turned her head slightly and gave a light cough.
"Nothing. I was just asking casually... I still have work to do, so I'll be going now."
"Er... All right."
Kuroha watched Rudolf's slightly hurried back and nodded in some suspicion.
After Rudolf had completely walked away, Kuroha took Sunday Silence toward the shopping street.
"Trainer, that woman just now..."
"Er, I mean President Rudolf. She might be a bad woman, you know. You'd better be careful around her!"
Halfway there, Sunday Silence suddenly leaned closer, lowered her voice, and dropped a thunderous statement.
"Symboli Rudolf? A bad woman?"
Kuroha did not know whether to laugh or cry. He could not help reaching out and flicking her forehead.
"Don't talk nonsense. What's bad about her?"
Sunday Silence covered her forehead, yet still answered with complete seriousness.
"I'm not talking nonsense!"
"Just now... When you were stroking my head, Trainer, that bad woman kept standing beside us and glaring at me!"
"And earlier, in the office, when she pulled me down from you, her eyes were super scary too!"
"..."
After hearing that, Kuroha was left speechless for a moment.
Although Sunday Silence had left countless legends in the history of horse racing in later generations, right now, in the end, she was only a young Uma Musume with a strange temper who had retired less than half a year ago.
Her thoughts were still somewhat simple.
Kuroha had originally wanted to put on a proper Trainer's posture, but as the little Uma Musume who had just become his charge kept talking beside him, his steps suddenly halted.
Wait...
No way, right?
He seriously recalled Rudolf's earlier, somewhat stiff reaction.
That inexplicable question.
And the subtle look in her eyes when she looked at Sunday Silence.
A rather absurd guess suddenly emerged in Kuroha's mind.
"...Maybe? No, surely not."
After a long silence, Kuroha still sighed.
Forget it. Things will work out when the time comes.
He could deal with the future later.
...
After taking Sunday Silence to the shopping street and buying a large amount of basic daily necessities, the two of them returned to Chasing Light's villa with bags large and small.
At this time, inside the villa.
Tokai Teio was still undergoing special training at the Mejiro training grounds.
Miho Bourbon and the other two little ones were also sweating through their training.
As a result, only several of Chasing Light's already-retired race Uma Musume were temporarily resting in the villa.
With Kuroha's return, the Uma Musume all gathered around. After introducing themselves one by one, they curiously surrounded Sunday Silence in a circle.
"Mhm! As expected of Trainer. You really did manage to resolve that online kamigakushi incident everyone was spreading around like some supernatural legend!"
Inari One crossed her arms and nodded with a face full of admiration.
Beside her, Obey Your Master also reached out a hand and smiled at Sunday Silence.
"Hello, Sunday Silence. After I transferred over from America, I often heard your name from my friends."
"They all said you were an extremely strong Uma Musume."
At that, Sunday Silence instead lifted her chin and gave a light laugh. "Of course. I've always been far stronger than all of you!"
Perhaps because they now belonged to the same team.
Although the black-haired girl still carried a measure of arrogance in her attitude toward Obey Your Master and the others, it was clearly far better than how she treated Rudolf.
However, when she faced two particular Uma Musume on the team, her attitude underwent a completely different change.
"Hello, Sunday Silence. Since you're also one of Chasing Light's Uma Musume now, you'll probably be living with us from now on."
"Why don't I take you upstairs first so you can choose a room you like?"
Fujimasa March stepped forward and made the suggestion with a smile.
"Mhm, mhm. There's an empty room right next to mine!"
Oguri Cap's cheeks were puffed out with something unknown as she urged Sunday Silence in a muffled voice.
"...Oh, okay!"
The instant she saw Fujimasa March and Oguri Cap, Sunday Silence's movements suddenly paused.
A smile rose on her face once again.
Just as she did when staying beside Kuroha, she obediently followed behind the two Uma Musume.
The three of them went upstairs together, chatting and laughing.
The Chasing Light Uma Musume on the first floor: "..."
"That girl... Why is her attitude toward Trainer, March, and Oguri completely different from how she treats us?"
Inari One quietly watched the backs of the three disappear around the corner of the stairs and could not help grumbling with her head covered in dark lines.
On the sofa.
Mejiro Ardan and Sakura Chiyono O were eating pastries. Hearing that, they also said softly, "It feels like this child only cares about people with some specific kind of trait."
"It's probably because they're gray."
At that moment, Kuroha walked over with a smile and naturally sat down on the sofa. He explained softly, "Sunday Silence... probably really likes light-colored shades like white and silver."
"When it comes to Uma Musume, that means gray Uma Musume."
"March and Oguri just happen to be gray Uma Musume, so they fit Sunday Silence's preferences very well."
"When McQueen comes back from the expedition later, she'll probably receive the same treatment as March..."
"I see..."
Everyone came to a sudden understanding.
"But as for why she treats me differently too..."
Kuroha rubbed his chin and smiled somewhat helplessly. "That, I really don't understand."
"Hmph, hmph. Maybe it's because you're too handsome, Trainer."
The moment those words fell, a pair of slender, fair arms suddenly reached out from behind the sofa.
Several strands of brilliant golden hair dropped down from above, carrying a faint fragrance.
Obey Your Master affectionately wrapped her arms around Kuroha's neck from behind.
She brought her soft little face close to Kuroha's ear and nuzzled him, then laughed softly, her breath warm and fragrant.
"There's no way it's that simple."
Feeling the softness against his back, Kuroha smiled and shook his head.
Just then, a warm, petite body suddenly threw itself into his arms.
Inari One squeezed directly into his embrace without the slightest hesitation. She lifted her head, showed him two adorable little fangs, and asked with a grin, "Speaking of which, Trainer, you came back specially this time because of Ayano-nee, right?"
Looking at the Edo girl in his arms, as endearingly playful as a little fox, Kuroha's eyes softened completely.
He habitually reached out and gently rubbed Inari One's fluffy little head, then nodded tenderly.
"Mm. That's right."
"Then, for the next few days—"
Inari One's eyes turned, and a sly smile immediately appeared on her face. She deliberately dragged out the end of her sentence.
Kuroha could not help freezing.
He looked around.
Only then did he realize that it was not just Obey Your Master behind him.
Mejiro Ardan, Sakura Chiyono O, and the rest of his Uma Musume sitting nearby were all watching him with discreet yet expectant, heated gazes.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became subtle.
It was as if the passionate music of Umapyoi Legend had begun ringing in his ears.
Realizing that he had no way out, Kuroha had no choice but to helplessly hold his forehead and raise his hand in surrender with a wry smile.
"Fine, fine. I'll follow your arrangements for the next few days. Happy now?"
They were all his wives, after all. He could not favor one over another.
Looking at the moving smiles that bloomed on the girls' faces all at once, Kuroha silently sighed to himself.
It seemed that tonight was destined to be another sleepless night.
(End of Chapter)
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