After crossing the finish line, Oguri Cap gasped for air in heavy, ragged gulps. Salty sweat slid down her pale chin, falling in a steady rhythm of droplets onto the track, which was still scorching hot from the afternoon sun.
Her lungs burned with a searing heat, and every muscle in her body felt so drained she wanted to collapse right then and there and fall into a deep sleep. Her heartbeat thundered against her eardrums, and her head began to feel heavy and foggy with exertion.
This wasn't the first time Oguri Cap had pushed herself to such an extreme, but this time, the sensation felt different.
Deep within the exhaustion that made her want to slump onto the dirt, a new feeling was taking root—an emotion that was both incredibly intense and remarkably light.
Oguri Cap didn't know how to describe it. She only knew that this feeling had pierced through the waves of fatigue, erupting within her heart with a thunderous roar!
If a certain Heroic Spirit who was fond of letting out a "Kuhahaha!" laugh were present, he might have said: Without a doubt, that is the genuine sense of euphoria that erupts only after tasting the sweetness of victory!
But that Heroic Spirit was not there. So, the current Oguri Cap still didn't know the name of this emotion; she only knew that she had done it!
She hadn't been boxed in by the blockade of the two girls. She had used her own eyes to see through her opponents' rhythm, used her own mind to find that seemingly non-existent gap, and ultimately overturned the entire situation in one breath!
The sensation of seizing a sliver of hope in a desperate situation—and using her own strength to tear it open, expand it, and finally snatch victory—was entirely foreign, yet profoundly exhilarating.
"Hah... hah... Trainer-san!"
Oguri Cap looked up. Her silver-gray bangs, soaked with sweat, clung to her forehead in a damp, sticky mess. It was uncomfortable, but her blue eyes were blindingly bright, burning with a joy and a sense of accomplishment that threatened to overflow.
In that moment, the thread of reason was snapped by the surging tide of emotion.
Oguri didn't even realize what she was doing. She simply followed the most direct impulse hidden in the deepest part of her heart. She wanted to share this joy of victory, this excitement of seeing a brand-new world, with the person who had guided her, believed in her, and led her into this new life—Fujimaru Ritsuka.
Yes. Sharing. Nothing more.
"Trainer-san!"
Oguri Cap let out a shout that was a mixture of a gasp and a cheer. Decisively squeezing out the tiny bit of strength she had just recovered, she charged toward Fujimaru Ritsuka!
It wasn't her usual racing form. It was... how to put it? It had the distinct feeling of a young bird returning to its nest.
Exactly that!
It was the kind of vibe that made one think she might say in the next heartbeat: "Trainer-san is a man who could become my [parental figure]! How I wish to be guided by him!"
Watching this, Norn Ace—who was currently busy wiping her sweat—paled. She screamed, "Wait! Oguri Cap!"
"That mud-rabbit!"
"There's a limit to how little common sense you can have!"
Ludi Lemo and Mini Lady followed suit, shouting in panic.
Anyone with a functioning brain could see the problem. Given the speed and strength of an Uma Musume, if she charged at a human trainer without holding anything back like this...
Broken bones? That would be the lucky outcome. More likely, he'd be reincarnated into another world on the spot! What was this? Was Oguri Cap moonlight as the "Isekai Reincarnation Truck"?
Even more terrifyingly, when she was only two or three meters away from Fujimaru Ritsuka, Oguri Cap actually spread her arms and leaped with all her might. Like a silver cannonball shot from a barrel, she lunged at him!
Anyone could tell it was a hug filled with unreserved trust and excitement—but it also carried enough kinetic energy to send an elite Uma Musume to the afterlife.
Except for Double Bell Light, every girl watching took a sharp, cold breath. Mini Lady even squeezed her eyes shut, terrified of seeing a bloody scene.
Even Fujimasa March, who had been standing far off "investigating the enemy," was so startled she ran out from behind a tree. She had been gathering intelligence for her own debut, but she hadn't expected to see something this horrific. Her eyes widened as she criticized, "That girl is an idiot!"
The girl's blue-gray ears pinned back, as if she were witnessing an unforgivable sight.
However, the expected tragedy—one that would have made even an elite Uma Musume despair—did not occur.
The moment Oguri Cap leaped, Fujimaru Ritsuka let out a doting smile. His body shifted and lowered with a subtlety that was nearly impossible for the human eye to track, preparing to absorb the impact. His long, strong arms reached out with precision; one hand caught Oguri Cap around the waist, while the other steadily supported the girl's weight.
THUD.
Accompanied by a heavy, solid sound of impact, Oguri Cap slammed into Ritsuka's chest. The massive force caused Ritsuka's sportswear jacket to billow backward, and the dust on the ground rippled outward in a perfect ring, looking like a small explosion!
But Fujimaru Ritsuka stood as steady as a mountain, not even taking a half-step back. He completely bore the weight of the girl trembling slightly with excitement in his arms.
It had to be said, an Uma Musume's strength truly was exaggerated. Ritsuka could clearly feel Oguri's legs wrapped tightly around his waist, as stable as a bench vise.
Because of this, he released the hand holding her waist and reached up, patting the top of the girl's head to soothe her. "There, there. Good girl, good girl."
His tone was exactly like a father taking care of a naughty young daughter.
The world seemed to stand still for several seconds.
Then, a wave of gasps and exclamations of disbelief erupted from all sides.
Staring at the Trainer who had effortlessly caught a full-speed Oguri Cap—and even had a hand free to pat her head—Norn Ace's eyes went round and her jaw dropped. She felt as though she had never actually understood what a "human" was.
"Hey... did you see that, Norn?" Ludi Lemo's face was stuck in an expression of pure blankness.
Mini Lady cautiously peeked through her fingers. Then, her fingers snapped open as her small face filled with the "Who am I? Where am I? What did I just see?" holy trinity of confusion.
Even Fujimasa March in the distance was left slack-jawed. The shocking reality she had just witnessed caused her brain to stall. She fell into a state of questioning her very existence.
That human trainer named Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't just catch her... he looked like he had room to spare?! This is too terrifying! No Trainer can do that! They all avoid contact with Uma Musume specifically to avoid injury!
"Ahahaha..." Double Bell Light laughed awkwardly, a subtle curve on her lips that only belonged to those "in the know." She thought to herself: Basically, our Trainer-san is just like this. You'll get used to it.
In the center of the training ground, Oguri Cap was completely unaware of the stir she had caused. To her, this felt perfectly natural.
At this moment, only one thought filled her mind: Trainer-san's hands are so warm.
Her silver-gray ears twitched with excitement, and she even leaned her head in to nuzzle against Ritsuka's palm. But considering she was currently clinging to his body, the posture was incredibly awkward no matter how one looked at it.
To help her calm down, Fujimaru Ritsuka spoke up: "Alright. Since Oguri has begun to develop her on-the-spot judgment, it's time to face your debut race."
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Musume: Oguri Cap Grand Order (40 Chapters – Ongoing)
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