"...I want to support your work to the absolute best of my ability! Just as you once helped me, I want to help you! Please!"
Deeply moved by everything Fujimaru Ritsuka had done, Twin Shine summoned a level of resolve she had never felt before. She shouted those words with a voice that was firm, clear, and incredibly loud.
With her heart's deepest thoughts finally out in the open, her nerves—which had been stretched to their breaking point—snapped back with a satisfying pop. She immediately felt a sense of profound relief, even a touch of joy.
Suddenly, whether she continued as a Horse Girl or not didn't seem to matter anymore. What mattered was repaying the favor, expressing her gratitude to Fujimaru Ritsuka. He had done so much for her; if she didn't find a way to pay him back, she would truly be plagued by guilt for the rest of her life.
He had guided her, stayed by her side, and even steered her toward victory in her race.
A Trainer like this is so precious, so reassuring... so... admirable.
A faint blush crept across the girl's pretty face.
Following it was a cascading torrent of emotions: the lingering ecstasy of winning her debut race, which she felt would be a proud milestone for the rest of her life; the bittersweet relief of acknowledging her own limits—because for a Horse Girl, giving up on racing is a heart-wrenching decision—but if it was to repay Fujimaru Ritsuka's kindness...
Twin Shine felt a surge of passionate gratitude for his profound gentleness. She felt she was on the right path, and she was both excited and nervous to have found a brand-new direction for her life.
Wrapped in this tangle of complex emotions, she instinctively bent into a sudden, deep bow, hoping Fujimaru Ritsuka would grant her this request.
She didn't expect that extreme joy would lead to an immediate blunder!
Her bow was so forceful that her balance vanished in an instant. She began to topple forward.
"Whoa!"
Her vision blurred, her legs felt like jelly, and her body tilted uncontrollably toward the floor. She flailed her hands, desperately trying to grab onto anything to stay upright.
"Watch out!" Fujimaru Ritsuka's reaction was more than just quick...
It was startlingly fast!
The moment her body began to tilt, he sprang into action. With a single stride forward and an outstretched arm, he caught her forearm with one hand and supported her shoulder and back with the other. In a heartbeat, the crisis was neutralized.
His movements were crisp and efficient, without a hint of hesitation. It gave the impression that even if a glass had dropped a meter away, he could have caught it mid-air, saving it from a shattering end.
In an instant, Twin Shine's face turned even redder, looking as if she were about to vent high-pressure steam like a cartoon character. It was hard to say whether she was more embarrassed or flustered—it was a truly intriguing sight.
But it was only natural. After all, this was her first time in such close proximity to a man, especially one as gentle and reliable as Fujimaru Ritsuka.
Those solid arms, the lines of muscle hidden beneath his clothes, and the distinct scent of him so close... which Horse Girl could possibly keep her composure in such a moment?
Supported by Ritsuka, Twin Shine's hands rested on his forearms. She could clearly feel the firm, powerful muscle underneath, and her mind went blank. Fujimaru looked relatively lean, and his physique didn't stand out much. Who would have guessed that beneath those thin clothes lay such solid strength?
It was almost like a Horse Girl—appearing small, yet capable of exploding with power beyond anyone's imagination.
Come to think of it... Twin Shine thought to herself, Trainer already showed us that special power of his... together with Oguri.
Should one say, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear"?
Just as Twin Shine had that thought, Oguri Cap walked toward the Trainer's office. Without knocking, she pushed the door right open.
Under normal circumstances, this would be considered rude, but Oguri Cap and Fujimaru Ritsuka had a special relationship. Since she was looking for him for a specific reason, such a minor lapse in etiquette wasn't something to take seriously.
Oguri had finished her afternoon training and noticed that Twin Shine had been missing for a while. Worried, she came to find Ritsuka. If even the Trainer didn't know where she was, they would have to take action early, right?
She hadn't expected Twin Shine to be right there in the office. It was a relief.
Except... from Oguri Cap's perspective, the situation and the atmosphere in the office were a little bit "off."
Right now, Twin Shine was leaning forward, her upper body... no, practically her entire weight was resting in Fujimaru Ritsuka's arms. Her forehead was almost touching his shoulder!
More importantly, the moment Oguri walked in, Twin Shine reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her "fur" practically stood on end, and she scrambled several steps away from Ritsuka in a flash, as if she were desperately trying to distance herself and hide any association between them.
Would a normal person do that?
Furthermore, a suspicious blush and a few lingering tears remained on Twin Shine's face. She was waving her hands frantically in a clear attempt at a cover-up, which only made her look more guilty.
Twin Shine's eyes were wide with shock. Realizing how awkward the atmosphere had become, she quickly lowered her head and wiped the corners of her eyes.
If Mini Lady were here, she would definitely say Twin Shine was "destroying the evidence." At this moment, she looked incredibly suspicious.
Looking at the over-panicked Twin Shine and the visibly skeptical Oguri Cap, Fujimaru Ritsuka waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, Oguri. Were you looking for Shine? She was just here helping me with some daily paperwork. She mentioned she wants to do whatever she can to help out in the coming days."
As he spoke, Ritsuka gave Twin Shine a subtle wink, trying to get on the same page and avoid a misunderstanding.
If it were any other Horse Girl, this excuse likely wouldn't have worked. Ritsuka knew that from Oguri's angle, the posture he and Shine had been in looked exactly like a hug—specifically, a tight hug from him.
The fact that Twin Shine's face was beet-red only made it worse!
Ritsuka let out a long breath and thought: Luckily, it's Oguri. Her mind is simple; she shouldn't overthink things. I just need to speak normally.
He had full confidence in his judgment because that was just how Oguri Cap was. He also anticipated that Twin Shine might fumble her words due to her nerves, which is why he spoke up first to set the story.
What he didn't expect was that Twin Shine, in her state of hyper-anxiety, would blurt out at the exact same time: "I'm sorry, Oguri!"
The look of realization on Oguri's face froze instantly, replaced by sheer confusion. Trainer explained it clearly, so why is Shine apologizing?
The silver-gray-haired girl crossed her arms, deep in thought. She even tilted her head slightly, as if the physical shift helped her brain work better.
Ritsuka tried to perform damage control, but Oguri raised a hand, stopping him. Her gaze was sharp and focused. "Trainer, leave the communication here to me. Shine and I can clear this up."
Oguri, still fundamentally misunderstanding the context, looked incredibly confident—the classic "I've figured it all out" expression.
This is a disaster, Ritsuka thought.
Seeing Oguri "glaring" at her with such intensity, Twin Shine's hands flew up in a frantic wave, her face crumpling into a mask of panic.
"No, no, no! It's not what you think, Oguri! It's not like that!" Twin Shine's words were a jumble, her voice cracking as it hit a high pitch. "I just... I just lost my footing! Trainer was just catching me! He was just catching me! We were talking about business! Very important, very serious business! Absolutely nothing weird happened! Nothing at all!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka: Shine... saying it like that makes it sound a hundred times more suspicious... but since it's Oguri, maybe she'll just take it at face value?
The benefits of being a "natural airhead" were many. Ritsuka couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He already thought Oguri was adorable, but the more he watched her, the more he felt it to be true.
On the other side, Twin Shine was clearly overdoing it. While explaining, she began to gesticulate wildly, repeatedly mimicking the "fall" and the "catch" in an attempt to recreate the "truth."
But because she was so flustered, the movements were horribly distorted. It looked like some sort of bizarre, interpretive dance... and also, a little bit like a hug...
Honestly, it looked super suspicious.
So suspicious that Ritsuka even started to question himself: Did I really just lunged at her to hug her?
Oguri Cap didn't say a word. She raised her hand again, signaling Ritsuka to remain silent and give her time to think. Those blue eyes, clear as a cloudless sky, watched Twin Shine with a calm, focused intensity. It was a gaze that screamed: Stare—
Under that look, Twin Shine felt her skin crawl. She sensed a trace of doubt in those eyes, imagining Oguri was sizing her up and finding her more guilty by the second.
She imagined the gaze was saying: Really? I don't believe you.
This silent "suspicion" was more lethal than any interrogation.
Twin Shine felt like a paramecium under a microscope, every cell exposed and scrutinized.
She suddenly remembered the scene where they had met in the kitchen—how Oguri had torn down the door just because she smelled an unfamiliar Horse Girl. She remembered the beast-like intuition and focus Oguri possessed...
Twin Shine's mind spiraled: I'm doomed! Oguri definitely saw through me! She must think I'm making a move on the Trainer! With her direct personality and her habit of protecting her food—wait, protecting her Trainer—is she going to dismantle me next?!
At the thought of that possibility, Twin Shine began to tremble. "U-u-u-m, I... I... I..."
Seeing the situation spiraling toward an unpredictable conclusion, Ritsuka cut in decisively. "We were discussing the assistance work. Shine wants to help me and support all of you."
It was the absolute truth. He had a clear conscience!
"S-s-so... sodayo! We... we really were just discussing... logistics support! Yes! Logistics! I want to help the Trainer! That's why I got a bit emotional and..." With Ritsuka's "support," Twin Shine finally found her footing, but as she spoke, her defense grew weaker and her logic more tangled until she didn't even know what she was saying anymore. "In short! It's very pure! Comradely affection! Gratitude! It's... it's..."
Under Oguri Cap's unwavering, soul-piercing gaze, Twin Shine's voice dwindled to a whisper. She felt like even if she jumped into the Pacific Ocean, she'd never be able to wash away the suspicion.
Helpless, she closed her eyes in despair, bracing herself for what might be a very physical "judgment."
Then, she heard Oguri Cap's voice.
The voice was incredibly calm and remarkably certain, carrying the confidence of someone who had completely solved the mystery.
"I see. I understand perfectly!"
Twin Shine's heart tightened. This is it! My life is over! Trainer, save me!!!
Oguri's eyes sparkled with conviction. "Shine, you must be seeking the Trainer's guidance."
...
...
...?
"?" After a long silence, Twin Shine looked up in shock. Wait, what? Oguri, you spent all that time thinking just to come up with that?
However, this was clearly the most favorable outcome she could have hoped for.
Twin Shine forced a smile. "Ah... ahaha... y-yeah, that's exactly—"
But just as Twin Shine was about to agree, Oguri added with supreme confidence: "'Fujimaru Ritsuka is a man who could be a father to me.' That's what you were thinking, right? Because Trainer is so reliable and mature, he gives off such a sense of security..."
Oguri felt her logic was sound and stood proudly with her hands on her hips, nodding slightly to herself in approval.
"...it..." Twin Shine practically choked on air, letting out a sound of pure shock. "WHAA—?!"
Twin Shine was floored.
The color drained from her face instantly, only to rush back with even more violence. Her expression froze into a mask of pure disbelief.
She wanted to say something to Oguri, but she didn't even know where to begin.
No, wait... why on earth would you link it to that?!
At this moment, Twin Shine was speechless. She felt as if her brain had been formatted like a hard drive, leaving nothing but a vast, silent void.
Huh? Paternal love? Seeking a father figure? The Trainer? FATHERLY LOVE?!
────────────────────────────────────────
Support me here: https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Spring Sale Special – 20% OFF!
Musume: Oguri Cap Grand Order (119 Chapters – Ongoing)
Join the journey and become part of the story!
────────────────────────────────────────