Back in the trainers' dormitory, Fujiwara Chiya brewed a cup of green tea for Hayakawa Tazuna, then sat down across from her.
He was extremely nervous.
Last time, he had still not given Hayakawa Tazuna an answer to her confession, so there was a high chance she had come to ask about that.
But Fujiwara Chiya still had not made up his mind.
When one person confesses, it feels like happiness. When two people do, it becomes suffering. Honestly, right now he almost wanted to tell both Rice Shower and Tazuna, you are both my wings, but if he said something like that, he would probably end up branded a scumbag and fail to satisfy either of them.
So was today the day judgment finally arrived?
Fujiwara Chiya swallowed hard.
"The room is very tidy, Trainer Chiya." Sipping her green tea, Hayakawa Tazuna looked around the neat dorm room. It really did look as though he cleaned it every day.
"Last time you, uh... Tazuna, saw my sloppy side, so I changed the habit."
"I see. So you changed it because of me?"
"Of course." Fujiwara Chiya clasped his hands together. "I want to show you a reliable side of myself."
At those words, Hayakawa Tazuna smiled. The graceful curve of her lips, along with the mature warmth and tolerance she gave off, made Fujiwara Chiya stare blankly for a moment.
Then Hayakawa Tazuna stood up and slowly sat down beside him. A pleasant fragrance drifted into his nose.
He remembered that Tazuna had said she never wore perfume or anything like that, so this scent had to be her natural body fragrance. It was sweet and soft, enough to make Fujiwara Chiya want to move closer without thinking.
"I heard that you joined the Director's project, Trainer Chiya. Is that right?"
Rather than asking about the confession as he had expected, Hayakawa Tazuna brought up work.
"Yes. Director Akikawa sent me the proposal, so from now on my training will follow its requirements."
"That's alright with you, Trainer Chiya?"
"It's fine. I think if the Director entrusted me with such an important task, then she must believe I have the ability to shoulder it. So I don't want to let her expectations down."
"Wanting to live up to expectations is a good thing. But you must remember not to push yourself too far."
As she said that, Hayakawa Tazuna gently stroked Fujiwara Chiya's hair. Breathing in her captivating scent, Fujiwara Chiya's mood gradually relaxed as well.
It could be said that not only her appearance, but even her personality, perfectly matched Fujiwara Chiya's preferences. He liked this type exactly. A mature woman, someone with the feeling of an older sister.
"If you run into trouble, you can come to me anytime. I know a fair amount about training too."
"Of course. When that time comes, I'll have to trouble you, Tazuna."
Fujiwara Chiya nodded and rubbed his ear. Her breath had brushed against it, making his whole body itch.
"Ah..."
As though she had noticed something, Hayakawa Tazuna leaned in a little.
"Trainer Chiya, it seems like you haven't cleaned your ears in quite a while."
"Have I? I thought just recently..."
"You haven't."
Hayakawa Tazuna cut him off, patted her thigh, and pulled out a cotton swab she had apparently prepared ahead of time.
"Come here, Chiya."
Looking at the sweet smile on her face, Fujiwara Chiya felt as though he had been charmed. He simply could not refuse. He lay down with his head in her lap, and at once a soft sensation surrounded him.
So soft. So fragrant.
It was as though he had laid his head down on comfortable cotton. Hayakawa Tazuna's legs felt even softer than an Uma Musume's, even softer than Seiun Sky's.
Generally speaking, an Uma Musume's body could not be compared to a human's at all. Their muscles were in an entirely different league. When relaxed, they could feel so soft it was as though your fingers might sink right in; when tense, they could become harder than steel.
And yet from Hayakawa Tazuna, Fujiwara Chiya felt a softness and elasticity even stronger than what he usually associated with an Uma Musume.
Does she work out regularly or something? Fujiwara Chiya genuinely could not imagine how her body could feel this incredible.
While his thoughts drifted, Hayakawa Tazuna used the cotton swab to clean his ear. It felt as though an electric current had run through him, and his body jerked twice.
The sensation of being cared for by the woman he admired so much was too blissful. For a moment, Fujiwara Chiya felt his consciousness drifting away.
"There, there..." she murmured, as if soothing a child, while gently patting his head.
He simply could not resist.
This kind of maternal, affectionate woman completely overwhelmed the last line of defense in Fujiwara Chiya's heart. With his cheek pressed to her black-stockinged thigh, he could feel Hayakawa Tazuna taking up more and more space in his mind. After about three minutes, Hayakawa Tazuna finally set down the cotton swab.
She looked at the man before her, who had now thoroughly fallen under her charm, and smiled faintly.
"There's just one last step, Trainer Chiya."
In his haze, Fujiwara Chiya heard those words. Then he felt something warm and soft brush near his ear, and his whole body jolted sharply.
"Tazuna!?"
"Trainer Chiya, I'm helping you relax."
He could feel her breath right by his ear as she spoke.
"Tazuna, you really don't have to go this far..."
"You don't like it?"
At her question, Fujiwara Chiya's throat tightened.
Like it? He did like it.
But the feeling was far too intense. As a healthy young man, how was he supposed to endure this kind of temptation?
He turned over, changing from lying on his side to almost burying himself face-down into the sofa.
Seeing him like that, Hayakawa Tazuna smiled with complete composure.
What should I do with you, Chiya? Should I help you?
But you still haven't given me an answer. There are still other people in your mind. Before anything else, I need to sweep away those distracting thoughts and make you look only at me.
Until then, you'll just have to endure it quietly.
Take it as punishment for letting your heart waver toward someone else.
Her fingers traced lightly along the edge of his ear.
"Tazuna... I need to go to the bathroom."
Fujiwara Chiya felt as though the last of his reason was about to evaporate. He tried to get up, but Hayakawa Tazuna gently pressed him back down.
"Don't move, Chiya."
"No, Tazuna. This is an emergency. I really need to go."
"Hehe, I understand. Then I'll make this quick."
Quick? What are you planning to do?
Hayakawa Tazuna brushed back her hair, then, before Fujiwara Chiya could even react, she leaned down and kissed him.
A sweet warmth instantly filled his senses, and Fujiwara Chiya's mind went completely blank. Their breathing grew sharper and faster, until finally, just as Fujiwara Chiya felt he might stop breathing altogether, Hayakawa Tazuna pulled away.