I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?! Chapter 147 - 146: Strength’s Divide and a Promise Kept

Air Groove's POV

"Ha… ha… ha…" I panted.

Fuji: "Ha… ha… ha…"

Mr. CB: "Ha… ha… ha…"

Secretariat: "Hmm, running with breaks leaves you like this. I'm a bit tired compared to my pri, though. Also, 2400m's a bit long… Hachiman, keep training at 2200m max, 1600m minimum. This won't hold up."

We finally finished today's main nu, utterly spent. Yet Secretariat-dono stands there, chatting with Hachiman like it's nothing… looking completely unfazed. And she switched tactics effortlessly—front-running, mid-pack, closing. Despite our best styles, we couldn't keep up. She overtook us in the end, vanishing far ahead.

Hachiman: "Got it. I noticed the sa. But I let it run full course this ti. The Uma Musu I train aren't soft enough to quit halfway."

Secretariat: "Good trust. Alright, you three, collapse if you must, but stand while you do. Sitting builds lactic acid, making it harder to get up."

"Ha… ha…" I gasped. "Secretariat-dono, how… how are you so calm? Four straight runs, and your face hasn't changed… Why?"

Mr. CB: "Y-Yeah… I was wondering too… How're you so chill?"

Secretariat: "Hmm… Let's say my engine's built different." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by ɴo(v)elFɪre.ɴet

Fuji: "E-Engine?"

Secretariat: "Think of vehicles. Sa exterior, but a different engine changes speed and efficiency. Sa for Uma Musu or humans. Your three engines, though different, can handle 2400m. But sustaining that power back-to-back? Not quite there. As for , I've run 2600m before, so I've got long-distance aptitude. Curious why I'm fine after this?"

"Y-Yes," I said.

Secretariat: "Heh, what if my engine's over twice as big as a normal one?"

Mr. CB: "T-Twice!? Like… two normal engines…?"

Secretariat: "Exactly as you're thinking. I can maintain speed and still surge at the end. I didn't lead this ti to observe you three. The result? As expected of my disciple's students."

So that's it… Her speed and acceleration. No one could mimic that run. Even Suzuka would burn out chasing her. It's a run only Secretariat-dono can pull off.

Hachiman: "Alright, once you've caught your breath, start cool-downs. Air Groove, stay in the clubroom after training."

"Fine, but… why?" I asked.

Hachiman: "That talk from before. About the injury…"

"!" I nodded. "Got it."

Hachiman: "Sensei and the Professor said they've got ti, so today's the day to talk."

Fuji: "How sneaky, Hachiman-trainer and Air Groove, keeping secrets."

Mr. CB: " too, too~!"

Hachiman: "…Look, this isn't so casual chat. It's about forcing open one of Sensei's traumas. If you're just curious, drop it. That'd—"

Secretariat: "It's fine, Hachiman."

Hachiman: "But Sensei!"

Secretariat: "I said it's fine. Your Uma Musu deserve to know. I'm okay with it. Got a problem?"

Hachiman: "…No."

Secretariat: "I get your concern. But the Uma Musu you chose are trustworthy. They won't blab recklessly."

"Of course," I said. "I'd never do anything to stir public backlash."

Fuji: "I swear on my pride I won't either."

Mr. CB: "I'm not that dumb."

Secretariat: "Good. I trust your words. Hachiman, one more thing—call Symboli Rudolf. She should hear this too."

Hachiman: "…Understood. I'll tell her later."

Secretariat: "Counting on you. Let's cool down. Your bodies should be loosening up now."

I'd learned Hachiman's sensitivity to injuries stemd from Secretariat-dono, but what happened in her past? And Hachiman's urgency to stop us… it carried a heavy air.

Afterword

Air Groove, Fuji Kiseki, and Mr. CB are outclassed by Secretariat's unreal prowess, highlighting the gap in their "engines." Hachiman's protectiveness shines as he sets up a heavy talk about Secretariat's past trauma, with Rudolf joining. The Yahari crossover deepens the trust—Sensei's story is finally coming!