I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?! Chapter 20 19: Teio-sama!

Finally free… That high-class lady was way too intense. She's dieting? That's why she was so desperate for sweets? Still, going that wild over so snacks?

I sighed heavily.

"Good work, Trainer Hikitani," Takanotsu said.

"Oh, Takanotsu. Good work," I replied.

"A week at Central Tresen, and you're quite the popular figure," she noted.

"Just a novelty, probably," I shrugged.

"Not at all. There's sothing about you that draws Uma Musu," she said with a smile.

"My training plans and cookies, maybe? McQueen, the sweets maniac, just begged for low-calorie treats. Not making them, though," I said.

She chuckled. "Maybe it's the unexpectedness, the gap. I didn't know you baked—it's surprising. I'm a little curious myself."

Whoa, she's not gonna ask to bake, right? Please, no more work outside training duties.

"What were you up to, Trainer Hikitani?" she asked.

"Taking a walk to clear my head. Been overthinking who to scout. Just mulling it over," I said.

She laughed softly. "Word among trainers is you're agonizing over it. You know that, right?"

"No escaping it… But yeah, I need to decide soon," I admitted.

"Indeed. You're the only trainer without a charge right now. Given the circumstances, it's understandable," she said.

"Thanks for the sentint, but they're all great. How do I even choose?" I asked.

Ti passed, and Takanotsu glanced at her watch. "Oh, it's already this late. We got caught up talking."

"Four o'clock… Training ti for the Uma Musu," I noted.

"Continuing your walk?" she asked.

"Yup," I said.

"Good luck," she smiled.

Guess I'll check out the course…

"Hey! You're the trainer buddying up with the President!" a voice shouted.

"Who're you?" I asked.

"? I'm Tokai Teio! Call Teio, nice to et ya!" she grinned.

"Yeah, hi. What's up? I'm just walking here," I said.

"Listen, the President said you're amazing at coaching!" she exclaid.

"No clue about that," I replied.

"Don't be modest! I want you to watch run!" she insisted.

"Don't you have a trainer?" I asked.

"Kinda boring," she said bluntly.

Hey, don't say that in front of a rookie like . If others heard, you'd get roasted.

"Please, just one run! C'mon, Trainer!" she begged.

I sighed. "Fine, one run. I'll give feedback, then I'm out."

"Yay!" she cheered.

What a hassle. And Rudolph, stop hyping up to weirdos like her.

At the Course

Teio smirked. "Heh, today I've got the famous trainer all to myself!"

"It's just one run, not a monopoly," I grumbled. "Distance?"

"2400 ters!" she declared.

"You can handle that?" I raised an eyebrow.

"How rude! I run that daily! Might be too fast for you to keep up!" she boasted.

"Yeah, yeah. Tell when you're ready," I said.

"You're so casual… Whatever, I'm off to warm up!" she said, bouncing away.

Her movents… so fluid. Probably the most flexible Uma Musu I've seen.

"Trainer, I'm ready!" Teio called.

"Alright, go! Ready… Start!" I shouted.

Dash!

…

"Yaaah!" Teio yelled as she sprinted.

Beep!

That ti… impressive.

"Phew, so fun! So, Trainer, how was my run?" she asked, panting.

"Not bad. You've got sothing to brag about," I said.

"Right?!" she bead, then caught my pause. "But?"

"Your flexibility's a strength, but it's a double-edged sword," I said.

"What's that an?" she asked.

"You're super flexible, which makes you injury-prone. Your running style's near perfect—big strides suit you. Combined with your springy leg power, you've got more weapons than most Uma Musu."

"Uh-huh," she nodded.

"But that flexibility makes your legs vulnerable. Your style demands stability, which puts heavy stress on your feet. Not a small impact," I explained.

"No way…" she murmured.

"I'm not saying ditch the flexibility—it's your asset. Just avoid overly intense training and don't pack races too close together after getting a trainer. Sprinting back-to-back? You'll break a bone. For now, hard training twice a week max. Otherwise, build muscle to match your flexibility," I advised.

"Got it… Thanks for sticking around, Trainer!" she said.

"Yeah, see ya," I replied.

She listens well for soone I'm not coaching. Good trait, as long as she avoids bad influences.

"Well, did what I ca for. Ti to head out," I muttered.

Teio watched leave. "That's Trainer Hikitani Hachiman, huh… Kinda cool!"

The day took an unexpected turn. Watching a single race didn't eat up much ti, so I'm back to wandering the streets. But I'm not alone. Beside strides an Uma Musu I never dread would tag along—a living legend.

She hums a carefree tune, her steps light as a breeze. ♪~♪~

"Hey," I venture, "don't you need to be running or sothing?"

She tilts her head, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hm? What, is there a law saying I've gotta sprint right now?"

I shrug. "Not what I ant. Just… curious."

"Then it's all good, right?" she chirps, her grin infectious. "I'm in the mood to stroll with you. Been dying to see what this hotshot trainer's all about."

I mutter, "…That so?"

"Yup!" she sings, practically bouncing. "That's exactly so."

This is Mr. C.B., an Uma Musu whose raw talent rivals the great Rudolph himself. The difference lies in their souls: Rudolph, all precision and discipline; C.B., a wild spirit chasing freedom. She runs for the sheer joy of it, despising rigid strategies or predictable races. The thrill of the chase, the dance of competition—that's what sets her heart ablaze. Sun, rain, snow, it doesn't matter. She'll dash through any weather, grinning all the way.

She glances over, catching my stare. "What's up, Trainer? Penny for your thoughts?"

I shake my head. "Nothing. Just mulling over who I should take on as my charge."

"Oh?" Her ears perk up. "What about ? What's your take on ?"

"Haven't seen you race," I admit. "Talking like this gives a vibe, but I'd need to see you run to know for sure."

She laughs, bright and unrestrained. "You're a cautious one, huh?"

"Too cautious," I grumble. "Haven't picked anyone yet. Guess I'm just a spineless coward."

She waves that off. "Nah, I don't buy it. Rudolph's been singing your praises, you know. Says you've got a knack for reading Uma Musu, that you care about our futures more than anyone."

That guy… hyping up to Teio, now C.B.? Who's next?

"I think he's right," she adds, her voice softer now. "You wouldn't give the kind of advice or support you do to soone you're not even training if you didn't care."

I raise an eyebrow. "You saw what I did for Teio?"

"Yup. And Bourbon, too."

"You were there for that? What, are you just… everywhere?"

She winks. "If sothing's interesting, I'm there. And you, Trainer? You're very interesting."

Before I can respond, she loops her arm through mine, clinging close. Her carefree nature makes it seem like nothing, but to a guy like —zero experience with won—this is a heart attack waiting to happen.

I clear my throat. "…If I scouted you, would you say yes?"

"In a heartbeat!" she declares, eyes gleaming. "I bet we'd have a blast running together. And sothing tells you'd bring so wild, new kind of fun."

"No guarantee I could deliver that."

"That's the best part!" she says, undeterred. "We'd make it happen. Slapping boring colors on sothing already there? No thanks. I wanna paint it my way."

I fall silent, her words sinking in. She's not just eccentric—her mindset's on another plane. If there's no red paint, most would buy so. C.B.? She'd mix her own, from scratch.

"So," she says, nudging , "am I your pick?"

"Nah, that's not what I ant."

"Aw, bumr." She pouts, but it's playful.

"Also," I add, "can Rudolph stop selling to everyone? Teio, you—who else?"

She giggles. "Maybe the whole student council. Who knows?"

"God, spare ."

"Don't worry," she says, patting my arm. "If anything goes down, I've got your back."

"Sounds like you'd want sothing in return. Hard pass."

She laughs again. "Now I'm curious how you see ."

"More importantly," I say, glancing at her grip, "how long are you gonna hang onto my arm? Let go already."

"Nope!" she chirps, tightening her hold. "Not happening ♪."

"Why the hell not?"

"It's not like it's hurting anything, right?" she teases.

"It'll start rumors at school."

"Oh, that's bad," she says, mock-serious.

"You don't care, do you?"

"Nope! Let them talk. It's just noise."

"That's my problem, though."

"Then we'll fix it together!" she says brightly.

"That'd just make the rumors worse!"

She bursts out laughing, her joy echoing down the street. "You're so fun to be around! Never a dull mont."

I'd kill for a dull mont right now.

"I'll wait for your call," she says, suddenly serious. "Anyti."

"What if I pick soone else?"

"I'd still wait. You've got sothing other trainers don't."

"With your talent, you could have your pick of trainers."

She shrugs. "If they're not barking orders, maybe I'd think about it."

That rules out most trainers… including , right?

"Oh, you're different," she says quickly, reading my mind.

"Why ? What's the—'It's a girl's secret, so don't ask'? …Fine, I'm lost."

She laughs again. "If you figured it out that easily, it'd be no fun."

Whatever.

"So," she says, tilting her head, "what kind of Uma Musu do you want to train? Got a type?"

"No clue," I admit. "That's why I'm stuck here, walking with you glued to my arm."

"Hmm. No specific vibe, then?"

"Nope."

Maybe I should've had so idea going in.

"Then I really want you to pick ," she says, half-joking, half-not.

"No confidence I'd let you run wild. And I might get bossy, so probably a no-go."

"I told you, you're different."

"If I crack that 'girl's secret,' maybe I'll consider it."

She narrows her eyes. "…You're kinda an, you know that? Ever been called a jerk?"

"Dunno. Been told my eyes are rotten plenty, though."

"Don't dodge with sarcasm. But I get it now—you don't fall for basic scouting pitches. Oh, I'm definitely more interested now."

Please, take that interest sowhere else.