I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?! Chapter 200 - 198: Fuji Kiseki Arc - Encounter with a Prodig

Hachiman's POV

Phew… So this is how the new kids run. No standouts, though. Short-distance was a total bust—no freshn I'd want to train. Just the mile race left. If I don't find soone, I'll have to pick the best of a diocre bunch. Either way, this is getting tough.

Air Groove: "Any luck, Hachiman? Find a good one?"

Hachiman: "Nah, nothing clicked… I'm bracing for the worst." Content orıginally cos from NovєlFіre

Fuji: "The worst?"

Hachiman: "Digging for potential in a pool of 'h.'"

Air Groove: "…I see."

Hachiman: "…Or maybe you two are just so exceptional everyone else pales in comparison. Should I lower my standards? No, I've already lowered them enough…"

Air Groove: "Scouting's tougher than it looks for you. I can't help much, but let know if there's anything I can do."

Hachiman: "Got it, thanks."

Fuji: "But the final group's up next, right? If no one stands out, you'll pick from what we saw today?"

Hachiman: "That's the deal."

That'd an settling for less, though. I really want an Uma Musu with true potential.

Bang!!

Trainer's Room

In the end, I didn't scout anyone from the selection race. They all had talent, but none matched what I'm looking for.

Aoi: "Hikigaya-kun, summing up today's selection race?"

Hachiman: "Yeah. It's bad… Team setup's in less than a week, and I still haven't scouted a short-distance or mile Uma Musu. This might fall through."

Aoi: "No way! After all the work for the team!?"

Hachiman: "They want one freshman, but finding soone for short distances is brutal. I checked their profiles, but nothing's clicking."

Aoi: "…That's pretty bad, right?"

Hachiman: "Catastrophically, insanely, seriously bad."

…Guess I'll step outside.

Racecourse

Ugh… Things started strong, but now it feels like I'm failing my goal. What do I do?

???: "…Excuse , are you a trainer?"

Hachiman: "Hm? Yeah… New face, huh? Freshman?"

???: "Yes. This ti's usually quiet, so I use the track."

Hachiman: "You weren't in the selection race. Why skip it? It's a chance to show off to trainers."

???: "I'm not ready yet… Oh, not that I'm giving up! My paternal grandmother was an Uma Musu, a late bloor who grew stronger later. So I think maybe I'm the sa? I felt it's not my ti to shine yet."

Hachiman: "…I see."

Betting on the future instead of now, huh? Interesting mindset.

???: "R-Really? First ti soone's said that. Thank you."

Hachiman: "Said that out loud, huh… Whatever. You're training now, right? Mind if I watch?"

???: "Not at all! If you notice anything, please point it out. The more feedback, the better. Oh… sorry, was that too forward?"

Hachiman: "Nah, you should be that hungry for improvent. Alright, let's see your run."

Her build suggests mile to mid-distance. I'm kinda excited to see what she's got. Scouting's been a slog, so this might be a nice break.

???: "I'll run 1600m. Here I go!"

Dash!!

…Forgot to ask her na. Oh well, just watching her run. Hmm… Pretty solid. Good pacing for a freshman. She's got a steady style.

??? (Here!!)

Slide!!

…Is she mimicking a race tactic? Spurring before the fourth corner? That could work for strong legs, but a freshman keeping up on this straight… Her legs aren't fading?

???: "Haaaa!!!"

…No way, a freshman!? This course's straight is as long as Tokyo Racecourse's! And yet…

Beep!

…She finished, with a ti of 1:32.8—damn good. Her final three furlongs, by my estimate, hit 33.7 seconds. At Tokyo, that'd be unreal. And I bet she's not even going all out…

???: "Ha… ha… phew, how was it?"

Hachiman: "…This might throw you, but wanna join my team?"

???: "…Huh?"

I explained my na and the team setup conditions. For so reason, her eyes sparkled as she looked at .

Hachiman: "So, what do you say?"

???: "I-Is this real? You're scouting … It's not a dream, right?"

Hachiman: "I'm the one who wants to call it a dream. I struck out at the selection race and was stressing, then I find a prodigy like you here. Joining's not mandatory, but I'd be thrilled if you did. How about it?"

???: "I-I'm thrilled!! To be scouted by the Hikigaya Trainer!!"

Hachiman: "Wait, you know ?"

???: "Of course! At Tresen Academy, you're the first trainer anyone thinks of! My dream was to train under you here! To think you'd approach !! Oh, the team—please let join!!"

Hachiman: "Whoa, thanks! Looking forward to working with you… Oh, I didn't catch your na."

???: "S-Sorry for not introducing myself… I'm Maurice! Please take care of , Trainer-san!!"

Didn't expect to et such a promising Uma Musu like this… Damn, I'm pumped.

Afterword

Hachiman stumbles upon a gem in Maurice during a scouting slump! This Yahari x Uma Musu chapter delivers a thrilling encounter, with Fuji and Air Groove's support and a nod to Maurice's late-blooming potential. The team's complete—Fuji's arc races toward the Derby!

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