I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?! Chapter 272 271 Fuji Kiseki Arc - Hachiman's True Intent

Fuji's POV

Fuji: "…"

Hachiman: "…"

The Takamiya Kinen… or rather, today's entire race schedule has ended, and Hachiman-san and I are heading back to Tracen Academy together. The others must've been considerate and took the train ho. In today's race, I couldn't catch up… Despite all of Hachiman-san's help… But that's not the only reason I'm like this.

Fuji: "…Hey, Hachiman-san. Could we… stop for a bit?"

Hachiman: "! …Let check if there's a park nearby. Wait a sec."

Even my sudden request—he responds. Maybe it ans I look too pitiful to behold. But yeah, I think so. My face is probably worse than a crying one.

Park

Fuji: "…"

Hachiman: "…It's almost April, but nights still get chilly. Fuji, we'll head out soon."

Fuji: "…"

Hachiman: "…Fuji?"

Fuji: "Hachiman-san, today's race…"

Hachiman: "Yeah, we lost clean. Didn't expect it to stretch that much on the slope. Impressive, as expected. Including this one, 1200m: 3 wins, 1 second; undefeated at Chukyo. Should've been more cautious."

Fuji: "But if I'd spurred earlier—"Don't talk 'what ifs'—it'll just make you feel more miserable." …"

Hachiman: "The Hankyu Hai showed it—Fuji runs short distances well. Your true strength is mile-range mid—"Hachiman-san!!" !?"

Fuji: "…Why?"

Hachiman: "…What?"

Fuji: "Why… how co? Why did you say that at the press conference?"

Hachiman: "Well, it's the truth—"NO!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!! My loss is NOT your fault!!" …Fuji."

After the race, Hachiman-san and I stood on the sa press stage. I answered what I could. But Hachiman-san…

Flashback – Post-Race Press Conference

Questions for focused more on the broken undefeated streak and distance aptitude than the loss itself. Naturally, I volunteered for this race and was confident in shorter distances over long ones. I told the press that.

"Thank you, Fuji Kiseki-san. Next, to the trainer. It ended regrettably. Your thoughts?"

Hachiman: "Indeed a close but regrettable result, but I feel it connects to the next race. We'll use this loss as fuel for the future."

"As asked to Fuji Kiseki-san, shortening from long to short distance—was it forced?"

Hachiman: "No, about 5 months since the Kikuka Sho. Adjustnt was possible, and Fuji's aptitude is mid-distance, leaning mile. So short was fine—I was certain."

"Takamiya Kinen 2nd and a crushing defeat—what's the cause?"

I thought then: if I'd spurred earlier, I wouldn't have been pulled away. Three were ahead, yet I held back accumulating energy. Hachiman-san said short distances decide in a flash. Bad timing in the duel—I planned to answer that.

But Hachiman-san…

Hachiman: "Yes… my overconfidence."

Fuji: (…Huh?)

"What do you an?"

Hachiman: "Won the Hankyu Hai, entered Takamiya Kinen. Deep down, I thought 'Fuji will definitely win.' Her training was perfect, today's form excellent. But my arrogance, pride, and lax finishing led to this loss. I have zero complaints about her run today. The one to bla is —for slacking on what needed tightening."

Fuji: (…Why?)

Flashback End

Fuji: "Why say sothing self-blaming? That race was my chase mistake… No reason for you to bla yourself."

Hachiman: "…No, that's not it. I give the strategy calls. The biggest reason we didn't win is on ."

Fuji: "But you said to leave it to ! You trusted —that's why! So why not call out my mistake there!?"

Hachiman: "…"

Fuji: "Hachiman-san!"

Hachiman: "…What do you think would've happened if I did?"

Fuji: "Eh? Well, my judgnt error… !!"

Hachiman: "Right. As you said, most Uma Musu plan strategies with trainers. Especially GⅠ—1 or 2 plans aren't odd. A favorite loses, trainer blas the Uma Musu—what then? The public hamrs the trainer. Blaming the Uma Musu for your own plan. If I did that, I'm already spotlighted good or bad—it'd reverse everything you're building. Either way, not heading positive."

I… unconsciously… was going to…?

Fuji: "S-Sorry… Hachiman-san. I, I didn't an it that way!" tears

Hachiman: "I know, don't worry… can't say that, huh. But you get why I self-blad?"

Hachiman-san protected from the start… Taking all the bad attention so it wouldn't hit . But that ans…

Fuji: "Th-Then… Hachiman-san…"

Hachiman: "Well, depends on the articles. But we exist because of Uma Musu. A little badmouthing? For , it's old news."

Fuji: "…Sniff, sniff~!" tears

I'm the worst… Making Hachiman-san say that. I hurt him, yet he won't bla … I hate my powerless self… Might end up hating it…

Tight hug!

Fuji: "!"

Hachiman: "Cry now. Let it out, even a little."

Fuji: "Sniff, sob, sob~!!" tears

I leaned fully on Hachiman-san, muffling my cries. Cursing today's pathetic, worthless race and myself for blaming him without realizing his protection.

Fuji, you don't have to hate yourself, okay?

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