Ti passed quietly amid their respective training routines.
Perhaps Tracen Academy had strengthened its security, or maybe due to other unknown reasons; either way, the other party hadn't made another move, allowing Kitahara Sota to finish the day without any further incidents.
After dinner, the Uma Musu insisted on escorting him back to his dorm. Having showered, he turned on his computer, intending to start writing training plans. However, before opening the software, he noticed an unread email from the Chairwoman.
It was a mass email detailing recent incidents around the campus, explicitly noting soone targeting Tracen Academy. Specifics were still unclear, urging trainers to remain vigilant…
This ssage was less of a notification and more of a reminder since the trainers had already discussed everything thoroughly in their group chat after Kitahara's attack yesterday.
Kitahara was about to close the email, but then his gaze fell on the ragged, cheap suit on his sofa. After a mont's thought, he sent the Chairwoman an email asking if he could request an advance on next month's salary to buy so new clothes.
The Chairwoman replied swiftly. Not only did she approve the salary advance, but she also provided additional compensation, citing the Academy's negligence during the previous incident as justification.
The amount was generous enough to make Kitahara marvel at Tracen's deep pockets.
With these two sums entering his account, his previously empty wallet swelled overnight, briefly tempting him to treat his team mbers to a al.
Almost imdiately, though, he realized how dangerous that thought was.
Quickly shaking his head to clear out the risky idea, Kitahara hunched back over his computer, resuming work on his training schedules.
The night passed quietly.
...
The next morning.
Kitahara woke up early, realized it was Saturday, then promptly buried himself back under the covers to resu sleeping.
Unfortunately, his attempt at sleeping in didn't last long before his door was knocked on.
It was Eclipse.
"Don't forget today's training, though it'll be lighter than yesterday's. I'll send the routine through Line; find ti to finish it," she said while stepping into his dorm, glancing around the room with a slight frown.
"It looks like you've never cleaned here. Also, you're missing quite a few things."
"Yeah, weekdays are busy, and I didn't have the money anyway. But today's my day off, and I've already gotten an advance from the Chairwoman, so I was planning to tidy up and go shopping later."
Eclipse nodded lightly. "I'll go with you, then."
"Of course. Rudolf-san already warned that I'm a primary target. Even if you hadn't offered, I'd insist you tag along anyway." Kitahara shrugged.
Being targeted aside, life had to continue.
Moreover, judging by their past thods, the attackers hadn't done anything truly drastic yet. Forget fatalities—even injuries were rare, with their actions mostly limited to paparazzi work, gathering dirt, or manipulating public opinion.
His own incident was likely intended as a staged assault by "fanatical Tokai Teio fans," designed to incite conflict and controversy. At worst, he would've suffered superficial injuries—but unexpectedly, he'd dodged the attack completely.
Rationally, the attacker should have retreated imdiately, conveniently "dropping" a Tokai Teio plushie to further mislead and manipulate public sentint.
But that kid had stubbornly persisted, refusing to retreat after her failed initial strike…
Thanks to her stubbornness, the Chairwoman extracted useful information about the mysterious organization known as the "Black Forest," which she'd privately forwarded to Kitahara.
And well… from that captured girl's confessions, it seed like she wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.
Although quite skilled in combat, she knew very little about Black Forest's inner workings, rely an external recruit.
Her motive for joining Black Forest was straightforward: she'd been captivated by their ideology.
According to her description, Black Forest was composed mainly of Uma Musu mbers who believed Tracen Academy was less a paradise for Uma Musu and more a gilded cage.
They argued that the Uma Musu's obsession with racing was a deliberately imposed ideology by Tracen to control them, making them willingly submit.
Furthermore, they insisted that societal enthusiasm for Uma Musu racing was actually a manipulative form of coercion, turning them into re entertainnt and profit-making tools, grossly infringing upon their dignity and freedom.
To change this, Black Forest aid first to topple Tracen, symbolizing this perceived exploitation, targeting popular figures like Tokai Teio and consequently aiming at Kitahara, her trainer.
Kitahara found the whole thing absurd.
He just wanted to peacefully slack off at Tracen for three years. Why did he keep running into all this ss?
Regarding Black Forest's beliefs, Kitahara didn't exactly consider them wrong—though they certainly weren't entirely correct either.
Even assuming their logic was correct, claiming Tracen was a cage and racing a forced ideology—then what?
Would tearing down Tracen and their philosophy truly improve the Uma Musu's lives?
Kitahara seriously doubted it.
Besides, noble-sounding ideals didn't justify shady actions; he'd seen plenty of people committing terrible deeds under the banner of righteousness. Black Forest's beliefs didn't seem entirely sound, either.
But that wasn't sothing a small-fry trainer like him needed to worry about.
Big problems were for bigshots to handle. If the sky fell, taller people would hold it up. He was just an unlucky trainer swept up by chance—simply focusing on his own tasks was enough trouble already.
With these thoughts in mind, Kitahara ended his musings and continued tidying up alongside Eclipse.
As they cleaned, Kitahara made a ntal note of what household essentials were missing. He also asked Eclipse if she needed anything, planning to buy everything together later.
Regarding possible attacks or incidents outside, Kitahara wasn't overly worried.
First, it was unlikely they'd act recklessly in broad daylight on crowded streets. Such extre moves belonged to truly radical organizations. Black Forest, while underhanded, had mostly stayed within certain boundaries.
Secondly, Eclipse herself was an assuring presence.
While Kitahara wasn't exactly sure how strong she was, during their years spent wandering, they'd encountered plenty of unsavory characters—including gangs of delinquent and even Yakuza-affiliated Uma Musu.
Yet, forget being defeated; he had never even seen Eclipse suffer a scratch, let alone serious injury.
Also, since his recent attack, Kitahara could sense Eclipse's mood had been particularly sour.
If an attack did happen, perhaps it would help her blow off so steam. If not…
Recalling Eclipse's subtle yet terrifying threats that evening, Kitahara felt his palms sweat.
He was quite certain he had zero chance of resisting Eclipse's wrath, so finding a way to soothe her mood was imperative to avoid irreversible outcos.
Just as he was tidying the room and considering these concerns, another knock sounded at his door.
He lifted his head in confusion, briefly unable to guess who it might be.
Yesterday, during their break, his team mbers had openly discussed weekend plans while he was there.
Special Week planned a day out with her roommate; Grass Wonder hadn't been invited but looked ready to tag along anyway.
Tokai Teio ntioned plans to go shopping with a friend to relax from training stress.
Oguri Cap initially had no plans but later received a ssage from her roommate suggesting an informal race.
Therefore, it probably wasn't any of them.
But if not them, Kitahara had no idea who else might visit him…
Still puzzled, he approached the door and opened it cautiously.
"Who is—"
His voice halted abruptly.
After locking eyes with the red-eyed Uma Musu in a white lab coat standing outside, Kitahara imdiately tried closing the door.
But just as it was about to shut, a seemingly delicate hand firmly grasped its edge.
Gently but irresistibly, the door was reopened, revealing a refined, smiling face with playful amusent.
"Good morning, Trainer-san. Won't you invite in?"
Agnes Tachyon greeted him warmly, eyes sparkling with dangerous curiosity.
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