Uma Musume: Slacking Professionally Chapter 37: Uma Musume: Slacking Professionally [37]

Special Week felt strangely unfamiliar with her own body right now.

It had only been a single morning of training. She hadn't sustained any injuries. She looked exactly the sa as usual.

But now, she could barely even walk straight, her eyes clouded with confusion.

"That's completely normal."

Hearing Kitahara Sota's voice, she turned her head toward him as he continued.

"Learning an entirely new running style is far from simple. Even professionally trained Uma Musu who've competed nurous tis need months to adapt and learn sothing completely foreign. Sotis, even then, success isn't guaranteed."

"However, I felt that thod was too slow and inefficient, and it didn't always yield good results. So I decided on a more effective alternative—the one you're currently using."

"The logic behind it is straightforward. Traditional thods gradually alter running habits by making tiny adjustnts, little by little, which is why it takes so long. And if old habits are deeply ingrained, repeated relearning becos necessary, along with extensive practice to apply it in actual races."

"I found this troubleso, so I thought, why not just make you forget—or at least disrupt—your old habits entirely, and then reconstruct them from scratch? It's faster, imdiately effective, but as for the process itself…"

Kitahara shrugged and looked directly at Special Week.

"As you can see, it's probably tougher than the conventional way."

After hearing Kitahara's explanation, Special Week trembled slightly, stuttering as she asked:

"So... exactly how bad will it get?"

"Did Oguri Cap not tell you?"

"...I'll beco useless?"

"Pretty much."

Kitahara nodded calmly.

"It starts with running, then walking. After that, even your arms and tail will begin changing… I suggest you find a friend beforehand and ask her to take care of you for a while."

In truth, he should've ntioned this sooner, but after so consideration, he decided to give Grass Wonder an assist—partly to reduce the likelihood of her turning any dark thoughts toward him.

Though unlikely, it never hurt to be cautious. Who knew if she had hidden yandere tendencies?

Grass Wonder, not disappointing Kitahara's expectations, imdiately grasped the opportunity, though perhaps unaware of his true intentions.

But before she could speak, Special Week cut in.

"Oh! I'll ask Suzuka if she has ti!"

"Suzuka," or Silence Suzuka—Special Week's roommate and best friend—was the final mber of the notorious Tracen Photo Album love triangle.

Even as she spoke, Special Week was already sending a LINE ssage to Suzuka.

By the ti Grass Wonder managed to say she was willing to help, Suzuka had already responded affirmatively.

"Thanks, Grass-chan, but Suzuka already agreed, so I won't trouble you!"

Special Week smiled brightly.

Grass Wonder maintained her usual gentle expression, though her eyes visibly dimd a bit.

Tsk, tsk.

Watching the drama unfold from the sidelines, Kitahara clicked his tongue quietly, thinking: I did my best. Not my fault you couldn't seize the chance.

anwhile, Tokai Teio, unaware of Grass Wonder's relationship with Special Week, paid no mind to their interaction. However, another question occurred to her after hearing Kitahara's explanation.

"Trainer-san, there's sothing I want to ask."

"What is it?"

"If your thod breaks soone's old habits, but they fail to learn the new running style, what happens then?"

"Hmm, well…"

Kitahara paused thoughtfully.

"I suppose it'd be similar to soone who's been paralyzed for years suddenly regaining mobility."

Tokai Teio raised an eyebrow. "Then, what if Special Week doesn't manage to learn it?"

"That's impossible."

Kitahara replied firmly.

"As long as she follows my training program, she'll fully recover within two weeks, mastering the new running style completely."

Actually, Kitahara wasn't worried even if Special Week failed. His unfortunate system might be useless in other areas, but it was surprisingly abundant in various items.

Moreover, since his own abilities were strong enough, he rarely needed those items. Consequently, his stockpile had reached terrifying proportions.

Though most were low-quality—mainly stamina recovery potions—there was truth in the phrase "quantity creates quality."

And even without his system, Tracen's dical technology wasn't a joke. Besides, there was always Agnes Tachyon, despite her thods being a double-edged sword.

Combined with his own capabilities, forget walking problems—he could probably rescue her from near-death after a truck collision and return her to normal within a week.

And beyond these conventional thods, he still held a card so absurdly powerful even he felt it was ridiculous. Though not imdiately useful, it served as a final safety net.

Thus, Kitahara truly wasn't the slightest bit concerned.

Tokai Teio couldn't quite understand his confidence. Realizing he wouldn't elaborate further, she turned her gaze toward Special Week instead.

"Special Week, aren't you worried at all?"

"Hm? Worried about what?"

Special Week looked up after sending her LINE ssage to Suzuka, confused.

"Aren't you worried about not learning the new thod properly and becoming, um… like soone who's been paralyzed for years…?"

Special Week's ears twitched nervously. After a mont of hesitation, she replied:

"Well, to be honest, a little. But if Kitahara-san says it'll be fine, then it definitely will be."

In truth, Special Week was similar to Oguri Cap: both loved eating, disliked thinking, and were famously bad students. Her air-headedness ranked high among Tracen's notorious "academic black holes."

In short, she was a lovable idiot.

Yet, compared to other lovable idiots, Special Week had one redeeming quality: she knew her limits and always took advice to heart.

Especially after eting Kitahara Sota years ago and experiencing certain events together, her trust in him had essentially maxed out.

Not just regarding training—anything Kitahara said, even about her daily life, she'd follow without question.

Even dietary restrictions were sothing she struggled to adhere to—practically a miracle, given her imnse appetite.

After that night years ago, she firmly decided: as long as Kitahara said it, it was definitely correct. She rely had to follow him unconditionally.

Tokai Teio, unaware of their shared history, naturally couldn't grasp such deep trust.

Moreover, it wasn't just Special Week. Eclipse, Oguri Cap, even Agnes Tachyon who joined only recently…

Apart from the outsider, Grass Wonder, everyone seed closer to Kitahara than she herself was.

"I'm your tantou, you dummy Trainer-san… Pay attention to your Invincible Teio-sama too."

She unconsciously murmured under her breath.

Kitahara turned toward her, puzzled. "Teio, did you just call ?"

"...Nope!"

She lifted her head, instantly reverting to her usual cheerful expression, smacking her lips playfully.

"Just finished my honey special drink! Trainer-san, can you buy another one for ? I just finished training and don't feel like moving~."

"Nope. Go get it yourself."

Kitahara rejected her bluntly, unwilling to deepen his favorability with this girl.

"Tsk, stingy."

Sticking her tongue out at him playfully, Tokai Teio began walking toward the exit, her expression gradually dimming.

Well, it couldn't be helped.

They had agreed from the start that he wouldn't be her trainer, and she'd even confird it repeatedly afterward.

Regrets? Maybe just a little. But even if given another chance, she'd still choose the sa path.

Because rather than Kitahara's personal attention, what she truly desired was the recognition of Symboli Rudolf. Besides…

"As long as I keep winning, Trainer-san... will look at more too, right?"

As the girl walked further away, her quiet whisper dissolved into the breeze—

Without leaving even the slightest trace behind.