Kitahara Sota noticed Agnes Tachyon's deliberate distancing shortly after morning training ended.
Due to their earlier agreent, he had made it a routine to buy so refreshing drinks for the girls after each session, allowing them a small treat alongside hydration.
He first noticed sothing off when distributing the drinks.
Normally, Agnes Tachyon would eagerly co over, taste her drink imdiately to ensure sweetness, and then seize the chance to slip so questionable concoction into his beverage.
Today, however, Tachyon remained seated, pretending exhaustion, asking Agnes Digital to fetch her share instead.
When he shot her a puzzled glance, she simply turned her head away, clearly determined to ignore him.
Did she finally get annoyed by that incident earlier?
After mulling it over, this was the only conclusion Kitahara could reach.
But he didn't mind at all.
For him, losing favor or being disliked wasn't bad news—in fact, it was cause for celebration. If anything, it'd be more troubling if she'd grown fond of him.
Thus, he casually shrugged off Tachyon's behavior, failing to notice her subtly rubbing her thighs together and the unconscious sway of her ponytail behind her.
Life continued onward.
Despite subtle shifts within the team, none of them significantly affected Kitahara's peaceful daily routine, at least for now.
Soon enough, the week approached its end.
On Saturday, he visited the retired Uma Musu as usual, receiving Special Week and Oguri Cap's racing outfits. She even gave him a surprised look, as if shocked he hadn't ordered eight more outfits this week.
As for Eclipse?
She'd been first to request one, and all data had long been gathered, yet…
"Do you really think a normal racing outfit can handle soone like her?"
The retired Uma Musu appeared helpless as she spoke.
Truthfully, ever since she'd discussed Eclipse's racing outfit with Kitahara years ago, she'd kept it in mind.
Unlike Kitahara, however, she'd quickly realized Eclipse was far from ordinary, and had so understanding of her true strength. Precisely because of this, she knew that with her current equipnt and materials, crafting an outfit suitable for Eclipse was utterly impossible, forcing continuous delays.
It wasn't even a matter money could solve.
She understood clearly that making even a minimally acceptable racing outfit for Eclipse required so high-level materials—rare even among top Uma Musu families, let alone for outsiders.
"For now, you'll just have to wait. I'll see what I can do," she concluded with an uncharacteristic worried frown.
Ironically, Eclipse herself didn't seem concerned, reassuring the older woman that she didn't mind racing without one.
After all, outfit or not, it's not like you'll lose, huh? Kitahara internally quipped.
Kitahara then handed over the outfits to Special Week and Oguri Cap.
Similar to Agnes Tachyon's, their outfits had minor deviations from the originals but closely matched overall.
Oguri Cap's featured a sailor-style top paired with a blue skirt, complented by textured black stockings and white boots. Differences from the original were minimal, mainly decorative adjustnts.
As for Special Week…
Hers was nearly identical to her canonical racing dress—simply a white-and-purple dress that appeared quite ordinary.
The problem, however, was with Special Week herself.
Kitahara had no idea when Special Week's hair had started growing rapidly, but certainly it had been less than a month.
Yet, within this single month, her previously cheek-length hair had now grown long enough to cascade past her shoulders.
He'd always thought the idea that changing hairstyles drastically altered soone's image was exaggerated—yet Special Week proved him wrong.
As her hair lengthened, even her presence subtly shifted. The air of silliness in her eyes had noticeably faded day by day, and her previously foolish antics had beco genuinely charming. Even academically, she'd improved significantly, rarely failing exams anymore…
Could longer hair actually boost IQ?
The thought amused Kitahara for a second before he shook it off with a smile.
After delivering the racing outfits, Kitahara chatted leisurely with the retired Uma Musu in her backyard.
Their casual talk was soon interrupted by a familiar knock at the door, followed by two sets of approaching footsteps.
Kitahara's heart skipped a beat as he turned to see Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond walking in.
But he quickly breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing, through their ensuing conversation, that they weren't intentionally stalking him.
Kitasan Black had a good relationship with the older Uma Musu and often visited her on weekends, while Satono Diamond simply accompanied Kitasan as a bundled package deal.
Even more reassuring was the fact that despite multiple encounters, Satono Diamond still regarded him with clear caution and distance—perfectly aligned with his standards of safety.
The conversation eventually drifted toward Wednesday's race, with Satono casually ntioning she and Kitasan had "coincidentally" watched it.
Had Satono initially shown warmth toward Kitahara, he might have suspected her "coincidence." However, her consistently guarded attitude towards him from the start eliminated suspicion.
Moreover, even discussing the race, she showed no interest or intention to join his team, simply offering polite congratulations before ntioning Kitasan had beco a fan of Tokai Teio, and would likely follow his team's news closely.
Kitahara wasn't surprised. After all, in the original tiline, Kitasan Black naturally admired Tokai Teio.
As their chat ended, Kitahara took his leave, escorted out by the retired Uma Musu, leaving only Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond in the garden.
Then…
"Dia-chan, is sothing wrong? You seem really happy..." Kitasan eyed her friend curiously.
Satono rely shook her head with a gentle smile, offering no explanation as she gazed in the direction Kitahara had departed, her eyes sparkling with hidden delight.
We spoke quite a bit today…
Next ti, perhaps I'll bake so homade sweets and bring them along in Kita-chan's na…
...
anwhile, Kitahara's group smoothly returned to Tracen Academy after leaving the retired Uma Musu's shop.
Upon returning, they chatted briefly, had dinner in the cafeteria, then dispersed.
Back in his dorm, Kitahara turned on his computer, preparing to design Grass Wonder's running strategy.
Last Friday afternoon, while relaxing in the activity room, he had discussed the running strategy with Grass. Of course, the real issue was the impending week-long incapacitation following her adjustnt.
Previously, when Oguri Cap underwent this, Kitahara and her classmates had cared for her. Special Week had Grass and Silence Suzuka to tend to her. It seed simple enough…
The problem was Grass didn't have many friends.
Special Week was an obvious choice—a close teammate who would gladly care for Grass, who in turn was perfectly happy being cared for by Special Week…
But relying on that lovable goof?
Despite her recent maturity, Special Week was fundantally still a food-loving klutz who constantly got distracted and caused trouble. Even Grass herself had to admit entrusting her care entirely to Special Week would inevitably lead to disaster.
The second candidate was Grass's roommate, El Condor Pasa.
She was equally eager to help, but Grass resisted even harder.
"Well…how to put this… El's personality might be even more…energetic than Special Week's…"
Grass phrased it delicately.
Simply put, El was a reckless, enthusiastic idiot who rarely thought through her actions. She'd done plenty of ridiculous things—such as secretly dumping an entire bottle of devilishly spicy sauce into Grass's cooking pot without closing the kitchen door, resulting in an apartnt filled with choking spice and nearly killing Grass's beloved flowers.
—She was chased around with a kitchen knife for half an hour afterward, nearly eting an untily end.
Although Grass cherished El as a rare friend, caregiving was definitely out of the question. Not because she worried El would cause more mischief, but rather because she feared she herself might lose control and stab El upon recovery…
With no suitable candidates, Grass and Kitahara sighed heavily—until an unexpected voice spoke up beside them:
"I'll do it."
Eclipse, who had remained silent until then, suddenly volunteered.
Grass and Kitahara exchanged astonished glances.
Did the sun rise from the west today? Eclipse wasn't idling anymore?
"…Exactly how do you two see ?" Eclipse asked quietly.
"…A satellite orbiting Trainer Kitahara?"
"…Air that can move around and occasionally eat a lot?"
Eclipse fell silent.
"Then you two can find soone else."
"Wait, wait, wait! Eclipse, I'm sorry—really sorry!"
Kitahara hastily grabbed Eclipse's sleeve, quickly joining Grass in earnest apologies until she grudgingly agreed, promptly fading back into her usual background state.
With that settled, Kitahara finalized Grass's plan by evening, skimd forums briefly, and ended his day.
Night turned to dawn, and Sunday arrived.
Surprisingly undisturbed by any Uma Musu, Kitahara instead received a ssage inviting him to a gathering organized by fellow trainers.
He accepted, seeing it as an opportunity to maintain good relations. Although labeled as "team building," the event mostly devolved into trainers drinking, chatting, and griping—or boasting—about their respective Uma Musu.
Kitahara stayed mostly silent, aware he'd attract envy after Wednesday's races. Instead, he quietly observed:
Komata Haji lying face-down in despair, Futou Daichi clutching blood-pressure dication, a battered-looking Higashimori Yosuke, and Nishiguchi Eiji lanting her beloved Uma Musu's endless appetite…
What a miserable bunch, Kitahara silently remarked, thankful his own team was so low-maintenance.
Afterward, upon returning to his dorm, his phone suddenly buzzed.
Expecting Eclipse or the retired Uma Musu, Kitahara tensed when he saw the sender was Chairwoman Akikawa.
Could she have noticed my slack-off attitude and finally decided to cut my salary…?
But as he opened the ssage, Kitahara's expression darkened.
Uma Musu hunters…?
He'd co all the way to Tracen—yet these shadows still haunted him.
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