King Halo couldn't take it anymore. Both her emotional and rational sides were screaming at her, warning her that she needed to step in and stop this.
Admittedly, she knew very well that in Tracen Academy, it wasn't uncommon for an assigned Uma Musume to fall in love with her trainer—no, "uncommon" wasn't the right word. Such pairings were practically everywhere.
King Halo had always been disdainful of it. Though many Uma Musume around her had good relationships with their trainers, there were even a few stubborn ones who would say things like "romance is forbidden at Tracen" and "a Uma Musume should focus on racing and training," while being all lovey-dovey with their trainers, insisting it was all normal interaction that didn't cross any lines.
King Halo would roll her eyes and look down on these girls. These second-rate people had no sense of propriety. As a first-class individual, how could she associate with them?
That's not crossing the line? Is your line meeting the parents? Get a grip!
Because of this, from the moment she entered Tracen against her mother's wishes, she had made a resolution. Not only would she complete her studies and become a first-class Uma Musume in the spotlight, but she would also shatter the long-standing rumor that "eighty percent of assigned Uma Musume fall for their trainers" to prove her ability!
She, King Halo, was a truly first-class Uma Musume. She would absolutely not be captured by so-called feelings like those second- and third-rate girls!
She was a woman destined to become a first-class Uma Musume. Men would just get in the way!
King Halo was very confident, certain she would never fall into any trainer's arms. Therefore, when she saw Mihono Bourbon and Kitano Ryuichi's incredibly intimate interaction, which was becoming increasingly ambiguous, she finally rushed forward resolutely!
Although she wasn't on the disciplinary committee and romantic relationships on campus were none of her business, as a first-class Uma Musume, and with Tracen still having a "no romance" rule on the books, King Halo felt it was her duty to stand up and tell these two shameless people that Tracen Academy was not a dating service!
Yes, that's it! The moment she stormed up to them, she had her excuse ready. Her slightly confused expression instantly cleared.
"You two! I don't know why you're on Tracen grounds! But this is a first-class academy! Our academy does not permit romance on paper!"
King Halo stood with her hands on her hips, taking the moral and regulatory high ground as she spoke to them.
"So, watch your distance! To be so intimate in a public place like the cafeteria! It's utterly shameless!"
"...My actions with Mr. Kitano have no intimate relations."
However, before Ryuichi could speak, Mihono Bourbon took the initiative. "This is Mihono Bourbon and Mr. Kitano's normal mode."
"What—Normal mode?! Didn't you two just meet today?!"
Bourbon's words instantly struck a nerve. The deadpan way she stated it as if it were a simple fact made King Halo even angrier.
Because King Halo knew she was lying. Anyone could see they had just met today! Did she think King Halo couldn't hear their conversation from outside the door? She was a horse girl! Her hearing was far superior to a normal person's!
However, King Halo didn't completely lose her senses. Instead, she scrutinized Bourbon and asked, "So, who are you? You're not wearing a school uniform at Tracen. You're not a student here, are you?"
"Pardon my rudeness." Mihono Bourbon slowly stood up. She was about the same height as King Halo but stood out more. While King Halo's figure was undoubtedly a golden ratio, Bourbon was by no means inferior in comparison.
Though she was in casual clothes, they couldn't hide her modest bust. Her jeans accentuated the length of her legs and the narrowness of her waist, giving her a firm yet supple look.
But Bourbon clearly didn't care about these things. She spoke to King Halo with a serious expression.
"My name is Mihono Bourbon. I am a new student who has just registered. My objective is set to 'Triple Crown Uma Musume'."
"This is Mr. Kitano Ryuichi, a new trainer at Tracen Academy. He offered assistance when my positioning system failed. To express my gratitude, I am currently negotiating with Mr. Kitano to become his assigned Uma Musume. I sincerely apologize if we have disturbed you."
Bourbon apologized in a flat tone. But the next second, a glint appeared in her eyes, and she spoke to King Halo with a solemn tone.
"However, I am currently in negotiations with Mr. Kitano regarding a contract. Please do not disturb us. We will leave after our discussion is concluded."
"Ha? A new student and a new trainer? What a coincidence."
King Halo raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconvinced. But it seemed to be the only plausible explanation. After all, she had seen Air Groove with Ryuichi earlier. If he was a new trainer, it made sense for Air Groove to be showing him around.
But this made King Halo even more confused. How could a new trainer, after just one glance at her through a window, so brazenly comment on every aspect of a first-class Uma Musume like her? First, he said she was arrogant and her efforts were misguided. Then he said her talent was limited and her work was useless.
Honestly, anyone would be angry if a stranger judged them like that. You don't know me at all, how can you make such impertinent and demeaning comments?
This made King Halo even angrier. But there was another source of her anger: hearing that "Mihono Bourbon and Kitano Ryuichi are negotiating a contract."
A third-rate trainer she looked down on, after provoking her, was now in talks with another new student she looked down on even more? And she, a dignified, first-class Uma Musume, was supposed to challenge such a person?
Wouldn't that mean she, a first-class racer, would be competing against a third-rate combination? What was the point of such a race? There would be no sense of accomplishment even if she won.
Thinking this, King Halo glared at Ryuichi, making his heart pound and awakening some deep-seated PTSD.
"Um... we haven't actually started talking about that yet," Ryuichi managed to squeeze out a non-explanation. He really hadn't gotten to the point of directly discussing a contract with Bourbon.
But is that what Bourbon is thinking? He was a little doubtful. He hadn't gotten the impression from her words that she wanted him as her trainer—or did that "Affection Level 10%!" mean just that? He was a little confused.
But... train Mihono Bourbon again? He felt it was feasible. He had some experience with training her; after all, he had already figured out the best training method for her in the last loop.
But that was precisely why he hesitated... because that training method put a huge strain on her body. The intensity was too high. While it was effective, he didn't want to use it again. He had already seen the suffering it caused the previous Bourbon, and he didn't want to see it a second time.
Ryuichi hesitated, lost in thought. On the other side, the standoff between King Halo and Mihono Bourbon seemed far from over.
"Oh ho, then it seems this is the only way. Don't say a first-class person like me is bullying you later."
"What's happening?"
Just then, the cafeteria doors swung open. Air Groove, who had just seen Ryuichi off, strode in, with T.M. Opera O close behind.
When the "Empress," the Vice President, entered the scene, the atmosphere in the entire cafeteria immediately calmed down. Air Groove quickly located the source of the commotion and walked slowly towards the trio.
"King Halo? Trainer Kitano? What are you doing here..."
"Ohoho! You've arrived just in time, Vice President Air Groove! Please be our witness!"
Seeing Air Groove, King Halo was not intimidated in the slightest. Instead, her eyes lit up as she said, "I'm here to declare war! A challenge against this rookie trainer named Kitano Ryuichi, for his impertinent remarks towards a first-class person like me! I hope you will act as a witness."
"Since this rookie trainer was so rude, saying my talent is limited, then let's let our skills do the talking. I will defeat the Uma Musume he personally trained, the one he thinks can match a first-class me, and show him just how narrow his understanding of true first-class talent really is!"
King Halo pointed directly at the dumbfounded Ryuichi and issued her challenge. Not only to wash away her shame but also to prove that her ability was not limited as he claimed, and that she was not just a Uma Musume who could only run short-distance and mile races.
Moreover, there was a stubbornness in her that even she didn't understand. She wanted to show him that she was definitely not the short-to-mile-distance-only racer he imagined. She would shatter his baseless "stereotype" and prove her true versatility!
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (260 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (230 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (100 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (110 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (280 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (110 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (130 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(60 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (162 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (130 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (90 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (60 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (90 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (110 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (100 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (80 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (50 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (90 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (90 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (50 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (70 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (70 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (50 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (50 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (50 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (50 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.