With a soft click, the massage room door was gently pushed open, and Kuroha and Oguri slowly stepped out.
Inside the trainer's office, Super Creek, who was seated at the tea table, instinctively looked over.
Other than the especially rosy flush on Oguri's face, everything seemed perfectly normal.
Then again, that sort of flush was only to be expected.
Setting aside the professional techniques for loosening the muscles and smoothing the flow of blood and energy, just the slightly embarrassing movements and the limp, weak sensation during the massage alone were enough to make someone's face turn red.
As one of the former "participants," and the Uma Musume outside of the Chasing Light girls who had experienced it the most times, Super Creek understood that feeling deeply.
"Trainer Kuroha."
Super Creek smiled gently and called out to him in a soft voice.
At the same time, with elegant movements, she poured a cup of tea and set it out, clearly prepared for him already.
Kuroha did not stand on ceremony. He walked over, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.
After savoring it carefully for a moment, he tipped his head back and drained it in one go, then praised her softly:
"Not bad. Your skill is already almost on Ardan's level. It's getting more and more impressive."
Ever since coming to Chasing Light, perhaps because "mom-type" Uma Musume and "girlfriend-type" Uma Musume were fundamentally similar in some way, Super Creek had often spent her free time exchanging tips with Mejiro Ardan and learning each other's specialties.
And most of the things Ardan excelled at, whether meals, sweets, or tea ceremony, carried a rich Tōkō influence.
That was something Super Creek, who had grown up in Central, found especially novel and fascinating.
As a result, the snacks she made and the tea she brewed these days had gradually begun to resemble Ardan's style more and more.
"No, not really…"
Super Creek scratched her head a little shyly and said modestly, "I still have a lot to learn from Ardan-san."
Looking at the gentle brown-haired girl in front of him, Kuroha's lips curved into a smile.
Hooking his thumb over his shoulder, he pointed at the massage room door behind him, which still had not fully closed.
"By the way, Creek, are you really not going to give it a try?"
"Uh…"
At those words, Super Creek's smile instantly stiffened.
Emotion kept urging her on: You have to go in! It's not like this is your first time. What are you even scared of? It's already been ages since the last time.
Reason, meanwhile, was screaming the exact opposite: Absolutely not! Hurry up and go run a few laps today instead!
Although, after experiencing dozens of massages, Super Creek fundamentally was not all that resistant to it anymore.
But...
When she looked at the warm smile on the young man's face, what rose unbidden in her mind was the mortifying memory from four months ago in Hong Kong, when she had been forced to overhear a week's worth of very embarrassing sounds through the wall.
The girl parted her lips, but the words she had originally meant to say, the words of agreement, got stuck in her throat.
In the end, face bright red, she shrank back a little and shook her head with difficulty.
"M-Maybe in a few days, Trainer Kuroha."
Kuroha looked at her a little strangely, but did not think too much of it. He simply nodded.
"All right. If you need it later, or if training leaves you sore anywhere, just tell me."
Naturally, he had no idea that the usually gentle and graceful Uma Musume in front of him had already let her thoughts drift all the way back to Hong Kong four months ago...
After that, he took Oguri with him and headed toward the training grounds.
...
Inside Mejiro Training Grounds.
Unlike the energetic scene from forty minutes earlier, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen had already gone back to the academy for class by now.
Aoi Kiryuin and Nase Fumino had probably gone off to organize the training materials as well.
At this moment, by the wide track, only three delicate figures with an air of leisure remained.
"Ha-kun!"
Spotting Kuroha and Oguri from afar, Godolphin immediately raised her right hand high and waved enthusiastically.
Seeing that, Kuroha smiled and walked over.
"Godolphin, Byerley, Darley."
When he got closer, he saw that the three goddesses were either sitting or lying around, chatting comfortably.
Kuroha naturally sat down on the grass and said with a smile, "You've really worked hard with McQueen's training lately."
Seeing that, Oguri obediently followed him and sat down behind him.
"Hehe, it's nothing. Watching little McQueen work so hard makes us happy too."
Darley, known as the Red Goddess, sat cross-legged on the grass, her smile as dazzling as ever.
Off to one side, Byerley, who was seated upright with her arms folded and eyes closed, slowly opened one eye at those words and gave Darley a faint glance.
A trace of unconcealable helplessness showed in the Yellow Goddess's deep gaze.
Those two slackers...
Byerley let out a quiet sigh in her heart.
Over this whole stretch of time, she had been the one doing nearly all the real work in guiding McQueen's training.
Aside from occasionally cheering from the sidelines and acting as a bit of atmosphere support, Darley and Godolphin had done practically nothing of substance.
Day after day, they either ate, slept, zoned out, or scrolled videos on their phones.
They were so idle they could sprout feathers. Of course they were happy...
At that moment, Godolphin quietly leaned in close to Kuroha.
Her small nose twitched twice, then her eyes lit up as she looked at Oguri with delight.
"Oh my? I smell the scent of new love~ How wonderful. Looks like you succeeded, Oguri?"
"?"
Kuroha's eyebrows rose slightly at that.
"Mhm."
Oguri turned her head a little to the side and lightly scratched at the corner of her mouth with one finger, her face faintly flushed as she nodded.
"…"
Only then did Kuroha suddenly understand. Somewhat speechless, he looked at the Blue Goddess in front of him and said:
"So the one who gave Oguri advice before wasn't Hikaru. It was you, Godolphin..."
Godolphin did not deny it. Instead, she said with a smile,
"When it comes to love, the most important thing is seizing the moment. Hesitate even a little, and you might miss the perfect chance."
"And besides, I can tell that you're very happy right now too, Ha-kun. Aren't you?"
Hearing that, Kuroha could not help turning to glance at Oguri beside him.
The silver-haired girl, cute as ever, was tilting her head and looking at them with a puzzled expression, her little face still slightly pink.
Seeing his girl like that, Kuroha could not help laughing softly, his gaze turning gentle.
"Yeah. I really do have to thank you for today, Godolphin."
"You're welcome~" Godolphin replied tenderly.
The group chatted for a while longer.
Oguri seemed to feel that she had rested enough, so she reached out and lightly tugged at the hem of Kuroha's clothes.
Kuroha immediately understood and held out one hand in front of her.
Just as he was about to bring out the "tennis spirit bomb" again...
"Ahm~"
A warm, slick sensation suddenly wrapped around his index finger.
The silver-haired girl beside him had somehow already opened her mouth and gently taken his finger between her lips.
Kuroha froze for a brief moment, then smiled in helpless affection.
A soft seven-colored glow lit up at his fingertip.
A few seconds later, the Blessing Power had been fully passed on.
Using his other hand, he gently patted the little silver-haired girl on the head and smiled.
"All right, Oguri. Go have fun."
"Oh."
Oguri obediently let go and stood up.
Quietly feeling the endless strength gradually surging back from deep within her body, she clenched her fist firmly. Then, full of fighting spirit, she strode toward one side of the track.
Meanwhile, after witnessing the entire public display of affection between the two of them, the expressions on the Three Goddesses' faces were all different.
Byerley, the most traditional and old-fashioned of the three, turned her head away awkwardly, clearly deciding that some things were better left unseen.
Darley, on the other hand, dressed like a flashy gyaru big sister but with a personality as lively as a young girl, covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes full of curiosity.
And Godolphin wore a perfect auntie smile.
For her, seeing the girls she supported finally find love was, without question, the most satisfying thing imaginable.
"All right, back to the main topic. I came today because there's something important I want to discuss with you."
Kuroha clapped his hands lightly, signaling the three goddesses to focus again.
"What is it?"
The moment she heard there was serious business to discuss, Byerley immediately dropped her casual manner and asked with a solemn expression.
Kuroha gathered his thoughts, then said seriously:
"It's about McQueen's overseas expedition."
(End of Chapter)
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