"Ahh! That stings! But this is summer, so it's perfect!"
Summer had long passed its midpoint, yet the sunlight pouring down was still fierce enough to make the season's end feel distant. In fact, today might be the hottest day of the year. Under the blazing sun directly overhead, Vodka was cheerfully taking swigs from a flask.
"You're the only one who can drink barley tea looking that delicious…"
"What's wrong with barley tea? Haa… a kid like Scarlet wouldn't understand the joy of drinking barley tea on a day this hot… Honestly, I'd rather have a glass on the rocks, though."
"'On the rocks'… just say 'with ice,' geez."
"Scarlet, you really don't get the vibe at all, do you."
"Hah! What's that supposed to mean! Showing off a bit, huh! Fine, I'll take you on! 1800 meters on turf, right?!"
"Bring it on! I'm definitely winning!"
After hydrating and barely wiping their mouths, the two of them dashed off. Golshi, Deji-tan, and I watched them leisurely from nearby.
"They're really energetic… even in this damn heat,"
"Haa… how precious… the dedication to drinking barley tea from a flask… Using something so refined! It's… the cutest thing ever!"
Also, 'barley tea on the rocks.' Quite a charming phrase. Very cute. And the best part? She wasn't doing it intentionally.
"Vodka has that mix of cuteness and coolness, and somehow it makes both sides stand out even more… she's just adorable. The other day, when I found an ice mold labeled 'Vodka's' in the dorm freezer, I literally thought I might die from cuteness,"
"Pfft… yeah… barley tea on the rocks, huh…"
"Could it be that she's drinking it alone at night, pouring barley tea over those ice spheres…? That would look… ugh…!"
"Barley tea… on the rocks… imagining Vodka ordering that at a bar… so cute… isn't it?"
Vodka stands 165 cm tall with a cool expression. To someone who knows nothing about her, the drink in her glass could almost literally look like vodka… well, maybe not. She exudes an aura of someone still growing, not yet fully mature. That's precisely why her fresh charm is so irresistibly beautiful.
"Vodka has some pretty interesting hobbies, huh. She mentioned liking motorcycles too,"
…I don't usually say this, but in some ways, I could be called a "boy," so I don't dislike things typically considered boyish. Like motorcycles. That's the kind of romance I like.
We've talked about that kind of stuff a few times. If I brought it up with other girls, they'd just say, "I'm faster than a motorcycle," and that would be the end. So naturally, I'm her go-to conversation partner for this. Though, technically, I am faster than a bike too.
She talks in detail about the motorcycles she wants to ride in the future, and she does her research seriously. The stories are genuinely interesting.
"…Vodka and motorcycles…! The gap created by pairing something rugged with a horse girl…! Such a new level of preciousness…! Can't get enough…"
"…Yeah, in three or four years, she'll definitely get her license."
Tracen allows students to get licenses, so no doubt. She'll probably go for a large bike as soon as she turns 18.
"…Anyway, we should probably run too. If we don't, we'll get stiff,"
Right, we're on a training break. We shouldn't take too long, so let's head back to the turf, as Golshi suggested.
"So, Vodka, how about going to a bar?"
"…Huh? Eh?"
At first glance, it looks like Deji-tan inviting Vodka to drink, but it's a little more nuanced than that.
During training, I said, "By the way, Golshi also looks amazing with a cocktail glass," and Deji-tan reacted, "Have you seen that!?" After I explained, she said, "I absolutely must see that!!" and got all fired up—leading to now.
Scarlet didn't join because she refused to sneak out, and Golshi, the horse girl with the most mature aura in Spica, had already gone elsewhere. So it's just the two of them.
"…Wait, is this really okay?"
"It doesn't break the law. And Auroru has secured a secret route so we won't get caught—so technically, no school rules are broken. If no one finds out, it's not a crime! That's the truth!"
Exactly. The point is, as long as no one notices, it's fine. Just like how no one knows I occasionally watch Deji-tan sleep from her window.
…Deji-tan ties her hair up when she sleeps. And, well… it's… very nice. Hard to put into words.
…Meanwhile, Golshi leaves her hair untouched while sleeping, and yet it doesn't get damaged or even develop any kinks. Some kind of hair god's blessing, clearly.
"Pretty neat, huh, Vodka? A brief escape from the confines of school life into the city at night. Doesn't get cooler than that, right?"
"Alright! Let's go!"
Vodka really falls for things quickly. This isn't even "easy" level—it's ridiculous.
By the way, this "breaking the rules because it feels cool" instinct is typical for adolescent boys. Some say it stems from animal instincts: showing off in a group to assert dominance and pass on genes. In horse girls, there's also the irresistible instinct to run. These instincts often guide our actions.
Of course, following instincts isn't always commendable in modern society, but it still feels good. A little indulgence is fine.
"Let's change into clothes that won't get us noticed. You can escape from my room."
"…Um, why am I in Aurora's arms??"
"…Yeah, that was so smooth I didn't even notice at first."
"Smooth? Thanks… heh heh…"
"I wasn't complimenting you."
It must've been spinal reflexes that made it so fast.
"Ah… this height difference… feels just right."
I'm holding Deji-tan from behind.
…Height difference: 15 cm. Perfect.
"H-Huh… I'm used to it now! Let's go, come on!"
Every time… she's so cute.
"I just don't get you girls… still."
That's the otaku instinct, Vodka. For me, with Deji-tan, it's beyond just otaku instincts. That's just how it is.
Standing in front of a stylish door: three black-hooded figures. That's us.
"Good evening… visiting as three tonight? Please, take a seat at the counter."
"Good evening, Master."
We greet the master wiping glasses, and Vodka, Digit, and I take our seats in order.
"This is my trainer's regular spot. I also come here to… encourage his spending habits,"
"Encourage…?"
"Or, in other words, I'm helping him out. Someone has to pay cash immediately, or the master's burden increases. That's where I come in."
"Haha… fair enough. I've been helped too. …His glass-wiping skills must have gotten rusty recently."
Yeah, it's mostly thanks to me.
Some trainers win over horse girls with looks, charm, running prowess, or cooking skills—but me? I win over wallets. No chance of romance here.
Honestly, I hope my trainer gets along well with Ohana.
"Ladies, may I take your order?"
The master's gentle voice resonates.
I come here often enough.
"Same as always,"
That works.
"And for you two?"
"Can I choose for both? Okay, Vodka… for you, a Virgin Mary. Deji-tan… the same as mine, please."
"…Understood."
As soon as the words are said, the master smoothly takes out his tools. Serious, elegant, and beautiful.
"Woah… so cool…"
"Phew! I nearly died being sandwiched between two handsome men…"
Deji-tan had been quiet… probably fainted. I hadn't even noticed.
"Here you go."
And just like that, three drinks appear in front of us almost instantly.
"…That was fast!"
"Yes, it's a quiet time, so few customers."
No wonder Vodka is surprised. That was absurdly fast—barely thirty seconds. How did he make three drinks simultaneously? The master is extraordinary.
"Wow… this is… so red."
"Yeah, there's tomato juice. True Scarlet red."
I feel really good right now. Blissful, even.
A Virgin Mary is the non-alcoholic version of a Bloody Mary. True to the name, it's bright red. Cocktails have "cocktail language," like flower meanings. The Bloody Mary's meaning is "my heart burns" or "I will win at all costs."
Perfect for Vodka… no, Vodka and Scarlet.
Add vodka to the true red Virgin Mary, and it becomes a Bloody Mary.
I'm an otaku. I love forcing connections and imagining hundreds of possibilities from one reality, then dying of joy.
What I mean is… it's ridiculously emotional.
"The one with Aurora has… a fruity aroma, I think. And maybe some carrot juice too…"
The fact Deji-tan and I are drinking matching drinks drives me wild. So amazing.
"Oh, you noticed? Yes. Using various fruit flavors, including carrot juice, to suit horse girls' tastes."
This is an original cocktail the master made after I once mentioned what horse girls like to eat—specifically, carrots. The next moment, he whipped up this drink in less than a minute. Truly remarkable.
"…Am I looking cool right now…?"
Vodka says this, and two intense gazes immediately fall on her.
"Aaaah, divine… inspiration overflowing…!"
"…Nice, the counter suits you."
Deji-tan is itching to grab her pen and draw immediately.
We can't stay long, so after some conversation, we leave the bar in about twenty minutes.
"Home, Golshi!"
"Hey, welcome back."
The usual window-entry homecoming.
Tonight, Golshi's hair glows beautifully under the moon.
"What were you doing?"
"Oh, various things. Wandering, found some interesting stuff… that kind of thing."
"Interesting stuff?"
"Details don't matter. How was it with Vodka and Digital?"
"Good. I wish you had come too."
"I'll go when I feel like it."
Very her style.
"Let's go sometime. I prefer having more accomplices."
"Accomplices, huh… yeah, fair enough."
Sharing a secret shortens the distance of friendship.
"By the way, even if horse girls go out at night, they rarely get into real danger, right?"
Their physical abilities seem even higher than actual horses from their previous lives. I mean, some can break through waves effortlessly.
"Yeah… horse girls probably won't get hurt, but there's a risk of overdoing it against attackers."
"True…"
I once saw horse girl martial arts on TV—blinding speed, crane-like power. Even if not that strong, humans would find it terrifying.
"…Golshi sometimes does pro wrestling moves or flying kicks on the trainer. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, she goes pretty seriously, but mostly it's just nosebleeds. He's too tough."
How is my trainer's durability so superhuman?
"Maybe the trainer is the strongest…? If a horse girl becomes a trainer, an ultimate lifeform is born…!"
"Ridiculous. Go to sleep already."
…Honestly, becoming a trainer might be a pretty good idea. After graduation, I could still interact with horse girls. My racing experience would be useful. I even have a little special skill.
I imagine myself with a trainer badge, looking over the track…
…someone's next to me.
Pink hair, ears and tail like mine.
There aren't many horse girl trainers. Reasons include: the exam is selective, there's little need to pursue it after retiring, and people trust the "bond between humans and horse girls."
Still, it's not impossible.
If so, aiming for it isn't a bad idea.