A bird chirped outside the window. Luo Cheng opened his eyes and let out a lazy yawn. His senses returned like melting spring snow. He felt a soft, squishy sensation on his right—a dark-haired girl was curled up against his shoulder like a kitten, her black hair spread beneath her, highlighting her pale skin. Her somewhat flat chest rose and fell slightly; she was clearly in a deep sleep.
Luo Cheng had seen this scene many times. He habitually pulled her closer and buried his face against her. A faint scent of coffee filled his nose, and her skin felt incredibly supple. Usually, he'd sleep until he woke up naturally, but lately, he'd been more disciplined for the sake of his fitness. However, today his body felt exceptionally exhausted, as if he'd been exercising for an entire day and night.
Luo Cheng reached out and stroked Cafe's ears. He loved their ears—soft, fuzzy, and feeling just like a pet cat's. Their tails were the same—fluffy with a faint fragrance. They were the ultimate time-killers; you could pet them for hours without noticing. Was there anything better than waking up and ruffling a horse girl's ears? No!
Under his touch, Cafe woke up. She looked around with a dazed gaze. Seeing him, her "switch" was flipped, and her thoughts were instantly activated as she remembered last night. She had brought him back, saw how "full of energy" he was, and decided to help him relax. At that moment, her mind had been entirely focused on him, incapable of any other thought. Finally, with a satisfying pop, they had parted, and she had fallen asleep in a state of contentment.
Why did this happen?! Cafe's mind exploded. How could I do something like that in the heat of the moment! It was... it was...! She couldn't find the words. She had defiled her Trainer—the person who shared her burden. She had used him while he was asleep without his consent. What have I done?!
Cafe was filled with remorse. She looked up to beg for his forgiveness, but he was just lazily holding her and stroking her ears. His relaxed expression seemed to suggest he didn't care about last night at all.
What's going on? He's not angry at all. Did he wake up halfway through and just pretend to be asleep? She recalled things she'd seen in movies. Besides, what other explanation was there? Anyone would be shocked to wake up with their horse girl lying naked next to them, wouldn't they?
"Trainer," Cafe whispered. Hearing her voice, his hand paused. He turned, and their eyes met. A few seconds later, Luo Cheng silently pulled his hand away and pressed it to his forehead.
Right. This isn't the game.
Luo Cheng sat up abruptly, the movement pulling the blanket away and exposing Cafe's delicate, lithe body. Seeing the damp stains on the sheets that hadn't yet dried, he hesitated. "Cafe... did I kidnap you and bring you to my room last night?"
The girl sat up, pulling the blanket to her chest, her face red all the way to her neck. She didn't hide it; she confessed everything. She told him how she'd ignored his wishes, lost her mind, and forced the union. She was ready for him to scold her.
However, after hearing her description, Luo Cheng's expression turned to one of understanding.
So I wasn't the one who kidnapped her.Rather, it was he who had been "kidnapped."
That certainly explained things.
"Is the Trainer... not angry? That I did those things to you?" Cafe curled her body inward. Under the morning light, her shoulders revealed a supple, youthful glow.
"If I had to say, I am a little angry," Luo Cheng said with a straight face. "Why didn't you wake me up? If you had, I could have been more proactive."
"...Eh?"
"It's a bit of a shame. We wasted such a good opportunity."
As a physically healthy young man, how could Luo Cheng possibly refuse an invitation from a horse girl—especially from Cafe? Furthermore, given the current circumstances, there was no emotional tug-of-war. Aside from his daily routine, "combat" was his life.
It was truly regrettable that his first night spent with a real horse girl had been wasted like this.
"I didn't get to see how alluring you looked, Cafe," Luo Cheng lamented, his heart aching with genuine grief.
This statement made Cafe's pupils tremble.
What? The Trainer doesn't hate it? Not only does he not hate it, he actually seems to... like it? No, he likes it very much! Does that mean the Trainer and I feel the same way about each other?
Thinking of this, the corners of Cafe's mouth curved upward. Her impulsive act had been the right move.
Unaware of Cafe's internal calculations, Luo Cheng let out a yawn and glanced at the clock on the wall. He was still in the real world. He hadn't gone back yet.
Thank goodness.
Spending too much time alone in that game world had started to mess with his psyche. If he had stayed much longer, Luo Cheng wasn't sure what he would have become. If he had started seeking out darker, more "curiosity-driven" stimulations just to feel something, he would have been truly lost. Not only him, but every horse girl in Tracen would have suffered along with him.
In the game world, no one could stop Luo Cheng; he could do whatever he wanted. It wouldn't have been impossible for a "dating sim" to turn into a "yandere simulator" in a heartbeat.
"Trainer." Cafe wiggled her tender toes under the blanket. Stimulated by Luo Cheng's words, she was starting to feel "the urge" again. "If you don't mind, should we... again..."
"Luo Cheng!"
The Chairwoman's voice rang out from outside, followed by the clack-clack of the doorknob turning.
The Chairwoman?! Why is she here?!
Luo Cheng's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly realized he had to go to work—he had woken up late!
Glancing at Cafe, Luo Cheng decisively pushed her down, wrapped her in the blanket, tucked her into the side of the bed, and then turned his back to shield her. The two of them were pressed tightly together.
The entire sequence was a masterpiece of fluid motion. Just as Luo Cheng finished, the door swung open, and Akikawa Yayoi walked in.
"Shocking! You're actually still in bed! Do you know what time it is?"
"Chairwoman..." Luo Cheng faked a few coughs, his voice sounding half-true, half-faked weak. "I don't feel well. My head is spinning, and I feel weak all over. I must have kicked the covers off last night and caught a cold."
"You're unwell?! Are you alright? Should I call a doctor?" Yayoi's heart tightened in her chest.
"No need. I just need some rest."
Akikawa Yayoi walked over and plopped down on the edge of the bed. At this moment, Cafe and the Chairwoman were separated only by Luo Cheng.
He remembered how Teio and Seiun Sky's jealousy had almost torn him apart. If the Chairwoman saw Cafe sleeping in his bed, the place would probably explode on the spot. The temperaments of these horse girls were nothing like their game counterparts; they would literally end you.
Yayoi reached out, intending to feel Luo Cheng's forehead. Suddenly, the man let out a sharp cry.
"What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing."
He had just been bitten by Cafe.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Uma Musume: Inside the Game (40 Chapters – Ongoing)
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