After settling his personal matters, Fujiwara Chiya returned to the intensity of training.
The debut race was coming soon. He needed to improve training efficiency and increase their workload.
However, a serious problem stood right in front of him.
"Sorry, Trainer Chiya." Shirayuki's homeroom teacher approached him. "If Meisho Doto fails again, she will have to attend remedial classes."
"Remedial classes?"
"Yes. She will have to use training time to study until she passes the exam."
"How many points is she short?"
"Well… I'm not entirely sure. Last time her pen leaked ink and smeared half the test paper. We only graded the clean portion. She got about twenty-four points."
"And if everything on the smudged part was correct?"
"If it were all correct, it would total around seventy-two."
But realistically, that was impossible. She had already gotten nearly half of the clean section wrong.
In other words, Meisho Doto's score was hovering around the passing line.
"Understood. I'll make sure to supervise her."
"Thank you, Trainer Chiya."
The teacher left the office.
Before the door even fully closed, another teacher walked in.
"Excuse me, Trainer Chiya."
Seeing the middle-aged man with a small mustache, Fujiwara Chiya straightened up.
"I'm Agnes Tachyon's homeroom teacher."
"Nice to meet you."
"There are a few things I need to discuss."
"Go ahead."
"Agnes Tachyon has missed three exams and currently has a score of zero. If she misses another one, she will be disciplined and forced into remedial classes."
Fujiwara Chiya froze for a moment.
"…What?"
Agnes Tachyon skipped exams? And three times?
"Remedial classes will take place in the afternoon until the next monthly exam. She must pass before they end. Since that overlaps with debut race preparations, I thought it would be best to inform you."
Not just troublesome. This was a disaster.
Fujiwara Chiya's face stiffened.
"I understand. I'll speak to her."
"And there's also Matikanefukukitaru."
Before the teacher finished, another name from his team was mentioned.
"She also failed last time. If she fails again, she will need to take a retest."
"…I see. Anyone else?"
"No. Just these two."
"Alright. I'll talk to them."
"Thank you, Trainer Chiya."
The teacher left.
Before the sound of footsteps faded, someone knocked again.
"Come in."
A teacher with glasses entered.
"Let me guess… Gold Ship?"
"…Trainer Chiya, that's correct."
"She skipped the exam?"
"No."
"She failed?"
"No."
"Then what happened?"
The teacher placed the test paper on the desk.
Eighty-seven points.
That was a high score.
"Please look closer."
Fujiwara Chiya examined the paper carefully.
Then he saw it.
A massive magic circle drawn across the entire page, with every answer hidden inside it.
"…Gold Ship…"
"This drawing made grading extremely difficult. It takes more than ten times the usual effort to read her answers. If she continues like this, her test will be considered invalid and scored as zero. I've already warned her, but she hasn't corrected her behavior."
"…I understand. I'll remind her."
"Thank you."
The teacher left.
Fujiwara Chiya put down his pen and rubbed his eyes.
A headache was forming.
Seven members in his team.
Only three could reliably pass.
Rice Shower, Mejiro Dober, and Fujiwara Shirayuki.
The rest were chronic failures.
Meisho Doto could be fixed. A new pen might solve everything.
Agnes Tachyon and Gold Ship were doing it on purpose. One thought exams were a waste of time, the other thought they were boring.
As for Matikanefukukitaru.
What is wrong with you? Where is your luck? Your great fortune? How are you failing even by guessing?
With the debut race approaching and only three trainable members left, Fujiwara Chiya felt despair.
It was over before it even began.
At this rate, he might as well stay a rookie trainer forever.
Those teachers had clearly issued a final warning.
If he didn't step in, training time would be taken away.
That could not happen.
Fujiwara Chiya stood up.
"My Uma Musume are meant for greatness. They can't be stopped by exams!"
That afternoon, he gathered everyone.
"Today's training is serious. The most serious we've ever had."
Everyone swallowed nervously.
"I just received notice. If you fail again, the debut race will be in serious trouble."
"…Fail?"
Confusion spread.
"The exams!" Fujiwara Chiya shouted.
Tracen Academy wasn't just about racing. The Uma Musume still had to attend classes and progress academically.
In fact, many chose to focus on academics instead of racing.
Only those with talent, determination, and competitiveness devoted themselves fully to racing.
His team was exactly that type.
But even so, passing was the minimum requirement.
If they failed, the school's authority overrode his.
"I'm giving you one week. After training, no one leaves. Everyone studies!"
"Eh…"
Gold Ship protested immediately.
"Dober, Rice Shower, and Shirayuki, you will tutor the others."
"Guinea pig-kun, my grades are excellent, so I don't need to join, right?" Agnes Tachyon raised her hand.
"Excellent my ass. You're the worst one here. Fix your attitude toward exams!"
"This is boring. Studying is the worst!" Gold Ship complained.
"Too bad. Everyone passes this time!"
Gold Ship rolled her eyes.
"Then let's study in your room!"
"…What?"
"Think about it. Teaching requires talking. Library won't work. Dorm rooms are too small. Classrooms are too empty. Your room is perfect. Big and spacious!"
"You can split into groups."
"That's inefficient. Haven't you heard of study camps? Everyone together is faster and more fun!"
Gold Ship raised her hand dramatically.
"I propose studying in the trainer's room. Who agrees?"
Rice Shower immediately raised her hand.
"Rice wants to be with Onii-sama."
Gold Ship raised both hands.
"I agree too."
"The guinea pig's room… I'm interested." Agnes Tachyon added.
"I… would like that too…" Meisho Doto said softly.
More hands went up.
Fujiwara Chiya covered his face.
"…After dinner, bring your books to my room."
"Yes!"