At the training grounds, three Uma Musume struggled forward with heavy steps. Their thick horseshoes sank into the turf, suppressing their speed to less than a quarter of normal. After two laps, all three collapsed straight onto the ground from exhaustion.
"I can't do this anymore, I'm dying! Trainer, you really only care about killing us, not burying us! My ankles are rubbed all swollen!"
Sitting on the ground, Gold Ship loudly accused Fujiwara Chiya of inhumane treatment.
Every night when she went to sleep, her feet ached so badly she could hardly rest. Even soaking them in two basins of hot water did not help.
She had no idea when this kind of life would end.
It was not just Gold Ship. Meisho Doto also looked miserable. She was not saying much, but it was obvious she was close to her limit too.
Shirayuki's condition was a little better. Her flexibility was stronger than the other two to begin with, and with the added benefit of trainer knowledge, she knew how to relax her feet properly, so her recovery was faster as well. She did not feel nearly as much discomfort as they did.
Looking at the two suffering Uma Musume, Fujiwara Chiya thought for a moment, then finally said, "Wear them for one more week. After one week, you can take them off."
Even though they could not really run while wearing these horseshoes, the three of them were already walking in a much more natural way. In just a few weeks, their leg strength had improved immensely. He had to admit that Fumino's training methods were highly effective, able to help Uma Musume increase their strength quickly. Fujiwara Shirayuki herself could clearly feel how different she was from before.
The most obvious change was that her feet had become softer and stronger. Now she could even curl one into her own palm.
Fujiwara Chiya kept thanking Nase Fumino in his heart. Thanks to her, his own training ability had grown tremendously. Much of what she taught him could not even be found in textbooks. It was the kind of knowledge you simply could not learn otherwise. At his current level, Fujiwara Chiya was already among the best of the rookie trainers.
With him growing stronger as a trainer and her growing stronger as an Uma Musume, the effect had become greater than one plus one. Fujiwara Chiya was already itching to find out just how much his ability had improved.
Conveniently, Tracen's internal mock race was not too far off, and Fujiwara Chiya could use that race to test his growth.
I'm going to surpass everyone!
Fujiwara Chiya cried out inwardly.
"Alright, that's enough training for today. Everyone go back and rest." Checking the time, Fujiwara Chiya called out to the group.
Gold Ship and Meisho Doto immediately looked liberated and flopped onto the ground.
Doto was one thing, but honestly, Fujiwara Chiya had never expected Gold Ship to keep training this long. He had assumed that after just a few days she would either throw the horseshoes away or secretly swap them for plastic ones.
Or maybe... they are plastic right now, and Golshi is just faking it.
"Golshi."
"What is it, Trainer?" Gold Ship forced herself to stand back up.
"Lift your foot. Let me see the bottom of your shoe."
"Hah? What for? You want me to step on you?"
"I just want to check whether you've been slacking off."
"What? I, the great Gold Ship, have trained seriously and worked without complaint, and yet you suspect me of slacking? Trainer, what exactly are you plotting?"
"That's exactly it. You've been so obedient these past few days that you don't seem like Gold Ship at all, so I want to check whether you got possessed."
"Then I'll let you take a good look!"
Annoyed, Gold Ship hooked her foot under Fujiwara Chiya's leg with a light motion, throwing him off balance. He landed on the ground with a thud, and in that instant Gold Ship climbed right onto his waist.
She lifted her foot and shoved the sole of her shoe in front of him.
"Well, Trainer? Isn't it beautiful?"
Looking at the horseshoe gleaming with a metallic sheen, Fujiwara Chiya swallowed.
"Beautiful... no, no, I've seen enough, get off me first."
"Onii-sama!"
The moment Rice Shower saw Fujiwara Chiya pinned to the ground under Gold Ship, she let out a shrill cry and hurried over to help him up.
"I was only doing what Trainer asked and showing him the sole of my shoe. Men with foot fetishes get all excited when you do things like this to them."
"Who has a foot fetish!?"
"Really!?"
The first shout came from Fujiwara Chiya.
The second came from Rice Shower.
When she realized Onii-sama was staring wide-eyed at her, Rice Shower shyly turned her face away.
"Oh? Rice, are you interested? Want me to teach you a few tricks? I guarantee you'll have Trainer completely under your control."
"Eh!? Th-that..."
"Gold Ship, stop teaching bad things to Rice."
Fujiwara Chiya scrambled out from under her.
That damned alien horse was trying to turn his little angel into a fallen angel. Fujiwara Chiya absolutely would not allow that!
"Hahahaha, Trainer, you can't stop me! Hahahaha!"
Gold Ship ran off laughing, leaving Fujiwara Chiya with nowhere to direct his anger.
"Alright, stop watching and go home already."
Fujiwara Chiya waved his hand, telling Agnes Tachyon and the others, who were happily enjoying the show, to hurry along.
"You're back, Trainer Chiya?"
The moment he returned to the dorm, Fujiwara Chiya caught a pleasant smell in the air. Looking toward the source, he saw Hayakawa Tazuna cooking in his kitchen.
"Tazuna?"
Why are you in my room?
"Just wait a little longer. Dinner will be ready soon."
Hayakawa Tazuna wore an apron and tasted a small bowl of miso soup.
The scene was so harmonious, so natural, that Fujiwara Chiya could not even bring himself to ask how exactly she had gotten in.
Silently, he sat down on the sofa and turned on the television.
Some things became worse if you examined them too closely. Like now. Was it useful to know how Hayakawa Tazuna had entered? Was it necessary? All he needed to know was that she was here making dinner for him.
Enjoy the moment. Don't think about unnecessary things.
Just as Fujiwara Chiya stretched out comfortably on the sofa, there was a knock at the door, followed by a soft, childish voice from outside.
"Onii-sama, are you in your room?"
His heart dropped.
Rice Shower!!
Why was Rice here now, of all times? And Tazuna was here too. What timing. No, this was not the time to think about timing!
Fujiwara Chiya looked toward Hayakawa Tazuna, and just so happened to find her already looking back at him.
"Chiya, there's a child at the door. Aren't you going to open it?"
Hayakawa Tazuna wore a perfect, flawless smile.
"I... well..."
After hesitating for far too long, and with Rice's confused "Onii-sama?" coming again from outside, Fujiwara Chiya carefully rose to his feet.
"I'll go get the door."
One of Hayakawa Tazuna's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.
So rather than pretending not to be home, he's choosing to open it?
It seems I still haven't educated you enough.
Meanwhile, Fujiwara Chiya opened the door, and Rice Shower's expression immediately brightened.
"Onii-sama!"
She happily threw herself into his arms.
"Rice made some sweets for Onii-sama. If you don't mind..."
Before she could finish, Rice suddenly caught the smell of something pleasant. Looking inside, she noticed Hayakawa Tazuna in an apron, cooking.
The other woman was even humming cheerfully.
In an instant, Rice Shower's pupils turned black.