On the day of summer training camp, Fujiwara Chiya looked over his team.
Every one of them had travel bags on their backs, but one stood out more than the rest.
"Gold Ship."
"What is it?"
"Why are you carrying a guitar case?"
The enormous black case rose two heads higher than Gold Ship herself, sticking out conspicuously above her.
"Obviously, it's for playing guitar, Trainer," Gold Ship said as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "What else would a guitar case be used for? Hitting people?"
"Of course I know that. What I mean is, we're going to the seaside dorm, not joining a band. Also, you can't even play guitar, can you?"
"Who says I can't? Don't look down on me, Trainer."
Gold Ship lifted her chin proudly.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Gold Ship guiltily looked away.
Suspicious.
After spending this much time with Gold Ship, Fujiwara Chiya could tell at a glance that she was hiding something. If she really had that kind of skill, she would have started performing on the street ages ago. Since she was being evasive, there was definitely something fishy going on.
"Open the case."
"Why?"
Gold Ship took a cautious step backward.
"I need to check whether you brought contraband."
"Do I, the great Gold Ship, look like the kind of person who breaks rules? Everyone at Tracen knows I have another nickname: Little Law-Abiding Golshi!"
"By 'everyone,' I'm guessing you mean only yourself. Hand it over. I'm telling you, Golshi, if you don't let me check, you're not getting on the bus. You can run all the way to the beach."
"You monster!"
With no other choice, Gold Ship handed the case over. Meisho Doto and the others curiously gathered around.
Fujiwara Chiya opened the case and immediately widened his eyes.
"A sniper rifle?"
"A water gun," Gold Ship corrected him. "You see it in movies all the time, right? Hiding a gun inside a guitar case as camouflage. This was Little Golshi's secret weapon. I was planning to show off at the dorm, but you discovered it way too early."
Ugh... Trainer is getting harder and harder to fool.
"Isn't this a high-pressure water gun?"
The barrel was far too long.
"Effective range: ten meters."
"Put it back."
"Why!?"
"It's too dangerous."
After dealing with Gold Ship, Fujiwara Chiya checked the others too. Aside from Agnes Tachyon's medicine and experimental equipment being somewhat unusual, everyone else's luggage was normal. Mostly changes of clothes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, other daily necessities, and textbooks.
Before leaving, Fujiwara Chiya gave them a reminder.
"For the next month and a half, we'll be training at the seaside dorm. After training ends, everyone is free to move around and visit the nearby town, but you must return to the dorm before seven every night. Roll call and room checks will happen then. Anyone who disappears without permission will lose free-time privileges the next day. Understood?"
"Yes!"
Everyone answered.
Gold Ship came running back from the dorm area with a red water gun strapped to her back, shouting as she ran.
"Effective range: five meters!"
Seeing the bus that had come to pick them up, Fujiwara Chiya slapped a hand against his face.
Five meters was fine.
As long as she did not spray it wildly inside the dorm.
Just as Fujiwara Chiya was about to get on the bus, Katsumura Yota called out from behind him.
"Chiya."
Beside Yota were five Uma Musume. Aside from T. M. Opera O, the rest were unfamiliar faces. They were probably undebuted Uma Musume, not from Shirayuki's year.
"Yo."
Fujiwara Chiya greeted him.
"You're on this bus too?"
"Of course. What a coincidence, huh?"
Katsumura Yota laughed and patted his shoulder.
"Enjoy that vanished youth of yours, Chiya."
Apparently, he was still holding a grudge over what Chiya had said before.
"Hello, warrior of the White Wolf family."
After Katsumura Yota got on the bus, T. M. Opera O walked over and greeted Chiya.
"White Wolf family?"
"Indeed. Since you are Shirayuki's cousin, you are naturally a member of the White Wolf family, are you not?"
T. M. Opera O placed a hand on her chin and carefully studied the black-haired man before her.
"You carry the same scent as the White Wolf. Especially your eyes. They are exactly the same as hers. As expected of people from the same clan. Guts are passed down from generation to generation. Hahaha!"
T. M. Opera O laughed in a theatrical rhythm.
"Shirayuki and Doto are my lifelong rivals. If possible, I hope you will arrange several mock races during training camp. I would be deeply grateful."
"Sure... I'll try."
"How generous, Trainer. My impression of you is quite favorable."
After laughing a few more times, T. M. Opera O boarded the bus.
Fujiwara Chiya's gaze followed her.
For a moment just now, he had the strange illusion that Opera O's eyes had looked through him and seen Shirayuki. It felt as if the words she had spoken were not directed at him, but at Shirayuki.
"..."
What am I thinking?
Fujiwara Chiya shook his head.
No matter how perceptive T. M. Opera O was, there was no way she could see through something that absurd. She was not Agnes Tachyon, who enjoyed wild theories and impossible ideas.
"Alright, the rest of you, hurry up and get on."
Fujiwara Chiya urged the others.
Rice Shower happily ran over to his side.
"Onii-sama."
She carried a small backpack about the size of her upper body, the least luggage of anyone there.
"Rice wants to sit next to Onii-sama."
"Sure."
Looking at that tiny, adorable face, Fujiwara Chiya felt his mood relax before he even realized it. Every time he saw Rice, he felt as if his soul had been purified.
The two of them got on the bus and reached the front row. Katsumura Yota was sitting beside the window.
"This little one is coming too?"
"Yeah. Hurry up and give her the seat."
"Then where do I sit? The back is already full."
Even if it were not full, there was no way he was going to sit between four unfamiliar Uma Musume. It would be too awkward.
"You can just stand."
"You can go f... cough, cough."
Noticing the Uma Musume behind them, he swapped to a more civilized phrase.
"May your mother be well. Standing is impossible. If there's no space, just let her sit on your lap."
Rice Shower's eyes immediately lit up.
"Rice wants to sit on Onii-sama's lap."
That was the only option.
Fujiwara Chiya held Rice Shower and sat down. Her tail wrapped once around his waist, and her long ears lightly brushed against his chin. The soft sensation made Fujiwara Chiya feel an urge to bury his face in Rice's hair.
Calm down. This is Rice, not a cat.
Fujiwara Chiya warned himself.
The trip to the seaside dorm would take around four hours. The Uma Musume's initially high spirits gradually faded with the rocking of the bus. Everyone leaned back in their seats and grew drowsy.
Beside him, Katsumura Yota had already started snoring.
Fujiwara Chiya looked out the window. The city, once filled with tall buildings, had long since disappeared. In its place were rows of wind turbines, endless rice fields, and a blue sky with drifting white clouds.
"Onii-sama, do you want some candy?"
Just as Fujiwara Chiya was gazing dreamily at the countryside scenery outside the window, Rice Shower spoke softly from his arms.
Candy?
Mint candy, maybe?
He did need one right now.
Fujiwara Chiya nodded.
"Rice only has one left. If Onii-sama wants it, Rice will give it to Onii-sama."
Sleepiness blurred Fujiwara Chiya's vision. At Rice's signal, he lowered his head.
A sweet flavor suddenly touched his tongue.
It was candy.
A sweet peach-flavored candy.
However, the way she gave him the candy was completely beyond Fujiwara Chiya's expectations. The shock was enough to make the man's eyes widen instantly.
"A candy with Rice's flavor, Onii-sama."
In his arms, Rice Shower showed him a cute and sweet smile.
"Go to sleep, Onii-sama. Rice will stay with you."