During the day, Chiya asked Oguri Cap about the massage method her mother had used. However, expecting Oguri Cap to remember something like that was basically impossible, so Chiya asked for her mother's phone number instead. After calling her, the two of them talked for a while, and that gentle woman told him the massage time and frequency.
Now, Chiya was going to try it on Shirayuki.
After Shirayuki took off her top, he kneaded her shoulders. Unlike massaging someone else, Chiya could clearly feel the strength and position of his fingers.
He often heard Spe-chan and the others say that his muscles were soft, but he had never paid much attention to it. Only after trying it himself did Chiya realize that Shirayuki's muscles really were incredibly soft. When Shirayuki touched them herself, she did not feel much, but when Chiya touched them, the sensation was completely different.
Shirayuki's shoulders were so soft it felt as if his fingers could sink into them.
Was this also a change brought by special training?
Fujiwara Chiya carefully felt her muscles and vaguely sensed that Shirayuki's body might be even better than Tazuna's.
If he ranked only by muscle softness, then Tazuna was currently first, Teio second, Rice third, and Spe-chan fourth. He would not rank the rest, because there were too many of them to go through. But Shirayuki clearly surpassed all of them.
That "ghost" had said that the softer one's muscles were, the greater the power they could bring out. Shirayuki had already reached this level, but she still had not experienced any obvious breakthrough in strength.
Could it be that his method was wrong?
Because his own experience was limited, he could not fully develop Shirayuki's body?
If Cafe's "friend" could become a trainer, Fujiwara Chiya was certain she would be able to reach the position of senior trainer in less than a year. Her experience and technique were something even an intermediate trainer like him could only look up to.
In other words, the problem now was not Shirayuki.
It was me.
Has my knowledge limited Shirayuki's growth?
A powerful uma musume needed a powerful trainer. How many uma musume who could have left their names in history had their futures ruined because of an incompetent trainer?
Fujiwara Chiya had thought his knowledge was enough to handle races. But now he understood. His skills as a trainer had not kept up with the growth of Shirayuki's body.
"I see…"
Fujiwara Chiya kneaded Shirayuki's back, feeling the difference between her and other uma musume.
This was an excellent body.
There was not a single trace of unnecessary fat. Under the light, her snow-white skin carried a healthy faint redness. Usually, Chiya did not feel this way, but when he seriously examined himself, he discovered Shirayuki's uniqueness.
So it was my problem.
I've been specializing in uma musume, but I neglected the trainer's own ability.
I'm only an intermediate trainer.
Compared to truly skilled people, I'm still far behind.
Fujiwara Chiya reflected on himself.
First, he would improve Shirayuki's constitution.
Then, starting tomorrow, he would work toward becoming a senior trainer.
Fujiwara Chiya's fingers slid from Shirayuki's back down to her waist. The strange sensation made both of them let out a soft groan at the same time.
While massaging Shirayuki, his own body also began to sweat.
How did I never notice this before?
Such a simple and direct way to make both bodies feel relaxed at the same time.
It was giving himself a massage!
Fujiwara Chiya tied up his tail, which had begun swaying uncontrollably, with a hair tie, then wiped the sweat from his forehead. Oguri Cap's mother had said to massage once in the morning and once at night. When the body was exhausted, it was important to take a bath and relax in time. The massage also needed clear priorities, focusing especially on certain parts of the body.
For Oguri Cap, it had been her knees.
For Shirayuki, it was her calves and feet.
Those were her main power points.
He should first stretch her legs and waist.
Fujiwara Chiya held Shirayuki's legs in place, sat across her waist, and began pulling backward.
While controlling Shirayuki's body so it would not resist, he bent her waist back. Shirayuki's bones made a series of cracking sounds. At the same time, Fujiwara Chiya felt her body suddenly become lighter.
Then he let go. Shirayuki's pale calves softly fell back down.
Even Chiya himself had not realized that Shirayuki's body had become this tense.
As expected, bathing alone could not fully relax the body.
Letting out a long breath, Fujiwara Chiya slowly got off the bed.
Now he needed to focus on Shirayuki's feet.
To Fujiwara Chiya, this was no longer anything particularly unusual. However, since this was supposed to be a focused massage, he decided to do it to the standard of a proper massage parlor. He held Shirayuki's foot in his hands, feeling the smooth, snow-like sole, then searched for the pressure point and pressed down hard.
""Ah!""
The two of them cried out at the same time.
My god…
That pressure is way too strong!
Fujiwara Chiya was in so much pain that he almost spasmed. He had gone to a massage parlor once before, and the masseuse had used exactly this kind of strength.
Fujiwara Chiya held Shirayuki's foot again and pressed down firmly.
"Ya!"
Shirayuki's side instinctively wanted to kick, but Fujiwara Chiya controlled it. Foot massage could speed up metabolism and help treat hidden problems. It was painful, yes, but for the sake of growth, Fujiwara Chiya was prepared to endure it.
He stretched out his thumb, found the pressure point, and pressed down hard again.
Another burst of pain made his body tremble.
"Chiya, why the hell are you howling in the middle of the night! Are you going to let people sleep or not?!"
Katsumura Yota came over and pounded on the door. Fujiwara Chiya quickly apologized to him.
Looking at Shirayuki's small, pale feet, now flushed with faint pink, Fujiwara Chiya took a deep breath and calmed his rapidly beating heart.
Maybe…
He should take this step by step after all.
Doing this so suddenly was a bit too difficult. It was the middle of the night. If he cried out again, Yota would probably smash the door open and come fight him. He had work at six tomorrow morning and had even specially reminded Chiya not to slam the table if he lost while gaming at night, just so he could sleep early.
Resting Shirayuki's legs against himself, Fujiwara Chiya moved his fingers rhythmically across her smooth skin.
After who knew how long, Fujiwara Chiya began to grow drowsy. Shirayuki's side had already gone completely dark.
He glanced at the clock on the wall. Without realizing it, it was already eleven. The dorm curfew had passed.
Forget it. This is enough for today.
Tomorrow, he would explain things clearly to the dorm leader.
Fujiwara Chiya helped Shirayuki settle in, then lay down beside her. The bed was a little small, so he simply held the soft Shirayuki in his arms like a body pillow. Smelling the pleasant fragrance on the girl's body, Fujiwara Chiya closed his eyes.
Early the next morning, a piercing phone ringtone woke Fujiwara Chiya.
The man opened his eyes groggily and looked at the caller ID.
Mejiro Dober.
Fujiwara Chiya glanced at the time. It was not even seven yet. He answered the call, and Mejiro Dober's voice came through.
"Trainer-san, I'm sorry for waking you."
"It's fine… What's wrong, Dober?"
"Actually, Shirayuki never came back last night. I called her, but her phone was in the room. I asked the others too, but no one saw where Shirayuki went. I wanted to ask if you had any idea."
Mejiro Dober's voice sounded haggard, as though she had not slept well the entire night.
"Ah, it's fine. Shirayuki is beside me."
"I see. Then that's… hm?"
Mejiro Dober's voice paused.
"Um, why is Shirayuki sleeping beside Trainer-san?"