"My… training plan?"
"That's right. Since you're planning to train together with uma musume, you obviously need your own training plan. Or were you just planning to play around and train blindly by yourself?"
"Pfft—!"
Beside them, Darley seemed to have heard something incredibly funny and could not help clutching her stomach as she burst out laughing. Fujiwara Chiya glared at her.
"Do you need it or not? If you don't, I'll take it back."
"Wait, I'll take it. You're right. If I want to train alongside the uma musume, I can't do it without a plan."
Fujiwara Chiya accepted her kindness and opened the training sheet.
Looking at the arrangements Nase Fumino had made for him, he saw that it was detailed down to what he should eat to replenish the nutrients he consumed each day. At the end, she had even added a line: "If this is too difficult, I can be responsible for your meals."
Fujiwara Chiya looked up at her.
Nase Fumino turned her head away, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
"This is a very good plan. As expected of an advanced trainer. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to cover things this thoroughly."
"You'll be able to after studying for a few more years. Right now, you just lack experience. In terms of knowledge alone, advanced trainers aren't that much stronger than intermediate trainers."
"That gives me quite a bit of confidence. Then I'll follow what's written here."
Fujiwara Chiya put the training plan into his pocket.
"By the way, can I go watch your team's training?"
"…You can."
After all, Nase Fumino had been trying to find a reason to spend time with Chiya anyway.
"Darley, please look after the team."
"Of course. Leave it to me. Ah, there is one thing I must remind Trainer about."
Darley quickly walked over to Fujiwara Chiya and whispered beside his ear,
"Although humans can also have little foals if they receive the blessing of the Three Goddesses, I still recommend uma musume. Trainer's body has the highest compatibility with uma musume among all humans."
Will you ever stop!?
After pushing her away, Fujiwara Chiya followed Nase Fumino to the west-side training grounds.
At this time, Tokai Teio and the others were doing single-leg hops. Looking at Teio's agile figure, and El Condor Pasa's performance that was not inferior at all, Fujiwara Chiya immediately felt troubled.
"Our race is coming up soon, right, Chiya?"
"Mm."
"I'm really looking forward to it. You'll definitely research tactics specifically against my uma musume again. That's what you did last time. You always like to search for the running style with the highest win rate. In that sense, I'm the same as you."
"Maybe our personalities are similar. We like proceeding step by step and pursuing stability."
"That's part of it, but you're much bolder than I am. Otherwise, you wouldn't be desperately leading your uma musume toward the world. But that's also what makes you masculine. No matter how rational you are, you're still a hot-blooded young man."
Fujiwara Chiya scratched his cheek.
It felt like Nase Fumino had seen right through him.
"Chiya, whether it's you or me, we are the final obstacle standing in front of each other. I know this race is very important to you. It is the same for me. So I will do everything I can to arrange tactics that target you."
With their relationship, there was no need to deceive each other.
They could say whatever needed to be said.
Nase Fumino would not hold back against him. Even though she was an advanced trainer, and even though every uma musume under her was elite, she would still defeat him without mercy.
And Nase Fumino knew Chiya would do the same.
Just like he had always done. Once he decided on something, he would not stop until he achieved it.
That was the Chiya she liked.
From beginning to end, he had always been like this.
Just as Nase Fumino expected, after hearing those words, Fujiwara Chiya neither begged nor got angry. As usual, he showed a dazzling smile and said,
"I was thinking the same thing."
Nase Fumino's pupils suddenly contracted, and her heart skipped a beat.
Recently, Chiya had somehow become more and more attractive. He was not as overtly masculine as before, but when he smiled, there was something strangely captivating about him.
Nase Fumino had never imagined that her childhood friend would one day attract people with his appearance.
At the very least, she had been drawn in by Chiya's smile.
"Chiya, I still haven't thanked you for what happened last time."
"Last time?"
"Mm. When we gathered with the foreign representatives. I've wanted to say thank you to you."
"That? I just couldn't stand the way they spoke. They clearly didn't understand you at all, yet they kept talking however they liked. To be honest, I almost wanted to stand up and tell them to shut up. Unfortunately, I'm not hot-blooded enough to ignore the consequences anymore. Looks like society has worn down my edges too."
"But you still helped me."
Nase Fumino looked at him.
"After the race ends, let's go out for a walk and get something to eat. How about it? Whether it's you or me, after the race, one of us will definitely leave for Europe. We probably won't see each other for quite a long time."
"Of course."
Hearing his answer, Nase Fumino secretly rejoiced without showing it on her face.
Their identity as rivals did not prevent them from dealing with private matters. Work was work, and life was life. They were different things.
If things went smoothly, perhaps she could even settle their relationship directly.
"That won't do…"
In the distance, Darley flicked her ears and spoke softly.
What she had said earlier was already quite tactful.
In truth, the current Chiya could no longer be with a human. His physical strength was too high. An ordinary human woman would not be able to withstand him at all. Right now, Chiya could only choose to be with uma musume.
Stopping this was also to protect Nase Fumino's body.
There was also the fact that Darley herself leaned toward uma musume. Chiya's body was perfectly compatible with uma musume and could create healthier, stronger little foals. Even for the sake of future generations, she hoped Chiya would be with uma musume.
As for how many?
Of course, the more the better.
Outstanding people should pass down their genes.
For the future of uma musume, please work a little harder, Trainer.
Thinking this, Darley could not help laughing.
Experiencing things personally was far more interesting than simply watching from the sidelines.
When Fujiwara Chiya returned, Darley waved her hand.
"Trainer, this is the crucial stage before the match. You must not hold back just because of your relationship with Trainer Nase."
"How could I? Even if my mother came, I wouldn't hold back."
"That person would not need you to hold back."
After training ended, Fujiwara Chiya sat on the ground, using a twig to draw on the grass as he simulated the race.
Darley stood beside him and watched quietly.
When it came to the race itself, it was not convenient for her to interfere.
There's a chance!
After finishing his simulation, Fujiwara Chiya stood up happily.
His experience was somewhat lacking compared to an advanced trainer.
But there was one thing Fujiwara Chiya was certain of.
His understanding of uma musume was far deeper than that of other trainers.