Perspective: Hachiman
Having won the Make Debut race without a hitch, Rice and I are already training for the next step. We've decided on the Fuyou Stakes. If she can win that, the plan is to advance to the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. Strictly speaking, the Kyoto Junior Stakes might be better, but we want to aim for the big stages, so we settled on this route.
Depending on the results after that, we might enter a trial race, but that's a concern for the distant future. Right now, we're back at Tracen Academy. Since today is a rest day for training, I'm currently alone.
No, actually... "I was alone" would be more accurate. I'm in the trainer's room, but there are Uma Musume in here with me.
And for the record, it isn't Rice.
Hachiman: "..."
Ardan: "Is it absolutely out of the question?"
C.B.: "Hey, it's fine, right? C'mon, it's not like you lose anything by letting us!"
Curren: "Yeah, Oniichan! Just this much is okay, right? Why is it a no-go?"
Hachiman: "Listen, you guys..."
...I am currently being begged by three Uma Musume. What are they begging for? No, it's something incredibly stupid. It's not about asking me to be their trainer or anything like that. It is genuinely, truly trivial.
Ardan: "Please, I beg of you. Allow me to call you Anisama (Older Brother) as well."
C.B.: "Yeah! It's fine, isn't it!"
Curren: "That's right! You let Rice-san call you that, so why can't we do it!?"
Hachiman: "Because I said no."
...For some reason, these three are pleading to call me "Brother." The cause is Rice calling me Oniisama. Even though I was the one who permitted Rice to use that address, this dynamic between a student and a trainer is likely a first for both Rice and me.
Perhaps influenced by that, these Uma Musume, whom I have some friendly acquaintance with, have decided they want to call me that, too. I seriously don't understand it... and it makes no sense.
Hachiman: "If I allowed you all to call me that, people would misunderstand and think I have some kind of weird fetish."
C.B.: "Ehh~? But you're totally like an Oniichan normally, and I naturally want to be spoiled by you, you know?"
Curren: "Yep, yep! Oniichan is truly just like an Oniichan, after all~."
Hachiman: "You're already calling me that, aren't you, Curren... In the first place, I don't recall doing anything for you guys to warrant that. I have a vague idea of the cause, but how did it come to this?"
Ardan: "Part of it is envy seeing Rice-san call you that, but the primary reason is that you truly feel like an Anisama to us, Trainer-san."
C.B.: "Because I want to call you that! I'm an only child, so I've always admired having an Oniichan~!"
Curren: "Because Oniichan is Oniichan, that's why! ♪"
Hachiman: "...Go bother someone else."
C.B.: "Ehh~ No way~?"
Sigh... This is idiotic. I can't waste time on this. It can't be helped; I'll give up on working here for now.
Hachiman: "Right, I'm leaving."
Ardan: "Please wait, Anisama. I have not received your answer yet."
Hachiman: "Didn't you hear me? Go bother someone else."
Location: Cafeteria
Hachiman: "Haa... Good grief, what is going on today, seriously."
Brian: "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Hachiman: "Brian, huh... No, not really. Just had a weird run-in."
Brian: "A weird run-in..."
Hachiman: "Well, it's got nothing to do with you, so don't worry about it. It'll probably blow over in a while."
Brian: "...Is that so? More importantly, I have a question for you, Aniki."
Hachiman: "Before that, I have a question for you. What is with that form of address? Since when did I become your Aniki (Big Bro/Boss)?"
Wait a minute, hold on... Why? Why is the number of people calling me "Brother" increasing? What happened?
Brian: "...Don't worry about it. It's just what I call you. You don't need to mind it."
Hachiman: "No, I definitely mind it. In what world do I end up being called Aniki?"
Brian: "Is that all? Anyone who watches how you act on a daily basis would understand."
Hachiman: "Hah? What exactly have I done..."
Brian: (...This guy is probably unconscious of it, but he makes lunch for his charge, and occasionally makes some for the rest of us, too. He creates training menus for girls he isn't even in charge of, teaches them studying when he has free time, and even oversees their training. He's exactly like a big brother, isn't he?)
Rudolf: "Oh, so this is where you were, Brian. And Trainer Hikigaya as well."
Hachiman: "Rudolf... (Thank god, Rudolf is sensibl—)"
Rudolf: "And you as well, Niisan. Your help with the paperwork yesterday was very much appreciated. Thank you."
Hachiman: "(...You toooooooo!!) ...Are you calling me Niisan now, too...?"
Rudolf: "Why not? It's fine, isn't it?"
Hachiman: "Nothing about it is fine..."
Air Groove: "It is time to return to the Student Council Room. I wondered what you were doing, only to find you slacking off in a place like th—"
Hachiman: "Air Groove!"
Air Groove: "Wh—! What is it, you fool?! Do not grab my shoulders so suddenly!"
Hachiman: "You... What do you intend to call me?"
Air Groove: "Hah? What is this all of a sudden? That doesn't matter right n—"
Hachiman: "Just answer me! This is a huge problem for me."
Air Groove: "...I have no intention of calling someone like you anything other than your surname or 'Trainer'."
Hachiman: "...You are the only ally I have left." (Shake shake)
Air Groove: "...What on earth is wrong with you?"
Brian: "Oi, you okay, Aniki?"
Rudolf: "Do you need a handkerchief, Niisan?"
Hachiman: "You people are the enemy!"
Air Groove: "Seriously... what is going on with you?"
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