"Alright, that's it for today's training. Thanks for your hard work, Tamamo, and you too, Oguri."
As Kitano and Ardan said their temporary goodbyes and he came down from the stands to the training ground, the conversation between Oguri Cap and Tamamo also came to an end. Although Tamamo still felt that Oguri had many unknown bottom lines that she hadn't revealed, she was tactful enough not to press further.
Because from the moment Kitano arrived at the training ground, Tamamo's gaze couldn't help but focus on him, a smile almost subconsciously appearing on her youthful face that didn't match her age.
"Ya, no trouble at all! It was nothing for me and Oguri. We don't have much to do usually, so it's best if we can help out before the Japanese Derby."
"Speaking of which, the Japanese Derby... neither of us are the type to participate in such a race, so I hope your two charges can seize this opportunity and strive to win this once-in-a-lifetime race."
"How is it, Kitano? Are all the preparations ready? I've already looked at the training schedule you've arranged for them before the Derby, and there are no problems. It's just that I've made some slight modifications to the diet plan."
"I'm telling you... don't always design such a lavish menu just because you have those three, Special Week, Oguri, and Invincible. Be careful that Nakayama and Gold Ship don't get fat from eating too much. It's a good thing I looked it over for you in advance and cut out some of the overly nutritious dishes. Don't spoil them all."
"...Eh? Tamamo, I haven't heard about this."
Tamamo tirelessly reminded him of various precautions, planning and strategizing for him in every little detail. Even though she knew very well that with the help of C.B. and Ardan, it was almost impossible for him to make these small mistakes, she still, in her own way, tried to reduce his burden and pressure, so that he could worry less about small things.
As for Oguri Cap's dazed words just now, Tamamo, whose conversation with Kitano was interrupted, slapped her on the head without mercy, letting her squat down holding her head in grievance, and said angrily, "You have no right to say that! Every time he prepares nutritious meals for his charges, you and Special Week eat the most! Look at your bellies! You're as fat as pigs every time!"
Saying this, Tamamo couldn't help but reach out and grab Oguri's soft and obviously larger belly. Faced with the guilty Oguri who didn't dare to look her in the eye, she also complained with a hint of grievance, "Do you know that every meal you guys eat is paid for by him out of his own pocket! With just his trainer's salary, can he afford to feed you big eaters? Don't I have to plan it all?"
"You guys should give him a break! Can't you eat a little less?"
"...Oh."
Perhaps because her personal life had always been taken care of by Tamamo, Oguri would almost always listen to her in areas other than racing. Therefore, faced with the resentful Tamamo this time, the aggrieved Oguri also chose to lower her head and take the initiative to admit her mistakes of this period.
On the other side, as Kitano signaled for the rested Festa, Gold Ship, and Suzuka to come over, he also heard Tamamo's scolding of Oguri. At this familiar scene, he also subconsciously showed a smile and said at the right time, "Tamamo, don't blame Oguri either. She's just driven by instinct."
"It's because you spoil her so much that you're so tired! Have you forgotten the last time you cooked for her and ended up in the hospital from exhaustion? Take better care of yourself!"
As if everything from the past was replaying, whenever he wanted to come to the rescue of the scolded Oguri, Tamamo Cross would always express her dissatisfaction so angrily, blaming him for his indulgence. But even so, she would also listen to his advice and temporarily stop her scolding, turning away in a huff.
However, even though she was so strict with Oguri and dissatisfied with his indulgent attitude, on the second day, she would still tirelessly stay by his and Oguri's side, continuing to help him plan his daily life, accompanying her in her daily training, and even in the dormitory, she would still take care of her like an older sister, or even a mother.
And even at that time, she was not his charge... Of course, he knew very well that the main reason she did this, besides her own kind-heartedness, was also her way of repaying his kindness.
And all of this was actually the path he had paved for Oguri early on in that playthrough... It was just a pity that he had not been able to witness the day when these paths finally took effect.
"I feel like Tamamo-senpai is like Oguri Cap-senpai's mother."
And at this time, Silence Suzuka, who was wiping her sweat, also saw the change in her trainer's gaze towards the two ash-haired horse girls. With her exceptionally sharp mind, she also became a little curious about the relationship between them and her trainer.
Especially since this opportunity was rare. Recently, Spe-chan had been busy with exam reviews and didn't have much time to train. Although Suzuka didn't think Spe-chan had recovered her memories like her, to prevent this companion of hers, who revered the trainer as a "father," from getting sulky, it was actually better for this matter to proceed without her present.
But Suzuka also knew very well that on this issue, her Trainer-san would absolutely not tell the truth. Fortunately, she could use another way to roughly figure out their status in his heart.
However, the moment Suzuka said this, before Kitano could speak, Tamamo and Oguri had already reacted. Tamamo, upon hearing this, also showed a look of disgust, subconsciously rubbing her arms, and said with a very uncomfortable expression, "Ew—Suzuka, don't use that kind of word to describe me. I'm not like that Super Creek person. Besides, Oguri is bigger than me. How could she look like she came out of me?"
Super Creek, a famous horse girl at Tracen Academy, was also a member of the "Heisei Three Strongs" with Oguri. But besides her strength, what she was most famous for at Tracen was her strong and irrepressible "motherly" instinct towards any smaller object.
And as a contemporary of Super Creek, and at the same time, being coincidentally petite and deeply affected by it, Tamamo Cross strongly wanted to draw a clear line with her and explained with a firm attitude, "I just take care of her like family. Strictly speaking, she's like my little sister... although I don't have such a big little sister."
"But I don't mind." And Oguri also blinked her eyes, her pure and innocent pupils flashing with a clear foolishness as she said softly, "If Tamamo is my second mother, I don't hate it."
"But I hate it, you idiot! Don't say such troublesome things!" The fed-up Tamamo once again punched her on the head. Oguri, holding her head, also aggrievedly hid behind Kitano and soon enjoyed his comforting head pats.
"Then what about Trainer-san?" As Suzuka wished, she had roughly figured out their relationship. Even with her trainer's intervention, it would probably just be more harmonious, or a little more confrontational, right?
But now it seems that Tamamo-senpai and Oguri Cap-senpai... probably haven't recovered their memories yet? They're getting along as usual. Or is it that in their time and space, their relationship is different from hers and Spe-chan's?
Suzuka's only reference now was the known-to-have-memories Mr. C.B. But from her several failed negotiations with the contemporary Rudolf, she felt that their relationship would only be worse than hers and Spe-chan's at that time.
But as for Tamamo and Oguri... she wasn't so sure. Could it be that two horse girls who both liked their trainer, without knowing about his lifespan issue, could really get along peacefully?
"As for Kitano—"
However, at the mention of him, her expression also became a little unnatural. When she subconsciously turned her gaze to his face, which was flashing with a hint of expectation, an unnatural, awkward blush also appeared on her face. After digging her cheek with her hand, she said with some hesitation, "Well... although I haven't known him for a long time, I still feel that we get along quite well..."
"If it had been longer, like the time I've been with Oguri, maybe I would also treat him like family... I guess?"
"Ah, I know!"
And at this time, Gold Ship, who had been listening for a while, also smoothly inserted herself into the topic. With a confident smile of "I've completely understood," she immediately said, "To summarize, Tamamo is the mom, Kitano-chan is the dad, and Oguri Cap-senpai is the daughter they're raising together!"
"Hmph, I'm a genius after all. I could see at a glance—waah! Kitano-chan! Tamamo-senpai is hitting me! Save me~"
As expected, the moment her words fell, the cheeks of Tamamo Cross, who seemed to have been hit right where it hurt, flushed red at a visible speed. He even vaguely heard a sound like water boiling, and then he saw the enraged her raise her fist and was about to fight with Gold Ship.
"Ahhh! You bastard! Don't think I can't beat you just because you're bigger than me! Let's have a go!"
"You don't have to be angry, Tamamo. Or is it that you don't like him? I think he's very suitable to be a dad. If you don't like it, I can change it for you~"
And Gold Ship, just like Oguri, immediately hid behind him, letting the angry her wave her little fists, but still giggling non-stop, as if finding her reaction very interesting. She also continued to add fuel to the fire and teased, "What's the big deal? For me, Stay Gold-nee and him are as close as mom and dad. I think Oguri Cap-senpai has the same feeling, right?"
"I don't mind." And Oguri, for the relationship she described, also showed no ripples on the surface, and even showed a smile of longing, and smiled faintly, "Tamamo and he are also like family to me. I just want to be with them."
"As for treating me like parents or older siblings, I don't mind at all."
"You have to mind! Oguri! Isn't your mom back in the countryside super pitiful?! You suddenly find a dad for your mom. Does she know about this?!"
Finally, the now-turned-tsukkomi-role Tamamo finally had an emotional breakdown, but she couldn't find any reason to refute her and her own roommate, who was blankly cheering for the opponent. She could only sit on the side in a huff and rest, choosing to ignore what she couldn't see.
However, her slightly red horse ears and her still-slightly-wagging tail clearly showed her inner wavering at this moment, and... a little bit of excitement.
"Alright, that's enough fooling around. Let's all go back and eat."
After she had burned out, he also realized that this was a good time for him to clean up the mess. At this moment, he also, as before, extended his hand to her. And she, who had been sulking for not long, also grabbed his hand angrily and quickly stood up again.
And her reaction was also as he had expected. He knew very well that she was a person who, besides racing, did not hold grudges in other areas. And it was precisely because of this personality that he had connected with her from the beginning, letting her help him take care of the rather ethereal Oguri Cap.
And seeing her and Oguri live together for so long and still remain unchanged as he had expected, he was also more and more convinced that even after he left, they would definitely be able to support each other and live on.
And just as his heart had relaxed a lot, Oguri's gaze, on the side, finally focused on Nakayama Festa, who had not opened her mouth once from beginning to end and was just thinking about her own things. A mysterious color flashed in her azure eyes as she turned her head and asked:
"—Nakayama-san, are you confident in your duel with Teio in the Japanese Derby?"
"Huh?" And at the mention of the Japanese Derby, the silent Nakayama Festa trembled as if she had been electrocuted, but she still immediately maintained her composure, pulled on her knit cap, and said in a calm tone, "Of course. No matter how slim the hope, I will do my best to win. I have sworn this to him, so I will absolutely not be afraid."
"Don't worry, I have been trying my best to let her hone her running style. Facing Teio again, her winning rate is not low." And he also tolerantly ruffled her head. Faced with this charge he cared about most, he also smiled, "I believe she can definitely win against her, as long as the time, place, and people are right... I can't do the first two, but for the last one, I will definitely do my best to help her."
"...That's good."
And upon hearing this, Oguri also silently retracted her gaze, hiding some of the words in her heart, not choosing to say them on this occasion.
But in fact... she had more than once run into him giving "extra lessons" to her at night. And even Gold Ship was not included in this list. Only the two of them were in the training ground. She was not sure what kind of training they were doing.
But perhaps... she should go and find out today. A hint of determination flashed in her eyes. She also wanted to, like Tamamo, try to help him in her own way.
-------
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