As the Uma Musume named Kitasan Black anxiously apologized, Yasui Makoto couldn't help glancing at the hole she'd torn into the door.
She must've been leaning against it, eavesdropping. The shock from hearing "craniotomy" had been so intense that she ripped off not just the door handle but part of the door itself.
She certainly is reckless, Makoto thought, but more importantly, her raw strength and explosive power are truly remarkable.
Apart from their ears and tails, Uma Musume appeared no different from human girls. Yet physically, the gap between them was immense.
Beyond their incredible running speeds, easily reaching dozens of kilometers per hour, Uma Musume possessed astounding upper-body and core strength. At Tracen Academy, many Uma Musume trained by dragging heavy objects, often tires from large trucks, each weighing over half a ton.
Yet even among them, accidentally ripping apart a solid wooden door like that was rare—demonstrating an explosive power even beyond typical Uma Musume levels.
However, Kitasan Black's control over that strength seemed… questionable. Not only had she just wrecked a door, she'd also caused today's earlier "traffic accident."
Besides, the name "Kitasan Black"... hadn't he heard it before in his previous life?
As Makoto rapidly evaluated her, he sank into a brief reverie.
"Taking full responsibility, huh? Hoh-hoh, how interesting…"
Agnes Tachyon, snapping out of her earlier surprise, now watched Kitasan Black with great interest.
"If memory serves, Kitasan-san, you previously mentioned that you don't have a trainer assigned yet."
"Likewise, Yasui-san has also stated he doesn't yet have an Uma Musume trainee either."
"So, Kitasan-san, with no official relationship, exactly how do you plan to take responsibility for him?"
"Assigned" was a professional term in the industry. Trainers and Uma Musume who signed formal agreements were considered mutual "assignments," responsible for each other's wellbeing and performance.
"Eh—?!"
Kitasan Black's voice shot up in surprise, her black ears standing straight up.
"Yasui-san… You're actually a trainer?"
"Oh? You, the responsible party, don't even know your victim's situation?"
"R-responsible party? Uh… well…"
Anxiously wringing her hands together, her ears drooping pitifully, Kitasan replied in embarrassment:
"It's true I didn't properly ask Yasui-san about his background. I just thought about getting him checked out…"
"B-but still!" She perked up again. "Even if I'm not Yasui-san's assigned Uma Musume, he's hurt because of me, so I absolutely must take responsibility!"
"I see..."
Agnes Tachyon nodded lightly, sliding the X-ray toward them across her desk.
"Then over the next few days, I'll leave Yasui-kun in your capable hands."
"Yes! No problem at all!"
Kitasan Black quickly bowed, while Makoto finally snapped out of his thoughts, frowning slightly.
"Wait just a moment, Dr. Agnes Tachyon."
"I have some medical knowledge myself. All reports clearly show nothing beyond mild cartilage bruising. I definitely don't have any issues warranting hospitalization—much less a craniotomy."
"If you're insisting on hospitalization or surgery, I'd prefer to get another comprehensive checkup at a different hospital."
"Oh? As expected of the top scorer on the Central Trainer Exam," Agnes Tachyon conceded casually.
"You're correct; currently, you don't have any serious problems. So, let's forget hospitalization or surgery for now."
"Rest well at your dormitory these next few days and come back regularly for check-ups. If symptoms do appear later, hospitalization can still be considered."
"Otherwise, the expenses might become a burden for Yasui-kun… No, rather, they might be troublesome for Kitasan-san."
Makoto hadn't expected Agnes Tachyon to give up so easily. He hesitated slightly, wondering if this Uma Musume obsessed with experiments had some other scheme in mind.
Meanwhile, Kitasan Black eagerly nodded.
"It's no trouble at all! Yasui-san's current condition is entirely my fault, so today's diagnostic fees and also…"
Growing embarrassed, her mouth twitched as she sheepishly retrieved the broken door handle from behind her back.
"This too—I...I'll take care of it."
"Oh? That's wonderful."
After a casual glance at the door handle, Agnes Tachyon turned toward the computer on her desk, swiftly typing away.
"The payment counter is downstairs to the left. I'll include the door repair expenses as well. Please take care on your way out."
Sensing that the Uma Musume had likely given up on her biopsy fantasies, Makoto picked up his X-ray, stood, bowed slightly, and headed out of the consultation room.
"Understood! I'll cover all the costs. Thank you very much, Dr. Agnes Tachyon!"
Kitasan Black thanked her energetically, bowed again, and prepared to leave. Pausing awkwardly, she stared at the broken handle for a moment before her eyes suddenly brightened. Without hesitation, she quickly dropped it into the consultation room's wastebasket.
She then bowed one more time to Agnes Tachyon and hurried out after Makoto.
"Yasui-san, please wait!"
Having already walked a few steps ahead, Makoto calmly glanced back at the approaching Kitasan Black, pointing at the sign on the hospital wall.
Kitasan stopped, confused, and followed his gaze, noticing the words "Quiet Please" prominently displayed. Doctors and nurses passing by cast irritated looks in their direction.
"Ah! I-I'm very sorry…"
She repeatedly apologized, covering her mouth in embarrassment, then approached Makoto cautiously and whispered:
"Yasui-san… Are you sure your head really is okay?"
Realizing that Kitasan had been thoroughly deceived by Agnes Tachyon's misleading diagnosis, Makoto shook his head gently.
"I'm fine. I wouldn't joke about my own health."
"If something really were wrong, Dr. Agnes Tachyon wouldn't have let me off that easily."
Although this girl was the reason he'd ended up at the hospital, Makoto felt no real anger toward her.
When she'd dragged him here earlier, half-coaxing, half-pulling, he'd already realized Kitasan Black was genuinely kind-hearted and earnest.
The supposed "accident," as he'd said earlier, was essentially both of them rushing to save the same child at the same moment. It was simply bad luck—nothing worthy of blame.
But if he had to nitpick, there was one thing.
Just as he'd adjusted his posture midair during the collision, theoretically, Kitasan Black should have been able to control herself too.
She simply lacked control over her considerable strength. If anything were truly at fault, it was probably that.
"Yasui-san, y-you… you're such a good person!"
Excitedly labeling him with a "nice guy" card, Kitasan bit her lip, suddenly showing a determined look.
"Alright! Then… It's decided...!"
Her voice, unintentionally high at first, abruptly dropped to a nervous whisper as she glanced furtively around.
"Decided? What exactly is decided?" Makoto asked, confused.
"Well, it's just…"
She started murmuring an explanation but abruptly stopped, eyes lighting up in surprise at something ahead of them.
"President?! What… What are you doing here...?"