Although Tokai Teio had asked Kitahara Sota who these two were, she actually already knew their identities.
Special Week and Oguri Cap, two transfer students who'd arrived at Tracen HQ simultaneously a year ago.
On their very first day, they'd successfully demolished Tracen's pride and joy—its cafeteria buffet—leaving an enduring psychological scar on the staff.
Regarding achievements, it was said they both possessed exceptional talent, but since their professional training had only just begun, neither had debuted yet, and no trainers had paid them particular attention.
Still, knowing of them didn't mean knowing them personally; as Uma Musume yet to debut, Tokai Teio hadn't interacted much with them.
She was merely curious why these two appeared here, crowded around Kitahara.
"Oh, Teio, you're here."
Normally, Kitahara would have jumped in alarm at Tokai Teio's sudden appearance and immediately become wary.
But right now, his brain was fried from being steamrolled by Special Week and Oguri Cap's outrageous stats. His heart was a pile of ash, leaving no energy to be vigilant about Tokai Teio.
With a sigh, he explained to her what had just occurred.
Logically speaking, since he and Tokai Teio shared a tantou relationship, he should have discussed forming a team with her.
However, their particular relationship was best described as staying completely out of each other's way. Each did as they pleased, as long as they didn't interfere with the other. It was perfectly normal for Kitahara not to consult her.
In fact, if he'd asked Tokai Teio's opinion, she might have found it suspicious.
Tokai Teio understood this perfectly well, but after hearing his explanation, she still felt a bit uncomfortable, though she hid it carefully. Pushing down her faint displeasure, she maintained her usual bright smile and waved cheerfully to the newcomers.
"Guess that makes us teammates from now on!"
"Eh? Miss Tokai Teio is also in Kitahara-san's team?"
As a rising star lately, Tokai Teio's reputation preceded her.
"That's right! I'm his second tantou," Tokai Teio answered with a smile.
Although their tantou relationship was mostly superficial, they still had to keep up appearances.
After some brief introductions, everyone got acquainted.
Kitahara checked the time. Feeling it was about right, he interrupted their chatter.
"Let's go check out the clubroom now."
The clubroom—formally the Team Activity Room—was the main place for team gatherings and storage for the Uma Musume and trainers' gear.
When Kitahara's team application was approved, the Chairwoman had handed him a key to their own clubroom. He hadn't visited earlier because of the testing session.
He glanced at Tokai Teio's clearly training-oriented outfit, hesitating briefly before cautiously asking,
"Do you want to come along, or keep training?"
He had promised not to interfere with Tokai Teio's choices, but excluding her entirely from group activities seemed inappropriate. After consideration, he thought it best to let her decide herself.
"Of course I'll come," Tokai Teio agreed immediately.
Despite everything, Tokai Teio was still a child at heart. Though the passion for racing burned fiercely within her, she equally craved companionship and fun.
As for Kitahara, their relationship was indeed complicated, but he'd been meticulously respectful of their arrangement, so she held no ill feelings toward him.
Trainer and tantou might be out of reach, but friendship certainly wasn't impossible.
Thus, with Tokai Teio joining, the group of five made their way toward the newly assigned clubroom.
Opening the door revealed a room that wasn't filthy, but it had accumulated a thin layer of dust and required cleaning before use. Kitahara had no choice but to lead everyone in a thorough cleaning session.
Sweeping, scrubbing floors, washing windows, clearing out junk...
When everything was finally finished, it was already dinner time.
Normally, after a tiring afternoon's labor, Kitahara, as the trainer, should've rewarded his team—like taking them out for a nice meal, marking their first official gathering.
But facing Special Week, Oguri Cap, and Eclipse, these three titans of gluttony, he couldn't summon the courage to propose such an idea.
Fortunately, none of them seemed concerned about such details. After finishing up the clubroom, they headed straight to the cafeteria.
Then Tokai Teio froze.
Staring at the three mountainous piles of food stacked before her teammates, Tokai Teio felt a powerful sense of "pressure."
She herself had taken a normal portion—perhaps even slightly larger due to training demands—yet before these three legendary nightmares of the Tracen cafeteria, her own serving looked pitifully small.
"Trainer Kitahara, this is…"
"Don't worry about them. Just eat."
Watching their devastating eating speed, Kitahara's heart ached at the thought of future meals out celebrating their victories.
Sure, winning races brought prize money, but even that might not withstand these three appetites.
After dinner, Tokai Teio returned to class for some studying, planning to rest briefly before continuing independent training later.
Eclipse also left, saying she was heading back to meet her dorm roommate—Tracen dorms were two-person rooms.
Despite her excuse, Kitahara suspected she was simply avoiding questions about the earlier cafeteria incident.
Special Week and Oguri Cap, exhausted after the afternoon's tests and cleaning, were sent off to rest. Kitahara planned to finish their training plans tonight and give them to them tomorrow.
After sending everyone off, Kitahara once again found himself blissfully alone.
Post-dinner, a cool breeze blew softly. Various Uma Musume and trainers strolled leisurely around campus. Some looked perfectly normal, others suspiciously intimate.
A few brazenly held hands without even trying to conceal it, making his eyelids twitch.
Damn it, when did Tracen become like this?!
Oh, right. It was always this way. Never mind, then.
After eating, Kitahara took a leisurely stroll, both to clear his mind and get more familiar with campus.
Unlike earlier, he wasn't particularly worried about running into trouble with random Uma Musume.
Though it wasn't his initial plan, he now had two tantou and a complete team. With this foundation, he had the perfect excuse—"Sorry, my hands are full"—to decline any unwanted invitations, and nobody could fault him.
Perhaps sensing his determination, fate treated him kindly this evening. His walk went surprisingly smoothly: no random Uma Musume trying to recruit him, no familiar faces appearing from nowhere.
Despite being employed for barely two days, the events so far could only be described as an endless series of train wrecks.
Finally regaining the chance to be lazy again, the long-awaited tranquility nearly brought tears to his eyes.
Beautiful… this feeling is so beautiful. Finally free from all those dangerously troublesome Uma Musume, I can reclaim my peaceful, lazy life. Nobody's gonna disturb—
"W-what are you doing!?"
"Calm down, I told you I'd marry you after graduation, don't do something you'll regret—!"
Passing by an abandoned storage shed, voices from inside abruptly broke Kitahara's blissful thoughts.
Oh, for god's sake—not again!
Scowling, he considered startling the pair inside for some entertainment, but when he turned his head, something unusual caught his eye.
Thanks to Eclipse's rigorous training—and perhaps other factors—Kitahara's vision was significantly better than average, and he easily noticed irregularities in his environment.
So when he turned his head, he immediately noticed a suspiciously placed pile of junk near the shed's window. It was faintly trembling, with a subtle reflection of light.
A hidden camera.
He had no interest in getting involved in Uma Musume-trainer drama. After all, who knew the actual relationship between those two in there shouting suggestively?
Maybe it was just spice for their romance; better let the school handle that kind of thing.
But spying—especially taking secret footage—was another matter entirely. No justification could ever make that acceptable, particularly on campus.
Wait a minute… Come to think of it, what they're doing inside is also totally outrageous for a campus, isn't it!?
While he never claimed to be some justice-seeking busybody, he'd have to spend at least three years coasting around this campus. For the sake of future lazy days, he couldn't let such behavior slide.
What if someone secretly recorded his own lazing around someday?
Chanting mentally, "I'm just preserving the school's moral integrity," he stealthily crept behind the suspicious junk pile in the shadows.
The hidden figure was too focused filming to notice Kitahara's approach, still gripping their camera firmly.
Coming closer, Kitahara also glimpsed the scene inside the warehouse through the window.
Just two people cuddling close and whispering.
Nothing else.
Tsk. All that fuss and buildup just for this?
Glancing briefly inside, Kitahara refocused on the junk pile, pinpointed the reflective spot, and quickly reached out.
Swoosh—
He snatched the camera right out of the figure's hands.
Completely caught off guard, the owner stared blankly for a few seconds before—
Bang—!
In an instant, the pile exploded outward.
Kitahara instinctively reached to grab the escaping figure, but reconsidered mid-motion and pulled back.
Dodging flying debris, he watched the shadow slip away into the night.
With all the debris and darkness, Kitahara couldn't clearly see her face.
Yet the silhouette's distinctive horse ears and wildly waving ponytail unmistakably gave away her identity.
An Uma Musume?
Kitahara stroked his chin, deciding not to pursue.
Based on her uniform, she was likely a student here.
Was this a setup for something cliché like, "Trainer, you wouldn't want this video leaked, would you?"
Young Uma Musume these days sure are bold.
Just as he was considering this, the couple inside noticed the commotion and came rushing outside.
Kitahara turned, raising the camera to explain himself, but before he could speak, one of them shrieked in panic:
"Somebody help! There's a pervert taking secret photos!"