He never imagined that even someone like Symboli Rudolf would encounter such a situation…
After their impromptu gathering, though nothing about their respective predicaments had changed, Kitahara Sota's mood brightened considerably.
It was akin to a student anxious over unfinished homework arriving at school, only to discover the class representative and honor student hadn't done theirs either.
Even if the outcome remained the same, realizing he wasn't alone in his misfortune brought considerable comfort.
Moreover, Kitahara imagined the unluckiest person here wasn't any of the three at the izakaya, but rather the poor soul scheduled to meet Rudolf.
Not only was she a notoriously formidable Uma Musume, she was also of the Symboli bloodline.
Coupled with being forced into it by family, her mood would definitely be sour. That poor fellow might very well end up experiencing firsthand what "the Emperor's wrath" truly meant.
And that was an optimistic estimate.
On the pessimistic side, if Rudolf took a liking to that unfortunate fellow instead—then that would be truly catastrophic. They might find themselves dragged into the Symboli family's underground chambers by the very next day.
After mentally lighting three sticks of incense for this hypothetical victim, Kitahara returned to the dorm.
Opening the door, he was greeted by the familiar lively scene that had become the norm over the past few days.
Special Week and Oguri Cap sat on the couch, enthusiastically discussing all things related to food.
Agnes Digital and Agnes Tachyon each had a laptop—Digital typing away furiously, while Tachyon sipped tea, engrossed in some academic research paper.
Nice Nature wandered around the room, diligently searching for any remaining areas that might still benefit from her tidying, or perhaps just something else to do.
As for Grass Wonder, she was seated next to Eclipse, who was spacing out as usual, holding a phone and several documents, diligently handling Black Forest-related work.
"You're working hard," Kitahara said appreciatively.
"It's alright. Honestly, it's quite enjoyable, not tiring at all," Grass Wonder responded with a gentle smile.
She meant it sincerely.
Though she'd never previously had management experience, organizing chaotic affairs neatly turned out to unexpectedly suit her.
And as far as management difficulty went, it was considerably lower than she'd anticipated.
There were two reasons.
One was naturally thanks to her own abilities.
The other was the irresistible incentive she'd offered those local Uma Musume.
Being a keen observer of human nature, Grass Wonder quickly grasped the true motivations of those young local Uma Musume the moment she took charge.
Grand ideals like providing opportunities for ordinary Uma Musume or improving security and communication were secondary. Their primary motivation was clearly Kitahara Sota himself.
Perhaps one day, when Black Forest became genuinely influential, things might change.
But currently, rather than a platform responding to ordinary Uma Musume's aspirations, Black Forest more closely resembled Kitahara Sota's personal fan club.
However, these two identities weren't contradictory—after all, Kitahara Sota himself genuinely represented their aspirations.
Grass Wonder simply capitalized on this. With her proximity to Kitahara, she effortlessly controlled the hearts of those young Uma Musume, providing them precisely what they desired.
Especially since she had Agnes Digital, a professional fan club president who knew a little of everything, supporting her work.
From exclusive news, merchandise, to private candid shots—her resources comprehensively satisfied every fan's desire.
Meanwhile, a certain someone remained entirely oblivious, still marveling at how efficiently Grass Wonder handled matters, silently congratulating himself for choosing the perfect candidate.
The reason he hadn't entrusted Agnes Digital with running Black Forest was because his ultimate goal wasn't to operate a fan club. Kitahara genuinely aimed to build an organization to represent ordinary Uma Musume voices, which required a management style different from that of a fan community.
Thus, after a brief conversation, Kitahara sat before the computer, assisting Agnes Digital with tasks and managing Black Forest affairs simultaneously.
Grass Wonder, anticipating she might need his opinion on some matters shortly, sat next to him, planning to consult directly when those issues arose.
However, before those questions emerged, Grass Wonder noticed an error in her earlier work that required redoing half the plan. She promptly reopened the files, concentration deepening.
Time passed quietly as they worked diligently.
Then, Kitahara felt something brushing repeatedly against his arm.
Soft, silky, neatly layered, carrying a faint, refreshing citrus fragrance…
Though it felt slightly different from Special Week's hair, Kitahara instinctively grasped it, gently rubbing it between his fingers.
He was about to ask Special Week to stop distracting him during work—
But just as he opened his mouth, the unfamiliar texture at his fingertips made him pause.
Wait… Grass Wonder was sitting beside him, and Special Week couldn't possibly reach his arm from that angle.
Then what exactly am I holding…?
An ominous feeling welled up inside. Turning his head stiffly, he saw a small tuft of brown fur he was currently holding.
And it wasn't hair.
It was well-known that apart from common human taboos and sensitive spots, Uma Musume had two additional sensitive areas.
One was their ears—delicate enough to require protective coverings until maturity—and the other…
…Was precisely what he was currently holding, a wonderfully soft tail.
Unlike ears, which became less sensitive with maturity and occasionally touched playfully among friends (unless extremely sensitive, like Agnes Tachyon's), tails were another matter entirely. Not only sensitive but awkwardly positioned.
Even among close friends, deliberate contact was rare, let alone between opposite sexes.
Yet here Kitahara was, holding and stroking Grass Wonder's tail.
Kitahara had to admit, Grass Wonder's tail felt incredible.
Probably due to meticulous daily care, her tail surpassed even Special Week's famously silky hair in softness, smoothness, and texture. Rubbing it gently produced a soothing rustle, coupled with a calming fragrance that gently melted away fatigue.
But it was still her tail!
In public, this act would unquestionably be considered harassment—equivalent to touching someone's thigh or even rear.
Fortunately, Grass Wonder seemed completely engrossed in her work and hadn't noticed yet. Perhaps it was only because she was concentrating so intensely that she'd missed her tail brushing against Kitahara's arm in the first place.
Carefully, Kitahara lowered his hand, gently returning the tail to its rightful position, and slowly released it.
He breathed a sigh of relief, refocusing on the screen and attempting to resume work.
But just seconds later, as he placed his hands on the keyboard, that same familiar sensation brushed against his arm again.
Feeling the gentle, silky touch, Kitahara's eye twitched. He took a deep breath, deciding to ignore it completely, pretending it wasn't happening.
Yet as soon as he made this decision, the brushing sensation suddenly stopped.
But before Kitahara could sigh in relief, Grass Wonder's tail gently lifted, wrapping around his arm in a delicate, affectionate manner—then softly rubbed back and forth.
Grass Wonder-san, what are you doing?!
Kitahara's composure shattered instantly.
Though the sensation was undeniably pleasant, the issue was—it was still her tail!
He'd never even touched Special Week's tail, only once briefly touching Eclipse's out of curiosity.
But Grass Wonder was being…
He could clearly sense the trust and affection conveyed through her gentle movements. He understood they'd grown closer recently, perhaps leading her to treat him like a trusted friend or even brother.
Yet no matter the reason, it was inappropriate. If someone else saw this, misunderstandings—or worse, accusations—could easily arise.
But he couldn't just push her tail away, either.
Uma Musume tails were notoriously sensitive—not gentle like ears, but reflexively sensitive. Disturbing Grass Wonder's concentration with a careless movement might end with him flying across the room with cracked ribs.
But leaving it was equally impossible. Besides being inconvenient for work, the risk of discovery was too high.
Maybe gently alerting her would help…
Feeling the warm, affectionate sensation on his arm, Kitahara coughed lightly, cautiously addressing her.
"Um, Grass Wonder-san, are you having trouble over there?"
At his words, the tail around his arm seemed to grow even happier, though Grass Wonder herself remained fully absorbed in her files, answering without lifting her head.
"It's fine—just correcting a minor oversight. I'll finish soon."
"If you're tired or overwhelmed, please let me know. I'm here to help…"
"Don't worry, this much is manageable. You've already helped me immensely."
After a pause, Grass Wonder continued,
"By the way, Kitahara-san, I noticed you've seemed troubled financially lately. Why not use the Black Forest platform for some earnings?"
She quickly elaborated on the idea—producing merchandise, photo collections, similar to idol-related ventures.
However, Kitahara decisively declined without hesitation.
"No, thank you."
Grass Wonder was confused. "Why? It's legal, ethical, and would benefit everyone involved…"
Kitahara sighed, carefully explaining the struggles faced by local Uma Musume—the financial strain, limited resources, and his unwillingness to add to their burdens.
Finishing his explanation, Kitahara softly concluded,
"If they're okay, that's enough for me."
Grass Wonder's movements completely froze.
She now understood perfectly why so many Uma Musume adored him—beyond his extraordinary skills and past kindnesses—it was simply because he was Kitahara Sota.
After a long silence, Grass Wonder sighed gently.
"Kitahara-san, do you realize your actions can be dangerously unfair sometimes?"
"...Eh? Unfair?" he responded blankly.
Grass Wonder sighed again, helplessly amused.
Already unfair enough through his words and actions, his obliviousness only made him dangerously enticing…
She raised her head, intending to consult him again—and froze immediately.
Right in front of her eyes, a familiar brown tail playfully entwined Kitahara's arm, happily swishing.
Wait… Whose tail is that?
After quickly ruling out every possibility, only one remained.
Realization dawning, the tail instantly froze.
Grass Wonder's expression solidified, her mind blanking in horror.
My tail…just what in the world have you been doing?!