Thinking oneself incapable of activating a [Domain].
After ruling out every other possibility, this was the only explanation Kitahara Sota could currently think of—and it perfectly aligned with that peculiar theory he'd just come up with.
As for what that theory actually entailed…
Simply put, it was that the very existence of Uma Musume might not be purely material.
When this thought first surfaced, countless implications flooded his mind—past encounters, certain anomalies within Tracen Academy…
But he forcibly suppressed those ideas almost immediately, refusing to delve deeper.
This wasn't just due to his tendency for single-track thinking. He clearly understood that sometimes, knowing too much wasn't necessarily a good thing.
After all, he merely wanted to be a low-profile, idle trainer, quietly finish out these three years, quickly pack up and vanish, and then live an anonymous, peaceful life somewhere far away. He certainly didn't want trouble from discovering too much.
So once he'd come up with that unsettling theory, he decisively set it aside, deliberately shifting his focus back onto Agnes Digital.
No physical issues, ample emotional accumulation, plenty of race experience, and strong competitive spirit…
Considering all this, plus his earlier theory—
Then a psychological issue—particularly her self-perception, so twisted it bordered on pathological—became the prime suspect.
After hearing Kitahara Sota's question, Agnes Digital momentarily froze, before hesitantly nodding.
Indeed, that was exactly how she saw herself.
In her own eyes, she had always been just an extremely ordinary, unremarkable Uma Musume.
Previously, she'd hardly even dared imagine herself standing on a stage—never mind activating a [Domain].
Seeing her nod, Kitahara Sota still wasn't certain this was definitely the reason she'd never activated her [Domain]. But since it was the only breakthrough he could currently think of, after a brief pause, he decided to give it a try. Even if he failed, it wouldn't hurt.
"Digital, if you don't mind, in the time leading up to your next race, I'd like to give you some specialized individual training—"
"I don't mind at all!"
She didn't even wait for him to finish, instantly agreeing without hesitation.
But although Agnes Digital agreed, Kitahara didn't immediately start the "special training."
Part of it was because this was his first time conducting such a "special" method, and he'd need some time to properly prepare and plan.
On the other hand, he still had other matters needing attention.
For example, Silent Suzuka's transfer. Although he'd long since discussed it with Mikuni Taishi, and since Silent Suzuka hadn't detected any troubling undercurrents within his team due to his strangely peaceful environment, she had no objections about joining him—
But earlier, since he'd been so busy and wanted to give Suzuka more time to think it over, Kitahara hadn't rushed to complete the transfer.
But now, things had settled down temporarily, and he sensed that Silent Suzuka had probably already made up her mind.
So, before fully starting Digital's specialized training, he decided to formally finalize Suzuka's transfer—to avoid forgetting it later once things got busy.
Thus, Kitahara sought out Silent Suzuka, reconfirmed her decision, and then directly took her to the chairman's office to finish the paperwork.
Suzuka's transfer into the team was warmly welcomed by everyone, for the reasons they'd already discussed previously.
Especially Special Week, who immediately clung to Suzuka's side after her formal transfer, practically inseparable day and night.
Yet strangely, upon witnessing such an obvious "Tracen photo album moment," Grass Wonder didn't seem particularly bothered.
Although Grass Wonder still frequently glanced in Special Week's direction, the loss and gloom once in her eyes had vanished, nor had it affected her training in the slightest.
Kitahara couldn't figure out why, and even tried privately speaking with Grass Wonder. He was worried she might be putting on a brave face, quietly crumbling inside and eventually doing something irreversible.
But in response to his questions, Grass Wonder just smiled, wrapping her tail gently around his arm, and calmly replied that she'd already figured things out. There was still plenty of time ahead, and she was in no rush for the moment.
After hearing Grass Wonder's reassuring answer and confirming that she wasn't forcing herself, Kitahara felt genuinely relieved.
Having finished that matter, Kitahara returned to his dorm and logged into the game.
Once confirming GraspVictory was online, he actively messaged her, as previously planned, to discuss the online commentary surrounding Nice Nature.
Predictably, as before, GraspVictory initially seemed reluctant to discuss the subject, repeatedly attempting to change topics.
But over time, as Kitahara intentionally attempted to redirect the blame entirely onto himself—insisting everything was solely due to a "terrible trainer," and that the Uma Musume was purely a victim—GraspVictory's attitude gradually shifted.
As his intention to shoulder all the blame himself grew clearer, her reluctance completely faded. Before long, GraspVictory had returned to her usual self, eagerly discussing how to tarnish his reputation together.
Kitahara was very pleased—indeed, this was exactly the person he'd chosen. He knew she'd never betray him.
What he didn't realize, however, was that at that very moment, inside one of Tracen's dorm rooms, an Uma Musume named Vodka stared intently at her screen, eyes growing brighter with excitement.
Could it be that Kitahara-sensei was deliberately shouldering this villainous reputation to protect others, and was secretly arranging things online to spread his own infamy?
Taking on the weight of hatred and misunderstanding alone, silently enduring to preserve everyone else's happiness—just like a dark knight in the shadows…
That's way too cool…
And shortly after realizing this, Vodka eagerly shared it with Daiwa Scarlet.
Thanks to their recent encounter, the two had aligned completely in their opinion of Kitahara, making him one of the rare topics they wouldn't argue about.
Additionally, Daiwa Scarlet knew Vodka all too well, and as they spent all their time together, Vodka's unusual behavior after visiting Kitahara naturally didn't escape her notice.
Under Daiwa Scarlet's persistent questioning, Vodka inevitably revealed the existence of "Hulei."
After hearing the whole story, Daiwa Scarlet herself was equally puzzled as to why Kitahara would openly slander himself before some random online friend, even wanting the other party to help propagate his terrible reputation.
But now, the answer to their confusion finally seemed to become clear.
After a brief discussion, the pair unanimously decided to quietly support Kitahara, pretending they didn't know the truth and carefully keeping it a secret.
"I hope it'll lighten Kitahara-sensei's burden a bit… but honestly, I still really want other people to know he's actually a good guy…"
Vodka sighed emotionally.
Daiwa Scarlet's eyes flickered for a moment, then she slowly shook her head and calmly replied:
"For now, let's wait and see. Maybe we'll get that opportunity someday."
…
Having sorted out the matter with GraspVictory, Kitahara quickly dealt with other miscellaneous tasks at hand, and then turned all his attention to Digital's "special training."
Though labeled special training, it was actually closer to psychological counseling.
After all, according to Kitahara's theory, Digital's problem was probably not physical at all, but rather a mental block preventing her from activating her [Domain].
Thus, over the next few days, while preparing Digital for her upcoming race, Kitahara constantly used various methods to build her confidence, hoping to correct her skewed self-image.
He stayed by her side, encouraged her, gently talked her through things…
Carefully treated her, openly recognized her efforts, generously praised her…
For an entire week, Digital lived as though she'd ascended straight into heaven.
If not for the skill she'd recently acquired—snuggling comfortably in Kitahara's embrace to stabilize her emotions—she probably would've fainted at least a dozen times a day and ended up hospitalized for anemia before race day even arrived.
Yet despite all this, right up to the day of the race itself, Digital still failed to activate a [Domain].
Though Kitahara felt slightly regretful, he wasn't really surprised.
After all, Digital's twisted self-perception had solidified over many years.
It took him several years just to thaw out a certain black rice dumpling, and even Eclipse's recent progress took a solid two months—and that adjustment had brought its own set of problems.
Considering he'd only had a few days, it was perfectly understandable to see no immediate results.
Perhaps he'd even gotten the whole thing wrong—maybe Digital's inability to activate a [Domain] wasn't due to self-image at all, but something entirely different.
Yet though he appeared relatively unconcerned, Digital herself was clearly depressed.
She'd felt how much Kitahara had invested in her these past few days, and understood how high his hopes were.
But she still couldn't activate her [Domain]—or even fix her self-image.
On the day before her race, to avoid letting her disappointment affect her performance, Kitahara brought her to his dorm and told her a story about his past with Eclipse.
Finally, looking gently into Digital's eyes, he said quietly:
"So, Digital, please don't blame yourself. Even Eclipse needed years to change. As for you, I never expected just a few days to fix something you've carried all your life."
He paused briefly.
"Whatever you decide, whatever happens, I'll always stand beside you as your trainer. That will never change."
He placed a hand softly atop her head.
"So trust me, Digital. Don't burden yourself unnecessarily."
She was silent.
And then she quietly nodded.
...
The Next Day, Morning.
Kitahara Sota got up as usual, washed up, ate breakfast, and went to the meeting place.
After waiting a short while, Agnes Digital, wearing her Racing Outfit, slowly approached from a distance. She seemed to be in excellent condition, her steps more solid than before.
They greeted each other at the meeting spot, got into the car, and headed to the race venue.
But unlike the usual, upon arriving, Kitahara immediately felt the atmosphere at the venue was far more intense than any race he'd experienced before.
The reason was simple—this time, Agnes Digital was participating in the Tenno Sho Autumn, one of the esteemed "Eight Grand Races," a competition on an entirely different level from the previous ones.
Officially, graded stakes were divided into G1, G2, and G3. Although the differences between individual G2 and G3 races weren't particularly huge, there was an enormous gap among G1 races themselves.
Some G1 races were called G1 because they were simply top-tier races; others were labeled G1 only because JP Uma Musume events didn't have a higher ranking.
The prime examples were naturally the traditional Triple Crown—Satsuki Sho, JP Derby, and finally Kikuka Sho. These were universally acknowledged for their prestige, guaranteeing greater fame and income upon victory.
Other G1 races, particularly those on less popular dirt tracks, tended to have lower rewards and less public attention compared to the typical G1s.
Of course, the race's prestige and public attention depended heavily on the participating Uma Musume's strength.
If a lineup included several of the year's strongest Uma Musume, even an ordinary OP-level race would garner considerable attention, naturally raising its prestige.
And today, the race Agnes Digital was participating in happened to be exactly this scenario.
It wasn't just the popular Uma Musume from her year. Because Tenno Sho Autumn was open to Uma Musume who debuted within the past two or three years, Digital's opponents also included some from previous years.
In fact, among them was even a heavyweight competitor who had already won the Tenno Sho Autumn last year and was back to defend her title—unquestionably the top favorite today.
Under these circumstances, let alone Agnes Digital herself, even Kitahara couldn't be sure whether she could win this race.
Sure, he'd helped Agnes Digital make many adjustments, and her current strength was undoubtedly among the absolute top Uma Musume.
But the problem was precisely because the prestige of this race was so high, even the weakest of her opponents today was a top-ranked Uma Musume from Digital's own debut year, never mind the veteran heavyweights mixed in.
Additionally, because this was a rare major competition, Kitahara even specifically reviewed past race footage of Digital's opponents beforehand.
And he found that among this group, a full seven Uma Musume seemed to have already awakened their [Domain].
Of course, having awakened a [Domain] didn't guarantee victory—Agnes Digital herself had previously defeated a [Domain]-awakened opponent. Ultimately, personal strength mattered most.
Yet, undeniably, compared to Uma Musume without a [Domain], those who possessed it clearly had an advantage.
Especially among evenly matched opponents, where even a small slip-up or a mere second's difference could determine victory, let alone the substantial boost provided by a [Domain].
But even so, after stepping out of the car, neither showed any sign of tension. Instead, they seemed even more relaxed than those pairs of powerful third-year competitors.
As for why?
Kitahara didn't need explanation—he genuinely didn't care about victory or defeat. In fact, he'd feel uneasy if victory had been guaranteed.
As for Agnes Digital, although she'd absolutely give her best on the track, she also wasn't overly fixated on winning once off the field.
They entered, took their keys, and headed to their temporary waiting room.
Normally, from this point onward, Uma Musume would begin various warm-up exercises in their temporary rooms to prepare for the upcoming race.
Others in Kitahara's team usually did exactly this.
Moreover, due to their intense desire to achieve good results, they'd never waste this time getting intimate with him, instead wholly dedicating themselves to adjusting their conditions.
But Agnes Digital was different.
Typically, after doing basic warm-ups, if there was ample spare time, she'd wander around the venue, buying items like support tickets or merch featuring other competitors, preparing to ask them for autographs after the race.
But today was slightly different.
Kitahara had already prepared himself to accompany her for a stroll. But just as he opened the door, he felt the hem of his clothes being gently tugged.
Agnes Digital hesitated a bit, then gathered her courage, raising her head.
"Um, Senpai, I was thinking..."
"Regardless of whether you win or lose, I'll grant you one request. If you win, I'll grant you an extra one on top of that."
With extensive experience, Kitahara directly predicted her intention.
After being completely read by Kitahara, Agnes Digital was momentarily stunned. Once she recovered, she didn't go out shopping as usual, but instead, uncharacteristically stayed in the room, diligently preparing.
Seeing she wasn't interested in heading out, Kitahara shut the door, guided her preparations from the side, and gave her a brief low-intensity massage before the start, adjusting her condition.
Then, after finishing the massage, it was finally time for entry.
As usual, Kitahara accompanied Agnes Digital down the hallway until they reached the branching path where they'd separate.
But right as they were about to part ways, Agnes Digital suddenly stopped, turned to Kitahara, eyes clearly conflicted.
"Um, Senpai… If you're willing to grant a request whether I win or lose, can I use it up now?"
Facing this request, Kitahara paused, vaguely sensing something wasn't quite right, but without overthinking it, nodded in agreement.
"So what reward do you want? The race is about to start, so if it's something more time-consuming, we probably should wait until after…"
His voice gradually trailed off.
But this time, it wasn't due to a sudden ambush—rather, Agnes Digital stepped forward, embraced him, burying her face gently against his chest, whispering softly.
"Senpai… Could you please order me to claim victory?"
"I'm not asking for anything more. I know you're unable to accept me right now, and I don't want to request something excessive."
"Although I still can't quite become as confident as you've asked me to be, at the very least, I want to win this race for you—as my way of answering your kindness and all you've done for me."
"Digital…"
Feeling the warmth against his chest, Kitahara fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly.
Agnes Digital thought he was about to reject her. But before disappointment could even set in, her face was suddenly cradled.
Next, familiar warmth gently touched her lips.
A brief moment passed; their lips parted.
Agnes Digital stared blankly at Kitahara, her mind going completely blank.
Just now…
Before she could process further, Kitahara gently held her face, speaking earnestly.
"I've said it before, Digital—there's no need to belittle yourself like this."
"As for an order… if you truly want one, I could give it. But I don't think it's necessary."
"Because in my eyes, you're perfectly capable of achieving victory without needing to rely on anything else."
"So, I'll still keep this request of yours open."
"When you return victorious, think carefully about what reward you'd like."
"Or, if you really need a reason that compels you to win—"
"Then let me tell you clearly: I've always believed you'll triumph."
"So, you don't need an order. Just consider it your response to my belief."
"Go claim victory, Digital."
He gazed at her, utterly serious.
"I trust that you can do it."