Kitahara found a nearby noodle shop and took Komiyama and Tamamo Cross to get something to eat.
Unlike Komiyama, whose naturally sociable, sunny, and somewhat scatterbrained personality made her easygoing to a fault, Kitahara considered himself more strict and precise — maybe even stiff and old-fashioned — and didn't like being too casual.
Especially after spending time with Tamamo Cross back in Tokyo, he'd grown quite fond of this tiny, whiny little girl. Seeing the once energetic little one now so downcast, he wanted to help her resolve her psychological problem as soon as possible.
"No rushing this, Senpai."
Hearing Kitahara voice his thoughts, Komiyama smiled with her eyes curved into crescents and waved her hand.
"Uncle Koku specifically warned me, psychological treatment usually needs a fairly long course. Tamamo's situation isn't particularly severe or troublesome, but conservatively it'll take about a month, so hurrying won't help."
Kitahara frowned.
"You're getting one thing wrong."
He stared straight into Komiyama's eyes. "I'm unhappy with your attitude."
"You should know what PTSD is, right? It's extremely painful for the patient. You—"
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Komiyama always seemed to wear a smile — maybe because of her cheerful personality, her eyes were always curved, looking pleasant whether she smiled or not.
But now, in those crescent-moon eyes, grief was shattered all over the floor.
"Of course I know she's hurting," she said quietly, her tone flat, without a trace of emotion.
"Like Tamamo, I grew up well only thanks to the old man's care."
"I'm the old man's daughter, and Tamamo's older sister."
"Besides Tamamo's mother and the old man, I'm the person in this world who knows Tamamo best."
"That she's hurting… of course I know."
"No one needs to tell me."
Abruptly, she actually smiled again.
"Alright, Senpai, don't blame yourself. I know you meant well."
"If you didn't care about Tamamo, you wouldn't even be trying to scold me."
Kitahara felt a bit awkward. He really was blaming himself a little — given some time to calm down, he could have reasoned it through, but being called out on it right to his face was still embarrassing.
"Ha… see? I told you," Tamamo Cross said, her still-weakened voice carrying a bit of humor. "This old guy looks all messy and stuffy on the outside, but deep down he's just another softhearted good guy, just like the old man and you, Senpai…"
And with that, she finally loosened up and started talking.
"Ahhhhhh… so annoying, how can something like this stupid P-P-P-whatever happen…"
"Ahhh… how could I keep losing races because of such dumb bad luck? If it were just one, fine — but five, five in a row!"
"Anyone would feel awful…"
"I originally planned to stick around with you, old guy, and Oguri for a while, find a chance to talk it all out, maybe then that stupid P-whatever would go away…"
"I clearly… clearly promised I'd help the old man take care of our younger siblings, but now I've been losing like this… heh, what kind of caretaker is that…"
"I'm so… jealous of Oguri… seriously jealous that she hasn't lost a single race yet…"
At some point, she'd stopped looking at Kitahara and Komiyama.
She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling.
Her mouth opened in a silly grin, revealing two sharp, cute little tiger teeth.
Her eyes were wide open too, those bright blue pupils staring fixedly at the ceiling, unblinking — like if she lowered her head, shut her mouth, or blinked, something would come falling out.
"…Where's Uncle Koku's treatment plan? Don't tell me you didn't bring it."
For some reason, Kitahara suddenly figured out how to deal with Komiyama.
With naturally sociable people like her, no need to be polite.
"As if! Senpai, what nonsense are you worrying about?"
Komiyama, who had been carrying a student bag the whole time, took it off and rummaged through it. "Here," she said, handing over a stack of documents.
As Kitahara started flipping through the documents, she thought for a moment, then reminded him, "Not sure if Senpai knows, but let me say this first — Uncle Koku's proposed treatment is called de–"
"Desensitization therapy. Same thing I thought of."
The moment Kitahara saw the description on the cover, he knew he and Kokobu Ren had reached the same conclusion independently.
"Currently, psychology mainly has three major schools," he said casually. "Cognitive-behavioral, psychoanalysis, and humanistic."
"The latter two aren't suitable for Tamamo."
"Psychoanalysis digs into subconsciousness and builds long-term stable relationships with the patient. Even at the shortest, it takes a year or two — if we used that, she wouldn't even be racing anymore."
"Humanistic isn't just about time."
"That approach is less treatment and more education — it helps patients explore values, worldview, life philosophy. Not only is it slow, but Tamamo's issue has nothing to do with her worldview."
"Cognitive-behavioral works fastest and is best grounded in theory."
"Its foundation is visible, tangible 'behavior,' not 'subconscious' or 'values.'"
"More importantly, it's already integrated with neuroscience, extending into the 'cognitive-neurobehavioral school,' with solid physiological grounding and better practical application."
"Considering Tamamo Cross still has to race, and balancing theory with practicality, cognitive-behavioral is the best fit."
"And 'desensitization therapy' is one of its most classic methods — Uncle Kuko made the right call."
While casually reciting the psychology fundamentals he'd studied in university and on the job, Kitahara quickly flipped through Dr. Koku's treatment plan, nodding as he went.
"I see. I get it now."
"Following Uncle Koku's approach, we'll need at least two Uma Musume, with strength comparable to or greater than hers — otherwise we can't push her to her limits."
"Or rather, we can't push her to the point where she has no choice but to ignore her psychological shadow."
"Oguri Cap, Sakura Chiyono O, Mejiro Ardan, Yaeno Muteki… wow, Uncle Koku really did his homework — these Uma Musume are perfect picks."
"Unfortunately, some of them are from famous families — like the Sakura or Mejiro houses — or busy with their own races. In short, scheduling them for 'desensitization therapy' would be tough."
"I get it now — that's why he wanted me to use Oguri Cap and Super Creek here. Those two can indeed serve as Tamamo's opponents, and we've got enough time before the next race to make it work."
"And with Kyoko here as well, no worries on the medical side either."
"Got it. This one's on me… Hm? Why are you two looking at me like that?"
Closing the file, Kitahara looked up at Komiyama and Tamamo Cross — and was startled to see the two of them staring at him with strange expressions.
A moment later, Tamamo Cross shrugged, showing her first expression since getting off the train that wasn't pure gloom.
"Hahaha, see? Told you — this Senpai didn't even need testing, but you didn't believe me."
With a mocking grin, she patted the now sheepishly smiling Komiyama, then looked back at Kitahara.
Shrugging again, she mercilessly exposed Komiyama's little scheme.
"She told me on the way here, Uncle Koku praised you so much she didn't quite believe it, so she planned to 'accidentally' not tell you the treatment plan and see if you could figure it out yourself — and…"
"There you have it."
She pointed at Komiyama, whose head was now drooping to her chest, shrugged a third time, and broke into a brilliant smile.
(End of Chapter)