In the blink of an eye, a week had passed since Kazuo arrived at Tresen Academy.
However, even after a week, to be honest, his own situation was still not optimistic.
During this time, as an apprentice, all he did was run errands for everyone in the office and attend basic theory classes where Uma Musume learned.
His instructor, Tojo, seemed completely hands-off, rarely seen throughout the day. Even when she did come to the office, she had a frosty, 'don't talk to me' attitude.
She would take the materials she needed and leave the office directly, with no intention of guiding Kazuo.
This completely stumped Kazuo. If this attitude continued, he would certainly be dismissed directly by the school for being unqualified during the performance review, which would come at some unknown time.
More critically, the one with the power of life and death was none other than his instructor, Toujou Hana.
To be honest, Kazuo had imagined many scenarios where Tojo would make things difficult for him before, but what he hadn't anticipated was that Tojo simply had no time to manage him.
He had already prepared himself to deal with this she-devil... but now, facing this problem,
Even Kazuo couldn't say that Tojo hadn't fulfilled her responsibilities, especially since that old man had said everything was entirely up to Tojo.
...Sigh, I really don't know what to do now...
During his lunch break, Kazuo lay helplessly on his bed, letting out a long sigh.
What's wrong? You've seemed so worried these past few days?
Koji, lying on the floor, was casually flipping through a magazine with his legs crossed.
Now, I feel like things have become very bad...
Kazuo rubbed his forehead while staring blankly at the bedside, lost in thought.
Yo, running into trouble, junior?
Koji took a lollipop and turned another page.
You know that Tojo is my instructor, right?
Kazuo listlessly waved his arms, as if trying to shake off his worries.
Hmm, I heard you mention it before...
I'm thinking now... if Koji were in charge of me, maybe I wouldn't be so worried right now.
Oh... interesting. What's wrong with you? Or, what did Ahua do to you?
Hearing this, he finally put down the periodical in his hand and turned to look over.
After Tojo became my instructor, she basically hasn't bothered with me at all. At first, she was very strict with me, but that was only when I or you made mistakes... Now, she's completely hands-off, which makes me unsure of what to do. She's my instructor, but she hasn't taken any responsibility at all. To be honest, I'm really getting a headache now...
Kazuo didn't want to let this hard-won opportunity slip away.
He had made a promise to his sister.
Hmm... is that so? Has it been like this all week?
Yes, it has... This can't go on...
Hmm...
Koji couldn't help but smile, "It can't go on... So let me ask you, what have you done this past week?"
Huh...
Kazuo was slightly surprised, but still answered honestly: "I can only follow along and audit classes... But most of the time, I'm being called around by the seniors to run errands, deliver documents, pour tea, and so on..."
Hmm... is that so? Well, no wonder you'd think it's better for me to guide you...
Koji nodded as if he understood. If Kazuo's words were true, his situation was indeed not good.
That's right... Although Koji, you seem unreliable, at least you wouldn't be as hands-off as Tojo, would you?
Thinking of this, Kazuo couldn't help but worry again.
Koji watched the dejected Kazuo out of the corner of his eye, but his attention had returned to the magazine.
Although I'm currently on paid leave, let's assume for a moment that if I were your instructor... I would indeed guide and help you every step of the way, wouldn't I?
Right? So then--
"But I don't think that's good for you, you know?"
"...Huh?"
Kazuo was taken aback by the unexpected answer from Koji. He looked at Koji, who had, at some point, shifted his attention back to the magazine.
"While it might not be my place to say this, Kazuo, does everything, does your entire life, need to be taught to you by others? Or rather, do you think everything in life waits for you to learn it in school before you face it?"
"...What?"
"It's like after you enter society, you won't have learned everything in school. Of course, while I don't know why you chose not to pursue further education at a university, I believe you must have thought long and hard before deciding on this path, right?"
"...Yes."
"Reality is very cruel. You are indeed very lucky to have such an opportunity to enter the academy. However, you need to distinguish: you are learning, others are working. Waiting for her to teach you everything is extremely unrealistic, especially for a strong woman like Ahua, who wishes she could spend all day on Trainer work."
"It's normal to feel lost, but instead of waiting for others to change, I think it's better for you to try and find a solution yourself first."
Koji slowly put down the magazine, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"Admittedly, you haven't received systematic training. Compared to Trainers who came from a professional background and learned theoretical knowledge, there is indeed a huge gap from the very beginning."
"But, aren't you, right now, also possessing many advantages that new Trainers find hard to come by?"
"...Wh-what?"
"Have you thought about it? Even for those who were systematically trained in the academy, the learning materials and lesson plans were all conveyed through videos as a medium and carrier. They rarely had opportunities for on-site, close-up observation, right?"
This seemed to enlighten Kazuo, and his eyes slowly began to shine.
When he was originally lost and didn't know how to move forward, it was as if the fog was being cleared away.
"While it's true that juniors serving seniors is a common practice, ultimately, didn't everyone ask you because they saw you doing nothing? If you had a planned, autonomous approach, I believe your time in this academy should be extremely ample, right? After all, you don't have the course pressure of the Uma Musume, nor the workload of the Seniors. If you want to study independently, I believe it wouldn't be difficult for you if you put your mind to it, right?"
"What's more, doesn't the academy have a library with a vast collection of books? To my knowledge, many race analyses from major competitions and reports written by many Trainers are all archived in files… If utilized properly, that could be far more useful than what you learn from professional textbooks, right?"
"Although Ahua seems difficult to approach, I think if you can show your perseverance and determination, she wouldn't completely ignore you or refuse to guide you. Or, you could rely on your own strength, pass the professional qualification exam, show it to her, and tell her she underestimated you."
"Koji…"
Kazuo couldn't help but feel a little touched. He hadn't expected Koji to have considered so much. Although he was scolding himself at first, in the end, he had undoubtedly pointed him in the right direction.
He was right… Koji actually saw things more clearly than he did.
Despite being extremely frivolous, lecherous, and a smooth talker on a daily basis… at critical moments, Koji could indeed be considered a reliable Senior.
"Ah, I'm just rambling. These beautiful legs of the Uma Musume look great~ I really want to touch them."
The mood suddenly shifted. Senior Okino, who had seemed somewhat cool just moments before, instantly became incredibly lewd, wriggling with the magazine like a maggot.
"Forget it," Kazuo felt it was pointless to argue with this guy. He directly got up from the bed and began to pack the items on the table.
Notebooks, lecture notes, reports, as well as his backpack and water bottle, were all put into the backpack.
"What are you going to do now?"
"Go to the library to study on my own."
Kazuo dropped this sentence and walked out with his bag, while Koji continued to lie there, looking at the magazine.
After a while—
"Well, what I just said was just talking to myself. It can't be considered giving hints or help or anything."