After making the agreement with Kitahara Jo, Nearl left the training room. She still had her afternoon training schedule, and since Kitahara had taken full responsibility for arranging the challenge matches, she saw no need to worry about it further.
After all, Kitahara was her trainer—handling such matters was his job.
On the other side, Kitahara Jo couldn't help but smile as he watched Nearl stride purposefully toward the training grounds. "Nearl is so self-disciplined. She doesn't need anyone to keep an eye on her—she trains on her own, and I don't have to worry about her missing the key points of training. Seems like I hardly have to do anything as her trainer…"
But as he spoke, his voice gradually trailed off, his mood dipping noticeably. He seemed to slump, losing all his energy.
Suddenly, though, he straightened up sharply, clenched his fists in front of his chest, widened his eyes toward the ceiling, and roared:
"No, Kitahara! You should be ashamed! At this rate, you're just leeching off your paycheck! You've got to start putting in real effort!"
Shouting it out loud made him feel a bit better—some of the pent-up frustration and disappointment faded. The truth was, not being able to contribute much with his training plans for Nearl had affected him more than he let on. He'd just buried those feelings, not wanting Nearl to notice.
'There's no way I should let the Uma Musume under my care worry about her trainer,' that's what Kitahara Jo had thought at the time.
"Alright, alright, let me see where his number is…"
Pulling out his phone, Kitahara began scrolling through his contacts looking for a specific number—the number of Shibasaki Koichi, who was also Fujimasa March's trainer.
Shibasaki Koichi was both a good friend and a junior colleague of Kitahara's, but compared to Kitahara, he was far more diligent and ambitious.
Unlike Kitahara, who only decided to test into the central league after partnering with Oguri Cap, Shibasaki had been preparing for the central exams all along. If it weren't for the fact that his charge, Fujimasa March, demanded so much of his attention and energy, he might already have passed and become a central trainer.
Here in Kasamatsu, though, he was the most famous trainer around—the ideal in the eyes of countless Uma Musume.
In terms of skill, he had Fujimasa March, widely recognized as Kasamatsu's top runner. Personality-wise, he was serious, responsible, and knew how to comfort and care for the horse girls. And looks? Well, he wasn't godlike or impossibly handsome, but he had a strong, appealing masculinity. What Uma Musume wouldn't want a trainer like that?
Unfortunately for those hopeful Uma Musume, Shibasaki didn't seem interested in signing anyone else. All his focus was on Fujimasa March—which, ironically, only made him more popular.
But within their small circle of trainers, everyone knew the truth: it wasn't that Shibasaki didn't want to take on new Uma Musume. He was just waiting for Fujimasa March to retire so he could throw himself fully into preparing for the central exams, just like Kitahara was doing.
Under those circumstances, taking on a new Uma Musume would only hold them back—so it was out of the question.
And who was the second most famous trainer in Kasamatsu? That would be Kitahara Jo. After all, he was the one who'd trained Oguri Cap. His name was known far and wide, though not necessarily in a positive way.
Most people's impression of Kitahara revolved around descriptions like "lucky," "accessory," or "entry-form filler." Oguri Cap was so naturally gifted that Kitahara's actual skill as a trainer went largely unrecognized. You could say he'd risen because of Oguri Cap, and he'd also been overshadowed by her.
Kitahara Jo dialed the number.
--+--
Some distance away, Shibasaki frowned as he pulled out his phone. But when he saw who was calling, his expression softened—only to tighten again almost immediately.
"Hmm? Well, it's not a spam call, which is good… but if Jo's calling me, it probably means even bigger trouble."
Shibasaki Koichi hesitated inwardly, then sighed and finally answered the call. His tone wasn't exactly warm—if anything, it carried a hint of annoyance.
"Hey, Jo, what are you calling for? Don't tell me you've got another mess you need me to clean up?"
"Hah? You signed another Uma Musume? And you're still studying for the central exams—can you even put together a proper training plan for her?"
Shibasaki, who'd been in the middle of a meal, frowned even more deeply upon hearing Kitahara's request over the phone.
"This is ridiculous! You're letting her train all by herself? Even if she knows training theory like you say, you know how sensitive Uma Musume can be. Have you even considered how she might feel, training alone?"
"Absurd! And you want her to do parallel training with Fujimasa? Have you lost your mind, Kitahara Jo? What's an undeveloped Uma Musume supposed to learn training alongside Fujimasa? How to savor the bitterness of defeat?"
"What do you mean, 'just bring Fujimasa's name into it'? What's so special about Margaret Nearl? Wait—wait, Fujimasa, what are you doing grabbing my phone?!"
Just as Shibasaki was angrily lecturing Kitahara over the phone, a pale, slender hand reached over and snatched the device right out of his grip.
The phone-snatcher had long ears, fierce crimson eyes, and short gray hair tied into a small bun at the back—her presence was both imposing and strict. She was still wearing her training gear, clearly just finished with practice.
Who else could it be but Fujimasa March?
Right now, her face was lit up with excitement, her expression almost fierce. The hand holding the phone trembled slightly. She pressed the speakerphone button and eagerly questioned Kitahara Jo.
"Trainer Kitahara, are you serious? You've taken on a new Uma Musume named Margaret Nearl? Is that right... And she has a letter of recommendation from Oguri Cap? Then it must be true. You want her to do parallel training with me?"
"You're thinking of backing out because my trainer chewed you out?! No way! Shibasaki doesn't get to decide this—I want to train with her. I'll come over this afternoon!"
Without giving Shibasaki Koichi any chance to object, Fujimasa March hung up abruptly and tossed the phone back to her trainer.
Fumbling to catch the thrown phone, Shibasaki could only look helplessly at his suddenly exhilarated charge.
"Fujimasa, what's gotten into you? Why agree to parallel training with a rookie Uma Musume? This isn't good for either of you, is it?"
"Trainer, you don't understand. I've always wanted to see this Nearl for myself—to find out if she's really the prodigy Oguri Cap says she is!"
By now, March was too excited to even think about lunch. She pushed back from the table and dashed straight toward the track—she wanted to be there waiting for the "rival" Oguri Cap had spoken of.
"Hey! Your food!" Trainer Shibasaki could only sigh as he watched Fujimasa March run off. Left behind to deal with the aftermath, he turned to the restaurant owner.
"Could you pack this up, please? And the check—as quick as you can. Otherwise, I'm gonna hear about it later."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.