The journey from Kasamatsu to Hiratori, Hokkaido took over four hours—including a one-hour flight from Nagoya to Sapporo and a three-hour bus ride from Sapporo's New Chitose Airport to the hot spring inn.
One week after the Wakakoma Sho, Zhou Tai'an said goodbye to his colleagues and set off on the expedition to Hokkaido with Oguri Cap and Brand New Shine.
When they departed, the three of them were just like any other passengers. There were no fans to see them off, and no reporters ambushing them for photos.
Oguri Cap and Brand New Shine didn't think anything of it, but Zhou Tai'an was a bit unused to it. During his internship at the West Coast Tracen Academy, every time the Horse Girl he was in charge of went on an expedition, they would be hounded by a large number of reporters for interviews, and passionate fans would come to the airport to give them a grand send-off.
It wasn't until he was seated that Zhou Tai'an fully came back to his senses. "Right, this isn't the West Coast anymore."
He turned his head and looked out the window. "But in the future, I will definitely make Oguri Cap a popular Horse Girl with a huge number of fans!"
Meanwhile, Oguri Cap, on a plane for the first time, was curious about everything. Brand New Shine was much the same, but she remembered that she had to keep an eye on Oguri Cap, so she restrained herself and was ready to grab her if she did anything foolish.
…
Zhou Tai'an's group had set off at around 8 AM. By the time they arrived at Hiratori Onsen Yukara, it was exactly 1 PM.
Under the guidance of the inn's proprietress, Sachiko-san, Zhou Tai'an led the two Horse Girls into their booked room.
First, a clarification: although he had only booked one suite, it had two bedrooms, so there would be no situation where he and the two Horse Girls stayed in the same room.
After settling Oguri Cap and Brand New Shine, Zhou Tai'an went to the lobby to chat with Sachiko-san. After all, they would be staying here for two months, so it was crucial to build a good relationship with the innkeeper.
With no ulterior motives, Zhou Tai'an quickly hit it off with the proprietress.
"If you had booked a day later, Zhou-kun, I wouldn't have been able to accommodate you," Sachiko-san suddenly said.
"Oh? Was it because another guest came to book a room?" Zhou Tai'an blinked, guessing. "But because I booked first, you turned them down, Sachiko-san?"
"Not at all," the proprietress shook her head with a smile. "That guest originally wanted to book all the rooms in the inn. But I told him one room had already been reserved, so he settled for booking all the remaining rooms."
"That's quite a big spender," Zhou Tai'an said. He didn't know how long the other guest had booked for, but even for just a few days, the cost would be terrifying.
"I hear he's a trainer from Central Tracen Academy, bringing his Horse Girls for a summer training camp," Sachiko-san said, sizing up Zhou Tai'an. "You must be a trainer too, right, Zhou-kun?"
"I am, but I'm just a local trainer. I'm here in Hokkaido this time to have the Horse Girl I'm training challenge the local exchange Graded Race," Zhou Tai'an answered honestly. "I can't compare to a Central trainer."
"That's not necessarily true," Sachiko-san cleared her throat, her smile not changing in the slightest after his self-disclosure. "I spent my middle school years watching Haiseiko's races. Who knows, maybe the Horse Girl you're training could be the next Haiseiko."
"The next Haiseiko..." Zhou Tai'an just smiled and said nothing more.
For the Japanese, wishing a local Horse Girl to become the next Haiseiko was the most beautiful blessing they could think of.
But Zhou Tai'an didn't want Oguri Cap to be the next Haiseiko; he wanted her to be the first Oguri Cap.
"And I have a junior who studies at Central Tracen Academy. To be honest, I don't think her trainer has unearthed her talent at all," Sachiko-san pouted. "I think you're definitely a better trainer than my junior's, Zhou-kun."
To this, Zhou Tai'an could only give an awkward laugh. Although he thought so too, in the eyes of most outsiders, a local trainer like him could not be compared to a Central trainer.
At dinner, although Oguri Cap's appetite truly shocked Sachiko-san, to Zhou Tai'an's relief, the proprietress said nothing, just kept refilling Oguri Cap's bowl with a gentle smile.
This scene made the young man feel a bit embarrassed.
"I should probably pay extra for Oguri Cap's meals later," he muttered to himself.
Just then, Sachiko-san abruptly stood up.
"Oh my, the guests I was expecting should be here. I'll go greet them," she said with a bow and left the dining room.
"Expected guests?" Brand New Shine was curious and turned to Zhou Tai'an. "Do you know, Trainer?"
"The Horse Girls from Central Tracen Academy are here for their summer training camp," Zhou Tai'an replied nonchalantly.
A slightly unrealistic thought popped into his head. "Is it possible to have Oguri Cap train with a Central Horse Girl?"
It wasn't that he wanted Oguri Cap to experience Central's training level; he just wanted to know where she would rank if she were to go to Central Tracen Academy right now.
But this thought was fleeting.
He didn't think a Central trainer would be willing to let their Horse Girl train with a local one.
Just as he was putting a piece of seaweed in his mouth, Sachiko-san led a group of Horse Girls into the lobby—
"I'm so tired from the whole day... I want to go to the hot spring!"
"Amazon, wait for me! I want to go too!"
The lobby instantly became noisy.
"Quiet down!" At the back of the group, a young woman who was clearly a trainer stepped into the lobby and silenced the Horse Girls with just one sentence.
Then she turned towards Zhou Tai'an's group and bowed. "I'm sorry. They just arrived from Tokyo and are a bit too excited. I apologize for disturbing you."
"It's alright. Having energy is a good thing," Zhou Tai'an said with a smile, waving his hand and introducing himself. "My name is Zhou Tai'an, from Kasamatsu Tracen Academy. And you are?"
"My name is Tojo Hana. I'm currently a trainer at Central Tracen Academy," the young woman bowed again. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Zhou-kun."
"I heard from Sachiko-san this afternoon that some Central Horse Girls would be coming for a training camp. As expected of Central," Zhou Tai'an said, glancing around the lobby. "Truly impressive..."
This wasn't just flattery. Zhou Tai'an didn't need his Stat Viewer to see the talent overflowing from the Horse Girls in the lobby.
"The Horse Girl you're training is also very impressive, Zhou-kun," Tojo Hana's sentence was a return of the compliment.
In her eyes, the gray-coated Horse Girl sitting opposite Zhou Tai'an, aside from her large appetite, didn't seem to have anything special about her.
-------
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