"Oh?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Maruzensky's blue eyes.
"—!!"
The one who reacted the most, however, was Tokai Teio beside her.
"T-T-Triple Crown?!"
Tokai Teio suddenly leaned in right up to Mihono Bourbon's face, eyes wide open. Their noses were almost touching.
"You're aiming for the Triple Crown too?!"
"Yes."
Even with Teio that close, Mihono Bourbon's expression didn't change at all.
"Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any horse girls who don't aspire to the Classic Triple Crown races."
"…That's true."
Tokai Teio drew her head back, looking thoughtful.
Then she straightened her waist, puffing out her little chest proudly.
"Humph. But my goal is an undefeated Triple Crown, you know. So Teio-sama is stronger after all~"
Mihono Bourbon looked at Tokai Teio. Though she said nothing, an unusual light flashed in her eyes.
The same as that "Emperor"… undefeated… huh?
Watching the two Triple-Crown-minded kids instantly reach a strange sort of consensus, Maruzensky couldn't help wanting to laugh.
Her gaze then shifted to the black-haired loli who had been trying her best to make herself smaller ever since earlier.
"And you? Hmm… our cute little kouhai?"
"Eh?!"
Rice Shower clearly hadn't expected the topic to suddenly shift to her. Her small shoulders trembled hard.
Everyone's eyes focused on her.
"I… my name is…"
Her cheeks flushed bright red, and her voice shrank to a mosquito buzz.
"…Rice Shower…"
"…I… I just… came along to keep Bourbon company…"
She lowered her head, small hands clutching tightly at the hem of her clothes, unable to look at anyone.
"As for a goal, I don't really… have one…"
Even so, the warm atmosphere in the room didn't weaken at all.
Tokai Teio directly wrapped her up in a hug, laughing brightly.
"It's okay! You'll definitely find your own dream and goal someday!"
"I was the same before. I only knew I wanted to run, but I didn't have a clear goal."
"But once I saw Prez, I made up my mind! I decided I want to become just as strong and cool as she is!"
Teio let go of Rice Shower, planting her hands on her hips. Her face shone with pure admiration and unshakable confidence.
"So you'll definitely find your own goal too, Rice Shower! As long as you keep running, you'll find it someday!"
Rice Shower was completely overwhelmed by Teio's sudden, full-throttle enthusiasm. Her face grew even redder.
"…"
At this rate, there wasn't even any need for a school counselor.
Watching the scene, Maruzensky's expression turned a little odd.
For horse girls who hadn't debuted yet, or who were still on their way toward the peak…
If they hadn't gone through enough tempering and hardship, it was very easy for their mentality to develop cracks.
Rice Shower's issue of "not knowing her own goal" was actually the most superficial, beginner-level kind of problem.
Maruzensky had met more horse girls than she could count over the past few years.
The mild ones were like Rice Shower, unsure why they were running and just swept along by the team's atmosphere.
The more serious cases would crumble after one setback, or a string of failures, and never get back up, even starting to doubt whether they should remain active at all.
From what she knew, even a veteran like Ginjirou Musaka at Central Tracen had once had a horse girl in his care become completely self-destructive and quit the team after repeated losses.
If such issues could crop up even under such a seasoned trainer, then among other trainers' stables, psychological problems like these were truly too many to count.
"…But with Kuroha-kun around, things like repeated losing streaks probably won't be a concern."
The thought passed through Maruzensky's mind.
Just as the atmosphere in the living room was growing warm and lively—
"Waaah—!! That smells amazing!"
A rich aroma of roasted meat mixed with a sweet sauce wafted out from the kitchen, steadily hijacking everyone's sense of smell.
"I-It's honey-glazed char siu—!!"
Whatever "senpai mode" Tokai Teio had been in vanished in an instant. She sprang up from the sofa and charged straight toward the kitchen.
"Traiiiiner—! Meat! Is the meat done yet?! Where's my share—?!"
"Slow down! Don't crash into anything!"
Kuroha's helpless shout came from the kitchen.
"Mmm… it smells so good…"
Rice Shower also swallowed involuntarily as the aroma reached her.
"Grrr…"
Even Mihono Bourbon's expressionless little face cracked slightly, her tiny belly voicing its honest opinion.
…
After chasing the rampaging Tokai Teio back out, Kuroha stayed busy in the kitchen for a while longer before finally carrying the dishes out one by one.
"Hmm? Looks like you're all getting along pretty well."
From the doorway, he could see that Mihono Bourbon and Rice Shower no longer had their earlier stiffness.
Just from the bits of conversation drifting into the kitchen, it was obvious this was Teio's doing.
"…Finally, I can eat a proper meal with meat again!"
"Alright, food's ready—!"
"Ohhh—!!!!"
Everyone cheerfully helped carry out the plates.
…
Their happy mealtime passed by quickly.
On the sofa, several horse girls were now sprawled out limply, little bellies forming gentle curves, their delicate faces glowing with satisfied smiles.
After cleaning away the dishes with Maruzensky, Kuroha glanced over at the pile of adorable salted-fish on the sofa and clapped his hands with a smile.
"Alright, alright, you three. Since you're full, get up and go have a proper rest."
Rest?
Aren't we resting right now?
Two pairs of dazed, innocent eyes turned toward Kuroha.
…
Only Tokai Teio let out a cheer and pulled Mihono Bourbon and Rice Shower to their feet.
"Come on, let's go get a massage together. It feels super good!"
"Massage?"
The two looked at each other in confusion as the energetic girl tugged them straight toward the room.
"There she goes again, making things up…"
Kuroha shook his head with a wry smile and was about to follow them inside when Maruzensky called out to him.
"Kuroha-kun, you're thinking of bringing both of them into the team?"
Kuroha fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled lightly.
"I don't know."
"I'm only going to give them a chance. Whether they end up liking my training methods as much as Teio and McQueen do… that's something I can't promise."
Maruzensky nodded thoughtfully, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Giving them a choice, and respecting that choice."
"Because in the end, the meaning behind their running is something they'll have to find for themselves."
Even if Kuroha could guarantee that his training style was the most direct and effective in all of Central…
No matter how effective a training method is, you still have to pour in sweat and effort before you reap anything in return.
That didn't change the fact that some horse girls were lazy, or dreamed of success without suffering, and would dislike or even resist such harsh training.
Wanting to achieve huge success with nothing more than "ordinary effort"…
Unless you're a once-in-a-generation prodigy, how could anything be that simple?
Kuroha turned his gaze toward the closed door of the massage room.
Inside, Tokai Teio's energetic voice could be heard faintly, as if she were explaining something.
"Alright, I'd better go check whether our little 'masseuse' is leading anyone astray."
(End of Chapter)
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