"Please let me join your team!"
"Sorry. I'm not planning to take on any new trainees right now…"
Conversations like this weren't unusual at Tracen Academy—because today was a special day.
The Special Selection.
Simply put, it was a chance for horse girls who still hadn't found a trainer to show what they could do. And for trainers who didn't yet have a dedicated trainee—or who were hunting for promising talent—it was a pretty good opportunity too.
"On your marks—ready—GO!"
The gates sprang open. The horse girls, coiled and ready, surged out in a stream and charged toward the finish line.
On the side of the track, Fujimura Hikaru watched it all with the dull-eyed stare of a dead fish.
He was the person in charge of this Special Selection, so he had to stay here and keep everything running smoothly.
But right now, Hikaru looked exhausted. He leaned against the railing by the track and yawned.
He really hadn't slept well last night.
He'd gotten back to the dorm after one in the morning, washed up, and gone straight to bed—but because Manhattan Cafe had fed him chocolate-flavored coffee, he'd ended up wide awake until three. He didn't finally drift off until around four.
Sleep at four, wake at seven—King Yama himself applauds my physical condition.
With a schedule like that, it would've been weird if Hikaru weren't tired.
"Yeah… I really can't keep pushing bedtime past one. If something happens, I'm going to be wrecked from lack of sleep."
He was thinking about trimming down his nighttime training hours when a crisp, girlish voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Fujimura-sensei."
"Hm?" Hikaru turned—and saw Mejiro McQueen standing right beside him before he'd even noticed.
She wore a white athletic T-shirt. Even if it didn't do much for her chest, it still gave her a clean, youthful look. Beneath her red gym shorts, her long legs—well-trained and slender—were lightly tensed, a soft pink warmth showing through.
"…I get the feeling you were thinking something inappropriate."
"Ahem."
Hikaru cleared his throat twice, then asked, "Do you need something?"
"I want to join your team."
McQueen said it plainly.
Hikaru looked surprised. Her expression was firm—like she'd already made up her mind—which made him genuinely curious.
"Today's the Special Selection. There are plenty of trainers watching. You've got lots of options, McQueen."
"But none of them are as capable as you are, Fujimura-sensei."
McQueen spoke with unusual seriousness. The way Hikaru had evaluated things yesterday—those sharp eyes—stood out even among trainers. Just that razor-edged, triple-A level of judgment was enough for her to believe he was anything but average.
After training ended yesterday, she'd also heard stories about him from other horse girls.
In four years as a trainer, he'd produced a powerhouse like T.M. Opera O—a dominant presence on the circuit. She'd even heard the student council president, Symboli Rudolf, spoke highly of him.
A trainer like that was right in front of her. How could she possibly let the chance slip away?
"I want to join your team, Fujimura Trainer. I'm not joking."
In her lavender eyes, determination glittered. Her resolve lay there—bare and unmistakable—right in front of him.
Hikaru wasn't the type to take in any horse girl he met. And McQueen wasn't someone especially important to him. Honestly, which team she chose had nothing to do with him.
But if a horse girl placed her resolve before a trainer like this, and the trainer pretended not to see it… Hikaru felt that kind of trainer was failing their job. So—
"I won't agree immediately and let you join my team. That's something I need to consider carefully—for my sake, and for my current trainees' sake."
At his answer, McQueen's ears drooped.
Of course. How could it be that easy to join under a well-known trainer? Being turned down was the normal outcome…
"But," Hikaru continued, shifting his tone as he fixed his gaze on the girl staring blankly up at him, "you can prove you're valuable enough that I can skip that deliberation."
"So that means…?"
The light in McQueen's eyes flared back to life in an instant.
She thought she'd been rejected—she hadn't expected a chance still existed.
"Understood, Fujimura Trainer! I'll show you the best version of me in this Special Selection!"
With that promise, McQueen ran off toward the track, smiling. Watching her cheerful retreating figure, Hikaru scratched his head.
"…Tch. Am I making it look like I'm too easy to win over?"
—
On the track, McQueen stepped into the starting gate. Feeling the tight confinement around her, she took a deep breath.
"Opportunities are something you seize yourself. My steps won't stop here."
"Watch closely, Fujimura Trainer—this is how I run!"
Bang!
The instant the race began, the gates snapped open with a crack like a gunshot.
The Special Selection had begun.
—
"Yo, Fujimura. Scouting new members? You're looking awfully serious."
"Okino… what are you doing here?"
Hikaru eyed Okino, who had a lollipop in his mouth and swaggered up to sling an arm around his shoulders. Certain the guy was just here to fool around, Hikaru spoke with irritation.
"Hey, hey—don't look at me like I'm unemployed! I'm working properly, okay? I'm just taking a short break!"
Okino explained it like that, but Hikaru knew the truth: Okino was here scouting too.
For trainers, having more outstanding horse girls under them was always a good thing.
Horse girls could win prize money by racing—but that money belonged to the horse girls themselves. Trainers didn't get much of it directly.
Because trainer salaries were paid by Central Tracen, race prize money itself had nothing to do with them.
However, Central Tracen calculated a portion of a trainer's compensation based on how well their dedicated horse girls performed in races. In other words, the results of your trainees were basically your performance metrics.
The better your horse girls did, the higher your income—more or less a positive feedback loop.
By that logic, the regularly held Special Selection was the perfect chance to dig up promising talent.
Find a gifted horse girl, and your pay could jump significantly. No wonder trainers were highly motivated.
Hikaru understood that feeling. He'd been there himself.
Making money wasn't shameful.
But thanks to Opera O's success, Hikaru still had plenty of bonuses from Tracen saved up. As long as he didn't spend wildly, he could live comfortably for a long time. And besides—he already had a talented horse girl under him: Xingmu. So he didn't feel much urgency to recruit new trainees.
Okino, on the other hand, wasn't like him. Even if he'd recently found a "serious prospect," that didn't stop him from wanting a second one.
Most of the trainers watching today probably had the same mindset.
Hikaru glanced along the track. Trainers with notebooks in hand watched the running horse girls with scorching eyes.
"Whoa, Fujimura! Look at that one—she's running well!"
Okino pointed excitedly at a horse girl near the front.
Hikaru looked—and of course. It was Mejiro McQueen, the one who'd sworn to prove herself.
Her form was clean, with no wasted motion. Her timing for shifting position in the pack was excellent. Even her stamina management looked solid.
"Impressive," Okino said, genuinely admiring.
McQueen's performance stood out even among this group. Judging by how the trainers by the track suddenly lit up, McQueen was the rare kind of prospect you didn't see often.
Hikaru nodded as he watched her stride.
So she really did take to heart the advice he'd given her—back when he'd been acting as Hito… and stopped the unreasonable dieting.
If McQueen were still starving herself, there was no way she'd be running with this kind of strength and weight behind her movement.
"Fujimura," Okino suddenly said, "you into her?"
"…What are you talking about?"
"Heh. I've seen that look before. You had the exact same eyes when you found Xingmu."
"Quit making me sound like some sleazy old man."
"Then tell me straight. Are you taking her or not? If you're not, I'm going to invite her to my team."
"…Tch."
Hearing Hikaru click his tongue, Okino burst out laughing.
That was how Hikaru was—overthinking even when what he wanted was right in front of him, and then letting it slip away.
Sometimes, Hikaru needed someone to give him a push.
And Okino just happened to be good at that job.
"So? You making a move or what?" Okino teased.
"You're annoying."
Hikaru felt like Okino had eaten too many sweet red beans.
—
The Special Selection race quickly reached its end.
The distance wasn't long—only 800 meters. For horse girls who specialized in running, it was a short course with basically no pressure.
And in this heat, McQueen won decisively—leading from start to finish, taking the victory by three lengths, and closing it out perfectly.
Maybe it was because she'd psyched herself up beforehand, but McQueen performed almost flawlessly today. Even as she crossed the line, she felt like strength was still overflowing through her body.
Mejiro McQueen—excellent condition!
As soon as the selection ended, the first-place finisher, McQueen, came down from the track exit—and was immediately surrounded by trainers.
"Mejiro! Please join my team!"
"Join mine! I guarantee I'll make you stronger!"
"Don't listen to him—only my team can take you farther!"
"Hah? Who are you looking down on? 'Only your team'? What kind of bottom-feeding nobody are you??"
"You—!"
The trainers were already on the verge of fighting over her.
But McQueen forced her way out with sheer horse-girl strength, carved a path through the crowd, and walked straight to Hikaru in the distance.
She lifted her eyes to the man and asked,
"Fujimura Trainer—how was my run?"
"It was great." Hikaru couldn't lie. What she showed was even better than he'd expected.
"Then can I—"
Hearing his evaluation, McQueen's eyes seemed to sparkle like starlight, her expression brightening further.
"…"
Looking at her eager face, Hikaru finally sighed.
To be honest, he didn't have confidence he could manage multiple horse girls at once.
But you couldn't wait until you were 100% ready before you ever acted.
Soon, Hikaru broke the short silence.
He held out his hand toward her.
"If you want to refuse me and go find another trainer you like, now's the time."
McQueen looked at the hand he offered. But what she heard more clearly was his awkward, roundabout way of speaking. Her lips curved upward.
"Has anyone ever told you something, Fujimura Trainer?"
"What?"
Hikaru frowned slightly, not understanding where she was going with this.
McQueen chuckled softly.
"Coach, you're a super—super—troublesome person~~"
"What is that even supposed to mean?"
While Hikaru was still complaining, a cool touch suddenly landed in his palm.
McQueen's pale, delicate hand had already taken hold of his broad one.
"One more time… will you be my trainer, Mr. Fujimura Hikaru?"
Ah. No way to refuse.
Realizing he'd basically already accepted, Hikaru gave a helpless smile.
"That line is supposed to be mine."
He clasped her hand back and said softly,
"Will you become my dedicated horse girl, Miss Mejiro McQueen?"
"As if you even need to ask."
McQueen answered with a smiling squint.
"I will!"
Her purple ponytail bounced happily behind her, as if echoing her buoyant mood.
Beside them, Okino watched the two of them holding hands, chewing his lollipop, and silently complained to himself:
"Why does this look like he's proposing as the one marrying into her family…?"
-------
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