After Seiun Sky declared that she wanted to become Kaito's Uma Musume, Tokai Teio's tail shot up like a lightning bolt, her voice stretching out in a long, incredulous note. "Ha~~?"
"So, as teammates, I look forward to working with you!" Seiun Sky said, signing the contract and waving at Kaito before leaving the room.
"Trainer! My debut race is about to start, and you actually signed with another Uma Musume?!"
Kaito tucked the contract away. "Not bad…"
"Not bad what! All you have to do is look at me!" Tokai Teio stomped her feet, her cheeks puffed out in anger. She sounded like a spoiled child as she cried, "I'm the one who can make you win the world's top spot, and yet you're distracted by other girls! What's so great about them? They don't compare to me, Teio!"
Tokai Teio's possessiveness was on full display.
Was it just her personality, or the effect of maxed affection?
Kaito didn't know. He had no choice but to take things one step at a time—he still had almost no understanding of this world.
He reached out, and as expected, Tokai Teio pressed against his hand, rubbing her face against his palm.
The habits he'd nurtured in these Uma Musume were still ingrained—they hadn't disappeared. His intuition had been right.
"Ah…?" Halfway through, Tokai Teio froze, a confused expression on her face. Wait, why was she suddenly so clingy?
Never mind, she thought. She kept muttering to herself in dissatisfaction. "Trainer, you already have me… I'm enough… I'm your beloved horse."
"It's fine, Teio. Even after signing, you're still my priority. You're my main star."
No one switches their top horse halfway through training. At the very least, he would finish raising Teio before thinking about anyone else.
Tokai Teio swished her tail, thinking Kaito wasn't petting her hard enough. She grabbed his hand and rubbed it against her soft, delicate cheek.
"Even if you're raising me, you're still distracted taking care of others. If you don't make it up to me, don't think you'll get away with this."
"How do I make it up to you?"
"Take me out this weekend! You and me, Trainer. Then I'll forgive you."
"Okay."
Tokai Teio's eyes lit up, her ponytail swishing energetically.
No matter how many times Kaito saw it, he never grew tired of her expressions. This was a real girl's face—not a lifelike doll. Even if it looked identical to a human, it would still lack this vitality.
He pinched her supple cheeks. Tokai Teio giggled, swishing her tail happily. After their playful rubbing, she left, satisfied.
"By the way, Teio, how did you even know to come over?" Kaito asked.
"I just had this sudden feeling that something was happening with the Trainer, so I came. Then I saw that sneaky cat! Ugh! No one is allowed near the Trainer but me! That's the irreplaceable bond between us!"
It seemed the old command was still in effect.
Tokai Teio yelled about friendship, bonds, and dashed straight over.
Could it be that this game world existed on a higher dimension, capable of affecting reality?
Kaito quietly collected this information, analyzing it in his mind.
Holding Seiun Sky's signed contract, he headed to the student council. Today, not only was Rudolf present, but the other two council members were as well.
To his left stood the icy-cold beauty with crimson eye shadow and an air of elegance—Vice President Kisou.
To his right was a wild, untamed black-haired Uma Musume tied with hemp rope, her yellow eyes sharp and untamed—Vice President Narita Hakuto.
The three of them flanked Rudolf, standing like life-sized posters. The first time Kaito had met them, he had been stunned; it felt almost unreal. Only when he approached could he see they were actual living beings.
And he noticed their quirks.
Kisou liked licking, especially sweat—she would actively clean him every time.
Narita Hakuto liked biting; after spending a night with her, his body would inevitably be covered with a few bite marks.
Both of them stared at him intensely.
"President Rudolf, I'm here to submit the Uma Musume assignment forms," Kaito said.
"Trainer Kaito," Kisou spoke, "didn't you forget to say something to us?"
"Say something?"
"You know… what you do every day. Did you forget today?" Narita Hakuto chimed in.
Every day… was he talking about their…?
These real, living Uma Musume had noticed his behavior? Wait, they weren't dolls—they were real. How could they have found out? He hadn't marked anything on their legs…
"You always say, 'Opening the treasure chest—ah, it's always you three treasures!'" Kisou said with a faintly amused smile. "Why didn't you say that today?"
"I see… I was wondering about that," Kaito scratched his head. "I could open them, but opening several at once—I'm afraid my body won't take it."
"Your body won't take it?"
"Yeah. One-on-one, I'd be unbeatable."
"Oh? I'd like to see that." Narita Hakuto smirked, hands on her hips. "Show me your unbeatable self."
"Enough, both of you. Don't tease the Trainer," Rudolf said, glancing at the assignment sheet. "Seiun Sky, right? I'll tell the instructors. She'll join your team for afternoon training."
Rudolf stamped the student council seal on the sheet. Click.
Time seemed to freeze.
A crackling, old-TV static sound filled Kaito's ears.
Zzzz… crackle…
Numbers and characters flashed before his eyes. Suddenly, he could see Rudolf's status UI:
Name: Rudolf SymbolMood: ExcellentAffection: 75Speed [1442] Stamina [578] Power [1126] Guts [1088] Intelligence [1300]
Kisou and Narita Hakuto's stats appeared as well:
Name: KisouMood: ExcellentAffection: 77Speed [1277] Stamina [674] Power [1035] Guts [900] Intelligence [1146]
Name: Narita HakutoMood: ExcellentAffection: 72Speed [1355] Stamina [874] Power [1251] Guts [938] Intelligence [989]
Kaito closed his eyes. A semi-transparent screen floated in his mind, displaying a single line:
[Seiun Sky has been assigned.]
Like a receding tide, the numbers and UI vanished, and the world returned to normal.
Kaito gasped, clutching his chest, half-kneeling on the floor as cold sweat broke out. Kisou and Narita Hakuto rushed to his side.
"Trainer Kaito, are you okay?"
"Just… broke into a sweat."
"Kisou! Put him on the sofa. Hakuto, go call the nurse! Hurry!"
Kisou helped him onto the sofa and used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
"Trainer Kaito, are you alright?"
"I'm fine…"
Kaito forced a stiff smile.
Was this world reality—or had the Uma Musume of the game somehow come to life?
He had no way of knowing.