You Have a Problematic Logistics Uma Musume

Earlier, she had heard a speech over a loudspeaker in the teaching building. Out of curiosity, she quickly followed the sound with her superhuman Uma Musume hearing and found its source. It came from a place that looked like an auditorium, where a lecture seemed to be in progress.

"Hmm? I remember..."

Kagura vaguely remembered glancing toward the school gate when she had just passed through the courtyard. Hayakawa Tazuna had still been standing there at the time. She couldn't understand how it had taken her less than half a minute to walk from the courtyard to this auditorium, yet Hayakawa Tazuna had somehow appeared at the auditorium entrance.

Could Miss Jun River teleport!?

Having already experienced the supernatural phenomenon known as Eclipse, Kagura couldn't help wondering whether Hayakawa Tazuna was some kind of unconventional life-form too.

"Good morning, Kagura. You're up early today?"

When she saw Kagura approaching, Hayakawa Tazuna greeted her as well.

"Miss Jun River, is there a lecture going on inside?"

Kagura decided to put aside, for the moment, the question of how Hayakawa Tazuna had appeared here. She was more interested in what was being discussed inside.

"Yes. It's a meeting for trainers. The recruitment of new trainers has recently ended, so the veteran trainers are preparing to share some of their experience with the newcomers."

"Sharing experience... May I go in and listen?"

As far as she knew, a trainer's duties had a few things in common with those of a logistics Uma Musume. She happened to want to learn more about that area, and since she had come across a lecture for trainers, she was willing to sit in.

"Um... Kagura, are you really going in? Trainer courses aren't very useful to Uma Musume, and they're terribly boring. In fact, no Uma Musume has ever attended a trainer meeting before."

"I'm a logistics Uma Musume, so I want to understand how trainers usually take care of Uma Musume. It will also help me take better care of Miss. May I go in and listen?"

"...Please wait a moment."

Hayakawa Tazuna did not immediately agree to Kagura's request. It was true that no Uma Musume had attended such a lecture before. The other Uma Musume were usually busy training, studying, or going out to relax. Besides, Tracen Academy had very few logistics Uma Musume to begin with, and even fewer would come to listen to something like this.

Hayakawa Tazuna tapped away on her phone for a while. Kagura guessed that she was discussing the matter with someone. After a short while, Hayakawa Tazuna put away her phone and nodded at Kagura.

"If you're interested in learning more, we can make an exception and let you attend. However, Kagura, the meeting may touch on some of the trainers' workplace secrets, so please remember to keep them confidential."

"Okay!"

After receiving permission to enter, Kagura carefully pushed the door open and slipped inside.

Kagura was short and thoroughly inconspicuous in the back rows, so her quiet entrance did not attract anyone's attention. She quickly ran to the back and found an empty seat.

Why does the person on my left look a little familiar...?

After sitting down, she instinctively observed her surroundings. The young man on her left, who was sucking on a lollipop and radiating a frivolous air, looked somewhat familiar.

The young man on the left also noticed Kagura sneaking in and taking a seat. He quickly looked over—

"Ah! It's that lollipop freak from the other day!"

When she saw his face, Kagura quickly remembered him. He was the weirdo who had stopped her on the street about a month ago and asked whether he could touch her legs.

"Why is an Uma Musume here?!"

Fortunately, both of them kept their voices down, so their exclamations did not attract anyone's attention.

This was a lecture for trainers. Strictly speaking, however, there was no rule forbidding Uma Musume from obtaining trainer licenses, so a trainer who was also an Uma Musume could theoretically appear here.

But such Uma Musume were exceedingly rare. Most Uma Musume had no interest in studying the complicated and tedious knowledge required of trainers. Focusing on race training alone already took all their effort, leaving them no time to learn about such matters. Even after retirement, they generally had no desire to become trainers. As a result, it was normally impossible to see an Uma Musume here.

"What are you making such a racket for all of a sudden...? Kagura? What are you doing here?"

The commotion from the lollipop freak still drew the attention of another trainer sitting in the back. Toujou Hana was also seated there, listening to the meeting, so naturally she noticed what was happening.

"I wanted to learn about a trainer's duties, so I applied to come in and listen... Um, is it strange?"

"To be honest, I've been at Tracen Academy for many years, and this is the first time I've seen an Uma Musume at a lecture like this. It isn't impossible, but Uma Musume like that are truly rare."

Toujou Hana nodded. She seemed much calmer and quickly accepted Kagura's presence. She knew Kagura was a logistics Uma Musume, so it made sense that she might come in as an observer.

"By the way, do you know this guy? How did you meet? Did he do anything rude to you?"

"Not really... He asked me on the street whether he could touch my legs, but I refused."

"Good. At least you've made progress. You asked first instead of reaching straight for her."

As she spoke, Toujou Hana raised her pen and tapped the lollipop freak on the head.

"Hey... Hana, at least let me maintain a good image in front of a cute student..."

"I'm doing this for your own good. If you scare away a few more Uma Musume, you'll be expelled because of your performance. Keep yourself under control. Once the new students enroll this term, find a few to train. It would be a shame to let your abilities go to waste."

"Yes..."

The lollipop freak nodded meekly. Kagura suddenly got the subtle impression that the two of them had a surprisingly good relationship.

"Let me introduce you. This is trainer Nishizaki Ryu. Some of his colleagues also call him Okino. And this is Inari Kagura, a new student in the junior division this year."

"Hello, Mr. Nishizaki."

Kagura nodded. She hadn't expected to run into this acquaintance of sorts here.

"So, Kagura, you're interested in the trainer lecture because...? Are you planning to obtain a trainer license, or do you want to learn how to apply this knowledge to your work?"

Although Toujou Hana had accepted the appearance of an Uma Musume in a place where none normally came to listen, she still couldn't help wondering why Kagura had attended this lecture.

"For now, I just want to apply it to my work. Yes."

In truth, apart from the relevant certification for logistics Uma Musume, Kagura really did intend to obtain a trainer license. That was one of the reasons she had slipped in to attend the lecture today. Having one more certificate meant one more option. What if the license really proved useful someday?

"Although I'm not against students learning more, Kagura, to be honest, I'd rather you focused on running. Your talent is truly excellent."

Toujou Hana had seen Kagura run and knew how great her talent was. She wasn't saying that she opposed students learning more. It was just that, in her experience, few Uma Musume could handle both daily physical training and theoretical study on the level required of trainers. Trying to do both usually meant failing at both.

"You know those things you were curious about earlier? I finished analyzing them today. Kagura, you can listen too. They should be useful for planning your future."

"Yes?"

The host at the front was still giving the opening remarks, so Kagura shifted her attention to Toujou Hana for the time being.

"Regarding Kagura's talent, judging from her performance that day, she has an exceptional aptitude for grass tracks. Her stamina and explosive power are both extremely strong. As for racing style, I believe she's best suited to front-running. However, her concentration is lacking, which may affect her ability to maintain that style."

"On the other hand, her explosive power is enough to support a late charge... Hmm, I can't be certain about that yet, since I haven't seen how she performs while competing against other Uma Musume. Her personality is also introverted and quiet, so I don't know how much other Uma Musume would affect her. Some Uma Musume are easily frightened, making them unsuitable for running in a crowded pack of chasers."

Nishizaki Ryu, who had been hanging his head, had somehow recovered and was now listening to Toujou Hana's analysis with a serious expression. Kagura was listening too, but she still knew too little about trainers and Uma Musume to fully understand all the technical terms.

"As for distance aptitude, there isn't enough experimental data to prove it, but I estimate that she's suited to all distances."

"All distances? Is this girl really that amazing?"

"That's highly likely. You should have seen the recording of the practice race I sent you. She ran a full 1,600 meters in an all-out breakaway and still produced such a terrifying final burst. She even had stamina left after finishing. Both the limits of her explosive power and her distance capacity still have considerable room to expand."

After saying this, Toujou Hana and Nishizaki Ryu both looked at Kagura, who was sitting beside them with an obedient expression.

Although Kagura's displayed ability was still inferior to that of the Uma Musume at the peak of G1 racing, they both knew that she had not yet reached her full potential. She wasn't even old enough to race. Her potential went far beyond what she had shown.

"That's incredible. I can practically see the trainers lining both sides of the track at Tracen's internal selection race, all trying to recruit her."

After holding it in for a long while, Nishizaki Ryu finally spoke in a low voice.

Fortunately, Toujou Hana had not spoken loudly. Only Nishizaki Ryu and Kagura could hear her from the back row. If all the trainers here learned that such a promising prospect was present, the place would explode, and the meeting probably wouldn't be able to continue.

"What? You're not planning to recruit her?"

"Of course I am! Who could refuse such a promising prospect? But she has to be willing. There are so many trainers at Tracen, and she has no reason to keep her eyes on me. I can't exactly put her in a sack and carry her home, can I?"

"Mr. Nishizaki, that would constitute kidnapping. I'd call the police."

Kagura smiled as she responded to Nishizaki Ryu's remark, which she wasn't sure had been a joke. It should have been one, but for some reason, Kagura felt that there really might be someone at Tracen capable of doing such a thing.

"Hmm... You're still young, so there's no rush. Once you understand these matters better, you can make your choice. It won't be too late."

As she spoke, Toujou Hana reached out and patted Kagura on the head.

They have such high expectations of me. Am I really that strong?

Kagura, who had always lacked confidence, couldn't help wondering. She hadn't fully understood Toujou Hana's analysis, but she could tell from both their reactions how much they expected of her. Being relied upon made her happy, but she also worried that she might lack the ability to live up to those expectations. After all, her strengths in the past had been reading, memorization, and exams—not physical exercise.

Still, if Toujou Hana was right and she really had that kind of talent, perhaps she could spend some of her spare time training on the track. It was rare to have such a good body, and it seemed like a waste not to make better use of it.

"Children shouldn't train too intensely. However, Kagura, you can try working on your concentration. That's more important for you. Also, from what I've observed, your running form is almost exactly the same as an ordinary human's. You instinctively conserve your strength, which affects your ability to give everything you have. You should correct that."

That was what she said, but Kagura had already achieved results approaching the level of professional racing Uma Musume even with a human running form. That meant she was still holding back. If she corrected her running style and fixed the problems she currently had, then she might... No, Toujou Hana was certain. She would be the next Rudolph Symbol, perhaps an even stronger existence.

"I see... I understand. Thank you, Miss Toujou."

Although she still had no idea how to train her concentration or running form, Kagura first committed Toujou Hana's advice to memory.

Just then, Kagura heard the host's voice from the podium. It seemed that the meeting was beginning. She stopped speaking, and the two trainers beside her also fell silent.

Mejiro Ardan

"So the trainer turnover rate is really that high?"

Like the technical lectures Kagura had attended before, this meeting gave her a general understanding of what trainers usually did and the current shortage of trainers at Tracen.

Many new trainers joined every year, yet Tracen remained short of trainers. It wasn't because the profession was dangerous—at least, Kagura hadn't heard anything dangerous. She felt that it shouldn't be called danger. It should be called the troubles of being happy.

After all, according to the host, quite a few trainers resigned each year because they had developed feelings for their assigned Uma Musume and married them. Although her intuition told her that things probably weren't that simple, she lacked enough information to think any deeper into the matter, so she didn't dwell on it.

Male trainers really have it tough...

If they didn't want their assigned Uma Musume to take them home after their training ended, they had to pay attention to maintaining an appropriate distance and emotional relationship. After all, when she thought about it carefully, spending several years together day and night, sharing hardships and advancing together, then having a beautiful and adorable girl confess to them—rejecting her would still require quite a struggle.

Thinking of this, Kagura suddenly felt fortunate to be female, and an Uma Musume at that. These happy troubles should have nothing to do with her, so she didn't pay much attention to them. She didn't listen very seriously to the section on "trainers' self-protection," either.

So that old man giving the lecture must be quite impressive... In every sense.

The trainer speaking was named Mutsuhira. He looked quite elderly—old enough to be her father even in her previous life. Thinking about it, if what she had heard earlier was true, this old man must have trained many racehorses. Yet he showed no sign of wanting to retire. In a sense, that was a skill worthy of respect.

Kagura could hear quite a few trainers discussing things in front of them. Several were talking about how their assigned Uma Musume had recently become more forward and aggressive, and how they could take precautions in advance. Kagura had never experienced anything like that, but as an Uma Musume, listening to this discussion still felt somewhat strange.

I think I understand what Miss Jun River wanted me to keep confidential now...

After the lecture ended, Kagura stayed in her seat and organized some of the more important information she had written down. When she saw that most of the people around her had left, and that Toujou Hana and Nishizaki Ryu had also risen and were heading toward the exit, she stood up to leave as well. It was nearly noon, and in a little while she would have to drag Rudolph Symbol out to eat.

I forgot to check on Sujitsu this morning. I wonder whether she ate properly. I'll make her some food and take it up at lunchtime.

After casually picking up an unopened bottle of water from the venue, Kagura used one hand to hold her notebook against her ears and quietly left the auditorium, slipping out to the track grounds beside the teaching building.

It was nearly noon. At eleven in the morning during summer, the sunlight was at its fiercest. Even Uma Musume generally wouldn't appear on the track at that hour. That was how things should have been, yet as Kagura passed by, she noticed that someone was actually on the track.

Who would be running at noon like this?

Kagura stopped beside the track, curious about who would be running there at this hour.

It was a young Uma Musume with sky-blue hair. Her steps were not particularly forceful and were visibly weak. Her posture was nowhere near as firm and healthy as Rudolph Symbol's and the others'. By comparison, she was like a wilting flower, struggling to support its own body in the wind.

There's something completely wrong with this girl's condition!!?

The Uma Musume was already staggering along the track. Even someone without medical knowledge could tell that something was wrong with her. The weather alone made that obvious. Even an Uma Musume couldn't resist such heat.

Knowing that the situation was bad, Kagura didn't continue watching. She put the things in her hands on the ground and immediately chased after her, launching into an all-out breakaway. The staggering Uma Musume ahead was slowing down continuously and naturally couldn't match Kagura's pace. However, she seemed unable to maintain her posture any longer. Her body pitched forward and was about to fall—

"I made it!!"

Just as the blue-haired Uma Musume was falling through the air, Kagura, who was a head shorter than her, finally reached a position where she could catch her. She immediately reached out and held the falling Uma Musume, letting her lean against her shoulder. Since she wasn't as tall as the other girl, Kagura quickly adjusted her posture, hoisted her onto her back, and ran toward the shade beneath the trees at the edge of the track.

This girl must have heatstroke. Why was she exercising on the track at noon? Where's her trainer?

Kagura carefully laid the blue-haired Uma Musume on the grass beneath the shade, positioning her so that she could rest and drink water comfortably. She then opened the bottle she had taken from the venue and fed it to her.

Normally, no trainer would assign an Uma Musume a training task at this hour. At least, Toujou Hana and the others would never bring anyone out to train then. Kagura was curious about what this Uma Musume's trainer had been thinking, but she looked around and saw no sign of one.

"Unsupervised?"

Since she couldn't see a trainer, the only explanation was that the Uma Musume's trainer wasn't present. In this weather, no trainer would have the nerve to take someone out to train and then leave without permission—unless they were truly unethical. In that case, Kagura would have to consider reporting them to Rudolph Symbol.

The overheated blue-haired Uma Musume breathed in short gasps and gave no response to Kagura's actions. It seemed that she had lost consciousness.

Kagura took a towel from her pocket, dampened it with some water, and placed it on the Uma Musume's head. Fortunately, the girl was dressed relatively lightly, and her heatstroke symptoms were not too severe. Based on her experience, Kagura estimated that she would wake up soon.

"What a silly girl. Why put yourself through this..."

As she watched the blue-haired Uma Musume's complexion gradually return to normal, Kagura finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Only then did Kagura notice a familiar man running over from the direction of the dormitory. He hurried onto the track and looked around frantically before fixing his gaze on Kagura beneath the tree and the blue-haired Uma Musume beside her.

"I remember you. You're a trainer from the Mejiro family. What happened? Were you looking for something?"

"...I apologize for my rash approach earlier and for causing you trouble, Miss Kagura."

"No need to apologize. I didn't really mind... Anyway, this is an Uma Musume from your family, right? What were you thinking? Letting her run at a time like this? Even if your great family is chasing results, you can't put this much pressure on an Uma Musume, can you? If I hadn't happened to pass by, this young lady would have collapsed on a track heated to over fifty degrees."