A Trainer Who Was Fired

After Vodka's wild thoughts had given her a nosebleed, several horse girls went to the Infirmary just to be safe.

As expected, the results were the same as before. Vodka was perfectly fine.

The diagnosis was that her excitement had sped up her circulation, and some fragile capillaries in her nose had burst, causing the bleeding. She just needed to manage her emotions and avoid anything too stimulating.

After thanking the doctor, Kitasan Black accompanied her two seniors in seeing Einis Fushin out of the Academy.

Once they were outside, Einis Fushin stretched in the night breeze and smiled.

"Wow, it's been ages since I came back. That was fun.

"Especially getting to eat in the cafeteria again. I really missed that.

"I'm a little jealous of you two. Maybe I should find some work to do at the Academy too?"

Daiwa Scarlet smiled.

"Senior Fuujin, you should decide based on your own circumstances.

"Vodka and I came back because we were looking for inspiration for our research. If you still have your little sisters to look after, you should probably focus on them.

"But..."

She thought for a moment. "Since you're delivering packages like you did back then, we could ask you to help us with research materials and equipment sometime, if you don't mind the trouble."

"Oh, right! I could do that too," Vodka chimed in. "We'll be counting on you, then, Senior."

"Of course I don't mind!"

Einis Fushin nodded enthusiastically.

"Delivering packages is something I'm doing anyway. Besides, it gets boring staying home all the time.

"Then it's a deal. I'll look forward to your orders!

"All right, I'll see you off here. I should head back early, or my little sisters will start calling me."

"Take care, Senior." x3

Smiling, Einis Fushin waved to the three younger girls. She turned and was about to run toward the street when she suddenly spotted several figures in the distance and froze.

"Is that... T.M. Opera O? And... those must be students from the Academy?"

The others froze too. Following her gaze, Kitasan Black and the others spotted T.M. Opera O and the other horse girls.

"Ah! That's Crown-chan and Diamond-chan, and... Benten?"

Kitasan Black stared in surprise.

"That's strange. Why are they together? And...

"What's wrong with Benten? Why does she... look like she's been crying?"

She hesitated, then took a couple of steps in their direction.

Just as she'd said, the three horse girls from the Satomi family were following T.M. Opera O in the distance.

From far away, Sato no Takarazuka walked in the middle with her head bowed, wiping her eyes. She looked deeply upset, like she really had been crying.

T.M. Opera O and the others beside her had their heads lowered too, looking concerned as they spoke quietly, seeming to comfort Sato no Takarazuka.

Kitasan Black had only taken two steps when, as if by tacit understanding, Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka reached out to stop her. Then they spoke in low voices, almost in unison.

"Wait, Little Kita. Don't go over yet."

"Benten's situation... might be complicated. Little Kita, we'd better not disturb them."

As they spoke, a complicated look flashed in both their eyes.

Einis Fushin didn't stop Kitasan Black. She looked puzzled and thoughtful, then lowered her voice too.

"I don't know what's going on, but with T.M. Opera O there, I'm sure everything will be all right.

"How about this? There's a milk tea shop a few streets over.

"I'll treat you to milk tea, and you can walk with me for a bit."

Hearing what her seniors had said, Kitasan Black looked utterly confused. She had no idea what was going on.

Still, she obediently nodded. Worry in her eyes, she followed her seniors away from the Academy gates, glancing back every few steps.

All the way to the milk tea shop, she couldn't stop wondering what had happened.

When Einis Fushin bought the drinks and handed one to her, Kitasan Black accepted it and thanked her. Then she finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Senpai... Benten... what was that all about?

"Was it because she lost the race?

"But... but...

"But I didn't think Benten was that fragile...?"

Daiwa Scarlet and the others exchanged glances. After a moment's thought, Einis Fushin spoke first.

"Benten... You said at the cafeteria that she came in second in your race a few days ago, right, Little Kita?

"I haven't paid much attention to the races in a long time, but I remember people saying that the Satomi family was gaining ground on the Mejiro Family.

"Horse girls born into such powerful families wouldn't be the type to burst into tears over one race, would they?"

There were quite a few prominent families in the Shining Series.

Among the old guard were the Symboli family, the Mejiro Family, and the Hishi family.

More recently came the Sakura family, and then the Air family.

As for the newest family to rise to prominence, that would of course be the Satomi family.

These great families had not only powerful horse girls, but often considerable resources and deep foundations as well.

In return, they held their horse girls to very high standards. A weakling who cried over losing a single race would never earn their respect.

"That's probably true."

Daiwa Scarlet sighed. "Vodka and I don't know that younger girl, but we both watched the last race.

"She ran wonderfully. Honestly, if her timing had been a little better, Little Kita might not have won.

"And now she's..."

She hesitated and glanced at Vodka.

Following her example, Vodka sighed and scratched her head.

"Honestly, whenever something like this comes up, you always make me explain it... Forget it. You win."

After complaining, she glanced toward the Academy, then looked at Einis Fushin and Kitasan Black.

"Sato no Takarazuka's Trainer... is the one who works with Senior T.M. Opera O."

At that, Kitasan Black still looked confused, but Einis Fushin suddenly understood.

"So that's what happened. Then..."

She trailed off, then sighed heavily, just like Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka.

"Ah... Then it was probably what I thought..."

Kitasan Black was getting anxious.

She could tell she was the only one who didn't know what had happened.

"W-what do you mean? Could you explain it to me, senpai...?"

The other three horse girls exchanged glances again. Vodka scratched her head and looked at Kitasan Black.

"I'll explain.

"You've already had two races, Little Kita, so I think it's about time you heard this.

"Little Kita, when you came to Central Treisen Academy...

"No, I should say when you first started following us. We told you that the world wasn't as wonderful as a lot of people thought.

"That's especially true when it comes to racing. There's only one winner in each race, and the pressure of not coming in first can be immense.

"We've seen far too many girls quit over the years because they couldn't handle that pressure."

As she spoke, the horse girl's voice grew heavy.

Then she glanced toward the Academy gates and changed the subject.

"But Sato no Takarazuka probably didn't quit because she couldn't handle that pressure.

"Something else is more likely.

"If we're right, her Trainer... has ended their contract.

"Or rather...

"Her Trainer was fired by the Satomi family."