The Trainer Who Was Fired

After Vodka's wild imagination led to a nosebleed, a few Horse Girls headed to the Infirmary just to be safe.

As with previous check-ups, there was nothing seriously wrong with Vodka.

The specific diagnosis was that emotional agitation had accelerated her blood circulation, and since some capillaries in her nasal cavity were rather fragile, they had ruptured and bled. She was advised to manage her emotions and avoid anything too stimulating.

After thanking the doctor, Kitasan Black followed the two seniors as they escorted Einis Fushin out of the Academy.

Stepping outside the school gates, Einis Fushin stretched into the night breeze and laughed:

"My, coming back after all this time is actually quite fun."

"Especially having a meal at the cafeteria again—it really brings back memories."

"I'm getting a bit envious of you two. Should I find a way to get some work at the Academy too?"

Daiwa Scarlet smiled:

"Senior Fushin should decide based on your own situation."

"Vodka and I only came back because we were looking for research inspiration. If you still have your younger sisters to look after, it's better to focus on them."

"However..."

She thought for a moment, "Since you're still working as a courier just like back in the day, we could ask for your help with some research materials and equipment later, provided it's not too much trouble for you."

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

"Of course it wouldn't be any trouble!"

Einis Fushin nodded repeatedly.

"Delivering packages is something I do while I'm out anyway; staying at home all the time gets pretty boring."

"It's a deal, then! I'll be waiting for your orders!"

"Alright, this is far enough. I need to head back early, or my sisters will start calling me."

"Take care, Senior." x3

Waving at the three juniors with a smile, Einis Fushin turned to run toward the street, but suddenly froze as she caught sight of a few figures in the distance.

"Is that... T.M. Opera O? And... aren't those students from the Academy?"

The others froze in unison, and following her gaze, Kitasan Black and the others immediately spotted T.M. Opera O and the other Horse Girls.

"Ah! That's Diamond-chan and Crown-chan, and... is that Sato no Takarazuka?"

Kitasan Black was surprised.

"Strange, why are they together? And..."

"What's wrong with Sato no Takarazuka? Why does she... look like she just finished crying?"

After a moment of hesitation, she couldn't help but take two steps in that direction.

Just as she had said, following alongside T.M. Opera O in the distance were three Horse Girls from the Satomi family.

From afar, Sato no Takarazuka was walking in the middle, head hung low, still wiping her eyes. She looked deeply upset, and it certainly seemed like she had been crying.

T.M. Opera O and the others beside her also had their heads bowed, looking worried as they spoke in low voices, seemingly trying to comfort Sato no Takarazuka.

Just as Kitasan Black took those two steps, Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka reached out in a tacit understanding to stop her, then spoke up in low voices simultaneously.

"Wait, Little Kita, don't go over there just yet."

"Sato no Takarazuka's situation... it might be a bit complicated. Little Kita, it's better if we don't go over and disturb them."

As they said this, a complex look flashed across both of their eyes.

Einis Fushin didn't stop them; her face was filled with confusion and contemplation, and she lowered her voice as well.

"I don't know what's going on, but with T.M. Opera O there, there shouldn't be any major problems."

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

"I'll treat you all to some milk tea, and you can give me a lift on the way."

Hearing the seniors' words, Kitasan Black looked bewildered, having no idea what was actually going on.

But she still nodded obediently, and with a worried expression, she followed her seniors away from the Academy gate, looking back every few steps.

All the way to the milk tea shop, she remained puzzled.

Once Einis Fushin bought the milk tea and handed it over, Kitasan Black finally couldn't hold back after thanking her.

"Seniors, just now... Sato no Takarazuka... what exactly is going on?"

"Could it be because she lost the race?"

"But... but..."

"But in my memory... Sato no Takarazuka shouldn't be that fragile, right...?"

Daiwa Scarlet and the others exchanged glances. Einis Fushin pondered for a moment before speaking first:

"Sato no Takarazuka... I heard you mention her in the cafeteria, she was the runner-up in Little Kita's race the other day, right?"

"Although I haven't paid much attention to the races in a long time, I seem to recall people saying that the Satomi family's current momentum is starting to catch up to the Mejiro Family."

"For a Horse Girl born into such a prestigious clan, it's true that she wouldn't be reduced to tears over a single race, right?"

In the Shining Series, there are indeed quite a few prominent, noble clans.

There are the old-guard families like the Symboli family, the Mejiro family, and the Hishi family.

More recent ones include the Sakura family, and even more recent, the Air family.

As for the latest rising power, that would certainly be the Satomi family.

These great families not only possess powerful Horse Girls, but their resource foundations are often incredibly deep as well.

Correspondingly, their requirements for their own Horse Girls are very strict; a weak temperament that leads to crying after a single loss would never earn them any attention.

"That's true, she shouldn't be."

Sighing, Daiwa Scarlet said, "Vodka and I don't know that junior, but we both watched her last race.

"She ran quite brilliantly; you could even say that if her acceleration timing had been just a bit better, Little Kita wouldn't have had such an easy time winning.

"And as for her current state..."

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at Vodka involuntarily.

Sighing in imitation, Vodka scratched her hair.

"Geez, as expected, whenever something like this happens, you always make me say it... Fine, I give up."

Complaining, she glanced toward the direction of the academy before looking at Einis Fushin and Kitasan Black.

"Sato no Takarazuka's Trainer... is the same one as Senior T.M. Opera O's."

As soon as these words were spoken, Kitasan Black remained looking blank, but Einis Fushin suddenly realized the situation.

"So that's how it is, then..."

Halfway through her exclamation, Einis Fushin, like Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka, let out a heavy sigh.

"Sigh, then it's most likely that kind of situation..."

Kitasan Black grew a bit anxious.

She could tell that she was the only one present who didn't know what was going on.

"W-what kind of situation...? Could you three seniors please explain...?"

The other three Horse Girls exchanged glances once more, and Vodka scratched her head, looking at Kitasan Black.

"I'll be the one to explain it.

"Since you've already had two races, Little Kita, it shouldn't be too early to tell you this.

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

"No, I should say, back when you first joined us, we told you that this world isn't as beautiful as many people think.

"Especially in racing, there is only one winner per race, and the pressure one must endure when failing to take first place is immense.

"We have seen far too many people over the years who couldn't handle that pressure and ended up quitting."

As she spoke, the Horse Girl's tone grew heavy.

Afterward, she glanced toward the school gate and shifted the topic.

"However, Sato no Takarazuka likely isn't struggling with that kind of pressure.

"Compared to the pressure, perhaps another possibility is more likely.

"If we aren't mistaken, her Trainer... should have terminated her contract.

"Or rather...

"Her Trainer was fired by the Satomi family."