President?! What are you doing here?

As the Uma Musume girl named Hokubu Genkoma hurriedly apologized, Yasui Makoto found himself looking at the hole in the door.

Hokubu Genkoma must have been leaning against the door to eavesdrop. When she heard "brain surgery," she'd been so startled that she'd yanked the handle off along with part of the door.

She was certainly clumsy, but this black-haired girl's strength and explosive power were even more noteworthy.

Aside from their ears and tails, Uma Musume looked no different from human girls, but their physical abilities were on an entirely different level.

Not only could they run at speeds of dozens of kilometers per hour, their arm and core strength were also astonishing.

In training at Tracen Academy, many Uma Musume improved their strength by dragging heavy objects.

A lot of those weights were tires used on large trucks, each weighing more than half a ton.

Yet the kind of arm strength it took to accidentally rip a door handle and part of the door off was rare even among Uma Musume. The instantaneous burst of power she'd shown was just as unusual.

But her control over that strength and explosive power left much to be desired, as shown by her clumsiness just now and the "traffic accident" earlier.

Also, the name Hokubu Genkoma... Hadn't he heard it somewhere in his previous life?

After making a few quick deductions, Yasui Makoto sank into recollection and thought.

"Take full responsibility? Heh heh heh, how interesting..."

Alice Speed came back to herself, surprise still written across her face. She looked with interest at Hokubu Genkoma, who seemed uneasy.

"If I remember correctly, Hokubu Genkoma, you said earlier that you don't have a Trainer yet.

"And Mr. Yasui also said that he only just got his Trainer's license, and doesn't have an Assigned Uma Musume.

"So, Hokubu Genkoma, with no connection between you, how are you planning to take responsibility for him?"

"Assigned" was an industry term. A Trainer and an Uma Musume who signed a contract became each other's "assigned partner"—in other words, they took responsibility for one another.

"Eh—?"

Hokubu Genkoma let out a drawn-out cry of surprise, her black ears standing straight up.

"Mr. Yasui... is a Trainer?"

"Oh? You caused the accident, yet you don't even know the victim's situation?"

"C-caused the accident? I... I..."

Fidgeting, she clasped her hands together and lowered her ears. Hokubu Genkoma said uneasily,

"I didn't properly ask Mr. Yasui about himself. I was only thinking about getting him to the hospital...

"B-but!"

She rallied herself again.

"Even if I'm not Mr. Yasui's Assigned Uma Musume, he got hurt because of me. I'll definitely take responsibility!"

"I see..."

Alice Speed nodded and slid the X-ray over from the desk.

"Then you can take good care of Yasui-kun for the next few days."

"Absolutely! No problem!"

Hokubu Genkoma bowed quickly. Yasui Makoto also came back from his recollections and spoke with a frown.

"Hold on, Dr. Alice Speed.

"I know a little about medicine, and all the reports show that apart from a minor cartilage contusion, there's nothing wrong with me, let alone any brain problems.

"So if I have to be hospitalized or even undergo brain surgery, I'd rather go to another hospital and get a full examination."

"Oh? No wonder you came first in this year's Central Assessment."

Alice Speed nodded calmly.

"You're right. At the moment, there doesn't seem to be anything seriously wrong with you, so let's forget about the hospitalization and surgery for now.

"Just rest in your dorm for the next few days and come in for regular checkups.

"If you start feeling unwell, we can consider admitting you then. Otherwise, the expense would be a burden for Yasui-kun...

"No, I mean it would be a burden for Hokubu Genkoma, too."

Yasui Makoto hadn't expected Alice Speed to change her tune so readily. He hesitated, wondering if this experiment-obsessed Uma Musume was up to something else.

Hokubu Genkoma, meanwhile, nodded repeatedly.

"It's no trouble for me! Mr. Yasui ended up like this because of me, so I'll cover the examination and diagnosis fees, and..."

Her expression gradually turned awkward. The corner of her mouth twitched as she pulled the broken door handle from behind her.

"This, too... I-I'll pay for it."

"Oh? That would be wonderful."

Alice Speed glanced casually at the handle, then turned to the computer on her desk and began clacking away at the keyboard.

"The cashier is downstairs and to the left when you leave. I'll have them issue a receipt for the door repair as well. You two may go."

Feeling that this Uma Musume had probably given up on plans to dissect him or the like, Yasui Makoto picked up the X-ray, stood, bowed, and headed out of the examination room.

"Understood! I'll pay the fees! Thank you for your hard work, Dr. Alice Speed."

Hokubu Genkoma thanked her and bowed quickly as well.

She was just about to turn and follow Yasui Makoto when she gave an awkward smile. She stared at the door handle in her hand, looking troubled for a moment, then her eyes lit up and she tossed it into the examination room's trash can.

Then she bowed to Alice Speed once more and hurried after him.

"Mr. Yasui, please wait!"

He'd already walked a few steps. Hearing Hokubu Genkoma call after him, he glanced back without surprise and pointed at the wall.

Hokubu Genkoma looked at him, curious and worried, then followed his gesture. She saw the "No Loud Talking" sign on the wall, along with the displeased sidelong looks from a doctor and nurse passing by.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

After apologizing repeatedly, she covered her lips with one hand and caught up to Yasui Makoto. In a hushed voice, she said,

"Mr. Yasui, y-your head is really okay, isn't it?"

Realizing that Alice Speed had bluffed the Uma Musume, Hokubu Genkoma, Yasui Makoto shook his head.

"I'm fine. I wouldn't joke around with my own health.

"And if anything really were wrong, Dr. Alice Speed wouldn't have let me leave so easily."

Although this girl had sent him to the hospital, Yasui Makoto didn't feel any resentment toward her.

When she'd half-dragged him to the hospital earlier, he'd already seen how warmhearted and kind she was.

As he'd said, the so-called "accident" had happened because they'd both spotted the danger that child was about to face and, by sheer bad luck, crashed into each other. There was no need to blame anyone over that.

Still, if he had to point out a flaw, it wasn't as if there were none.

For example, he'd been able to adjust his posture while sprinting, and in theory Hokubu Genkoma should have been able to do the same.

She simply didn't have enough control over her own strength. If there was anything to blame, perhaps it was that.

"Mr. Yasui, you... you're such a good person."

She gave him an impassioned "good person" label, pressed her lips together, then quickly adopted a determined expression.

"Okay! Then it's... it's decided..."

The first half came out just as loudly as when she'd called after him. As she nervously glanced around, the second half dwindled to a furtive whisper.

"Decided? What's decided?" Yasui Makoto asked, bewildered.

"It's just..."

Hokubu Genkoma began in a low voice, then her gaze shifted to something ahead. Her face lit up with delight.

"President?! Wh-what are you doing here...?"