In Tracen, Skilled at Going to Jail

"Yeah, my trainee... She's a very hardworking girl. She's positive about most things, and she also loves making friends with other Uma Musume."

Talking about Oguri Cap instantly woke me up.

Zhou Yuang immediately put on the look of a foolish parent and began singing Oguri Cap's praises.

But it couldn't be denied that Oguri Cap was outstanding among the Uma Musume, whether in appearance, physique, character, or ability.

Besides, in the game, she was an invincible god!

As a player, how could I not sing Oguri Cap's praises?

Air Groove had originally wanted to hear who Zhou Yuang's trainee was, but seeing him like this wiped out the little goodwill she had felt earlier.

Another idiot. But I can't rule out... What a pain.

Was running that lap all for nothing?

"All right, open your drawer. I want to take a look."

Listening to Zhou Yuang ramble on like a devout follower of Oguri Cap gave Air Groove a massive headache.

Annoyed, she didn't ask for the name of Zhou Yuang's Uma Musume.

Instead, she wanted to inspect his drawer.

"This? No problem."

Zhou Yuang agreed readily and pulled open the drawer.

Some notes were exposed inside. Air Groove glanced at them, then noticed the box.

The reason was simple: the box the Three Goddesses had given Zhou Yuang was decorated with the colorful cluster that represented a successful pull when drawing Support Cards in the game.

The box had basically been modeled after the Support Card album.

It looked unusual, so it would have been strange not to notice it.

Unless someone had a terrible memory, seeing it once would generally be enough to remember it.

But Air Groove was different. When Zhou Yuang had been drawing cards, she had been too busy searching for the report button.

She hadn't noticed the card draw at all.

"What's this box?"

Air Groove asked casually. After investigating this far, she had basically lost any intention of continuing the search.

Zhou Yuang knew Air Groove's personality. From her tone, he could tell she was about to leave.

"This contains some other plans I wrote for my trainee before. But I always end up writing too much, so I keep them in a box. Do you want me to open it and show you?"

Zhou Yuang's words were sincere. As long as the contents weren't seen, he had nothing to panic about.

"This? Then open it..."

Air Groove liked to do things thoroughly. If this trainer was willing to cooperate, there was no reason not to inspect it.

"But my trainee is a very jealous Uma Musume. I remember her telling me that I should show her any plans as soon as possible... How about you accompany me for a moment, and I'll open it in front of my trainee?"

"No need. Tracen's inspections haven't become that strict."

Hearing this gave Air Groove a headache.

This trainer is so long-winded. Fortunately, he isn't my trainer, or I'd be doomed.

She was supposed to arrest that loudmouth. How could she waste time on something like this?

Besides, investigating his trainee would be more reliable.

"Sorry to bother you. Just pretend nothing happened."

Seeing the sincerity in Zhou Yuang's eyes, Air Groove turned around without another word and prepared to leave.

"Take care."

Chapter 22: Am I Doomed?

"Take care."

Zhou Yuang spoke calmly. After Air Groove left, he picked up his notes and sat there for a while.

After making sure Air Groove wasn't going to come back, he locked the drawer containing the box.

Thank goodness Air Groove didn't see the card-drawing screen. Looks like I'll have to disguise the box or put a cover over it.

The more carefully I hide it, the more suspicious it looks. But after that, Air Groove will probably come back with Rudolf to search me.

Considering their financial resources and how much free time they have... As long as I keep working at Tracen, they'll find me. No, if I have a file, they'll investigate me.

I'd better prepare myself for losing some Diamonds, and for the possibility that the Student Council will do something to me later.

Zhou Yuang thought silently. There was one other important matter.

It concerned the livestream.

Pausing time during the livestream had a major advantage: the Uma Musume wouldn't have their classes or other activities disrupted by being trapped for an hour or more at a time.

The Uma Musume were students, after all, and they had to train seriously.

If the other trainers found out that their Uma Musume weren't attending class or training properly, but were instead wasting time watching a trainer in a costume go to jail, then it wouldn't just be the Uma Musume coming after him.

Once they asked why their trainees weren't studying or training properly, those trainers would learn about the livestream too.

Those trainers, whose blood pressure would shoot through the roof, would definitely come looking for him.

The kind of fight where the winner went to jail and the loser went to the hospital.

There was another hidden problem as well.

Time stopped during the livestream, but the streamer himself and the other Uma Musume weren't frozen.

"In other words, as long as this streamer is still in Tracen Academy, when the livestream starts, you and the other Uma Musume who are watching can divide up the search area and conduct a sweep. Then we'll be able to find that AT easily."

When Air Groove returned empty-handed with a bitter expression, Rudolf, who was sitting on the sofa and elegantly drinking tea, invited her to sit down again and offered a plan that made her eyes light up.

"This only costs manpower. It's not like your previous idea of tracking down the trainers' parents, which would waste both people and money, President."

As expected of the president. She always thought of things others couldn't.

"But Air Groove, don't be so impatient."

Seeing that her classmate seemed anxious, Rudolf comforted her.

"He's acting under the banner of the Three Goddesses. Do you really think the Three Goddesses would simply watch a trainer who wanted to harm the Uma Musume run wild?"

Obviously not.

But Air Groove was worried. Worry was worry.

No matter how reassuring Rudolf made it sound, Air Groove still felt restless.

After thinking it over, she decided to stay by Silence Suzuka's side for now.

I don't believe you'll give up on Silence Suzuka.

The attitude toward Silence Suzuka could only make the Uma Musume envious, but some of AT's sleazy remarks still made Air Groove grit her teeth.

Even if she couldn't do anything to that man, she still had to stop him from corrupting Tracen's atmosphere.

Besides, some other Uma Musume probably had the same idea.

"Don't let me catch you. Otherwise... say goodbye to your vulgar dream!"

Air Groove muttered under her breath and cursed a few times. Outside the office, Zhou Yuang suddenly sneezed several times before rubbing his nose.

"I feel like someone is thinking about me."

It was almost time for classes to end. At this hour, many Uma Musume would be wandering around Tracen.

As a trainer, Zhou Yuang naturally intended to look for some candidates.

The remaining twenty-eight Fiancées, for example; a new trainee; or a potential partner.

The livestream had a huge vulnerability. The Uma Musume who could move freely might immediately call the authorities, and that was a problem he couldn't ignore. He either had to find an empty Basement for livestreaming,

or find an Uma Musume watching the stream to cover for him.

Which was more worthwhile: losing one fifty-Diamond reward, or risking losing a whole pile of fifty-Diamond rewards at any time?

If only Oguri Cap were a viewer. I could trust her, and I could use the opportunity to spend more time with her and raise her affection.

Too bad she wasn't.

Zhou Yuang strolled through Tracen, waiting for someone destined to cross paths with him—or rather, some destined Horse.

On the enormous field, Zhou Yuang watched the scattered Uma Musume and decided to try his luck.

He hoped to encounter some powerful Uma Musume from the game.

Then he saw a carrot sprite with long, streaming hair running across the massive field.

Holy crap! Silence Suzuka!

I remember Oguri Cap transferred to the central circuit in 1988, while Silence Suzuka was from 1997. The gap between them isn't that huge, but... Forget it. I'd better not meddle in Uma Musume matters.

Zhou Yuang stopped worrying about the timeline and silently watched Silence Suzuka running in the distance.

At that moment, Silence Suzuka wasn't using Zhou Yuang's technique.

She had her own little plans.

For one thing, she had only just memorized the knowledge and her body hadn't put it to use yet. For another, she wanted to run a few laps and see whether AT would come looking for her.

If he came to her, she would sign immediately.

There was one other reason.

Running really did make an Uma Musume happy, especially a running idiot like Silence Suzuka.

She ran laps around the field, thoroughly enjoying herself.

This is so much fun. I'll worry about T later.

I'll run one lap first.

It shouldn't be that if I don't make the first move, another Uma Musume will meet, get acquainted with, and understand AT before I do, right?

Silence Suzuka gave free rein to her nature while carefully trying not to put excessive strain on her body. No matter how much of a fool she was, she wouldn't recklessly let herself get injured.

Silence Suzuka ran over there while Zhou Yuang stood nearby and watched.

Just like in the livestream, even though Silence Suzuka hadn't noticed Zhou Yuang, he continued standing to the side and watching her.

"Running really is so much fun!"

After completing a lap, sweat appeared on Silence Suzuka's forehead.

The sensation of sweat rolling down her cheeks made Silence Suzuka feel as though she were receiving a massage, filling her with joy.

She ran while taking in the scenery around her... Hmm?

As she ran, Silence Suzuka suddenly noticed someone standing at the edge of the field.

Who else could it be but Zhou Yuang?

With only a few Uma Musume and a handful of trainers on the field, Zhou Yuang stood out conspicuously.

That person... and that kind of presence?

Silence Suzuka glanced up at Zhou Yuang in the distance.

At that moment, she felt a familiar sensation.

Without a doubt, Silence Suzuka had watched the previous livestream more seriously than anyone else.

Whether it was that other version of herself or AT, she had examined both of them carefully.

After all, one was herself from another world, while the other was the important trainer who had entered that version of her Uma Musume career.

Silence Suzuka stopped running. She stood where she was and turned her head to stare at Zhou Yuang in the distance.

When he realized she had noticed him watching, Zhou Yuang remained calm.

It's fine. Silence Suzuka isn't in the Livestream Room. No need to panic.