At Tracen, Skilled at Doing Time

Zhou Yuang had one hand pressing down on the other again.

"Um, although I don't want to ruin the mood, but..."

Tracen wasn't some strange place.

Air Groove's head grew twice as large as she listened to Daiichi Ruby's speech.

By now, anyone who had spent time in the Livestream Room could recognize Daiichi Ruby's identity.

"Tracen isn't some kind of matchmaking agency."

"Indeed."

Zhou Yuang agreed. Air Groove had a point. This wasn't some Trep, so how could it be a matchmaking agency?

Tracen was merely an academy where Uma Musume gathered to learn how to run.

Here, Trainers sought out Uma Musume to raise them into outstanding racers and dominate competitions. Some Uma Musume simply liked running.

As for Uma Musume liking their Trainers?

It was probably because Tracen was an all-girls school, while most Trainers happened to be male. Since Trainers had to take care of their Uma Musume in all sorts of ways over three precious years, the Uma Musume, who rarely interacted with men, subconsciously developed a sense of dependence.

After all, they were members of the opposite sex who struggled alongside them for three whole years.

There was also the fact that the Trainers at Central Tracen were basically at the level of University of Tokyo graduates. They could be considered members of the elite class, so it was only normal for some kind-hearted Trainers to win the affections of certain precocious Uma Musume.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Zhou Yuang, do you like Oguri Cap?"

Air Groove carefully formulated her words. She didn't want to discourage Daiichi Ruby too much.

She was definitely the strict type of Uma Musume, but she didn't casually say cutting things.

She wanted to subtly correct Daiichi Ruby's words, as well as Oguri Cap's way of thinking.

"Whether I like her? To be honest, Oguri Cap is obedient and eager to learn, and she has talent for running. Although she's sometimes a little absent-minded, she's absolutely serious and hardworking. I saw her wear through two pairs of shoes during training before. For a child this earnest and ambitious, I don't think anyone could dislike her..."

It was as if he'd triggered some keyword. Zhou Yuang immediately unleashed a smooth little combo.

Oguri Cap, who was standing nearby, listened with an expression that said, I don't understand, but I'm very happy.

Having understood that she was being praised, she wagged her tail almost like a propeller.

Meanwhile, Silence Suzuka placed one hand over her chest and grabbed the elbow of her raised arm with the other.

"That's enough, stop talking!"

Who asked you?! ...Oh, I did. I'm such an idiot.

Air Groove covered her head with one hand. She felt as though she'd just heard one of President Rudolf's terrible jokes.

She was so happy she could die.

"Ah, to sum it up, I think Oguri Cap is a flawless Gray Coat. All Trainers ought to like Oguri Cap."

I can't speak for everyone, but I think every player would join the Cap Sect.

"So, do you like Oguri Cap?"

Silence Suzuka watched Zhou Yuang lavish praise on Oguri Cap as though he were praising his own father, and subconsciously thought of something.

Oguri Cap could become my father!

Perhaps everyone else had forgotten what Zhou Yuang had said before, but Silence Suzuka remembered it very clearly.

She warily glanced at Oguri Cap, who had been praised into a daze by Zhou Yuang, then looked at Zhou Yuang.

"Did you sign a contract with this senior because you like her?"

"I didn't sign a contract with her because I liked her."

Zhou Yuang refuted her.

It wasn't liking. It was admiration!

Every time Christmas Hat activated her skill in a Champions Meeting, Zhou Yuang knew that this Uma Musume had carried everything on her sturdy thighs.

She had won him a precious A-rank sweep victory.

What did a year-long reign of terror represent for a mobile game?

How many players had Oguri Cap gained as foster sons during that year?

"In other words, you didn't like her as a person, but wanted to train her... so you sought her out?"

Children don't know any better and just say whatever... No, that wasn't it. Silence Suzuka deliberately chose the least attackable wording.

The moment she heard this, Oguri Cap's simple mind immediately began filtering the information.

He doesn't like me, but only wanted to train me...

As everyone knew: "Don't take things out of context"—"Don't take things out of context."

"Trainer-san, you don't like me?"

At those words, Oguri Cap's ears drooped.

She looked pitifully at Zhou Yuang, almost about to shed tiny pearls.

"Of course I like you. I like the way you look when you're running, and the way you work hard for the sake of running. I like you, and I want to take care of you, which is why I signed a contract with you."

Oguri Cap was his beloved horse in the first place, and Zhou Yuang was also worried that some bad Trainer might force her along or trick her into entering endless races.

Hearing this, the previously aggrieved Oguri Cap immediately smiled.

"Really? As expected, Trainer-san is just like Mom."

"Is that so? Haha... Huh?"

No, wait. Hold on.

"What did you say I was like?"

Zhou Yuang suddenly froze, then stared at Oguri Cap in disbelief.

He seemed to have heard the last word he should ever have heard.

"Just like Mom. What's wrong?"

Oguri Cap looked completely justified. She believed things were exactly what they seemed, and after signing the contract, Zhou Yuang took care of her every day. Whenever she didn't understand something, he patiently explained it in words she could understand.

"...So that's how you see me?"

Does Oguri Cap's affection for me really have that high a value?

Thinking back to all the care he'd shown her over the past dozen days, as well as how he often brought out little snacks to feed her, it wasn't strange that the simple-minded Oguri Cap trusted Zhou Yuang.

Even if you took a can of food and fed a cat every day, it would grow docile whenever it saw you.

He still remembered the story of Gray Coat Cinderella, in which Oguri Cap was bullied at Kasamatsu School.

Her original roommate said that there was too much luggage and asked Oguri Cap to make do in the sporting goods warehouse.

Oguri Cap went without giving it much thought.

Looking at the warehouse, which was larger than her home, and the brand-new fluorescent lights, Oguri Cap even thought that her roommate was a good person.

Zhou Yuang was genuinely worried that Oguri Cap would be tricked away by bad people and dragged off to work endless races.

"So only Mom would take care of me like this."

Oguri Cap's next words made Zhou Yuang breathe a sigh of relief. He had thought he was about to form an extraordinary relationship with Oguri Cap.

Imagine what it would be like to interact with Oguri Cap in the future.

Oguri Cap would call Zhou Yuang "Mom," while Zhou Yuang called Oguri Cap "Dad," with each of them using their own system of address.

How hilarious would that scene be?

Tamamo was really playing hard.

Chapter Thirty: As an Adult, You Should Have Mature Values

"You two..."

Good grief! This is incredible!

Air Groove's scalp prickled when she heard this, and she looked toward Zhou Yuang.

She didn't know who AT was, but now she knew who AT's grandmother was.

"Oguri Cap, no matter how you put it, I should at least count as your older brother."

Zhou Yuang tentatively reached toward Oguri Cap's head. Oguri Cap neither dodged nor avoided him. She watched his hand approach, her ears swaying back and forth.

She didn't refuse.

Thus, Zhou Yuang placed his hand on Oguri Cap's head and moved it cautiously, afraid of messing up her hairstyle and afraid of knocking off the row of diamond-shaped ornaments on top of her head.

In reality, the Jockey outfit of the horse Oguri Cap was based on had just such a row of yellow diamond-shaped patterns.

In the world of Uma Musume, however, the ornament on Oguri Cap's head had been bought for her by her mother.

Like the other Uma Musume, Oguri Cap cared deeply about the ornament her mother had given her.

Oguri Cap's head was very round, and her Gray Coat hair was well cared for.

It felt silky smooth. Oguri Cap's ears swayed happily, occasionally brushing against Zhou Yuang's hand.

The sensation was no worse than Silence Suzuka's in the game.

He just didn't know what Silence Suzuka's carrot leaves felt like in reality.

Yes! I touched her!

At least he'd touched Oguri Cap now.

Thanks to Daiichi Ruby, Air Groove, and Silence Suzuka.

This was a small step for my dream, but a giant leap for me and Oguri Cap!

"Whee!!! What a wonderful scene!"

Agnes Digital clasped her hands together like a Japanese person before a meal.

She kept saying things like "I'm eating this up" and "I'm blessed," words everyone had gradually grown used to hearing.

Air Groove rubbed her forehead. She didn't even know where to begin criticizing them.

Who told you two to flirt right in front of me?!

As for Silence Suzuka?

She stared blankly at the two interacting. It seemed that she, too, had figured out who AT's grandmother was.

Come to think of it, if Mr. Zhou Yuang isn't AT, should I call Mr. Zhou Yuang "Grandma"?

After Zhou Yuang and Oguri Cap finished interacting, everyone continued training.

After all, Air Groove had nothing to criticize about Zhou Yuang's training methods.

When training ended, everyone could finally go home.

"Thank you very much for everything you and Senior Oguri Cap provided... Can I come again in the future?"

Compared to Air Groove, Daiichi Ruby was much more open-minded. After seeing Zhou Yuang's interactions and relationship with Oguri Cap, she immediately added another CP to her list of solo favorites.

Forgive me for being a DD. I solo-favor the entire race known as Uma Musume. The more there are, the more I solo-favor. I may have particular favorites, but I absolutely won't overlook a single Uma Musume.

This was the first time she'd seen a CP between Oguri Cap and Zhou Yuang.

If possible, she wanted to observe more.

That was why she hoped she could come more often. Even if she were treated as a tool on the spot, it would be fine, as long as she could get close and see the interactions between Zhou Yuang and Oguri Cap.

"Of course you can."

There was no question that Agnes Digital had to be won over. Otherwise, she would definitely become an obstacle—an obstacle just like Air Groove beside her.

Only children spent all day fighting and killing. Mature adults turned enemies into friends.

Though my situation is different. I might turn an enemy into a wife.

No matter how bad the outcome was, I had to make Daiichi Ruby my good friend.

"By the way, Mr. Zhou Yuang, I have some questions I'd like to ask you."