“That is true, you know.” Hayakawa Tazuna kept her soft smile in place, eyes gently narrowed in a look that was just a little too kind.
“Director, your memory can be rather unreliable sometimes.
I recognized Trainer Kitano the moment I saw him at the front gate.” “Oh.
R-Right… I see.” Akikawa Yayoi knew her old friend far too well.
Whenever Tazuna smiled like that, it meant danger.
She had no idea why Tazuna was suddenly annoyed, but that did not stop her from shrinking back on instinct.
Her usual verbal tic vanished without a trace.
Still, Yayoi could not shake the feeling that something about this was off.
This was not the time to dig into it, though.
She would have to think back later and figure out whether she had ever met Kitano Ryuichi before.
“Topic!” Yayoi clapped her hands, forcibly steering the conversation back on track.
“Now then, Rookie Trainer Kitano!
Since you are officially a new trainer at Tracen Academy, you should decide on your assigned Uma Musume as soon as possible!” She beamed.
“You may tell me what kind of girls you would prefer to train.
Do not worry!
Every student at Tracen Academy is a gem among gems!
Theoretically, they all possess the potential to challenge GⅠ races!” In other words, Yayoi was offering to bend the rules a little.
She did not know where this natural fondness for Kitano came from, but the Director’s personal comfort was priceless.
If she liked him, then using a tiny bit of authority to let him choose from some promising students was perfectly fine.
Beside her, Tazuna understood exactly what Yayoi meant.
Her lips parted slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.
If anything, she silently allowed it.
This should be good for Trainer Kitano, right?
The Director is being a little reckless, but… well, fine.
“I don’t have any particular requirements in that regard.” The moment the conversation turned serious, Kitano straightened up and answered properly.
“I’m only a rookie.
There’s no need to assign me anyone especially talented.
If anything, I’m worried my lack of experience might hold them back.” He lowered his gaze slightly.
“Director, please just pick a few ordinary Uma Musume for me.
One or two would be best.
If there are too many, I’m not confident I can look after them properly.” Honestly, even taking care of one assigned Uma Musume in each loop had been exhausting.
How was he supposed to handle several at once?
And besides, Kitano no longer had any intention of “serving” so-called genius Uma Musume.
They were geniuses.
They deserved better trainers.
A completely ordinary person like him should stop getting in the way of their talent.
I don’t even know if I can properly train an ordinary Uma Musume yet… After countless loops, Kitano’s practical knowledge had come almost entirely from the girls he had once trained.
Or, more accurately, from what those girls had taught him.
He had no confidence in his own ability at all.
“Well…” His answer left both Yayoi and Tazuna at a loss.
The two of them had already been planning to recommend a few promising new talents to him.
They had not expected Kitano to be this grounded.
He actually wanted to start from zero.
Which was admirable, sure.
But still.
He was the youngest Central trainer at only twenty-one years old, wasn’t he?
Could he not have even a little ambition?
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, a sharp set of knocks came from the door.
A composed female voice followed.
“Director, this is Symboli Rudolf.
I have come to welcome the new trainer.” “Come in!” Yayoi answered immediately.
Perfect timing.
She had just been getting a headache over this.
Maybe Rudolf and the others could persuade Kitano to aim a little higher.
The door to the Director’s office opened.
The first to step inside was a tall Uma Musume with a dignified presence that filled the room before she even spoke.
Her chestnut hair carried a curved streak of white, like a slim crescent moon.
Symboli Rudolf.
Current Student Council President of Central Tracen Academy.
That was her name, and that was her position.
And at the exact moment she entered the office, Kitano Ryuichi happened to turn around.
For the current Symboli Rudolf, this was her first time meeting Kitano.
For Kitano, he no longer knew how many times he had stood here and seen her.
It felt just like the first time, so very long ago, when he had met Symboli Rudolf.
Only this time, he was young and composed.
Back then, he had no longer been young.
And he had not been nearly as steady.
But one thing had not changed.
Kitano still could not bring himself to meet the Uma Musume’s eyes.
Because after everything he had gone through, after all those countless attempts, he was still exactly the same as he had been when they first met.
Ordinary.
Unremarkable.
Just another face in the crowd.