(1/2) 7: Chapter Five: What’s It Like Having Trained the Entire Student Council?
(1/2) “Allow me to introduce them, Trainer Kitano Ryuichi.
These two are the Student Council vice presidents—Air Groove and Narita Brian.” After finishing her own introduction, Symboli Rudolf somehow managed to swallow down the questions piling up behind her eyes.
Then, with her usual poise, she gestured to the two “right hands” standing behind her.
Kitano knew them, of course.
Far too well, actually.
“It’s a pleasure,” he said with an easy smile.
“The ‘Empress,’ Air Groove.
And the ‘Shadow-Roll Monster,’ Narita Brian.” Those nicknames rolled off his tongue naturally.
After all, he had once watched both of them rise to where they stood now.
“Likewise, Trainer Kitano.” Air Groove’s expression was… complicated.
She studied the man in front of her, unable to shake the strange feeling that she had seen him somewhere before.
By nature, Air Groove was slightly uncomfortable around men.
Being alone with an unfamiliar man made her stiffen up, and she was hardly the type to approach one on her own.
And yet, for some reason, the man standing before her felt oddly familiar.
Not in the sense of recognition.
More like… closeness.
As if they had already known each other for a very long time.
Air Groove found it strange, but she said nothing.
What she failed to notice was that Narita Brian, standing beside her, was wearing almost the exact same look.
Brian’s gaze lingered on Kitano with a faint crease between her brows, as though she was digging through her memories for any trace of him.
And that was saying something.
Narita Brian was even worse with people than Air Groove.
She looked cold on the outside, but underneath that blunt exterior was a surprisingly timid girl.
This was the same Uma Musume who wore a shadow roll in races because she might scare herself with her own shadow.
So expecting her to warm up to a total stranger?
Yeah.
Good luck with that.
Except this time, something was different.
Narita Brian narrowed her eyes slightly, staring at Kitano as he shook Air Groove’s hand.
Why does this guy feel so easy to look at?
What was that supposed to mean?
“Hey.” Brian spoke up, the blade of grass in her mouth bobbing slightly.
“You shook Air Groove’s hand.
You planning to ignore me?
I’m a vice president too, you know.” For reasons even she did not understand, seeing Kitano stop after greeting Air Groove left a tiny, prickly feeling in her chest.
Before she knew it, she had already stuck out her hand.
“I’m Narita Brian.
If you need anything from now on, you can come to Air Groove or me.” “Glad to have your help.” Kitano was genuinely surprised.
In his mind, Narita Brian was someone who barely opened up to anyone outside her inner circle.
For her to offer a handshake first was unexpected, to say the least.
Still, he wasn’t about to slap away the goodwill.
Maybe she was just in a good mood today.
Their hands met.
The moment Brian felt the warmth of his palm, the tension in her brow softened a little.
Then, completely unconsciously, she glanced at Air Groove.
There was the faintest trace of smugness on her face.
She had no idea why she did it.
Air Groove saw the whole thing and very nearly commented on Brian’s childish little victory pose.
In the end, she wisely kept her mouth shut.
“Well then,” Rudolf said at last, her voice calm and composed.
“Now that introductions are settled, I believe we should move on to the actual matter at hand.” Her eyes had been drifting, ever so slightly, toward Kitano and Brian’s clasped hands.
Only after the two let go did she continue.
“Before we entered, we heard voices from outside.
Did something happen?” “Nothing too serious,” Hayakawa Tazuna replied with her usual gentle smile.
“It is simply that Trainer Kitano’s preference for his first assigned Uma Musume seems to differ from the recommendation Director Akikawa and I made.” She folded her hands neatly in front of her.
“Our view is that, since Trainer Kitano is currently the youngest trainer at Tracen Academy, he must possess a certain degree of talent.
If he were to guide an Uma Musume with strong potential, the result could be mutually beneficial.
It would also become a notable achievement on his record.” “However, Trainer Kitano is being very… practical about it.
He wishes to begin with the more ordinary students of Tracen Academy instead.
That is certainly respectable, but both Director Akikawa and I believe he should consider the matter carefully.” Rudolf’s expression turned serious at once.
“The first Uma Musume assigned to a rookie trainer is extremely important.” The moment she heard the phrase first assigned Uma Musume, her eyes brightened almost imperceptibly.
Then, slipping back into her role as Student Council president, she began analyzing the matter with crisp logic.
“In a sense, that student becomes the trainer’s initial public image.
For a trainer who may one day develop a full team, the talent and achievements of their first assigned Uma Musume will heavily influence the overall quality of the team they attract.” Rudolf paused, then continued.
“Most Uma Musume possess a strong competitive spirit.
Powerful Uma Musume naturally draw other powerful Uma Musume toward them.
That is why the first assigned position cannot be treated lightly.” “Exactly, exactly.” Everyone in the room—except Kitano—nodded.
Rudolf’s explanation was flawless.
Emotionally and logically, it made perfect sense.
Even Kitano had to admit it.
Faced with an argument like that, he had no clean way to refuse.
“…Honestly, I don’t think I’m capable of training some genius-level Uma Musume.” In the end, Kitano could only raise both hands in surrender and tell the truth.
“You probably won’t believe this, but my only real strength is my written exam score.
As for actually training Uma Musume… most of what I know was taught to me by other people.
My hands-on experience is seriously lacking.”