“Then it’s a promise.
Whoever breaks it has to swallow a thousand needles.”
Zhou Yu’ang extended his little finger.
Pinky promises were common in many places.
Silence Suzuka stared at his hand for a moment.
Then she extended her own pale finger and hooked it around his.
Zhou Yu’ang moved his hand first, demonstrating the ritual.
Silence Suzuka looked blank briefly before understanding.
Afterward, she and Zhou Yu’ang began their picnic.
Once they finished eating, it was time to rest.
Zhou Yu’ang used that opportunity without hesitation to discuss their plan for the Autumn Tenno Sho.
He explained the course and how she should run.
Because Silence Suzuka used Great Escape, she did not need to care much about the horse girls behind her.
While watching the earlier race, Zhou Yu’ang had memorized the running styles and movements of every other competitor.
With a different trainee, he would have used that information gap to teach her how to counter each opponent.
Silence Suzuka raised her ears and listened carefully.
The viewers were surprised.
[Invincible Seaside-sama]: Understood.
Next time, I can also win the Autumn Tenno Sho.
[Tracen’s Madoka Higuchi]: Your brain may have learned it.
I doubt your legs did.
[Horse Girl Enthusiast]: My soul just returned to my body.
Why did I wake up in class?
[White-Eyed H-Manga Sensei]: You won the revival match.
Hurry and continue eating sugar.
[Horse Girl Enthusiast]: Wait… I need… insulin!
“I need to write this plan down.”
The real Silence Suzuka immediately retrieved paper and a pen from her drawer.
She began taking notes.
Some horse girls joked during the impromptu lesson.
Others quietly stole the information.
Perhaps they could use it during a future race.
Zhou Yu’ang did not care.
The Silence Suzuka before him was listening.
After resting and carefully hearing Zhou Yu’ang’s arrangements, she requested additional training.
Zhou Yu’ang naturally approved the five-point bonus training.
Her energy bar remained sufficiently high.
To avoid misfortune, they needed to work one small step at a time.
Each adjustment might shift the future only slightly.
But through continuous effort, they would gradually move farther from disaster.
Silence Suzuka completed lap after lap without feeling tired.
She knew that a Trainer constantly watched her.
He would stand beside her and face the approaching future together.
Whenever she passed, Zhou Yu’ang waved at appropriate moments to signal acceleration or deceleration.
Silence Suzuka practiced the race plan they had discussed upon the grass.
By the end of the day, the sky had darkened.
The story event gradually concluded.
After returning to the main interface, Zhou Yu’ang sighed in relief.
“You could have warned me before suddenly inserting something like that.”
The game had unexpectedly shown an alternate-future story.
For a moment, he thought his career decisions had caused the problem.
“That would ruin the entertainment.
Besides, a Little Lamb who knows nothing isn’t qualified to continue being a Trainer.”
Darley spoke without mercy.
Zhou Yu’ang did not argue with her.
It had only been a story scene.
They had not introduced an actual disaster.
Still, being trapped inside the story and unable to move had felt terrible.
He resumed Silence Suzuka’s training.
The viewers also relaxed once the event ended.
Then they noticed the tiny number of turns remaining before the Autumn Tenno Sho and became anxious again.
[Unbreakable Glass]: There isn’t much time before we discover whether that was a Bad End.
[Tracen Pun Master]: Regardless of how much effort is invested, without a final test it remains empty theory.
[Tracen Pun Master]: Your earlier course analysis was fascinating.
Remembering Zhou Yu’ang’s explanation, Rudolf became increasingly curious about his identity.
His voice sounded young.
Yet he clearly possessed talent.
“If he wasn’t hiding his ability, he must be a top graduate.
Hehe.
That gives me a useful search range.”
Rudolf, who also enjoyed conserving energy until the final straight, had formed a clear idea.
“Sorry.
I don’t casually go on dates with other horse girls.
Silence Suzuka is the only sun in my heart.”
Zhou Yu’ang rejected the invitation with apparent loyalty.
Earlier, however, he had declared his dream of marrying thirty horse girls.
Now he claimed Suzuka was his only sun?
How amusing.
Rudolf’s obvious fishing hook had been rejected.
She did not become impatient.
Anyone possessing such talent would eventually be discovered.
Zhou Yu’ang continued clicking.
The remaining turns ended quickly.
The Autumn Tenno Sho arrived.
Zhou Yu’ang opened the prediction screen.
Every category displayed favorable marks.
He moved to the Skills menu and purchased several abilities.
“All right.
The moment of verification has arrived.
Let’s see whether our preparations had any effect.”
Practice was the sole criterion for testing truth.
That could not be denied.
[Horse Girl Enthusiast]: We’re finally testing whether this becomes a Bad End!
Do your best, Silence Suzuka!
Defeat the Bad End!
[Unbreakable Glass]: Good luck.
Don’t lose.
[Festival Girl]: Charge!
Charge!
“It’s finally time.”
The viewers were tense.
The real Silence Suzuka felt even more nervous.
If the version of herself inside the game could defeat that terrible ending, perhaps she would not need to fear it in reality.
Zhou Yu’ang entered the race.
As the horse girls watched anxiously, the story began again.
It was the same tunnel.
This time, there was no dreamlike filter.
This was the point where every possibility remained open.
“Trainer, the day has finally arrived.”
Silence Suzuka looked at the familiar tunnel and turned toward Zhou Yu’ang.
She feared the tragedy might repeat.
“Are you still afraid?”
Zhou Yu’ang looked at her and gently stroked her head again.
“Trainer, I’m not a child.”
Silence Suzuka objected verbally.
Her voice gradually became quieter.
She had effectively accepted the gesture.
She trusted Zhou Yu’ang with her entire heart.
Toward the Trainer who had worked continuously for her sake, she had become almost completely obedient.
Silence Suzuka was, in truth, an innocent girl who became attached easily and could be lured away without much difficulty.
Zhou Yu’ang wondered whether winning over the real Silence Suzuka might also be easy.
Should he search for her after the stream ended?
Oguri Cap would not mind—
No.
A girl who became jealous even of her own plush toy would certainly mind if he clung to another horse girl.
But her affection toward me isn’t especially high yet.
Oguri likes making friends.
She could easily invite Silence Suzuka into the team herself.
Would Oguri still become angry then?
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“I know.”
Silence Suzuka placed both hands over her chest.
She carried expectations.
She also desperately wanted to destroy the nightmare.
The scenery created by Great Escape was beautiful precisely because she alone occupied it.
Yet she always felt that something was missing.
“Trainer, I long for the scenery at the very front more than anything.”
Looking at Zhou Yu’ang, Silence Suzuka lowered her head.
She felt that she needed to say something.
If she remained silent, she would regret it.
If the unavoidable Bad End still occurred, then at least…
She might feel slightly more at peace.
“This may sound selfish.
I’ve always wanted scenery belonging only to me.
But I want to share it with you, Trainer.
Even other things… I want to share those too.”
Silence Suzuka raised her head and gathered the courage to express herself.
The moment she looked at Zhou Yu’ang’s face, however, her cheeks inevitably reddened.
“Tra… Trainer, after the Autumn Tenno Sho, we—”
Zhou Yu’ang extended one finger and pressed it against her lips.
They should avoid raising death flags.
Something unfortunate might genuinely occur.
“Some words can wait until you return.
All right?”
“…All right.
I understand.
I’ll tell you after I come back.”
Silence Suzuka froze briefly.
Once Zhou Yu’ang withdrew his hand, she smiled helplessly.
“I’m going now.”
“Good luck.
I’ll wait within the scenery at the front—no, I’ll wait at your finish line.”
“You must return safely.
Please come back without injury.”
Zhou Yu’ang’s hand did not lower.
He extended only his little finger.
“Let’s make a promise.”
“I will.
No matter what happens, I’ll return safely.
I promise… We’ve made a promise, haven’t we?”
Trainer, you made a promise for my sake.
Now it was her turn.
Silence Suzuka nodded and extended her hand.
Their little fingers hooked together.
After moving them gently, Silence Suzuka smiled.
She felt much better.
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