“Knock, knock, knock.” “Come in~~~” “Excuse us.” Kaito pushed open the door to the laboratory and walked in, with Rice Shower bowing slightly behind him.
“Excuse us, Tachyon-san!” “Oh, it’s guinea pig-kun and Rice Shower-san.
You seem to have improved even more.
It makes me want to run some experiments and study you~” Agnes Tachyon was still wearing her white lab coat.
Underneath, she wore a woolen purplish-blue school uniform and sailor skirt, so she wouldn’t feel cold even at the end of the year.
If anything, because the room had the heating on in addition to the air conditioner, it was actually a bit too warm.
Tachyon wasn’t wearing shoes indoors.
Stepping on the wooden floor in her thigh-high socks, she observed Kaito’s face for a moment.
“My, guinea pig-kun looks tired.
Haven’t you been resting properly lately?” “I’ve had a lot of things to deal with, but it’s fine.” “Is that so?” Tachyon nodded and didn’t press the issue further.
After the three of them sat on the sofa, Tachyon picked up her black coffee cup with a cat pattern on it and poured a cup of black tea for each of them.
“Ah~ It’s a shame to drink black tea without any snacks~” Saying this, Tachyon stared at Kaito with expectant eyes.
Kaito sighed and took out some freshly baked cookies to serve as snacks.
Tachyon quickly grabbed one and put it in her mouth, instantly showing great delight.
“Mm, this is delicious.
Guinea pig-kun really understands me!” She then took a sip of her black tea, crossed her legs, and spoke.
“Well then, before we get to the main topic, let me first congratulate Rice Shower-san on her victory in the Heather Stakes.
It was a very outstanding performance, and I recorded a lot of valuable data!” “T-thank you, Tachyon-san.” Rice Shower thanked her shyly.
During the race at Hanshin that day, Agnes Tachyon hadn’t gone to the venue to watch.
“Spending time and energy to go to the venue just to observe the race, and having to endure the noise of the audience, is far too inefficient for data recording.
Compared to that, watching the broadcast from a comfortable position is a much more rational and efficient method.” That was what Tachyon had said.
Even though she hadn’t watched the race in person, Rice Shower absolutely wouldn’t have been able to perform at that level on that day without the heart rate strap Tachyon developed to assist her training.
Therefore, over the past two weeks, the two of them had conveyed their thanks and congratulations through Kaito.
This face-to-face response was the first time.
On the other hand, Kaito took a sip of the cloyingly sweet black tea, put it down, and spoke.
“That’s right, Tachyon-san.
We came today first because Rice Shower wanted to thank you in person, and second, regarding that matter.” “Mm, mm, I understand.
Guinea pig-kun, you came at the perfect time.
I just finished testing that child last night…” Tachyon stuffed another cookie into her mouth, clearly loving the taste, while taking out a box and opening it.
Inside the box were two items: a strap similar to the heart rate strap Rice Shower used, and a wristwatch.
Heart Rate Strap 2.0!
Wristwatch-Style Heart Rate Monitor!
Over the two weeks after the Heather Stakes, Tachyon had locked herself in the laboratory and tirelessly crafted these two devices, which would be immensely beneficial to athletes.
“The improved heart rate strap has better precision and faster feedback speed compared to the first model.
I also adopted guinea pig-kun’s suggestion to modify the strap’s design so it can adapt to the bust sizes of various Uma Musume.
Though it’s a bit strange that guinea pig-kun focused on that point…” Under the gaze of Tachyon and Rice Shower, Kaito guiltily averted his eyes.
Having received a satisfactory reaction, Tachyon continued.
“As for the heart rate monitor designed as a wristwatch, it was also invented according to guinea pig-kun’s concept.
Although its precision isn’t as high as the heart rate strap, it’s convenient to wear and also has the function of checking the time, making it more suitable for daily activities.” “Both of these inventions have been tested and have no usage issues.
Guinea pig-kun made a huge contribution this time, you know?” Kaito shook his head.
“Without Tachyon-san’s help, it would be useless just relying on me.
But with these two items, it will be even more helpful for Rice Shower’s training.” “Moreover, they can be promoted to all the Uma Musume at Tracen Academy.” Kaito wasn’t the type to keep things to himself.
For tools that could spark a massive revolution in the industry, he preferred to let all the Uma Musume benefit from them.
Improving the training data collection level for all Uma Musume could, in turn, prompt trainers around the world to develop various new training methods, from which he and Rice Shower would also benefit.
Of course, large-scale production would require the academy’s help.
Kaito had long since written an application to Chairman Akikawa, and the reply was very clear.
[Approved!
This is for the benefit of all Uma Musume, so go ahead and do it!] Therefore, they only needed to submit Tachyon’s inventions and the process blueprints, and mass production could begin in the near future.
“That being said, does Tachyon-san have any objections?
After all, you are the main inventor.” “I don’t care about that sort of thing.
If anything, promoting heart rate devices on a large scale makes it more convenient for me to collect data on Uma Musume~” Tachyon responded like that, so there was no problem.
“That’s good…” Kaito nodded, but suddenly his vision went dark, and he nearly fainted.
“Onii-san?!” “My, you really are too exhausted, aren’t you?” Rice Shower and Tachyon rushed over at the same time.
This time, Kaito didn’t try to tough it out.
He knew he was indeed too tired.
Tachyon suddenly thought of something, and a playful smile appeared on her face.
“Guinea pig-kun’s condition is very off.
Coincidentally, I took the time to develop a potion that can restore energy.
Let’s use it here!” As she spoke, Tachyon pulled out a bottle of reagent flashing with a mysterious purple light from who knows where.
Rice Shower was somewhat worried.
“I-is this potion safe?” “Mm, it’s definitely harmless to the body, but the specific method of restoring energy hasn’t been verified yet…
But guinea pig-kun is exactly the type of person to be useful in times like this, isn’t he?” “Come on, come on, drink it and see, guinea pig-kun~” Tachyon brought the potion close to Kaito’s face.
He could only sigh.
He had already promised to be her guinea pig, so it wasn’t good to go back on his word now.
“I’ll drink it.” He took the potion and drank it all in one gulp under Rice Shower’s worried and Tachyon’s curious gazes.
After a brief moment of nothing happening, an overwhelmingly strong wave of sleepiness surged up, and Kaito’s eyelids finally couldn’t help but close.
“Onii-san!” “My, could this effect be…?” “Isn’t it just an ordinary sleeping potion…” Holding onto that last sliver of a thought to complain, Kaito fell into a deep sleep.
…
He didn’t know how much time had passed before Kaito slowly woke up from his daze.
Fuzzy sounds reached his ears.
It seemed someone was touching ceramic utensils, along with the sound of pouring some liquid.
Immediately after, the rich aroma of coffee drifted into his nose.
Kaito woke up on the sofa.
The previous exhaustion and nerve pain were completely gone, replaced by an unprecedented vitality.
The laboratory was completely silent at the moment, the light dim.
The sky outside the window was faintly glowing, making it impossible to tell if it was dusk or dawn.
How long had he actually slept?
Thinking this, Kaito wanted to get up, only to find a head resting on his shoulder.
Hair as lush as a forest, a soft face, and the scent of rose shampoo.
Rice Shower was leaning on his shoulder, sleeping soundly.
“Onii-san…” Rice Shower murmured in her sleep.
It seemed she had been keeping watch over him and then fallen asleep.
As for the culprit who caused all this…
Kaito looked at his lower body and found Agnes Tachyon sprawled entirely over him, also fast asleep.
In her deep sleep, Tachyon lacked her usual mad scientist aura.
Her sleeping posture was obedient and quiet, like a gentle beauty.
Her face even looked somewhat cute.
It was just that her thighs, wrapped in thigh-high socks, were tightly wrapped around his calves.
It took Kaito a long time to pull them out without waking her.
Even so, his whole body still retained the body heat of the two Uma Musume.
“Good morning.” Suddenly, a voice rang out.
Kaito only then realized there was a fourth person in the room.
He abruptly raised his head, only to see a pair of bright yellow eyes.
The person’s pitch-black hair was like darkness itself, and her whole figure resembled the female ghost from school legends.
Wait, female ghosts don’t have horse ears.
This plain expression, coupled with the green earring on her right ear…
“Good morning, Trainer-san.” Manhattan Cafe stood in front of Kaito, speaking again while handing him a cup of coffee.
“Good morning, Cafe-san.” Kaito relaxed.
Good, it wasn’t a ghost.
Manhattan Cafe, the Uma Musume who shared this laboratory with Agnes Tachyon and had converted half of the space into a coffee tasting area.
Just as her name suggested, Manhattan Cafe loved coffee.
She was a pure black coffee drinker, the exact opposite of Agnes Tachyon.
The absolute limit she could tolerate was a tiny bit of milk or condensed milk.
She firmly rejected dessert coffees.
Because of her erratic whereabouts and slightly frail body, she was often mistaken for a ghost on campus.
When looking for Tachyon to research items, Kaito had greeted Cafe a few times, so they knew each other.
“What happened?
What time did I sleep until?” “I don’t know when you all fell asleep, but it’s the early morning of the next day.
The reason…
I estimate it’s because Tachyon-san’s potion took effect?” Manhattan Cafe looked at Tachyon with some speechlessness and sighed.
“She probably stayed up to observe the effects.
Rice Shower-san stayed to take care of you, and in the end, they both couldn’t hold on and fell asleep together.” “I suggest you wake them up in a bit.
The Uma Musume are on break starting today, and they might miss the Shinkansen to go home for the New Year.” “Got it.
Thank you, Cafe-san.” “You’re welcome.” Manhattan Cafe nodded but didn’t leave.
Instead, she looked at Kaito with expectant eyes.
Kaito understood and drank the coffee in his hand in one gulp.
“How does it taste?” “It’s very delicious!” “Compared to Tachyon’s cloyingly sweet black tea?” “Cafe-san’s is much better!” “Fufu.” Manhattan Cafe revealed a smile so faint it was almost imperceptible, then spoke to the empty air.
“See, my taste is indeed more recognized by others.” “No cheating.
You have to accept the loss.
Come with me to buy New Year beans today…” Talking to herself like this, Manhattan Cafe happily started brewing a new pot of coffee.
Kaito made no sound, silently feeling his tongue wailing from the bitterness.
For a moment, the only sounds in the air were the comfortable noise of coffee brewing and the breathing of the two Uma Musume sleeping beside him.
“I didn’t expect the last day of the year at the academy to be spent like this.” Kaito smiled, gently patting the soft hair of Rice Shower and Tachyon.
“But it doesn’t feel bad.” He raised his head and looked out the window.
In the academy covered in white snow, the light of a new day was about to rise, shining through the window onto his face.
New Year was almost here.