“Oh~ I’m saved!” In the laboratory at the top floor of the activity building, Tachyon was sitting in an office chair by the window, enjoying the pleasant breeze and continuously shoveling food into her mouth with chopsticks.
The chopsticks belonged to Kaito, and the food was Kaito’s portion.
“This was supposed to be the extra portion I prepared for myself, taking Rice Shower’s massive appetite into consideration…” Kaito twitched the corner of his mouth.
Over the past four days, he had already gone two days without eating lunch.
But seeing Tachyon looking at him pitifully like a starving hamster at the time, Kaito’s heart had softened, and he gave her his lunch.
“Mm, delicious, delicious.
You have quite a talent for cooking, Trainer-san.
I’m almost tempted to recruit you as my assistant!” Tachyon looked very satisfied with the lunch and praised Kaito lavishly.
At the same time, she was also evaluating the dishes she was putting into her mouth.
“Mmhmm, the roasted beef tenderloin provides protein, and the vegetables offer more vitamins compared to the cafeteria’s choices.
The seasoning was also done without destroying the nutrients.
I see, I see…” As she analyzed it, the boxed meal in Tachyon’s hands was soon empty.
“What a valuable nutritional replenishment!” Saying this, Tachyon put down the empty box, looked at Kaito, and puffed out her chest as she continued.
“Then allow me to reintroduce myself.
I am Tachyon, a researcher curious about the limits of an Uma Musume’s speed and constantly exploring for that very reason!” “Precisely because of that, I pay little attention to the inefficient behavior of eating, which led to me collapsing from failing to replenish my energy in time after my research…
How careless of me.” “Hm?
You’re asking what research made me forget to eat?
Why, it’s your training program, Trainer-san!” Tachyon abruptly changed the subject and leaned in close to Kaito, who felt a question arise in his mind.
Wait, who asked you?
But Tachyon paid no mind to the expression on his face and continued on her own.
“This is the first time I’ve seen such a rational training method.
Compared to this, other theories on Uma Musume training are far too crude and inefficient.” “Trainer-san, I’m so curious!” (Kininarimasu!) Tachyon leaned in even closer, and Kaito could even feel her breath on him.
“Whether it’s your training methods or your culinary research, where on earth did you derive these theories from?
How many brilliant ideas I don’t know about are hidden inside that brain of yours?
What kind of results would an observational experiment on you produce?
Could it let me see the signs that represent the limit of an Uma Musume’s speed?” “So, please let me observe your daily training up close!” Tachyon stated her request.
Though it was phrased as a request, it felt more like a command.
Egocentric, whimsical, unrestrained.
Her eyes, devoid of highlights, constantly revealed a manic yet beautiful color.
This was Tachyon, Tracen Academy’s foremost scientist.
Love it or hate it, it was a very charismatic personality.
If the Kaito from his past life had encountered a woman with this kind of personality, he would have undoubtedly agreed to her request subconsciously.
But now, he was Rice Shower’s Trainer.
So Kaito took a deep breath.
Instead of answering immediately, he proposed an idea.
“Tachyon-san.” “Mhm.” “I do have quite a few concepts I want to put into practice.” “Oh, so you’re going to agree?” “Not yet.
I hope to make a deal with you, Tachyon-san.
Once the deal is completed, you can observe our training.” “Hmm, what kind of deal?” “I want to borrow your knowledge and skills to develop a tool for Uma Musume training.
Its specific function would be to detect pulse and heart rate, recording the magnitude of their changes as exercise intensity varies…” Kaito roughly explained the functions and principles of the heart rate monitor to Tachyon.
If he could rely on this genius scientist to build it, that would be perfect.
True to her name as a genius, Tachyon had a sudden realization after briefly listening to Kaito’s explanation and clapped her hands, which were hidden by the sleeves of her white lab coat.
“I see, what a fascinating and brilliant idea!” “Will you be able to make it?” “I will make it.” Hearing Tachyon’s confident response, Kaito breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately pricked up his ears.
“However, I also want to add a condition to the deal on my end.” Saying this, Tachyon rested her hand on her cheek and gave Kaito an unfathomable smile.
“Trainer-san, I’m becoming increasingly curious about the structure of your brain.
Therefore, I hope to invite you to become the little guine…
oh no, the assistant for my experiments once our cooperation begins.” “Of course, the assistant work won’t take up your time as a Trainer.
How about it, is that acceptable?” Did she just say guinea pig?
Memories that didn’t exist instantly flashed through Kaito’s mind, like drinking some mysterious potion and his whole body starting to glow…
But he agreed anyway.
After all, Rice Shower’s training came first.
“Excellent!” Tachyon stood up satisfactorily and extended her hand, which was swallowed by her sleeve.
“Regarding the heart rate monitor, I will give you the product within a week.
After that, I’ll be counting on you to cooperate with the assistant work, guinea-pig-kun~” This girl isn’t even pretending anymore…
Kaito smiled speechlessly, then reached out and shook her hand.
“I look forward to working with you, Tachyon-san.” …
Saturday, on the mountain roads near Tracen Academy.
In the afternoon, a crisp autumn breeze blew through the mountains, swaying the sea of golden leaves and creating a refreshing rustling sound.
On the road, Kaito was driving a common sightseeing buggy, following behind Rice Shower, who was running up the mountain, while holding a megaphone and shouting.
“Don’t lose heart, Rice Shower!
Put more distance between yourself and the sightseeing buggy!” “Yes—” Rice Shower struggled to maintain her speed, running vigorously up the sloped mountain road.
Her slender, petite legs swung powerfully in rhythm, far from reaching the point of exhaustion.
“She really is a girl with incredible stamina.” Kaito couldn’t help but sigh in admiration from the vehicle.
What they were doing now was the third exercise in speed training, called steep slope sprints.
It involved rhythmically sprinting and jogging on an incline to improve stamina for running uphill.
The Heather Stakes that Rice Shower was going to participate in was a 2000m race at the Hanshin racecourse.
There were uphill sections at the two crucial turns during the race, so uphill training was highly effective.
Choosing to train on the mountains outside the academy also helped keep Rice Shower’s mind and body comfortable.
After two sets of training, the two of them finished today’s session.
“Great job out there, Rice Shower.” “Thank you, Onii-san!” Kaito handed Rice Shower a towel and some soda water.
Rice Shower skillfully wiped the beads of sweat from her fair neck while opening the bottle cap with one hand to drink.
Compared to the first day, Rice Shower and Kaito were interacting more casually now.
Although she still used a very respectful tone when calling him “Onii-san”, she no longer said things about being unworthy of Kaito.
This was also a sign that their relationship had improved.
“Come to think of it, tomorrow is Sunday.” Rice Shower suddenly spoke up.
Because Kaito wasn’t the type of Trainer who liked to train his horse girls to death, he gave Rice Shower Sundays off.
But for Rice Shower, who had never missed a training session, this was somewhat unfamiliar, so she gathered her courage to ask for his advice.
“What does Onii-san usually do on his days off?” Kaito thought for a moment.
If it were up to his personal inclinations, he might go check on the progress of Tachyon’s research, but she had been locking herself in the laboratory for the past few days, so barging in wouldn’t be a good idea.
Moreover, if he told Rice Shower to rest but didn’t set a good example by working overtime himself, he wouldn’t have much persuasive power.
“Relax, of course.
Whether it’s inviting a friend to watch a movie, going out camping, or just browsing the malls, the point is to restore your energy to the fullest!” Saying this, Kaito looked at Rice Shower’s troubled, frowning face and couldn’t help but smile wryly.
It seemed this girl didn’t have any friends to go out with…
Thinking this, his gaze drifted to Rice Shower’s feet, to the sneakers she was wearing.
These shoes had already been somewhat worn out when the two of them first met, and now they had finally reached the point of being completely ruined.
Kaito thought for a bit and made a suggestion to Rice Shower.
“Rice Shower-san, do you want to go buy some new shoes together tomorrow?” “Eh, w-with Onii-san?
But…
Onii-san rarely has time off, right?” “For me, just being with Rice Shower is enough to recharge my spirit!” “Mmph!” Rice Shower hurriedly covered her face with the towel, but failed to hide her pointed ears that were standing straight up.
She nodded earnestly.
“Thank you for the invitation, Onii-san.
Rice Shower will go tomorrow!” Kaito smiled, and Rice Shower smiled back.
On the mountain road lined with golden maple trees in the evening, the girl of the blue roses felt her heart leaping with joy.
Tomorrow, she was really looking forward to it!