It turned out that Kitano’s excuse of “sudden acute embarrassment syndrome” was, in the homeroom teacher’s eyes, creative but utterly unconvincing.
Under the teacher’s gentle yet firm gaze, he eventually slunk back to the classroom.
However, he still had a Plan B!
“Hmph, as long as I time it right, you won’t be able to corner me in the classroom, right?”
His plan was perfect: as soon as each class ended, he would burst out with astonishing speed, disappearing in the direction of the boys’ restroom before his classmates could even react.
The powerful ability he had gained after transmigrating, an explosive power comparable to an Uma Musume’s start, was now being used for the most humble purpose in his life—avoiding Uma Musume.
Then, he would carefully wait out the break in the restroom, and at the last second before the class bell rang, sprint back to his seat with that same speed.
The entire process was smooth and fluid, fully demonstrating his superb time management and use of his own abilities.
“Perfect!
This way, even if they want to corner me, they won’t have a chance!” He sat in his seat, secretly commending his own wit.
However, this smugness didn’t last long.
Just before the first class of the afternoon, he noticed several out-of-place, eye-catching figures in the classroom.
Seeking the Pearl, Narita Brian, and Marvelous Sunday.
These three Uma Musume, who should have been sweating on the training grounds, were now sitting in the empty observation seats at the back of the classroom, even wearing training clothes that were easy to move in, as if they were just taking a break and… had come to listen to class?
And their gazes, intentionally or unintentionally, always drifted in Kitano’s direction.
Kitano: “…”
“No way, sir?!
Don’t you all have training?!
Where are your Trainers?
Control them!
Is there any professionalism left?!”
“Coming to observe in a regular classroom?!
Can that excuse be any more far-fetched?!
How did the academic affairs office approve it?!
Oh, right, they’re Uma Musume…
damn it.”
He felt like he was suffocating.
Those three gazes were like invisible searchlights, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Even pretending to listen attentively to class became extremely difficult.
He could feel that if he made any slight move, such as attempting his restroom escape again, those three observers would definitely take immediate action.
Throughout the entire afternoon, Kitano remained in a state of high tension.
He was as if nailed to his seat, not even daring to drink much water, for fear of increasing unnecessary restroom needs.
Every time the class bell rang, it was like a death knell to him.
He could only sit stiffly in place, pretending to meticulously organize his notes or ponder life, cautiously observing the movements in the back row from the corner of his eye.
And those three Uma Musume seemed to be very patient.
They just sat quietly, relatively speaking, in the back, occasionally exchanging a few whispers, but mostly just watching.
“What is this?
A new type of psychological torture?”
“Kill me now…”
Kitano’s perfect plan was completely shattered in the face of the Uma Musume privilege of not playing by the rules.
He now only hoped for the dismissal bell to ring quickly, and then he would definitely escape this troublesome place even faster than he had come!
…
The dismissal bell finally rang, like heavenly music.
Amidst the teasing remarks from his friends—”Kitano-kun, as expected of the man chosen by fate~” and “Is this the destiny of a silent protagonist?”—Kitano felt his fists clench and relax, then clench again.
He was indeed a loyal member of the Going-Home Club, but today, he didn’t rush out of the classroom at the first opportunity as usual.
Instead, under the somewhat surprised gazes of the three Uma Musume, he took a deep breath and, as if resigned to his fate, actively walked toward them.
“Sigh…” He let out a heavy sigh, his face clearly showing the words “I surrender.” “I’m really impressed by you all.
Let’s go, we can talk as we walk, okay?”
The three Uma Musume exchanged glances.
Although a bit surprised, they nodded and followed Kitano’s steps.
After leaving the school gate and merging into the crowd of students leaving for the day, Kitano finally spoke in an almost numb, indifferent tone: “So, young ladies, what exactly do you want?
If you just want to correct my thinking, haven’t I already seen the light and decided to be your fan?
Is that not enough?”
“How can that count!” Narita Brian immediately retorted.
“You’re clearly just humoring us!
There’s no sincerity at all!”
“Marvelous ☆!”
Marvelous Sunday whooshed in to answer, drawing a large star with a trailing tail in the air with her fingertips, her voice exploding like fireworks.
“Speed is just the outer packaging.
Inside, it’s filled with dreams, applause, the arc of manes flowing, and the echoes of ‘Go!’ from the stands!
Understanding these is how you unwrap the innermost surprise egg, oh ★!”
“It’s the power of will, dreams, and everyone’s smiles!” Seeking the Pearl took over, beginning to recite their upgraded theory version, which they seemed to have meticulously prepared that afternoon.
Kitano listened to the words about breaking limits with spirit and soul resonance, which he completely failed to understand, while absentmindedly mumbling “Mm-hmm, uh-huh” and subtly glancing at the surrounding streets.
He led them through twists and turns, and before he knew it, the surrounding crowd gradually thinned, and the buildings became somewhat old and cluttered.
“Almost there…” Kitano mentally calculated the distance.
Finally, at a fork in the road, he stopped and pointed to a narrow street beside them, where discarded construction materials were piled up, clotheslines crisscrossed, and the pavement was uneven.
This seemed to be a forgotten corner of the city plan, full of life but also somewhat dilapidated.
It was Kitano’s secret base for his personal parkour when he felt like it.
“Since you all love running so much, and speak of running as something so sacred…” Kitano turned his head, looking at the three Uma Musume, a mixed expression of helplessness and giving up on his face.
“Then let’s have a race.”
“Eh?” The three Uma Musume froze simultaneously.
“This street, starting from here.
“If I lose, you can lecture me however you want, and I’ll listen attentively.
But if you lose…”
He paused, then said, word for word, “Then please stop interfering with my normal life.
How about it?”
The proposal was so sudden and absurd that the three Uma Musume didn’t react for a moment.
An ordinary male high school student challenging three Uma Musume, whose profession was running and who were exceptionally talented, to a race?
“Ki-Kitano-kun, are you…
saying this because you’re angry?” Seeking the Pearl asked with some concern, thinking he was speaking out of frustration.
“No need to say anything more.” Kitano interrupted her, his tone unusually firm.
“I am perfectly clear-headed.
Of course, I know there’s a huge physical gap between us, so…
you’ll have to give me a handicap.”
He pointed to the obstacle-ridden street.
“Running here, no problem, right?
After all, you’re professional athletes, and adapting to various terrains is what you should do, right?”
The three Uma Musume looked at the street full of traps, then looked at the boy in front of them, whose eyes were calm yet resolute.
They realized he wasn’t joking, nor was it pure anger.
He was serious.
Although they found the challenge itself absurd, Kitano’s attitude of accepting defeat if he lost, but demanding freedom if he won, instead stirred their competitive spirit as Uma Musume, and…
a sense of responsibility to make him truly understand the meaning of Uma Musume.
“Good!” Narita Brian was the first to accept the challenge, her eyes sharp.
“We will let you witness firsthand that an Uma Musume’s running is not as simple as you imagine!”
“That’s right!
We’ll make you concede wholeheartedly!” Seeking the Pearl’s fighting spirit was also ignited.
Marvelous Sunday nodded vigorously.
“We will take this seriously!”
The three Uma Musume exchanged glances, then began simply stretching their ankles and adjusting their breathing, their eyes becoming focused.
They were going to treat this seemingly absurd race as a true showdown, using absolute speed and performance to shatter Kitano’s wrong perception!
Kitano watched them get into position, his heart unperturbed, even feeling a little like smiling.
“Plan complete…
they finally took the bait.”
“On this road, speed isn’t the only determining factor…”
“Please bless me with a week of peace and quiet!”
The race was about to begin.
It really helps the fic grow!