Kenji didn’t mind at all.
In fact, he was more than happy to take Special Week’s “free offer.”
It matched his earlier thoughts perfectly: if he could get Special Week under his wing, that’d be ideal.
The only question was whether the academy would even allow it.
The restriction on independent recruitment really held trainers back too much.
But honestly, Kenji was actually glad for his “special appointment trainer” status right now.
If he’d gone out recruiting on his own, there’s no way he’d have landed an ultra-top-tier Uma Musume like Silence Suzuka.
Not every trainer was blind to talent; prospects would always be snapped up first by the veterans with experience and connections.
Even if one or two slipped through the cracks, Kenji wouldn’t be able to spot them anyway.
Without using [Taste of the Foot] to check their status first, he had no way of knowing which Uma Musume held better hidden potential.
He couldn’t exactly go licking every foot out there, could he?
Special Week had only come by because she was close with Suzuka.
He couldn’t let this chance slip up; even if he couldn’t secure her all at once, he’d have to raise her favorability first.
“Sure thing.
Take off your shoes first, I need to check the condition of your feet.”
“Understood!”
Special Week kicked her shoes off without hesitation, sat on the chair, and braced herself with eager anticipation for Kenji’s inspection.
Watching this familiar routine from the side, Silence Suzuka felt a spike of anxiety.
Her horse tail flicked nervously in counter-clockwise circles.
It was obvious what was about to happen next, the same thing she’d experienced on her first day here.
After a month of working together, Suzuka had figured out that Kenji confirmed her status by… licking her feet.
Every time he’d come up with some clumsy excuse and pretend it was accidental, but Suzuka wasn’t stupid enough to buy that.
She figured it was probably unique skill, like how some trainers could read a horse’s footing from their running posture.
Kenji was clearly on another level, able to use this special method to fully grasp an Uma Musume’s underlying potential.
Maybe that was why the student council president had warned her not to get too close?
Having your feet licked regularly would definitely be a bit annoying…
But… when it came to Kenji, Suzuka didn’t mind at all.
She was even starting to look forward to receiving this special “status check” every day.
Because of that, Suzuka had started maintaining her feet daily.
Back then she’d only cared for her tail, mostly to reduce air resistance, but now she paid more attention to the feel and scent of her soles… She didn’t want Kenji to think they smelled bad.
So at the thought that Kenji was about to lick Special Week’s instep to check her potential… Suzuka really didn’t want to see it happen.
It just felt wrong inside… heavy, like something was pressing down on her chest.
The frustration bubbled up and made her speak out without thinking.
“Um, Spe-chan… don’t you already have a trainer?
This is… kind of inappropriate, isn’t it?”
Right.
Spe-chan had her own trainer.
A trainer interfering with another trainer’s guidance was pretty rude… Yeah!
Exactly!
That’s academy rules!
It’s definitely not because of my own selfish feelings!
Suzuka tried hard to convince herself, but her expression betrayed how fake it sounded.
“Suzuka?”
As Suzuka’s biggest fan, Special Week naturally picked up on her strange attitude right away.
Another new expression… seeing a different side of Suzuka… But somehow it felt like Suzuka’s favorability toward her had dropped?
Why?
Did she do something wrong?
When it came to romance, Special Week was perfectly in-character for a heroine, completely oblivious.
“Oh?
Little Spe, you already have a trainer?”
Hearing that new intel, Kenji’s hope of recruiting Special Week shattered instantly.
“Yes, I’ve joined Team Sirius.
My trainer and the rest of the team are still on summer camp training, but I came back early to Tracen because I got heatstroke.”
“I see.
Sorry about that, I can’t just step in and guide you.
Interfering with another trainer’s assigned Uma Musume would be seen as poaching.”
It was a shame, but Kenji wasn’t some jerk who’d try to steal another trainer’s Uma Musume.
He didn’t want unnecessary conflict right now, that’d just be a waste of time.
“Ah… you’re right.
Sorry, Aoyagi-san.
I made an unreasonable request…”
“Don’t worry about it.
But I can give you a quick tip.”
Kenji had a sharp eye.
Even without activating [Taste of the Foot], just one glance at Special Week’s feet was enough to spot something off.
He figured pointing it out now would help boost her favorability toward him.
What if Special Week ended up going through a “team expulsion” arc?
Then he could swoop in and pick her up!
“Yes!
Please go ahead!”
“Little Spe, your shoe size seems to be the same as Suzuka’s.”
“Huh?
Really?”
“What I mean is, your current shoes don’t fit you properly.
Your foot length matches Suzuka’s exactly, your left foot is about 0.5 centimeters longer than your right as well.
It’d be better to get a custom pair made that actually suits you.”
“Ahh!
Really?!
Suzuka!
Our foot lengths are the same!”
Special Week already wanted to look up to Suzuka, so finding another thing they had in common made her absolutely thrilled.
“Mm… mm…”
Suzuka, on the other hand, was still stuck with that guilty conscience, plus a sense of guilt for holding her best friend back.
Spe-chan just wanted to get stronger… and she’d gotten in the way out of jealousy… So selfish…
“That’s amazing!
Aoyagi-san!
You knew that just by looking?!
My trainer never mentioned this to me!”
“Every trainer has their own specialty.
I’m just more attentive to details like these.”
“Does that mean I should do the same training as Suzuka?”
“Not necessarily.
Suzuka’s left foot is overused because she’s naturally suited for counter-clockwise tracks, so special training helps her rebalance.
I don’t know your strengths yet, Little Spe, so you should discuss the exact plan with your assigned trainer.”
“Got it!”
Special Week felt this visit had been totally worth it.
Even though their first meeting ended in a ridiculous misunderstanding, learning that Kenji was a responsible and reliable trainer, and seeing that Suzuka wasn’t being mistreated, finally lifted the heavy weight off her chest.
With her worries eased, Special Week suddenly realized she was hungry again… She’d been so anxious about Suzuka earlier that she couldn’t eat properly, she’d only managed three bowls of carrot fried rice at lunch.
At this point, unable to look Special Week straight in the eye, Suzuka spoke with forced nonchalance.
“Um, Spe-chan… I should probably get back to training…”
“Ahh!
Sorry!
Really sorry for taking up your valuable training time… I’ll head out right away!”
Special Week scrambled to her feet, quickly pulled on her shoes, and bowed repeatedly at both of them as she backed out of the training room.
At the door, she turned back toward Suzuka with an invitation.
“So, after you’re done training, Suzuka… let’s go grab dinner together!”
“…Yeah.”
Special Week’s sunshine-bright smile only made Suzuka feel even more awkward.
She managed a weak smile, waved goodbye, and watched her leave.
I’m the one who should be apologizing to you, Spe-chan… I’m really… so cheap…
And yet, even like this, Suzuka didn’t feel regretful at all.
Because when Kenji had turned Special Week down, the relief that made her quietly exhale in secret was completely real.
The time she spent with Kenji in this shabby rookie training room, undergoing their “special training,” had become a private “scene” she refused to share with anyone.
Right now, from here on out… forever!