Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live

Oguri Cap's words were gentle, her tone unprecedentedly soft. However, what she said dashed the hopes of everyone who had been full of expectation. Everyone's hearts sank once again, but did some people secretly breathe a sigh of relief?

"Missing a little something? Not enough salt? Or scallions?"

Tamamo Cross scratched her hair, her face filled with unconcealed disappointment. She had a premonition just now that perhaps Kitano was the one who could save Oguri. But the result now was very surprising. She had seen Oguri's excited expression before; they were just one step away from success.

"I think it's not that kind of trivial difference. It's not the taste, but the feeling, right?"

At this moment, the impatient Nakayama Festa finally stepped forward. To be honest, when she saw Oguri silently savoring the food, her eyebrows relaxing, she felt her heart was about to jump out of her chest. She thought this guy was really that amazing, not only hitting it off with Mr. C.B. on the first day but also solving Oguri's long-standing problem in one fell swoop.

Fortunately, it turned out she was overthinking it. Kitano was just someone she and Big Sis had picked up off the street. It was just a coincidence that he turned out to be a talented trainer. Other than that, there was nothing mysterious about him. He was just an ordinary, even pitiful, person.

If he was really that amazing, why would he be so blind as to choose her, the horse girl with the least potential in the Gold Family, as his charge? Thinking of this, Festa's mood calmed down considerably. All her previous worries and faint fears vanished at this moment.

"If the feeling is different, then it's different. In other words, this guy isn't the person you're looking for, right?"

"...I don't know."

However, after hearing Festa's words, Oguri, who was about to nod, for some reason, a sense of crisis from her heart stopped her. Sensing the "trap" in Festa's words, she changed her tune.

The taste of Kitano's cooking was incredibly familiar to her. Although it was a little different from the taste she was searching for, there was no doubt that he was the most promising person to solve her puzzle. At least, she felt that he was a crucial person to solve her doubts, and the only one she had met so far who could affect her.

No matter what, Kitano was very important to her. Even if he wasn't the person she was looking for, he could definitely provide important clues. He was by no means an irrelevant person as Festa had said.

"The taste that Trainer Kitano makes is the closest to the one in my dreams. I think he must be very important to me."

As she spoke, Oguri turned her gaze to the wheelchair-bound Kitano, who still seemed a bit dazed. After a moment's hesitation, she asked in a questioning tone:

"If possible, could Trainer Kitano occasionally cook for me like this? I feel it's just a little bit off. Although I don't know what that last bit of taste is missing, I think if we try a few more times..."

"—Oguri Cap-san, I think you should consider Trainer Kitano's physical condition first."

At this moment, Mr. C.B. could no longer sit by. The usually cool senior's tone held a hint of un-erupted annoyance for the first time. She watched Oguri with a smile, her tone questioning but her attitude firm.

C.B. had watched with bated breath as Kitano cooked for Oguri. She could see he was pushing himself. His legs were shaking so much he could barely stand, but he persisted. And he managed to cook fried rice, a seemingly simple but physically demanding dish.

To be honest, in C.B.'s understanding, the taste of this bowl of fried rice was already meaningless. It was proof of his perseverance and willpower. But she would rather he didn't prove anything and just took care of his body.

And now, Oguri's words meant she still wanted him to drag his sick body and force himself to do things, just for her personal problem.

C.B. knew this wasn't Oguri's intention; she knew this junior wasn't good at expressing her feelings—but her heart just couldn't accept such behavior.

"Trainer Kitano is already pushing himself so hard, can't you see? If the taste you're looking for isn't in his cooking, then you should look elsewhere, right?"

"Yeah, Oguri, you're really not reading the room." This time, even Tamamo Cross didn't side with her. Having watched the whole process like C.B., she was also incredibly surprised by Kitano's willpower and knew he didn't have to do this.

Oguri's psychological problem, strictly speaking, had nothing to do with Kitano, whom she had just met. But the fact that he was willing to help despite his illness made Tamamo feel that Oguri asking for more was a bit rude.

On the other side, Gold Ship was different from the others. She wasn't paying attention to Oguri's situation at all. Her entire focus was on Kitano, whose face was now very pale. All the playful emotions on her face had disappeared. Clearly, his current state didn't allow her to be as relaxed as usual.

"Kitano? Kitano-chan? A-are you okay? You look really pale..."

"Cough, cough... I'm fine. Just a little tired."

However, the coughing Kitano waved his hand. To be honest, his heart had sunk when he didn't get the expected answer at first. He had been so hopeful that the taste Oguri was looking for was because of their shared playthrough.

But fortunately, her quick correction gave him a glimmer of hope again. Although he failed to solve her problem as expected this time, at least he had found the right direction. The taste she was looking for should be related to him.

It's just... he didn't know what that missing part was. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little ashamed—he, Oguri's former trainer, didn't even fully know his own horse girl's favorite taste.

But Oguri's problem couldn't wait; it had to be treated as soon as possible. It's just that his body couldn't support a second cooking session in a short time. After a coughing fit, he gathered his thoughts and said softly to her:

"It seems we didn't get the expected result... But it wasn't a complete waste. At least we still have time to slowly explore."

"So, for now, please make do with my fried rice as a substitute... if you think it can temporarily replace the taste you've been looking for. When I'm feeling a little better someday, I'll try again for you."

"Kitano?!"

However, his words gave Nakayama Festa a big scare. But before she could erupt, he raised a hand to stop her. The words he was about to say didn't stop, continuing to Oguri and Tamamo:

"Also, you absolutely cannot overeat during this time—Tamamo-san, I'm counting on you to supervise Oguri. Don't let her eat alone, in case she loses control again."

"And, I..."

However, before he could finish, a sudden wave of dizziness hit him without warning. He didn't even have time to react before he felt his consciousness being swallowed, and everything before him plunged into darkness.

It was likely because the initial high anticipation had caused his heart to race, and the subsequent disappointing result created a huge emotional contrast. The roller-coaster-like emotional fluctuations, followed by his gradual relaxation, allowed a delayed wave of fatigue to overwhelm his consciousness.

In an instant, his body went limp. Before his consciousness completely disappeared, he only felt himself being caught by a soft touch, successfully avoiding the tragedy of falling headfirst onto the ground.

"Kitano (Trainer Kitano)?!" X4

Suddenly, frightened calls echoed through the dorm room. Before anyone could react, a white blur flashed past, subconsciously catching his falling body.

At this moment, Oguri Cap stared at the body she was holding, not even knowing why she had reacted so quickly. The moment she saw him fall, she had reflexively rushed forward, even though her mind was still in a daze.

Yes, although she had caught him, she was completely stunned. She felt her heart stop for a moment. The scene before her had deeply stimulated her brain, causing a fragment of a memory she had never even dreamed of to appear before her eyes.

In a daze, she couldn't remember everything, but she remembered... countless blinding camera flashes flickering like a nightmare, and vaguely, she saw steam, a winding mountain road... and flashing warning lights.

"Everyone, all reporters, make way! Make way!"

"Oguri Cap's trainer has been in an accident! Everyone please make way, ambulance! Medics, hurry!"

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