Kuroha didn't go looking for Haido and Star right away.
He understood the meaning of keeping business and personal matters separate. Since this was an overseas expedition, his first priority was obviously getting his own team settled.
He went straight to Gildtown Manor's management office and spoke with the staff in charge about temporary accommodations for the next month or so.
The Irish had a natural passion for horse-girl racing, and the manor's staff were easy to talk to in general. When they heard Kuroha's group was a foreign team here to compete in next month's Irish Champion Stakes, their attitude warmed even further.
With a casual wave of the hand, they arranged a secluded standalone villa for them—quiet surroundings, excellent views.
…
"Much appreciated."
Standing on the villa's terrace and looking out at the wide training grounds in the distance, Kuroha nodded in satisfaction.
"You're very kind, sir."
The manager—dressed in a well-tailored uniform—gave Kuroha a polite bow, voice respectful.
"If you have any issues with lodging or the training facilities during your stay, please contact us at any time."
"We wish you and your horse girls a pleasant time in Ireland, and victory in competition."
"Thank you for the help."
Kuroha smiled, saw the manager off, then turned back inside.
In the main hall, Fumino set down her luggage and stretched with a long, luxurious sigh in the middle of the high-ceilinged space, her graceful silhouette on full display.
She looked around the two-story villa—tasteful, elegant, and unmistakably European.
"This place is really nice… Five of us could live here easily. Even if you doubled the number, it'd still be spacious."
"Oh—!"
A silver-haired blur flashed through the hall again and again.
Oguri Cap, like a kid wandering into some grand estate for the first time, darted around excitedly—curious about everything: the fireplace that looked nothing like Central's style, the paintings, and all sorts of unfamiliar decorations.
The next second, she zipped right back in front of Kuroha. Her usually blank, spaced-out eyes were bright now, glittering with anticipation.
"Trainer! Are we living here from now on?"
"Yeah."
Kuroha nodded with a smile, looking at the lively grey-haired girl.
"For the next month or so, we'll be staying here. Consider it an adjustment period—getting used to Ireland's yellow-green landscape and the climate."
"But even if the conditions are good, don't you dare get lazy, Oguri."
"Mm-hm! I'll train seriously, I swear!"
Oguri Cap clenched her fist, making her promise with absolute conviction.
"Good. Then go upstairs and pick a room you like."
The moment Kuroha finished speaking, Oguri Cap grabbed Berno Light—who had been wandering around the hall with wide-eyed curiosity—and pulled her toward the stairs, practically bouncing with excitement.
"H-Hey, slow down, Oguri…"
"Ara ara."
From behind them, Super Creek watched, one hand to her cheek, wearing a gentle smile.
…
The hall quieted.
As Super Creek disappeared around the stairwell corner, Fumino turned back—
—and saw Kuroha standing at the open front door, leaning one shoulder against the frame, staring out at the scenery where the morning sun was rising.
Ireland's summer breeze was cool, rolling across an endless sea of emerald grass. Waves of green rippled from nearby all the way out to the distant horizon.
A vast, wordless presence—something that felt like nature itself—seemed to surge in from the edge of the world, and the young man at the doorway closed his eyes without even realizing it.
As if he were listening to the land breathe.
Hands behind her back, Fumino walked over softly and smiled at his profile.
"What's this? Our great trainer thinking about the meaning of life?"
Kuroha's lashes flickered. He slowly opened his eyes, coming back to himself.
"Ah… no. Just thought the wind feels nice here."
He gave a light chuckle and turned toward the beauty beside him.
"You're not going upstairs to pick a room?"
"Don't care. I'm not picky."
Fumino shrugged, flicking a strand of hair away from her ear. "There are plenty of rooms. Let them choose first."
Then she paused, her eyes carrying a teasing edge.
"Speaking of which… don't you have a 'little sister' here? Not in a hurry to go see that horse girl?"
"Not yet."
Kuroha shook his head. "We still had to get the team settled first. Work comes first."
As he spoke, he lifted a hand almost on instinct—so natural it didn't even register—and gently ruffled Fumino's hair.
"You worked hard on the trip, employee."
The moment his palm touched her smooth hair, his words cut off.
Wait.
She was a colleague, not one of his horse girls…
"…"
Kuroha's hand froze in midair. Then, pretending it was nothing, he casually withdrew it.
To cover the awkwardness, he cleared his throat and pivoted immediately.
"Ahem… anyway. I'm going to take a look around later, see if we can rent a car to make getting around easier. I'll leave the three of them to you for now."
"…"
Fumino had been teasing him—then suddenly felt weight on her head, followed by a warm touch and a gentle stroke.
She went completely still. For a split second, her mind actually blanked.
By the time Kuroha pulled his hand away and started talking "serious business," she finally snapped back to reality.
An indescribable rush of embarrassment surged up at once, her face turning red in a heartbeat.
She avoided Kuroha's eyes, not knowing where to look. "Ah… yeah. I'll keep an eye on them. Don't worry."
A delicate silence settled between them.
A few minutes later, it was Fumino—the one who was usually so cool and sharp—who broke first.
"I-I'm going to pick a room too! Do whatever you want!"
She threw the words out, turned around in a daze, and hurried upstairs like she was fleeing.
…
Kuroha watched her slightly messy retreat, blinked, then glanced at his own palm and let out a quiet laugh.
"Sometimes a habit isn't such a bad thing."
Shaking his head, he dragged his suitcase into a bedroom on the first floor and took it without much thought.
After a quick unpack, he stepped out and called up the stairs.
"I'm heading out for a bit! You three behave, alright? Listen to Fumino!"
Almost immediately, voices answered from upstairs, one after another.
"Okay! Got it, Trainer!"
"Yes, Kuroha-san, please be careful!"
"Safe travels, Kuroha-san."
As for Fumino… she was probably still hiding in her room, trying to calm down. She didn't say a word.
Kuroha nodded, opened the door, and walked out.
…
Outside, he went back to the manor's management office first and asked in detail about car rentals, as well as nearby supermarkets, pharmacies, and other everyday necessities.
Once he got a clear answer and a map, he started wandering around the area.
Gildtown Manor really did live up to its reputation as a famous Irish resort destination.
Like that friendly, piston-mouthed driver had said, quite a few Irish legendary horse girls chose to settle here after retirement.
On his walk, Kuroha did spot a few horse girls leisurely drinking tea or jogging at an easy pace.
They weren't giving off the heart-stopping, battle-hardened pressure of active competitors.
But through Kuroha's Body and Breath Perception, it was obvious—these "ordinary-looking" girls all had shockingly powerful physiques.
Most of them were hovering around the thousand-point range.
Which meant that at their peak, before retirement, they were probably around 1100+ across the board.
Even in Central, they'd be considered top-class horse girls.
About the level of Yaeno Muteki.
And if someone like that had a Domain, they'd even be in the same tier as Tamamo Cross.
But because they'd long since retired, the youthful vigor and sharp edge of an active horse girl had already faded and settled inward.
What remained was the same kind of casual ease and unbothered freedom you'd see in Mr. C.B. and Inari One.
"Honestly, the environment here really is great," Kuroha said as he walked, nodding in approval.
The air was clean and damp in a refreshing way—none of that steel-forest pressure you got in a city. And the green everywhere made you feel lighter, calmer.
"Perfect for taking it easy. No wonder so many horse girls choose to live here."
Without realizing it, Kuroha wandered to an outdoor training track.
He already had European track theory down cold, but getting up close to an Irish course was a first.
He walked to the fence and crouched down to examine it.
He hadn't even stepped onto it yet, but just from the way the grass grew—its thickness, the width of the blades, how dense it was—you could tell immediately:
This turf was far heavier than Central's high-speed grass, which was specialized with high-density fibers to maximize speed.
"In a couple days, I'll have Oguri run a lap and see how it feels…"
Kuroha brushed his fingers over the grass, thinking.
It was already nearing evening. The sun was low, and the training grounds were almost empty.
But as Kuroha stood up, his eyes caught movement at the corner of the track in the distance—two figures.
A stern-looking middle-aged woman was speaking while holding a stopwatch.
Beside her, a brown-haired girl—both familiar and unfamiliar—was doing her cooldown stretches.
"Hm?"
Kuroha's brows lifted, his gaze snapping into focus.
The girl's build was nothing like his memory—her childishness had vanished. She was taller now, long-limbed, her muscle lines smooth and beautiful.
But for someone who'd watched her grow up as her "childhood friend," Kuroha recognized her instantly.
"Haido, huh?"
Watching that figure glow under the sunset, Kuroha's lips curved into a nostalgic smile.
"Finally… you've hit True Blooming."
(End of Chapter)
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