It's mid-February, and Urara's scheduled race, the February Stakes, is slowly approaching.
During training, I'm still having Urara and King run together frequently. Since they are both sprinters, they are spurring each other on.
Rice's rest has paid off; the bone in her broken left leg has mended perfectly. I had her checked at the hospital, and the X-ray confirmed the bone had fused beautifully. However, just because the bone has healed doesn't mean she can resume training immediately. While I've been encouraging her to walk as much as possible, it would be heartbreaking if she started running and broke it again.
So, we've started her rehabilitation in the pool to avoid putting stress on her legs. The pool at the Tracen Academy is cold in the summer but heated in the winter, so as long as she dries her hair and body properly afterward, she's less likely to catch a cold. Rice is in high spirits, happy to finally be able to train again, but I have to be careful she doesn't overdo it.
(Rice... her stamina has definitely dropped...)
We've been using the pool for training since the team was formed, but her swimming time has fallen compared to before. She says her body feels light after more than a month of rest, but her muscles have atrophied since the injury. She'd probably be slower on the track too.
I've been careful with her diet to prevent weight gain while ensuring she gets plenty of calcium and supplements like Bonepep. I wonder what effects this rehabilitation will have.
I've been tracking her calorie and nutrient intake, and weight changes, based on her food reports. But weight can fluctuate daily, so it's only a reference. Still, having these records makes a huge difference. When I told Rice I would manage her recovery properly, she nodded obediently. I've been putting together a rehab plan for her full recovery, cross-referencing with data from my senior colleagues at Spica, but I don't know how things will turn out...
While all this was going on—training Urara and King and rehabilitating Rice—something happened on a certain day.
"…?"
I walked to work and felt a strange sense of unease as I passed through the main gate of Tracen Academy. The air felt buzzing, a little giddy, like just before a festival.
What could it be? I wondered as I headed to the clubroom. I made my usual coffee and glanced at the newspaper... ah, that's right.
"It's Valentine's Day today."
I muttered this, staring at the date, February 14th, in the newspaper.
Valentine's Day.
It was an event that existed in my previous life and still existed here. Even with the existence of Umas, which didn't exist before, such events seemed to be unaffected.
In this world, too, it was a day when my classmates would get restless in middle school. At Tracen Academy, a place filled with Umas—in other words, girls—the atmosphere was different on Valentine's Day.
I must admit, if you asked if I was looking forward to it, I'd say yes. Last year, I got chocolate from Urara, Rice, Ms. Kiryuin, and Ms. Tazuna. My female colleagues also gave me giri-choco (obligation chocolate). And for some reason, Golshi-chan gave me some too.
I've heard that as you get older, it becomes difficult to eat sweets, but thankfully, my body is young. Last year, when Urara and Rice gave me the chocolates they had worked so hard to pick out, it warmed my heart.
I wonder what this year will be like. King is on the team now; will she give me some? Or maybe she's not interested in these kinds of events. I've heard there's a category called tomo-choco (friend chocolate) as well, so I'd be happy to get some—or so I thought lightly.
Later that day, after training.
I was expecting Urara and the others to arrive soon when I had some unexpected visitors.
"Hey, pops. Mind if I come in?"
"Excuse us."
"Yo. We're comin' in."
For some reason, Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, and Golshi-chan were standing in front of the clubroom.
"You've taken care of me a lot, so here. Giri-choco."
"You also helped me last year... It's giri-choco, but please accept it if you'd like."
"Golshi-chan went all out this year, you know? Here, truffles."
It seemed they came to give me giri-choco because of our connection. The other members of Team Spica were Special Week and Silence Suzuka, but I didn't have as much contact with those two.
"Thanks. By the way, Golshi-chan, what's with these truffles? Where did you get them?"
I took the two wrapped chocolates and the round black object Golshi-chan handed me. They were real truffles. She said she went all out, but if she found them in the mountains, didn't that make them free?
"I was wandering around the mountains looking for treasure and found 'em, you know—black truffles."
"Did you get permission from the owner of the mountain?"
"I hit it off with an old man who was there to cut brush and he gave me permission, so no problem, right?"
"I see... then it's fine."
Black truffles... I've never seen raw truffles before. What should I get for White Day as a three-times-the-value return? If they were free, three times zero is still zero, so maybe I should look for something too.
"Gold Ship, wait! What are you giving him?! And Trainer-san! Why are you so calmly accepting it?!"
"Can't you tell? They're black truffles."
"Hmm... Don't you need to age them to make the scent stronger? I've never cooked truffles before."
I heard they give off a good aroma when aged and sliced, but they barely smelled now.
"They say they're good if you slice 'em."
"They might go well with wine... If you were an adult, Golshi-chan, I'd invite you for a drink."
"Golshi-chan is forever 17, so that's not happening."
"I guess so... What a shame. It would be fun to drink with you, Golshi-chan."
I genuinely felt it was a shame. As I thought this, Mejiro McQueen looked at me as if I were some kind of unknown creature.
"I thought this during the mock race at the summer training camp last year... but you get along so well with Gold Ship... are you actually a bit unhinged, Trainer-san?"
Whoa, Mejiro McQueen is saying something amazing.
"Unhinged...? Golshi-chan is a good kid, and I'm just a normal trainer, you know?"
"Gold Ship is a good kid...?"
Huh? Why are you backing away? What does Golshi-chan look like to Mejiro McQueen?
"Hey, hey, man. What are you gonna give me for my return gift?"
"Since you gave me black truffles, I guess white truffles would be a good return gift."
"Because it's White Day?"
"Because it's White Day."
We looked at each other and laughed, then high-fived. White truffles. Since I got black truffles, white truffles would be a perfect White Day gift. Because it's White Day.
As Golshi-chan and I high-fived, Mejiro McQueen's expression became even more like she was looking at an unidentifiable creature.
"Rice-san and the others... is he really a suitable trainer for them?"
"Mejiro McQueen-chan, where did that assessment come from?"
"Just the fact that you get along and click with Gold Ship... I have my reservations."
Oh no, she's backing away with a serious face. It's like the reaction of someone who just encountered a suspicious person on a dark street.
"What's up, Golshi-chan? Did you do something to her?"
"Nope? I'm not doing anything weird, but McQueen is always like this, you know? Isn't that harsh?"
Hmm... Golshi-chan is a very considerate person. She probably teases Mejiro McQueen in a way that encourages her without her realizing it.
"I never thought Gold Ship was this close with Kitalpha's trainer..."
Mejiro McQueen muttered this as she moved away. But then again, I was once chased by Golshi-chan, who was playing shogi with a shogi board on the grass...
"This guy, he used to have eyes like a dead Kurulposso, but he's gotten better over time. Golshi-chan finds it easier to talk to him now?"
There's that mysterious creature again. I can't find it when I search online... a creature that does not exist in this world... no way.
As we were talking, I heard Urara and the others' voices getting closer. They seemed to be heading to the clubroom.
"Ah, hey Rice."
"Huh? Teio-san, McQueen-san, and Gold Ship-san... what are you doing here?"
"Excuse us."
"Yo Rice, we're just hangin' out."
Rice looked confused to see Umas who were normally not in the clubroom. King also looked suspicious, but Urara was her usual carefree self.
Urara yelled, "Yay, Trainer!" and charged at me. This happens pretty often, but you have to brace yourself to catch her, which shows how incredible an Uma's power is. After catching her, I lifted her up for a taka-taka (like "up, up").
Then, Tokai Teio answered Rice's question with a wry smile.
"We came here for two reasons. One was to give pops Valentine's chocolate."
"—Chocolate, for Big Brother?"
"U-um... It's giri-choco? I swear it is?"
Hm? While I was doing taka-taka with Urara, the atmosphere changed? Mejiro McQueen is looking at me as if she's pleading for help, and Golshi-chan is watching Rice with an amused expression.
"Look, Rice, giri-choco and truffles."
"Giri-choco...? Truffles? Huh? Truffles?"
Rice, who had been full of fighting spirit, widened her eyes at the truffles in my hand. Her energy drained, and her gaze wandered.
"Um... So, what was the other reason?"
Rice, who had regained her composure, asked. I guess hearing that I was given black truffles along with giri-choco would calm anyone down.
When Rice asked, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen exchanged glances. Then, they both turned to Rice with serious expressions.
"First, we wanted to ask... how's your injury?"
"It's much better... Big Brother is taking good care of me, and I'm currently doing rehab by swimming."
"In that case... after rehab, you plan to return to active racing instead of retiring, correct?"
"...? Yes, of course. Rice wants to run more."
They were asking something that might be seen as scouting from rivals... but Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen were serious. I put Urara down on the floor and watched the exchange silently.
"When you return, will you continue in the Senior class? Or will you move to the Dream Series?"
"...Right now, I'm thinking of the Dream Series..."
The current plan is to move to the Dream Series. It's too difficult to run with short intervals as a Senior as before. I thought the Dream Series, with races every six months, would be easier on Rice's body.
Hearing Rice's answer, Tokai Teio nodded deeply, and Mejiro McQueen smiled somewhat fleetingly.
"Then, we can still run as rivals, can't we?"
"Yeah."
Their reaction made me frown. It seemed that Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen would also graduate from the Senior class and move on to the Dream Series.
"Rice, I want to beat you. And I also want to beat Kaicho. That's why I've decided to challenge the Dream Series."
"I don't have the desire to beat President Rudolf... but I do want to beat Teio and Rice-san. If possible, on the Dream Series stage."
Rice's expression also became serious as she listened to the two's earnest words.
"Yeah... Rice wants to compete with you both too."
Saying this, the three of them smiled at each other. Urara, King, Golshi-chan, and I all sensed the atmosphere and said nothing. Mejiro McQueen, noticing the glances around her, scratched her cheek as if embarrassed.
"Well, Teio aside, I've been racing for a long time, so I'm nearing my limit for running continuously in the Senior class... I think I can give my all if it's the Dream Series once every six months."
"I've also broken my leg twice and had long periods of rest, so I feel my legs are reaching their limit too... I don't think I can run at the same pace as last year, with the Triple Crown in spring and autumn."
Tokai Teio continued after Mejiro McQueen... so that was how they felt, too.
I felt a sense of sadness in the expressions of Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, and most of all, Rice, but I listened to their exchange in silence.
After Tokai Teio and the others left.
I was about to start preparing for training when Urara and the others handed me something.
"Here! Trainer! It's Valentine's chocolate!"
"Big Brother... um, this year, I tried to make it myself."
"It's not chocolate, but... it's a Valentine's gift."
Urara's gift was wrapped a bit messily, like Rice's homemade one... what is it? It felt heavy. Rice's chocolate was beautifully wrapped, and King's... ah, it smells like coffee.
"Urara's... can I open it?"
"Yes! Of course!"
Smiling at the misshapen wrapping, I checked what was inside. A giant piece of chocolate, over 20 centimeters long, appeared...
"It's carrot chocolate! I woke up early and made it with Rice-chan!"
"Carrot chocolate."
Carrot-shaped chocolate... or maybe a carrot coated in chocolate, given the weight? I wasn't sure, so I decided to eat it right away. A little pre-training snack.
"Nngh... huh?"
With a crisp sound, I tasted the sweetness of chocolate and the flavor of carrot... hmm, this carrot is raw... I chewed the chocolate-covered carrot. Snap, crunch. The carrot is raw, but carrots in this world taste good because of the Umas. So this carrot chocolate... hey, it's actually delicious...
"Yeah, it's good. Thanks, Urara."
"Hehe..."
It tasted surprisingly good. Urara smiled happily, knowing from my expression and voice that I meant it.
"Trainer, about my gift."
"Is it coffee?"
"Yes, it is. I found a shop that sells good beans. I figured you'd get so much chocolate you'd be sick of it."
Saying that, King took the coffee beans she had given me.
"I'll brew it for you. Wait a moment."
"Oh, thanks. I'm looking forward to it."
King was going to brew it for me herself. As I munched on the carrot chocolate, the aroma of coffee filled the clubroom.
"Here you go."
"Thanks. I'll have some."
She brewed it black, just the way I like it, without sugar or milk. My mouth was already sweet from the carrot chocolate, so black coffee was perfect.
"...Yeah, this is good."
Not only was the brewing to my liking, but the beans themselves had a flavor I enjoyed. This is like Blue Mountain No. 1...
"G-good."
The price worried me a bit, but seeing King's soft, relieved smile, I decided not to say anything rude and washed my words down with coffee.
"Now, let's have Rice's chocolate."
Saying this, I unwrapped the chocolate Rice had given me. Inside was a container of raw chocolate.
"Oh, Rice's chocolate is delicious too. Yeah, it's so good for a homemade one... you could become a pastry chef, you know?"
I was surprised by how delicious it was. When I praised her, Rice smiled shyly.
"T-that's too much praise, Big Brother... Rice is getting embarrassed..."
"No, it's really delicious. I can cook, but I've never been good at making sweets..."
She was good at making sweets, but more than that, the feeling she put into making it herself made me happy. Urara's... well, at least she washed the carrot, but the impact of a whole carrot... But all in all, it was a very happy Valentine's Day.
But it wasn't over yet.
I received giri-choco from Ms. Kiryuin and my female trainer colleagues, as well as from Ms. Tazuna, and was thinking how much effort the White Day return gifts would be this year when my smartphone notified me of a new message.
『Trainer-san, I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy. Could you come to the main gate of Tracen Academy if you have a moment?』
The sender was Dia-chan. It was already past 6 PM, after training had finished for the day.
Being February, it was already dark at 6 PM. I felt a sense of both surprise and "oh, no" as I put my phone in my pocket.
"Sorry, it seems Dia-chan is at the main gate, so I'm going to go check. Rice, lock up after you're done changing."
I said this and hurried to the main gate of Tracen Academy. As the message said, Dia-chan was there. And Kita-chan was with her. They were both in plain clothes but weren't carrying their school backpacks. They had backpacks, so they probably went home and came back.
"Trainer-san!"
"Oh, Trainer-san."
Dia-chan charged at me with a smile, while Kita-chan looked somewhat exasperated. I remembered Urara charging at me just moments ago and braced myself to catch Dia-chan.
"Whoa... you're full of energy. But you two, what time is it?"
When I asked, Kita-chan quickly looked away. But Dia-chan, as if she didn't hear me, rubbed her head against my stomach... It was somewhere between ticklish and painful.
"Dia-chan? I'm trying to have a serious talk here."
"My mom gave me permission!"
"That's not the point..."
It was already dark, and two elementary school students were out alone... They're Umas, so they might be able to run away if something happens, but it's still dangerous. I placed my hand on Dia-chan's head and gently pulled her away. Dia-chan's face fell.
"I'm sorry, Trainer-san... but I really wanted to see you today..."
"And that's because?"
When I asked, Dia-chan took a boxy object out of her backpack.
"This is my Valentine's chocolate! I really wanted to give it to you today!"
"Trainer-san, I brought chocolate too. Please accept it."
I was shocked to receive Valentine's chocolate from Dia-chan and Kita-chan. I didn't know if I should be angry or happy, but...
"Sigh... at least come while it's still light out. But thank you, both of you."
They looked up at me with sparkling eyes, and I smiled wryly and thanked them. Dia-chan's eyes shone even brighter, while Kita-chan gave me a wry smile that was mature for an elementary school student.
"Trainer-san, mine is giri-choco, okay?"
"Mine is for real, of course!"
"Hahaha, Dia-chan is so forward."
Some kids their age are a bit precocious. I smiled wryly at Dia-chan's words and patted her head. Dia-chan's eyes narrowed in delight, but she puffed out her cheeks.
"Hey... I'm serious, you know?"
"I'm honored. Now, it's dark and dangerous, so I'll walk you to the station. Or maybe I should take you all the way home?"
I know their parents' phone numbers, so maybe it's enough to just have them pick them up at the station? I'll contact them and decide.
Thinking this, I walked Dia-chan and Kita-chan to the nearest station.
"Mmm... still... big... no good..."
On the way, I heard Dia-chan mumble something. I asked her what was wrong, but she just smiled brightly and didn't answer.
A few days after Valentine's Day, on a weekend.
It was Saturday, and Urara's February Stakes was the next day.
Training was light for Urara since her race was tomorrow. That night—no, in the dead of night—I was at home watching TV.
It was late Saturday night, already Sunday, and I should have gone to bed early because of Urara's February Stakes. But there was something I couldn't miss.
I glanced at the clock.
Japan time: 1:50 AM.
Local time: 7:50 PM.
Since there was a time difference of about six hours, it was inevitable that I was up at this hour. What was I watching?
『The Japanese falcon takes the lead! Smart Falcon continues to lead! Four lengths ahead of the second place! No, the gap is slowly closing to three lengths!』
I was watching a live broadcast of Smart Falcon's Saudi Cup.
『The sand falcon that has soared across the world! With 200 meters left! But can she hold on?! Ah, ah, no?! The rest of the pack is closing in—』
I watched in silence.
『—Japan's Smart Falcon has been defeated by a narrow margin! A neck difference! She's in second place by a neck against a world-class rival!』
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