"So the Trainer turnover rate is really that high?"
Similar to the technical lectures Kagura had attended before, this lecture also gave Kagura a general understanding of what Trainers usually do and the current shortage of Trainers at Tracen.
Many Trainers are added each year, but the reason for the annual shortage isn't that the profession is dangerous. At least, Kagura didn't hear anything about danger. She felt that it shouldn't be called danger; Kagura thought it should be called 'happy troubles.'
After all, the host said that many Trainers leave their jobs each year to marry the Uma Musume they developed feelings for. Although her intuition told her it shouldn't be that simple, she lacked information that would allow her to think more deeply, so she didn't dwell on the situation.
'Male Trainers sure have it tough…'
If he doesn't want to be taken home by his Uma Musume after training ends, he must be careful to maintain distance and control his feelings with his Uma Musume. After all, if you think about it, spending several years together, sharing hardships and progressing together, it would take a struggle to refuse a confession from a beautiful and adorable girl.
Thinking of this, Kagura suddenly felt a bit fortunate that she was female and an Uma Musume. This kind of happy trouble should be irrelevant to her, so she didn't pay much attention to it. She also didn't listen too carefully to the 'Trainer's Self-Protection' section.
'In that case, the old man giving the lecture must be a very impressive person… in every sense of the word.'
The person speaking was a Trainer named Roppei. He looked quite old; even in her previous life, he would have been old enough to be her father. If what she had heard earlier was true, this old man must have trained many Uma Musume, but he didn't seem to show any signs of leaving his job… in a way, it was a respectable skill.
She could hear many Trainers discussing in front. Kagura heard a few Trainers talking about strange topics like how their Uma Musume had recently become more proactive and aggressive, and how to prevent it. Kagura hadn't experienced that feeling yet, but as an Uma Musume, listening to such discussions here still felt a bit subtle.
'I think I understand what Miss Hayakawa wanted me to keep secret…'
…After the lecture ended, Kagura stayed in her seat to organize some of the important information she had noted down. Seeing that most of the people around her had already left, and Tojo Hana and Nishizaki Ryu had also gotten up and walked towards the exit, she also got up, ready to leave. It was almost noon, and soon she would have to go and get Symboli Rudolph for lunch.
'I forgot to check on Soshi this morning. I wonder if Soshi ate properly. I'll make her lunch and bring it up for her.'
Casually grabbing an unopened bottle of water from the venue, Kagura held her notebook with one hand, pressing it against her ears, and quietly left the venue, slipping out to the Track outside the Teaching Building.
It was almost noon, and 11 AM in summer was when the sun was most intense. Even an Uma Musume wouldn't usually appear on the Track at this time. Logically, that should be the case, but Kagura, passing by the Track, noticed that there was someone there.
'Who would be running here in the middle of the day?'
Kagura stopped beside the Track, curious as to who would be running there at this hour.
It was an Uma Musume girl with sky-blue hair. Her steps weren't powerful; in fact, she looked visibly weak. Her posture was also far from as firm and healthy as Symboli Rudolph's. Compared to them, she was like a wilting flower, struggling to support her body in the wind.
'This child's condition is completely wrong!!'
Seeing the Uma Musume staggering on the Track, even someone without medical knowledge could tell that she was not in a good state. After all, the weather at this time was clear, and even an Uma Musume couldn't resist it.
Knowing the situation was dire, Kagura didn't continue to observe. She put down the things in her hands and immediately chased after her, starting a great escape. The staggering Uma Musume, who was constantly slowing down, naturally couldn't outrun her. However, the Uma Musume also seemed unable to maintain her posture, her body already leaning forward and about to fall—
"I caught her!!"
As the blue-haired Uma Musume fell mid-air, Kagura, who was a head shorter than her, finally ran to a position where she could block her. She immediately reached out and hugged the falling Uma Musume, letting her lean on her shoulder. Since she wasn't as tall as the other party, Kagura quickly adjusted the other party's posture, then carried her on her back and ran towards the shade of the trees by the Track.
'This child must have heatstroke. Why is she exercising on the Track in the middle of the day?? Where is her Trainer??'
Kagura carefully placed the blue-haired Uma Musume on the grass under the shade of the trees, arranging her in a posture convenient for rest and drinking water, while opening the bottle of water she had just taken from the venue and feeding it to her.
Logically speaking, no Trainer would assign training tasks to an Uma Musume at this time. At least, Tojo Hana and the others wouldn't pull someone out for training at this hour. Kagura was curious what this Uma Musume's Trainer was thinking, but she looked around and didn't see any Trainer's shadow.
"No one in charge??"
Not seeing a Trainer, it could only mean that this Uma Musume's Trainer was not present at all. Otherwise, in this weather, a Trainer would certainly not dare to go out to train and leave without permission, unless it was truly a Trainer with abnormal morals. In that case, Kagura would have to consider reporting it to Symboli Rudolph.
The blue-haired Uma Musume, whose body temperature was too high, was breathing in small gasps, making no response to Kagura's movements. It seemed she had lost consciousness.
Kagura took out the towel she carried with her from her pocket, wet it with some water, and placed it on the Uma Musume's head. Fortunately, this Uma Musume was dressed rather lightly, and her heatstroke symptoms were not severe. Based on experience, Kagura estimated that the child would wake up soon.
"What a silly child, why are you so hard on yourself…"
Seeing the blue-haired Uma Musume's complexion gradually return to normal, Kagura finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was also at this moment that Kagura saw a familiar man running out from the direction of the dormitory building, rushing onto the Track and looking around, finally fixing his gaze on Kagura under the tree and the blue-haired Uma Musume beside her.
"I remember you, the Mejiro Family's Trainer. What's wrong? Are you looking for something?"
"…My previous abrupt contact was quite a disturbance to Miss Kagura. I apologize for that."
"No need to apologize, I didn't really mind… By the way, this is your Uma Musume, right? What are you thinking? Letting her run at this time? Even if your prestigious family pursues results, you can't oppress an Uma Musume like that, can you? If I hadn't just happened to pass by here, this young lady would have collapsed on a Track that was over fifty degrees."
Seeing the other party running straight towards her, Kagura already guessed that this blue-haired Uma Musume was from the Mejiro Family. She straightened her expression, and her tone became serious.
"Sorry! Sorry! It was our supervisory oversight! Thank you, Miss Kagura, for lending a timely hand to rescue our young lady! We also discovered Miss Al Dan wasn't home this morning and have been searching for her everywhere, which led us here..."
The Trainer profusely apologized to Kagura, while squatting down to observe the still unconscious blue-haired Uma Musume on the ground—her identity finally clear. Kagura had heard this name from Speed Symbol; she knew about this sickly Uma Musume named Mejiro Al Dan.
It seemed that Mejiro Family's Trainers were also unaware of Al Dan's whereabouts, which meant that Al Dan's decision to run at this time and place was her own, without her Trainer's consent.
'Isn't this child sickly? Why is she running to train in such strong sunlight? Is she trying to make things difficult for herself?'
Kagura wondered inwardly.
Soon, Kagura saw a large group of doctors, servants, maids, and others following from the same direction, carrying various first-aid supplies. Kagura knew there was likely nothing more for her to do here.
"You can handle her situation, right? Then, I won't stay here any longer."
Kagura removed her hand from Al Dan's head and stood up, preparing to leave. The not-yet-awake Al Dan seemed a bit reluctant, looking up as if wanting to rub against her small hand, but she couldn't rub against Kagura's palm as she wished.
"Miss Kagura, thank you for your timely help. We would like to invite you to the Mejiro Family for a meal. Do you have time?"
The people who arrived found that Al Dan's condition had greatly improved, and regaining consciousness was only a matter of time, so they extended an invitation to Kagura.
"Never turning a blind eye to those in need is my principle. There's no need for thanks. Besides, I have work today, so please allow me to decline your invitation."
"...It's alright. Whenever Miss Kagura has time, the Mejiro Family will always welcome your arrival. We also wish Miss Kagura smooth sailing with her work."
"Thank you ~ You too ~"
Kagura, who had already walked some distance, did not turn around. She merely raised her hand and waved to the large group from the Mejiro Family behind her, also sending her response to their blessings.