"It's so hot."
Looking out the window, which was like a giant steamer under the sun, Seiun Sky slumped over her desk in the Director's Office, enjoying the cool air conditioning.
"...Why is this summer so hot?"
Looking at the bright sunshine outside the window, Seiun Sky couldn't help but complain.
...In previous summers, the temperature rarely exceeded thirty degrees, but this summer, the highest temperature can reach a terrifying nearly forty degrees!
In such hot weather, I can't find the motivation to do anything...
"Trainer, can I skip this afternoon's training?"
Seiun Sky, lacking motivation, said lazily.
"...Have you become lazy recently?"
Saito Asuka looked at the Black-haired Uma Musume, whose face was flattened from lying on the desk, and began to worry about her training condition.
"I'm not being lazy."
Seiun Sky, still lying on the desk, lazily raised one hand to protest, then the next moment, it fell back onto the desk with a thud, as if her bones had been removed: "...It's just that the recent temperature is too hot, so I just don't have any energy, okay?"
"Yes... why is the weather so hot lately?"
Saito Asuka, in complete agreement with what Seiun Sky said, glanced out the window.
Although it was only nine in the morning, the temperature outside was already enough to make one uncomfortable.
It's already so hot in the morning, so in the afternoon...
Thinking of this, Saito Asuka glanced at the Black-haired Uma Musume, who was sprawled on the desk with an expression that said, 'I'm already a salted fish.'
"Hmm, then let's do that."
After a brief thought, Saito Asuka nodded.
"...What?"
The Black-haired Uma Musume, still lying on the desk, asked lazily.
"Didn't you ask if you could skip this afternoon's training? I've approved it."
"Eh?"
Seiun Sky was stunned when she heard Saito Asuka say this, then she propped herself up with her hands on the desk and sat upright.
"Is it really okay?"
Seiun Sky, who had only said it casually, looked at the man sitting behind the desk in surprise: "And Trainer, when I want to be lazy, shouldn't you educate me properly, tell me not to be lazy, and insist on training?"
"...I thought about it carefully, and I think you have a point."
After a brief silence, Saito Asuka put down his pen and struck the classic pose of a certain commander in an anime: "So, this afternoon's training will continue."
"...Oh? Trainer, did I say something just now?"
Her expression stiffened, then Seiun Sky averted her gaze and tried to act as if nothing had happened.
"Well then... that's that."
Seeing Seiun Sky avert her gaze, Saito Asuka picked up his pen again and finalized what he had said earlier: "...If you think this afternoon's training should proceed as usual, then I would be very happy to help you fulfill that wish."
"..."
Seiun Sky stopped talking and continued to lie on the desk like a salted fish.
Then, silence fell over the room once more.
"...So boring."
However, the room had barely been quiet for a few minutes before it was broken again by the Black-haired Uma Musume's sigh.
"Trainer, do you have anything fun in this room?"
Seiun Sky, raising her head again, idly twirled her long hair with her fingers: "Also, haven't you finished processing today's documents yet?"
"Not yet."
Saito Asuka replied without lifting his head, his hands not pausing for a moment: "There are an unexpectedly large number of documents to process today."
"Unexpectedly large?"
Seiun Sky shifted her gaze from Saito Asuka and landed on a smaller stack of documents beside his hand.
"...Isn't that all that's left?"
"Those you're looking at are the documents I've already processed."
Saito Asuka freed one hand and pointed to his right: "These are the documents that haven't been processed yet."
"Why are there still so many?"
Seiun Sky expressed her incomprehension: "Trainer, weren't you processing them when my morning training started?"
"...I want to know too."
Saito Asuka sighed, covering his forehead with his hand.
Why does a school that's about to close down still have so many documents to process?!
Saito Asuka's face showed a pained expression.
...By common sense, shouldn't Himeji Tracen Academy be at its most idle at this time?
"Oh, Trainer."
While he was still complaining in his heart, Seiun Sky suddenly asked: "...Have you decided which race you want me to run next?"
"That... actually, I'm still hesitating."
Saito Asuka frowned deeply: "...I'm wondering whether your next race should continue to be an OP race, or if you should go directly for a G3 race."
"Is there anything to compare?"
Seiun Sky asked in confusion: "Of course, I'd choose to participate in a G3 race."
"As long as I can win a G1 race, Himeji Tracen Academy will be able to escape its current situation faster, right?"
"...As expected, that's the answer."
Saito Asuka sighed, then put down his pen.
"Seiun Sky, are you hiding something from me?"
Saito Asuka looked up and met Seiun Sky's gaze: "...You're like you're being chased by some invisible flood beast right now, doing everything with great urgency."
"Am I? Trainer, you're thinking too much, aren't you?"
The Black-haired Uma Musume, stared at intently by Saito Asuka, replied with a smile: "I just want to fulfill your wish as quickly as possible, that's all. Is there a problem with that?"
"And Trainer, didn't you say before that if I feel unwell anywhere, I should obediently tell you?"
Seiun Sky said with a cheerful smile: "...I'm your first Uma Musume in your career, shouldn't you trust me a little more?"
"...Are you really okay?"
Saito Asuka looked doubtful.
"Yes, yes."
Seiun Sky spread her arms and spun around in front of the man: "...Trainer, look at me, do I look like there's anything wrong with my body?"
"To avoid becoming sickly, I'm working hard every day."
Saying this, Seiun Sky poked her soft cheek with her finger.
"If I become ugly because I'm sick, I'll really cry!"
"...Then I'll believe you for now."
Seeing that Seiun Sky indeed showed no signs of anything being amiss, Saito Asuka finally chose to believe her.
He temporarily set aside his work, took out his phone, and prepared to register Seiun Sky for the G3 race.
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