Crisis!
A major crisis!
My assigned horse girl is right outside the door, and she's holding a key that can open it. Inside the room, I'm still in my "daughter" form.
If my identity gets exposed, whatever authority I have as a trainer will be completely gone!
Damn it—there are only a few minutes left until I turn back, and it just had to happen at this exact moment?!
Is the universe trying to wipe me out?!
No. I'm staking my dignity as a trainer and a corporate wage slave on this. I have to come up with something—right now!
Come on, brain, move!
"I've got it."
—
"Mm~"
Xingmu hummed as she pulled out the spare key to her trainer's dorm and slid it into the lock.
She'd specifically requested it from the dorm manager. In staff dorms like these, there were usually two keys—one stayed with the resident, and the other was kept by the manager for emergencies. When needed, you could sign it out as long as you proved your identity.
After hearing that Fujimura Hui had taken sick leave, Xingmu guessed he might not answer the door. So she went to borrow the spare key. Now it seemed her hunch was right—her trainer really must be feeling awful.
Click.
"I'm coming in~"
She quietly unlocked the main door and slipped inside on tiptoe.
The room wasn't large—about twelve tatami mats' worth of space. No kitchen, but it did have a private bathroom, which made it a pretty decent place to live.
She swept her eyes across the room at a glance, but didn't see the familiar figure. Her pretty brows drew together slightly.
Huh—he's not asleep in bed?
Did he go out?
No… if he's sick, he shouldn't be out…
Confusion rose in her chest. How could her trainer just vanish into thin air?
Rustle, rustle—
A strange sound came from the corner. Xingmu turned her gaze—toward the bathroom.
Huh… is he showering?
"Trainer, are you in there?" She knocked, but got no reply—only the steady sound of running water from inside.
Don't tell me he fainted in the bath!
"Trainer? Trainer? Hui! If you can hear me, answer!"
She knocked harder. The door seemed to be locked from the inside, and she couldn't open it directly.
He was still sick. If he'd actually passed out in there, that would be a disaster!
What should I do—break the door? But if I smash it in and he's just showering… that's even more awkward…
No. His safety comes first.
Making up her mind, Xingmu took two steps back from the closed door.
If it's come to this… I'm breaking in!
Snap!
The horse girl jumped in place, spun midair, and whipped her leg like a lash into the locked door.
A mere bathroom door shouldn't be able to withstand a horse girl's full-power kick. Normally, with one strike, it would be done for.
But this door… it felt like someone on the other side was deliberately bracing it. Her kick didn't achieve much at all.
"Interesting."
The lack of results only lit Xingmu's competitive streak.
"Hss…"
She drew in a sharp breath, stepped back again, narrowed her eyes, and took a short run-up—then launched herself into the air for a flying kick.
In that instant, she looked exactly like the protagonist of some Sunday morning tokusatsu show, unleashing a finisher on a monster.
Rider Kick!
Bang!
The door groaned under the strain. Under the sheer weight of her strike, it finally reached its limit and slowly collapsed inward.
"Eh…?"
But the scene inside froze Xingmu on the spot.
Fujimura Hui was on the floor, unconscious, with nothing but a towel wrapped around him.
In that moment, Xingmu realized she might have done something very, very bad.
—
A few minutes earlier.
Just before Xingmu entered the room, Fujimura Hui's eyes landed on the bathroom—and lit up.
If I pretend I'm showering, even Xingmu won't barge in to check, right?!
All I have to do is stay in the bathroom for a few minutes. Once I turn back into a man, I can step out like normal and everything will be fine.
I'm a genius!
He acted immediately—within seconds, he dashed into the bathroom, locked the door, and turned on the shower to create the sound of water and sell the illusion.
And honestly, he didn't even need to fake it. After running around all day, he really did need to wash off the sweat.
He tossed his soaked clothes into the hamper and wrapped himself in a bath towel.
Okay. Now I just take a comfortable shower and wait two minutes for my body to revert.
Perfect. Flawless plan.
Rustle, rustle.
Footsteps outside. If nothing unexpected happened, Xingmu had just come in.
Heh. My dear trainee—so you wanted a surprise attack? Sorry. As your trainer, my on-the-fly adaptability still beats yours.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Trainer, are you in there?"
Her clear, crisp voice came through the door.
Right—can't answer yet. If I speak, my voice will give me away…
"Trainer? Trainer? Hui! If you can hear me, answer!"
Her voice grew increasingly agitated, and the knocking sped up.
She's not seriously thinking I fainted in here, is she…?
Watching the door tremble, Fujimura Hui grew uneasy. He moved up and braced it with his hands, gauging how sturdy it felt.
Then, suddenly, Xingmu went quiet.
Did she leave?
Before he could relax, a heavy impact slammed into the door. Cracks spread where the lock met the wall.
If he hadn't been holding it in place, the door would've "retired" on the spot!
What the hell—she's trying to demolish it?!
He hurriedly pulled up his system interface to check the remaining transformation time.
Remaining Transformation Time: 10 seconds
"Yes! If I can just hold out these last ten seconds—"
Boom!
Before he could finish, the door gave way. The flying door panel smashed straight into his head, knocking him out on the spot.
And at that exact moment, the countdown on the system interface hit zero.
—
"Ow…"
He surfaced from darkness, rubbing his swollen forehead and letting out a pained groan.
"Does it still hurt?"
A girl's soft whisper brushed his ear. Something cool pressed gently against his swollen forehead.
Fujimura Hui forced his eyes open.
Right there—so close it stole his breath—was Xingmu's face. Her eyes, like they held starlight, were fixed on him with unmistakable concern.
There was a soft, plush sensation beneath the back of his head. Combined with the way two "mountain peaks" blocked part of Xingmu's face from view… he immediately understood his current position.
She's… giving me a lap pillow?!
"I'm sorry, Trainer. I didn't know you were right behind the door…"
Xingmu's expression was full of guilt. She clearly couldn't forgive herself for hurting him.
She'd only wanted to make sure he was safe—but instead, she'd injured him. The thought was eating her alive.
"Don't make that face. Look—I'm fine, aren't I?"
His head still hurt, but Fujimura Hui tried to smile as he attempted to sit up from the warm softness of her thighs.
Before he could, Xingmu gently pressed him back down with her hand.
"Trainer… just lie still and rest a little. You're already sick—don't push yourself at a time like this."
"Uh…"
He didn't know what to say. He could only let the warmth of her thighs cradle the back of his head.
"By the way, why did you suddenly come here, Xiao Ai?"
"Xiao Ai" was the nickname Xingmu had insisted on—she claimed it would help close the distance between trainer and trainee. And so it became his special way of addressing her.
"Mm… you took sick leave today, right? So I thought I'd come check on you…"
Oh. So it wasn't because of Okino.
Okino… you're still my bro. I forgive you.
"And also, Trainer Okino said he had some important materials he needed to deliver to you. So I came by on the way."
…Never mind. I spoke too soon.
"Thanks. After training all day, you still ran errands for me. Xingmu really is a thoughtful kid."
He lifted a hand, intending to pat her head—but with the lap-pillow angle, he couldn't reach.
Xingmu seemed to notice. She bent down and pressed her cheek lightly into his palm.
This time, Fujimura Hui froze. His hand stiffened in midair.
I meant to pat her head… how did that turn into something this intimate…?
Her sense of distance is way too… delicate. If it weren't me, anyone else could probably trick her and steal her away.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat, forcing himself back into a serious tone to change the subject.
"So—those materials Okino mentioned. Let me see."
"Oh! Right—here."
Xingmu stood up to fetch them, and Fujimura Hui used the chance to finally escape the soft abyss formed by her thighs.
That was close. I nearly fell into depravity.
When she returned, he'd already reset himself to "professional trainer mode." He accepted the materials, flipped through them briefly to confirm everything was in order, then nodded.
"This helps a lot, Xiao Ai."
"Trainer… what are these materials for?"
"Training notes. They're insights Okino and I compiled together. We talk often about how to structure your training, so whenever we come up with good ideas, we write them down. These are his recent reflections on training—basically, a kind of notebook."
"I see…"
Xingmu nodded, but her voice sounded listless.
Noticing her mood, Fujimura Hui lightly tapped the spot between her brows with a fingertip.
"Overthinking again?"
"…Mm."
"I told you—what happened earlier was just an accident. Don't take it to heart, okay?"
He patted his chest to show he was fine, trying to reassure her.
For Fujimura Hui, as long as the matter of Feitong wasn't exposed, everything was still under control.
"That's good…"
She still looked a bit down, but she was clearly much better than before.
"It's getting late. Xiao Ai, you should head back. You've got training tomorrow."
"But…"
"Don't worry about me. Whether it's the illness or this little bump, I'll be fine after a night's sleep. Don't fuss."
"…Okay."
After a good deal of coaxing, Xingmu finally regained some of her usual spirit.
"Then I'm going. Trainer—get proper rest, okay?"
"Relax. Tomorrow morning, you'll see me at full HP!"
He flexed his bicep dramatically as proof of "excellent health," making Xingmu giggle.
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
After she left, Fujimura Hui let out a long sigh and collapsed onto the floor like a deflated balloon.
"I'm exhausted."
Today had hammered him—mentally and physically. All he wanted now was sleep.
The rewards were real, sure. But the fatigue was even more real.
Ahhh… tomorrow I still have to get up early and run Xiao Ai's training schedule. I'm going to die of work—
On the floor, the middle-aged man squirmed like a worm, letting out an indescribable wail.
—
On her way back to the dorms, Xingmu wore a serious expression.
She was thinking about something important.
Fujimura Hui was her most important trainer—there was no doubt about that.
The bond between a trainer and their assigned horse girl was inherently close. She'd always considered him the most important person to her.
But she still didn't know how he saw her.
And that troubled her.
Originally, she could have taken her time and thought through their relationship slowly.
But just now… she'd abandoned that "take it slow" approach.
For one reason—
Just a moment ago, in her trainer's room, she'd smelled the presence of another woman.
Her trainer had hidden it well, but Xingmu could still feel it: he was keeping something from her.
Why would he hide information about a woman from her…?
"Is it a girlfriend…?"
As she walked home, the girl's thoughts twisted into knots.
-------
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