On the final weekend before the Debut Race, Kaito went out with Tokai Teio as promised.
In the game world, it had been impossible to go outside. You couldn't see ordinary people either—Tracen Academy was like an isolated island sealed off by invisible walls. Kaito had tried to find loopholes before. He'd observed the cafeteria food, checked supply routes, even wondered whether dedicated transport vehicles existed.
The result?
He discovered that ingredients simply appeared at exactly midnight every day.
Just like item respawns in a game—materials spawning out of thin air in storage.
If items could respawn, then people probably could too. Like the crowd in front of him now—maybe they were just part of the world's refresh cycle.
"Trainer! Where are you looking?" Tokai Teio tugged on Kaito's hand. "Today you're out with me, the great Emperor! Your eyes are supposed to stay on me the whole time!"
Back in the game, Kaito already knew Teio was a willful little horse girl. But after spending time with her in person, he realized she was even more spoiled than he'd imagined.
Sometimes, he couldn't help imagining Teio acting like a smug little brat—the kind whose cute face was perfectly suited to saying things like 'small fry, small fry~'. He'd even tried issuing commands to make her say it.
Unfortunately, those commands never worked.
Which confused him.
Why could he tell Teio to lick something—but not tell her what to say?
Was it a flaw in the world's mechanics… or something else entirely?
"To punish you for spacing out just now," Teio declared, hands on her hips, "kneel down!"
Strictly speaking, Teio wasn't that type—but Kaito still wanted to see her "defeat CG."
Life's three greatest pleasures: eating, sleeping, and teasing Teio.
Let's see what you're planning.
Kaito crouched down. Teio let out a mischievous giggle, lifted one leg, and smoothly swung herself onto his shoulders, straddling him without hesitation.
"From now on, you are this Emperor's royal steed! Forward, Trainer!"
…That's it?
Kaito had been expecting something more dramatic.
Oh well. In the game world, people rode horses. In the Uma Musume world, horses rode people.
Honestly… being ridden wasn't so bad.
Teio's thighs pressed perfectly against the exposed skin above his knee socks. He could smell her citrus-sweet scent, her springy legs brushing against his cheeks like a massive body pillow.
And behind his neck—
There was an astonishing softness.
Tokai Teio really was incredible. No exaggeration.
"So, have you decided where we're going?" Kaito asked casually.
"That's something the Trainer should decide…" Her voice trembled slightly, and the grip of her thighs tightened.
"Teio, don't move around like that—I'm starting to float."
"Trainer… don't talk… your breathing… it's all blowing onto my legs…"
Teio covered her mouth.
Every time Kaito turned his head to speak, his breath brushed against the inside of her thighs. The warmth tickled her sensitive skin, making her restless.
"Your legs kinda smell like cream," Kaito said thoughtfully. "Oh—how about we go to a restaurant?"
"…O-Okay. Let's go to a restaurant."
"By the way, Teio, your legs are really white. Hanging off me like this, they're pretty easy on the eyes."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she shot back. "Are you saying you like white legs, Trainer?"
"I do. They look like dessert. And they're kinda slippery—did you shower before coming out?"
"I took a bath last night!"
"That explains it. You smell really nice."
"Ah! T-Trainer!"
Suddenly, pressure closed around Kaito's neck.
Those once-soft thighs turned into iron clamps, squeezing tighter and tighter.
"Ghk—gonna… die…"
"Trainer! That's ticklish! Stop breathing like that!"
"Teio… I can't breathe… I can't… brea—"
Kaito staggered into the restaurant and collapsed onto a table. Teio hurriedly jumped off him, muttered, "I'm going to the restroom," and fled.
"Sir, may I take your order?" the waitress asked.
Kaito rubbed his neck, still feeling like he'd just returned from the brink of death. After steadying his breathing, he sat up.
"Uh… one honey special drink, a parfait, and two hamburgers," he said, then added, "Oh—and could I get a flyer? One with writing on it."
"A flyer with writing? Of course—please wait a moment."
About thirty minutes later, Tokai Teio returned from the restroom. The flush on her face was gone, her breathing even again—as if all the tension had been released in there.
"Sorry for the wait, Trainer." She wiped her hands with a towel and sat across from him, full of energy.
"This is your honey special, the parfait—and here's a flyer signed by our manager. He also included a complimentary couples' milk tea. He said it was the first time anyone had asked for a signed flyer, so he was honored."
"Thank you." Kaito slipped the flyer into his pocket.
"Couples' milk tea…" Teio's eyes sparkled. "Trainer actually ordered this?"
"It was a freebie."
"Trainer, that means we're a couple!" Teio kicked her feet happily and formed a heart with her hands. "You really get it—here, a heart for you!"
"Read as 'couple,' written as 'Trainer and Uma Musume,'" Kaito said calmly. "Let's eat. We don't get out often."
He took a bite of his hamburger. Compared to the cafeteria food—which prioritized nutrition—the flavor here was on another level. He didn't like cafeteria meals.
Only junk food brought true happiness.
If only they'd import this stuff into the other world. He wanted a soda.
"Trainer," Teio said, opening her mouth. "Ah~"
Here it was—Teio's spoiled side.
She was obviously asking to be fed.
Too bad Kaito usually ended up stealing their food instead.
A person had to eat. You had to fill yourself first before you could take care of others.
Cute girls weren't food.
They were drinks.
He handed her the hamburger.
"Mmm… tasty." Teio chewed happily, puffing her cheeks like a hamster.
While Kaito watched, something soft brushed against his leg under the table.
At some point, Teio had slipped off her shoes. Her smooth, pale calves were rubbing against him.
"Teio."
"What is it, Trainer?" She opened her mouth again, clearly asking for another bite.
Since this was supposed to be "compensation," she intended to compensate properly.
Her mouth and hands were occupied—but her feet were free.
The Trainer liked squeezing her feet, didn't he?
Then it was only fair that her feet returned the favor.
Seeing no resistance, Teio boldly moved higher. Under the table, no one would notice even if she pinned something down.
…It felt thrilling.
She wanted to push it further—call the waitress over, place another order, and make the Trainer react at the worst possible moment.
She just hoped the Trainer wasn't such a weakling that he'd lose it right away.
Just as Teio was about to succeed—
A plate landed on the table.
"Ah~ what a coincidence! I can't believe I ran into you two here, Trainer—and Teio."
Aoyama Blue Sky smiled brightly and waved.
And in the next instant—
Teio's foot was kicked away.