Chapter 46: The Dismissed Trainer

Chapter 46: The Dismissed Trainer

After Vodka had a random nosebleed from overthinking things, a few of the Umamusume accompanied her to the infirmary—just in case.

As expected, the results were nothing serious.

The diagnosis was the same as always: her emotional excitement had led to an increased heart rate, and the fragile capillaries in her nasal cavity had ruptured as a result. Nothing to worry about as long as she kept her emotions in check and avoided anything too stimulating.

After thanking the doctor, Kitasan Black followed her two seniors as they escorted Ines Fujin out of the academy.

Once they stepped through the school gate, Ines stretched under the night breeze and let out a cheerful sigh.

“Ahhh~ it’s been a while since I came back, but it was a lot of fun.”

“Especially getting to eat at the cafeteria again… man, that really brought back memories.”

“I’m a little jealous of you two. Maybe I should find something to do around the academy myself.”

Scarlet chuckled.

“Fujin-senpai, you should think about your own situation first.”

“Vodka and I are only back because we’re looking for inspiration for our research. You still have your younger sisters to take care of, so it’s probably better to keep your focus there.”

“But…”

She paused to think. “Since you’re doing deliveries like back in the day, maybe we could ask you to help us out by transporting research materials and equipment now and then. Only if it’s not too much trouble, of course.”

“Oh, that’s right! I could do that too,” Vodka added. “We’ll be counting on you then, senpai.”

“Of course it’s not a problem!”

Ines Fujin nodded enthusiastically.

“Delivering packages is an easy job anyway—and staying cooped up at home gets boring.”

“Then it’s settled! I’ll be waiting for your orders!”

“Well, I’ll head out now. If I stay too long, my sisters will start calling me nonstop.”

“Take care, senpai.” ×3

Waving goodbye to her three juniors with a smile, Ines turned to run toward the street—but then she suddenly froze, her eyes catching a group of figures in the distance.

“…Is that Opera? And… aren’t those academy students?”

The others blinked in surprise and followed her gaze. Sure enough, Kitasan quickly recognized the familiar figures.

“Ah! That’s Crow-chan and Diamond-chan, and… Rasen-san?”

Kitasan’s eyes widened in shock.

“That’s strange—why are they all together? And… wait, what’s wrong with Rasen-san? She looks like… like she’s been crying?”

Hesitating for a moment, she couldn’t help but take a few steps in their direction.

Just like she said, walking near Opera O were three Umamusume from the Satono family.

Even from afar, Satono Rasen was walking in the center, her head hanging low as she wiped her eyes—she looked completely downcast, like she’d been crying.

The girls around her, including Opera O, also had their heads lowered, concern written on their faces as they murmured softly, apparently trying to comfort Rasen.

As Kitasan took a few more steps forward, both Scarlet and Vodka instinctively reached out to stop her, speaking softly in unison.

“Hold on, Kita-chan. Let’s not go over there.”

“Rasen-san’s situation… might be a bit complicated. It’s better if we don’t interfere right now.”

As they spoke, a subtle hint of conflict and concern flickered in both their eyes.

Ines didn’t stop them, but her expression showed curiosity and thought. Then she, too, lowered her voice.

“Not sure what’s going on, but if Opera’s with her, it should be fine.”

“How about this—there’s a milk tea place a few blocks away.”

“My treat. You three can walk me there.”

Hearing that, Kitasan Black still looked bewildered, clearly not understanding what was going on.

But in the end, she obediently nodded, worry still written all over her face as she followed her seniors—glancing back again and again as they quietly left the school gates behind.

On the way to the milk tea shop, Kitasan Black remained deep in confusion the entire walk.

It wasn't until Ines returned with drinks and handed her a cup that she finally couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Senpai… about earlier—what happened to Rasen-san?”

“Did she cry because she lost the race?”

“But… but…”

Her eyes darted anxiously between the three senpai.

“From what I remember, Rasen-san doesn’t seem like someone that weak… right?”

Scarlet and Vodka exchanged glances, but it was Ines who spoke first after a moment of thought.

“Satono Rasen… You mentioned her back in the cafeteria, right? She was the runner-up in your recent race, Kita-chan?”

“I haven’t followed races closely in a while, but I’ve heard talk that the Satono family’s rising power is starting to rival even the Mejiro family.”

“If she’s an Umamusume from such a powerful lineage… I agree, she wouldn’t be the type to cry over a single loss.”

In the Twinkle Series, there were quite a few prestigious noble houses.

The traditional giants like the Symboli family, the Mejiro family, and the Hishi family.

And the most rapidly rising among them—was the Satono family.

These elite families weren’t just home to powerful Umamusume, but also held deep reservoirs of resources and training knowledge.

Naturally, their standards were extremely high. Any Umamusume who cried over a single loss would never be taken seriously in such a household.

“They really wouldn’t cry over something like that,” Scarlet agreed with a sigh. “Vodka and I don’t know that girl personally, but we watched the race.”

“She ran really well—honestly, if her timing during the acceleration phase had been just a little sharper, you might not have won, Kita-chan.”

“So for her to be like that now…”

She trailed off, glancing unconsciously at Vodka.

With a weary sigh, Vodka scratched her head and muttered, “Ugh, of course you’re making me say it again… Fine, fine, I give up.”

She looked back toward the direction of the academy and then turned toward Ines and Kitasan.

“Satono Rasen’s trainer… was the trainer of Opera-senpai.”

The moment those words landed, Kitasan remained confused, but Ines's eyes widened in realization.

“Ah… I see. So that’s what happened…”

She let out a heavy sigh, joining Scarlet and Vodka in their shared gloom.

“Yeah… in that case, it’s probably just as we thought…”

Kitasan grew visibly agitated.

She could tell now—she was the only one who still had no idea what was going on.

“W-What do you mean ‘that’s what happened’…? Senpai, can someone please just tell me what’s going on?”

Once again, the three seniors exchanged glances. Vodka sighed again and turned toward her.

“I’ll explain it, then.”

“You’ve had two races now, Kita-chan, so I think it’s about time you learned this—it’s not too early anymore.”

“Kita-chan, when you came to Tracen Academy—”

“No, even back when you were just following behind us, we told you, didn’t we?”

“This world isn’t as nice as some people think.”

“Especially in racing—there can only be one champion in each race. The pressure on those who don’t win can be overwhelming.”

“We’ve seen too many who couldn’t handle it and gave up entirely.”

Her tone grew heavier as she spoke, a kind of distant weight pressing down behind her words.

She glanced once again toward the school gate before continuing in a more somber tone.

“But I don’t think Rasen is the type to break under that kind of pressure.”

“No… this is probably something else—something worse.”

“If our guess is right… her trainer ended their contract.”

“Or rather—”

“She was dismissed. Her trainer… was fired by the Satono family.”

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