"..."
"..."
"Can someone please explain why I'm here?" Kurofune asked with a frown. "Also, why the hell did you tie me up if you aren't going to tie me down to the chair?"
"It's a bit," Gold Ship replied casually.
"A…bit?" Kurofune was at a loss for words.
"As for the reason you're here, I think that should be obvious," Okino stated as he approached the male Uma. "From now on, you'll be a part of Team Spica."
"..." Kurofune just silently blinked at him for a moment before registering what he had just said. "Eh!? But why?"
"What do you mean why? Nobody else was scouting you, so it was only obvious that I would make my move before they end up changing their minds."
"I mean I get that, but still…" Kurofune looked unsure. "...what use would a team as strong as Spica have for a male Uma like me? Isn't it too big of a risk to put any bit of your effort into me?"
Okino placed a hand on Kurofune's shoulder, a serious expression present on his face.
"I have an important question for you, Kurofune. Answer this seriously."
"…"
"Do you think you're a waste of time?"
"..." Kurofune looked shocked by the question, but he quickly answered by shaking his head. "No. I'm not a waste of time."
"There's your answer," Okino touched the stem of his lollipop. "You're very fast, Kurofune. I'm choosing to put my faith in you, since you have what it takes to become something great. And I plan to do what I can to support you, regardless of the fact that you're a male Uma."
"..." Kurofune stared at Okino seriously for a moment before smiling. "Okay then. Since you're stupid enough to put your faith in me, I might as well try my best to prove that your faith isn't unwarranted."
"That's the spirit," Okino smiled. "...Though I would prefer it if you didn't have to call me stupid while saying it."
"Team Spica's now one member bigger! Yay!" Teio cheered as she pumped her fist into the air. "I think this calls for a celebration!"
"We just had one week ago," Special Week said.
"You can never have too many parties!" Teio replied.
"Can't see anything wrong with that logic," Gold Ship nodded.
[Mhm.] Scarlett and Vodka agreed.
Okino scratched the back of his head.
"I guess this does call for a celebration. But this has to be the last one for a while, at least until I receive my next few paychecks."
<><><><><><><><><><>
A while later…
Kurofune returned to his apartment. He tosses his bag in the corner of his room as he tossed himself onto his bed. A lot had happened to him today, and he wasn't really too sure how to comprehend it.
'I didn't think that I would actually end up joining Team Spica.'
It felt surreal to him. Prior to today, he wasn't even sure if he could even find a group, much less the second best team in the academy.
…
"Wait! I should probably write to my parents to tell them how I'm doing!"
He had completely forgotten to do that, even though he had promised his parents that he would write to them often.
Kurofune shot out of his bed, quickly pulling out a pen and paper from his deck as he began to write about everything that had happened to him so far. From getting a tour of the school, to meeting his classmates and joining Team Spica. He tried to go into as much detail as he could, as to make up for not writing back to them in a while.
"Phew. I think that's enough," Kurofune comments as he finishes signing the letter. "I'll send this to them tomorrow."
He then tosses himself back onto his bed. He let out a long yawn as he rubbed his eyes.
"For now, I need to sleep."
<><><><><><><><><><>
The next day…
Kurofune could be seen eating lunch with his classmates like usual. However, while Tap Dance City and Agnes Digital were happily conversating, Kurofune was keeping more to himself—his attention drifting off elsewhere.
Air Shakur, who was just silently observing, seemed to notice this. She waved her hand in front of his face.
"Yo, Earth to Kurofune," Air Shakur tried to get his attention.
"H-Huh?" Kurofune abruptly zoned back in.
"You good? You've been zoning out the entire time."
"I was just thinking. I'm fine," Kurofune replied.
Air Shakur just shrugged, "...Eh. Whatever you say."
Kurofune just spent the rest of lunchtime just deep in his thoughts. Once Lunch ended, the group cleaned up and left the cafeteria together. Since their school day was practically over, the topic of Trainers was suddenly brought up.
"Oh yeah, Tap-chan," Agnes Digital suddenly said. "You managed to find a trainer yesterday, right?"
"Mhm. Though, it still feels so surreal to me," Tap Dance City answered. "I mean, that performance of mine was subpar at best. I was totally expecting to have to try again in a few months, but a Trainer told me that I had potential and invited me to join his team."
"That's good to hear," Kurofune said.
"What about you, Kurofune?" Tap Dance City asked. "I didn't see you after all of the races were done."
"That's because I left," Kurofune replied.
"You…left?" Tap Dance City was surprised.
"Yeah," Kurofune scratched the back of his head. "Nobody was approaching me, so I didn't have much of a reason to stay."
"That's so weird," Agnes Digital commented. "I mean, as much as I don't like saying it, you ran faster than me. Most of the attention drawn towards me should've been for you instead."
"It's not that much of a surprise," Air Shakur stated. "At the end of the day, he's a male Uma. Most trainers don't want to take the risk of raising a potential ticking timebomb."
"You can't just say that," Tap Dance City frowned.
"She's right though," Kurofune casually said. "And besides, it was a blessing in disguise since I still managed to find a team in the end."
"Well that's good," Tap Dance City was relieved. "We can't have one of us falling behind since we're all rivals."
"I don't remember agreeing to that…" Air Shakur muttered under her breath.
"Come on, Shaky. Lighten up," Agnes Digital patted Air Shakur's back. "Having rivals is a surefire way for all of us to grow stronger."
"First of all, I already told you plenty of times not to call me that. Second, that doesn't sound very scientific to me," Air Shakur shrugged. "Come back to me with some hard proof, and maybe I'll consider being this…rival of yours."
Agnes Digital frowned, "Yeesh, you really just exude a bad vibe."
"It's just how I am, deal with it," Air Shakur said before quickening her pace. "I'll be going on ahead. I have a meeting with my trainer that I must attend."
"Hey, you can't just go on ahead!" Agnes Digital shouted as she ran after her. "Last time I checked, she was our trainer."
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious, you want a prize?" Air Shakur rolled his eyes.
"You might be the first and last Umamusume-chan that I'll ever dislike."
Tap Dance City and Kurofune watch the two leave the area. Once they left, Tap Dance City turned to Kurofune.
"I should probably get going too. My trainer wanted to get me started on my training early today," Tap Dance City said as she began walking away, waving behind her as she did. "See you tomorrow."
"See you."
Kurofune waved back as Tap Dance City left the area.
'I guess I should meet up with my trainer too, huh?'
<><><><><><><><><><>
Kurofune arrived at the entrance to Team Spica's base. As he opens the door…
—BAM!
He is sent tumbling away as he gets fucking dropkicked.
"Hah! You flinched!" Gold Ship burst out laughing.
"You fucking dropkicked me in the face!? Who in their right mind wouldn't!?"
"Me, but I guess not everybody is built like me," Gold Ship shrugged.
"Yeah, whatever," Kurofune replied as he rose to his feet. "Why were you waiting right behind the door anyway?"
"Trainer-san's orders," Gold Ship answered. "Normally, I wouldn't listen to him, but I decided to humor him for once and follow through with his plan."
"Which is?"
Gold Ship stepped closer, a mischievous grin present on her face.
"He tasked me with whipping you into shape, newbie."
"..." Kurofune's body began to shudder. "You're lying, right?"
"Nope!" Gold Ship happily replied, pulling out a familiar sack from her pockets.
"I-Is it too late to run now?"
"..." Gold Ship didn't reply.
'She's crazy!' Kurofune thought as he stepped back.
However, it was already too late for him.
All of a sudden, the world around Kurofune went dark as he felt himself being taken someplace else against his will.