The Black Market?
When Karai Risa mentioned this name, Kitahara Sota immediately thought: Oh, that's something I'm very familiar with.
Actually, never mind "familiar"—right now, Kudou Kazuya was literally sitting right next to him. Before Karai arrived, they'd been discussing Kazuya's recent investigations into that mysterious "buyer."
But that wasn't the main issue right now.
The real question was: why would Karai Risa know about the existence of the Black Market?
Who told her about it? Had she interacted with them before? Or could it even be that she herself was a member?
Kitahara didn't know.
Fortunately, judging by Karai's current expression, she probably wasn't aware of how deeply Kitahara understood the Black Market situation.
After thinking for a bit, Kitahara feigned surprise, and responded softly:
"I've heard a bit before… But Karai-san, how did you find out about something like that?"
Seeing his reaction, Karai Risa appeared to confirm something in her mind. She then started exchanging messages discreetly via phone, discussing the details she knew about the Black Market.
However, after exchanging information for a while, Kitahara noticed something was off from what he'd anticipated.
Though Karai Risa did indeed know about the existence of the Black Market, her knowledge wasn't much deeper than his had been several years ago.
Aside from the name, she only vaguely knew it had something to do with hunting Uma Musume. She didn't even fully understand the extent, let alone the fact that Kudou Kazuya was involved or that the whole Black Market was essentially filled with baited hooks.
Of course, Kitahara wasn't going to trust everything she said outright.
After all, it was entirely possible Karai Risa was thinking exactly like he was, pretending to be uninformed to test how much the other party truly knew.
After their exchange, Karai Risa explained that she was currently looking deeper into the Black Market herself.
And if possible, she hoped Kitahara might help her by providing some assistance—for example, by letting her join his team…
What exactly is the connection between those two things?
Kitahara felt deeply confused.
But that wasn't even the most confusing thing on his mind. The most puzzling matter was something else entirely.
"Karai-san, can I ask you something? Why exactly do you seem so determined to join my team?"
The first time she'd asked, Kitahara had assumed she was simply a new trainer looking for a suitable team. She'd just happened upon his name and asked without much deeper thought.
But now, a month later, especially after interacting with her, Kitahara realized that Karai Risa was truly fixated specifically on his team.
Far from joining other teams, she even bluntly refused when other trainers, who had heard about her impressive reputation, tried recruiting her directly.
But now…
Looking at Karai Risa's determined expression, Kitahara genuinely couldn't figure out why she seemed so fixated on his team.
Faced with Kitahara's confusion, Karai Risa quickly gave him an answer.
"Because I genuinely believe you're the strongest trainer here. And your team is the strongest one around. That's why I want to join—to learn from you."
When he heard this, Kitahara's eye twitched involuntarily. He opened his mouth to speak, but Karai Risa didn't give him a chance, immediately continuing:
"Don't try to deny it, Kitahara-senpai. It might be a bit rude, but I got curious before and looked into your background a little bit. And after your Uma Musume started racing, I've been watching all their races closely…"
"Also, the incredible performance of your Uma Musume just now is solid proof."
"And, if you're still going to insist it was just a coincidence… Didn't you say you have another Uma Musume racing soon?"
"If the same thing happens twice in a row, even you wouldn't be able to brush that off as a coincidence, right?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the previous round of debut races ended. A new group of Uma Musume began entering the track—among them, a girl with brown hair and a familiar polite smile on her face.
It was Grass Wonder.
Like Special Week, the moment Grass Wonder stepped onto the track, she immediately searched the stands for Kitahara Sota.
After confirming his position and seeing him watching her, Grass Wonder's smile deepened a little.
But when her gaze fell onto Karai Risa sitting close beside him, a subtle, indefinable emotion flickered across her eyes.
Then came the usual routine.
Preparations, entering the gate, and finally, as the gates burst open, the race officially began.
However, Grass Wonder's performance differed slightly from Special Week's. She didn't display overwhelming dominance in her debut race.
Although her running speed and skill were undeniably excellent, she didn't demonstrate the near-absolute superiority Special Week had.
Instead, she took an early lead, maintained it, then smoothly accelerated toward the end, finishing seven lengths ahead to win the race.
Although still a remarkably good result, compared to Special Week's earlier race, this outcome at least felt within reason to most spectators.
Moreover, even though Grass Wonder didn't appear particularly exhausted after the race, at least during the competition itself, most ordinary trainers and Uma Musume watching felt she'd done her very best.
However, to a small number of knowledgeable observers—including Kitahara and Karai Risa—Grass Wonder's victory might have been even more impressive than Special Week's.
Because while Special Week's victory had been incredibly dominant from the start, it had also been awkwardly obvious she was holding back halfway through, leaving the race with a slightly uncomfortable atmosphere. Even Special Week herself looked somewhat uneasy.
But Grass Wonder's victory not only avoided creating that awkwardness for her opponents, it even helped dissipate some of the tension left from Special Week's earlier performance.
Moreover, her performance during the race itself had actually been incredibly skillful—just not obvious to ordinary eyes.
Grass Wonder didn't overtly display explosive power like Special Week, but anyone with experience could see clearly: this was purely a demonstration of technique.
Or to put it more bluntly: Grass Wonder intentionally limited herself physically to just average performance among these mixed-ability opponents, and still easily pulled seven lengths ahead purely through skilled running alone.
In gaming terms, Special Week was like a character with outrageously powerful stats who nearly KO'd her opponents with a single attack, then awkwardly waited before gently finishing them off.
Meanwhile, Grass Wonder was like someone who deliberately unequipped all gear, visibly lowered her damage output, and methodically defeated her opponents through flawless execution alone.
Then, after Grass Wonder's victory, that earlier bizarre scene repeated itself.
Even though Grass Wonder had won—and done so in a beautifully controlled way—not a single trainer approached her.
Worse still, when Grass Wonder lifted her head post-race, she caught sight of Karai Risa leaning closely toward Kitahara, eagerly pressing her case once again to join his team.
Though Grass Wonder's polite smile never wavered, her eyes narrowed dangerously, emanating an unsettling aura that made nearby Uma Musume and trainers unconsciously step back, creating a vacuum of empty space around her.
Since both of his little ones had finished racing and Karai Risa showed no intention of giving up, Kitahara, afraid he might actually cave if she pressed any harder, quickly used the excuse of checking in on the two girls to flee the scene.
After confirming Karai hadn't followed him, Kitahara sighed softly, relieved, then headed toward the team's temporary waiting room, where the two girls were currently resting.
Because the debut races didn't have a Winner's Concert, both Special Week and Grass Wonder returned directly to the waiting room.
And since everyone else was still busy training, during the time Kitahara was in the stands, only the two of them had been in the room.
Normally, when outsiders were around, they'd carefully mask their growing hostility toward each other.
But left alone together, even Silent Suzuka absent, despite Kitahara's earlier words calming them somewhat, the atmosphere in the waiting room had been genuinely tense.
Yet the instant Kitahara opened the door, the hostility vanished without a trace.
The moment they saw him enter, two fluffy tails immediately started wagging, ears twitching eagerly.
After warmly congratulating and praising them both, Kitahara asked what kind of reward they'd like, since this race marked their official debut as professional racehorses—a milestone worth celebrating.
"If you two want to eat out, that's totally fine, you know. I've finally got some spare cash now, so I can definitely treat you to something special."
Special Week's eyes immediately lit up at the mention of food. But quickly realizing she couldn't waste this precious chance on something ordinary like dinner, she instead gently nudged her ears into Kitahara's hand.
At the same moment, Grass Wonder's tail wrapped possessively around his arm.
Kitahara paused, quickly realizing what they wanted.
Wait a second, could they actually mean...?
Before he could finish that thought, both girls spoke up at once.
"Um, Sota-san, just petting me is enough…"
"Kitahara-san, could you please do what you did last time again…?"
Faced with their pleading gazes, Kitahara paused briefly. Something definitely felt a bit off—but, well, petting was an easy enough reward, wasn't it?
After thinking briefly, he smiled gently and nodded, silently touched by how sweet these two really were.
They're really such good kids…
After making their request, the two girls thoughtfully suggested that it might be inconvenient for him to remain standing and promptly guided him to a chair.
As soon as Kitahara Sota sat down, they squeezed into his arms again, eyes full of unmistakable hostility toward each other.
The first time might have felt strange, but by the second, it was familiar territory.
With prior experience, Kitahara quickly slipped into the rhythm this time.
Oh, please don't misunderstand—"slipped into the rhythm" referred to the ease with which he multitasked conversation and ear-and-tail rubbing, not the rubbing itself.
Unlike the previous occasion, he refrained from lecturing them about their strained relationship.
He'd already said plenty before, after all, and understood the wisdom of moderation. So, this time, he simply chatted with them about their performance in today's debut races.
But oddly enough, the moment he brought up the races, the two girls, who had been happily lost in a gentle reverie, snapped awake almost simultaneously. In a rare moment of unspoken agreement, they gradually steered the conversation toward Karai Risa, who had been sitting rather closely next to Kitahara earlier. Feigning casual curiosity, they asked what relationship she had with him.
Kitahara saw no reason to hide anything, so he simply told them everything. Well, almost everything—he left out the Black Market details but explained his concern that having Karai Risa around Agnes Tachyon might be catastrophic.
Upon hearing Kitahara's explanation, the two little ladies visibly relaxed.
But if anything, relaxing made things worse. The vague, pent-up sensations they'd temporarily suppressed instantly surged forth again, stronger and fiercer this time, driving them to cling even tighter to Kitahara as their gazes grew increasingly hazy.
"Sota-san…"
"Hmm?"
Special Week buried her face in his chest and murmured softly.
"In the future…could you touch me like this more often? I'll be a good girl and do whatever Sota-san says…"
Hearing that, Kitahara gently pinched her ear and replied warmly, "Of course I can—and not just later, either. You've already done exceptionally well today, haven't you? Honestly, I'd been thinking about what reward I could give you earlier. Since you like this so much, whenever I have time, I'll rub you just like this. If there's anything else you want, just tell me…"
"Sota-san…"
At this answer, Special Week's body trembled slightly, and she began softly chanting his name under her breath, as if unaware she was even doing so.
Perhaps it was because she'd just finished her race, but her breathing seemed heavier than usual, and the arms embracing him tightened slightly.
At the very next moment, Kitahara felt himself squeezed firmly from the other side as well.
"...Grass Wonder?"
Kitahara turned and noticed that Grass Wonder had also pressed herself snugly against him without his noticing, even holding some documents in her hand now. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Kitahara-san, please handle work like this from now on…"
Kitahara blinked.
"…But wouldn't it be inconvenient if I only had one hand free?"
"That won't be a problem. Even if both your hands are occupied, it's perfectly fine. Please just use me as your hands instead…"
As she spoke, Grass Wonder pressed even closer against him, an indefinable gleam deepening in her eyes.
"Oh, and Kitahara-san," she continued softly, "From now on, could you call me 'Grass-chan' instead of Grass Wonder?"
"That's no problem, but…Grass Wonder, right now you're…"
A finger lightly pressed against Kitahara's lips, silencing him.
Looking straight into Kitahara's eyes, Grass Wonder enunciated clearly and deliberately.
"It's 'Grass-chan.'"
"…Alright then, Grass-chan," Kitahara sighed. He paused, puzzled for a moment, before adding, "By the way, Grass-chan, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."
Hearing "Grass-chan" again made her body shiver faintly.
"Yes, Kitahara…san?"
…What's this? You're even dropping 'Trainer' now? And somehow, it feels like you don't even want to say 'san' anymore…
Kitahara quietly griped to himself but didn't dwell on it long. After all, he'd long since regarded Grass Wonder as a good buddy, so a bit of informality didn't bother him anymore.
After this internal complaint about honorifics, he asked the question weighing on his mind.
"This sort of thing… Does it really feel that good?"
As he spoke, he unconsciously increased the strength of his grip.
With the added pressure, the haze in Grass Wonder's eyes intensified, her breathing becoming subtly uneven.
A long pause ensued, and finally, her faintly trembling voice answered him.
"…Yes, it feels wonderful."
As soon as those words left her lips, Grass Wonder's body began trembling visibly, overwhelmed by a growing sense of taboo.
Still deep in thought, Kitahara didn't notice her condition. Instead, his confusion deepened.
"But based on everything I've heard, these areas should be sensitive spots. It's supposed to feel dangerous or unpleasant…"
"That's not it at all, Kitahara-san."
Suddenly, Grass Wonder gently cupped his face, looking up at him as an irresistible emotion surged wildly inside her.
"What you've heard isn't wrong…but you're special."
"I don't know why, but your touch genuinely makes me feel deeply relaxed and at peace."
"I really, really love this feeling."
…Why does that sound so weird?
Kitahara felt vaguely perplexed but decided not to dwell on minor details.
After Grass Wonder's explanation, he finally cleared up the question in his mind: it was probably just his own strange power at play.
Before he could think further, however, Grass Wonder moved once again. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she drew close, whispering softly into his ear.
"Kitahara-san…"
"…Hmm? What is it, Grass—…Grass-chan?"
"I know this is probably improper…but I really do love it. And I want to feel even more, even deeper."
Her breath carried a faint warmth, tickling his ear.
"So…could you do it just a little harder?"
"I want to feel even better…"
...
Some time later.
Looking at the two girls in front of him—both thoroughly contented, radiating happiness and satisfaction—Kitahara fell into deep thought.
Could something like this really feel that good?
With curiosity rising, he lightly pinched his own ear.
Nothing special at all. Rather than pleasure, all he felt was mild pain when he squeezed too hard.
Truly baffling.
Still, he didn't overthink it. After all, he'd long been aware that whatever strange ability he possessed only seemed to work on Uma Musume.
So, confirming once more that this power had no effect on him, he gave both girls a few final rubs, waiting until they were completely satisfied before escorting them back to the dorm to rest.
Or rather, back to his dorm.
Satisfied with being thoroughly rubbed, the two girls readily agreed to his request, obediently following him out.
Yet, once he stepped outside the door, Kitahara paused. Though the two girls were too dreamy-eyed to notice anything amiss, Kitahara raised an eyebrow.
She's still following us…?
Truthfully, he'd already sensed someone observing him back at the racetrack. However, given how conspicuous he'd been, he hadn't paid the staring any mind at first.
But after leaving the venue and heading toward the activity room, he noticed that gaze had lingered behind him. Initially, he'd assumed it was Karai Risa, but once he glimpsed the unmistakable flicker of horse-girl ears hiding behind cover, he realized he'd been mistaken and shrugged it off.
Since he sensed no malice, and with campus security active—and even a certain quiet horse-girl following him discreetly—he'd paid it little attention.
He'd spent considerable time rubbing the two girls in the activity room and assumed the observer had long since left. Yet, unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped outside, he felt those eyes again, tracking him all the way to his dorm.
After opening the door and ushering the two girls inside, Kitahara lingered outside for a moment, then sighed, turning to face the direction from which the gaze emanated.
"Stop hiding already, Meisho Doto."
"I know you're there."