"Oh oh oh! Welcome, welcome!"
Koji, lying on the bed, saw the two enter with a lavish meal. He immediately threw away his manga magazine, quickly pulled out beer from the mini-fridge, neatly cleared the magazines from the table, and spread old newspapers on top.
As someone who freeloaded, he at least had to show a proper attitude.
Koji was quite sensible about this.
After all, making these things was more convenient in the dorm room. So, after everything was prepared, Kazutomi led Xiao Hai Wan to the dorm room on the fourth floor.
The two grown men's room was still very tidy. Kazutomi carried a pot full of Oden and carefully placed the clay pot on the small square table padded with newspapers.
Xiao Hai Wan, meanwhile, helped distribute bowls and chopsticks. The three of them had a clear division of labor, setting up for their leisurely weekend evening gathering.
When he had told Koji on the phone that Xiao Hai Wan was coming, Koji had pressed him, asking if things were progressing so quickly, and tearfully asked if he should go out to give them space, while also threatening to burn him, his emotions extremely unstable.
But when he found out they were coming to improve their meals, he instantly changed his tune faster than flipping a book, smiling more brightly than anyone.
Lifting the lid, the fragrant enamel pot was filled with all sorts of ingredients: tied kelp strips, fish tofu, konjac udon, fish cakes meticulously sliced by Xiao Hai Wan, and even the plating was very particular, fully spread with various skewered vegetables.
The cooked ingredients were seasoned with spices and chili powder, paired with Kazutomi's specially prepared soup. The moment the lid was opened,
The entire room was enveloped in the aroma.
Just smelling it made one's mouth water and appetite grow.
"Did Xiao Hai Wan make all this? This is amazing. Asama, you're a lucky man."
Koji excitedly pulled out a beer, muttering incomprehensible words that made Kazutomi roll his eyes.
"No, this was made with Asama-sensei. Does Okino-sensei need more rice?"
Xiao Hai Wan very familiarly helped take a rice bowl, asking Koji very thoughtfully.
This treatment made Okino feel a bit lightheaded. He nodded in response, looking at Xiao Hai Wan who hadn't stopped moving since she came in. He couldn't help but sigh:
"Oh dear… If only I could also meet someone who would take such good care of me, then I could comfortably be a good-for-nothing."
"…" To this, Kazutomi could only give this guy a glare, "If possible, please work hard, Senior, and don't just stay in your room doing nothing."
"Tsk, I don't want to work, okay?"
It had been almost a month since he returned to the academy, and Koji truly didn't know where he was wandering day and night. If it weren't for the fact that this person occasionally got serious and taught him lessons, Kazuo wouldn't even think this guy was a teacher at the academy.
"But... such a good girl, you really have to hold onto her."
Koji opened a beer and sighed, shaking his head, while Kazuo looked up at Xiao Hai Wan's back, who was humming a song and not paying attention to them.
Then he gave Koji a rap on the head.
"What are you thinking? We are just teacher and student."
"Hmm~ I'm also talking about a teacher-student relationship, as a Trainer and a contestant—"
Koji argued shamelessly, the information revealed in his eyes clearly meaning something else.
"Well, no matter what, no matter from what level, you shouldn't let go. Your current goal is to get your qualification certificate as soon as possible, right?"
Koji slowly took a sip of iced beer and said seriously, "At least for now, this is something you must achieve, right?"
"...That's natural."
Kazuo slowly stood up, "Xiao Hai Wan, what do you want to drink? Barley tea or juice?"
"Hmm... barley tea, I guess."
Xiao Hai Wan, busy serving rice to everyone, apparently didn't hear their whispers just now.
.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! This dumpling tastes so good!"
"Senior Okino, you don't have to eat so fast... no one is fighting you for it."
Koji looked like a starving ghost reincarnated, holding a skewer in one hand and an iced beer in the other.
Xiao Hai Wan didn't mind; on the contrary, seeing Koji enjoy the food they made together so much gave her a sense of satisfaction.
With his mouth still full, Koji took a sip of beer and swallowed, then seemed to remember something.
"Speaking of which—have you registered for your qualification exam?"
Kazuo, who was about to pick up some food, paused, almost freezing in place.
"...Ah."
—
"It's unbelievable that you would also have such an oversight..."
Koji looked at the successful registration message on his phone, and was relieved for the guy.
"Good thing I mentioned it; there are only two hours left until the registration window closes. If you missed it, you'd have to wait until the exam in the second half of the year—"
"You are right to scold me—"
After all, as a Senior, he had helped Kazuo, so Kazuo could only lower his head and apologize honestly.
"If you really want to talk about it, you should apologize to Xiao Hai Wan."
Koji took a sip of beer and waved his hand.
"If you missed this time, wouldn't you be letting down the person next to you? She rejected many teams' invitations for you, kid, you know? If you can't get your qualification certificate this time, you still have a chance to wait, but she will have to face making other choices—"
As Koji said, Xiao Hai Wan had rejected invitations from a host of experienced Trainers, choosing him, a newcomer who couldn't even be called a rookie.
He had promised her earlier that he would stand by her side, but almost missed the opportunity due to oversight... it was truly too embarrassing.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Hai Wan, that I made such a mistake..."
However, Xiao Hai Wan shook her head indifferently, then reached out and patted Kazuo's head.
"It's okay. After all, it was remedied, wasn't it? And—"
Xiao Hai Wan paused, then smiled again, "You don't need to put so much psychological burden on yourself. Even if you fail this time, it doesn't matter. After all, if an Uma Musume doesn't participate in her debut race, she doesn't need to find a Trainer, right? I can wait too."
Clatter—
Koji's chopsticks fell directly to the ground; he was completely shocked.
The rice in his hand instantly lost its flavor.
What on earth did Kazuo do to make this girl so devoted to him!? And willing to wait another six months!!!?
!!!????
It's true that comparing yourself to others just makes you angry!
Why!?
Why on earth!?
When he missed his exam back then, Ahua caught him and scolded him for over an hour!
Looking at this treatment, and comparing it to his own.
Koji felt unbalanced.
It's truly infuriating to compare oneself to others!
----------------------------------------
If you'd like to follow the story earlier than the public release, come join my Patreon:
👉 patreon.com/TripleCrown07
There, you can read up to 40 chapters in advance, enjoy exclusive content, and help support me to keep releasing chapters more regularly.
Thank you so much for your support and for being part of this journey! ❤️