Inside the team clubhouse.
The space wasn't large, but it was tidy and well-organized. A locker for the team members' clothes stood to the side, and in the middle was a whiteboard with a few bold characters written on it.
[Operation: Recruit New Members!]
Three people sat on either side of the meeting table in front of the whiteboard, while a young man in a suit stood at its head.
After witnessing Rigil's entrance tests, the blue-haired girl with twin tails, Twin Turbo, said a bit sourly, "Rigil's so strong. They have so many girls wanting to join on the very first day."
"Well, Rigil is the strongest team in the academy. Even if tons want to join, only one can pass."
Nice Nature had to point out the fact bluntly.
Ikuno Dictus adjusted her round-framed glasses and glanced at the trainer, hesitating. "Compared to them, our team is just…"
While their team, Canopus, had been established for a while, the three Uma Musume in it hadn't run their debut races yet. They had no reputation to speak of.
The only recruitment effort had been a message their trainer, Minamizaka, posted online.
And now, not a single new face had shown up. It was hard not to feel a little discouraged.
For a small team like theirs, three members was actually sufficient. Once they started getting results, plenty of Uma Musume would want to join.
Then, instead of them worrying about recruitment, Trainer Minamizaka would be the one setting entry standards. But seeing Rigil's tests right at the start of the semester made them wish their team could have a few new members too.
Ikuno Dictus pushed her glasses up again, finally stood, and walked to the front of the whiteboard.
She tapped the board with a pointer. "Then let's begin today's strategy meeting."
"Yay!" Twin Turbo was full of fighting spirit.
"Today's topic is: How can we make other Uma Musume want to join our Canopus team?"
"I know!"
Seeing Twin Turbo raise her hand like an elementary school student, Ikuno Dictus decided to play the teacher. "Miss Twin Turbo."
"If I debut right away and become a super famous Uma Musume!"
"That's true in theory, but…"
But they each still had their own issues to work through, not quite being in peak condition yet. That was precisely why they hadn't entered their debut races.
Trainer Minamizaka watched these kids holding yet another 'strategy meeting' and felt a wave of helplessness. If they put this much energy into training, they'd probably be ready for their debut races by now.
It wasn't that they couldn't enter now, but his goal was to build Canopus into one of the academy's powerhouse teams. He wanted everyone to be in better form before they took that step.
Seeing they were still going on about recruitment, he lightly coughed twice, drawing their attention.
"If you want more Uma Musume to join Canopus, we could improve the team benefits."
"For example, free dessert vouchers or a trip to Hawaii should attract some new students."
Free dessert vouchers weren't a huge draw, but in quantity, they'd be decent. A Hawaii trip would be a great incentive. Of course, for a team without any racers who'd made a name for themselves, these expenses would inevitably fall on him, the trainer.
But watching them fret over this and hold strategy meetings about it, Minamizaka felt he should step up and handle it as their trainer.
"Free dessert vouchers!"
Twin Turbo's eyes sparkled, as if she'd just heard the best news ever. Compared to a Hawaiian vacation, free dessert vouchers were far more enticing.
Seeing Twin Turbo's reaction, Minamizaka smiled and scratched his head. "I'll get you those vouchers tomorrow."
"Then let's revise the team recruitment poster right now and make a new one listing the benefits!"
--+--
Under Minamizaka's design skills, a brand-new Canopus poster was completed in less than half an hour.
If it weren't for his love of Uma Musume, he might be working in some computer-related field right now. His computer skills were top-tier, champion level. But because of his passion, he'd gotten his trainer certification right after university.
With the new poster designed, he gathered Twin Turbo and the others to go put it up on the academy's bulletin board. Unlike Rigil, small teams like Canopus had to rely on methods like this for recruitment.
As they stepped out of the clubhouse, Nice Nature stepped forward to help Minamizaka carry the rolled-up new poster. The four of them set off to put up the poster, launching Canopus's Operation: Recruit New Members!
They hadn't gone far when Minamizaka spotted three Uma Musume up ahead who seemed to be looking for something.
The group noticed them too, and one pink-haired Uma Musume trotted over. "Hello! I'm Urara! Do you know where Canopus is holding their recruitment?"
"?"
Ikuno Dictus slowly formed a question mark in her mind and turned to look at Trainer Minamizaka.
Minamizaka responded with an awkward but polite smile. When he'd posted the recruitment notice online, he really hadn't specified a location. He'd left contact info, but he'd been so busy making the poster he hadn't checked his phone.
"I'm Twin Turbo! This is Ikuno Dictus, and Nice Nature, and this is our trainer, Minamizaka Sakaki!"
"So you guys wanna join our Canopus?"
Finding three Uma Musume wanting to join their team, Twin Turbo's confidence instantly swelled. She grinned, showing her little pointed teeth.
"Mmhmm!" Urara nodded firmly. After all, they had come intending to join Canopus.
Minamizaka, glancing at the private messages on his phone, realized his online recruitment had actually borne fruit. As for the messages asking if the entrance test would be too hard…
Canopus was trying to recruit people. They'd just been having a strategy meeting about it moments ago. Why would they need an entrance test? They could join directly.
And as for the benefits they'd just discussed—the free dessert vouchers and the Hawaii trip…
He looked at the eager faces of Twin Turbo and the others. Even though people wanted to join before the benefits were officially announced, he figured they should honor the plan.
Even though the person he was messaging was right in front of him, Minamizaka, a habitual phone and computer user, instinctively typed out a message saying 'No entrance test required' and sent it.
"Hmph! Our Canopus isn't a team just anyone can join, you know," Twin Turbo declared, puffing her chest out, her little fangs on display. "To join our team, you gotta pass a test!"
Urara didn't back down. "Bring it on! I've got a feeling I'll definitely join Canopus today!"
"Urara, forget it. Let's find another team," Barbatos said, pulling the motivated Urara away. She and Seiun Sky started walking off into the distance.
Twin Turbo froze. "Huh?! Wait! No entrance test! How about that?! You can just join!!"
"Pleeease! Join our Canopus!!!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.