"You're really awkward, Cafe."
Fujimura Hikaru smiled as he ruffled the head of the girl in front of him, who was still drowning in self-reproach.
"You didn't do anything wrong, you know?"
"If you see someone drowning, but you can't swim yourself, so you go find someone who can save them instead—how could that possibly be the wrong choice?"
"If you ask me, Tachyon ought to be grateful she has a friend like you who cares about her."
Teacher Fujimura really is gentle...
Cafe silently picked up the coffee cup in front of her and took a quiet sip, calming the emotions stirring faintly in her chest.
"So… Teacher Fujimura, what are you planning to do about Tachyon...?"
"Nothing at all."
"Eh?"
His answer left Cafe stunned.
Seeing the look on Manhattan Cafe's face, Fujimura Hikaru smiled and explained,
"Rather than saying I'm doing nothing, it'd be more accurate to say I've already done everything I can."
"What do you mean...?"
Cafe still didn't understand.
"Simply put, everything I wanted to say to her, I already said back in the clubroom."
That was Fujimura Hikaru's answer.
"Her problem wasn't caused by anything external. It's the result of the way she thinks. To solve that kind of problem, unless I know hypnosis and can make her forget why she started researching in the first place, she's still going to keep doing what she wants."
"The only person who can resolve that kind of issue is herself. At most, all I can do is act as a catalyst from the sidelines. The one who actually has to change is her."
"That's why, when I offered to let her register under my name, I also added the condition that she had to continue participating in qualifiers properly. First, it would give her a chance to find a trainer of her own and leave herself another way out. Second, it would let her experience, during those races, what it feels like to be supported the way those horse girls who devote themselves fully to competition are supported."
"Though judging by how the negotiation went, it's clearly not going to be that easy."
So amazing...
Listening to his analysis, Manhattan Cafe found herself once more surprised by the young trainer calmly sipping coffee in front of her.
So that proposal had all that meaning behind it...?
As expected of Teacher Fujimura. He really thinks things through.
Silently turning into an emotionless praise machine in her head, Manhattan Cafe unconsciously elevated Fujimura Hikaru's standing in her heart yet another notch.
"So… for now, we just leave Tachyon alone?"
"If your friend really is as smart as you say, then she should be able to figure it out."
"...All right."
For now, it seemed there was nothing she could do to help Tachyon.
"Still, putting that aside—thank you, Cafe, for trusting me enough to leave something like this in my hands."
"That's because… Teacher Fujimura is dependable… whether it's during training... or in everyday matters too..."
Only after saying that did Manhattan Cafe realize something.
When she had gone to Fujimura Hikaru for help, she had not doubted for even a second that he might fail to handle what she asked of him.
She had simply taken it for granted that he would resolve it well.
Fujimura Hikaru, for his part, had also vaguely noticed this unusual degree of trust Cafe placed in him.
But he did not think too much of it.
After all, in his eyes, the trust of a horse girl was like a collection of medals of honor—something to be proud of.
That trust meant a horse girl was willing to place the right to influence her life in his hands.
And because of that, he had to answer that trust with equal sincerity.
Holding that conviction, Fujimura Hikaru looked seriously at the Manhattan Cafe sitting before him and said,
"If you run into any trouble in the future, then don't hesitate to rely on me!"
Really, Teacher Fujimura... saying things like that is dangerous...
Saying that to a horse girl who isn't even your trainee...
Isn't that completely unfair?
Manhattan Cafe clenched her hands into fists and held them against her chest. Her golden eyes stared fixedly at Fujimura Hikaru's face, and she lightly bit her soft pink lip as she answered in a muffled voice,
"Mm..."
If I asked to join Teacher Fujimura's team right now, would that be too sudden?
If it's gentle Teacher Fujimura... then surely he wouldn't reject me...
Ah, but if he only agreed because of his kindness, and I used that kindness to get onto his team... wouldn't that make me a despicable woman?
No... I still want him to see a brighter, better side of me first, and then invite me himself...
Wake up, Manhattan Cafe. You're thinking something far too greedy right now!
While Manhattan Cafe's left brain and right brain were locked in fierce battle, the coffee in front of the two of them gradually disappeared as well.
The conversation was over, the delicious coffee was gone, and now it was time to return to training.
Fujimura Hikaru lightly tapped the table, snapping Manhattan Cafe out of the mental struggle she had sunk into. The two of them went up to the counter to pay.
"Oh? This is a little more expensive than I expected."
Looking at the price of the two cups of coffee, Fujimura Hikaru noticed it seemed a bit higher than the last time he had come here.
"We're running a promotion right now," the café owner said with a smile. "If it's two coffees, couples get half off!"
Half off for couples? Cafés really do love running these flashy, pointless little promotions...
"Then just charge us the regular price. We're not—"
Just as Fujimura Hikaru was about to explain to the clerk, Manhattan Cafe suddenly reached out and covered his mouth.
"?!"
The black-haired girl's eyes lit up. Then, with a perfectly serious face, she said to the employee,
"He and I are a couple. Half price, please."
So this girl can speak that fluently when she wants to...
No, wait?!
Now is not the time to be reacting to that!
What did she just say?!
I'm her boyfriend??
With his mouth covered, Fujimura Hikaru's eyes widened. In that instant, he felt his teaching license had come under the gravest threat imaginable.
If I start dating one of my students, my certification is absolutely finished!
No way—she's coming for my career!
But before he could finish protesting, Manhattan Cafe had already successfully paid the discounted bill.
"Cafe... what exactly did you mean by what you said back there?"
Once they stepped out of the coffee shop, Fujimura Hikaru asked the girl in front of him with an uneasy look on his face.
Cafe turned around to face him. Beneath her black bangs, a smile appeared.
"If I'm allowed to ask you for help when I have a problem, then when you run into one, isn't it only natural that I, as your student, can help a little too~?"
Those unusually smooth words, paired with the girl's smile, landed softly against Fujimura Hikaru's heart.
Ah... well, I guess it's not exactly a bad thing.
....
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