A/N: Sorry for the delay. I was catching up with "Gals can't be kind to Otaku", "2nd prettiest girl in class" and "I love you game."
Damn they are peak.
I found OtaGal back when I was obsessed with harem, as well and the 2nd Prettiest girl. I love you game though is when I am already a pure love enthusiast. The only problem with Aishiteru Game is the CGI.
Though let me tell y'all my fav. It's OtaGal because the OP is such a banger!!!!
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8:30 AM - Circuit 20
Circuit 20 was at the very back of Tracen Academy's training grounds - the most remote track available. Which was exactly why I'd chosen it.
It's really hard to train when the surrounding trainers shout in unison... I mean, you can learn and watch Umamusumes run if you were in Circuits 1 - 10, but the silence here is really needed for what I am doing.
And you might also be asking, why I'm using my phone and not supervising Luna's exercise. Well good question. Firstly, she's doing light aerobic exercise, this time it's jogging and occasionally he asked her if she feels okay and comfortable, which she says yes every time, so she's been jogging here for the past four hours. Just tryna warm her body up for the intense afternoon exercise we will do in the afternoon.
Second, he is extremely broke. Like broke. So broke that if he doesn't have his parents, he would have been homeless now. And you need to know, training an Umamusume is expensive. Like REALLY expensive. The food cost alone can go upwards of 200,000 Yen, to a Million. And that's not even quantifying those extremely gluttonous Umamusume like Oguri Cap.
So new trainers, tend to skimp on the costs while training Umamusume just to make money. The academy also gave you a 100,000 Yen allowance for Training an Umamusume, but the question is, are those meager 100,000 yen enough for a year of training an Uma? You can also use your salary, but listen alright, people generally become a trainer to have money, and most of them aren't even that passionate of the sport. Those who are passionate trainer like Minamizaka, who's a 2nd Generation Rich Guy and also the heir of a massive Construction firm and Hana who is from a family of well accomplished doctors are rare.
So for me, who doesn't have connections in Japan, I'm currently hard stuck... But I have decided to do something, because I have a PLAN!
[YOU'VE BEEN STARING AT THAT SCREEN FOR TWENTY MINUTES, BAKANAMI.]
'I know.'
[YOUR DAD'S STILL ASLEEP, ISN'T HE?]
'Probably. It's what... 4:30 PM in California right now? He's probably in the middle of his "beauty sleep."'
[YOU DO REALIZE THAT YOU COULD JUST CALL HIM RIGHT?]
'And get screamed at for waking him up? No thanks. I'll wait another hour.'
I glanced at the equipment I'd brought with me today: an ice container, a duffel bag full of training supplies, and what Minami is currently sitting on... A wheelchair.
Luna had asked why I'd brought a wheelchair.
I'd told her it was a secret.
But the truth is simple. I'm gonna squeeze Luna's energy dry with this training, so I bought a wheelchair.
It's a thing my dad told me. He said it's to avoid unexpected accidence after training, like losing balance due to fatigue and sudden muscle cramps.
I mean, it works with Karen and she particularly liked getting pushed around, so why not try it with Luna?
I checked my watch. 9:28 AM.
Close alright, time to call him.
I pulled up my dad's contact and hit call.
"Moshi moshi~~ This is Martin speaking~~"
His voice was groggy, thick with sleep. He has definitely just woken up. What a crazy coincidence!
I can hear him faintly gulping water after finishing speaking...
"Father. I'll get straight to the point. I need three hundred thousand dollars. Now."
"COUGH COUGH COUGH!"
The sound of violent coughing erupted from the speaker, followed by what sounded like him choking on the water he drank.
"W-WHAT?! THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND?! MINAMI, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU—"
"For training of course," I interrupted calmly. "I need equipment you bought. I mean I can just borrow it, but I know you'll have a trainee sooner or later so I decided to just buy one myself."
"And what, ask me that money to buy?" He asked while sighing
He the said in a more quieter voice: "...Training equipment costs three hundred grand?"
"Nah, the training equipment is below a hundred grand... Wait you didn't read the receipt when I bought all those training equipments for Karen? ."
The silence that followed was too loud. Before getting interrupted by Martin.
"Alright! I'm sorry ok? I was just lazy that day so I threw it... Away..." He sounds pitiful with that voice.
I can feel my head throbbing with anger. What an irresponsible guy!
I sighed and pulled up the list I'd prepared on my phone. "Heart rate monitors designed specifically for Umamusume physiology. Hypofit GPS tracking systems. High-speed cameras for gait analysis and video review blah blah blah. Biometric sensors. Muscle activation monitors."
"Alright, I'm gonna cash-app you $300,000 but you better use that for your trainee alright?"
"The rest is for Rudolf's training - supplements, specialized nutrition, because those vitamins from the states costs a fuck ton. Facility fees, though thankfully the Tracen Academy here in Japan is newly renovated so we can write that off, therapy sessions if she needs them, emergency medical fund."
A beat of silence...
"You didn't let me finish talking alright? Don't be mad." I said to my father in an innocent tone.
"You really thought this through, huh?" He said.
"Of course I did! I'm a trainer so a well thought out plan needs to be drafter before doing training."
"Alright. I'll transfer it before 12PM in your time. But Minami?"
"Yeah?" I braced myself, he might say something like 'Oh im not a bank alright.' I already prepared a sorry note with multiple routes that he'll possibly take when scolding me.
"For a second there, I actually thought you want money from me because you developed a gambling addiction. I'm literally sweating bullets when you said to send you $300,000... Phew Thank the Goddess or else I would have come back to Japan to personally beat your ass."
He laughed haughtily.
"What, you think I'm gonna scold you because you requested $300,000 Dollars? B**** Please, this doesn't even leave a dent on my credit card." Alright now I'm pissed off. What's with this bragging?
"Alright, just remember that it'll be sent shortly. Ciao~~!!"
The line went dead.
I pocketed my phone and sighed. Take a load off this guy.
I then stood up and directly shouted.
"Luna!"
She slowed to a stop, jogging over. Her face was flushed, sweat soaking through her shirt and plastering her hair to her forehead. But she is still breathing evenly. Good, it means she is comfortable with the pace and also meant she wasn't pushing too hard yet.
"How do you feel?" I asked.
"Fine. A little warm."
"Any pain? Tightness? Discomfort anywhere?"
"No."
That was the problem with this kind of training. I could only rely on Luna's self-reporting. Without proper biometric equipment, I had no way to measure her actual exertion levels, track her heart rate variability, or monitor for early signs of overtraining. I'm not those people in fanfics where they relied on system entirely okay? I'm a proper trainer who actually does his job seriously and does not half ass it!
In this sport, even a minor injury could end a career.
I handed her an electrolyte rich drink. "Sit. Rest for a bit."
She obeyed, dropping onto the grass with a satisfied sigh and downing half the bottle in one go.
I pulled out a towel and knelt beside her.
"Hold still."
"Eh?"
Before she could protest, I draped the towel over her head and started vigorously rubbing her hair dry.
"M-Minami! What are you—"
"You're soaked. If you let that sweat dry on your scalp, you said you hated your hair all oily last training right? So I specially prepared this." I kept rubbing, working the moisture out of her long hair. "Just sit still."
She went quiet and put her head down.
When her hair was mostly dry, I switched to a softer handkerchief. I bought a lot of handkerchief in America. Why? Well, mostly because Umamusume sweats a lot and I gotta be prepared. I bet if I sold my Handkerchief that is soaked with Karen's sweat, I would have made a fortune, but it will also kill my career as a trainer so I better not.
Back to the topic.
Her skin was warm that it permeate on the cloth of the handkerchief. Flushed from exertion.
There was a saying among trainers at Tracen: The more an Umamusume sweats, the more beautiful her skin is. I said it was bull, when I first heard it.
Looking at Luna now, yeah I can attest that this saying is true.
Her complexion was like porcelain. Very smooth, clear, reflecting the morning sunlight in a way that seemed almost like a mirror. There are no blemishes as well, just that milky-white skin that looked impossibly delicate.
And her hair... now that I was paying attention, it was incredibly fine. So fine that even soaked with sweat, it dries quickly in the breeze. No tangles. No knots. Just smooth, flowing strands that slipped through my fingers like silk.
"Minami..." Luna purred.
I blinked, woah... It directly snapped me back to reality.
Luna was looking at me, her expression unreadable.
"Yeah?"
Luna also snapped back when I replied to her.
I glanced down at the handkerchief in my hand—completely soaked through.
Right. I'd been wiping her face for the past minute without realizing it.
I cleared my throat and stood up, putting some distance between us.
"Go change. We'll break for lunch after you're done."
Luna stood, brushing off her gym clothes. "Understood."
She walked toward the changing facilities, and I deliberately did not watch her go.
An hour later, Luna returned wearing fresh training clothes, though she is slightly flushed...
My phone dinged and my thought is broken.
I checked it.
TRANSFER COMPLETE: ¥72,870,000 (A/N: Exchange rate of that year in June.)
Three hundred thousand dollars, converted to yen.
"Minami... -san?"
"Hm?" Its weird not getting called "Minami onee-sama" by Luna but she is already an adult so I guess it's done... I allowed my self a small sigh.
"Luna you can drop the -san, we are close friends right?"
"Alright... Minami."
"Just got some good news. Come on, let's eat. I ordered takeout."
Her eyes lit up. "What kind?"
"You'll see."
Twenty minutes later, the delivery arrived—two large bags stuffed with containers.
Katsu curry. Grilled eel. Tempura. Miso soup. Rice. And for dessert, mochi ice cream.
Luna's eyes went wide.
"This is... a lot."
"You've been training for four hours. You need the calories." I handed her a pair of chopsticks. "Eat up."
Luna ate with surprising gusto - none of that polite, restrained picking I'd seen from her in public. She is currently hogging all the food.
[SHE'S CUTE WHEN SHE EATS SHE LITERALLY LOOKS LIKE A SQUIRREL THE WAY SHE STUFFED FOOD IN HER MOUTH.]
'To he honest, your right.'
I continued eating, occasionally telling Rudolf about the content of the training we'll do after.
____________________
By 1:00 PM, we'd finished eating and rested for nearly two hours.
"Alright, Luna. Phase two."
She stood, wiping her mouth. "What's the exercise?"
"200-meter sprints. High intensity. I want to establish your baseline first, so give me one all-out run."
She nodded and took her position at the starting line.
"Ready... Go!"
She exploded forward, the turf shooting up due to the sheer force of her kick.
I clicked the stopwatch.
9.89 seconds.
Fast. Very fast...
She jogged back, barely winded.
"How was that?" she asked.
"Good. Now we're going to do it again. And again. And again. This time, keep the time below 13 seconds."
Her eyes narrowed and a glint of determination suddenly light up Luna's eyes.
"Understood."
"Ready... Go!"
Click.
"10.8 seconds."
I wrote down the time in a notebook.
"Ready... Go!"
Click.
"11.1 seconds."
...
"Ready... Go!"
Click.
"10.9 seconds."
...
We fell into a rhythm, every time she finishes a sprint, I write down her time. Why? To figure out how her running fluctuates every hour and every sprint. Y'know as a trainer every information counts so I better be meticulous.
One hour passed, but Luna is still going below 13 seconds, she even occasionally go for 9 seconds.
Two hours have past and Luna can't go below 11 seconds.
By the third hour, Luna's times were starting to slip.
"13.2 seconds."
She gritted her teeth, frustration clear on her face.
"Again," I said calmly.
Click.
"13.4 seconds."
"Again."
Click.
"13.6 seconds."
I raised my hand. "Stop."
She looked at me, panting hard.
"We're adjusting the threshold. New target: 15 seconds."
"But--"
"Don't push yourself. Alright, 15 seconds."
She bit her lip but nodded and we continued.
Another hour passed. Then another hour.
Finally, at the two-hour mark, she crossed the line and I clicked the stopwatch.
"15.3 seconds."
"Again"
Click
"15.1 seconds."
"Again."
Click.
"15.9 seconds."
She stumbled, catching herself before she fell.
"Luna. Stop."
"Minami, I can still--"
"Don't push yourself too hard Rudolf." I deliberately called her by her name rather than her nickname to seriously get through that thick skull of hers.
"Alright, Sit down. Now."
She obeyed, her ears drooping and she directly collapsed onto the turf. The grass blades tickling her back.
I walked over and crouched in front of her.
"What did I tell you about listening to your body?"
"I was fine—"
"You were pushing past your limits. Look, before the expensive training equipment arrived here, I specifically told you to atleast listen to your body when tired to avoid injuries." I pulled out the ice container and started filling the homemade ice packs I'd prepared. "But still..."
"I just wanted to—" she tried to reason.
I directly glared at her which caused her ears to droop even lower.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. It is partly my fault as well. Knowing you, I should have known how stubborn and prideful you are even in training, I mean we literally competed for grades 3 years ago but alas..."
I padded a thin sheet of cloth before putting my DIY icepack in her ankle with salt.
"Can you stand up?" I asked.
She tried and Her legs gave out immediately, thankfully I caught her before she hit the ground.
I sat her down in the turf before telling her.
"Just sit still, I'm gonna go get something."
A minute later, I bought out the wheelchair.
"A wheelchair? Minami, I can walk—"
"No you definitely can't. And we're in the most remote part of campus. If you try to walk back and your legs cramp up, or worse, you lose your balance and fall. You could seriously hurt yourself."
"But--. Ah!"
I directly silenced her by Princess carrying her towards the Wheelchair. It is directly in the pavement. Thankfully these Circuits have wheelchair road or else I would have been princess carrying Luna upstairs which is a really dangerous thing.
Though now that I am carrying her, she is surprisingly light... After reading her documents, I really don't know how heavy she is because her weight in the documents were written as "Nearly Ideal."
I asked Maruzensky about it but she told me that it's a "Lady's Secret" and people should not ask unnecessary questions like things about a Lady's weight if I valued my life...
I valued my life so I didn't say anything after.
Anyways, I sat her down in the wheelchair and she is currently covering her face with her hands to hide her embarrassment.
I grabbed the handles and started pushing.
"An Umamusume from the Symboli family should not be seen like this," she muttered.
I almost muttered "Your son is in a wheelchair after achieving Triple Fractures so it will happen sooner or later." But I refrained myself.
Instead, I said. "Don't worry, it's for your career."
She went quiet after that.
We made our way through campus, and yes - people stared. Umamusume whispered to each other as we passed. Trainers raised eyebrows.
I ignored it all. Duh, what am I supposed to do, gouge their eyes out?
My job wasn't to worry about appearances. It was to leave Luna with no regrets in her career.
We reached the locker room I'd been assigned.
"What do you want to wear?" I asked. "I'll get it from your locker."
Her face went bright red.
"I-I'll choose myself! Just wait outside!"
"Luna, you can barely stand--"
"Outside! Please!" She said her face still bright red
"Alright, be careful or else you--"
"OUTSIDE!" She apparently regained her composure and proceed to glare coldly at me.
"Alright, alright." I was planning to tease her more...
I stepped into the hallway and waited.
I guess Maruzensky was right. Questioning a lady will only kill me, especially if that lady can bench 750kg.
Nine minutes later, she called me back in.
She'd changed into a set of silk green pajamas sleep ware with black trim and a matching white long-sleeve top. The fabric looked expensive.
It looks good on her honestly...
Luna tilted her head. "Minami, what's wrong does it look weird on me."
Ah... Goddamnit, I've been out of it since this afternoon.
"Ah sorry, it looks good on you, Luna."
She blushed slightly at my compliment.
I walked over and gripped the wheelchair handles.
"Wait—"
"Don't even start. Let me do it, it's the least I can do as your trainer."
"Minami..."
"Nope. Non-Negotiable."
We stared at each other for a long moment.
Finally, she sighed in defeat.
"...Fine."
"Thank you."
As I started pushing her toward the exit, she muttered, "You always say that I'm stubborn but clearly you are more stubborn than me."
I laughed. "Sorry for being stubborn. But as your trainer, this is my responsibility."
She was quiet for a moment.
Then, so softly I almost missed it: "...Thank you."
We made our way to her dorm, Luna giving directions in a quiet voice. Mercifully, we didn't run into anyone she knew.
Once inside, I set down the ice container and prepared fresh ice packs - to change the one I put in her calves earlier.
"Lie back on the bed," I instructed.
She obeyed and i fastened the new ice packs around her calves, then grabbed two chairs and positioned them at the foot of the bed to elevate her legs.
"There. Keep those on for at least thirty minutes. Dont take them off early alright?"
"I know."
I checked my phone. 6:00 PM.
"I ordered food for you. It should arrive in about twenty minutes. I'll tell Ms. Tazuna to get it for you alright?"
"Mhm..."
I then walked towards the door but before i opened it.
"Minami." A soft voice suddenly echoed in the room. I stopped myself just as I was reaching for the door handle.
"Thank you." She smiled serenely at me.
I smiled back.
"Of course, it's my duty as a trainer to do this."
I can hear her faint chuckling as I was opening the door.
The night is still young. I hope Mom cooked Spicy Chicken...
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A/N: I have to say, I changed this chapter 2 times. The first change is due to being too detailed that it reached 5K words. So I simplified it and removed extra words. The next time I changed it is due to me being too deep into the "Sports Medicine Rabbit Hole."
I read like fucking 4 research paper that have like 60+ pages. The one that stuck to me though is that research paper where they talked about how "How Psychological Stress affect wound healing." And "Chronic Stress, Cortisol Dysfunction, and Pain: A Psychoneuroendocrine Rationale for Stress Management in Pain Rehabilitation"
They are a relatively short read so i finished reading them fast.
Also, the one where the MC became degenerate while drying Luna's sweat. That scene? It's inspired by this thing I read.
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"Skinship is done with the palm. With my right hand, sometimes my left, I gently stroke Rudolf's neck, from his waist to his hindquarters. The sole purpose of this touching is to calm the horse's spirit. If necessary, I repeat it as many times as needed. I don't stop until a deep sense of calm appears in Rudolf's heart.
Rudolf has likely received exceptional care in Japan, resulting in the remarkable beauty of his current coat.
Rudolf's skin is remarkably fine-textured. And he sweats a lot. A horse with good skin always sweats consistently. It's the same even in winter. On the other hand, that sweat dries quickly. Such good sweat doesn't soak through the fabric of our breeches into the legs of us riders.
I stroked Rudolf's body. His surface felt as gentle as touching the finest velvet.
Until I met Rudolf, I never once thought a Thoroughbred could be such a creature. I doubted my own senses, wondering if such a dreamlike thing could be real. But it was actually happening right before my eyes."
- excerpt from "Rudolf's Back" by Yukio Okabe. (Rudolf's trainer)
I thought it would be funny adding it with my little twist lmfao.
Anyways, Ciaooo~~~