Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live

"Thank you for joining me in this race, Nakayama-san, Gold Ship-san."

On the training ground, the now-dejected Silence Suzuka forced herself to thank Nakayama Festa and Gold Ship, who had accompanied her... or rather, joined her midway.

Suzuka had woken up early today, not just out of habit. After signing Mejiro Palmer's bet, she was determined to become Kitano's "assistant trainer." She had promptly selected a charge to represent her, needing to get them to win the highest-grade race possible in the remaining three months.

Suzuka knew she wasn't cut out to be a trainer, but she adopted a "cast a wide net" approach, accepting any junior interested in her guidance.

—However, on the first day, she had already eliminated nearly half of the middle school division juniors. The reason was simple: her "explosive escape" was not something anyone could imitate. But it was the only style she knew.

This led to very few horse girls being able to adapt... And the worst problem was her superhuman desire to run.

As Kitano had guessed, Suzuka was not good at teaching. So she chose to teach by example, having the escape-style horse girls run with her to feel her rhythm.

...And then, in the eyes of the despairing juniors, they saw Suzuka-senpai, who had started with them, pull further and further away. Even when they tried their best to keep up, they couldn't change the fact that after 1000 meters, she was nearly half a lap ahead.

The race defeat and the failure to lead her team were two heavy blows that hit her heart at this moment, making her feel breathless for a moment.

Why, when I joined this bet with a glimmer of hope, does it feel so bad?

To alleviate the pain, Suzuka couldn't help but close her eyes. However, in the darkness, she suddenly felt some rustling sounds in her ear, becoming clearer and clearer...

"Trainer-san, why did you choose me? I haven't even fully developed yet..."

"Trainer-san? Where are you? Excuse me—Trainer-san? You came to see my race, right?"

"Trainer-san... that girl named Special Week, do you think highly of her?"

Those voices... they sound like my own? But who am I calling? Who is my trainer?

And why, when I hear this title... do I feel so happy, so full of longing, and yet so sad?

These indistinguishable voices made her heart a mess. But finally, after she opened her eyes, she managed to control her emotions. She first turned to the exhausted horse girls and bowed deeply, forcing her voice to be calm:

"Everyone, thank you for your participation. I've caused trouble for you this time. It's my fault."

"Sorry, I want to... be alone for a while now, so please excuse me."

With that, as if she was about to lose control of her emotions, she once again ran towards the other end of the field in an explosive escape. Gold Ship and Festa both reached out but failed to stop her.

"What happened?" And at this moment, C.B., pushing Kitano, finally arrived at the field. And Suzuka's appearance, as if she was about to cry, made him think she had been stimulated by this race defeat.

After all, Festa and Gold Ship were still newly debuted freshmen. And for her, a senior, to be surpassed by two freshmen at the last moment, coupled with the psychological trauma of her fracture, it was not incomprehensible for her to fall into self-doubt.

"Trainer Kitano, we should find her first," C.B. immediately made the decision for him. After he nodded slightly, he suddenly thought of something and turned his gaze to Festa and Gold Ship.

The meaning in his eyes was clear; he hoped his actions would be approved by his two charges.

"...Tch, do whatever you want this time." And Festa, after a brief moment of conflict, finally chose to look away, pretending not to care and agreeing to his action.

"Go, Kitano-chan! It's up to you to save Suzuka-san!" And Gold Ship supported his action with a cheerful smile. On the contrary, if he hadn't done so this time, she would have been unhappy.

After all... that's just the kind of person he is. The kind who wants to do his best for everyone.

Gold Ship murmured to herself, and her hand, which was unconsciously touching her ash-colored long hair, seemed to touch something strange, making her expression freeze for a moment, her eyes trembling as if she had seen some terrifying beast.

And in the next moment, she stopped her action and, after a deep breath, finally calmed down. And when she opened her eyes again, her initial joy, approval, and a trace of palpitation for his action had all disappeared like smoke...

...

"I can't do it, I can't do it, why can't I do it!"

"I just want to return to the racetrack! I just want to run with all my might one more time! Why can't I do it now!"

On the other side, Suzuka, who was running with her head down, seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown... She forced her legs to burst out at what she thought was her fastest speed, but no matter what, the fear from the bottom of her heart could not be eliminated.

As soon as she wanted to exert force, the scene of the fracture would appear; as soon as she wanted to run at full speed, it was as if she would fracture again in the next moment and say goodbye to the racetrack forever.

She ran aimlessly, not even knowing where she ended up, nor when she started to run in circles. She had also forgotten how many kilometers she had run. Compared to her stamina and endurance, she was already exhausted at this time.

She could feel her legs getting sore and painful, a sign of overtraining. However, Suzuka, who would have stopped immediately after feeling this pain in the past, not only did not stop this time but forced herself to run even faster.

Maybe... this is not bad. Let her run freely one last time. After one more fracture, all her hopes will be shattered.

And after that, she won't have to hold on to hope anymore, won't have to torture herself anymore. Let her pass by like a shooting star!

"Suzuka-san! Stop! Wait—Trainer Kitano?! Don't go over there!"

"!"

However, a sudden, horrified female voice made the running Suzuka snap back to her senses. And when she looked up ahead, she saw Kitano, in his wheelchair, blocking her path! It was as if if she didn't stop, she would crash right into him and send him flying.

Pfft!

Almost the moment she saw him, her pupils contracted slightly, and she subconsciously slowed down. After a short buffer distance, she came to a stop just a step away from him.

But the moment she stopped, a delayed sense of powerlessness hit her. Her sore legs suddenly gave way, causing her to lose her balance and involuntarily fall towards him...

Pat.

The next moment, she felt a daze in front of her, without any of the pain she had imagined... she had been caught in a warm embrace.

"You don't have to force yourself like this, Suzuka," he said, looking at the horse girl he had almost lost, having witnessed how much she wanted to bring him victory, having experienced protecting her with all his might. Now, seeing this pitiable girl again, he subconsciously comforted her in his old tone:

"You've already done well enough. You don't need to prove anything anymore, Suzuka."

"Now, just rest for a while. Forget all your troubles. When you wake up, everything will be fine."

With his gentle voice and the soft touch on her head, gradually, an indescribable emotion surged into her heart... she didn't know what kind of feeling it was... but she only knew that at this moment, she had only one reaction...

She unconsciously grabbed his sleeve. She didn't leave his embrace, but buried her head as much as possible into this warm embrace, as if she wanted to merge with this person.

Gradually, he and C.B. both felt her trembling body, and the full-blown unwillingness and grievance that were gradually being vented.

"Uu, uuuwaaaaaah..."

The quiet and seemingly desireless Silence Suzuka, at this moment in his arms, was crying like a child who had lost everything. In the arms of the person she trusted most, the only one she could hold onto, she vented all her grievances, all her sadness at this moment.

As if this scene was what she had wanted to do most many, many years ago, but at that time, she had no chance to convey her emotions to that person.

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