It wasn't strange for a game character to greet someone.What was strange was that she had called him by name.
At Tracen Academy, Kaito only had one identity—"Trainer."Everyone addressed him that way.Hayakawa Tazuna was the first person to ever add his name in front of the title.
Kaito stood there stunned for a moment before responding.
"The Chairwoman has something she'd like to discuss with you, Trainer Kaito. Please come with me."
For an instant, Kaito felt as though he'd been sent back to another world again. He followed behind Hayakawa Tazuna and asked along the way,"What is it about?"
She didn't answer.
"…Miss Hayakawa?"
No response.
Left with no choice, Kaito grabbed her hand.
Hayakawa Tazuna froze like a doll.
She wasn't a real person—just executing a system task.The same way she stood at the school gate every morning greeting students, this time her task was simply to escort Kaito to the Chairwoman's office.
Even so, it was more than enough to shock him.
After half a year, this was the first time anyone here had taken the initiative to interact with him.
Just as Kaito was about to let go, he realized Hayakawa Tazuna had tightened her grip instead.
Her fingers were even stronger than Tokai Teio's.
He couldn't break free at all.
"Hayakawa—"
"Please come with me."
She repeated the line, over and over, like an NPC guiding the player along a path, endlessly looping the same dialogue.
Staring at her eternally gentle smile, Kaito's eyelid twitched.
He moved to her side and let himself be dragged all the way to the Chairwoman's office.
Akikawa Yayoi was seated behind her desk. When the two entered, she stood up.
"Welcome!" she said, delivering her trademark greeting.
"Trainer Kaito, our academy is preparing to introduce virtual reality equipment for training. We would like to invite you to participate as an early-stage test subject."
Virtual reality equipment?
Don't tell me—
Kaito immediately thought of the Master's Cup, the mode where training took place in a virtual world, racing against AI Uma Musume.
So the current scenario is the Master's Cup? Did I trigger the plot?But I didn't even enter a story quest…
Kaito rubbed his chin.
Maybe this is just how plots trigger inside the game world.Virtual reality… I'm already inside a virtual reality world.The programmers built the world but forgot to give it proper AI, turning everyone into low-intelligence NPCs.At least install their brains properly so they can fool me a little!
Kaito complained bitterly in his heart.
"What exactly would I need to do?" he asked.
Akikawa Yayoi remained frozen mid–fan-flutter, offering no reply—like she hadn't understood the question at all.
Is my question outside the script…?Or does she not know either?
Kaito sighed."All right. I agree."
"Then we'll be counting on you, Trainer Kaito."
The moment she finished speaking, a notification appeared before Kaito's eyes:
[Entering Story Training: Master's Cup]
Wait—does that mean I could refuse other storylines?
The Uma Musume game had many routes: the original URA Finals, Peak Cup, Prix de l'Arc Cup, Youth Cup, and countless others.
This one—the virtual reality competition route—had only one real advantage: meeting the Three Goddesses.
But Kaito had already guessed that in this world, the Three Goddesses were almost certainly just game characters too… or AI.
To him, this world was nearly unsolvable.
Aside from completing tasks, there was no other way forward.
"The testing will begin next week. We'll notify you then."
With that, Akikawa Yayoi stopped moving. A few seconds later, she returned to her seat and began reviewing documents as if nothing had happened.
The task briefing complete, Kaito turned to leave—only to realize Hayakawa Tazuna was still holding his hand.
"Tazuna?"
Her body didn't move at all.
She wasn't his Uma Musume, so Kaito had no authority to issue commands to her—but something was clearly wrong.
Why had she suddenly grabbed him?And why couldn't he break free?
As Tracen's hidden boss, Hayakawa Tazuna's strength was absurd.
Trying to force his way out was unrealistic.
Even though her palm was soft and warm, smelled sweet, even tasted faintly sugary—once she grabbed you, it was like being locked in handcuffs.
Since talking didn't work, Kaito had no choice but to take action.
Those emerald-green eyes reflected his face.
Soon, Hayakawa Tazuna's breathing grew hurried.Her grip loosened—just slightly.
Brushing against her damp, heated fingertips, Kaito raised an eyebrow.
Seems it's not enough.
Hayakawa Tazuna had strong self-control.
In that case… he'd have to change tactics.
He undid her uniform.
Milk-white skin contrasted sharply against black lace lingerie, instantly locking onto a man's gaze.
Come to think of it, he'd left Tazuna unattended for quite some time.
It was about time to revisit her.
...
"Trainer Kaito, I'll come notify you when it's time."
Hayakawa Tazuna said this to him, her skin dewy and radiant.
She looked years younger—almost the same age as Tracen's students. Mixed among them, no one would find anything strange.
The green uniform had been put back on by Kaito.
Only the clothes underneath had been… accidentally dirtied.
The black pantyhose had also been torn—two long rips exposing her full, rounded thighs.
Hayakawa Tazuna bowed slightly toward Kaito, smiling brightly.
In truth, whether clothes were stained or torn, these Uma Musume would take care of it themselves.
By tomorrow, they'd be spotless again.
So there was no need to worry about her walking around like this.
"Okay," Kaito replied, his voice light and drifting.
He'd pushed himself a little too hard today.
He'd already spent a lot of energy on Teio and Cafe, and then burned even more getting Tazuna to let go.
Now, all he could do was hope for the nightly refresh.
Come to think of it… the ears hidden under Tazuna's hat were pretty big.
Kaito felt like his soul had almost been drained dry.
Weakly parting from Tazuna, he made his way to Agnes Tachyon's laboratory.
He'd wanted to bring the food while it was still hot—now it was completely cold.
"Tachyon, I brought you something tasty."
Looking at the busy figure at the lab bench, Kaito spoke.
She remained in place, reciting a fixed line.
Taking the flyer from his pocket, Kaito placed it on the desk.
He didn't know whether Agnes Tachyon could understand him right now.
But she might be the only one in this world who could give him answers.
Even if it was hopeless, he had to try.
"The text on the flyer disappeared. And the food brought in from outside has special effects. I'll leave everything to you."
After saying that, Kaito sat for a while, then left.
A few minutes later, Agnes Tachyon picked up the flyer—
and began examining it carefully.