After Hayakawa Tazuna's intense session, it was Tokai Teio's turn to smother Kaito's face.
The soft cotton pressed against his nose, and Kaito struggled for breath. The warm, damp fabric carried the scent of the girl—sweet citrus mixed with the sharp tang of sweat, amplified in his nostrils.
"Trainer, you're breathing so hard, it tickles me…! I was telling you about that annoying AI! She actually dared to mock my Imperial dance! I have to teach her a lesson, Trainer, and you're going to help me!"
Kaito squirmed. The faster he panted, the tighter Teio pressed.
He genuinely loved the soft, springy feet of the Uma Musume—but this was suffocating!
I'm going to drown under an Uma Musume's soles…!
He wriggled desperately.
"Trainer, really, don't move so much." Teio's cheeks glowed pink. Her gaze burned on him as he held her ankles.
With a push upward, fresh air rushed into his lungs, and Kaito's half-conscious brain cleared.
"What are you doing, Trainer?"
He released her ankles and wiped his soaked face—covered in Teio's foot sweat.
"I almost died… killed by the sweaty feet of an Uma Musume… what a tragic way to go…"
"Don't worry, Trainer, I won't let you die." Teio giggled, completely oblivious to the peril she'd just caused. Maybe in her mind, this was nothing unusual.
"Trainer, you have to help me defeat that annoying AI!"
"Defeat? You don't mean delete her, do you?"
"Huh? Trainer, why would you think that? I mean defeat her in a dance-off!"
"You lost?"
Teio's expression fell.
"She performed the hottest dance right now! If I could do it too, that pathetic AI wouldn't even matter!"
Kaito almost forgot that Uma Musume weren't just runners—they were athletes and idols. Dancing was just as important as racing.
"So… you're going to practice dancing?"
"Exactly. Trainer, you're coming with me tomorrow."
"Where?"
"To the arcade."
True to form, the scenario triggered in an unpredictable way. Last time it had been Seiun Tenku; this time, Teio. And it was random—Kaito had chosen Teio to participate in the test. Without that decision, this storyline wouldn't have activated. Trying to find a pattern in it was nearly impossible.
"Trainer, come with me. Did you hear me?"
Seeing no response, Teio grew impatient, flopping onto him. Beneath the thin blanket, Kaito could feel the softness of her body.
"Alright, we'll go tomorrow."
"Yay!" She giggled and climbed off him. "It's settled, then. I'll come find you in the morning."
Sliding on her shoes, Teio hopped down. Before leaving, she asked, "By the way, Trainer, why did you suddenly run out halfway through the test?"
"Nature calls."
"You have to make up for the time you missed. I, Tokai Teio, am taking responsibility for your half, so tomorrow, you'll stay with me until I'm satisfied. Oh! And listen carefully." Her face turned serious. "It'll just be the two of us. No one else. Otherwise, I'll drag you away myself! Hmph!"
She shot a glance, recalling the last time Seiun Tenku had interfered, spoiling things.
Every time they entered the real world, these Uma Musume took control—and Kaito had no special abilities to counter them. No instant costume changes, no refreshing his stats. He could only let them run wild.
Still… it wasn't a bad feeling. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of being a normal human. If these girls hadn't turned the situation into a full-blown "Shura field," everything would have been fine—just adorable, energetic girls.
Once Teio left, Kaito dragged his still-weak body upright. He'd apparently fallen asleep, his last memory lingering on Tazuna's kiss—a kiss that had left his brain oxygen-starved and sent him straight into unconsciousness.
Upon waking, Teio's sweat-drenched little feet were the first thing to greet him.
Lifting the blanket, Kaito noticed his clothes had been shifted, clearly removed and put back on, and his body had been cleaned—no sticky traces on his stomach or sheets. Likely Tazuna had handled it.
The machine had powered down automatically, but the monitor was still on, the interface a dizzying tangle of information that would require an expert to sort out.
His contract with Tazuna had failed. Even with maximum affinity, she refused to become his Uma Musume, preferring to "consume" him rather than sign. Did some boundaries exist that could never be crossed?
Thinking through the character designs, Tazuna concealed her identity, acting as the secretary for the students—she would never reveal herself lightly. Teio's goal was to participate in the Triple Crown; blocking her would make her angry. And Seiun Tenku or Manchester Chaza, though game characters, also had actions they could and couldn't take.
Kaito made a mental note of all these patterns.
He treated this world like a game, but he didn't want casual curiosity to turn a sweet interaction with the girls into a survival nightmare. Accidentally pushing these Uma Musume into "dark mode" would be unpleasant.
With that precaution in mind, Kaito headed to Arisuco's lab, finally having a chance to recount his recent experiences.
Inside, he found Arisuco asleep on the sofa. On her desk lay the flyer he'd given her—but the flyer was restored to its original signed state, unlike the unsigned game-mode version he had handed over.
Watching Arisuco curled up on the sofa, she looked like a normal little girl.
Kaito tousled her messy bangs. She seemed utterly exhausted, sleeping deeply, as if she hadn't slept in days.
In the game world, he'd often seen Arisuco stay up late—her stamina bar always betrayed her. Even when he ordered her to sleep, she'd sneak out for research. Only when he used her as a pillow did she finally rest, replenishing her stamina.
Stirred by his touch, Arisuco slowly opened her eyes. Her dark red eyes, dulled by sleep, fixed on him.
Recognizing his face, she shifted and curled up onto his lap.