Kaito had grown used to waking up to someone already in his room—whether it was Chazuo, Teio, Tenku, or even Handzu. High-affection Uma Musume often did things like this.
But today was different.
As he felt that maddening weight pressing down on him, Kaito struggled to move his arms.
It was as if he had completely lost control of his body—he couldn't move a single finger, no matter how hard he tried.
Sleep paralysis? Could this really be sleep paralysis?!
He tried to reason it out, reaching for a scientific explanation, though physics might not fully account for this.
The figure was turned away from him. He could just barely make out a long tail blending into the darkness. Its color… felt like Teio's. But the light was too dim, and Kaito couldn't be sure.
One thing was certain, though: whoever it was, she had maximum affection for him.
"Gluur… gluur…" The sounds quickened. Kaito gritted his teeth.
This girl… she was terrifyingly skilled!
He wanted to move—but couldn't. He wanted to speak—but couldn't.
Being forced to submit like this was maddening, like being tied up while someone incessantly teased the soles of his feet, scrambling his thoughts into a chaotic mess. And yet, she seemed to delight in the freedom to toy with him.
Her tail swayed lazily, the shadow rising and falling quickly, and Kaito faintly heard a girl's laugh.
She wasn't Chazuo.
Kaito was sure of it.
But his consciousness was already drifting further with the sound.
During the day, it had been Handzu; now at night, another unidentified Uma Musume appeared. The intervals were short, and his body in the real world didn't reset. He was still exhausted from the daytime encounter.
After an unknown amount of time, Kaito's body shuddered. He lost all strength. Sleepiness surged through his mind. The tail wrapped around his neck, brushing against his cheek. In the haze, Kaito finally saw the black-haired Uma Musume lift herself.
Moonlight spilled across her, casting her fair skin in a nearly translucent glow. She tilted her head.
"Gudu… gu…"
From her white profile, Kaito thought he saw the faint curve of a smile at her lips.
"Trainer, you're so interesting. Keep pleasing me~"
The next morning, the chirping of birds outside the window yanked Kaito from sleep. In the game world, there were no birds, no animals—he couldn't even find a single ant in the forest—so hearing other creatures was a rare luxury.
Yawning, Kaito sat up slowly and immediately remembered the previous night. He hurriedly checked his body.
He was wearing pajamas. His pants were tied. Everything looked normal, and there were no strange dried marks on the bed.
What had happened last night? Why couldn't he move? Sleep paralysis, or had someone drugged him? If the latter, why was there no trace?
Was I dreaming…?
A thousand questions crowded his mind.
Just then, he remembered something about the Chazuo scenario… before he could think further, a knock sounded at the door. Teio's voice came through.
"Trainer, wake up! If you don't get up soon, Teio-sama will have to punish you!" She twisted the doorknob, and with a click, the door swung open.
Kaito didn't usually lock his door—he slept wherever he wanted, a habit he'd carried over from the game world.
Teio bounced into the room, not in her school uniform but in a yellow off-shoulder short-sleeve top paired with blue shorts. Her pale legs were exposed, looking both lively and playful… and a little tempting.
[Teio Casual Outfit Unlocked]
Kaito's interface flashed a line of text.
Spotting him on the bed, Teio's eyes lit up. With boundless energy, she pounced.
"Trainer! You're sleeping in!" She yanked the blanket off and rolled it to the side. "I, Teio-sama, came all this way to find you. Don't you feel even a little excited? How can you sleep like this?!"
As she spoke, Teio wriggled under the covers like a spring roll. Her ears twitched outside the blanket, and Kaito heard her sharp intake of breath.
"Trainer's scent… so strong… so rich…"
"Strong? I'm already awake," Kaito said, turning over. Even weak, the world seemed purer, as if that shadow from last night had absorbed all his distracting thoughts.
"Have you eaten breakfast?" he asked.
"Nope."
"I'll make you something."
"I'm full."
"Hmm?"
Teio poked her head out, her face flushed. Her white feet swayed outside the blanket, giggling. "Just smelling you is enough to fill me up."
A classic move. Too bad it didn't work—Kaito was in full "saint mode."
"I'll make some honey cakes you like. Might as well boost your affection to a ridiculous level while I'm at it."
"You want to serve me that much? Then Teio-sama won't hold back." She crawled out from under the covers, slipped on her shoes, and casually walked beside Kaito like she owned the place.
Watching him move with practiced cooking skill, Teio pinched her chin.
"Wonderful, Trainer. Working hard to satisfy Teio-sama's taste buds."
"Are you treating me like a housewife?"
"In the world of Uma Musume, strength is everything. To me, you're the female, and I'm the male. What's wrong with a housewife?"
"Really? That's a thing?" Kaito had never heard that.
Uma Musume… were female-superior!
"When I become an undefeated Triple Crown champion and go fight out there, you'll stay home and cook delicious food for me. Hmph~" Teio sighed in bliss, lost in the fantasy.
"No way. As a man, even facing an Uma Musume, I have to stay in control. I'm the one riding the horse, after all."
"You can try, Trainer. Let's see who overpowers whom."
"Underestimating me comes at a cost, Teio. I can lift your little body with ease."
"Ehehe~ but we'll see who's lifting who! If I carry you, it might be uncomfortable—better if you carry me."
Whether right-side-up or upside-down, it felt good. Teio could roll her eyes, flash a peace sign—Trainer loved that. She knew him perfectly, swishing her tail.
Kaito placed the honey cakes on the table.
"Later, we're going to the arcade."
"Coming!" Teio grabbed her chopsticks and dug in.
"Delicious!"
One day, she thought, she'd marry her Trainer and make him raise foals with her every day.