Leaving the matter of Kyoei March to Gold Ship, Fujiwara Chiya headed toward King Halo's training area instead.
A massive artificial hill was slowly moving.
An artificial hill?
Fujiwara Chiya narrowed his eyes. When he saw King Halo dragging an artificial rock formation big enough to equal five adults across the sand, he swallowed. This training intensity was no joke. The artificial rock weighed about as much as a mining cart tyre, but the resistance was even stronger. Her feet sank deep into the sand, carving a long trench behind her.
Standing near King Halo were quite a few Uma Musume from her year and the lower years. Their faces were filled with infatuation and admiration, and they shouted like fans.
"KING!"
"Halo-sama~!"
He had to admit, when King Halo's name was shouted like that, it sounded rather imposing. At the very least, Fujiwara Chiya was overwhelmed by her little fangirls.
After Kiryuin told him about Kyoei March's uniqueness, Fujiwara Chiya had started investigating Nase Hideto's Uma Musume. Before looking into it, he had not known. But once he checked, he discovered that the truly impressive one was not Kyoei March, but King Halo, who was now training desperately while surrounded by everyone.
She came from a prestigious family. Her mother had won seven G1 races in America and was a top-tier Uma Musume among top-tier Uma Musume. King Halo had inherited her mother's legacy and had shown outstanding ability since childhood. Not long ago, she had won a graded race, even breaking a Central race record.
There was no need to doubt any Uma Musume who could break a record. They were all first-rate powerhouses. That was not something effort alone could accomplish. It required more than enough potential and talent as well.
"Uwah?"
Just as Fujiwara Chiya was secretly recording King Halo's various data, an energetic voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Trainer Chiya, what are you doing?"
Special Week was eating a chocolate stick as she trotted over with light steps.
"Spe-chan, did you finish training?"
"I'm resting right now." She came to Fujiwara Chiya's side. "What about Trainer? Are you resting too?"
"I'm working."
"Working… Oh, could it be that you're scouting new students?"
"No. We can't scout anyone now. We have to wait until the next batch of new students enters in September."
"I see."
Special Week bit into her chocolate stick, then broke off half and handed it to Fujiwara Chiya.
"For me?"
"Mm. I have lots more." Special Week patted her pocket, which made a rattling sound. "Or should I give you a new one instead?"
"This is fine."
Fujiwara Chiya put it in his mouth. "Has Spe-chan evolved to eating during training now?"
"Hehe~ Tachyon-senpai gave them to me. She said she bought too many and couldn't use them all, so she gave them to me."
Fujiwara Chiya's mouth stopped moving.
"Tachyon gave them to you?"
"Yep."
"Pah!"
Fujiwara Chiya spat the chocolate stick out on the spot. He grabbed Special Week by the shoulders.
"How many did you eat!?"
"Eh? A dozen or so…"
It was over.
Fujiwara Chiya's mind went blank. There was no need to guess when it came to something Agnes Tachyon handed out. One hundred percent, it had been drugged. Special Week had eaten so many of them. The effects were probably about to kick in. Fujiwara Chiya had personally experienced how terrifying Agnes Tachyon's medicines could be. They might not kill anyone, but they would absolutely cause all kinds of bizarre problems.
One time, Agnes Tachyon had fed him a medicine that could clear fatigue and maintain alertness. As a result, Fujiwara Chiya had bounced around like a monkey, completely unable to stop. In the end, Agnes Tachyon had to tie him up with a rope and wait until the effect wore off.
He had not expected that the moment he let his guard down, Agnes Tachyon would secretly start causing trouble again. Hadn't they agreed she would not stretch her poisonous hands toward ordinary people?
And Spe-chan, you silly girl. Do you eat anything people give you!? Don't you know how to be suspicious? If someone gave you knockout drugs, wouldn't you collapse on the spot?
"What's wrong, Trainer? Is there something wrong with these?"
Seeing Fujiwara Chiya's reaction, Special Week felt as if what she had eaten was not a chocolate stick, but poison.
"Should I say there's a problem, or that there isn't too much of a problem…"
It was too late to make her throw them up now.
"Those are… fine."
The sudden soft, gloomy voice startled Fujiwara Chiya. He turned his head sharply and saw an Uma Musume as dark as the night sky.
Manhattan Cafe.
"Sorry. I frightened you." Cafe clasped her hands behind her back.
"N-no, it's fine…"
Why does she make absolutely no sound when she walks!?
"Cafe, what did you mean by 'fine' just now?"
"Those are snacks Tachyon used for material analysis… She was preparing to create energy bars with a similar flavor based on those ingredients, and the extras were given to Special Week-san. So those are… edible. But if she gives you anything else next time, don't eat it. Those will be the ones Tachyon made herself."
Manhattan Cafe spoke in her distinctive slow and gentle tone, pausing between phrases as if thinking while speaking.
So it was still in the preparation stage. Fujiwara Chiya let out a sigh of relief.
Wait. Did that mean he was going to become the taste tester next?
"Trainer, then these…"
"They should be fine."
Cafe was still trustworthy. She had helped him escape trouble many times before.
"That's good. I thought they were going to be wasted." Special Week smiled innocently.
So the thing you were worried about wasn't your body, but wasting food… Spe-chan, even being airheaded should have a limit! He would have Shirayuki go over and educate her later.
"Trainer Chiya."
"Thanks for the warning, Cafe."
"It's nothing." Her golden eyes were so clear they seemed capable of seeing through a person's soul. Manhattan Cafe slowly spoke. "When you have time, Trainer Chiya, would you like to visit my room…? I am rather interested in your existence."
"Cafe-senpai is interested in Trainer!? Could that mean…"
Special Week's eyes sparkled.
"Not that kind of interest," Manhattan Cafe denied. "There is a soul… I want to catch up to. If I can learn about what is happening with Trainer Chiya, perhaps I may also be able to touch that person."
"A soul…?"
Hearing that word, Fujiwara Chiya grew wary.
Could Cafe know something about him?
As if seeing through Fujiwara Chiya's thoughts, Manhattan Cafe shook her head.
"I only want to discuss such matters with Trainer. If you wish to come, then come. If you do not… there is no need to force yourself."
After politely bowing, Manhattan Cafe left. Special Week and Fujiwara Chiya remained behind, watching her go.
"Cafe-senpai sometimes says really strange things. I heard from my classmates that Cafe-senpai often talks to herself when she's alone, and she's scared quite a few people. Also, senpai really likes coming out in the middle of the night. She appears and disappears like a ghost. Somehow, she feels a little scary."
Fujiwara Chiya had already experienced that just now.
However, as a trainer, Fujiwara Chiya had to clear Manhattan Cafe's name.
"Spe-chan, if you want to understand someone, you need to speak with them yourself and experience it yourself. Don't let rumors from other people influence you."
"Trainer… you sound like my mom."
"Is that supposed to be praise?"
"Hehe~"
While the two of them were talking, Fujiwara Chiya once again caught sight of that black figure from the corner of his eye. This time, however, she was not wearing her school uniform, but a black cloak.
As the cloak fluttered, the black figure vanished beneath the shade of the trees.