Umamusume: Full of Flavor! [13]

Akiyama Haruto naturally had no objections. In fact, he was more than happy to have Special Week fall right into his lap.

As he had thought before, bringing Special Week under his wing as well would be ideal. The only question was whether the academy would allow it.

The restriction against independently recruiting Umamusume placed far too many limitations on Trainers.

Still, Haruto was rather grateful now for his status as a “specially appointed Trainer.”

Had he been responsible for recruiting Umamusume himself, there was no way he could have landed a top-class talent like Silence Suzuka.

Other Trainers weren’t blind to talent, either. Naturally, the seasoned veterans would claim the most promising prospects first.

Even if one or two slipped through the cracks, Haruto wouldn’t be able to recognize them. Before using [FULL OF FLAVOR] to assess their condition, he had no way of knowing which Umamusume possessed greater hidden potential. It wasn’t as though he could go around licking every one of them.

Special Week had only come here because she was close to Suzuka. He couldn’t let such a good opportunity pass him by. Even if he couldn’t recruit her outright, he at least needed to leave her with a favorable impression.

“Sure. Take off your shoes first. I need to check the condition of your feet.”

“Yes!”

Special Week readily kicked off her shoes and sat down in the chair, eagerly awaiting Haruto’s examination.

Watching the familiar process from the side, Suzuka grew extremely anxious. Her tail swished counterclockwise in agitation.

It was obvious what was about to happen next—the same thing she had experienced on her first day here.

After spending the past month with Haruto, Suzuka had already realized that he assessed her condition by “licking” her.

Every time, Haruto came up with some flimsy excuse and pretended it had happened by accident, but Suzuka wasn’t foolish enough to believe him.

She assumed it must be Haruto’s secret technique. Just as some Trainers could judge an Umamusume’s leg strength from her running form, Haruto was clearly even more capable, using this unusual method to comprehensively assess an Umamusume’s potential.

Could this be why the student council president had warned her not to get too close to him? Having her feet licked so often really did seem like the sort of thing someone might find unpleasant…

But when Haruto did it, Suzuka didn’t find it unpleasant at all…

She had even begun looking forward to receiving that special “condition check” every day.

That was why Suzuka had started caring for her feet daily. In the past, she had only maintained her tail, mainly to reduce air resistance. Now, however, she paid far more attention to how her feet felt and smelled…

She didn’t want Haruto to think they stank.

So when she imagined Haruto licking the top of Special Week’s foot to assess her potential, Suzuka desperately did not want to see it.

It made her deeply uncomfortable… stifled, as though something were lodged in her chest.

That oppressive feeling finally drove her to interfere.

“Um, Spe-chan… don’t you already have a Trainer? Wouldn’t this be… inappropriate?”

That was right. Spe-chan had her own Trainer too.

One Trainer interfering with another Trainer’s guidance was considered extremely rude… Yes! Exactly! It was against academy rules!

This had absolutely nothing to do with her own selfish feelings!

Suzuka tried desperately to convince herself, but her expression betrayed the lie.

“Suzuka?”

As someone wholly devoted to Suzuka, Special Week naturally noticed her strange behavior.

Another new expression. She was seeing yet another side of Suzuka…

But somehow, it felt as though Suzuka liked her less now.

Why? Had she done something wrong?

When it came to matters of the heart, Special Week truly lived up to her role as the protagonist—she was exceptionally dense.

“Oh? You already have an assigned Trainer, Spe-chan?”

This new information immediately dashed Haruto’s hopes of recruiting Special Week.

“Yes. I’ve already joined Team Sirius. My Trainer and the other team members are still at summer training camp. I only returned to Tracen early because I got heatstroke.”

“I see. Sorry, then, but I can’t train you. Interfering with another Trainer’s assigned Umamusume would be seen as malicious poaching.”

It was unfortunate, but Haruto wasn’t the kind of scumbag who would poach someone else’s Umamusume. Nor did he want to create a conflict with another Trainer right now. It would be nothing but a waste of time.

“Ah… You’re right. I’m sorry, Haruto-san. That was an unreasonable request…”

“It’s fine. I can still give you a little advice, though.”

Haruto had a sharp eye. Even without activating [FULL OF FLAVOR], a single glance at Special Week’s feet had revealed something.

He decided to point it out and earn a little goodwill.

Who knew? Perhaps Special Week would someday end up in a storyline where she left her team. Then he could snap her up!

“Yes! Please tell me!”

“Spe-chan, you seem to be wearing the same shoe size Suzuka used to.”

“Huh? Really?”

“What I mean is that your current shoes don’t suit you. Your feet are exactly the same length as Suzuka’s, with the left about half a centimeter longer than the right. You should have a pair custom-made for a better fit.”

“Ah! Really? Suzuka! Even our feet are the same length!”

Special Week already wanted to be just like Suzuka, so discovering one more thing they had in common naturally delighted her.

“Y-Yes…”

Suzuka, meanwhile, had yet to shake her guilt. She also felt guilty for standing in the way of her dearest friend.

Spe-chan only wanted to become stronger… yet I interfered out of jealousy…

I’m so selfish…

“That’s amazing, Haruto-san! You could tell just by looking? My Trainer never mentioned it!”

“Every Trainer has different specialties. I simply pay closer attention to details like these.”

“Then should I do the same training as Suzuka?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Suzuka is naturally better on counterclockwise tracks, so she overuses her left leg. That’s why she needs special training to restore her balance. I still don’t know what you’re particularly suited for, Spe-chan, so you should discuss a specific training plan with your assigned Trainer.”

“Okay!”

Special Week felt that coming here had been completely worthwhile. Her first meeting with Haruto might have begun with a ridiculous misunderstanding, but she had since learned that he was a responsible and capable Trainer—and that Suzuka wasn’t being bullied.

At last, the burden on her heart lifted.

As soon as she relaxed, Special Week felt hungry again…

She had been so worried about Suzuka that she had barely been able to eat at lunch. She had only managed three bowls of carrot fried rice.

Unable to meet Special Week’s eyes, Suzuka forced out words that went against what she truly wanted.

“Um, Spe-chan… I should get back to training…”

“Ah! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for taking up your valuable training time… I’ll leave right away!”

Special Week hurriedly stood and put on her shoes, repeatedly bowing to them as she backed out of the training room. At the doorway, she extended an invitation to Suzuka.

“Then let’s have dinner together after you finish training, Suzuka!”

“…Okay.”

Special Week’s dazzling, sunlike smile only made Suzuka feel even more ashamed. She forced a smile and waved goodbye.

I’m the one who should be apologizing, Spe-chan…

I’m truly… despicable…

Even so, Suzuka did not regret it. The relief that had filled her chest when Haruto turned Special Week down—the relief that had made her secretly let out a long breath—had been real too.

The time she spent undergoing “special training” with Haruto in this plain rookie Trainer’s room had become a “scenery” all her own, one she refused to yield to anyone else.

It was hers now, and it would remain hers in the future…

Forever.

This is a fan translation of 赛马娘，味真足 by 夜幕下的鬼 Rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!