The Trainer With Little Time Left Just Wants to Live [5]

In truth, Kitano had met Symboli Rudolf very early on—even earlier than he met Mr. C.B.

It was just that, at the time, Kitano had not recognized that tiny bay Umamusume as the future “emperor,” Symboli Rudolf, Japan’s first undefeated Triple Crown Umamusume.

Kitano had said before that his rebirths did not simply revive him at different points on the timeline. His entire life started over from the beginning, and he had to experience everything again, from birth to childhood, then all the way to adulthood.

And it was then that Kitano first met Symboli Rudolf—or rather, Symboli Rudolf as a child.

Even now, Kitano still remembered that it had happened in the stands at Tokyo Racecourse. That was already Kitano’s second life. The main reason he had gone to the racecourse was to see whether there were any Umamusume names he recognized, hoping to use that method to determine what era he was in. That way, he would not be as completely blind as he had been in the previous loop, knowing nothing about the rules of the world he found himself in.

It was there, inside that racecourse, that the still-young Kitano met the equally young Rudolf—who, rather than seeming like an Umamusume, was acting like an arrogant little brat.

“What’s a smug little brat like you doing at a racecourse? Do you even understand Umamusume racing? If you got separated from your family, big sis can take you to find them, you know?”

Yes. That was the scene of the first meeting between Symboli Rudolf, then only eight years old, and Kitano, who was only eleven at the time.

This future emperor had none of the imperial dignity Kitano remembered from the anime, nor did she feel like the outstanding Umamusume from the game’s story, full of ideals, always kind toward her Trainer yet principled all the same.

If Kitano really had to find a word to describe Symboli Rudolf back then, it would be “smug little brat.”

However, at the time, Kitano did not choose to act like the male lead in some doujin and teach the bratty little girl respect for her elders with an adult’s iron fist. Although he was a few years older than Rudolf, he was fundamentally just an ordinary person. He had no ability to arm-wrestle an Umamusume.

Back then, Rudolf might have been a little Umamusume, but Kitano fully believed she could take an adult one-on-one. If he tried to teach her a lesson, he would probably be the one pinned to the ground and beaten up.

And so, Kitano chose a better method. Even now, he still remembered how, faced with the arrogant little Rudolf, he had simply shown a faint expression of acceptance and answered softly:

“I’m sorry. My family has all passed away. Can you really take me to find them, Onee-chan?”

—And from that day on, Symboli Rudolf never spoke to Kitano that way again.

Kitano also discovered, somewhat unexpectedly, that he was seeing little Rudolf more and more often. There were even times when, the moment he stepped outside, he would see little Rudolf already waiting at his front door, scolding him for being “too slow.”

Yes. Strictly speaking, Kitano and Rudolf in that loop could be called “childhood friends.” At least, their relationship could be described that way before Rudolf had to be raised as an Umamusume and part from Kitano for the sake of training.

Children did not know how precious every meeting was, because they did not know separation could mean farewell forever. Fortunately, during the time Rudolf and Kitano spent together, they talked about everything. Long before they parted, they had already made a “promise” to each other.

“Then let me do it! I’ll become the first undefeated Triple Crown Umamusume in all of Japan! I’ll lead Japan’s Umamusume onto the international stage! That overseas expedition the old hag couldn’t complete back then—I’ll complete it myself!”

“And you, Kitano! You’ll be the Trainer of me, Symboli Rudolf, the undefeated Triple Crown Umamusume! Even the old hag in my family said you’re quite talented. You’ll definitely be able to enter Central Tracen and become a Trainer at Tracen Academy!”

“When that time comes, we’ll move forward together! Toward the summit of Japan!”

The childhood Rudolf had no idea how high the sky was, and she had blindly set that goal based on the talent she had already shown. Kitano, standing beside her, understood that better than anyone. He knew that the Umamusume before him would absolutely stand at the top of Japan in the future, but she would not be able to stand at the top of the world.

Even so, he did not shatter this fledgling Umamusume’s dream. On the contrary, he chose to encourage her and acknowledge her talent.

“I believe you’ll definitely do it.”

“It’s not that I’ll definitely do it—it’s that we’ll definitely do it!” Rudolf unhappily corrected the mistake in Kitano’s words. To be honest, as he looked at that young emperor, there was a moment when Kitano felt that his dim life had been lit up by this confident little emperor.

—Until later, with Mr. C.B.’s help, Kitano entered Tracen Academy and became Mr. C.B.’s Trainer. When he then took Mr. C.B. to find the newly enrolled Rudolf, before he could even speak, Rudolf flatly rejected the idea of joining his team.

Rudolf probably doesn’t remember me anymore… After repeatedly confirming it throughout that loop, Kitano could only arrive at that conclusion helplessly. But the result was not entirely beyond his expectations. After all, nearly ten years had passed. Rudolf’s immense transformation from then to now proved that, over those ten years he knew nothing about, she had gone through many experiences he had not seen.

If not for the answer he had given back then, which had made Rudolf lose sleep for several nights, he might not even have had the chance to become a passing figure in her life. Ten years had passed. It was not impossible to accept that she no longer remembered him.

…

Back in the present, Kitano’s thoughts returned. Looking at the familiar stranger before him, someone who definitely no longer held even the slightest memory of him, Kitano sat in his wheelchair, showed a generous smile, and said softly:

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, President Rudolf.”

“Ah… yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Suppressing the strange feelings in her heart, Rudolf found herself feeling incredibly awkward, even though she was the one who had asked to meet him. It was as if she felt guilty, yet also a little bitter. Countless complicated feelings rose in her chest all at once, leaving Rudolf uncertain what to do.

Fortunately, the dignity she had cultivated over so many years meant Rudolf only lost composure for a brief moment. Very soon, her gaze locked onto Nakayama Festa, who was slowly walking forward from behind Kitano’s wheelchair.

“…This is the Umamusume in your care, Trainer Kitano?”

“Yes. I’m sure everyone here knows her.” Kitano smiled as he introduced Nakayama Festa to Rudolf and the others again. Although in private, Kitano always said Nakayama Festa was hard to manage and could only be considered one of the more humanlike members of the Gold Family, in public, he still put the girl who had looked after him for so long in the best light.

“Nakayama Festa, an Umamusume born into the Gold Family. Some people say she has a terrible temper, but I think that personality may give her more fighting spirit in races than other Umamusume.”

“And I believe Nakayama Festa’s qualities as an Umamusume are superior to most of the current Umamusume at Central Tracen. She has the potential to win G1 races, even to claim victory overseas. I believe she can do it.”

“…Kitano?”

Though this was the second time he had introduced her, this time, in front of Rudolf and the others, Kitano’s praise for Nakayama Festa rose another level higher than it had in front of the chairwoman.

This time, Kitano’s evaluation surprised not only Rudolf and the others, but even Nakayama Festa herself. She could not help turning her head in astonishment to look at this man who had lived with them for several years, her eyes filled with surprise.

This was the first time Nakayama Festa had ever heard praise from Kitano’s mouth, and so much of it at that. Ever since the day Stay Gold had picked Kitano up and brought him back to the Gold Family, they had treated him like family. And when the Umamusume of the Gold Family treated someone as family, there were no tricks beyond sincerity.

But not everyone could handle the Gold Family’s sincerity. Especially when everyone in the Gold Family had a fiery temper from top to bottom. Conflicts among family were common, and the sisters often started fighting or challenging one another the moment words failed them. Every single one of them fully revealed the bad-tempered side of themselves.

Take Nakayama Festa herself, for instance. Despite her lazy appearance on normal days, once she lost her temper, no one could stop her. Normally, none of the sisters who provoked her got off easily. It was only after Kitano arrived that their conflicts had lessened somewhat.

There was no helping it. No one could ignore the sight of a man who might die at any moment dragging his sick body between them to block their path. Especially in the past few months, when Kitano had already begun having difficulty moving, yet even from his wheelchair, he still came to stop them from fighting. With that happening, it became even harder to keep the quarrel going.

This was the first time she had heard this man do anything other than complain about their tempers. He actually had a side that would praise them. Only now did Nakayama Festa realize that Kitano truly thought so highly of her… and had not taken her on merely out of consideration for Aneki.

Thinking that, Nakayama Festa’s expression wavered in a rare show of emotion. But as a gambling Umamusume, her mental fortitude was excellent, and she immediately brought her feelings under control.

Only, the slight hunch in her posture changed a little, and the lollipop she always held in her mouth seemed to gain a touch of sweetness. She even stepped forward and faced Rudolf directly, saying word by word:

“Kitano is my partner. My sisters and I all trust his ability, and he’s the only Trainer I acknowledge.”

“So, President, if you don’t approve his joining Tracen Academy, then I won’t enroll either. I don’t think training under him would be much worse than training at Tracen Academy.”

As she spoke, Nakayama Festa naturally looped one arm around Kitano’s neck and rested it on his shoulder, looking for all the world as if to say, “We’re good buddies.” Whether she was cheering Kitano on or cheering herself on was anyone’s guess.

But without a doubt, every bit of that action was now taken in by Rudolf and the others. Rudolf’s eyes lingered for a moment on Nakayama Festa’s intimate gesture. Only after a long pause did she answer in an indifferent tone:

“…I did not say I disagreed.”

“Since your relationship with your trainee is so harmonious, Trainer Kitano, and since you have also passed the test, Tracen Academy naturally welcomes both of you.”

“It’s just… regarding your health…”

“I’ll take good care of Kitano. No one else needs to worry.” Before Rudolf could finish, the extraordinarily sharp Nakayama Festa immediately seized the topic she cared about most and spoke with absolute certainty.

“Before I brought him here, I had already been looking after him at the Gold Family for several years. No one knows him better than I do. Don’t worry.”

“…Is that so.”

However, Nakayama Festa’s words made Rudolf’s face twitch once more. For some reason, Rudolf felt more and more irritated because of Nakayama’s words. She forced her tone not to show impatience, and in the end, she endured it.

Yet the irritated Rudolf did not notice that, beside her, Mr. C.B., who had been smiling the entire time, also showed a subtle change in expression… Though she was still smiling, a deep look had appeared in her eyes as she stared at Kitano and Nakayama Festa.

For some reason… Mr. C.B. felt this scene was very familiar. Although she had never experienced it, it simply felt familiar, as though this treatment should originally have belonged to her.

But before Mr. C.B. could make sense of it, Rudolf, who had suppressed her emotions, finally spoke. Her head was even more chaotic than Mr. C.B.’s right now, so she could only say softly:

“Then, on behalf of Tracen Academy, I welcome you both, Trainer Kitano and Nakayama Festa.”

“I will hand your agreement over to you once it’s ready. Please—”

“—Excuse me, President. If possible, I’d like to sign the agreement with Nakayama Festa now.”

This time, however, the one who interrupted Rudolf was Kitano. What gave Rudolf and the others differing expressions was that Kitano’s face actually seemed… impatient? The moment he heard “sign the agreement,” his eyes lit up, as if this were something he had wanted to do for ages.

In fact, Kitano really was anxious, because he knew that only after they signed the agreement would Nakayama Festa winning races add to his lifespan. Naturally, Kitano could not say that. Facing everyone’s slightly puzzled looks, he immediately explained:

“I signed Nakayama Festa up for her debut race a month ago, so I’d like to sign the agreement as soon as possible. That way, once Nakayama Festa wins her race, I, as her Trainer, can officially say I have an achievement of my own… Is that all right?”

“…Of course.”

This time, Rudolf’s voice became even lower, and her heart grew more irritated because of Kitano’s impatient expression earlier. Naturally, she knew that was an excuse, but she was unwilling to think about the meaning hidden behind it—even though everyone could think of it immediately.

Nakayama Festa herself, for instance. When Kitano’s impatient expression fell into her eyes, the Umamusume’s mood improved considerably. She deliberately pulled her knit cap lower, as if hiding her unnatural expression.

Soon, after Nakayama Festa and Kitano signed their names and sealed the agreement one after another, under Kitano’s incomparably expectant gaze, Rudolf finally stamped the official seal with extreme “solemnity.”

Great! I’ve finally taken the first step! Kitano looked at the agreement marked with the red official seal, once again unable to hide the joy on his face.

At last, he had hope of surviving.

T/N: yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

This is a fan translation of 时日无多的训练员只想活下去 by 许氏子谦 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!