The Trainer With Little Time Left Just Wants to Live [36]

“C.B.’s in poor condition? Did something happen yesterday?”

C.B.’s parents had arrived with a rather aggressive air at first, looking for all the world as if they had come to demand answers from some filthy delinquent who had taken advantage of their daughter. In the end, however, after meeting Kitano, they did nothing extreme. Instead, they calmly discussed C.B. with him.

…All right, Kitano had not actually been wrong at first. C.B.’s parents had indeed come to Tracen with at least some intention of confronting a faithless man. After all, Mr. C.B.’s behavior that day made it impossible for them not to suspect that their daughter might have been deceived by some scumbag, and that they had simply never known.

C.B.’s parents took a rather hands-off approach with Mr. C.B. The couple themselves were still, even now, deep in the throes of passionate love. Precisely because of that, they cherished Mr. C.B., the crystallization of their love, all the more.

There were many things about C.B. they did not ask about, but that did not mean they did not care at all.

Especially C.B.’s father. Ever since he began suspecting that his precious daughter might have been hurt in love, or perhaps even tricked out of something extremely important… this old father’s blood pressure had nearly gone through the roof. Even now, there was still a small folding knife in the pocket of his coat.

Clearly, if things really did develop into the worst-case outcome C.B.’s father was imagining, what role that folding knife would play went without saying.

Fortunately, once he saw Kitano sitting in a wheelchair, pale-faced and weak-limbed, every last concern the couple had vanished in that instant… Obviously, with Kitano in such a frail state, there was absolutely no way he could have done the sort of thing they had imagined. That was why they could now discuss C.B.’s situation with Kitano so calmly.

“That’s right.” After the group moved to Kitano’s dorm room, C.B.’s mother said to Kitano, her voice full of worry, “After C.B. ran home through the downpour that day, she locked herself in her room and didn’t come out for an entire day.”

“C.B. has been in a very bad mood this whole time. We’re terribly worried about her… but we don’t know how to comfort her.”

“—And what does that have to do with Kitano?” Nakayama Festa, who was making tea for everyone off to the side, suddenly tossed that out after hearing C.B.’s mother speak. “Kitano and C.B.-senpai have barely known each other for a few days. Even if your daughter suddenly got depressed, that has nothing to do with him—ow!”

Before Festa could finish, Kitano, seated in his wheelchair, flicked her forehead with just enough force to sting. Feeling that faint pain, Festa merely glared at Kitano in indignation, but made no further move.

This was a small habit Nakayama Festa and Kitano had developed back in the Gold Family. Whenever Nakayama Festa was about to say the wrong thing, or was likely to stir up unnecessary trouble, as long as Kitano was present, he would use this method to remind her not to run her mouth any further. He would handle the rest.

Of course, if anyone else dared to do that to Festa, they would at least get beaten up. Kitano was the only person Festa could not bring herself to use violence against, which was also why only Kitano dared to do it.

Still, while Festa fell silent, there were still many Umamusume gathered in Kitano’s dorm room out of curiosity. For example, Tamamo and Oguri Cap, who had been sitting only one table away from Kitano’s group in the cafeteria, had followed along out of fear that Kitano might run into trouble. At this moment, Tamamo Cross could not help speaking up.

“Nakayama’s not wrong, though. I’m pretty curious too. Why do you think this has anything to do with Kitano?”

“Well…”

Tamamo’s words made C.B.’s parents look at each other, both of them looking awkward. After all, they had indeed been somewhat biased from the beginning. Based on what they knew of their daughter, if something could make someone as carefree as her show such a sorrowful expression, they truly could not think of any possibility other than heartbreak.

Especially after they used their connections to learn from Tracen Academy that their daughter had recently been very close to a male Trainer named Ryuichi Kitano, their anxious love for their daughter naturally made Kitano their one and only suspect.

Now that they knew Kitano and C.B. had known each other for less than a week, and that he had truly never done anything over the line with her, the couple felt relieved. But at the same time, they were once again at a complete loss over their daughter’s low spirits.

At present, however, Kitano could be said to be their only clue. In the end, after exchanging glances, the worried couple both nodded with the mindset of trying anything in a desperate situation. Finally, it was C.B.’s mother who took the initiative to step forward. Her voice was gentle, yet very firm, as she said to Kitano:

“Trainer Kitano, we were terribly rude to you earlier. But we truly are very worried about C.B. Right now, we two useless parents have no way to persuade her, so we can only ask you.”

“Although you have only spent a week with C.B., perhaps only you, the last person to have contact with C.B., can help us with this.”

With that, C.B.’s mother disregarded any concern for etiquette, age, or status and bowed deeply to Kitano. Seeing this, C.B.’s father immediately followed and did the same. Although earlier he had mentally prepared himself to fight Kitano to the death, now that it involved his precious daughter, this old father immediately chose to set aside so-called dignity and said at once:

“Please, Trainer Kitano!”

“Sir, ma’am… please don’t do this.”

Seeing this, Kitano was so startled that he struggled up from his wheelchair. Faced with the pleas of these elders, who had once given him no small amount of help, and in a sense had even treated him as family before, Kitano did not think too much about it or make things difficult. He immediately said:

“Although I’m not sure whether I can help, if it concerns C.B.… I’ll do everything I can.”

In truth, after hearing what C.B.’s parents said, Kitano had already intended to go see C.B. Kitano was not doing this because he was especially warmhearted… Rather, last night, he had once again dreamed of many things from that cycle with C.B. and Rudolf. It had to be said that recalling the past so clearly one more time had truly left Kitano deeply moved.

On top of that, C.B.’s sudden emotional change this time, combined with his own unusually clear dream, made Kitano wonder whether the two might be connected. Add to that Oguri Cap’s precedent, and Kitano had every reason to suspect that the world of this cycle might be different somehow.

Those Umamusume he had once shared deep ties with—had they, like Oguri Cap, retained some kind of aftereffect? Was it because of the blow his death had dealt them back then? And… if so, could he actually help? These were all things Kitano wanted to figure out.

If C.B., like Oguri Cap, had clearly retained the influence Kitano had left on her from a previous cycle… then there were probably many other pitiful Umamusume at Tracen Academy who had been “harmed” by him in the same way… He could not sit by and ignore all of this. Otherwise, his conscience would not let him rest.

Other Trainers were afraid that if they got too involved, they would be forced into Umapyoi. Kitano was not afraid. If they dared to force him, he dared to die. Moreover, these were all karmic debts he himself had created, and he had to clean them up with his own hands. He, Ryuichi Kitano, dared to take responsibility for his actions!

Therefore, whether emotionally or logically, Kitano had to make this trip.

“Trainer Kitano, I’ll go with you.” After several of the Umamusume exchanged looks, seeing that Kitano had already made up his mind, Oguri Cap, who stood beside Tamamo, calmly stepped forward of her own accord, wanting to go with Kitano to see Mr. C.B.

Clearly, Oguri Cap was also very curious about what kind of relationship existed between Kitano and C.B. And once Oguri Cap stated her position, Special Week’s ears beside her also sprang upright with a pop. She hurriedly raised her little hand and said:

“I can go too!”

“No.” Hearing this, Kitano shook his head and refused the two Umamusume’s company. Then, with an expression that seemed to see through everything, he said, “I’m going to C.B.’s house this time to handle business, not to stay for lunch. If the two of you come with me, are you planning to eat C.B.’s family out of house and home?”

“And Festa, you’re staying behind this time too. Train properly. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Kitano smoothly shut down Nakayama Festa, who had been about to chime in from the side. Given the way Nakayama Festa had dared to provoke C.B.’s parents earlier, if Kitano brought her to C.B.’s house, while he was over there trying to persuade C.B., there was no telling what kind of sarcastic remarks Festa might make beside him.

“…Then you still can’t go without someone to take care of you. You have to bring someone with you, at least.” Nakayama Festa also understood what Kitano meant. She rolled her eyes and did not argue, but she was not about to feel at ease letting Kitano go to C.B.’s house alone.

Nakayama Festa could tell that Kitano seemed to have some rather intense feelings toward Mr. C.B. But no matter how displeased she was, Nakayama Festa also understood that there was absolutely no way Kitano would take that step on his own—this guy was completely the type to wait for someone else to reel him in, so Nakayama was not particularly worried on that front.

The problem was, Mr. C.B. was the type who truly dared to make a move. If Nakayama Festa let Kitano go to C.B.’s house alone, she could not shake the feeling that she was sending a little lamb into a wolf’s den. So she had to have someone accompany Kitano.

Damn it, where did that Gold Ship go? She’s usually around, so why is she nowhere to be found today?! Nakayama Festa could not help feeling irritated. If Gold Ship were here, this would be much easier to handle.

“Uh, look, with all of you making such a fuss, how about I go if nobody else can?”

At that moment, Tamamo Cross looked at the several Umamusume who were on the verge of drawing swords, seemed to realize something, and hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over. Patting her small chest, she promised:

“Look, I’ve got younger siblings at home too, so I’m real good at takin’ care of people. I won’t run my mouth or anything either. So if it’s just lookin’ after Trainer Kitano, I think I can handle it!”

“…If it’s Tamamo, that’s fine.”

Watching Tamamo step forward of her own accord beside her, Oguri Cap’s calm eyes seemed to consider it several times. In the end, she chose to trust this friend who could never betray her, and nodded on her own initiative.

Tamamo truly did put the group at ease. Finally, after Festa, Special Week, and the others all nodded in approval, Kitano also placed his trust in Tamamo, whom he had once supported for Oguri Cap’s sake and come to trust deeply, and said softly:

“Then I’ll trouble you, Tamamo. Let’s set off now.”

“Yeah! Then let’s get goin’!”

Tamamo also cheerfully took over the job of pushing Kitano forward. The two of them followed C.B.’s parents and immediately headed in the direction of C.B.’s home. However, just as their group slowly left the dorm building, not far away, someone running over anxiously, panting for breath, noticed them and slowly came to a stop.

…

“Damn it—one step too late!”

Rudolf, panting heavily, wiped away the sweat covering her forehead. When she recognized Kitano’s figure at a glance, as well as the two people beside him who were undoubtedly C.B.’s parents, she finally could not hide her frustration at arriving one step too late.

Originally, following Air Groove’s directions, she had run all the way to the cafeteria, only to find no sign of Kitano’s group. Afterward, she had asked around throughout the academy, and only after hearing from several Umamusume that they had seen Kitano’s group head toward the Trainer dorms did she rush over immediately.

But she was still one step too late. Now that C.B.’s parents had already left with Kitano, it would not be appropriate for her to stop them. Although Rudolf did not know why C.B.’s parents had come looking for Kitano, now that her memories had returned, aside from all the unwillingness and indignation she held toward Mr. C.B. from those memories, she was also worried about something else…

If her own memories could return, then could Mr. C.B.’s do the same? After all, both of them were existences who had been entangled with Kitano in a past life. And would her childhood friend, who did not understand Mr. C.B.’s “true nature” at all, continue to be deceived by Mr. C.B. just like in that past life, still believing that she would be his best partner?

“I absolutely cannot let something like that happen again!”

“Mr. C.B., this time, I absolutely will not lose to you again! I will never lose to someone like you again!”

He… will absolutely be mine! At that moment, Rudolf’s pupils, flickering with incomparably stubborn obsession, dilated, the light draining from them. A savage expression of rage twisted into laughter appeared on her face, making Rudolf seem incomparably obsessive in that moment, and… terrifying.

What Rudolf did not know was that while she was searching for Kitano, another Umamusume not far away was also looking for him. She had seen the exact same scene as Rudolf, and a trace of regret appeared on her face as she said softly:

…

“Oh my, looks like I was one step late. I thought I’d be able to properly study this interesting little lab rat, but I’ll have to find another chance next time.”

…

Elsewhere, an Umamusume wearing an ill-fitting white lab coat, with short coffee-colored hair, watched Kitano’s figure slowly being pushed away by Tamamo. In her strange eyes, which had several horizontal stripes like Venetian blinds, emotions brimming with curiosity and thirst for knowledge flickered as she softly murmured to herself:

“The data I want most is flowing inside his body… Then, could he be the miracle who reverses all pain? How exciting…”

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!