I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?!

Chapter 272 271 Fuji Kiseki Arc - Hachiman's True Intent

Fuji's POV

Fuji: "..."

Hachiman: "..."

The Takamiya Kinen... or rather, today's entire race schedule has ended, and Hachiman-san and I are heading back to Tracen Academy together. The others must've been considerate and took the train home. In today's race, I couldn't catch up... Despite all of Hachiman-san's help... But that's not the only reason I'm like this.

Fuji: "...Hey, Hachiman-san. Could we... stop for a bit?"

Hachiman: "! ...Let me check if there's a park nearby. Wait a sec."

Even my sudden request—he responds. Maybe it means I look too pitiful to behold. But yeah, I think so. My face is probably worse than a crying one.

Park

Fuji: "..."

Hachiman: "...It's almost April, but nights still get chilly. Fuji, we'll head out soon."

Fuji: "..."

Hachiman: "...Fuji?"

Fuji: "Hachiman-san, today's race..."

Hachiman: "Yeah, we lost clean. Didn't expect it to stretch that much on the slope. Impressive, as expected. Including this one, 1200m: 3 wins, 1 second; undefeated at Chukyo. Should've been more cautious."

Fuji: "But if I'd spurred earlier—"Don't talk 'what ifs'—it'll just make you feel more miserable." ..."

Hachiman: "The Hankyu Hai showed it—Fuji runs short distances well. Your true strength is mile-range mid—"Hachiman-san!!" !?"

Fuji: "...Why?"

Hachiman: "...What?"

Fuji: "Why... how come? Why did you say that at the press conference?"

Hachiman: "Well, it's the truth—"NO!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!! My loss is NOT your fault!!" ...Fuji."

After the race, Hachiman-san and I stood on the same press stage. I answered what I could. But Hachiman-san...

Flashback – Post-Race Press Conference

Questions for me focused more on the broken undefeated streak and distance aptitude than the loss itself. Naturally, I volunteered for this race and was confident in shorter distances over long ones. I told the press that.

"Thank you, Fuji Kiseki-san. Next, to the trainer. It ended regrettably. Your thoughts?"

Hachiman: "Indeed a close but regrettable result, but I feel it connects to the next race. We'll use this loss as fuel for the future."

"As asked to Fuji Kiseki-san, shortening from long to short distance—was it forced?"

Hachiman: "No, about 5 months since the Kikuka Sho. Adjustment was possible, and Fuji's aptitude is mid-distance, leaning mile. So short was fine—I was certain."

"Takamiya Kinen 2nd and a crushing defeat—what's the cause?"

I thought then: if I'd spurred earlier, I wouldn't have been pulled away. Three were ahead, yet I held back accumulating energy. Hachiman-san said short distances decide in a flash. Bad timing in the duel—I planned to answer that.

But Hachiman-san...

Hachiman: "Yes... my overconfidence."

Fuji: (...Huh?)

"What do you mean?"

Hachiman: "Won the Hankyu Hai, entered Takamiya Kinen. Deep down, I thought 'Fuji will definitely win.' Her training was perfect, today's form excellent. But my arrogance, pride, and lax finishing led to this loss. I have zero complaints about her run today. The one to blame is me—for slacking on what needed tightening."

Fuji: (...Why?)

Flashback End

Fuji: "Why say something self-blaming? That race was my chase mistake... No reason for you to blame yourself."

Hachiman: "...No, that's not it. I give the strategy calls. The biggest reason we didn't win is on me."

Fuji: "But you said to leave it to me! You trusted me—that's why! So why not call out my mistake there!?"

Hachiman: "..."

Fuji: "Hachiman-san!"

Hachiman: "...What do you think would've happened if I did?"

Fuji: "Eh? Well, my judgment error... !!"

Hachiman: "Right. As you said, most Uma Musume plan strategies with trainers. Especially GI—1 or 2 plans aren't odd. A favorite loses, trainer blames the Uma Musume—what then? The public hammers the trainer. Blaming the Uma Musume for your own plan. If I did that, I'm already spotlighted good or bad—it'd reverse everything you're building. Either way, not heading positive."

I... unconsciously... was going to...?

Fuji: "S-Sorry... Hachiman-san. I, I didn't mean it that way!" tears

Hachiman: "I know, don't worry... can't say that, huh. But you get why I self-blamed?"

Hachiman-san protected me from the start... Taking all the bad attention so it wouldn't hit me. But that means...

Fuji: "Th-Then... Hachiman-san..."

Hachiman: "Well, depends on the articles. But we exist because of Uma Musume. A little badmouthing? For me, it's old news."

Fuji: "...Sniff, sniff~!" tears

I'm the worst... Making Hachiman-san say that. I hurt him, yet he won't blame me... I hate my powerless self... Might end up hating it...

Tight hug!

Fuji: "!"

Hachiman: "Cry now. Let it out, even a little."

Fuji: "Sniff, sob, sob~!!" tears

I leaned fully on Hachiman-san, muffling my cries. Cursing today's pathetic, worthless race and myself for blaming him without realizing his protection.

Fuji, you don't have to hate yourself, okay?

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