Chapter 9: Nakayama Festa: Only Here a Day and You're Already Hitting On Someone New?

Click, clack.

Kitano was completely unaware of what secret Mejiro Palmer had discovered about him. After a good tour of Tracen Academy with Gold Ship, he had returned early to the dorm room arranged for him. By then, Nakayama Festa had already finished tidying up his room.

As the last month of his life ticked away, Kitano's physical condition worsened. He felt his body growing heavier, his already limited stamina constantly declining. He went to rest early, not noticing that one of his notebooks—which no one in the Gold Family would ever snoop through—was missing.

As dawn broke, the early-rising Kitano was immediately alerted by the sound of his door lock turning. As he wondered who it could be, the door slowly opened. The intruder's movements were so cautious that Kitano couldn't help but tense up.

Can thieves get into Tracen Academy? Just as he had this thought, a light voice accompanied by a figure peeking in immediately dispelled all his wariness.

"Pardon the intrusion~" As the door opened, Mr. C.B.'s head carefully poked into the room. Her movements were incredibly gentle, clearly afraid of disturbing him.

However, just as she was halfway through the door, her eyes met those of Kitano, who was already sitting in his wheelchair. After a brief silence, Mr. C.B. showed no sign of wavering. Instead, she walked into his dorm room with natural grace.

"Good morning, Trainer Kitano. Do you remember me? I'm—"

"I remember. Mr. C.B.... senpai." Kitano adjusted the direction of his wheelchair, his tone even more awkward than his expression as he corrected the familiar address. Looking at Mr. C.B., who had appeared without warning, his heart couldn't help but flutter.

After all... he had to admit, this girl, as free as the wind, had once driven him so mad that he had even given up on his own life. Back then, limited by his lifespan, he had never confessed his feelings to her, nor had he ever thought of using some "lifelong regret" tactic to plunge her into endless sorrow after his death.

That kind of thing was one thing to joke about before he transmigrated, but if anyone with his ability were to act so selfishly, they would either be heartless or just plain cruel.

But all that said, if C.B. were still his contracted horse girl, he wouldn't find it strange for her to come and go from his room as she pleased... but this was a new playthrough. She clearly had no memory of their past, so why would she come to his room for no reason?

And perhaps, even without memories, the bond they once shared still created some kind of telepathy. Mr. C.B. noticed Kitano's subtle expression and immediately smiled, offering a perfect explanation:

"Trainer Kitano, your situation is quite special. So, Rudolf and I discussed it, and we decided to pay extra attention to your living conditions here at Tracen Academy."

"I was planning to come by quietly today to see if you were getting used to the dorms on your own. It seems... you've settled in quite quickly."

Her gaze soon fell upon the desk in front of him. The notebooks on the table clearly showed that he was already starting his day's work. On a plate nearby was a half-eaten sandwich.

"Trainer Kitano, you're up working so early? It's only five o'clock," Mr. C.B. said, smoothly shifting the topic to him, as she herself felt a little guilty. While Rudolf had indeed asked them to keep an eye on Kitano, she had initially assigned the task to Vice President Air Groove.

"Air Groove is better at this sort of thing, so you don't need to worry, C.B. I will arrange everything for Trainer Kitano's life." —That's what Rudolf had said. However, C.B. had still gone to Air Groove and, using a method she was sure would work, had taken the job for herself.

As for why she did it... to be honest, even she didn't know.

But she just felt that she couldn't entrust this matter to anyone else. Kitano's current physical condition had worried her from their very first meeting yesterday. If she didn't watch over this fragile man and ensure he lived well, she probably wouldn't be able to sleep from worry. We can't have a newly hired trainer collapsing in the academy, can we?

The occasional news of trainers disappearing or being subjected to "forced training sessions" by their horse girls was troublesome enough. C.B. didn't want a real accident to happen to a trainer at Tracen—at least, that's how she convinced herself.

And now, everything before her proved her suspicions were correct. His contracted horse girl, Nakayama Festa, was nowhere to be seen, and Kitano's current lifestyle... was even more concerning.

"Your body is already weak. You should be sleeping longer and eating more to recover your strength." Mr. C.B. looked at the convenience store sandwich on the table, which he had only taken one bite of, her tone tinged with worried reproach.

However, she didn't know that her gentle scolding made Kitano's heart pound violently again. The renewed activity nearly made his weak body cough, and it took him a long moment to suppress the flutter.

That was close... I'm really not good at dealing with her. Kitano subconsciously clutched his chest, amused by his own lively emotions. Here I am, with one foot in the grave, and I still have time to think about love and romance.

He had already resolved to survive this playthrough, to break the cycle of endless rebirths and live a full life. He had chosen Nakayama Festa for her potential, hoping he could inspire her to unleash her full strength. Until his lifespan was long enough to see old age, he didn't want to act on his emotions out of soft-heartedness again.

Calm down, Kitano Ryuichi... He forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart. Facing Mr. C.B.'s question, he finally took a deep breath and answered with what he hoped was an indifferent tone:

"Don't worry, I'm used to it. I know my condition very well. Although I get tired easily now, I can't actually sleep for very long."

"As for eating, I can't eat much either. It has nothing to do with what I'm eating; I just don't have an appetite for anything."

With only a month of life left, he was theoretically not far from the state of a terminally ill patient who could only lie in bed, receiving nutrients through an IV, quietly waiting for death. He knew this. If Nakayama Festa couldn't win her debut race in a week... he would probably end up in a real hospital.

To prevent that from happening, he did his best to prepare, ensuring Festa was in optimal condition to avoid any accidents. For him, she was his only hope for survival.

But only he knew this. He subconsciously ignored one thing: in the eyes of others, his actions to save himself looked like he was placing his ideals above his life, being irresponsible with the little time he had left.

When others saw this, the more emotional ones might sigh with regret, but most would respect his choice.

But the person in front of him was Mr. C.B., the freest horse girl in all of Tracen Academy, someone who did what she wanted and was never bound by convention.

Especially since she was already very concerned about him. Even without a reason, she knew she cared.

"—That won't do."

Just as Kitano was about to pick up the sandwich again, a slender hand pressed down on his wrist. A moment later, the sandwich was gently taken from his hand by Mr. C.B. The freest horse girl took a small bite from a part he hadn't touched, her expression gentle, but her attitude was the familiar "forcefulness" he knew well.

"This can't be called a proper breakfast. Trainer Kitano, because you're unwell, you should eat more. Even if you don't feel like it, you have to eat!"

"It can't be helped. Let me make you a perfect breakfast. I haven't eaten either."

Saying this, Mr. C.B. rolled up her sleeves and gave him a theatrical thumbs-up. Just as she was heading towards the kitchenette, the stunned Kitano finally came to his senses and asked the horse girl he knew so well:

"—Can you even cook, C.B.-senpai?"

"..."

With just that one short sentence, Mr. C.B.'s body froze in place like a jammed machine. After a long moment, a rare blush appeared on her cheeks, and she showed an awkward, belated shyness.

It was no joke; Kitano knew her too well. While this freest of horse girls had understood her mission from a young age—to clear all doubts about herself and her parents—her parents' marriage was actually very happy. Growing up in such an environment, even with her independent personality, she was a complete zero when it came to domestic skills.

As her former trainer, he knew better than anyone that this dashing horse girl was, in private, just a ditsy girl who waited for him to feed her and would never remember to bring an umbrella on a rainy day.

"W-well, I'll take you to the cafeteria then." Blushing furiously, the embarrassed Mr. C.B. immediately moved behind his wheelchair and started pushing him out. Just like he remembered, she habitually made the decision for him without asking his opinion and simply led him to execute it.

And all Kitano had to do was obey and support her, just like before.

Of course, the current C.B. no longer needed his support. In this playthrough, her inner conflicts should have long been resolved, and she should have become the mature horse girl he had seen once before his death.

As Kitano's mind replayed the rare, beautiful memories from his countless short lives, behind him, the C.B. pushing his wheelchair had a particularly confused expression on her face, unseen by him.

I'm... being very strange, she thought.

She knew perfectly well that she was hopeless at cooking, so why did she uncharacteristically offer to make him breakfast? She had never done that before.

When I'm with him... why do I always do so many strange things?

Why is my heart... in such a mess?

All sorts of questions plagued the free-spirited horse girl, leaving her completely baffled. However, the one thing she was sure of was that although she was confused, she wasn't in a bad mood. On the contrary, she felt more relaxed than ever before.

That feeling of relaxation was like running with a gentle breeze on the softest grass under the best weather. It was so pleasant and satisfying, yet it left her wanting more.

I seem to be... getting a little carried away.

"—Kitano? Why are you down here?"

However, just as Mr. C.B. was lost in her brief moment of enjoyment, she had unknowingly pushed him out of the trainer's dormitory.

At that moment, a familiar female voice shattered her pleasant reverie. Directly in front of them stood Nakayama Festa, carrying a school bag and holding a piece of bread.

And in the next instant, Mr. C.B. felt it—the fury of a predator that has found its prey stolen by another, a palpable hatred... she could feel it clearly.

Nakayama Festa was unusually furious.

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