Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 594 The Hideout of Heartbeats
The Emperor of the East Sea wiped his mouth, trying to regain his composure, but his eyes were still filled with surprise and concern:
"Distracted during training? That's not like you making that mistake, Xiao Bei... Is your body still not fully recovered?"

"no……"

Northern Black Steed shook his head, his voice growing softer and softer:

"The physical fitness tests and data show that I have recovered very well... but my reaction speed is slower than before."

"Then... although the trainers, including Hayako-senpai and Yamato-senpai, didn't scold me, I know that my recent performance... has been terrible..."

She became increasingly frustrated as she spoke, and her head drooped down.

There was a moment of silence in the office.

The Emperor of the East Sea and Megumi McQueen exchanged a glance.

Megumi McQueen gently put down the chopsticks he had broken earlier, stood up, and asked in a gentle tone:

"...So, besides the training not going well, is there anything else bothering you? For example...why did you suddenly think of asking about 'liking' your trainer?"

Northern Black Horse's face turned even redder, and his head was lowered so much that it was almost buried in his chest.

However, after blushing and her heart pounding for a moment, remembering her previous determination and the Arima anniversary that was just around the corner, she mustered her courage and stammered with difficulty:
"Actually... it's because when I was soaking in the hot springs with California Shining and the others, they kept joking around."

"They said I'd become more intimate with how I addressed the trainer... and even asked if I 'liked' the trainer..."

"They also said the trainers are very popular..."

She paused, her voice tinged with confusion and helplessness:

"At the time... I didn't pay much attention to it, I thought it was just a joke... But later, these words kept lingering in my mind."

"During training, my heart races when I see the trainer or hear his voice... and then I can't concentrate at all."

"I...I don't know what's wrong with me...This feeling is so strange, and...it's so uncomfortable..."

By the end, her voice carried a hint of grievance and confusion. She looked up at the two seniors, her eyes filled with a longing for answers.

Listening to her intermittent, blushing narration, the East Sea Emperor and Megumi McQueen slowly understood the situation, and the two exchanged a meaningful glance.

They had indeed discussed Yasui Makoto and Northern Genkoto privately before, and the East Sea Emperor had even subtly spoken to Yasui Makoto about it.

And the consensus they reached was:
The trainer may indeed have some affection for the Northern Black Horse, but he is calm, mature, and extremely professional, and would never let personal feelings interfere with important matters before a major competition.

After reaching this consensus, they thought that with Yasui Makoto around, they wouldn't have to worry about this issue.

But to everyone's surprise, the Northern Black Steed... was thrown into disarray.

They are not novices when it comes to providing relationship counseling to younger colleagues.

However, with only two weeks until Arima Kinen, and the protagonist being a top favorite to win the championship while also experiencing emotional turmoil, this is the first time they have encountered such a situation.

Faced with this sudden situation, even the two experienced racehorse girls were momentarily at a loss.

However, after exchanging several quick glances, the East Sea Emperor and Megumi McQueen finally calmed down.

After exchanging glances once more, the Emperor of the East Sea stroked his chin and looked towards the northern Black Steed:

"...I think I understand, then..."

Boom, boom, boom.

A crisp knocking sound suddenly rang out.

"...Who is it?" the Emperor of the East Sea asked instinctively.

A gentle yet clear male voice came from outside the door:
"Is the Emperor Chairman inside? It's me, Yasui."

!!!

As if struck by lightning, the three racehorse girls froze instantly.

The northern black steed's pupils constricted in fright, and its mouth opened instinctively, about to let out a scream—

In the blink of an eye, the Emperor of the East Sea and Megumi McQueen displayed an astonishing tacit understanding!
Just like back on the battlefield of the Shining Series, the two student council presidents leaped out from behind their desks like cheetahs, their speed comparable to the final sprint on the final straight.

In the blink of an eye, the two of them, one on each side, each stretched out a hand and covered the mouth of the Northern Black Horse, silencing all sounds.

Immediately, across the flustered and gesticulating Northern Black Steed, the Emperor of the East Sea and Megumi McQueen exchanged rapid glances and instantly reached a consensus.

"Ah, it's Yasui... Just a moment! I'll be right there!"

Trying his best to control his voice and make it sound natural, the Emperor of the East Sea responded loudly to Yasui Makoto outside the door while gesturing with his eyes to Megumi McQueen.

McQueen understood perfectly.

Without a word, displaying a strength that belied her elegant appearance, she continued to cover Beifang Xuanju's mouth with one hand, while hoisting him up by the waist with the other. With a sprint and a turn, she darted behind the desk. She deftly shoved the still-dazed Beifang Xuanju under the spacious desk, then quickly put her index finger to her lips, making a gesture of absolute silencing.

The Northern Black Horse finally snapped out of its extreme panic.

Realizing her predicament, she quickly covered her mouth with both hands, curled up in the dark space under the table, and didn't dare to breathe.

Seeing this, McQueen nodded vigorously and gave a thumbs up.

Then, she stood up, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, and gave the Emperor of the East Sea a "done" look.

The Emperor of the East Sea nodded, just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, when his gaze inadvertently fell upon the gleaming floor-to-ceiling window behind Whitey McQueen, and his pupils contracted.

The glass clearly reflected Beifang Xuanju's flustered little face and his restless shadow under the desk.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly waved her hand nervously, silently mouthing a reminder:
"Window! Window! McQueen! Window!!"

McQueen was startled, then glanced behind him.

Reacting swiftly, she immediately stepped to the side, using her body to completely block the reflection.

The Emperor of the East Sea finally let out a long, silent sigh of relief.

She adjusted her breathing and expression, trying to walk naturally as she went, and opened the office door:

"...Haha, what a coincidence... Wait a minute!"

After hastily changing her words, she pinched herself hard.
"Yasui, you... is something the matter?"

Standing outside the door was Yasui Makoto. He was initially taken aback by the East Sea Emperor's shout, then scratched his head apologetically.

"Excuse me, did I... disturb your rest?"

"Ah, um... it's nothing, it's nothing..."

The Emperor of the East Sea's lips twitched, and he shook his head, his smile slightly stiff, saying:
"You...you haven't had lunch yet, have you? Are you here because it's urgent?"

Megumi McQueen, feigning composure, echoed from his office:
"Well, we haven't eaten much yet. If you have something urgent to do... why don't you wait until we finish eating?"

Then, regardless of whether Yasui Makoto could see it or not, she pointed to the two open bento boxes on the table.

He glanced around the room and saw that they seemed to be having a meal. Yasui hesitated for a moment:
"Then... I'd better not."

"Actually, I came here to find Kobe. I just asked Satomi Koko, and she said Kobe came to the student council..."

"Is she here? I'd like to talk to her about something."

"!"

"!!"

"!!!"

Upon hearing this, the air in the office almost froze again.

Hiding under the table, Beifang Xuanju was even more panicked. In her guilt and nervousness, her body involuntarily trembled, and her head accidentally bumped into the inner table with a "thud".

The dull thud sounded particularly jarring in the suddenly quiet office.

Northern Black Steed turned deathly pale instantly, covering his mouth with one hand and his head with the other, feeling as if his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

McQueen held his breath and swallowed hard.

When facing Yasui Makoto, the Emperor of the East Sea trembled all over, his scalp tingled, and he couldn't help but recall the treatment injections he had to receive when recovering from his injuries.

But to be honest, she felt she'd rather go get a shot than stand here racking her brains trying to figure out how to fool the trainer in front of her.

Yasui Makoto frowned in confusion, his gaze instinctively drifting to the desk that had made the noise:
"Huh? What was that sound? That was just now..."

"No! It's okay!"

McQueen answered quickly, as if he were spitting out a question. She could clearly feel his voice involuntarily rising in pitch, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor:

"It's... oh right! The table! This table is so old! Yes, sometimes it makes a sound by itself, hmm!"

As she fabricated her reasons, trying to make them more convincing, she nodded vigorously, regardless of whether Yasui Makoto saw it or not.

Nice, McQueen! You're really something, coming up with such a reason... I'll definitely treat you to a parfait later!

Secretly tense yet overjoyed, the Emperor of the East Sea at the door quickly forced a dry laugh to cover it up:
"Yeah, yeah, this is an old relic, it's time to apply for a new one, haha..."

(End of this chapter)