Why was I assigned to be a horse girl?

"Thank you for your guidance over the years; otherwise, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today," Kotobuki Toru replied softly.

She could tell her father was genuinely happy and felt truly gratified for her. Although she had had conflicts with him in the past, and even ran away from home, there was no denying that he was still her father. If it weren't for the years of nurturing with his love and the support of her family, she would never have achieved what she had today.

Kotobuki Toru was truly grateful and moved by this.

But before he could bask in the warmth of the moment for long, Shinichi Kotobuki's voice came through the phone again: "Um... son, don't you have anything to say?"

"Didn't I already say thank you? Then how about adding another form of address, 'Thank you'?"

"Hey, are you being silly? How many times have I told you... you can't express your gratitude empty-handed, otherwise your thanks will seem cheap."

Shinichi Kotobuki's voice on the other end of the phone was clearly anxious: "I'm praising you like this, which is a way of making a statement... Don't you have anything to say in return?"

"Maybe I should come back sometime? I'll give you some compliments too?"

"Who needs your praise... What I mean is, you're graduating soon, and the graduation ceremony is just around the corner. I haven't been to your school in the past few years. You'll need a family member to come to your graduation ceremony, right? Look at me, or your mom..."

Kotobuki Toru couldn't help but laugh: "An elder sister is like a mother, so I'll have my sister come."

"Hey...you're deliberately trying to annoy me, aren't you? I want to join too!"

"Then come on over."

"Don't be so quick to refuse... Let me tell you, there are many benefits to having me here. If you please me, I might even donate a teaching building to you... Hey? What did you just say?"

Kotobuki looked up at the window, her gaze distant: "I said, come if you want to..."

Kotobuki Toru agreed too readily, which made Kotobuki Shinichi on the other end of the phone hesitate again: "Eh, then, what about Kohaku... I heard from Kohaku that you never told her about your relationship with us."

Kotobuki Toru clenched his fists, as if he had made a great decision: "Some things... need to be said sooner or later. This matter has already been dragged on for too long... Another thing is that I feel that Kohaku has changed a lot today, and her resilience should have improved. I should have told her directly recently, but the Japanese derby is just around the corner, so let's wait until after the derby to talk about it."

“Hey, that works too. You’re the trainer, you’re more professional… By the way, on the day we come, should I make a statue of Little Amber? Just a one-to-one replica made of pure gold.”

"Then you'd better not come..."

"I was just kidding. Okay, I'm hanging up now. I haven't finished replying to the greeting cards yet."

After hanging up the phone and putting it down, Kotobuki Toru quickly took a shower, intending to strike while the iron was hot and analyze and summarize today's match, making a record of it.

But before his hair was even dry, the doorbell rang urgently.

Unfortunately, Qin had blown all the way through, so he had to put down the hairdryer and go open the door.

"TouTou, I've come to see you, and I've brought you a drink!"

There stood Fei Tu Hu Po, graceful and elegant, outside the door, wearing the white pajamas provided by the hotel. A thin layer of moisture clung to her body, making her look like a freshly steamed bun, exuding an enticing aroma.

The hotel provided unisex pajamas in one size, but they didn't fit Fei Tu Hu Po well; the hem was too short, exposing a large section of her smooth, jade-like calves.

What's even more infuriating is that the pajamas have so little fabric at the chest that they can't cover up Fei Tu Hu Po's trembling fat at all. She's clutching cans of drinks tightly to her chest, as if she's about to sink into them.

This cold drink has probably warmed up by now!

I don't know if the taste has gotten worse or if it has a unique flavor.

Qin Chui looked left and right, but didn't see anyone. As expected of a high-end hotel, there really weren't any idlers or paparazzi coming in to watch.

After confirming several times that no one was around, Kotobuki Toru stepped aside to let Hitoko Amber in, adding, "What a coincidence, I just finished showering and you just showed up..."

Fei Tu Hu Po playfully stuck out her tongue and pointed to her slender ears that were trembling slightly on the top of her head: "Is it possible that I was just drying my hair in the bathroom next door... I could hear the water pipes running in the walls when you were using the water in your bathroom, and I came here after I heard you turn off the water!"

Kotobuki Toru was stunned: "I think sometimes it's better not to highlight the characteristics of Uma Musume too much..."

"Well, I accidentally noticed the sound of the water pipes in the wall."

Fei Tu Hu Po was wearing flat slippers, and the Achilles tendon at her ankle had smooth and beautiful lines without any redness or swelling or abnormality. She didn't look like she had just gone through a major competition and danced to her heart's content on the winner's stage.

"Here, this is your favorite drink."

Hitotsu Amber took out a drink from her pocket and casually tossed it to Kotobuki Toru. Then, without any hesitation, she lay down on Kotobuki Toru's bed, feet facing the headboard and face outwards. "How long have we been back? Why are you only taking a shower now?"

Kotobuki Toru took the warm, even slightly scalding, drink, eagerly pulled off the metal tab, and took a small sip... almost spitting it out.

The drink, warmed by the pretty girl, looks delicious, but after being heated, it tastes really bad.

"I just called my advisor and another professor to share the good news, so we talked for quite a while."

"Eh... I forgot about that..." Hito Amber tapped her head, and as if to ease the embarrassment, she used her feet to hold Kotobuki Toru's pillow, and then used her flexible toes as a fulcrum to play with Kotobuki Toru's pillow like a two-person comedy actor twirling a handkerchief.

"Hey! Don't treat the pillow like that! Am I going to use it tonight?"

"Oh well, I've already gone all this way." Fei Tu Hu Po stuck out her tongue. "By the way, you've called so many people... Did you call home? If not, remember to call home."

Kotobuki Toru was taken aback: "Oh, I did call home too..."

Then she realized that she had just been able to share her joy and growth with her family, but after returning to the hotel... it seemed like there was no one left to share with. It had been so long since she started drying her hair, so since returning to the hotel, Hitoko had probably been soaking in the bathtub alone. Just thinking about it made her feel quite lonely.

"Um, well... I hope this doesn't affect your mood?"

"It's a bit..."

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Bonus chapter is here!

Please please please please

Chapter 310 Instead of thinking about possessing something for yourself, think about giving back.

Kotobuki Toru was surprised to hear Hitoko Amber's answer.

In the past, given Fei Tu Hu Po's carefree yet slightly insecure nature, she would have waved her hands repeatedly, pretending to be completely indifferent, and saying things like "It won't affect me at all" or "I don't care" to brush it off.

However, today, Hitotsu Amber actually admitted to it...

"This is the first time you've told me this."

Kotobuki Toru plopped down on the table opposite Hitoko Amber, still holding the drink Hitoko Amber had retrieved for her, and teased, "I always thought you were the kind of person who didn't care about anything."

"That's all your misinterpretation!" Hitoko Amber gritted her teeth at Kotobuki Toru. "I'm human too... Humans have all sorts of thoughts."

Lately, however, Hitotsu Amber has become quite unlike herself.

But then again, people always change, and things may not be the same as before... which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

So, with her elbows propped on the mattress, Hitotsu Amber began to speak: "Actually, when I see you calling your family and stuff... even if you say that being alone is fine, I'm actually quite envious of you... being able to share joy with your family and all that."

"Although you don't have much family... don't you have many friends now who can share your joy?"

Kotobuki Toru thought for a moment and gave Hisakohaku a relatively suitable answer, "Although this answer may not be the most accurate, it's like the saying 'at home you rely on your parents, and when you're away from home you rely on your friends'..."

At least in Central Tressen, Scarlet Amber has a wide network of connections and many friends.

Even the three giants of Central Treisen—Big Shock, Little Chestnut, and Super Creek—are all excellent candidates to share the joy of Hitoko Amber's victory. In addition, the other racehorse girls who are her classmates are also happy to hear the good news of Hitoko Amber's victory.

"Ah... even though you say that, horse girls are actually very greedy creatures."

Fei Tu Hu Po sighed softly, her tone tinged with displeasure: "Speaking of which, Tou Tou, do you think... having a possessive feeling towards friends is a normal behavior for a person?"

When Kotobuki Toru heard Hitoko ask such a strange question, he was taken aback at first, but seeing Hitoko's conflicted face and her clear eyes full of confusion, he softened and decided to answer her question first.

"I think...it's normal. I've seen related books in the library before. In friendships and even in workplace relationships, there is such a thing as 'possessiveness,' which is exclusivity."

The claim that she had seen something similar in the library is a lie. The truth is that Kotobuki Toru learned about it in his so-called leadership and management course, which is essentially the "art of the emperor."

Possessiveness isn't limited to romantic relationships; it can also arise in superior-subordinate relationships, friendships, and more. In the workplace, it might be about vying for the position of the most trusted person by the boss. In friendships, this possessiveness usually stems from the desire to protect the friendship and feelings from being damaged.

Based on the above facts, and considering that Hitsukohaku currently appears quite distraught, Kotobuki Toru immediately gave a relatively positive answer:

"After all, people are idealistic and selfish when it comes to relationships, so it's normal to feel possessive..."

Kotobuki looked at Hitoko with gentle eyes... Since Hitoko mentioned being possessive of her friends, it must be referring to a certain close racehorse girl, right?

The noblewoman, with her sophisticated social skills and extensive social circle, is like a bird that can't be caged or a horse that can't be confined, so Amber probably won't have any possessive desire towards her.

So... it must be a horse girl like Takasho Junichi, who is introverted and easily evokes a protective instinct? Come to think of it, Kotobuki Toru recently heard that Takasho Junichi seems to have found a pen pal from abroad or something.

Kotobuki Toru continued, "For a greedy person, this is a manifestation of craving more friends and wanting everyone to revolve around them."

"For people who usually feel lonely or have low self-esteem, this is a sign of insecurity and a desire to protect themselves... Of course, I'm not talking about you, so don't take it personally."

Fei Tu Hu Po listened attentively: "Yes, I know, I was talking about one of my friends."

So Kotobuki Toru continued, “Most things in the world are just endured through gritted teeth, not accepted… Just like someone who has worked in a tough job for a long time, instead of thinking about continuing like this, they want to get out as soon as possible.”

"People who are afraid of being alone are pretty much the same... Humans are social animals from birth and can never adapt to being alone. The more alone you are, the more you want to get away... So it's normal to develop a possessive desire."

Kotobuki spoke eloquently based on his own experience and knowledge, expressing the idea of ​​"facing one's own heart" from all aspects.

The less confident a person is in themselves, the more likely they are to become overly dependent on others, and therefore may crave to possess a friendship exclusively.

Only by facing your situation squarely and analyzing your own heart can you truly move on.

"So it's normal to have possessiveness, just deal with it normally... And the best way to express possessiveness is to treat the other person better, to show through your actions that you care about them and need them, and I believe the other person will understand."

Kotobuki Toru speaks eloquently, acknowledging Hitoko Amber's ideas while constantly offering his own suggestions, a practice commonly known as "giving chicken soup for the soul." This approach is very useful, whether in the workplace or in daily life.

"Of course... there's also the most important point, which is to remind yourself to know when to stop and to leave enough distance, after all, friends aren't lovers or anything like that."

“Oh, oh…” Amber nodded earnestly, “To show it through practical actions…”

And sure enough, even Kotobuki Toru thought so—no matter how good the relationship between friends is, they are still just friends, and there must always be some distance between friends...

But for now, let's show it with actions first, shall we?

Thinking of this, Hitotsu Amber stood up. "My task for today is finished! TouTou, you still have work to do, right?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty excited anyway. I probably won't be able to sleep, so I might as well strike while the iron is hot and finish the situation report..."

"Then I'll stay here with you!"

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The first update is here!

Please please please please

Chapter 311 The Biggest Change—Falling in Love with Someone

"Huh? You're here with me? Is it really necessary?" Kotobuki Toru was full of surprise, her words tinged with disbelief.

Fei Tu Hu Po smiled and said, "I'm here to help out."

As she spoke, Hitotsu Kohaku sat down next to Kotobuki Toru, resting her chin on her hand and staring intently at him. "Although I'm wearing pajamas, which doesn't exactly make me look like a loving companion... I guess I can still offer some encouragement, right?"

At this moment, Fei Tu Hu Po was dressed casually, showing a lazy demeanor, and exuding youthful vigor. She even began to refer to herself as "this concubine" again.

But even Kotobuki Toru couldn't guess which historical femme fatale Hitoko was playing this time.

But having someone by your side, especially such a beautiful girl, is something you can only dream of.

Moreover... Hitoko herself said that she hoped Kotobuki Toru could see her the way she sees Uma Musume and beautiful girls, so she could only follow her instincts!

"Then, could you bring me my bag?"

"Ok."

Fei Tu Hu Po got up and took Qin Chui Tou's briefcase, even holding it up so Qin Chui Tou could sift through the documents inside, exuding the air of a secretary.

Kotobuki Toru rummaged through his bag and pulled out a report document, laid it flat on the table, and began to fill it out carefully. He had only written a few strokes when Hisako asked a question:

"Would you like me to massage your back and shoulders?"

"Um... if it's not too much trouble for you..."

"no problem."

Then, Hihito Amber gracefully stood up, stood behind Kotobuki Toru, and stretched out her soft little fist to earnestly tap his shoulder.

Qin Chuitou was about to make a joke, saying something like, "You acted so well today, give me a good massage, and I'll reward you handsomely," but he suddenly stopped himself from speaking.

He recalled what he had just said to Hitsukohaku, having been so engrossed in conversation... Kotobuki Toru had imagined the friend Hitsukohaku was referring to as "noble and refined," but now, feeling Hitsukohaku's sudden warmth, Kotobuki Toru suddenly thought again—

It seems I'm actually one of Hitotsu Amber's friends...

So just now, shouldn't I have agreed with her point of view so much just to appease Hitoko Amber?

However, right now, Fei Tu Hu Po is obediently massaging her back, so it seems she has put that matter behind her. Let's not bring it up again today.

And so, the two tacitly stayed together until late at night. In the end, Hitotsu Kohaku couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep on Kotobuki Toru's back. Only then did Kotobuki Toru pack up his paper and pen, wake Hitotsu Kohaku, and announce that everyone should go home and sleep.

Fei Tu Hu Po was drowsy and wanted to use being too sleepy as an excuse to stay there.

Kotobuki Toru said that was fine... and took out the key card from Hitoko Amber's pajama pocket to go to Hitoko Amber's room to sleep.