I'm in Teresin, dedicated to playing badly

She had already made a mistake once, and coupled with her insecure and even somewhat inferior personality, she dared not risk losing even the slightest bit of her own potential again.

So, despite her many thoughts, she has had to restrain herself, at least for now.

After all, they've only been reunited for two weeks. What if she acts rashly and gets seen as a frivolous woman? What if she's seen as having ulterior motives? Or something else entirely...?

And another very important point is that the solar eclipse was right next door.

That was his undisputed move, and she couldn't even muster the slightest thought of resisting it.

However, if it's Miss Eclipse, then it doesn't seem so unacceptable for her to be a third wheel...

Over the course of two weeks, Necha was simultaneously wrestling with his inner turmoil while helping Shinji Kitahara gather information and re-educate the Pony Girls.

Then, with the completion of the re-education program, the pony girls began to be sent to various locations in Teresa in batches based on their previously measured scores.

With everything over, Shinji Kitahara returned to Treson Academy with Eclipse and Necha, and then prepared to resume normal training while processing this information.

Then he noticed that the atmosphere in the team seemed a little different from usual.

The Emperor of the East Sea seemed to walk with heavier steps than ever before during training, and sometimes he even couldn't finish his honey drink.

Alice no longer disliked him, but instead kept smiling and staring at him, her gaze sweeping back and forth between him and Necha.

Oguri's appetite doesn't seem to be very good lately. Although he hasn't missed any training sessions, he appears to have lost some weight, according to Shinji Kitahara.

My hair growth rate increased again this week; it was barely past my shoulders just two weeks ago, but now it's almost up to my forearm.

There were no changes at Aili Digital. Although they noticed some unusual things within the team, they didn't have time to pay too much attention because they were focused on preparing for G1 next week.

On the contrary, Ms. Cao's gaze kept shifting back and forth between the group, as if she wanted to laugh but also seemed a little worried, looking like she wanted to say something but didn't want to.

Shinji Kitahara didn't seem to care much about it.

After all, he had been busy with things in the Black Forest for the past two weeks and hadn't really paid much attention to the team's situation, so some changes were to be expected.

Although he hadn't paid much attention to the team's situation these past few days, he still fulfilled his duties as a trainer well, even more so than before.

Each time I come back, I briefly check on their condition and then make slight adjustments to the training plan based on their condition. The number of times I communicate and provide guidance has increased significantly compared to the past.

I just won't play on my phone while they're training or having activities, and we won't eat together occasionally.

To be honest, it's just that a pendant that usually stands there is missing. It's not really useful anyway, so I figured its disappearance wouldn't have any impact. In fact, my performance and work attitude have even improved compared to before.

After all, Aili Digital needs to prepare for G1, so we can't let her be too distracted during this time. Therefore, he took the initiative to take on some duties.

Moreover, in order to urge them to train, Shinji Kitahara specially asked trainer Koyoichi to help out a few times, which also allowed her to catch her breath from the forced childlike state in Super Bay.

I don't know why, but when Xiaoyouyi, the trainer, was very happy to agree at first, he seemed a little scared when he left, and even the way he looked at him was a little strange.

Pity? Admiration? Or something else entirely?

However, Shinji Kitahara didn't pay too much attention to it, thinking that Mataichi was probably afraid that he would be subjected to the forced care of Super Little Bay again after returning, so his abnormal behavior was normal...

"Guinea Pig~"

While he was pondering, Alice appeared beside him without him noticing, her face now bearing the same playful smile she had when they first met.

"What's wrong?" Shinji Kitahara asked, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"Did you have a good time over there these past two weeks?"

A strange gleam flickered in his red eyes.

Shinji Kitahara looked at her, puzzled.

“I’m working there, not playing.”

" Yeah?"

Alice's gaze swept over the outstanding individuals beside him, who smiled slightly, causing Alice's expression to freeze.

No, if this keeps up, her guinea pig will be taken away...

But what can she do?

A hopeless case of daily life, a mad scientist, and a drug addict all the time—it's no wonder the guinea pig doesn't like her...

With her fists slightly clenched, Alice's gaze swept over Alice Digital beside her, and suddenly an idea came to her.

"I said, Mr. Guinea Pig."

The smile on her face gradually returned to normal, and her clenched fists gradually loosened.

"The digital team is running G1 next week, so they won't be able to take good care of me. So, you see..."

Shinji Kitahara replied instantly: "Then I'll ask someone else to do it."

"No, it has to be you, Guinea Pig."

She blinked, lowered her voice, and spoke in a cryptic tone.

"Don't forget, you still owe me a few bottles of medicine."

Alice wasn't lying. Besides the initial three bottles of Truth Potion, he also got several bottles of Flash Potion from her to deal with the little pony girls and the Eclipse.

As for the three bottles of truth serum she received at the beginning, Shinji Kitahara of course did not return them to her.

After all, it's obvious to anyone with a brain that these things were prepared for him by her. If he returns them to her, she might use them on him someday. It's better for him to keep them for himself.

"You're just looking for an opportunity to force-feed me drugs, aren't you?"

Shinji Kitahara glanced at her sideways.

Alice neither confirmed nor denied it, but simply gave a soft "hmm~".

Shinji Kitahara didn't try to offer to buy the medicine with money, partly because he knew that Alice would never agree to that.

On the other hand, it was also because he knew that among the medicines Alice gave him, especially the truth serum, they were genuine, non-sale items.

So even though he knew in his heart that she probably wanted him to test the drug on her, he couldn't refuse Alice's request because he was in the wrong.

Well, at worst, I'll just be more careful when taking care of her. Besides, Eclipse will definitely be around when he's taking care of her, so with Eclipse there, nothing too serious should happen...

Right?

Thinking back to certain actions before the eclipse, Shinji Kitahara, who had been quite confident, suddenly felt uncertain.

But he'd already agreed, though he wasn't sure what to expect, and now he had no other choice.

After finally managing to get rid of Alice, not long after, Special Zhou also quietly approached him during a break in training.

She didn't say anything, just stood beside him staring at him, her two purple pupils gleaming.

Shinji Kitahara initially ignored her, focusing on processing the messages on his phone.

After collecting and organizing all the information, I compiled it into a document and sent it directly to my senior colleague, Ma Niang, while also informing her that I had arrived at the Treson headquarters.

Later, he also sent a document to the chairman and Tsuna.

Unlike the information sent to the senior horse girl, this information was pitifully scarce, only slightly more than what Surugawa Tezuna had collected before, and it was all trivial stuff.

It wasn't that he didn't trust the chairman and Tsunekazu Suguru, but the problem was that he suspected there were people in the 'black market' in Tresenne.

If he were to give that information to the chairman and Junkawa Tesuna in its entirety, it might be discovered by an insider, potentially leading to some unforeseen incident. Therefore, he could only entrust his senior colleague, Ma-niang, with off-site assistance.

After dealing with these things, and sensing the increasingly sharp gazes around him, Shinji Kitahara turned his head helplessly and looked at Special Week.

"what happened?"

At this moment, Special Week, having been ignored for so long, had turned into a pufferfish with a puffed-up face. When he saw him looking over, he turned his head away in disgust and ignored him.

If this happened to other female horses, they probably wouldn't turn their heads around for a while without some coaxing.

But Kitahara Shinji knew Special Week's goldfish-like nature well, so he didn't say anything and just quietly watched her.

As he expected, within seconds, Zhou began to secretly peek at him out of the corner of his eye, and within thirty seconds, he showed signs of wavering.

After about a minute, she turned her head back, but her expression still looked angry.

Then, after Shinji Kitahara magically produced a bottle of carrot juice out of thin air and shoved it into her hand, her sullen expression immediately disappeared.

After happily putting the carrot into her arms, Zhou raised her head again and stared at him with her beautiful purple eyes.

Shinji Kitahara was stunned.

So what exactly do you want? Can't you just say it directly?

Seeing that he still didn't understand, Zhou also got a little anxious. She quietly took two steps forward, then cupped the hair that was falling on both sides of her shoulders with her hands, blinked at him a few times, and practically wrote "Rub me quickly" on her face.

Shinji Kitahara finally understood what she meant.

But even though he understood it, the problem was that he was standing on the training field, and many eyes, both inside and outside the team, were watching him.

Those outside the group are fine. Even if people misunderstand his relationship with Special Zhou, or even think he's a lolicon, it doesn't matter. Anyway, a ruined reputation is a good thing for him.

But if it's within the team, and he rubs his hands together in front of them for a special week, then other people might come over and want to rub their hands too.

Although it's safe for the special week girl to be silly and can be rubbed however she wants, it's different for other horse girls.

Especially if the Emperor of the East Sea does this, I'm afraid that with every rub, he'll get one step closer to the basement.

Therefore, he resolutely rejected Zhou's request.

After refusing, seeing the growing disappointment in Special Zhou's eyes, despite his repeated attempts to harden his heart, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to do it. In the end, he could only lower his voice and say that they could find an opportunity to get to know each other privately later.

Upon hearing this, Zhou's eyes regained their sparkle, and he nodded obediently before returning to training.

This child is wonderful...

After waving goodbye to the well-behaved Special Week, Shinji Kitahara watched her departing figure, pondering his recent neglect of the team and his income, and then stroked his chin in deep thought.

Although it was for official business, it's really too much for a trainer to barely come to the training ground for two whole weeks.

And coincidentally, he has some spare cash now, and if all goes well, he'll get a share of the profits from Alice Digital after G1, although it won't be much since it's a team event, but it'll be enough to cover his expenses...

How about we take them out for a meal?

As for the reasons...

"Trainer, what are you thinking about?"

After hesitating for a long time by the training field, the Emperor of the East Sea finally couldn't resist the surging emotions in his heart and walked over with slightly heavy steps, barely maintaining the calm on his face.

First of all, she has no particularly bad feelings towards her trainer, and she doesn't intend to give up her dream. She's just here out of normal courtesy to have a brief chat and leave after a few words...

"Ah, Your Majesty, you have come at just the right time."

Shinji Kitahara looked at her.

"I'm trying to figure out how to celebrate your previous basic match. Do you have any restaurant recommendations nearby? Preferably something affordable, as I'm afraid I can't afford anything too expensive right now..."

Victory? Celebration? Treat to dinner?

The Emperor of the East Sea blinked, his expression strange.

"Trainer, you didn't go to borrow money, did you...?"

"No no."

Shinji Kitahara immediately shook his head and then explained.

"Isn't this the fieldwork the chairman gave us these past two weeks? We managed to get some bonuses, so I was thinking of throwing you guys a celebration..."

Although Kitahara Shinji explained it very clearly, the Emperor of the East Sea interpreted it in a completely different way.

So, the trainer went out for the past two weeks to make up for the missed celebration...?

She subconsciously ignored the pronoun 'them'.

"What an idiot," she muttered to herself.

"......What?"

"It's nothing, then the invincible emperor will not stand on ceremony."

Upon hearing her words, Shinji Kitahara's face immediately turned green.

"No, Your Majesty, you are alright, but you know the situation with those others. Please, have mercy! Otherwise, let alone what I have, I couldn't afford to eat even if I sold myself..."

"Hmph, if you want the invincible emperor to show mercy, you'll have to treat me to a big cup of extra-strong honey drink later, Trainer-san."

"Okay, this is no problem."

As the conversation ended, the inexplicable emotions that had been building up in my chest for two weeks vanished completely.

Its steps became lighter again, and even the swaying of its tail increased slightly.

"Honey Special Drink, Honey Special Drink, Trainer-san..."