Uma Musume: Slacking Professionally

Chapter 269: Uma Musume: Slacking Professionally [269]

What Kitahara did not know was that not long after he left the Chairwoman's office, the Umamusume under him—and even the people connected to him—had all received messages from Yayoi Akikawa. After that, an organization centered around him, with Yayoi Akikawa at its head, began quietly taking shape in the dark.

Umamusume, Trainers, and certain people and Umamusume outside the academy who had once crossed paths with him...

The Black Forest managed by Grass Wonder, the club operated by Agnes Digital, and the families behind the Umamusume both on and off his team...

Because of this storm of public opinion, the forces gathered around him—forces he had never noticed—began to converge of their own accord. At first, they were still faint, but very quickly, they grew stronger.

Especially because of what had happened before, many of them had already set aside much of their hostility toward one another. This time, because of the crisis at hand and a certain someone's attitude, they pushed their prejudices even further aside, joined hands once again, and began planning how to oppose this storm of public opinion.

So, while undercurrents surged in the dark and the storm gradually gathered, what was Kitahara doing?

The answer was self-sabotage.

Do not misunderstand. It was not that he felt the internet had not cursed him enough yet.

In reality, given JP's national conditions, once public opinion had fermented to this point, he had basically already suffered social death. He was at the level where people would throw rotten eggs at him if he went outside. It had far exceeded the goal he had originally set when he wanted to ruin his own reputation.

But while it did not matter if his own name stank, since at worst he could resign on the surface, secretly find a place to finish guiding this batch of girls, then settle down somewhere and spend the rest of his life under an assumed name, the girls under him still had races to run.

And in order to ensure that those girls, as well as the people around him, would not be dragged down by his reputation—

Even though the storm of public opinion was already raging violently, Kitahara still had no intention of avoiding it. Instead, he stood right at the center of the storm, carefully controlling it so that it remained centered on him and did not sweep anyone else in.

"Trainer Kitahara, I don't think this is a good idea. Also, it may be, well, a bit too dangerous for you..."

As a veteran Trainer, and as Kitahara's friend on the surface, Kudou-san had naturally received word once the Chairwoman began taking action. And based on his many years of experience as a Trainer, he smelled a hint of danger in it.

Formerly incompatible and even hostile parties joining forces for a common goal sounded like a classic hot-blooded manga development, where good and evil teamed up. It also proved that the kindness Kitahara had shown them before had not gone to waste, but... this was Tracen.

When Umamusume opposed one another, things were still fine. At least they could keep each other in check, and they would not cause any substantial harm to the Trainer.

But once they grew accustomed to working together, and even stopped minding one another's existence, then...

As Kitahara's senior, Kudou-san felt it necessary to remind him. Even Mitsuo Taishi, after hearing the news on his end, sent him several warning messages during the intervals between being squeezed dry.

"It's fine. It's just some gossip. I can handle the pressure."

But faced with the kind reminders from his two seniors, Kitahara thought they were worried he could not withstand the pressure online. He did not pay much attention to it. After responding casually, he simply continued doing what he had to do.

Endure the pressure. Ruin his own reputation. Record the people suspected of being Black Market members...

Train, provide care, and pretend nothing had happened as he continued looking after the little troublemakers on his team as usual...

The scope of the Black Market members' identities was gradually narrowing, and the people around him had all been shaped into victims, spared from the slander of the public opinion storm.

Under Kitahara's efforts, everything was advancing in an orderly manner according to the plan he had laid out before. It seemed rather good, but...

"Shitty Trainer, get out of Tracen!"

"We absolutely will not allow scum like this to exist among Trainers!"

All right. He admitted that the development of the situation had slightly exceeded his expectations.

According to his original estimate, while his reputation outside had become terrible and even stirred public outrage, the image of an "overly strict" Trainer, though bad, should not have reached the point of violating the law or moral bottom lines. Even if public opinion surged somewhat, at worst, he could simply play dead, refuse to respond, and avoid leaving the academy gates. He should still have been able to hold out for a while.

And during that time, if he could find the Black Market members hidden behind the scenes and remove that hidden hand pushing events along, then given the internet's memory, perhaps he would not even need to resign early. In a couple of days, the matter might settle down on its own.

But now, standing inside the school building, looking at the crowd demonstrating outside, along with the message Kamisato Daisuke had sent on his phone screen, he rubbed his brow and thought for a while before sighing.

Although the Chairwoman had not sent him any messages lately, nor had she called him over to talk, judging from what was happening outside, the pressure on her side was probably not small either.

Kamisato Daisuke had even said that because of this matter, things had become somewhat chaotic on the government's side as well. They had been busy to the point of exhaustion recently, and under the coercion of public sentiment, several politicians preparing to run for high office had begun pressuring Tracen...

"As expected, I should take the initiative and resign..."

After thinking for a while, Kitahara decided to go find the Chairwoman and offer his resignation.

He knew the Chairwoman would probably resist this proposal strongly, and might even become angry. After all, she knew the full picture of the incident, and the reason she had worked so hard to withstand pressure from all sides was precisely to protect him.

But he did not want that.

After all, they had already discussed a backup plan before. If the pressure from public opinion truly became that great, then he would resign in name, switch to secretly continuing to care for those Umamusume behind the scenes, and be done with it. Aside from confirming his identity as a villain, making him shoulder some blame, and forcing him to stay out of the light, it would not actually have much impact.

Fortunately, although there had been some error in his estimate regarding public opinion, the other parts had been executed quite well. After several days of investigation and screening, he had currently confirmed the identities of several Black Market members. If he were not worried about alerting the enemy, he could already ask people to help investigate or even arrest them right now.

Thinking that, Kitahara walked to the door of the Chairwoman's office for the first time in quite a while and knocked.

"Come in."

After receiving permission, Kitahara pushed the door open.

Contrary to his expectations, he had originally thought the Chairwoman's office today would still contain the classic trio—Yayoi Akikawa, Tazuna Hayakawa, and Riko Kashimoto. But after actually entering, he discovered there were especially many people in the office today.

Rudolf, Sirius, Ardan, Grass Wonder, Agnes Digital, even Satono Diamond...

Looking carefully, they were all people he knew.

And it was not only him. After seeing that he was the one entering, the Umamusume inside the room also froze for a moment.

"...Uh, are you having a meeting?"

After seeing the situation inside clearly, Kitahara swallowed back the resignation request that had already reached his lips.

He was indeed preparing to resign in name, but that did not mean he intended to resign directly on the spot. He had planned to come here first and discuss it privately with the Chairwoman.

After all, a Trainer's resignation, even if it was only a resignation in name, would still be quite a shock to an Umamusume. Not to mention, the Satsuki Sho was only a couple of days away, and a whole group of girls under him were preparing to race. He did not want this kind of thing to affect them.

"I won't interrupt, then. I'll be going, okay?"

Kitahara prepared to leave.

But just as he was about to turn around and find another time to talk with the Chairwoman, Yayoi Akikawa suddenly called out to stop him.

"Wait! Trainer Kitahara, as it happens, I also have something to discuss with you. Since you're here, don't leave yet."

Since Yayoi Akikawa had said that, Kitahara naturally could not leave. Only, after sitting down, he felt somewhat puzzled, not knowing what Yayoi Akikawa wanted to talk to him about.

Judging by this lineup, it doesn't look like they can't withstand the pressure and want to dismiss me. Could it be that Agnes Tachyon did something again? That does feel possible...

"Chairwoman, may I ask what exactly you wanted to see me about?"

Kitahara asked.

"Good news! Trainer Kitahara, regarding the problems you've encountered recently, after discussing it with everyone, I've thought of a way to resolve them..."

Problems he had encountered recently?

Kitahara subconsciously wanted to say that he did not seem to have encountered any problems recently, but he quickly reacted. Yayoi Akikawa was probably referring to the public opinion in society.

Hearing Yayoi Akikawa take the initiative to bring up this topic, Kitahara thought for a moment. Although, with so many people present, it was not convenient to directly offer his resignation, he prepared to express his intention tactfully.

"Um, Chairwoman, I know my current situation is somewhat troublesome, but I was prepared before everything began. I don't want my personal circumstances to affect Tracen or everyone else..."

"Trainer Kitahara, do you believe this is a 'personal circumstance' of yours? And do you believe that if you truly shoulder everything alone, it will have no effect on us?"

Rudolf spoke faintly from the side, and the other Umamusume all looked at him as well.

Kitahara fell silent.

To be honest, he also knew that even if he shouldered all the blame, there was no way it would have no effect on the people around him. At the very least, those who knew the truth would feel sad and indignant for him.

But there was no perfect option in this world. He could only choose, from two imperfect endings, the one he believed was relatively more perfect.

After a period of silence, Kitahara raised his head to look at Yayoi Akikawa and asked,

"Then, Chairwoman, may I ask what method you intend to use to resolve my current problem? But I should also state this first. Although I'm very grateful for your kindness, if this matter requires paying a great price, or if it will cause a great deal of trouble, please allow me to reserve the right to refuse..."

"No matter! I can assure you that this plan does not require paying any particular price. It is only..."

Creak—!

The sound of the door being pushed open rang out.

Seeing the newcomer, the Chairwoman blinked. Then she flicked her fan and covered her face.

"Perfect timing. Since the person involved has arrived, let her explain it to you herself."

The person involved?

Kitahara turned his head in some confusion. After seeing who had come in, his expression froze.

"...Eclipse?"

For some reason, during this recent period, Eclipse had clearly spent much less time following him around. And even when she was by his side, she had spent much more time spacing out. She did indeed seem somewhat different from usual.

But...

"...Chairwoman, April Fool's Day was several days ago."

If it had been someone else who came in, Kitahara might not have been so sure. But Eclipse was someone he had raised from childhood. Although her physical ability and strength could be called absurd, public opinion was not something that could be solved through speed or fists. After all, it was not as if she could go full "Heaven nourishes man, and man repays Heaven with nothing" on every last person smearing him, could she?

Though actually, that was not certain either. If the situation truly deteriorated to a certain point, then based on Eclipse's behavioral logic, Kitahara felt she might really be capable of doing such a thing.

Faced with Kitahara's unconcealed doubt, Eclipse did not get angry. Her face remained as calm as ever. She looked straight at Kitahara's face, and after a moment of silence, gave him her answer.

"I have already signed up for the Satsuki Sho."

---

bonus chaps

200 stones -> 1 chapter

400 stones -> 2 chapters

600 stones -> 3 chapters

and so on

hehe every 100 followers on either instagram or twitter is a bonus chapter...?

patreon.com/wisetl

instagram: hanbaowise

twitter: WiseKingOfUruk_