Why was I assigned to be a horse girl?

"So, what kind of performance can be considered neither good nor bad?"

Just as Hitoko asked her question, the announcer came from the stage, "Next student, Takashiro Junichi, will be singing 'Oblivion ni te' (In Oblivion)."

With his head down, Gao Shangjunyi stepped out of the shadows and onto the stage, his clothes changed from Treson's standard school uniform to a performance uniform full of youthful energy and rhythm.

However, she still wore her elegant white wide-brimmed hat on her head...

To be honest, even Fei Tu Hu Po felt that this peaked cap was the true embodiment of a noble and elegant man.

After Gao Shangjunyi steps off the stage, I really want to try taking her hat, then moving 100 meters away from her, and see if she'll suddenly disconnect or something...

On stage, Gao Shangjunyi continued to mentally prepare herself, muttering strange phrases like "I can't run away" and "If I don't get on the winner's stage, I'll go back," seemingly completely oblivious to the fact that the microphone hanging on her collar had already started picking up and amplifying sound...

However, such a large-scale scene with thousands of people on screen at the same time is indeed too much pressure for a socially anxious and introverted horse racing girl.

Fei Tu Hu Po, sitting in the audience, felt a chill run down her spine for Gao Shang Jun Yi and muttered under her breath, "Go for it, go for it."

The next second, the singing began.

[The dazzling sound of a miracle echoed in my ears]

[Calling out the name etched deep in my memory]

[Chasing the winds of destiny, I refuse to lose to anyone]

Fei Tu Hu Po was stunned. Gao Shang Jun Yi's singing voice was surprisingly not bad.

-------

Chapter 74 Qin Chui Tou: Fox Demon, I'll Help You Cultivate

Judging from the audience's reaction, the song performed by Takasho Junichi should be a famous Uma Musume Nozomi's signature song, which is quite popular in the Uma Musume Nozomi fandom.

The melody is melodious and somewhat poignant, but the lyrics are full of positive and uplifting emotions, showing a refusal to give in and a refusal to bow to fate.

On the other hand, although the socially awkward and withdrawn Kosho Junichi's dance moves were much less dynamic than the previous energetic racehorse girl, making him seem even less noticeable, Kosho Junichi's singing was truly beautiful...

"He must have been practicing secretly when he was alone. I estimate that he's already at a semi-professional level."

Kotobuki Toru nodded slightly and whispered to Hisako Amber beside her, "Weren't we just discussing what it means to be 'neither good nor bad'? Takashiro Junichi on stage is an example of that... Although she may not be at the level of most excellent racehorse girls, everyone can see that she has tried her best, and that's enough."

Fei Tu Hu Po nodded: "Shall we convey our feelings and attitude to everyone?"

"Pretty much, and you know what, Gao Shangjunyi must have been provoked by your shamelessness today... Maybe he's envious and jealous of your brazenness, so he wants to take it a step further?"

"Huh? Am I that amazing?"

The lady chuckled softly, took out her phone to record a video, and unceremoniously shared Gao Shangjunyi's embarrassing past with Fei Tu Hu: "The last time we had a large training session like this, Gao Shangjunyi went on stage and sang with his back to the audience... Everyone in the audience was stunned at the time."

On the phone screen, Gao Shangjunyi is singing, but he is facing away from the audience, away from all living beings, and acting as if he is the only one who can stand alone through the ages.

"Haha, her tail fur is all puffed up!"

"Yeah~"

After looking at Gao Shangjunyi for a while, Fei Tu Hu Po's gaze gradually turned serious when she looked up again.

"It's clear that Gao Shangjunyi has made great progress... He seems like a completely different person this time compared to last time."

“That’s right, I really agree with Gao Shangjunyi on that point… All three of them are excellent.” The lady pursed her lips. “And Gao Shangjunyi, like me, also passed the selection process to get into Central Treson.”

Fei Tu Hu Po's pupils widened immediately: "Is Gao Shang Jun Yi also going to the Central District? Isn't it said that the racehorse girls who can go to the Central District are one in a thousand?"

"What a coincidence! You've just run into two exceptional racehorse girls. With you, there are three of you. If we add Gao Shangjunyi's sister, Qiangji, then there are four of you."

The lady clenched her fist, and it was impossible to tell whether she was excited or conflicted: "I can tell you in advance that our generation, and the past few years, have been the most competitive and intense years for female racehorses."

"It's always curly, but this year it's especially curly."

Kotobuki Toru scratched his head, looking conflicted, and said, "From what I understand, it seems that quite a few star students from horse racing families will be enrolling this year."

The lady smiled enigmatically: "What a coincidence, you're taking the Central Teresa exam this year too."

"..."

Even after Gao Shangjunyi's performance on stage ended, the audience remained enthusiastic. However, Fei Tu Hu Po figured that if she went on stage and performed a backflip, the response would be just as enthusiastic...

After all, these racehorse girls are the type who like to make a lot of noise and enjoy joining in the fun.

While the players were changing and the announcers were being introduced, Kotobuki Toru tentatively asked Hitoko Amber beside him, "You've finished watching. What are your thoughts? For the G1 tournament in April, you'll have at least one G3 and one G2-level match during this period. You can't avoid the winner's stage."

Learning about the winner's stage from scratch is a difficult hurdle for anyone, and it's only natural to feel discouraged.

Just like those survival competition shows that Fei Tu Hu Po often watches, many contestants clearly had the right mental preparation and skill level before the competition, but when they were actually thrown onto a desert island...

One by one, they would just run away or withdraw from the competition without warning.

"I want to learn!"

Fei Tu Hu Po nodded again, then looked troubled. "I can learn, but I haven't even enrolled yet. Even if I wanted to learn, there's no one to teach me."

Even someone as academically challenged as Fei Tu Hu Po knows that learning how to sing and dance like an idol is completely different from studying everyday knowledge.

If you want to learn something, you can just dress up and sneak into a university, find a classroom, sit down, and audit classes. After all, that's how I've been auditing classes with Kotobuki Toru lately. Hitobuki Amber believes that her IQ has definitely increased by ten or even nine percent.

But singing and dancing are not so easy to learn... they require one-on-one instruction, on-the-spot correction, and live teaching.

Hiring a private coach or enrolling in classes is a huge undertaking for families; it's just too difficult!

"What's so hard about this?"

Kotobuki Toru watched as Hisu Kohaku patted her chest. As a reliable trainer, since she had consulted Hisu Kohaku's opinion, she must have already found a reasonable and appropriate solution.

"I'm here to help you!"

"Donna, Donna, do you know any singing teachers? Could you give me a discount through connections? If I want to learn to sing gradually, I think I can start by learning to sing... that way I'll have something to show when I go on stage."

To everyone's surprise, Hitotsu Amber seemed not to have heard Kotobuki Toru's self-recommendation. Instead, she turned to the noblewoman and began to inquire about the channels.

"Um, Amber, I said I'd do it..."

"If that doesn't work, try asking Gao Shangjunyi?"

Kotobuki couldn't hold back any longer and immediately walked up to Hitoko, waving her hand in front of Hitoko, "Don't ignore your trainer."

This time, Fei Tu Hu Po couldn't pretend she hadn't heard. Her little face was full of suspicion: "Tou Tou, I'm very happy that you offered to help... but you said you would teach me to sing."

"You dare to teach, but I dare not learn..." The little fox with slanted eyes smiled, her charmingly questioning expression: "Are you even capable?"

Kotobuki Toru was so angry he almost vomited blood. Even though he knew that Hitoko wasn't asking him if he was capable in his manhood, being asked by such a charming creature was definitely a blow to his self-esteem.

This time, we absolutely have to open Hitotsu Amber's eyes!

"Don't worry, it's professional, okay?"

Kotobuki Toru held up his five fingers. "Look, these are the calluses that guitarists and bassists get from strumming. Do you think I can sing?"

Before Fei Tu Hu Po could even see the hands that had played the zither so well, she exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? No, buddy, you really can do it?"

The lady chuckled: "Of course he can. Back then, his older sister dragged him into the band to be a backup musician, so he had to know a little bit of everything."

-------

Chapter 75 Calluses on hands feel comfortable to use.

"Huh? You have an older sister?"

Hitoko looked at Kotobuki Toru's outstretched hand in surprise. Normally, she didn't have the habit of looking at other men's hands, but now that Kotobuki Toru had extended his hand, Hitoko had no choice but to examine it.

Upon closer inspection, one can indeed see calluses on the fingertips of the qin player... The grayish-white calluses are located on the fingertips and sides of the fingers, and it is clear at a glance that they cannot be caused by writing or working.

Kotobuki Toru raised his hand as he explained, "I have an older sister. She used to play in a band at an all-girls' high school."

"Oh ho, I know, a girl band! doki~doki~Kira~Kira~"

Fei Tu Hu Po's eyes sparkled: "And then when the team disbands, they'll kneel down and beg others not to leave or something?"

Kotobuki and the noblewoman were both stunned.

"What kind of band is that you're familiar with...?"

"Isn't that how it is?" Fei Tu Hu Po frowned slightly, but didn't take it too seriously. "So what does your sister's past in a band have to do with you?"

Kotobuki Toru thought for a moment, realizing that he might have a long speech, and then led everyone to sit down in the back row of the audience.

In this setting where almost everyone stood up or tried to get closer to the stage to watch the performance, the back rows felt very spacious.

After sitting down, Kotobuki Toru continued, "Then we have to talk about the issue of the band breaking up... Of course, my older sister's band didn't kneel down and beg others not to leave, like you said."

To make it easier to communicate face-to-face with Kotobuki Toru, Hitoko chose a seat in the row in front of Kotobuki Toru. She turned her back, knelt on the cushion of the front theater chair, and leaned forward, looking rather quirky.

The noblewoman felt it was too embarrassing to sit with Hitoko Amber, so she chose to sit in the same row as Kotobuki Toru, but one chair away.

"After my sisters graduated from university, they went to different places. Although no one said it outright, the band actually disbanded."

Fei Tu Hu Po nodded understandingly: "I know, the most common farewell is when everyone says goodbye as usual one afternoon, and then they never see each other again."

Kotobuki nodded with emotion, feeling that Hitoko's cultural knowledge had finally improved somewhat. "But if that were the case, there wouldn't have been any of the later events... Although everyone has their own path to walk, we live in an information society now, and with the Shinkansen and airplanes being so fast, we can still meet anytime we want."

With her tail swaying, Hibiki Amber laughed happily, "Isn't that great? We can all play together anytime!"

Qin Chuitou was taken aback. It is said that being able to genuinely feel happy for others is the rarest virtue in modern society.

Although Hitotsu Amber is greedy and likes to take advantage of others, she is actually a kind and innocent person.

After a moment of inward reflection, Kotobuki Toru continued, "It's good that they still keep in touch and occasionally get together, but for me, it's not just that..."

"what?"

Not only is Hitotsu Amber pure and kind-hearted, but she is also an excellent straight man in comedy. Driven by curiosity, Hitotsu Amber always chooses to keep asking, "Why is that?"

"Whether you're in college or have graduated, everyone has their own life and plans, so there's always one or two people missing at gatherings."

"So, does that mean there's no way to reminisce about our youth?"

"No, there's another way... that is to find someone to fill in for you."

Kotobuki Toru's face was filled with an expression of unbearable memories. He pointed to himself from bottom to top and asked, "Guess who that person is?"

If Hitotsu Amber can't figure this out, then she really should get her IQ checked... According to her classmates who have older sisters, in families where siblings are born, the younger brother is just a punching bag and a tool for his older sister...

"Oh, is it that bad?"

"It's terrible." Kotobuki Toru sighed deeply, looking up. "I can only say that I had a rather unhappy childhood. While my peers were playing video games and basketball, I was dragged into making music by a few older women."

Fei Tu Hu Po reached out and patted Qin Fu Tou's shoulder in a comforting manner: "Look at what you're saying, are you alright? When I was a kid, I used to collect bottles on the street... I didn't get to play any games."

Kotobuki Toru's expression instantly turned to grief and self-reproach, and he headbutted Hitoko Amber in the chest... the back of the chair in front of her chest.

"I'm so damn stupid."

Hitotsu Kohaku looked at Kotobuki Toru, who was practically stuffed into her arms, at a loss. In the end, she could only pull him up by the back of his neck and grabbed him by the collar. "Okay, I've told you so many times, I don't care about this anymore."

The next second, a loud "thud" came from the next door. The two turned their heads and saw that the lady had crashed headfirst into the back of the seat in front of her.

"Donna, are you okay?"

The lady waved her hand: "I'm fine... I can't stand seeing idiots, you guys continue."

Such a great opportunity! Why are you two behaving like strangers?!

"What happened next? There's not much to say about what happened next."

Kotobuki raised his hand. "This is what happened to me. My sister needed a certain instrument, so she forced me to learn it. This is proof of that."

Seeing the calluses on Kotobuki Toru's hands, Hitobuki Amber finally couldn't resist reaching out and grabbing Kotobuki Toru's hand.

The small palms held the hand that had been played through the zither, while the fingertips rubbed against the calluses on the fingertips that had been played through the zither.

Genuine calluses! Sturdy and durable, almost as worn as the soles of my own shoes!

Then, Fei Tu Hu Po exclaimed, "These calluses are really thick and rough! Do you feel anything different when you pick your nose?"

Kotobuki Toru also marveled inwardly at how soft and delicate Hitoko's hands were, like cheese, completely different from the iron hands of noblewomen.

"It feels more textured now. Sometimes, the bumps and friction are the most comfortable."

After finishing speaking, Kotobuki subtly withdrew his hand from Hitoko Amber's palm...

To be honest, it felt very comfortable and relaxing when Hitoshi Kohaku rubbed her hands with her soft fingers, but Kotobuki Toru keenly noticed that the lady next door was secretly taking out her phone again, preparing to act as a paparazzi and fabricate fake news.

Not far away, Gao Shangjunyi, who had already changed back into his school uniform, was also looking around as he walked towards him.

It wouldn't be good if it were misunderstood...