I'm Ornn, and I'm about to be beaten to my knees by the Man-eating Horse Girl!

"My sister is just too perfect, so perfect that she has almost no flaws."

“I’ve been in poor health since I was a child, and for the past thirteen years, she has never complained. Whether it’s wiping my body when I’m injured and unable to move, or changing my clothes, she has always done it all herself.”

Even after winning three championships and becoming famous throughout Japan, she remained the same, completely without any of the airs of a champion.

"But I don't want to continue like this."

The blue-haired girl lowered her head; her expression became very complicated, seemingly because she had revealed part of her true feelings.

Her eyebrows furrowed, she occasionally bit her lip, her gaze fell on her thighs, her hands were clasped in front of her lower abdomen, and her fingertips rubbed together.

The concern from her family made her feel awkward and uneasy, and at the same time, shame and self-blame welled up in her heart. Her good upbringing made her unwilling to continue to accept her sister's care in this endless cycle.

"I'm just a useless person who can't run on the field; there's no need to waste any more time on me."

"Sometimes, I think like this,"

Meguro Ardan took a deep breath and continued, "Before participating in the debut battle, I started refusing my sister's help. I told her, 'You have your own things to worry about, right?' 'Don't worry, I'll take care of myself.'"

"I also declined my sisters' offer to help. The nurses at home are professional enough, and there's no need to waste my sisters' precious time on me."

"Perhaps I really don't have the talent to run? Even with the name [Mejiro], I'm just a replica, an imposter. These legs have limited me for ten years, but they only allowed me to win my debut match and the Yamato Award, get second place in the NHK Cup, and... fourth place in the Japanese Derby."

"Ten years of recuperation and biding our time have only yielded these vague so-called 'achievements.' Perhaps the best outcome would have been to leave these legs broken on the field."

"Sometimes, I really do think that way."

The light blue strands of hair on her forehead were soaked with sweat, clinging messily to the girl's forehead, making her look somewhat disheveled.

A smile appeared on her delicate face, but the girl's brows remained furrowed. Her smile contained intense resentment and anger, a mockery of her own legs and a sigh for her fate.

"I think I can't go on like this. Rather than spending another year in so-called 'recuperation,' I'd rather step onto the field now and let myself shine one last time."

"Even if I fall off a cliff and am smashed to pieces, even if I eventually lose the chance to run on grass again, I don't want to lose this opportunity to prove myself."

"I don't want to... become my sister's shadow."

As she spoke, the girl raised her head, looked at Orn, and whispered, "During the final sprint of the Japanese derby, I was very unwilling to accept defeat."

"The doctor wouldn't allow me to run at full speed, and my body couldn't support a second acceleration. I could only watch, watch my classmates and my best friends rush forward,"

"I'm so envious... I really envy Oguri Hat who can run at full speed. I'm so envious, and I'm also jealous. I'm jealous of why they can run so easily, and I'm jealous of the trainers who allow them to run so recklessly."

Recalling Oguri's terrifying pressure and physical strength on the field, Megumi Ardan looked up at the pale blue ceiling.

Her voice remained very calm, revealing the fragility of someone suffering from a long illness, along with intense and complex emotions, all of which were released at once.

She smiled bitterly and said, "Did I disappoint you? This is what Meiju of the Meguro family is thinking. It's like the fruit that Snow White ate. It looks good on the outside, but it's rotten inside. Maybe, just as you said, I really shouldn't keep running."

Megumi Ardan let out a long sigh, as if in despair, and after voicing her dark thoughts, she looked up at the man before her.

What kind of expression would he have? Disgust, contempt? Or perhaps pity and sympathy?

To her surprise, Orn's expression had nothing to do with the emotions she had imagined. The man in front of her was staring at her with a very serious gaze, as focused as the class monitor from the class next door, Sakura Boom.

Seemingly sensing that the girl had already spoken her mind, Orn subconsciously asked, "Are you done?"

After saying this, he immediately realized his slip of the tongue and quickly waved his hand to explain, "Ah! I wasn't daydreaming, it's just that you ended a little suddenly, and I didn't react for a moment."

From the moment he entered the room until now, the man in front of her hadn't shown any nervousness, but now he was anxious to explain himself because he was worried she might misunderstand such a small matter.

Megumi Ardan smiled and shook his head, saying, "I believe Mr. Orn won't be distracted. You're thinking about something, aren't you?"

Orn nodded and said, "Yes, I am indeed thinking about it."

"Mejiro Ardan, I have a question I'd like to ask you. The answer to this question will greatly help my later judgment, but it might be a little offensive. May I ask it?"

Aldan answered frankly, "Please ask."

Orn considered for a moment, then asked, "Aldan, even if you know your body is weak, even if you know you may not have the talent, you still want to step onto the field. Can I understand that you want to prove yourself through winning the game?"

The girl replied seriously, "Yes, you can think that way."

"I don't want to disgrace this surname by being given the name 'Meshiro,' nor do I want to be looked at with pity and sympathy by others. Even if I may not have much talent, I want to win a match that can prove myself and bring honor to my surname."

Orn pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "But must honor always be earned by winning matches? Aren't there other forms and methods?"

Ardan was stunned. The man in front of him still had a very serious expression, which meant that he really thought so.

She thought for a moment, then whispered, "Other forms...?"

"But the only thing I'm good at is running."

Hearing the girl's answer, a question that had been bothering Orn was answered.

As he said, he is a very pragmatic person, so he finds it hard to understand the idea of ​​spending the next fifty years of one's life striving for a mere five minutes. He sees it as irresponsible towards one's own health and one's family.

But after hearing the girl's answer, he understood somewhat.

"The true nature of a horse girl is to run," this was written on the cover of the notebook that Satomi Tsuru gave him, and it's also a sentence that appears at the beginning of all trainer manuals.

All the trainers saw this sentence, and everyone can use it to encourage all the female horses, inspiring them to step onto the racetrack, pursue their lofty dreams, and realize their own value.

Orn, of course, saw it too, and only now did he gain a deeper understanding of that statement.

The horse's nature is to run; this can also be put as: the horse has no choice but to run.

Guided by this seemingly beacon of their souls, the horse girls stepped onto the narrow bridge known as the arena. Countless people were pushed off, falling and sustaining injuries, but they still followed their instincts and continued walking forward on the bridge.

This instinct gradually evolved into an obsession, deeply imprinted in the hearts of all the horse girls.

"Phew... So that's how it is."

Looking at Orn, who seemed to have suddenly realized something, Megumi Ardan smiled wryly and said, "You see, you understand now, right? A horse girl like me with dark thoughts in her heart is really not suitable to step onto the field."

So I still.....

"No, this has nothing to do with your inner thoughts. Rather, facing these emotions can make you stronger."

Orn interrupted Aldan, standing up and saying, "I will provide you with all the help related to training, but I will not become your trainer."

"You probably still want to compete against Oguri on the field, right?"

"........Yes,"

Ardan gripped the bedsheet tightly. She raised her head, her violet eyes flashing with intense resentment and fighting spirit.

She asked, "But won't you be making new enemies by doing this? I don't think your sense of responsibility would allow it, would it?"

Orn shrugged and said, "Let's keep things separate. I'm helping you not just because the Asama family head asked me to, but also because of my own selfish reasons. The stimulation of a strong enemy will also motivate the members of my team. It's a win-win situation."

"I'll bring you something tomorrow; it might help you recover faster." The man walked towards the door, concluding, "Of course, if you still don't want me as your opponent to help you train, you can speak to me through Lady Asama before tomorrow."

"You have to make your own decisions about your future. Now that you have a clear goal, I won't say anything more. As a trainer, I will fulfill my responsibilities."

"Okay, that's all for now. I'm leaving. Get some rest and eat lots of oranges."

Gazing at the chair in front of his hospital bed, Ardan Mokuba fell into thought.

"My own...future?"

The man's words cleared away the fog that had been obscuring the girl's vision. The pressure from her companions, the care from her family, and the presence of her sister—all these things weighed heavily on Aldan, driving her to become obsessed with proving herself on the field, even if it meant breaking her body.

From the start of the conversation until he left, both parties communicated in a consultative tone.

Although we don't know what Ornn ultimately decided, he still chose to help her get onto the field, accepting a responsibility that no one else wanted to take on, while respecting his own thoughts and feelings.

Megumi Ardan's inner emotions were in turmoil, but her outward appearance remained perfectly calm.

The girl reached for an orange on the nearby cabinet, peeled it, and let its sweet, refreshing fruity aroma fill the room.

She began to eat in small bites.

Orn gently closed the door, but the shape of the doorknob was different from when he had just entered.

Five clear fingerprints appeared on the brass grip, as if someone had gripped the handle forcefully.

He looked up and asked, "Mrs. Asama? Are you doing grip strength training?"

Mubai Qianjian covered her mouth and laughed, "How could that be? If I had used my full strength, this handle would probably have been reduced to dust by now. Perhaps one of the horse maids accidentally used too much force?"

"So? Has Aldan agreed to sign a contract of allegiance with you?"

Orn shook his head and replied, "The choice is in her hands, and as I am now, I can only let her continue running for another two years."

"After two years, her body will definitely not be able to hold up, so at most one year later, she will no longer be able to participate in high-intensity competitions."

"Two years...?"

Mubai Qianjian sighed, and the two walked towards the former reception room.

“Actually, I’ve been standing in front of the door for a while now, and I’ve heard most of what you and Aldan were saying,”

She pointed to her ear and laughed, "Horse Girl's hearing is excellent; a mere door panel can't block her ears."

"Orn, what is your opinion of the children of the Mejiro family?"

Orn stroked his chin, pondering, "Each of them has extraordinary abilities, each possesses a unique skill, and their fighting spirit and patience are truly astounding. Secret weapons..."

Megumi Asami laughed and scolded, "Stop being cheeky! If you weren't a rare genius, I might actually believe you and tell me, the head of the Megumi family, the truth!"

"Okay, I'll talk, I'll talk,"

Aoun gave a French military salute and said, "They are strong, brave, kind, and innocent. They are true nobles, but because of their noble status, they are limited in their future possibilities."

"With such admirable virtues, how can one not respect the name [Mecharo]?"

Meguro Asama, with her hands behind her back, said, "Is that so? You and I are thinking about the same thing. The Meguro family really does need to consider other tracks besides racing."

"Orn, I don't know you..."

I said stop!

Orn quickly waved his hand, refusing, "Clan Head Asama, let's keep this separate. Don't try to trap me! I'm just a lazy rookie trainer, don't suddenly think I'm going to be entrusted with a great responsibility!"

As he spoke, he took out the token from his pocket and handed it to Megumi Asama, saying, "This token has completed its mission, Head of the Asama family, you should take it back!"

Mu Baiqian pushed Orn's hand back, shaking her head and saying, "Keep this token safe for now; you might need it later."

"Morita Itsuki's setback is only temporary. It doesn't mean he's given up completely. You may still need to use this in the future."

Orn hesitated for a moment, then nodded and put the token away.

“That makes sense. Then I thank the Asama family head in advance!”

"It's getting late, and I'm still a bit unfamiliar with the central area since I'm new here, so I'll head back now. I'll come to visit the head of the Meguro family again when I have time!"

Megumi Asami smiled and said, "Alright, in that case, let McQueen take you back with him. She still has some homework to finish."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "By the way, Orn, if someone comes to you in the name of the Emperor, never agree to their request. But if the Emperor himself comes to you, you can make appropriate contact."

Ornn looked at Mu Baiqian, and their gazes met in the air.

"I understand, thank you for the reminder, patriarch."

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Mu Baiqian watched the car gradually drive away from the manor and suddenly said, "It seems you are also interested in this young man. According to your personality, shouldn't you only be interested in competitions and painting?"

"Mistress Asama, that's not quite right,"

Meguro Takamine slowly walked to Meguro Asama's side. She also lowered her head and watched the car drive away, saying, "I'm interested in many things, but it's hard for anything to really interest me."

The head of the Asama family chuckled, "Hehe, Takamine, eavesdropping outside the door is hardly the behavior of a lady, especially since you couldn't control your emotions and left evidence on the doorknob."

"Even if the next head of the Mejiro family is eavesdropping, he must do it quietly, understand?"

Megumi Mineko's expression tightened, and she calmly said, "I didn't eavesdrop. It was just that my eagerness to see my sister brought their conversation to my ears."

"Hmph, you're still as stubborn as you were when you were a kid. And Aldan is still the same as when he was a kid, keeping everything bottled up inside, so we have to rely on outsiders to talk to him."

Mubai Qianjian smiled and shook her head. She looked up at the group photo hanging in the room and couldn't help but shake her head again, saying, "Ryan is almost a bodybuilder now. The alloy steel blocks she lifts every day make my scalp tingle. Don't you older sisters do anything about it?! Dober even said he has some kind of... shooting phobia? He gets stiff and scared when there are many people around. I didn't have such a disease in my time. It's so troublesome!"

"Although Zenshin seems to be becoming more cheerful, there's still a deep-seated insecurity in her eyes, just like Aldan. Honestly, she said she wanted to run an obstacle course. If she can't do it well, so be it. Does my Mejiro family not have enough to feed her? Does she distrust me, her mistress, so much? No matter what, she's still a child of my [Mejiro] family. As her mistress, I naturally cherish everyone!"

"I wonder if Guangming is awake yet. Her slow, leisurely pace is really frustrating. As for McQueen... apart from gaining weight from time to time, there's nothing strange about him."

"The Megumi Titan, who's split up the family, still wants to cause trouble for me, constantly coming to stir up trouble in front of me, the main family..."

"Oh dear! What will become of the Meguro family if things continue like this?!"

Chapter 103 Coffee

At dawn, accompanied by a series of high-pitched and elegant music, like some adorable creature playing an orchestra, Fujimasa March opened its eyes.

She stared blankly at the ceiling, listening to the lingering symphony that wouldn't leave her ears, and sighed.

It seems that Xin Guanghui stayed up quite late last night, which led her into a deeper slumber and awakened a previously untapped talent:

Snoring.