The mediocre trainer doesn't want to reopen

At this time, Xingjiang finally tasted the true bitterness... a kind of bitterness called "If you really like someone, then you are definitely not worthy of him."

The more outstanding and noble Kitano appears now, the more she feels that he is far away from her.

Obviously, he has fallen into the "earthly world" more than once, and obviously... she is the person closest to him now.

But why do I still feel so far away from him...

Chapter 437: Kitano confesses his love to Xing-chan

The next day, Kitano was awakened by a hasty knock on the door. Nowadays, Kitano rarely needed to get up as early as before. The team's horse girls were very conscientious and would train according to the training plan he had given them long ago, so there was no need to add any more burden to Kitano.

This is also the reason why Kitano can now easily manage such a large team - of course, the premise is that he has good opera, Aldan, and so many understanding horse racing girls around him, so it seems easy for him as a trainer.

However, at this moment, the rapid knock on the door made Kitano, who was still asleep, alert immediately. It had been a long time since there had been an emergency - so what should have happened? Was a child injured during training?

With this thought in mind, Kitano put on some clothes and opened the door, only to see Shenying standing outside with an anxious look on his face.

"Elu? What happened?"

"Trainer-san! Oh no! We can't find Hoshi-chan!"

The extremely anxious Shenying immediately said to Kitano: "Xing-chan went out early this morning! I was doing some strength training at the door at the time and thought Xing-chan was just out for a while, but I couldn't contact her for several hours!"

"Xing-chan doesn't reply to emails or answer calls! It's like she's completely disappeared from the face of the earth!"

The reason why Shenying was anxious at this moment was that she vaguely realized why Xingjiang wanted to leave - obviously, Xingjiang's sudden disappearance might have something to do with her being "favored" yesterday... After all, even Shenying knew that Xingjiang liked Kitano.

But now the most "favored" person in the whole team is Shenying. Shenying is very worried that Xingchan chose to escape because too many people like Kitano... After all, Shenying also knows that his attitude towards Kitano in the past few days is actually problematic.

This matter really can't be thought about too much, the more you think about it, the more guilty you feel. Therefore, Shenying is now the most nervous person in the entire team. After she couldn't contact Xingjiang, she immediately went to find Kitano, hoping that this trainer who is omnipotent in her heart can help find Xingjiang.

"Please, Trainer-san! Now you are the only one who can find Xing-chan! Elu and I even released "Mambo" (the eagle secretly raised by Condor)! But now neither Xing-chan nor Mambo has returned!"

"Calm down, calm down, Elu. Xing-chan just hid away, I don't think she's in any trouble."

Kitano also thought about it, and he seemed much calmer when he heard the news of Xingjiang's disappearance, because Kitano thought he understood people like Xingjiang... or rather, he understood his former temper. If someone disappeared quietly like this, it definitely didn't mean to do anything big.

All I can say is that this is a hint, a signal that "someone needs to come find me." Xing-chan should be waiting for him now, right?

"Elu, calm down now. I know where to find Xing-chan. I need to change my clothes first. What you need to do is not to panic, and don't make everyone panic."

"Also, give me that plan in my desk drawer. I'll need it later."

……

With the end of the June competition, we have officially entered summer. During this period, Kitano should have taken everyone on the team to the summer training camp, but Kitano felt that the summer training should be postponed for a while.

After all, everyone in the team now has better training equipment, and Shenying is also strengthening her training. Shenying's training now can be said to be a race against time. She can't leave. Kitano's personality will not allow him to take some of the horse girls to training without everyone, and leave Shenying alone.

Therefore, Kitano planned to be the last team in the training camp this time. After Shenying became familiar with the various equipments, he would go together to relax everyone.

But now Kitano also came to the training ground alone, not to secretly go on vacation alone, but because he felt that Xingjiang was waiting for him here.

The reason... Kitano felt that if someone like Xingchan wanted to relieve her mood, she would definitely find a place where she could see the sea. After all, she liked fishing, and she had said more than once that looking at the sea could make her feel calm.

On the other hand... Kitano still remembers that this is the place where she and Xing-chan went fishing together for the first time. It has great commemorative significance. If Xing-chan wants him to find her, she will definitely choose this place.

By the time Kitano arrived here by bus, it was already noon. But soon, Kitano saw the familiar Diaoyutai not far away. A familiar figure wearing the uniform of Tresen Academy was sitting there quietly, enjoying the sea breeze.

"It's here as expected." Kitano breathed a sigh of relief after finding Xingjiang. He still had the plan in his hand. After sorting out his mood a little, he slowly walked towards Xingjiang.

Kitano walked all the way towards Xing-chan. When he got close to her, she was sitting on the fishing platform, quietly gazing at the sea. As a horse girl, her keen hearing made her notice the movement behind her. She said softly, "Sure enough... Trainer-san didn't forget. He really knew to look for me here."

"I won't forget the place where we first went fishing, Xing-chan."

Seeing that Xing-chan's mood seemed to have stabilized a lot, Kitano naturally sat down beside Xing-chan, his eyes looking at the sea in front of him. After a long while, he said, "Elu was really scared by you, Xing-chan. It's not good to scare Elu like this, even if you think that Elu has stolen your attention."

"As expected, I can't hide it from Trainer-san. He can even sense my jealousy."

Kitano's words revealed her inner thoughts, but Xing-chan, who was now extremely calm, did not feel shy or guilty. She turned her head slightly to look at Kitano and asked with a smile: "But why is it that Trainer-san is so perceptive, but always fails to guess my thoughts?"

"Even in the eyes of the trainer, my tantrums and actions are child's play, but why is the trainer still unwilling to fulfill my little wish?"

"Even... my wish that Trainer-san could only focus on Xing-chan during this period of time, won't be granted?"

For some reason, Xingchan seemed particularly bold today. Perhaps it was because of the successive impacts of Rudolph and Condor, or perhaps it was because she realized that she was the only one in the team who was still trying hard to "pursue" Kitano, and the others had either achieved their goals or were already waiting at the finish line.

"Everyone... is looking down on me, but I, Xing-chan, just don't want Trainer-san to think the same way."

"The Chrysanthemum Festival is only a few months away, and I want Trainer-san to focus all his attention on Xing-chan right now, but why can't even this little wish be fulfilled?"

"Trainer-san, in your heart, am I, Xing-chan... really important?"

I don’t know if it’s because of the doubts in her heart about herself, or because the man next to her always makes her feel very stressed, but Xingjiang uttered such questioning words for the first time.

From the beginning to the end, she never felt that this man belonged to her for even a single minute. He could belong to everyone in the team, and except for her, everyone had the qualifications and confidence to pursue him, even to possess him, except herself...

Because she wasn't even sure if she had a place in his heart. She didn't even know if she was special to him... or just a simple "member of the team."

Xing-chan hypnotized herself more than once that her trainer Sang was a fair and impartial person who treated everyone equally - but this idea finally disappeared yesterday when Kitano publicly expressed his "partiality" towards Shenying.

Xing-chan, she had to admit, was jealous of Condor.

She also had to admit that she was not as fair as she thought, and she... also wanted to get Kitano's favor.

And Xingjiang only expressed this wish until now, because she was afraid that she would leave a stain in Kitano's heart, but this cautious maintenance seemed to have come to an end, and she could not hold on any longer.

Kitano turned his head slightly to look at Xing-chan. He saw the expectation and hope in the girl's eyes. With a smile, Kitano raised the schedule in his hand and said softly, "Xing-chan... although I don't know what I did to make you feel that I don't care about you... but I must say that you have always been unique in my heart. In fact, you are my benchmark, the one I admire."

"But maybe it's because I wanted you to have a perfect ending so badly that I was worried about losing you and didn't know how to express it to you. As a result, I made you feel lonely."

"Xing-chan, this schedule... is a full fifty pages long, and it only records two things: your Chrysanthemum Appreciation and the upcoming Arima Memorial. I've thought of countless possibilities and ways to deal with them. I haven't shown it to you because I don't know how to tell you my assumptions."

"Because I really don't want to tell you... The Chrysanthemum Shooting may be your last victory. I've never been able to find a way to honestly tell you this, to a horse girl I admire."

"But now, this is not necessary."

Kitano said this and threw the plan in his hand in front of Xingjiang. Soon, as the papers scattered in the air, they were all thrown into the sea and gradually disappeared on the sea surface.

At this moment, Kitano's eyes never left Xingjiang. He was staring at Xingjiang in front of him wholeheartedly, just as she expected.

"Even though it may seem strange to you, I care about you too much, so I can't respond to you like this."

"I want to give you a perfect ending, Xing-chan, so I want to tell you this surprise after thinking about all this. So, do you understand, Xing-chan?"

"My eyes may not be on you, but my heart is always thinking about you, Xing-chan."

Chapter 438: Promise, a "trip" just the two of us

"Trainer-san... he always manages to say such embarrassing things so calmly. Is it because there are so many people on the team who like him?"

Xingjiang also did not expect that she could receive such an affectionate "confession" from Kitano. In the past, she was just a bystander, watching Kitano "confess" to members of other teams. This time the protagonist became her, which made Xingjiang a little unable to adapt.

But even so, Xing-chan was not so easily defeated by Kitano. She was now in the calm "sage" mode. Although her defense was still a little low, she was not directly broken by Kitano like before. Her cheeks were slightly red, and she said with a tone of reproach: "Trainer-san, don't think that you can make me happy by saying such embarrassing words to Xing-chan. I am not someone who can be easily dealt with, nor am I the kind of stupid fish that will be caught by just throwing a hook."

"Please answer my questions properly, Trainer-san. Don't say such embarrassing things on purpose."

"I always answer seriously, Xing-chan."

Kitano saw Xing-chan say this and quickly realized that Xing-chan didn't take his words seriously. It was true that Xing-chan didn't know much about his past, and those who had memories of the past hadn't explained it to him - after all, it was too unbelievable.

However, Kitano still has a way to make Xingjiang trust his words. After all, he mentioned to Xingjiang about his "dream", and Kitano had revealed this dream to Xingjiang before. It has something to do with the three goddesses, so it is very trustworthy.

After all, the three goddesses are the highest objects of worship for horse racing girls, and now, they are just people that Kitano occasionally dreams about and who always come to Kitano to ask for tributes, so it doesn't matter if he pushes them out casually.

"Xing-chan, remember what I told you before, about me dreaming about your future?"

"It is because of that dream that I care so much about you. It is also because of the heroic figure of Xing-chan in that dream that I hope so much to help you this time."

"That's why I'm so worried about what I've gained. I hope that after you, Xing-chan, become my Uma Musume this time, you can change a little. At the very least, you can avoid some things in the future that I don't want to happen again."

"Will the future that Trainer-san dreams of definitely come true?"

However, what Kitano didn't know was that the "dream" he mentioned was actually completely understandable to Xing-chan now. Because before the Japanese derby, she had also had such a dream, which seemed to symbolize her destiny towards a normal dream.

During the Japanese Derby, Xing-chan had already experienced the power of "fate." She had never been able to win the Japanese Derby in her dreams, and now, even without Xiao Te, she still couldn't win the Japanese Derby, but instead, the Holy King, who had exploded, won.

Ever since the Japan Derby, Xing-chan has been convinced of her destiny. Therefore, in that dream, she was full of confidence that she could win the Chrysanthemum Shooting Competition.

After all, that was her memory, another highlight after her victory at the Gaoyue Sho. But what happened after that? Qingyun Tiankong still didn't fully understand her own "destiny."

"Trainer-san, what is my fate in your dream? What will be my destiny after the Chrysanthemum Viewing?"

"I think we've had this conversation before, right? Trainer-san didn't tell me everything back then, so this time, can you tell me everything without reservation?"

"Don't worry, Trainer-san. No matter how difficult the road ahead is... I just want to know the truth. I just want to be able to trust Trainer-san without reservation, just like everyone else."

"Is it okay? Trainer-san, let me, Xing-chan, be that person who can trust you wholeheartedly... You won't mind, right?"

At this moment, Qingyun Tiankong's tone was close to pleading. She was very afraid, afraid that Kitano would reject her at this moment, especially when this possibility was not low - because Xingjiang had more or less guessed why Kitano didn't tell her everything.

Obviously, in Trainer Sang's dream, her future is not very bright... She now knows the ending of the Chrysanthemum Appreciation, but everything after the Chrysanthemum Appreciation does not look good.

But Xing-chan no longer intends to escape, just as she has been avoiding her feelings for Kitano. This process is too painful and too unbearable, as if she is torturing herself... She has had enough.

And facing Xingjiang who seemed extremely fragile and pleading at this moment, the reluctance in his heart finally tilted to the other side - the pity that made him unable to bear to tell Xingjiang the truth finally succumbed to Xingjiang's bitter pleading.

"Xing-chan... In my dream, you unleashed unprecedented power at the Chrysanthemum Stakes. You completed a century-class race that will go down in history. You led the entire field in the 3000-meter Chrysanthemum Stakes."

"But... perhaps this match burned everything out of you, or perhaps... it was just a joke played by the Three Goddesses. From then on, you never won a single GI victory in your career. In the end, even winning non-GI victories became difficult."

"So, I've been hesitating, Xing-chan. I've been thinking about how to convince you not to unleash your full strength if you win the Chrysanthemum Award. After all, there are very few horse girls who can threaten you in this Chrysanthemum Award. Even the Holy King is unlikely to affect you. As long as you perform normally, you will definitely achieve a perfect victory."

"I don't know whether this move of mine is right or wrong. I'm trying to convince my horse girl not to end her career by staging an epic escape of her own..."

"Even as a trainer, I'm still trying to figure out how to convince my horse girl to put on a century-class performance in exchange for more GI victories. But I can't even guarantee that this method will work, so it's really hard to bring it up."

A bitter and embarrassed smile appeared on Kitano's face. It was conceivable that he was under even greater psychological pressure than Xingjiang during this period. He didn't know how to tell Xingjiang his thoughts. He even found it difficult to talk to other people about his troubles.

Even if Good Opera, Aldan and the Holy King are understanding, such a decision... is not something they can decide or change. Even Kitano has no way to decide and can only leave it to Xingjiang.

Therefore, Kitano was very conflicted about how to tactfully tell Xing-chan his thoughts without irritating Xing-chan's sensitive and fragile heart, just like he did in the first round with the Holy King, because he did not handle the issue properly.

If Xing-chan thought that she, the trainer she trusted the most, had doubts about her abilities... what would happen next would probably not be any better than what happened to Kitano and the Holy King in the first round.

Moreover, although Xing-chan doesn't seem to have as bad a temper as the Holy King, in fact, if she becomes stubborn, she will not be much better than the Holy King. This is also what Kitano is afraid of.

All I can say is... past experiences, even today, continue to influence Kitano's every judgment. He handles his relationships with everyone with great care. The more troublesome the person, the more cautious he is, preferring to say nothing rather than do anything unnecessary. Now, it seems that he's once again feeling constrained.

"But now, it feels much better to get all of this out." Kitano's expression became much more relaxed as he confided these words that had been pent up in his heart for so long. Then, he turned his gaze to Xing-chan and asked hesitantly, "So... Xing-chan, what is your choice? An end-of-the-century escape that will go down in history, or a more lasting victory?"

"Xing-chan, I...even though what I said doesn't mean it, don't feel any psychological burden. No matter what you choose, I will support you as always."

"Or, if you have any other wonderful ideas, you can tell me. No matter what you choose in the end, I will support your choice, Xing-chan."

However, Kitano's words did not immediately receive a response from Qingyun Tiankong. In Kitano's sight, he only saw Qingyun Tiankong slowly stand up and take a few steps forward. Facing the azure sea and the rising sun, she turned slightly and looked at Kitano.

At this moment, the face of Qingyun Tiankong, whose shadow was cast by the sunlight, made Kitano's expression slightly dazed - at that moment, he seemed to see the most beautiful smile in the world.

Although she is an Ash-haired horse girl, the Ash-haired horse girl of Qingyun Tiankong is not as pretty as most of the Ash-haired horse girls. Her appearance can only be described as average in the team, but at this moment, under the sunlight, Xing-chan's smile is really as bright and beautiful as the stars.

The light of the stars will disappear when the sun rises, but at this moment, Kitano seemed to see stars that were brighter than the sun.

"Trainer-san, if you had told me these words earlier, I might not have been so moved."

"You're such a cunning person! How come you always manage to say the most heart-piercing words to people when they're at their most vulnerable?"

At this moment, Xing-chan's serene smile widened a little again. She did not respond to Kitano's words. She only continued to speak calmly: "Trainer-san, can you make a promise with me, Xing-chan?"

"If our final outcome is not satisfactory, if we fail to break any fate in the end... at that time, can Trainer-san and Xing-chan run away to a place where no one knows?"

"On this 'journey' just the two of us, as long as Trainer-san is by my side, I can put aside any difficulties or anxieties."

On the coast, Qingyun Tiankong invited her favorite man to "escape". Perhaps she had already made the decision in her heart, and she also knew that her fate might not change.

But at least, she doesn't have to face it alone. She has found... someone who can escape with her.

And on the day when her escape plan comes true, she and this person will disappear from everyone's sight, until... the world has forgotten them.

Of course, it's only in theory, but at this moment, Xingjiang has no doubt that she can do it.

Chapter 439: How did the Holy King and Kitano get along after skipping Kitano?

Xing-chan didn't answer Kitano's question, but Kitano knew that Xing-chan had made her own decision...or rather, she chose to accept her fate.

But now Xing-chan is no longer just a slave to fate. After knowing her "fate", she did not continue to show her lazy side as before, but treated every day of her life seriously.

In the past, Xingjiang was the kind of "genius" who looked lazy during the day, but was actually crazy and worked hard behind the scenes.

But now, Xing-chan has completely hidden her other side. All the horse girls who are familiar with Xing-chan, including Kitano himself, have seen a completely different side of Xing-chan in the past few months - a side called Qingyun Tiankong that undoubtedly shows her hard-working side.

Qingyun Tiankong, now a shrewd, had broken the stereotype of sleeping during the day and playing at night, waking up earlier than everyone else every day. For a while afterwards, Shenying, who had been singled out by Kitano as "special attention," could be seen working out at the gym next to the team room—and judging by her sweaty appearance, she'd been doing it for quite some time.