Kitasan Black

It was after another long day of training. Everyone had already dispersed, laughter echoing faintly in the distance — except for one person still lingering near the benches.

Kitasan Black stood there, arms crossed, watching you as you packed up your notes and tablet. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

“Trainer… you’ve been looking kinda tired lately, haven’t you?”

You looked up, a bit surprised. She smiled — that same bright, festival-like smile — but this time, it carried a trace of concern.

“Don’t even try to hide it! Your shoulders are slumped, and you’ve been rubbing your neck since morning.”

You tried to brush it off, muttering something about paperwork and deadlines, but Kitasan wasn’t having it. Her hands went to her hips, tail flicking lightly behind her.

“No excuses! A good trainer needs to take care of themselves too. If you’re tired, then your orders won’t be sharp!” She stepped closer, her grin growing mischievous. “So… I’ve decided. You’re getting a massage. From me.”

You blinked, half in surprise, half in disbelief. She puffed up her chest proudly.

“C’mon, I’m good at this! Satono Diamond says I’ve got ‘magical festival hands!’”

You tried to decline, but Kitasan began to pout, tugging at your sleeve like a stubborn little sister.

“Pleaseee, Trainer! Just once! I promise I won’t break anything!”

There was no escaping that pleading tone or those glimmering amber-red eyes. Eventually, you sighed in defeat.

“That’s more like it!” she cheered, pumping a fist. “You won’t regret this, Trainer!”

Later that evening, the office lights were dim, and the only sound was the rustle of papers and her cheerful humming as she prepared a towel and bottle of massage oil she had brought from the dorm.

You lay down on the couch, face resting against your arm.

“Okay! Just relax, alright? I’ll start with your shoulders.”

One day, you and Kitasan Black continue training as usual, but something about her energy felt… off.

She was still her cheerful, festival-loving self — but every now and then, her rhythm broke. A sneeze here, a sniffle there. Her smile stayed bright, but her cheeks looked a little too flushed, her steps just a bit slower than usual.

When practice ended, she tried to wave it off as nothing.

“Ehehe… sorry, Trainer! Maybe I just overdid it a little! I’ll be fine by tomorrow, promise!”

You frowned. It wasn’t the first time she’d brushed off her own exhaustion, and you could tell this wasn’t “just tired”. She looked ready to collapse at any moment.

So the next morning, before she could even sneak out for training, you made the call: a mandatory rest day.

When you knocked on her dorm room door, there was a muffled shuffle before it creaked open — Kitasan Black standing there wrapped in a blanket, hair messy, and a faint blush from fever still painting her cheeks. Despite that, she greeted you with her usual sunshine smile.

“T-Trainer?! Wah— what’re you doing here? You didn’t have to come all the way just for me!”

You stepped inside before she could protest further, setting down the bag in your hand — a mix of medicine, porridge, and fruit. Her room was lively, full of festival decorations and photos of her and Satono Diamond, but right now, the air felt heavy with quiet.

“Ahaha… you’re so serious sometimes, Trainer. It’s just a little cold- A-choo!" She sneezed halfway through her sentence, nearly losing her balance.

You quickly guided her back to bed, pulling the blanket back over her shoulders.

“Hehe… you’re really acting like my big brother today, huh?” she said, grinning weakly. “But I guess… it’s kinda nice, being taken care of once in a while.”

You reminded her that even festival girls need a break sometimes, especially when they push themselves too hard.

“Ehehe… yeah… I guess I do go overboard sometimes. But it’s just, you know? When I see everyone giving it their all, I wanna run too! I don’t wanna fall behind… not from Satono, not from anyone!”

Her voice softened as you placed the warm bowl of porridge in her hands. She stared at it for a moment before giggling softly.

“Wow… you even made it look like a smiling face! You’re really good at this, Trainer.”

You sat nearby, keeping her company as she ate, her usual chatter now reduced to a quiet hum between spoonfuls.

“... If I rest up, I’ll be back to training soon. So you better be ready, okay?”

You hadn’t planned on coming to the festival at all, not until Kitasan Black practically dragged you out of the office, her hand firm around yours and her smile radiant as ever.

“Trainer! You can’t just work every day, c’mon! Festivals are training for the soul!”

Before you could protest, she had already slipped her hand into yours again, tugging you toward the busy street lined with food stalls and game booths. Soon enough, you two already found yourselves in front of a food stall. She grinned, holding up two candy apples which she has just bought.

“One for you, one for me! It’s not a festival if you don’t eat something sweet, right?”

You chuckled, accepting it despite your half-hearted attempt to decline. She laughed at the sticky mess it made, wiping a bit off your cheek with her sleeve, her own face flushed from excitement.

“Hehe, you should see yourself, Trainer. You look like one of the kids from the ring toss stand!”

Every moment with her was like that — full of movement, laughter, and life. She made you play goldfish scooping, try a shooting game, and even join in a small local dance she somehow knew the steps to.

As night deepened, the crowd began to hush, gathering near the riverbank. You followed Kitasan through the throng until she found a quiet spot away from the noise. She plopped down onto the grass, patting the space beside her.

“Hehe, perfect view right here. You ready, Trainer?”

Then the first firework bloomed — a burst of red and gold painting the sky. Her eyes widened, reflecting every spark like little stars. She leaned back slightly, her voice softening as the world around her glowed.

“You know… every time I see fireworks, I feel like I’m running again. Like my heart just can’t stay still.” She smiled, turning to you — her expression softer than you’d ever seen during training. “Thanks for coming with me today. It’s more fun when you’re here, Trainer. Makes it feel like… the festival’s shining a little brighter.”

Another firework went off, lighting her face in shades of orange and gold. For a moment, she wasn’t just your student — she was the very heart of summer itself.

“Next year too, okay? Promise me we’ll go together again!”

She held out her pinky with a bright grin.

The morning of February 14th arrived with clear skies and a fluttering breeze — perfect weather for Tracen Academy’s Valentine’s Day. The halls buzzed with chatter, paper hearts hanging from the windows, and the faint scent of chocolate drifting through every corridor.

Kitasan Black stood in front of the mirror in her dorm room, fidgeting with the red ribbon tied around a small box. Her reflection looked back — cheeks faintly pink, eyes glimmering with nervous energy. She took a deep breath, slapped her cheeks lightly, and whispered to herself:

“Okay, Kita! You got this! You’re just… giving Trainer a gift! Totally normal! Totally!”

Her tail swished nervously. She had practiced what to say all morning — in between sneezes, stretches, and three failed attempts at wrapping the chocolate box correctly.

Now, standing outside your office, she froze again.

She peeked through the slightly open door. You were at your desk, as always — working, focused, calm. The sight alone made her heart skip a beat.

“Wahhh… so cool…” She quickly shook her head, cheeks burning, before knocking on the door.

You looked up from your paperwork, smiling when you saw her. She was standing there, posture unusually stiff, hands behind her back.

“T-Trainer! Um—hi! So, uh, today’s kinda… you know, special, right?!”

You tilted your head slightly, amused by her sudden nervousness. She laughed awkwardly, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.

“Ahaha… right! So! I, uh—!” She took a deep breath, squeezed her eyes shut, and thrust the small red box toward you with both hands. “H-Happy Valentine’s Day!! Here! It’s chocolate!! For you!!”

Her voice came out louder than she intended, echoing in the quiet room. When she opened her eyes, her face was crimson, her tail twitching furiously.

You blinked, surprised by her sudden outburst, then smiled softly as you accepted the box. Her expression shifted from panic to shy relief.

“Ehehe… I made it myself! Well—Satono helped a tiny bit! But the love is all mine—ah! I mean—!!” She covered her mouth, mortified by the slip, her eyes wide as saucers. “I-I mean the effort! The effort is mine!!”

You chuckled softly, thanking her with a gentle pat on the head. Her ears perked, her heart practically exploding in her chest.

“Hehehe… you’re welcome, Trainer…”

.