"Hmm, find out all the Uma Musume we'll be facing."
"There's no way Shadai won't immediately retaliate against us, so we have to make some adjustments to our training regimens."
"I'll leave that to you, Wada. Coincidentally, Ikezoe and I can also learn what the student of T.M. Opera O was personally taught when faced with overwhelming odds."
Inside the Team Miracle building, Ikezoe, Imanami, and Wada, the three Trainers, gathered once again.
Facing the huge threat which was Shadai, and to prevent Shadai from getting the jump on them, Wada had designed a plan and some strategies overnight, focusing on situations where they are targeted.
Wada, who rarely got to be a teacher within the team, cherished this rare period of authority.
After all, both Ikezoe and Imanami could be considered Wada's seniors and superiors, better than him in almost every way as a Trainer.
However, this time, when going against Shadai, it was Wada who could be considered the team's "experienced" member, finally getting to be the one who teaches the other two.
Both Ikezoe and Imanami listened very attentively.
After all, getting encircled by Shadai twice in a row was something neither Imanami nor Ikezoe had ever encountered, even after being in the horse racing scene for around half their lives.
In this regard, Wada indeed had more experience.
Just as Wada was teaching his two seniors, there was a sudden knock on the door followed by the door opening; Fumino Nase then walked in, her expression slightly sour.
"Ah, Miss Nase, is there something you need?"
"...Nothing. You all seem busy. I apologize for disturbing you."
Fumino Nase glanced at the three Trainers all present in the Team room, and when she saw that Wada was the one giving the lecture, she found the scene a bit peculiar.
However, she didn't dwell on it for too long.
What annoyed her more was that all three of them were having a meeting, and yet none of them had invited her, or even informed her that such a meeting was even occurring.
Coupled with the previous incident involving Shadai, which none of them had bothered to tell her at all until days later, it made her feel like she was an unwanted child.
For a person who had made up her mind to integrate into this team, this was quite a blow.
However, the moment the frustration in Fumino Nase's heart magnified, she suppressed it.
She didn't lose her temper, but she made a gesture that was even more obvious than losing her temper. She voluntarily retreated outside without saying a word.
"...What's wrong with her?" Seeing this, Ikezoe also turned his head, bewildered, to look at Imanami and Wada. He was truly not good at deciphering a woman's thoughts.
"No matter what, I think we should check on how she's doing now; after all, she is also one of us."
Unlike the two dumbasses, Imanami had quickly figured out why Fumino Nase had left so abruptly. Then, he actively turned his head to Wada and said:
"Wada-kun, can I entrust Miss Nase's matter to you? She needs someone to soothe her emotions right now."
"Sigh... why me of all people..." Wada sounded a bit reluctant upon hearing this... For he felt that he was the least suitable person to go.
However, Imanami, upon hearing him, gave Wada a thumbs-up and smiled, saying: "Because you have the most handsome face out of the three of us. Go on, Wada-kun."
"..."
Wada was speechless upon hearing this, but at the moment, he didn't know how to refute. He just awkwardly put down his teaching materials and obediently chased after her.
After Wada left, Ikezoe, very confused, turned to Imanami and asked:
"Imanami, why did you make Wada go? Fumino Nase is the Yutaka Take of this world after all... and considering their relationship in our previous world, she and Wada are practically fated enemies."
"Ikezoe, emotional barriers can be removed, and scars cannot fade—but in this world, how can we still apply the name 'Yutaka Take' to Miss Fumino Nase?"
Imanami smiled and shook his head upon hearing this, imparting his views to Ikezoe:
"Since we are now teammates, we should cooperate with each other and have a better relationship. Miss Fumino Nase is not Yutaka Take, we cannot treat her as Yutaka Take."
"Even if she really is the Yutaka Take of this world, she hasn't done those things, so why blame an innocent person for things an alternate version of them did from our world?"
"Just let things pan out; this is something Wada must face. He will figure it out."
Imanami had full confidence in Wada's character and conduct.
For someone like Fumino Nase, whose temper was very similar to Yutaka Take—young and promising, arrogant but having encountered setbacks—Wada's empathetic personality would make it easier for them to get along, because Wada was very good at conforming.
This was why Imanami asked Wada to comfort Fumino Nase, considering it from multiple perspectives.
Of course, Imanami's personal agenda also played a part in this
—He also wanted to know if they would have some chemistry if Wada and Fumino Nase's relationship could improve, and if they could truly cooperate sincerely.
But no matter what, this was good for the Uma Musume.
Their Trainers' skills will be improved, and the Team's relationship has also improved. There's no harm in it in any way...
Time passed quickly. A few hours later, night slowly fell.
During this period, Imanami and Ikezoe were still in the team building studying tactics. At this moment, a hurried knock on the door interrupted their study.
"Come in."
"S-sorry to bother you..."
With a timid voice, Meisho Doto pushed open the door and walked in. Behind her, T.M. Opera O also poked her head out.
Their eyes scanned the interior but did not find the person they wanted to see.
"What's wrong, T.M. Opera O, Meisho Doto?" Imanami asked, putting down the documents in his hand.
"Trainer Imanami, I wonder if you've seen my cute Ryuji? I haven't found my loyal subject all day today."
T.M. Opera O immediately stated her purpose. She still respected Imanami very much, as Wada also respected Imanami.
"Y-yes, T.M. Opera O and I haven't seen Trainer all day today, so we're looking for him..."
Meisho Doto also acted as T.M. Opera O's translator, explaining their purpose.
However, the anxiety on Meisho Doto's face at this moment revealed her and T.M. Opera O's feelings.
Imanami and Ikezoe exchanged glances, and finally, Imanami took the initiative to step forward and said to the two Uma Musume:
"Don't worry, your Trainer is just a bit busy today and doesn't have time—but you don't need to worry, you'll see him tomorrow."
"He's completely fine. Both Trainer Ikezoe here and I can guarantee that."
"Since Trainer Imanami says so... then we'll be going..."
Meisho Doto and T.M. Opera O exchanged glances and did not doubt Imanami's words. Although still a bit uneasy, they quietly returned.
They were worried about their Trainer's condition, especially considering who they had recently offended...
And now, where was Wada, who was being worried about by T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto?
"Guahaha!—Bartender, two more draft beers, please!"
"I'm not drinking draft beer! I want shochu, the strongest one!"
Wada and Fumino Nase were drinking in an Izakaya.
These two, who had previously had no interaction and, to some extent, even some animosity, now seemed to have become friends who had known each other for years under the influence of alcohol.
To Wada's surprise, Fumino Nase, who appeared quiet and professional, was unexpectedly a pretty big drinker.
Once she started, her boisterousness was actually on par with Wada's, creating a strong sense of contrast.
However, while it was clear that Fumino Nase could drink, it seems that she didn't quite understand her own limits.
After a few draft beers, she immediately started drinking shochu. It was hard to imagine a Japanese woman drinking shochu, not even diluting it with water...
"Ha..."
As another glass of shochu went down, Fumino Nase now seemed a bit tipsy, slumped over the table, saying in a slurred voice:
"I don't understand~, I just can't figure it out~."
"Why, why, why does everyone hate me~? I haven't done anything at all..."
"Yes, yes, it's all my fault. Miss Nase, you haven't done anything wrong."
Wada looked at Fumino Nase, who had finally let down some of her guard.
Still able to be sober, Wada revealed a comforting smile for both her and himself, for he felt that their relationship wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.
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Imagine getting flak for something a genderbent version of you from another world in a different time period did.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.