Fumino Nase was naturally someone who didn't lack manners. Her father was a well-known legendary Trainer after all, which allowed Fumino to learn many things from a young age.
As her goal was to become a Trainer surpassing her father, she was readily given a large wealth of knowledge about Uma Musume.
And among it, the clearest point Fumino remembered was: in this world, there are no weak Uma Musume, only weak Trainers. (T/N: Pokemon ahh speech)
Consequently, she was educated from a young age to be very good at socializing.
She understood the common personality traits of various Uma Musume and knew how to interact with people of different temperaments.
Although many of these learned pretenses were discarded after joining Tracen Academy, she never abandoned politeness.
Respect and etiquette are reciprocal; only when you show respect will the other party treat you the same in kind. This applies to both humans and Uma Musume.
But today, Fumino's long-held principle seemed to show signs of breaking.
She didn't know why, expressing her gratitude to Wada seemed like an easy thing to do.
Yet whenever she actually thought of putting it into action, a strange unwillingness would surge, making her want to avoid it.
But eventually, Fumino still endured, expressing her gratitude to Wada, awkwardly taking out her gift, and turning her head to say:
"Just take it, it's getting pretty awkward. Let's get this over with quickly."
"Uh... alright."
'Is being with me that uncomfortable?'
Wada naturally noticed Fumino's extremely awkward expression, took the small gift from Fumino's hand, and opened it to see a crystal-clear pendant inside the box.
It seemed to be for a key chain or a phone? Such small ornaments might be useful for someone like Wada, who rarely buys such accessories for himself.
"In that case, I'll accept it." Wada smoothly attached the pendant to his phone.
After tying a small knot, he remembered something and immediately pulled out something from his pocket.
"Oh, right. Yesterday... after you got drunk, I called Super Creek, but I forgot to return your phone."
"So it was with you after all."
Fumino quickly retrieved her phone, then suddenly thought of something, immediately looked at Wada, and hesitantly asked:
"Um... yesterday, before Super Creek called... did you receive any other calls?"
"Like... from my parents or something..."
Fumino was still hesitant.
She really wanted to dismiss some of the things that happened yesterday in her mind as illusions, but she couldn't deceive herself, especially since this matter was related to her father.
Fumino desperately hoped Wada would confirm her delusions.
However, as Fumino watched Wada's increasingly silent expression, the last bit of hope in her heart slowly sank.
"...You've met my father, haven't you?"
"...Yeah."
"Then... the scene of me being drunk and being with you—was that also seen by my father?"
"That's also right..." Wada explained, gritting his teeth so that it wouldn't chatter from fear,
"Your father also said that once you sobered up, he would call again to confirm."
"Miss Nase... I think it's better to proactively explain this. After all, everyone has bad days... Don't you agree?"
"If it's really too difficult for you, you can blame it on me. With me vouching for you, I believe your father won't make things difficult for you."
Wada thought about it and knew that parents from a family that could raise a young lady like Fumino Nase must have been very strict, not allowing their child to act "unelegantly" in front of others.
Although her father didn't scold her yesterday, there was a chance that it was because Wada was present, making it difficult for him to get angry without making their family lose face.
Therefore, this time, if Wada were still present, perhaps Fumino's father wouldn't be as quick to anger, allowing for a more amicable explanation of the situation—at least, that's what he thought.
"...Thank you, but it's not necessary."
After a period of silence, Fumino quietly turned her head and said flatly: "This has nothing to do with you. I will handle it myself."
"I appreciate what you did. But now, please don't disturb me."
"...Alright."
Since Fumino had already decided, Wada couldn't insist. Strong women like her rarely relied on others; they have their pride.
If Wada continued to insist, it would probably worsen their relationship rather than bettering it.
Plus, she was an adult, not some clueless teenager who still didn't understand themselves.
Thus, he chose to listen obediently and quietly left.
After Wada left the room, Fumino silently picked up her phone and opened her call log.
Sure enough, in the call log, below the name "Super Creek," there was the name "Father," confirming her suspicions.
But, unexpectedly, Fumino showed no panic. Instead, Wada's earlier words, asking him to take the blame for her, surfaced in her mind.
"...Just what kind of person does that idiot think my father is?"
"But I should still explain clearly to Father, lest he misunderstands something."
Fumino said this, and her finger clicked the call button for her father. But amidst the busy signal, Fumino suddenly thought of another question...
...Could it be that in Wada's impression, she seemed like someone who had daddy issues?
"Hello, Fumino, you finally called back. Are you sober?"
"I'm fine, father—and what did you and Trainer Wada talk about when I was drunk yesterday? Please answer me truthfully."
"I hope you haven't gone around telling the neighbors about these things."
...Wada was completely oblivious to the sudden change in the room.
As he walked out with a heavy heart, he keenly noticed a rustling in the nearby bushes. (T/N: She's a true bush camper to her very core!)
At this moment, the sparkling pink crown had already revealed the identity of the hider, and Wada found it quite amusing, immediately laughing:
"Alright, stop hiding, T.M. Opera O. Even if you really turned into a tree, I'd recognize you instantly."
"—Hahahaha! As expected of the Overlord's most loyal subject! No, perhaps it's my own unhideable charm as the Overlord? To hide so well, yet still be seen through."
"Ah, my irresistible charm, it's truly intoxicating~"
T.M. Opera O then came before Wada with exaggerated movements, trying her best to mask her awkwardness from being caught red-handed with her acting.
Wada, clearly accustomed to T.M. Opera O's antics, didn't say much, merely taking T.M. Opera O's hand.
"T.M. Opera O, I know you're worried about Trainer Nase, but she's a good person. There's no need for you to be so wary of her."
"SHE'S NOT A GOOD PERSON AT ALL!! SHE'S THE WORST! T.H.E W.O.R.S.T!!!!!! You silly child! Haven't you realized yet?"
The other "T.M. Opera O" suddenly emerged from within T.M. Opera O and spoke with genuine exasperation.
However, her voice, not currently possessing a corporeal body, couldn't reach Wada. Anxious, she immediately said to T.M. Opera O:
"Hey me, lend me your body again! I need to tell this dumbass that Fumino Nase will definitely scheme for his downfall!"
"Wait—don't just take over my body whenever you want!"
Before T.M. Opera O's internal exclamation could fade, she felt her consciousness waver again.
Soon, T.M. Opera O's pink eyes vanished with the next blink, replaced by a pair of eyes that Wada found familiar.
'It changed again?' Wada was also a bit surprised. Although he couldn't hear the voice of "T.M. Opera O," he could actually see "T.M. Opera O's" panicked ethereal body.
In fact, after the day when he spoke with "T.M. Opera O" who was possessing T.M. Opera O's body, he gained the ability to perceive "T.M. Opera O" which scared the soul out of him the first few times.
But after realizing the "ghost's" true identity, he no longer bothered to point it out. This was also one of the reasons why he was so confident on letting T.M. Opera O train alone.
After all, "T.M. Opera O" would never harm T.M. Opera O; Wada was absolutely certain of that.
"My dear subject, have you not seen through the facade of that evil harlot? You shouldn't let yourself be deceived by that hateful whore's beauty." (T/N: Jesus Christ girl calm down.)
"T.M. Opera O" didn't know what Wada was thinking, but tried her best to warn Wada by showing absolute disdain towards her:
"You have no idea what kind of rotten heart that despicable wench hides beneath her seemingly beautiful figure, my dear subject. Don't you think that detestable bimbo is like—"
"—Very much like Yutaka Take, I know, T.M. Opera O."
However, in the next moment, Wada's words suddenly interrupted "T.M. Opera O's" 'passionate' speech.
"T.M. Opera O's" smile instantly froze. She turned to look at Wada's smiling face with a surprised expression, her eyes flickering with incredulity.
Meanwhile, T.M. Opera O was utterly bewildered, completely out of the loop.
Yutaka Take? Who in the Three Goddesses is that? Why does it seem like I'm the only one who doesn't know what you guys are talking about?
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"T.M. Opera O" summoning the spirit of King Von inside of her to insult Fumino Nase.
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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.