That afternoon, Wada's group arrived at a theme park in Tokyo. Listening to the laughter and joy around them, they seemed to blend into the cheerful atmosphere.
"...So, we're relaxing at a... amusement park?"
Beside Wada, Fumino Nase, who was currently rubbing her temples, looked at him with a hint of amusement and said calmly,
"Trainer Wada, though your skills as a Trainer might be good, it seems you're still... lacking in ways of cheering up your Uma Musume."
"Oh? Then Miss Nase, back when you were still active, how would you help Super Creek relax?"
Wada was a bit surprised by Nase's evaluation; after all, he was actually quite familiar with the overall process of cheering up Uma Musumes.
Except for Uma Musume with specific likes and hobbies, Uma Musume don't really care where they go to have fun, but whether there was someone they feel familiar with there and whether that person was willing to go there.
As long as these two conditions are met, amusement parks, haunted houses, cinemas... hell, even going to the restroom together would be interesting.
So, for all you bros reading this right now, sometimes don't be so self-centered; 'tsunderes' don't really exist in reality. If she says she doesn't want to go out with you, it really means that she doesn't want to go out with you. (T/N: Not applicable to me, I have zero game)
If you are really insistent on it, perhaps try a different, gradual approach, and don't let her goodwill drop to the point where she directly tells you she's not interested.
All of that aside, Wada still felt his plan was fine, so he couldn't help but wonder what unique insights a female Trainer like Fumino Nase had.
This was a rare learning opportunity. Uma Musume are all girls after all, and as a woman herself, Fumino Nase would surely provide Wada with good advice.
"I usually go on picnics and outings with Super Creek. Super Creek makes a lot of delicious bread and desserts, and her bento boxes are also excellent."
"Every half month, Super Creek and I spend a day outside of school, and we also do a variety of activities there like..."
Fumino Nase then shared her "valuable experience," seemingly quite pleased with herself, and said confidently,
"Sometimes we go cherry blossom viewing, sometimes we attend tea ceremonies or similar activities."
"Super Creek was a pretty calm and collected person, so I thought that this was a good way for her to relax."
"Trainer Wada, your methods are just way too old-fashioned. Uma Musume these days aren't that enthusiastic about amusement parks anymore."
"You must've never had a girlfriend before; otherwise, there was no way she wouldn't have complained about it to you!"
Wada: "..."
Should I tell her that I actually got married when I was quite young?
Wada was a bit speechless, and also found it a little funny, especially Fumino Nase's confident yet completely mistaken judgment, which made Wada laugh even more.
"Uh, um, Trainer, there's cotton candy over there, can we go buy some together?"
Just then, Wada suddenly felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.
He saw Meisho Doto, slightly nervous, carefully tugging his sleeve and speaking to him with a hint of excitement.
Following Meisho Doto's finger, Wada saw the various colored cotton candies sold at the stall.
T.M. Opera O was also there too, probably to choose her preferred flavor while Meisho Doto was still hesitating.
"No problem, Doto, everyone is here to relax today, go and play with T.M. Opera O," Wada said gently, ruffling Meisho Doto's head.
"Don't worry about anything else today. Free time like this won't come often in the near future due to all of our races. I can come too if you want."
"Ye- yes!" Meisho Doto nodded happily at his words, and then, perhaps out of excitement, she carefully yet swiftly grabbed Wada's hand, her little face flushed, and said:
"Le-let's go play together, Trainer. Matikanefukukitaru and I came to this theme park once before. We set up a fortune-telling stall then and played for quite a while, so I know this place very well."
Saying this, perhaps due to overexcitement or shyness, Meisho Doto didn't give Wada much chance to speak and pulled him away without explanation, leaving Fumino Nase alone yet again, standing dumbfounded in place...
'Are amusement parks really that exciting for teens these days?'
Fumino Nase questioned her judgment for the first time, even wondering if Super Creek was just playing along with her during all those picnic sessions just to accommodate her interests.
"Really... I got drunk yesterday, talked with my father for the first time in ages a few hours ago, and now I'm with this guy at an amusement park... This is too strange."
Regardless, Fumino Nase still followed along. However, just as Fumino Nase was about to catch up, a figure gradually approached her side and spoke to her:
"Trainer Nase, hello, may I have a moment? I'm from Shadai."
"..."
Upon hearing the name "Shadai," Fumino Nase's movements paused slightly.
She turned to look at the man in the suit behind her, and after confirming his identity, she vaguely realized that his purpose for this visit was not simple.
After glancing at Wada and the others, Fumino Nase hesitated for a long time, but in the end, she didn't directly shoo the person away and said calmly:
"Whether I cooperate depends on your attitude. What does Shadai want from me?"
"Nothing much, just a small discussion relating to your team's upcoming races," the man said with a smile.
"And this matter will likely involve Trainer Nase's future prospects. So I think it would be best if you would honor us with your presence."
"After all, the reason you've risen so rapidly was because of the resources Shadai provided you, isn't that right?"
"..."
Fumino Nase didn't agree, nor did she refuse immediately.
She considered it carefully, and in the end, still didn't have the courage to directly refuse, but she still insisted on her bottom line, saying:
"I will go to the meeting, but if we have nothing good to talk about, then please don't bother me again."
"Also, don't try to threaten me. Though I can't deal with all of you, I'm not a lamb to be slaughtered either."
...
...
...Today was a day for everyone in Team Miracle to relax. Not only Wada and his Uma Musume, but Ikezoe, Imanami, and all of their Uma Musume too.
Yet, Imanami's group was acting a little strange today.
They did not use this time for theory lessons, nor did they take the opportunity to watch other Uma Musume's races.
Instead, they appeared in the stands of a baseball stadium...
Bang!
"HOOOOMEEEE RUNNNN!!! IT COMPLETELY FLEW OUT OF THE STADIUM!!!!! THAT WAS SUCH A GOOD HIT!!"
Sitting in the stands, McQueen, wearing a large hat, was hiding herself, yet her cheers could be heard clearly by everyone within a twenty-meter radius around her.
—Fortunately, the venue was very lively, so other people around didn't find McQueen's actions to be conspicuous.
No, it should be said that most people here didn't even realize McQueen was there, and even if a few found her familiar, they didn't think this purple-haired Uma Musume was actually the noble and dignified Mejiro McQueen.
After all, how could Mejiro McQueen, the young lady of the Mejiro Family, be so interested in such "commoner" games, and even look like such a fanatic?
"Hehe, I didn't expect McQueen to be this excited over baseball of all things... ehhh, it even sounds weird just saying it out loud..."
On some nearby seats, Tokai Teio and Gold Ship were sitting together.
Tokai Teio was gulping down the special honey drink from her hand, watching Mejiro McQueen cheering excitedly in the front row, and found it exceptionally amusing.
"Hmph, hmph, this is all thanks to Golshi-sama, I tell you!" Gold Ship, hearing this, puffed out her chest proudly and said,
"It was I who found McQueen's baseball game ticket that she hadn't put away yet, otherwise I wouldn't have discovered her little secret!"
"Though, I also didn't expect the old man to be able to actually convince McQueen to confess her hobby, and even have all of us accompany her."
"Now, McQueen finally has no secrets ~"
"Hehe, 'you better not tell anyone, Gold Ship, otherwise, I'll beat you up!'"
Tokai Teio chuckled at McQueen's reminder, though in reality, she was probably the one among them who most wanted to blurt it out.
"—Speaking of which, where did the old man go? Why is it taking him so long to buy drinks?"
Gold Ship also gradually realized that something was amiss. Imanami had told them that he was going to buy some drinks some time ago.
However, almost ten minutes later, he still hadn't returned yet.
Despite this, Tokai Teio said without much worry, "Trainer is probably tired from all the walking and is just sitting somewhere to rest."
"Humans don't have as much stamina as us Uma Musume after all ~"
"..." But Gold Ship didn't think Tokai Teio's words were correct.
She subconsciously looked in the direction Imanami had left earlier and quietly left the scene, weaving through the crowded stands.
And what was Imanami doing at this moment?
He had indeed gone to buy drinks at first, but on his way back, he was stopped by someone claiming to be from Shadai, and was now talking with them.
"Trainer Imanami, this is the list of contestants for this Kikuka Sho. If everything goes as expected, Mejiro McQueen will be the top favorite, and if she wins the Kikuka Sho, her prize money will be greatly increased."
"As an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, she is practically built to dominate long-distance races like the Kikuka Sho."
"She's basically destined to win this race under the eyes of the entirety of Japan."
Despite his long-winded yapping, the Shadai representative's expressions were so fake that Imanami didn't even want to expose him because he felt bad.
However, the words that followed were the true purpose of his visit.
"Why don't you consider it, Trainer Imanami? I think you wouldn't want this easy victory to slip away, would you?"
"Join Shadai, and this Kikuka Sho victory will be a perfect stage built just for Mejiro McQueen."
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Oh! That's a baseball!!
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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.