"Oh? Trainer Fumino Nase? She's a really good person."
After the three Trainers returned to Tracen Academy, Wada immediately sought out several Trainers who had been meeting frequently with Fumino Nase recently.
Among those, Wada met two Trainers he knew well, they were the Trainers of Admire Vega and Narita Top Road.
And now, the three of them were now chatting about Fumino Nase. As soon as they started, these two Trainers who were childhood friend began to recount many things Fumino had done for them during this period.
"Trainer Nase has been discussing about the Kikuka Sho with us recently."
"I originally thought she was here to scout for information, since she's in the same team as you now, but I didn't expect her to actually be here to help us!"
"Yeah, thanks to her help, my Top Road managed to successfully win the Kobe Shimbun Hai and qualify for the Kikuka Sho! I really should thank you all!"
As soon as this was mentioned, Narita Top Road's Trainer chuckled incessantly.
Clearly, winning the Kobe Shimbun Hai was a much-needed morale boost for Narita Top Road, who had suffered crushing defeats in both the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby.
As Narita Top Road's Trainer, he was very happy to see his Uma Musume this fired up again.
Moreover, what Narita Top Road's Trainer didn't say was that Narita Top Road's strength had experienced a qualitative improvement after winning the Kobe Shimbun Hai.
If the Satsuki Sho was a duel between T.M. Opera O and Admire Vega, with Narita Top Road merely being a pace-setter; and if the most eye-catching performances in the Japanese Derby were Meisho Doto and Mejiro McQueen.
Then for this Kikuka Sho, he had absolute confidence that Narita Top Road now possessed the strength and skill to claim the Kikuka Sho crown.
This time, his Uma Musume will definitely not be a side character, but an Uma Musume with the strength to legitimately compete for the Kikuka Sho alongside T.M. Opera O and Mejiro McQueen!
"So, how about your side? How is Admire Vega doing?"
"...Not so good. After Vega lost consecutively in the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby, her perforamce has been quite unstable."
"The doctor even said that her physical condition was deteriorating rapidly and that she might be unable to run in the Kikuka Sho..."
On the other hand, Admire Vega's Trainer's mood was not high.
While Admire Vega's decline was somewhat expected due to how much she pushed herself, she couldn't help but feel sad when it actually happened.
"Fortunately, Trainer Nase gave me and Vega a lot of help. She managed to encourage Vega to continue racing and to continue aiming for the Kikuka Sho."
"She even helped me and Vega refine our tactics, leading to us winning the Mainichi Okan—now, Vega can also participate in the Kikuka Sho!"
"For this... we are all very grateful to Trainer Nase, and of course, to you too."
"For Trainer Nase to be so willing to help our Uma Musume out of their predicament, you must have tacitly approved right, Wada?"
As she spoke this, both Admire Vega's and Narita Top Road's Trainers looked at Wada with grateful eyes.
Everyone knew that Fumino Nase was an assistant in Wada's Team. Although this news was explosive and unbelievable when it first spread, since Fumino Nase was now helping them, it must have been with Wada's tacit approval.
After all, who would help their competitors improve their strength in such a important race?
Thus, there was almost no doubt that the help provided by Fumino Nase must have been approved by Wada.
Although they weren't quite sure what Wada's objective was, after competing against each other two times, and seeing Narita Top Road's and Admire Vega's improvements, they could at least be sure that this was not meant to harm them.
Especially when they saw their own Uma Musume regain their usual vigor, even showing a burning desire to win the Kikuka Sho! How could they not be immensely relieved?
However, facing the grateful gazes of the two Trainers, Wada fell silent for a moment. But soon, he smiled again and said to them:
"Thanks for your kind words. I feel quite flattered..."
"—But, I think these words of thanks should be reserved for Trainer Nase. She's the one who helped you after all, not me."
He didn't know what Fumino Nase was aiming to do, but he didn't have the conscience to take credit for something he didn't even know was happening.
After a bit more small talk, Wada quickly chose to take his leave.
Wada then began to instinctively walked towards the team building.
However, he had only just reached halfway when another person, walking in the same direction, both looked up simultaneously and noticed each other.
And when Wada and Fumino Nase met as usual, both remained silent, neither speaking.
This time however, Wada finally got a good look at Fumino Nase's current state.
As beautiful as ever, that was a given. However, looking closely, Fumino Nase's eyes now had a bit of dark circles.
Although she seemed to have used make-up to conceal them, perhaps due to her unfamiliarity with using cosmetics, they were still somewhat visible.
Her hair was also a bit messier than usual, probably because she forgot to blow-dry it after washing?
Though Fumino Nase was masking her fatigue very well, she couldn't hide it in front of Wada.
"...If you don't mind, let's walk together for a bit," Wada said to Fumino Nase with a smile.
"I have something I'd like to ask of you, Trainer Nase."
"Something... is it the Kikuka Sho?"
Fumino Nase, seeing that Wada seemed as calm as ever, as well as always expecting him to question her about Shadai every time they met, breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't refuse and followed Wada, asking:
"If it's about the Kikuka Sho, I've already examined T.M. Opera O's condition recently."
"After comparing her data with Narita Top Road and Admire Vega, I believe T.M. Opera O still holds a significant advantage."
"However, to stop T.M. Opera O from injuring herself from training at this crucial time, her training intensity has been dropped quite a bit. Now, she's just aiming to maintain her current condition."
"Narita Top Road on the other hand... her growth rate has been somewhat scary recently. I think we should re-plan our tacti—"
"—Actually Trainer Nase, I've decided to supervise over Meisho Doto during the Tenno Sho, so I hope you can help me oversee T.M. Opera O's Kikuka Sho."
Before Fumino Nase could finish speaking, Wada proactively explained his purpose for coming.
When Wada said these words, Fumino Nase's steps unconsciously paused.
"You want me to... oversee T.M. Opera O at the Kikuka Sho... am I hearing you right?"
Seemingly finding it unbelievable, Fumino Nase even somewhat refused to believe her own ears—because she knew very well that T.M. Opera O held extraordinary significance for Wada.
How could Wada willingly miss the Kikuka Sho, the final leg of the Classic Triple Crown?
Fumino Nase had already planned to oversee Meisho Doto at the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and even prepared for the possibility that her connection with Shadai had long been exposed, leading her to be sidelined
But she never imagined that Wada would actually ask her to oversee T.M. Opera O during the Kikuka Sho.
"T.M. Opera O... isn't she the Uma Musume you care about most? Letting me oversee her Kikuka Sho, is it really... okay?"
"—T.M. Opera O is indeed the Uma Musume I care for most, but Meisho Doto's condition is actually more worrying than T.M. Opera O's."
"If I'm not present at the Tenno Sho, I'm afraid her performance might be unstable."
Wada also explained with a smile, without the slightest doubt about his decision:
"Therefore, Meisho Doto's race is the one I need to personally oversee the most. What's more, at the Tenno Sho, Meisho Doto will be fighting alone; she needs my support."
"But T.M. Opera O is different; she will understand. Even if I'm not there, I believe she will give her all to win the race."
"Me asking you to help oversee her is just to have you help me monitor T.M. Opera O's condition beforehand to ensure that nothing abnormal happens to her before the Kikuka Sho."
"Of course, if I can, I will try my best to get to the Kikuka Sho as quickly as possible, but I trust you will take good care of T.M. Opera O during these next few days, just as I believe T.M. Opera O will continue to achieve victory."
"...You trust me?"
However, upon hearing Wada's words, Fumino Nase unconsciously repeated them. After closing her eyes for a moment, as if hesitating, she seemed to have made her decision.
So that's how it is... You really are a fool, Wada Ryuji.
Up until now, you still don't know that Shadai and I are involved? You trust me that much?
...How cunning. In the end, I was just scaring myself all along.
Thinking of her days of trepidation and her continuous efforts to compensate during this time, Fumino Nase inexplicably found it a bit amusing.
She never expected her partner to be such a fool, a fool who knew nothing...
But wasn't this the pot calling the kettle black? She was also a fool, actually doing something she never dared to imagine before... going against Shadai and all that.
But now, these things aren't meaningless.
After hearing Wada's words, "I trust you," Fumino Nase finally made up her mind and her choice.
"—Go to the Tenno Sho with Meisho Doto without worry, Trainer Wada. Remember, you must come back with a GI win."
"I will also take care of T.M. Opera O. I promise you, even if you can't make it back in time, I will make sure T.M. Opera O wins this race to see you."
"—I swear I won't let anyone interfere with this Kikuka Sho."
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I'm sure this will continue being a normal Trainer-assistant relationship and nothing else.
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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.