Riding a racehorse and riding an Uma Musume are, of course, completely different things.
But for an Uma Musume who had somewhat awakened their memories like T.M. Opera O, the feeling of being ridden on was actually quite familiar to them.
Therefore, for T.M. Opera O, Wada didn't even need to use reins.
As Wada got on T.M. Opera O's shoulders, he still asked with some concern,
"Are you okay, T.M. Opera O? Am I too heavy for you?"
"It's fine, Ryuji. I'm an Uma Musume after all; your weight is far easier to bear than pulling a tire!"
"I can easily carry you like a knight carrying a princess from those fairy tales!"
"Now, don't hesitate any longer. Sit tight."
"This is a rare opportunity to ride on the body of this Overlord! Cherish it, Ryuji!"
As soon as T.M. Opera O finished speaking, she could no longer contain her excitement, and she ran forward with Wada on her back.
As T.M. Opera O had said, running with a person on her back had no significant impact on an Uma Musume.
The only thing they actually had to worry about was Wada being thrown off when she swung her arms.
However, T.M. Opera O was naturally very mindful of this.
Thus, her steps were very steady—swift yet stable—always maintaining a relatively safe speed, giving Wada enough time to adapt.
And Wada, for the first time in a long while, was once again riding 'on horseback'.
He was slightly startled at first but quickly regained his composure as a professional Jockey.
After Wada ensured his safety, he then used his memory to guide T.M. Opera O's sprinting and deceleration phases.
"Trainer Wada's performance on his first try is pretty good."
Fumino Nase said with a smile and a nod as she watched Wada cling onto T.M. Opera O's back as they ran on the track.
"Although not as skilled as Trainer Ikezoe, it's not bad considering his first-timer status."
Ikezoe: "..."
Fumino Nase's murmuring left Ikezoe, who knew the truth, speechless.
As a veteran Jockey, even if seven of your eight GI victories were because of T.M. Opera O, to forget the skills from your primary job to this extent...
Ikezoe felt that Wada had indeed become a bit lax in this regard.
However, Ikezoe could somewhat understand Wada's underwhelming performance.
'After all, it has been almost a year since any of us rode a racehorse; it's normal for his skills to have degraded to this extent.'
Soon, the pair completed the lap.
As T.M. Opera O began to slow down, Wada skillfully dismounted with a side turn, planting his feet on the ground.
"Phew~, this felt like so long ago."
Wada couldn't help but sigh.
However, aside from Ikezoe and Imanami, who wasn't present, no one could understand his words.
"That's right, it's been a long time, Ryuji. I'm very happy too!" (T/N: Larp alert!)
T.M. Opera O patted Wada's shoulder.
After running this lap, T.M. Opera O felt as if much of the pressure that had been accumulating in her body had just been released.
It was a strange feeling.
Even with a person on her shoulders, and having to think about whether she could keep Wada steady while swinging her arms, T.M. Opera O found the feeling very comfortable.
—Almost as if a long-held wish of hers had finally come true...
'Maybe this is from my other self?'
T.M. Opera O thought as she looked down at her own body.
Ever since the other "T.M. Opera O" disappeared, many of the memories T.M. Opera O had gained when dreaming had become much clearer.
While some of them still didn't make sense to her, and piecing them together required time, at least she no longer had to be troubled by the pain brought by memory fragments.
"B- but I feel... when Trainer was on T.M. Opera O's back, T.M. Opera O... seemed to have slowed down?"
At this moment, Meisho Doto, who was next to them, nervously raised her hand and cautiously voiced out her observation.
This time, Meisho Doto wasn't saying it out of jealousy because T.M. Opera O had cut in line; she genuinely felt that T.M. Opera O's speed seemed to slow down under Wada's control.
"Hmm, I have the same feeling. When Trainer Wada was on T.M. Opera O's back, she seemed... to be unable to actually go all out?"
Orfevre, who had arrived next to them, had already taken off her reins and put her face mask back on.
Now, with her intelligence online, she shared the same insight as Meisho Doto, nodding faintly and saying,
"When T.M. Opera O was carrying Trainer Wada, she keeps holding back and doesn't let loose."
"Even during the final straight, T.M. Opera O, even if you didn't use your final spurt, your sprint shouldn't have been that slow, right?"
"Hahahaha! After all, my beloved Trainer was on my back! If I ran at full speed, my adorable Ryuji might have been thrown off!"
In response, T.M. Opera O explained her reactions, indirectly admitting that although she might've enjoyed the run just now, she indeed did not use her full strength.
"Huh? Then why doesn't Ikezoe get thrown off?! Even when I ran at full speed while constantly moving my body, that annoying guy keeps sticking to my back!"
"So you were doing it on purpose?!!"
Speaking of which, Ikezoe was filled with bitterness.
But now was not the time to dwell on his tragic experiences.
After watching Wada and T.M. Opera O's performance, Ikezoe reluctantly said,
"It seems this training method isn't very suitable for you, Wada..."
"With you riding, T.M. Opera O won't be able to go all out. In that case, it might be better to let T.M. Opera O run by herself when training..."
'So, I am still just deadweight?'
Wada hung his arms low helplessly.
However, he had clearly anticipated this outcome. At his current level, he was indeed still powerless to help T.M. Opera O.
After the Kikuka Sho, T.M. Opera O had completely surpassed the limits of Wada's capabilities, stepping into a new realm.
Although T.M. Opera O had never told Wada directly, he knew that this was most likely related to "T.M. Opera O's" disappearance.
Did the two merge into one? Or did T.M. Opera O do something like 'eat' "T.M. Opera O"?
Regardless, Wada was indeed unable to help T.M. Opera O anymore.
Instead of saying Wada was T.M. Opera O's Trainer, it was more accurate to say that T.M. Opera O was Wada's Trainer instead, giving him, this 'novice' Trainer, more experience.
"—No."
However, just as Ikezoe was speaking, T.M. Opera O's ears suddenly twitched, and she turned slightly, walking to Wada's side and saying very solemnly,
"Ryuji is this Overlord's most trusted subject! A subject assists their monarch in moving forward, and Ryuji is of great help to me!"
"Ryuji, maybe we're still a bit unfamiliar with it because it's the first time. Let's try again!"
"I am in an exceptionally wonderful mood today! We can definitely find that tacit understanding with each other, even if you command from this Overlord's back!"
"Come on, Ryuji, get back on!"
With that, T.M. Opera O also bent down slightly again, indicating that Wada could ride on her without hesitation to go for another lap.
This time, the disheartened Wada hesitated a little, but at that moment, Fumino Nase pushed Wada's shoulder and said to him,
"Giving up after failing once is not what an excellent Trainer should do, Trainer Wada."
"Go and try again. I'll be timing you both. I believe that as you get more familiar with each other, your results will definitely become even better."
"...Alright, but this time, T.M. Opera O, don't worry about me."
"Just run with all your might. I won't be thrown off."
With everyone's encouragement, Wada temporarily regained his confidence and once again rode on T.M. Opera O's back.
Feeling the familiar weight, T.M. Opera O's spirits soared again.
Then, she turned her head to look at Meisho Doto beside her and immediately said,
"Meisho Doto! My most beloved subject! Come to the track and compete with me!" (T/N: Advanced cuck chair positions)
"With your help, I believe Ryuji and I can unleash even greater power!"
"Ah... Okay!"
Meisho Doto, who didn't know how to refuse people, walked a few steps onto the training ground.
At this moment, watching Trainer Wada riding on T.M. Opera O's back, and T.M. Opera O, who was clearly in "excellent spirits," she vaguely felt that the scene before her looked somewhat familiar.
So familiar... that it inexplicably made her angry?
Meisho Doto had never felt this strange kind of anger before.
She also felt that if she didn't beat T.M. Opera O in this training session, she would feel incredibly unhappy...
Since T.M. Opera O and Trainer want my help, then it would probably be for the best to not to hold back, right?
Right then, a peculiar competitive spirit arose in Meisho Doto's heart.
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T.M. Opera O: You might be deadweight, but you're my deadweight. Now come here and kiss me in my hot mouth, I'm feeling romantical~
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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.