After Wada's meeting with the Three Goddesses, it was as if it had never happened in the first place.
When Wada arrived at the team building and saw T.M. Opera O, the first thing he did was to check T.M. Opera O's condition.
And, seeing that T.M. Opera O was no different from usual under her questioning gaze, he silently chose to keep the matter of the Three Goddesses a secret.
Although knowing that one had received the blessing of the Three Goddesses would have been quite heartening, Wada didn't want T.M. Opera O to grow complacent or lazy because of this.
Thus, with no current evidence in hand, alongside the above reason, Wada chose to not mention it to anyone.
He simply continued to train T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto as usual, so that they could face the Arima Kinen, this massive obstacle, at their absolute best.
And soon, as time passed, the Arima Kinen drew closer day by day...
"Alright, Meisho Doto, T.M. Opera O, that's enough for today. Let's go back."
"Eh? Is it over already? So fast?"
T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto slowly stopped as they began walking towards Wada.
Facing the two Uma Musume' questions, Wada nodded as usual and replied,
"Yup, training's over today. The Arima Kinen is not far away and time is short. No matter how much more you two train within this time, it won't really have any effect."
"So, all you two need to do during this period is to rest and maintain your condition so that nothing unexpected happens before the race."
"Now go back and rest. Trainer Nase and I need to plan our strategy for the Arima Kinen."
"Alright..."
Under Wada's persuasion, T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto obediently chose to go back to their dormitory together.
Wada and Fumino Nase watched the two Uma Musume's figures gradually walk away, and only then did Fumino Nase, uncharacteristically, initiate a conversation:
"...How about we go for a walk, Trainer Wada? We definitely won't have any free time once the Arima Kinen gets closer, so let's take this time to relax for a while."
While Fumino Nase had framed it as a question, she had already begun to walk in a certain direction; Wada, who was beside her, did not even have the chance to speak.
In the end, he could only sheepishly take a few steps forward and catch up with Fumino Nase.
"...Trainer Nase, you seem to have loosened up a lot recently."
"Are you saying I've been lax recently? I don't think so, I'm pretty much the same as always."
Fumino Nase answered Wada's question without even turning her head, her tone carrying a subtle hint of emotion as she said,
"I always felt that my image in your mind has always been a bit strange. It's been like this since the day we met. What kind of bad person do you think I am?"
"No, no, no, what I mean is... you seem to have become less... cold towards the rest."
Wada took a long time to think of a more appropriate adjective.
The two walked leisurely along a greenery filled path in Tracen Academy. The sky was already approaching dusk.
Facing Wada, Fumino Nase was indeed feeling more relaxed compared to when they first met, but she still spoke in a deliberately indifferent tone:
"I'm simply doing my job. Moreover, my passion for my job and the Uma Musume is absolutely no less than yours, so please don't misunderstand me as that kind of strict, abusive Trainer."
"By the way—here, it's from my father. He told me to give it to you."
"This is..."
Wada received a somewhat heavy wrapped parcel from Fumino Nase's hand.
After he untied the silk ribbon on the parcel, he discovered that there was a thick notebook inside.
"—This is a notebook compiled by my father. It contains many records and key points related to Uma Musume."
"When my father taught me when I was a child, he used this exact notebook."
Despite Fumino Nase indifferent look, the thick notebook currently in Wada's hands was of priceless value.
Wada was startled, almost dropping the notebook, but he quickly calmed down and said with some disbelief:
"This... such a valuable item, Mr. Nase is giving this to me?"
"Trainer Nase... you, you must've said a lot of good things about me, right? Otherwise, I doubt even Mr. Nase would give me such a precious thing so casually."
Wada knew very well that this was no ordinary notebook.
It was the compendium of a legendary veteran Trainer's life from Japan. It must've contained immensely valuable insights and data not found anywhere else.
Any other Trainer would probably kneel on the ground and profusely express their gratitude if they even got a single glance at this notebook.
And to give it away... without seemingly asking anything in return? This was almost equivalent to Hidehito Nase unofficially taking Wada as his personal student.
If this were to get out, who knows how many Trainers would become jealous to the point that they would want to stuff him in a sack and beat him up.
But... a personal disciple, Wada didn't think he was that excellent.
Although Hidehito Nase probably scoffed at his self-assessment of being 'mediocre,' Wada truly thought that he simply wasn't qualified enough to make Hidehito Nase take him in as a student.
Obviously, the answer was clear: Fumino Nase was helping Wada behind the scenes.
"Don't overthink it. I did no such thing. It's just that my father likes you a lot..."
"You probably underestimated how well you and my father hit it off after that talk when you two were drinking. I honestly don't understand why you're even so hung up about this."
Fumino Nase noticed Wada's concerned eyes, coughed a few times, slightly uncomfortable, and said with forced composure,
"This notebook is not important to me. It's just a book I sometimes read when I was a child. My father simply told me that this notebook will be beneficial in improving your skills."
"Plus, I've memorized this notebook thoroughly. I have no more use for it, so just think of this as just holding onto it for me."
Fumino Nase flicked her fingers, as if she remembered something,
"Anyway, I'll be teaching you later. When you have free time, you can just read this notebook. Consider it as homework with no time limit."
"It's only a pity that I couldn't have given this to you sooner; Japan's delivery time is really too slow."
"You're free to add whatever you want in it. Just don't go ruining existing pages or spreading that you have it around, else it'll be very troublesome."
Fumino Nase seemed to genuinely have no idea how valuable this notebook was, and it was kind of accurate in the past.
When she was a child, she truly disliked this 'bedtime story' filled with boring technical facts about Uma Musume.
Of course, ever since she became a Trainer, she became aware of just how precious this notebook was.
And what she didn't tell Wada was that although Hidehito Nase liked Wada a lot, it was still a bit of a stretch for him to consider making him his personal student.
The only reason why this notebook even appeared here in the first place was indeed because Fumino Nase had said many good things about Wada to her father.
And in the end, she almost had to wear him down like a raid boss to get this notebook; otherwise, it wouldn't have arrived so late.
Moreover, Fumino Nase even had a backup plan. If her father really didn't want to give away the notebook, then she would write a copy from her memory herself.
—Of course, Fumino Nase didn't say a word of these things to Wada.
Just as her father had perfectly described, she was outwardly cold but inwardly warm and kind, though she didn't want others to see her kindness.
"That's all I can help you with now, Trainer Wada. I know that your two Uma Musume are not ones that I can effectively train."
"You are the only one they truly trust, so I can only help you through this way."
A serious expression appeared on Fumino Nase's face as she continued,
"You helped me understand a lot. The rest of this team too... And once I fully understand what I desire, I will leave this team and start anew."
"By then, you should have already achieved fame and success, right? I don't want anyone in the future to say that I used to be under a mediocre Trainer."
"So, strive to become even better, Trainer Wada. Right now, I'll only allow you to think about this."
After Fumino Nase finished speaking, she slowly got up, leaving without saying a single word further.
As Wada stood there alone, looking at the notebook in his hand, he slowly put it away.
Unbeknownst to him, the trajectory of his life had completely changed in this world.
He had more friends, more help and support... Even those who he once thought would become his enemies became his supporters in an unconventional way.
For some reason, Wada inexplicably thought of T.M. Opera O at this moment, realizing that both his and T.M. Opera O's lives had been completely altered in this world.
No longer were they walking on a lonely path. They now actually had so many people who truly supported them.
"Our destiny has been bound...?"
"If T.M. Opera O's destiny can also change because of this... then the Three Goddesses, this must be the greatest gift you have given me."
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Horse girls. Can I get an amen?
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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.