Me, Sakuraba Ryo—I'm officially off the market!
Holy crap.
This feels amazing.
Ever since Sakuraba and Sunday Silence made things official, their relationship had been progressing at breakneck speed.
Aside from the very last step, they had basically done everything.
The only reason they had stopped short of that final step was because Sunday Silence still had the remaining Triple Crown races ahead of her. To make sure nothing affected her performance, Sakuraba had managed to keep his self-control intact.
When it came to proper boyfriend conduct, he was holding the line!
And after spending time with Sunday Silence in such close, affectionate fashion, he had discovered that when it came to that side of things, she was seriously open-minded... If he hadn't hit the brakes, she really wouldn't have hesitated at all.
Sakuraba's view was simple: his girlfriend might get carried away, but as the good boyfriend, it was his job to keep a firm grip on things.
There would be time for that later. At a period this important, it was better not to fool around.
Other than that, though, Sunday Silence hadn't been clinging to him nonstop. Her training and everything else were still proceeding properly.
According to Sunday Silence herself, she just wanted to win more races for Ryo on the track, so Ryo could be even happier~
Once Sakuraba learned that was how she felt, he had no choice but to cheer her on even with his heart bleeding.
So what if his little girlfriend was making money?
Let her make it!
She could make as much as she wanted!
Whatever she earned later, he could just lose somewhere else.
Hmph.
If his little girlfriend was working hard to make money to support him, what complaints could he possibly have?
He'd surrendered.
Taking advantage of the fact that Sunday Silence had gone off to train, Sakuraba headed to the airport to pick someone up.
Obey Your Master and Tony Bianca were arriving in America today, so naturally he had to go get them.
After picking them up, Sakuraba brought them back to the hotel where he and Sunday Silence were staying and got them two rooms.
They weren't going to be here for long anyway, so staying at a hotel for the time being was enough.
The moment Tony Bianca arrived, she dropped her luggage in her room and ran off to find Sunday Silence.
She really was genuinely concerned about whether Sunday Silence would be able to deliver results.
Obey Your Master, on the other hand, stayed behind at the hotel. Looking at the foolish grin on Sakuraba's face, she couldn't help asking,
"Are you really that happy we came to America? You're grinning like an idiot."
"Ah, no?"
Sakuraba blinked, caught off guard, then answered.
"I mean, I really am happy you came, sure. But more than that, I just feel like with you here, there shouldn't be any real problem with Sunny's upcoming races."
"...Sunny?"
Obey Your Master instantly caught that something was off.
"Why are you calling Sunday Silence that?"
"Ah? Oh, right, I never told you guys."
Once Obey Your Master asked, Sakuraba figured it really was about time he made things clear to everyone.
"Sunny and I are dating."
"?"
Obey Your Master's expression froze.
"What did you just say?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and the smile on her face turned stiff.
"Dating? You and Sunday Silence?"
"Yep~"
Sakuraba was in such a good mood that he just kept talking.
"Right after the Kentucky Derby ended, she came straight to confess to me, and then I said yes."
"I know you're surprised, but I never thought Sunny would actually like me either. Ahaha~~"
Watching Sakuraba scratch his head and grin stupidly in front of her, Obey Your Master felt as if something inside her had cracked.
She had only gone back to Nishikino for a little while, and Sakuraba Ryo had already been snatched away?!
And the one who had done it was Sunday Silence, who practically counted as half her disciple?
Sunday Silence, how dare you?!
I don't remember teaching you to become a little love thief!
Though Obey Your Master was grinding her teeth in frustration, she still forced a smile and asked Sakuraba, "So how far have the two of you gone by now?"
"...Why are you asking that?"
Sakuraba found it a little strange. Obey Your Master usually didn't seem like the gossipy type.
"Oh, I'm just curious about my dear little student's love life~ Is that a problem?"
That explanation... did sound plausible enough.
So Sakuraba answered honestly.
"Everything except the last step, I guess?"
"...I see. Understood."
With that, Obey Your Master abruptly dropped the subject and got up to the door.
"I'm going to buy some drinks. Want anything?"
"?"
Sakuraba found it strange that she had ended the conversation so suddenly, but he still answered her question.
"If I remember right, the black tea at this hotel tastes pretty good. Go get me a cup."
"Black tea..."
"Fine."
Before closing the door, Obey Your Master gave Sakuraba a long, deep look.
Sakuraba couldn't make sense of that look at all. He only found it odd.
"What got into her...? Why does it feel like her mood keeps going up and down...?"
Left alone in the hotel room, Sakuraba couldn't help muttering that to himself.
In the hotel lobby, Obey Your Master stood in front of a vending machine, staring at a mysterious little product marked 0.01, lost in thought.
It seemed like there was no need to buy that after all.
A little risky, maybe...
But if it's him, even without one, it wouldn't matter.
"Excuse me, two cups of black tea, please."
Obey Your Master called over an attendant and had two cups of hot black tea prepared.
Carrying the steaming tea on a tray, she walked toward Sakuraba's room.
Once she was out of the attendant's sight, she set the tray aside, then took a small pill bottle out of the pocket at her chest.
It was a mild sleep aid she used when she couldn't fall asleep.
She took out two capsules, broke them open with her fingers, and poured the white powder inside into one of the cups of tea.
Then she picked up the little spoon on the tray and gently stirred the tea twice, a smile rising to her face.
"I really hadn't meant to use such extreme measures~"
"But, my dear student, you did remind me of something. Getting the first move in really is important."
"But let your master teach you one thing."
"Just getting the first move isn't enough, you know~"
"Your tea's here~"
Still smiling, Obey Your Master set the hot black tea down in front of Sakuraba.
"Huh? Obey, you got black tea too?"
Noticing there were two cups on the tray, Sakuraba sounded a little surprised.
"Well, since you said the black tea here was good, I wanted to try it too."
"Heh, then it definitely won't disappoint you."
Smiling, Sakuraba picked up the black tea in front of him and took a sip.
"This kind of tea... you really have to... take your time... and... savor it properly..."
After drinking the tea, Sakuraba felt drowsiness hit him fast. Just as he was about to lose his grip on the cup and spill it, Obey Your Master gently steadied him.
Down he went.
Down he went.
Obey Your Master gently took the cup from his hand, then poured what remained inside down the bathroom drain.
After disposing of the rest of the tea, she carried Sakuraba over to the hotel bed.
She took out her phone and checked the time.
Mm. One-thirty in the afternoon.
Tony and Sunday probably wouldn't be back until a little after five~
Three and a half hours for savoring tea?
That was enough.
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T/N: ..... DID HE JUST GET ROOFIED????????????? SA'D? WTF OBEY??????????????????????????????????????????????????? UMAS ARE FUCKING CRAZY