"Doto… no matter what way I think about it, something strange is going on. Don't you feel that way too?"
"Huh? What are you talking about, Opera O?"
"It's just that— that what exactly are Ryuji and Mr. Nase doing that needs to be so secretive?"
Currently, T.M. Opera O, Meisho Doto, and the many, many people from Tracen Academy were staying overnight at the hotel they booked a day ago, preparing to rush back to school using the bullet train early tomorrow morning.
However, on this particular night, T.M. Opera O, who was tossing and turning on her bed, found it impossible to sleep.
But it wasn't because she became a Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume.
Hours have passed since then, and the initial novelty of winning the Kikuka Sho had worn off. Plus, the real celebration for her achievement will have to wait until they returned to Tracen.
Despite T.M. Opera O not saying it, everyone knew that the real reason she was in distress right now was because Wada was not by her side.
In the room, T.M. Opera O finally sat up from her lying position and couldn't help but turn to Meisho Doto beside her, asking,
"Meisho Doto, aren't you worried about Ryuji? It's already so late and yet he hasn't even called back once."
"Hmm... I don't think we need to worry, T.M. Opera O."
Unexpectedly, Meisho Doto seemed unusually calm, which made T.M. Opera O slightly surprised.
T.M. Opera O had originally thought that the anxious Meisho Doto would be even more scared than her, more worried that something might happen to Wada.
"Trainer... he's with Trainer Nase and her father, isn't he? With Mr. Nase there, I don't think anything unexpected will happen."
If Wada and Fumino Nase had gone somewhere private alone, then T.M. Opera O wouldn't be the only one nervous; Meisho Doto would definitely be the first to step forward and stop them.
But that wasn't the case, was it?
Meisho Doto continued with a slight smile,
"Since Trainer Nase's father is looking for Trainer, they probably have something very important to discuss. I think it's best if we don't disturb them."
"Besides, with her father present, I think Trainer and Trainer Nase... probably wouldn't get too comfortable with each other, right?"
"...That's true, I suppose."
T.M. Opera O nodded slowly, feeling a little more relaxed now.
Thinking about it, it made sense; with her father present, they probably wouldn't be able to do anything freely, even if they went to somewhere like a hot spring, nothing should happen.
After all, no father would want his daughter to be wooed right in front of him, right? That's common sense.
However, as Meisho Doto looked at T.M. Opera O's still uneasy expression, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she let out a quiet whisper,
"What's more... Trainer clearly likes you the most..."
Meisho Doto's voice was so faint that even T.M. Opera O, who had the hearing of an Uma Musume, couldn't quite make it out.
But before T.M. Opera O could press further, Meisho Doto had already turned over and fell asleep, while on her pillow, the cat plushie that Wada had given her was still there.
Seeing Meisho Doto so at ease, T.M. Opera O felt it was inappropriate to keep being paranoid over it.
She laid back down on her bed, and after a long while, she murmured to herself,
"...It should be fine, right? After all, her dad is there..."
"... Haaaaa—indeed, sake with sashimi is truly delicious. This is one of the great pleasures of being in Japan."
"Haha, Kiddo, don't be so reserved! Drink more! Today is the day to celebrate your Uma Musume winning the Classic Triple Crown, it's okay to let loose a bit!"
"...You're just finding an excuse to drink, father."
In the living room, Wada, Fumino Nase, and Hidehito Nase, who had all finished bathing, were sitting together.
Their table was laden with essential hot spring meals, including rice, fried fish, lettuce, as well as onsen tamago and several other cold dishes. (T/N: Onsen tamagos, also known as hot spring eggs are a type of poached egg)
They could even order a sukiyaki pot to eat, which was very convenient. (T/N: Sukiyaki pot is basically Japanese hot pot)
Hidehito Nase also seized the opportunity to order a good amount of sake.
This old man from the Showa era certainly preferred traditional Japanese sake much more than beer, which Wada and Fumino then proceeded to drink, their faces flushed with a slight rosy hue.
"Alright, you two can continue. I've had enough."
Fumino Nase, feeling a little too tipsy, quietly got up, walking towards her room.
"Father, Trainer Wada, don't drink too much. We have to leave very early tomorrow. Don't go drinking so much that you sleep through the day, otherwise, I might just abandon you two in Kyoto."
With that, Fumino Nase entered the room and locked the door.
As Hidehito Nase watched Fumino's leaving figure, he turned to Wada beside him and said,
"Don't mind what that child says. If we really do sleep through tomorrow, she'll carry us both back to Tokyo if she has to."
"Though she can be a bit sharp-tongued at times, she's definitely a good girl at heart, I can guarantee that!"
"...By the way, Trainer Wada, how have you and my daughter been getting along during this time? Has my troublesome daughter given you a bad impression before?"
"...To be honest, yes, there have been times. In fact, a few months ago, I even thought Miss Nase was a spy from Shadai~!"
Perhaps under the influence of alcohol, Wada unconsciously revealed some of his true feelings, saying to Hidehito,
"But later, I realized that there was no way she was~ She did a lot for our team, and especially helped T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto."
"Without her, Meisho Doto and T.M. Opera O's victories would probably have been more hard-fought."
"In addition, Mr. Nase, wasn't it because of Miss Nase that you helped me this morning~?"
"Heh heh... you're half right, kid."
Hidehito Nase smiled faintly at the remark. After finishing the sake in his glass in one gulp, he said to Wada, word for word,
"Part of the reason I came to help you was indeed because Fumino asked me to help you. But just being my daughter's friend isn't enough for me to personally come out."
"Trainer Wada, from your previous statement, you don't know, do you?"
"Fumino is, in fact, from Shadai—at least, her name was on Shadai's staff list."
"?!"
Hidehito Nase's words startled both Wada and Fumino Nase, who was about to go to sleep.
But before Wada could react, Hidehito waved his hand and said first,
"Don't be nervous, Trainer Wada. Fumino has already left Shadai, just a month ago."
"A month ago... that would be..."
Wada gradually recalled. A month ago was around the time when they went to the amusement park together.
When Fumino Nase left by herself back then, he guessed that she must've gone to meet the representatives from Shadai.
However, he quickly dismissed the idea that she was from Shadai, only thinking that they were intending to bribe her with benefits.
Now, what Hidehito Nase said truly shocked Wada.
"Yes, a month ago."
Hidehito nodded and said,
"She actually joined Shadai the day after she left Tracen Academy. As far as I know, Shadai offered Fumino excellent terms, making her a Trainer for Shadai."
"Among them was something that Fumino highly valued: the chance to study abroad—but both she and I knew this opportunity was just an empty promise from Shadai."
"Yet, she still chose to believe in that lie, preparing for years on end, so that one day, she would have the chance to study abroad and become a world-class Trainer through her own merit."
"Her desire to become independent from me made her foolishly believe that lie for four whole years, wasting her limited youth on such nonsense... until she met you."
"So, after she willingly left Shadai, I became determined to meet you, Trainer Wada."
"I wanted to know just who this amazing person was, who could make Fumino give up her stubbornness in a matter of a few short days, even though I, her father, couldn't persuade her."
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It was, in fact, not fine, T.M. Opera O
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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.