"Well then, I won't be returning to Tokyo with you all. I still need to go back to Hokkaido first."
At the train station, Hidehito Nase had already arrived alongside Fumino Nase and Wada.
As the bullet train was about to depart, he proactively bid them farewell.
"...Senior Nase, you haven't been back in so long, why don't you come back and visit Tracen Academy?"
Symboli Rudolf, standing nearby, looked at the senior who was arguably even more senior than herself, and asked with a hint of restraint:
"Tracen Academy has truly changed a lot. Senior Nase, are you really not going back to take a look?"
"...I think I'll pass. If an old man like me were to go back and see Tracen Academy again, I'm afraid I wouldn't want to leave."
Hidehito gave a slight smile at her words, then turned his gaze to Wada and Fumino beside him.
After a short pause, he merely continued smiling and nodded, saying:
"Well then, I'll be taking my leave. Fumino, remember to get along well with your team members and Uma Musume."
"I know, father."
Although Fumino had overheard her father's conversation with Wada last night, her outward attitude towards her father hadn't improved much.
It was clear that she didn't want to show her concern for her father, perhaps because she felt it would be awkward.
Fumino knew her father had good intentions, but deep down, she still couldn't completely let go of some of the things he had done in the past.
Even if she forgave him, the chill that had permeated their relationship couldn't be thawed in such a short time, nor was it easy to create one anew.
Hidehito, clearly aware of his daughter's personality, showed no particular expression. He simply turned his gaze to Wada and said calmly:
"Trainer Wada, be more confident in yourself. Fumino will help you well."
"Also, my daughter is in your care from now on."
Hidehito Nase held this sentence in his heart, unspoken, because he hadn't made up his mind yet.
Although he had said something similar yesterday, it was somewhat fueled by alcohol.
He still harbored a certain degree of doubt about whether Wada could properly make his daughter happy.
But at the very least, he believed that his daughter won't suffer with Wada.
And that was enough.
With this arrangement, Hidehito no longer needed to worry that his daughter would waste her youth at a place like Shadai, chasing some illusory dreams; this was, at a minimum, better.
Finally, the middle-aged man silently turned around.
It was then, that his originally burly figure, in Wada's eyes, inexplicably aged a lot as he slowly walked away.
"...Let's get on the train, Trainer Nase."
"Mhm."
However, facing Wada, Fumino Nase's expression was slightly unnatural. She only felt that she didn't have the energy to act as usual, only nodding in a muffled tone.
At this moment, the awkward air around them made the surrounding Uma Musume gawk at them with slight curiosity, especially T.M. Opera O, who had felt something off since yesterday...
Despite how fast the bullet train was traveling, the distance that it needed to cover in order to reach Tokyo was quite vast indeed.
Luckily, multiple carriages had been pre-booked by Tracen Academy for their Uma Musume and Trainers, so almost no one else would disturb them.
Most of the people from Tracen, who had needed to wake up early to catch the train, quickly fell asleep on their seats after boarding.
For a time, all the carriages were very quiet, with almost no sound other than the soft snoring of a few Trainers and Uma Musume. The same was true for the carriage Wada was in.
Wada and Fumino Nase were currently sitting next to each other, with T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto, who were leaning on each other, sound asleep, facing them.
"...I heard what you and my father talked about yesterday."
Maybe because she thought that everyone else was asleep, Fumino Nase, who had been silent since earlier, finally spoke.
Her eyes flickered slightly, and she tried to speak in a calm tone:
"Please don't mind what he said. I am not some weak little girl... I don't need anyone to care for me."
"Also... about Shadai. It was just that one day, I realized that they definitely wouldn't give me what I wanted, which is why I fell out with them."
"It has nothing to do with you, please don't misunderstand."
Fumino Nase seemed to be defending her last shred of dignity, offering some "detailed corrections" to what her father had told Wada yesterday.
However, although her face still looked as cold as ever, the confidence in her tone was clearly waning.
Wada quickly understood what Fumino Nase was attempting, and wisely chose to not expose her, lest he face the full wrath of an embarrassed tsundere.
"I know, I know. You are a strong woman, and also a genius Trainer."
"To be honest, I am the one who needs to be taken care of."
Wada, who felt that it was a good time to comfort Fumino Nase as well as to let out his inner thoughts, began speaking:
"Trainer Nase, perhaps you and Mr. Nase both think I'm some kind of genius because of what Meisho Doto and T.M. Opera O have achieved for me..."
"But in reality, my essence is that of a mediocre Trainer who just got lucky."
"With or without me, they could have achieved similar achievements, even if I wished that wasn't the case."
"I'm not as talented as you, nor do I hope to reach the heights you will attain in the future; all I want, is to have the pride to say "I helped her win!", that's all."
"But my skill is still very, very far off. So, in the days to come, I will need your help more than ever."
Wada wasn't lying. Ever since the Japanese Derby, T.M. Opera O's growth rate and skill had far surpassed the upper limits of what Wada could comprehend.
Back in his original world, Wada was utterly powerless in helping T.M. Opera O at his peak.
And now that T.M. Opera O's strength had broken through that upper limit and could even continue to improve... does he even have to say it?
If you asked Wada to give T.M. Opera O targeted training again—Wada could only tell you, he couldn't, he simply does not have the skills to attempt such a thing.
So, Wada could only rely on Fumino Nase, whose skill was higher than his, and who was perhaps the most capable person in helping T.M. Opera O in their team.
Maybe T.M. Opera O wouldn't be that enthusiastic under Fumino Nase, but as long as Wada was there, and T.M. Opera O followed Fumino's training plan, it could work.
So this time, Wada could be said to be in need of Fumino Nase's assistance more than ever before, because while he might be growing, he was still a long distance away from T.M. Opera O.
However, while this was what he meant when those words came out of his mouth, they were interpreted quite differently in Fumino Nase's ears.
Though Wada had said T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto did everything by themselves, Fumino, as an observer, completely rejected that notion.
From her perspective, Wada was the main contributor to their growth, giving them the motivation to grow as strong as they currently are. He was no less talented than the other two Trainers and herself.
Yet, Wada's humble, even self-deprecating statement that he needed her help, left this relatively self-centered Trainer momentarily bewildered.
After a brief moment of silence, Fumino Nase merely turned her head and said faintly:
"...Are you trying to comfort me? Well, Trainer Wada, you're surprisingly good at charming girls."
"This is the first I've heard of it! I only know of a certain female Trainer who said that I must've never had a girlfriend just a month ago!"
Wada, hearing this, also made a rare joke, which made Fumino Nase blush as she averted her gaze, retorting,
"I- I was just deceived by your appearance... Logically speaking, don't attractive people usually have a harder time finding someone?"
'...Miss Fumino Nase, could it be that you are the one who has never been in love?'
Wada raised his eyebrows at Fumino, unable to help but feel that her line of thinking was what an amateur who had never been in love would have.
But then again, it made sense.
From Super Creek onwards, although Fumino Nase always had many admirers, she had always been dismissive of interested courters.
Coupled with her later joining Shadai to study, it was no wonder why she didn't have time to think about such matters.
However... it's probably best to not say anything.
Wada watched the flustered Fumino Nase, whose cheeks were slightly flushed, and an amused smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his mouth.
This was also fully observed by T.M. Opera O, who had watched the entire interaction while pretending to be asleep, her narrow eyes narrowing even further.
'Sure enough... something definitely happened last night.'
Just as T.M. Opera O was thinking this, Meisho Doto on the other side stirred slightly, causing T.M. Opera O to immediately calm down and close her eyes.
But as for whether Meisho Doto was actually asleep... who knows? Maybe she was the one among all of them who knew the situation best?
-----+-----
As T.M. Opera O and Fumino Nase were engaged in combat, Meisho Doto dropped to their location.
Then, with a wild smile, she began to bang her chest, the shockwave from which, caused cracks to form in the building they were on.
"!!!" X2
"Quit your annoying whining! At this point..."
Fumino Nase, Meisho Doto, and T.M. Opera O quickly formed hand signs as Doto screamed out:
"WORDS ARE UNNECESSARY!!!!"
The air became rife with possessive intent as three of them only uttered a single sentence:
"DOMAIN EXPANSION!" "DOMAIN EXPANSION!" "DOMAIN EXPANSION!"
-----+-----
If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.