After fooling around for a bit, Wuyou could only accept defeat.
Gold Ship wasn't going to expose his identity anyway, so he might as well use the chance to ask something more serious.
"By the way… you still don't have a trainer?"
"Nope. Little Gold Ship's used to being free." Gold Ship shook her head, then muttered after a moment of thought, "But I have taken a liking to one."
Wuyou raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Seeing his reaction, Gold Ship curled her lips into a teasing grin and leaned in. "What, what? Yuyou, don't tell me you're feeling down because Little Gold Ship likes someone else?"
Her sudden jab made Wuyou blink.
Then he sighed and smiled helplessly. "Cut it out. I was just thinking… what kind of unlucky trainer could possibly get picked by you?"
"Eeeeh~~ How can you say that~~ Little Gold Ship is hurt!"
She started up the fake-cry routine again, and Wuyou had no answer for it.
But honestly… he was a little shaken.
If he said he felt absolutely nothing about Gold Ship liking another trainer, that would be a lie.
She might be a menace, but her personality—and her talent—were genuinely captivating to him.
What he was even more curious about now was: what kind of expert could possibly resonate on the same frequency as Gold Ship?
Probably someone… equally "abstract," yeah.
Gold Ship dropped the crying act, clasped her hands behind her head, and lazily rocked her body.
With Wuyou still seated on her thigh, he felt like a kid on a coin-operated rocking ride.
…Not gonna lie. It was pretty comfy.
"Mm—That guy's interesting. Looks super strict at first glance, but he's always all serious, muttering stuff like 'I have to surpass someone'… but Little Gold Ship can't be bothered to be controlled."
"Then why are you still thinking about him?" Wuyou followed up.
"Because it's fun!"
Gold Ship's eyes lit up like she'd remembered something hilarious.
"I saw it once—before training, he stared at someone's photo to pump himself up. No clue if he wants to surpass that person… or mount them."
Wuyou pinched the bridge of his nose at this very Gold-Ship-style reasoning.
But you could tell from the description that this trainer—like his adoptive older sister, Nase Fumino—was probably the focused, serious type.
Maybe someone like that really could rein in Gold Ship's laziness a little… though Wuyou absolutely wasn't going to say that out loud.
"So then," Wuyou asked, "are you planning to sign with that person?"
Gold Ship tilted her head, her hair swaying softly in the breeze. "Who knows~ Maybe one day I'll be in a good mood and go mess with that guy."
Then, as if she'd just thought of something, a sly gleam flashed in her eyes.
"If we get the chance later… Little Gold Ship might even 'invite' that guy over so you can meet him."
Wuyou frowned at the loaded phrasing. "'Invite'?"
"Yup." Gold Ship hugged him like a plush toy and giggled. "Anyway, you'll find out when the time comes. You might even get a shock."
She didn't elaborate—just hummed an off-key tune and winked at him, like she'd already seen some entertaining future play out.
...
After playing with Gold Ship—or rather, after being played with by Gold Ship—Wuyou finally regained his freedom.
Once Gold Ship bounced away, Wuyou exhaled in relief and pulled out his phone.
The electronic voice automatically announced the time.
And the moment he heard it, his expression froze.
Crap—he was supposed to have lunch with Chiemi!
But after Gold Ship's nonsense, it was already late.
Imagining Chiemi still waiting for him, Wuyou instinctively sped up.
...
The cafeteria was already more than half empty.
A lot of the remaining horse girls couldn't help looking toward the window seats.
Chiemi Representative was sitting there—with two untouched lunches placed neatly in front of her.
Arms crossed, brows slightly knit, she kept glancing toward the entrance.
"Hey… is Lady Chiemi waiting for someone?"
"Looks like it…"
"Could she be waiting for Lady Orfe? I heard they were talking forever in the school building…"
"No idea… but what's that black stick in her hand? She looks super protective of it."
A few horse girls whispered.
With fewer people around, the cafeteria wasn't as noisy as usual—so even their "quiet" voices reached Chiemi's ears.
Her long horse ears twitched, betraying her unsettled mood.
"Seriously… he didn't forget, did he?" she muttered.
It had been a casual thought, but it rooted itself in her mind and started growing wild.
The more she thought about it, the more wrong it felt—until a sour tightness rose in her chest.
Chiemi decided: she wouldn't wait anymore. She'd go find him.
But just as she stood up—
Wuyou came jogging into the cafeteria.
Her expression loosened in relief, then she remembered herself and deliberately turned her face away to stare out the window, pretending she was just enjoying the scenery.
Chiemi was gentle and mature, sure—but that didn't mean she had no temper at all.
She wasn't truly angry…
…but at least, she deserved a little outlet, right?
Yet the moment she lifted her gaze to look at Wuyou—
He was moving too fast, unsteady—almost like he was drunk.
And Chiemi suddenly realized—
His cane was in her hands.
Before she could call out, Wuyou's leg slammed into the sharp corner of a nearby table. His body pitched forward, about to go down hard.
"Careful!"
Chiemi practically sprang from her seat. Without thinking, she rushed over and wrapped an arm around him, pulling him in.
Wuyou landed solidly against her, finally managing to steady himself.
They were close—so close Chiemi could feel his quick, ragged breathing.
He had dust and bits of grass clinging to him. One sleeve of his uniform was scuffed and dirty.
"Yuyou… are you okay?"
All the "I'm mad at you" lines she'd rehearsed evaporated instantly. Only worry remained.
She looked down at his empty hands, then carefully took in his slightly battered state—and understood.
He'd made his way here by feeling along the walls, relying on memory.
He might've even run across uneven ground, which was why he looked like this.
For someone who couldn't see, losing their cane meant a kind of fear and instability most people couldn't imagine.
And even so… Wuyou still came, no matter what, just to keep the promise.
The last traces of grievance in her heart vanished like mist in the wind.
Instead, guilt stabbed at her—she'd been petty about him being late.
The realization tightened painfully in her chest.
Chiemi bit her lower lip softly, then pulled Wuyou into a tight embrace, as if afraid he might suffer even the smallest harm again.
....
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