The day after the race ended, Fujiwara Chiya was called to the Director's office.
Satake Mei could not hide the smile on her face. She kept patting Fujiwara Chiya on the shoulder as if they were sworn brothers.
"Those representatives couldn't stop praising you, Chiya. They asked about you from top to bottom. Judging by their attitude, they looked like they wanted to dig up your family history for eighteen generations."
It was the first time she had seen those representatives show such strong interest in a trainer.
Akikawa Yayoi waved her fan with a smug expression. Every time Satake Mei praised Fujiwara Chiya, her mood improved a little more. She looked even happier than if she had been praised herself.
"With this, you don't have to worry about going over there anymore. They definitely won't look down on you or deliberately make things difficult. Those people are all shrewd when it comes to trainers. They look down on people without ability, but once they find someone capable, they love trying to recruit them. So Chiya, don't get tricked away by their sweet words. If that happens, no one will be left to take care of your uma musume."
That probably would not happen.
Fujiwara Chiya's roots were in Tracen. There was no way he would run off to another academy to become a trainer.
Besides, even if he agreed, his uma musume definitely would not. They might even chase him overseas and drag him back.
"They're returning home tomorrow. As for us… Chiya, how long do you need to prepare?"
Fujiwara Chiya thought for a moment.
"I need to explain things to my friends, organize some materials, and there are still some matters with Nase Fumino. At minimum, I'll need two days."
"Good. Then we'll leave next Monday."
"Isn't next Monday too early?" Akikawa Yayoi spoke up. "Why go so soon? There isn't even a race yet."
"Because they're already asking. Dragging it out too long wouldn't be good. And even if there isn't a race, he still has to familiarize himself with their tracks first. European courses are different from ours. Their turf is much heavier, so the earlier he gets used to it, the better."
Akikawa Yayoi still looked reluctant.
The race had only just ended. Chiya could finally rest for a while, yet now he had to run off overseas again. Couldn't they give him a few more days off?
Satake Mei opened her mouth.
Wasn't she doting on her younger brother a little too much?
Everything had already been settled over there. Even the dorm had been prepared. If he remained at Tracen and kept delaying his departure, it would not be good for relations between the two academies either.
"Let him rest a few more days."
"No."
"Half a month."
"Impossible."
"Ten days!"
"Have you had enough?"
After some compromise, they agreed that Fujiwara Chiya would rest at Tracen for three days.
"We leave in three days."
Fujiwara Chiya understood now.
One was his eldest sister, the other was his second sister.
He was the ignorant little brat with no right to speak. Whatever they said, he had to listen.
Fine. You two have the higher positions and seniority. Go ahead and decide.
I'll just keep being a doormat.
…
"Shirayuki, I probably can't go with you, right?"
In the dorm room, Mejiro Dober asked after hearing the news from Shirayuki.
"I still have to participate in the final Triple Tiara race."
Shirayuki had given up the final crown and chosen to head for the European stage. But Mejiro Dober did not want to do the same.
The final crown, the Shuka Sho, and the Queen Elizabeth Cup were the two races where Mejiro Dober could prove herself. She longed for those two races.
If she went with Trainer-san, she would not be able to participate.
Shirayuki remained silent for a while.
"The turf conditions in Europe are different from here, and the training is also quite different. If you want to win, it would be better to stay in Japan."
In other words, Mejiro Dober really could not go with them.
"As expected…"
Mejiro Dober's expression was complicated.
"Even though it's such an important race, I can't stay beside Trainer-san."
"It isn't that important."
"Hasn't Trainer-san's goal always been the Arc?"
"That's right… it used to be."
"Used to be?"
"I always thought that winning a graded race was my final goal. Later, it became a GⅠ. Then the Triple Crown. After that, it became the world stage, the Arc. But actually, there is no such thing as a final goal. There is only the direction we keep moving toward. I once thought becoming a veteran trainer was the meaning of my life. But now, I think that may only be the beginning of another part of life."
An uma musume had a finish line.
But a trainer did not.
She finally understood what those words meant.
Hearing Shirayuki say this, Mejiro Dober widened her eyes.
Even though they were simple words, Mejiro Dober could hear Trainer-san's resolve within them.
Her trainer was an outstanding person.
The more she understood him, the more Mejiro Dober liked him.
She hoped Trainer-san would make a name for himself on that distant racetrack.
And she, too, would claim the final crown in the races ahead.
…
After leaving the Director's office, Fujiwara Chiya ran into Seiun Sky wandering around the corridor.
She looked like she was simply strolling, but her steps had been circling around this area the whole time.
When she saw Fujiwara Chiya, she waved.
"Yahoo~ Trainer."
Fujiwara Chiya walked over and patted her head.
"Let me guess. You were waiting for me?"
"Bingo! Correct. But Sky-chan doesn't have a reward for Trainer."
"What a shame. What's wrong, Sky? You came here specially."
"I heard about Trainer, so I came to say goodbye."
"News spread that quickly?"
"The news didn't spread quickly. Sky-chan has just been keeping track of Trainer's matters."
Seiun Sky's ears swayed, and her sky-blue eyes looked at Fujiwara Chiya.
"Sky-chan specially prepared a farewell letter for Trainer. I hope Trainer can read it out loud."
"You even prepared something like this? It's not that grand of a matter."
Fujiwara Chiya accepted the envelope.
"By the way, why do I have to read it out loud?"
"Because that makes it look like Trainer values my feelings."
"I see…"
Since she was not embarrassed, he had no reason to mind either.
Fujiwara Chiya read aloud,
"Although this is another reluctant farewell, I will call you every day to express how much I miss you. I hope you will think of me every night, my adorable girlfriend, Sky… hm?"
"Ah~ Trainer, what an embarrassing confession."
Seiun Sky held her cheeks.
"And you'll even call me every day. In that case, I'll gladly look forward to receiving your feelings."
"…This isn't a farewell letter at all."
"That's right. It's a confession letter. A confession from Trainer to Sky-chan. While Trainer is away, Sky-chan will wait with great anticipation for your calls. And I hope that, over there, Trainer will be safe and well."
Her sky-blue eyes looked at Fujiwara Chiya.
The man fell silent for a moment, then gently hugged her.
"I'll call you."