Tokyo International Airport, Terminal Exit.
The VIP corridor that was usually quiet was now packed so tightly you could barely squeeze through.
It was not just the media, cameras bristling like spearpoints. Countless fans had shown up on their own too, holding up yellow caps and Kuroha support boards. The atmosphere was so heated it felt like the air itself might catch fire.
Chasing Light, the team that had once dominated Central URA's era and the generation that followed, had now achieved another brilliant triumph overseas.
As Chasing Light's head trainer, and the one who had built this legendary squad with his own hands, Kuroha's popularity on the return flight was even more overwhelming than before.
Somehow, his fanbase in the Far East was even larger than Cap's, despite her overseas G1 Triple Crown.
…
"I thought we were landing at Narita. Why are we driving to Tokyo?"
Kuroha spoke as he led the team down the boarding stairs, puzzled, but the sight ahead quickly made him frown.
A red carpet stretched out at the foot of the stairs. Tall, broad-shouldered security personnel and ceremonial attendants stood ramrod straight.
And at the start of the carpet stood Yayoi Akikawa, snapping her folding fan open and shut, the words "Grand Triumph" printed boldly across it as she fanned with gusto.
The chairwoman was not tall, but her presence filled the space. She was up on her toes, trying her hardest to see, pale blue eyes sparkling with excitement she could not hide.
Behind her stood Central URA Association staff and Tracen staff from across the world.
A welcome of this scale was rare even in Central Tracen history.
Or rather, it had never happened before.
Stepping off the stairs, it was their first time seeing a scene like this, but they were hardly strangers to storms. Kuroha only froze for a moment before recovering. He cleared his throat twice, about to raise a hand in greeting.
Then the perfectly arranged welcoming formation suddenly "exploded" from the center.
"Trainer!"
With an energetic shout, Teio Tokai burst out like a lightning strike.
She did not care about the countless cameras aimed their way. She launched herself straight at Kuroha, clinging to his neck, long legs swinging, tail whipping so fast it might as well have been a propeller.
"You're too slow! I was about to grow moss!"
A soft, petite body slammed into his arms. Kuroha rocked back from the impact, steadied himself with a sigh, and tapped the back of the little menace's head.
"Alright, Teio. Everyone's watching. Get down."
By then, the rest of Chasing Light had already gathered around.
First came Ardan Mejiro and McQueen Mejiro, still active racers. As daughters of the Mejiro line, both were elegant and composed, simply walking up to Kuroha and greeting him with quiet poise.
Behind the active girls, several more mature figures stood in silence.
The pressure they carried, the aura of true legends, made even the noisy media unconsciously lower their voices.
Fujimasa March, Inari One, Obey Your Master, and Chiyono O Sakura.
All of them had been apex rulers of their era, each in her own domain. Even now, retired and rarely seen in public, they only had to stand there for people's minds to fill with memories of their dazzling achievements.
But the most surprising presence was Maruzensky.
Usually, she was a core student council member at Symboli Rudolf's side. Today, she had completely shed any official identity.
She stood at the far edge of the group, her white dress snapping in the wind. When Kuroha looked over, she lifted a light, graceful hand and waved.
The others, like Mihono Bourbon, Rice Shower, and Silence Suzuka, stayed near Maruzensky.
The smaller girls, unused to a spectacle like this, only dared to greet Kuroha briefly before retreating to the back of the line.
Only Bourbon remained expressionless, quietly tugging at Kuroha's sleeve and refusing to move.
"Trainer… long time no see…"
"Yeah. Long time no see, Bourbon."
Kuroha rubbed the little girl's head, voice gentle.
After he had greeted everyone, Kuroha started up the red carpet, one hand still trying to pry Teio off him while leading the team forward.
"Splendid!"
As they drew close, Chairwoman Akikawa's welcome rang out right on cue.
She waved her fan and hurried over, her delicate face bright with an excitement that did not match her station in the slightest.
"Kuroha-kun, this is an unprecedented feat!"
"Meow."
As she spoke, the black cat perched atop her head meowed at exactly the right moment, as if offering its own formal respect.
"You flatter me," Kuroha said with a polite smile.
After a brief exchange, Akikawa snapped her fan shut with force, then fixed her sharp gaze on Cap behind him.
The petite chairwoman took a deep breath, her tone turning solemn.
"Oguri Cap-san, the way you carried yourself in Hong Kong has made the world recognize Central Tracen all over again."
"As chairwoman, I am proud of you."
Oguri Cap's ahoge bobbed. She looked at Kuroha first, then nodded seriously.
"Thank you for your concern, Chairwoman."
Standing at Akikawa's side were several standing directors of the Central URA Association.
These were the same high-ranking officials who always looked stern on television and in newspapers, yet now they were openly enthusiastic, taking turns stepping forward to shake Kuroha's hand and speak with him.
"Kuroha Trainer, about your overseas…"
"If you have time during this period…"
"Congratulations, congratulations…"
Surrounded by so many important figures, what had been a cold, sparse corridor instantly became an on-the-spot commendation ceremony.
Faculty and staff lined up on both sides and applauded in neat, rhythmic waves, welcoming their heroes home.
"Alright! Save the formalities for tonight's celebration banquet!"
Chairwoman Akikawa made a broad motion, reopening her fan.
At her signal, the welcoming formation began to move in orderly fashion.
Amid camera flashes and fans' screaming cheers, the team, carrying glory and countless undercurrents of emotion, finally departed the airport in a grand procession under Akikawa's personal escort.
…
The celebration banquet lasted until nine in the evening.
After he finally managed to deal with the overly enthusiastic URA officials, Kuroha was immediately swarmed by his own horse girls and shepherded back to the dorm.
When the door shut with a sharp click,
Outside the villa,
Oguri Cap, Berno Light, Teio, and Super Creek stood at the entrance, staring at one another in confusion.
Oguri Cap tilted her head. "Why did Trainer and Teio-onee-chan drive off by themselves?"
"…"
Beside her, Berno hesitated. "Maybe… there's something else they have to handle."
"Are they doing a second party? I didn't even eat that much. Can't Trainer let me in…"
Oguri Cap instantly shrank into a chibi slump, a single tear beading at the corner of her eye.
"It's… it's okay, Oguri Cap!" Berno hurried to comfort her. "It's still early. Let's go stroll through the shopping street in a bit, okay?"
"Yeah!" Oguri Cap perked right back up.
Super Creek: "…"
"Creek-senpai, then I'm heading back first?"
Nearby, Teio grinned, waved at Super Creek, and skipped away.
Teio was still young enough that she did not really understand what had happened. She was already used to being shooed out at specific times and in specific places by the older girls. She had asked around before and never gotten an answer, so she had long since stopped thinking too hard about it.
"Uh… huh? Teio, it's kind of late. I'll walk you back." Super Creek's voice softened.
Super Creek nodded reflexively, then caught Teio's figure out of the corner of her eye. Something clicked inside her. She hurried after her.
"It's fine, senpai. It's only nine!" Teio said brightly.
"Mhm. I'm going the same way anyway. Perfect excuse to keep you company for a bit," Super Creek replied, nodding along.
Even with fatigue lingering on her face, her warm smile was unmistakably sincere.
"Uh… okay."
It felt like she was being treated like a kid.
But Teio, who had only grown from a little girl into a teen less than a year ago, tossed the thought aside almost immediately, happily walking with Super Creek along the path back to the dorms.
And back in the villa, a storm of blood and chaos was already brewing.
…
The next morning.
The villa's front door quietly opened.
Kuroha stepped out.
The morning sunlight was gentle and bright. He set his hands on his hips, refreshed, and lifted his face to the sky.
"Mmm! Another beautiful day!"
(End of Chapter)
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