Chapter 59. I LOVE YOU
Tokai Teio only took two days to adjust to the time difference, and then she was full of energy again. However, considering there were only three weeks, Tokai Teio didn't plan to explore too far. She just started by enjoying the local customs and culture around Ascot Racecourse.
She tried a "Stargazy Pie" at a restaurant near Ascot Racecourse and fled after tasting a few.
After entering Ascot Racecourse, she tried running on the Slope Road and felt good.
Accompanied by her Trainer, she met with the URA Association Chairman of England, and they had a pleasant conversation.
Of course, the Chairman's main purpose was to meet Shuta An.
And what surprised the young man was that the URA Association Chairman of England came to talk to him about something truly unexpected—
"Hoping I can help persuade Miesque to return to England and participate in the work of the England URA Association?"
Shuta An frowned.
"If I remember correctly, Miesque was originally a Uma Musume born in America and registered in France, wasn't she?"
"That's right."
The Chairman responded somewhat awkwardly.
"Then why do you want her to join the URA Association in England?"
Shuta An stared at him, pressing for an answer.
"I'm sorry, I can't answer that."
The Chairman looked very embarrassed, as if he had some unspeakable difficulty.
"I'm sorry, Miesque and I aren't close enough for me to persuade her for others." Shuta An shrugged. "Please ask someone else for this matter, Chairman."
The England URA Association Chairman's face fell. But he didn't say anything more; he simply stood up, bowed, and left.
"How strange." Shuta An narrowed his eyes, unable to figure it out. "Why would they target Miesque?"
—
After spending two days exploring the area around Ascot Racecourse, Tokai Teio set her sights on other places. So, Tokai Teio then dragged Shuta An to tour from Leeds, passing through Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham, all the way to London.
"The atmosphere in a football stadium feels just as strong as a Racecourse, doesn't it?"
Tokai Teio stretched after leaving Anfield Stadium, walking ahead of the young man.
"I also want fans who can sing a performer's songs for over 90 minutes."
"Don't you already have them, Teio?" Shuta An raised an eyebrow. "You can't expect Teio to run for 90 minutes, can you?"
"I was quite happy when I heard the first half of that sentence." Tokai Teio pouted. "It would have been better if you hadn't said the second half."
The young man's mouth twitched. He instantly understood Tokai Teio's meaning.
—
Walking step by step to the station, Tokai Teio looked up at the distant River Mersey.
Although Liverpool stayed awake later than many other British cities, and there were still many passersby due to a recently concluded football match, in the world of both Tokai Teio and Shuta An at that moment, only each other remained, along with the late-night scenery.
"The river flows quietly into the Irish Sea, and it has been this way for thousands of years." she said softly.
Shuta An silently followed behind Tokai Teio.
"Decades ago, this was Britain's busiest port, but now it has declined. As one of Britain's core cities, it now relies on tourism for development."
At this, she stopped and turned to look at her Trainer.
Shuta An, who was lost in thought gazing at Liverpool's port, didn't notice this and accidentally bumped into her. But Tokai Teio was a Uma Musume after all, and she wasn't knocked down at all; in fact, she simply hugged her Trainer back.
"Teio..."
The young man, regaining his senses, softly called her name.
He wasn't sure why Tokai Teio brought these things up, so Shuta An wanted to hear Tokai Teio continue.
"Trainer, decades from now, or even further into the future, will anyone still remember my existence?"
Teio asked in a muffled voice, burying her head in the young man's arms.
"Yes, they will, because Teio has achieved so much. As long as the Twinkle Series still exists, as long as this world still exists, Teio's achievements will be indelible and will shine brightly in historical records."
Shuta An responded with certainty.
But Tokai Teio didn't want that kind of response.
She looked up at Shuta An.
"What about Trainer? Will Trainer forget me?"
"Of course, I won't."
Shuta An replied decisively.
"How could I forget Teio? It was Teio who brought me my first classic three crowns. We walked every step of the way to where we are now. How could I forget this time?"
He could feel Tokai Teio's arms around him tighten slightly.
"Trainer..." Tokai Teio stared at him.
Shuta An could see the reflection in Tokai Teio's eyes.
To be honest, the young man rarely saw Tokai Teio cry. In his impression, she had always been energetic and a little proud.
Crying, sadness, it seemed, should not be associated with this Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume.
"Do you know? Up until last year, every few months, I would have a dream. In my dream, I went to another world and became a creature called a Horse, but what I had to do was the same as in the real world: run and win."
"In my dream, I was also called Tokai Teio, and my partner there, the person who stepped onto the Racecourse with me for every race, looked just like Trainer, and had the same name."
Tokai Teio pursed her lips, and only when she noticed that Shuta An wasn't looking at her as if she were mentally ill, did she pluck up the courage to continue.
"So I thought, this must be destiny."
"No matter which world, I am destined to be Trainer's partner. We will keep winning, and we will be the closest relationship in everyone's eyes."
"Before, I thought that since I debuted later than Dober-senpai, Suzuka-senpai, and Oguri-senpai, it wouldn't matter if I waited a bit longer."
Tokai Teio gripped the young man's collar.
"I originally planned to win everything, everything, and use all my honors as proof of my feelings. But even Rice-chan has taken a step forward, so I can't wait any longer."
"Trainer, no." she released her hand, trying to call the young man by his name for the first time. "Ann, in your eyes, what kind of existence am I?"
Gazing at the girl who was waiting for his response, he put his arm around the Triple Crown Uma Musume's waist.
"I love you."
———
(Hmm, not good. Even though, in most of the fanfics, Teio has a romantic relationship with her Trainer; I still can't accept this fact, maybe it was my opinion of Teio herself, she looks like a mischievous little sister rather than lover for me. More importantly, having romantic relationship with her looks like a crime for me :v)