Chapter 60. Tour
It only took three days to tour from Leeds to Liverpool, but on the journey from Liverpool to London, Tokai Teio excitedly stopped and started, often choosing attractions that she found very interesting or suitable for couples, pulling the young man along to explore them.
By the time they arrived in London, a week had already passed, and according to Tokai Teio's pre-made itinerary, she planned to have Shuta An explore London for another week.
"After touring London, the holiday will be almost over when we return to Ascot."
Shuta An kindly reminded her.
"It's fine! Anyway, there's nowhere else to go, and it's okay to rest for a day or two after returning to Ascot and then start preparing for training!"
Tokai Teio stretched.
"Trainer, just honestly accompany me to tour London for a week! I consulted with Maya-chan for this travel plan! It's definitely going to be great!"
"Alright, alright, then I'll look forward to it."
Shuta An had no objections either — ever since that night in Liverpool, whenever they were alone, the young man tried his best to give Tokai Teio the initiative. And Tokai Teio also enjoyed the feeling of being proactive, which was also a tacit understanding between them.
Of course, considering that the Epsom Derby was not far off, Tokai Teio, apart from snuggling in the young man's arms to sleep sometimes, had no plans to take the next step for now.
—
At Central Tracen Academy, Mayano Top Gun pulled Agnes Digital into the Sadalsuud Team's clubroom — permission was obtained from Rice Shower, with whom she often ate lunch in the cafeteria.
"Digital-chan! I heard from a classmate that you accept fan-fiction commissions, right?"
Mayano Top Gun stared at Agnes Digital.
"Yes, I do have that commission service, but before I accept a commission, I'll look at the characters involved. If it's a pairing I'm not comfortable with, I won't take the order."
Agnes Digital became much more serious when talking about her creative work.
"And since Dober-chan isn't in Japan, my creative progress will be slower."
"Well... speed doesn't matter." Mayano Top Gun wasn't bothered by that. "I want to ask Digital-chan to draw a pure love story between my roommate and Trainer Shuta."
Mayano Top Gun rubbed her hands as she spoke.
"I'll keep the finished product for my own enjoyment and won't show it to anyone!"
"Huh?" Agnes Digital was surprised. "Maya-senpai, why did you suddenly want to commission this?"
At the same time, she mumbled to herself.
"Will Dober-chan dislike me for creating this theme?"
"Because Teio asked me two days ago to design a seven-day, seven-night travel plan for her and Trainer Shuta to tour London together! After all, Maya used to travel all over the world frequently before! So I designed one. And then when I gave it to her, Maya realized what Teio asking for this meant."
Mayano Top Gun's eyes lit up as she spoke.
"Digital-chan, you understand, right!?"
"I can imagine it. But so soon?" Agnes Digital blinked. "I remember Rice made her move before the Takarazuka Kinen, didn't she?"
"Hmph, that's the power of a Undefeated Triple Crown! She achieved it just a few weeks after leaving home!"
Mayano Top Gun had a look of shared pride.
"Alright, I'll take this commission."
Agnes Digital had been busy researching various picture books with Rice Shower recently, so she was indeed a bit short on funds.
"I just feel bad for Dober-chan." she said, feeling a little guilty.
—
On the third day of their trip in London, Shuta An was led by Tokai Teio to visit the British Museum. To be honest, if the young man had a choice, he wouldn't have been too keen on visiting this place.
It wasn't that he wasn't interested in museums or similar attractions; it was just that the British Museum was different.
As they stepped into the first-floor Egyptian exhibit, Tokai Teio heard her lover behind her gasp.
Shuta An did so unconsciously as he looked around. He believed that anyone who had seen a museum in Egypt itself would react the same way upon coming to the British Museum. No one could compare the two in their mind without sighing.
"What's wrong?" The Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume turned around and whispered. "Did Ann notice something?"
"No, I was just a bit shocked." Shuta An gently shook his head. "Honestly, when I was a child, I didn't see such a wide variety of complex artifacts in the museums in Egypt."
"After all…"
The young man paused, not continuing.
To be honest, although Shuta An had studied in America with his parents since he was young, his aesthetic sense was still more influenced by his father, leaning towards East Asian styles. The shock brought by the first few exhibition areas was mainly due to the sheer variety and abundance of artifacts.
—
When they arrived at the China exhibit in Room 33, Tokai Teio stood at the entrance, hesitating.
Ever since she brought her lover into the British Museum, she had noticed that the young man held complex emotions towards this museum, and the negative parts of those emotions almost all stemmed from the origin of these artifacts.
"Let's go in and see."
Shuta An noticed Teio's hesitation and spoke, resolving her concerns.
"Since we're already here, it would be a pity not to at least tour the China exhibit."
"Then… let's go in and see." Tokai Teio took a step, and the young man followed.
"This place holds thousands of years of history."
"And thousands of years ago, Uma Musume already lived alongside primitive humans. Helping each other, supporting each other, they walked through thousands of years together, until a few hundred years ago, professional races for Uma Musume began to form a system, and a hundred years ago, the ranking system began to be laid out worldwide."
"Today, history is in our hands." Shuta An turned to look at Tokai Teio. "Win the Epsom Derby, and history will write down Teio's and my names."
"Win the Epsom Derby, and walk towards the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as a victor, fulfilling everyone's expectations for Teio."
The young man gazed at his lover, whose emotions were gradually becoming excited.
"Step onto the pinnacle that everyone has fantasized about, but no one has ever successfully stepped onto."