Upon hearing Sakura Baimu's words, Smart Falcon did not run away like yesterday. Instead, she stood there, stunned and unsure how to react.
This time, Sakura Baimu's promise truly moved Smart Falcon.
Smart Falcon's goals were actually quite low. Forget G1; even a top-three finish in G3, the lowest-level tournament with a hefty prize, would have been enough for her.
Unexpectedly, even after knowing her poor performance record, Sakura's Baimu made a promise that seemed utterly unbelievable to her.
Normally, Smart Falcon should have rejected her outright, like a smooth-talking salesperson.
But for some reason, looking at the unusually serious expression on Sakura Baimu's delicate face, Smart Falcon could not help but want to believe her.
Sakura Baimu's outstretched hand appear to possess a magical power, compelling Smart Falcon to place her hand in hers.
Slowly, Smart Falcon reached out her hand, but just as her palm was about to touch Sakura Baimu's slender, white hand, she looked up and asked softly.
"Are you telling the truth? You're not lying to Falcon?"
"So far, I've never broken a promise I made to a team member," Sakura Baimu said with a smile.
Hearing Sakura Baimu's words, Smart Falcon seemed reassured. Her previously hesitant eyes instantly hardened and she placed her hand in Sakura Baimu's.
"Then… Falco will report to your activity room tomorrow afternoon after class."
"Shouldn't you stop calling me 'you' now?" Sakura Baimu chuckled.
Smart Falcon's fair cheeks flushed again at this, and she lowered her head, softly uttering, "Trainer-san~"
"Okay~ okay~"
Looking at the blushing Umamusume before her, Sakura Baimu felt overwhelming joy at gaining a new team member.
She stroked Smart Falcon's head and could not help but exclaim,
"GG is still so cute."
Smart Falcon felt the stroking on her head and heard Sakura Baimu praise her cuteness. Startled, she jumped back several steps, blushing and waving her hands frantically at Sakura Baimu.
"Anyway, see you tomorrow, Trainer-san!"
"Okay."
Sakura Baimu chuckled, handed the things back to Smart Falcon, and then watched the trembling Umamusume leave the station, Smart Falcon's blushing face looking as if she were fleeing was cute.
Only then did she mutter a complaint.
"It seems she didn't object to me calling her 'GG' just now."
—
The following afternoon, the four members of TCB, as usual, came to the TCB activity room after lunch.
After greeting Sakura Baimu, they prepared to go to training.
However, Sakura Baimu stopped them.
"Wait a minute."
"Huh? What's wrong, Trainer-san?"
The group looked at Sakura Baimu, puzzled and not understanding what she wanted to do.
"Wait until everyone's here before you train."
"Everyone's here? Aren't we all here already?"
Mejiro McQueen asked doubtfully when suddenly there was a knock on the door of the TCB activity room.
"Come in," Sakura Baimu called out.
The door to the activity room was pushed open, and the Umamusumes inside all turned to look at the entrance simultaneously, followed by exclamations from Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio.
"Falcon-senpai?"
"It's Falcon-senpai?!"
"Hello, I'm Smart Falcon. You can call me Falco☆~"
Smart Falcon had already reverted to her usual lively idol persona, giving a cute self-introduction.
Mejiro McQueen's eyes widened, staring at Smart Falcon in shock for a few seconds, then abruptly turning to Sakura Baimu.
"You… you actually managed to bring Falcon-senpai here?!" Mejiro McQueen exclaimed in shock.
Tokai Teio rushed to Smart Falcon's side, covering her mouth with her hand, but speaking in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Falcon-senpai, if you've been threatened by Trainer-san, just blink. I'll get the president to teach her a lesson!"
Sakura Baimu was completely bewildered by Teio's words.
"Hey, you! Am I that kind of person? Is there a better trainer than me in the entire Tracen Academy?"
Unexpectedly, after Sakura Baimu said this, the atmosphere in the activity room visibly cooled down.
The Umamusumes all fell silent instantly, but their eyes all conveyed the same meaning—
Don't you realize it?
Seeing Sakura Baimu's embarrassment, Smart Falcon burst out laughing and quickly tried to smooth things over.
"No, it's not like I was forced to join Trainer-san's team; I volunteered."
"Eh—?"
"Eek—!"
Unexpectedly, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, upon hearing Smart Falcon's words, reacted in unison, their eyes instantly becoming incredibly mischievous and playful.
"Looks like Falcon-senpai really has been brainwashed by Trainer-san~," Mejiro McQueen said.
"Brainwashed~!" Tokai Teio nodded repeatedly.
"Huh? Why are you two like this?" Smart Falcon was utterly surprised that Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen had guessed the truth so quickly.
"Falcon-senpai, what did trainer promise you?" Mejiro McQueen asked with a smile, nudging Smart Falcon's arm with her elbow.
"Uh... six months. Your trainer said... she'd help me win G1."
Smart Falcon blushed slightly as she said this.
After all, in her opinion, for someone who had not won anything since arriving in Central and who had even come in last place at the Satsuki Sho in the classic three-time championship, aiming for the highest-level, highly rewarded tournament, G1, right from the start felt incredibly presumptuous.
Saying this felt like loudly proclaiming her unrealistic dream in front of countless classmates when she was a child.
Extremely embarrassing.
However, to her surprise, instead of laughter, the TCB activity room was filled with deep disappointment.
Smart Falcon looked up and saw Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen with disgruntled expressions, complaining to Sakura Baimu.
"How come it's only a single G1 victory? Trainer-san, your offers are getting lower and lower!"
"Exactly! Kita-chan and Dia-chan were given at least three championships. Why did Falcon-senpai only get one G1 victory?"
Smart Falcon stared in shock at Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio's unexpected response, momentarily speechless with astonishment.
Why does it feel like all the TCB team members are pretty outrageous?