It was now Sunday. Fujiwara Chiya arrived at Central Park, where he had arranged to meet Nase Fumino for a meal. From afar, he spotted a figure in a black uniform standing there.
She even wears that outfit when going out.
Fujiwara Chiya could not help but marvel. It seemed that no matter when he saw Fumino, she was always dressed formally. Long sleeves, long pants, and forever that cool, composed air about her.
Perhaps because her style never changed, Nase Fumino's fans were exceptionally loyal. Every holiday, she received a mountain of fan letters. Some expressed admiration, others confessed their love, and every time, Nase Fumino had to rub her aching head and force herself to read through them all, leaving her mentally exhausted.
Still, that was proof of how famous she had become. To gain Uma Musume-level recognition as a trainer was something many trainers could only dream of.
Fujiwara Chiya hurried over and raised a hand, about to call out to her, when his voice caught in his throat.
There was someone else standing beside her.
A brown ponytail, a crescent-shaped white streak in her hair, a small and delicate face, and an energy so lively it could be felt from far away.
Tokai Teio.
Why are you here!?
Fujiwara Chiya's steps paused, then he slowly walked the rest of the way over.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said in greeting.
Nase Fumino nodded. "I only just..."
"We've been waiting for over half an hour!" Tokai Teio's dissatisfied voice cut in.
She puffed out her cheeks and glowered.
"Um... Teio is?"
Nase Fumino gave him a helpless look, then leaned close and explained quietly, "She somehow found out we were going out and insisted on coming with us."
On the very day Fujiwara Chiya invited her, Nase Fumino had gone back to her room and found herself thinking about what to wear that weekend. Since it had taken so much effort for the two of them to arrange this, she did not want to wear her usual plain formal outfit. But she was not very good at wearing skirts either. While Nase Fumino was still agonizing over it, Tokai Teio just happened to come by and invite her to hang out that weekend.
Without thinking, Nase Fumino had replied, "I already have plans that day. Another time."
"Hm? Who are you going out with, Trainer?"
"Trainer Chiya."
The moment she said that, Tokai Teio's whole expression changed. She threw herself onto the floor like a child and rolled around, demanding to be taken along too, threatening that otherwise she would sleep there that night and refuse to train. In the end, Nase Fumino had no choice but to agree.
And so, things had become what they were now.
"I see. So you've had your share of complications too..."
"Sorry." After finally getting a chance to deepen her bond with Chiya, Tokai Teio had followed along, which meant half the things she had wanted to talk about were no longer possible.
"Trainer! What are you two whispering about behind my back!?"
Seeing them exchange words secretly, Tokai Teio instantly became unhappy. She grabbed Nase Fumino's hand and pouted, tail sticking up in displeasure.
"Nothing. We weren't saying anything."
Nase Fumino looked over, and Fujiwara Chiya nodded repeatedly.
"Just training talk. Come on, you two, let's head to the restaurant. Teio, is there anything you want to eat?"
"I want the Teio Special."
"Alright, one kids' set."
"It's the Teio Special!"
When they arrived at the restaurant they had reserved, an employee came over to greet them. Seeing two adults and one child, the staff member smiled and asked, "Are you a family? We currently have..."
"We are not a family!"
The moment she heard that, Tokai Teio bristled.
What kind of meaning was that supposed to have!? That she was their child? Give me a break. Couldn't this person see that Nase Fumino was her trainer? And that man was just some suspicious guy trying to make a move on her trainer!
Facing Tokai Teio, who was baring her teeth at them, the employee broke into a nervous sweat.
"Um..."
"My child is just throwing a little tantrum. Please go on," Fujiwara Chiya said, patting Tokai Teio on the head to ease the awkwardness.
"Of course. We're currently running a family discount promotion. If you choose the family set, you'll receive thirty percent off."
Thirty percent? That was a pretty significant discount.
As a low-ranking trainer who was often short on money, Fujiwara Chiya was extremely careful with spending. He might spend freely on his Uma Musume, but when it came to himself, he always compared prices at three different places before buying anything.
With a deal this good right in front of him, Fujiwara Chiya was immediately tempted. He looked at Nase Fumino, who absently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Isn't it fine? The family discount."
"Trai..."
Tokai Teio was just about to object when Nase Fumino covered her mouth.
"It's only a discount. It doesn't mean anything else," she whispered into Tokai Teio's ear.
"Then we'll take one family set."
"Very well. This way, please."
The staff member led them deeper into the restaurant.
This was a trendy specialty restaurant Fujiwara Chiya had found online, the kind that required advance reservations. Most of the customers were couples, though there were also families of three, including plenty of ordinary men and women with a little foal between them.
Uma Musume were not born only from Uma Musume. Normal women could give birth to them too. It was like a recessive trait, hidden somewhere within the bloodline.
Watching those families, the gloomy aura around Tokai Teio almost became visible.
Why... why is my trainer out eating with a man!?
Thinking back, when Tokai Teio had gone to find her trainer, Nase Fumino had been standing in front of a mirror comparing skirts. Even though her trainer had never worn anything like that before. Even though her trainer was always the cool type. So why had she suddenly started changing her image?
Obviously, all of it had to do with the man in front of them.
Fujiwara Chiya. Fujiwara Shirayuki's cousin. The trainer of this year's runners. He and her trainer were of the same generation. You could call them rivals through and through.
And yet those two people had just ordered a family set together!
Trainer, you haven't been charmed by this man, have you!?
No way. Absolutely not! The very thought of the trainer who took care of her every day, looked after her, and whose appearance fit her tastes perfectly, being held in someone else's arms, made Tokai Teio's vision darken.
She absolutely would not allow anyone to lay a hand on her trainer!
After Fujiwara Chiya and Nase Fumino sat down, Tokai Teio climbed right into Nase Fumino's lap and sat squarely between her legs.
"Teio?"
"This spot is great, Trainer." Tokai Teio grinned and turned to look provocatively at Fujiwara Chiya.
Well? Now that you can see how close Trainer and I are, are you ready to give up?
Heh heh, Trainer Chiya. If you think you can steal my trainer away, you're still way out of your league!
But just as Tokai Teio smugly prepared to enjoy the sight of Fujiwara Chiya's jealous expression, the man ignored her completely and continued talking with Nase Fumino as though nothing had happened.
Totally unfazed!?
Seeing that, Tokai Teio instantly became unsettled. This man was more troublesome than she had imagined. Last year her trainer had not seemed to pay him that much attention, so why were they suddenly this close now?
Could it be that the two of you have had something going on behind my back?
The more Tokai Teio thought about it, the more anxious she became. When the staff brought the food, she immediately started feeding her trainer herself.
Nase Fumino looked rather helpless, but in order to keep Teio in a good mood, she obediently accepted each bite.
Why is Teio being this interactive today?
She had always been clingy, yes, but not usually like this. Sitting in her lap, holding her hand... it almost felt like looking after a child.
Speaking of children...
Nase Fumino looked at Fujiwara Chiya.
Then wouldn't he be the father?
A strange sense of happiness welled up in Nase Fumino's chest.
Before long, the three of them finished their meal.
When Tokai Teio stepped away to use the restroom, Nase Fumino quietly moved closer to Fujiwara Chiya.
"Sorry. I didn't tell you Teio was coming."
"It's fine. One more person just makes things livelier." Fujiwara Chiya smiled.
"But I didn't expect you and Teio to be so close. That child seems really attached to you."
"At first I had trouble dealing with her personality, but after spending time with her, it stopped being a problem."
"Watching you and Teio just now, I was thinking..." Fujiwara Chiya said, "more than a trainer and Uma Musume, the two of you looked like a mother and daughter."
If I could have a family in the future, I think it might feel like that.
Nase Fumino's pupils shook sharply.
"Yes... if I could have a family in the future, it would probably feel like this."
Inside the restroom, Tokai Teio washed her hands and hurried back to the table. She absolutely did not trust her trainer to be left alone with that man.
But when she returned, she found that her trainer's cheeks were slightly flushed.
In those few short minutes, Tokai Teio understood one thing.
That wretched man had already launched his attack on her trainer.