"So they're gone?"
"Indeed! They have just taken their flight a couple days before!" Director Akikawa said cheerfully, drawing the appropriate fan from somewhere. "Both to acquire the appropriate medication and to glimpse at the world of American racing have they opted to take this journey!"
Obey Your Master raised an eyebrow at the director's flowery words. They felt awfully awkward, as if she was reading from some script. It didn't take long to realize what she was actually saying. "So basically you're saying Secretariat kidnapped them." She concluded, and a slight smile pierced through her dull expression as she saw the director's calm mask slip into one of mild annoyance.
"Grievance! To think Secretariat would dare to take all of Team Kitahara under her wing with such a brazen attitude!" She harrumphed as she snapped her fan close. "What luck that Tazuna was not included in our conversation, or else that foolish woman would have her comeuppance!"
"What does Hayakawa-san have to do with anything?" Obey asked, and her confusion only grew when she saw the sheer panic in the director's eyes when she realized what she'd said.
"Mistake! I-I said nothing!" Director Akikawa quickly said as she fumbled and opened another fan, not realizing that the boldly written words were facing the wrong way. "I meant that Tazuna is simply more protective than I, that is all!"
"...riiight." She drawled out, though she didn't dive any deeper. For all intents and purposes, she was still an outsider here. She had no grounds to try and peer any deeper.
She sighed softly.
She was back in Tracen Central Academy. She'd been away for almost a month by this point, and she'd only recently returned. Which wasn't technically allowed—she was a student of the academy after all, and all students had to stay in the dorm provided within academy grounds.
But Director Akikawa had been extremely accommodating when she mentioned an issue she had.
…Though calling it an 'issue' wouldn't be entirely correct.
She just…didn't know what to say to Blossom Star. Realizing that Star had been fighting to bring her to Japan had been insane to think of, and then knowing that Star had downright destroyed the URA all to ensure the rest of her career wouldn't get blocked by some stupid rules made her feel-
Well, it-, uh,
Nevermind.
"Worry! Are you alright, Obey-san?" Director Akikawa then said, her eyes softened with worry. "Your face is quite red! Are you running a fever!?"
Obey cleared her throat as she quickly waved her hands. "I'm fine. Don't worry, Akikawa-san."
So, because she was shy and didn't know how to interact with others outside of hiding behind her mask, she ran. She ran like a startled cat and waited until Team Kitahara had left for America. Of course, she'd promised herself that she wouldn't use her mask anymore; that she'd do her best to just be her normal self.
Though, even now, she didn't really know how to be 'normal'. She was fairly sure she knew how to be like that once, but she couldn't really remember it anymore. Most of her old self had been consumed—torn to shreds when she tried forcing her new smiling persona onto a face that just didn't match it.
But she was getting better. Or at least she hoped she was.
Director Akikawa frowned slightly as she saw the persistent blush on Obey's cheeks, but she eventually shrugged. "I see. But do not hesitate to ask if you require assistance!" She then blinked, before she gazed at her still-bandaged legs. "Curiosity! How are your legs now?"
Obey slightly shook her hand. "Gettin' better, I guess." She said, doing her best to return a reassuring smile. It looked a little awkward, but it got her feelings across.
And she wasn't lying either. Her injuries were no longer critical now, and given maybe a month or two, she'd be free from her crutches. Of course, there was still the rehabilitation she'd have to undergo, but she didn't bother thinking about that right now. She'd leave that ordeal to the future.
Director Akikawa nodded with a faint smile. "Good, good! Resting and healing is your utmost priority!" Her smile grew slightly as she unfurled another fan. "Interest! Have you read the notes I have shared with you several days ago?"
Obey blinked, and then nodded. "I have, yeah." She frowned thoughtfully as she thought back to that stack of notes the director had given her. It was a bunch of notes on running techniques, and it was comprehensive to say the least. "It was pretty damn good." Was what she said, but she was underselling it. She'd probably learnt more about running from those notes than she had over most of her career.
Director Akikawa hummed. "Is that so?"
"Definitely." She gave another awkward smile. "Props to the creator. Whoever wrote those was a definite genius."
The director gave a satisfied smirk at her words, and she puffed out her chest in pride. "Good, good! I am glad to hear that my knowledge was of any help!"
Obey paused as she processed what Director Akikawa said. "Wait, you were the one who wrote that?"
"Indeed! They were some tips I had written down as a welcoming gift for you!" She said, pulling out another fan from somewhere.
Obey stared for a moment. "...huh. Didn't know you were a trainer too." She whispered, and then promptly realized the idiocy of her words. Of course Director Akikawa knew how to train umamusume how to run—she was the goddamned director of Tracen Academy for Goddesses' sake.
Despite her whispering her words, Akikawa somehow heard them. "A director I may be, but it would be a disservice to all other trainers if I somehow remain untrained on matters such as this!"
"...right."
Director Akikawa hummed for a moment, before she brought out another fan. "Curiosity! Have you found a trainer yet, Obey-san?"
"Nah. I mean," she pointed at her still-bandaged legs. "What trainer's willing to take me on right now? They gotta get paid too after all; no one's gonna be willing to take on a cripple."
The director sighed softly, though she didn't disagree. She understood that not every trainer became one simply for passion—many were simply doing this as a job. The fact that many of the umamusume belonging to the Generation of Miracles had been paired with passionate trainers was a blessing in its own right.
And so, in that case-!
"Inquiry!" Director Akikawa smiled brightly as she thrust a fan forward. "As you have yet to acquire a trainer, why don't I become your trainer for the time being then!?"
…what?
"What?" She repeated out loud.
"It's not so surprising, is it?" The director grinned as she snapped her fan close. "You have stated that my knowledge is more than sufficient, and as all students require a trainer if they wish to participate in races, then it falls to me to ensure that this chance you have been granted does not go to waste!"
"I mean-, you're not wrong." She frowned slightly. "But is that even okay? You're the director and all. Won't that be unfair?"
"It is precisely because I am the director that this is possible!" She said in return, completely free from any shame.
Obey looked down for a moment, glancing at her bandaged legs. Overall, there was nothing wrong with having Director Akikawa as her trainer. She'd already said that this arrangement would only be temporary, at least until Obey managed to secure a trainer of her own. And considering the URA wasn't around anymore, Director Akikawa was literally the one making the rules.
Well, in that case--
Obey smiled slightly as she bowed. "Then I'll be in your care, Akikawa-san."
"Fantastic!" Director Akikawa said with a cheery grin, unfurling another fan that had the same word written in bold ink.
And just like that, Obey Your Master somehow became the trainee of the director of Tracen Central Academy.
…hah, what a weird life this was.