"Trainer's body... it's so stiff. Am I hugging him too tightly?"
"It's nothing, Doto. You'd better hurry. I don't want to be seen."
Wada didn't dare to move a muscle right now. Letting Doto hug him was already quite risky, and Wada certainly didn't dare to make any physical moves. This was a matter of principle. As a Trainer, hugging his Horse Girl was already troublesome enough. If he dared to forget himself, his Central qualification certificate would become waste paper that very day!
He still had a promise with Opera O to fulfill, and he couldn't let his future be ruined like this. Therefore, his body was truly, completely stiff, not daring to make the slightest movement.
However, it was regrettable that while there might be some tacit understanding between Wada and Opera O, there was absolutely none with Meisho Doto in his arms.
"Is that so...?" Doto thought Wada might be feeling a bit unwell, so she hugged Wada's body even tighter.
Meisho Doto, whose cheeks were already flushed red and who dared not look at anyone, buried herself completely in Wada's arms, and said shyly:
"Then, let's hug for a little longer. I'm quite confident in the softness of my body. Jingong always said that sleeping while hugging me was as comfortable as hugging a large body pillow..."
But I don't want to sleep right now. Wada was also sweating profusely with anxiety. He felt his rational mind was constantly being provoked by his Uma Musume. If it weren't for his extremely strong stress resistance, he would probably have lost his composure by now, just like Doto on the racetrack.
He just hoped that no one would see them now, otherwise, he would truly be unable to explain himself. He hoped someone would listen to his explanation... "—Hahahahahahaha! What a bittersweet scene! I only hope that I, the Overlord, haven't disturbed the interaction between my most beloved subject and her Trainer ~"
A sudden burst of exaggerated laughter completely interrupted Doto's emotional outburst and allowed Wada to successfully escape. Wada only felt that the slightly warm marshmallow in his arms suddenly retreated, and he instinctively looked towards the source of the voice.
"Opera O?!"
"Long time no see Trainer Wada, who left a deep impression on me. It seems you and my most beloved subject are getting along very well "
Opera O showed nothing on the surface, using exaggerated tone and gestures to conceal all her emotions—in fact, she had originally intended to leave quietly and not disturb Doto and Wada.
But it wasn't until Doto clung tightly to Wada, refusing to let go, that she finally couldn't sit still. She suspected that if she didn't step forward, Doto would really keep hugging Wada indefinitely.
"O-Opera O..."
Doto's face was also completely flushed. Seeing her most admired Opera O appear before them, she stammered nervously:
"You, you didn't see anything, did you? About me and Trainer. That, we didn't do anything, just, just a hug, really nothing at all—"
...My dear child, what you're saying sounds like you're trying to make something out of nothing. Wada also had a bitter look on his face, feeling that if it had been anyone else but Opera O, his Central qualification certificate would probably have been scrapped on the spot.
"Opera O, why are you here? When did you arrive?"
"Hmm, I was just worried about the state of my beloved subject, but now it seems I, the Overlord, don't need to intervene." Opera O didn't hide her actions at all, smiling as she replied, "I've been following from the beginning, but I felt it wasn't good to interrupt."
"F-from the beginning, you mean..."
However, Opera O's words made Doto's eyes turn into spirals. The thought that her rare moment of 'endearment' had been witnessed by Opera O made her legs, still tired from the recent race, unconsciously start digging into the ground.
She seemed to be planning to dig a hole and shrink into it like an ostrich... Doto's actions were fully observed by Opera O and Wada. The two exchanged a smile and shrugged their shoulders together.
"I heard your Yukinayanagi Sho just finished. How did you get back so quickly?"
"Hahaha, a mere Yukinayanagi Sho can't stop my steps as the Overlord. Of course, I won it easily ~" Opera O waved her hand proudly, complimenting her own ability without any psychological burden:
"On the contrary, Trainer Wada, you didn't seem to be present. I thought you, as the one who drives my most beloved subject and competes with me, the Overlord, would come to the scene for reconnaissance."
"I couldn't help it, I was too busy with the Friendship Race and couldn't leave." Wada also waved his hand and said, "But I watched the live broadcast and have recorded it to use for Doto's study."
"Hahahahaha! Hearing that makes me look forward to the Mainichi Hai a month from now!"
Yes, this natural feeling, it really is magical. Opera O now consciously felt that natural feeling when facing Wada. There was no tension, nor the tense atmosphere that should exist between rivals. Everything seemed harmonious.
The two seemed to have known each other for a very long time. No matter what the other did, they wouldn't be surprised, and no suspicion or vigilance could arise between them. Just as Opera O came openly to watch Doto's race, Opera O naturally accepted that Wada recorded her race footage.
If it were any other Uma Musume, they might feel a bit nervous, because studying footage could mean their running style might be deciphered, thereby making the situation unfavorable for them—but Opera O was not nervous because of this.
It wasn't that she wasn't worried about her running style being deciphered, but rather... she simply couldn't get angry at Wada.
"However, even if you watch the videotape, don't be misled by my running style. I am the Overlord, and I won't be confined to just one running style." Opera O said with full confidence, puffing out her chest. Her chest wasn't as formidable as Doto's, but she held it very confidently, forming a stark contrast to Doto, who usually walked with a hunched back.
"Ah, I know. You're not only good at Sashi, but your Senko is even more..."
"Eh? How do you know I can do Senko...?"
However, after only a few exchanges, Wada suddenly stopped speaking, and Opera O, who reacted belatedly, exchanged glances. Neither of them spoke, but their eyes suddenly conveyed a lot.
Doto, on the side, was confused by this and asked timidly, raising her small hand:
"Um... can Opera O also do Senko? I clearly remember Opera O always running Sashi..."
—Hahahahaha! It's merely an exploration during my leisure time. As the Overlord, how can I only pursue one running style?
Opera O naturally steered the conversation away, and also didn't mention why Wada knew she had been researching the Senko running style recently—this was something even her Trainer, Ms. Tojo Hana, didn't know. Because the Mainichi Hai was approaching, Ms. Tojo Hana didn't want to spend a lot of effort exploring new running techniques. She chose a stable way to achieve victory.
So far, Opera O had solidified her Sashi running style very well. With the Mainichi Hai approaching, it was undoubtedly more likely to win using Sashi. This line of thinking was very normal.
However, is what is normal always correct?
"Alright, the small talk is over. I'm here to call you two back." Opera O quickly turned the page, smiling as she said:
"I'm taking you to the winner's stage. They're already setting up over there. You wouldn't want to miss it, would you?"
...The winner's stage? What's that?
However, Opera O's words made Wada instinctively pause. He looked at Opera O, whose expression was uncharacteristically stiff, then turned to look at Meisho Doto beside him, whose face had suddenly turned pale, and gradually realized the seriousness of the problem.
This winner's stage... it seems... it was something he had never heard of, and had never paid any attention to...