"Trainer… you don't have to comfort me like this…"
However, after a long while, Doto's reaction was once again unexpected. It seemed as if Doto was touched by Wada's "true feelings," and a long-lost smile appeared on her face as she wiped away her tears and said, "Trainer is so young, looking like he just graduated from university not long ago. Not only is he one of the most outstanding Central Trainers of his generation, but he also ranked third in the written exam. If someone like Trainer isn't considered outstanding, then there probably aren't many outstanding people in the whole world."
"…"
Well, Wada had forgotten that his face had also become much younger after his transmigration. When he was a newcomer, he was roughly this age, and that was his true level—not now, with a university student's face, but with the heart of a veteran who had won nearly a dozen GIs.
To be honest, if it were really like that, it would be great. Wada wouldn't have to keep his head down at Shadai, and he would have to be extremely humble even when receiving honors—he dared not be arrogant! He knew what his own level was; it was all Opera O carrying him. If he offended those seniors at Shadai, he wouldn't be able to get by anywhere.
However, facts proved that even if Wada was very humble, he still couldn't resist people's malice. The two encirclements back then made Wada realize this point: in this world, one still had to rely on one's own ability to strive.
Dignity is not begged for, but fought for. It's a pity that Wada only understood this truth after he lost Opera O… Perhaps this was something Opera O had always wanted to tell him? Wada suddenly understood why Opera O had bitten him the last time they met.
He was indeed too useless.
"But, Trainer, are you really willing to continue guiding me? I am such a disappointing Uma Musume…" Doto also understood Wada's meaning, and the initial gloom that had enveloped her heart slowly dissipated, but she still said with great insecurity, "I lost a race that I could have won because of my cowardice… Are you really still willing to continue guiding me? A useless Uma Musume like me."
"—Doto, don't forget our goal. Our true opponent is not Mejiro McQueen, but Opera O."
Wada saw that Doto's emotions seemed to have stabilized, and he also breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, comforting her, "Mejiro McQueen is a strong opponent, there's no doubt about that. But Opera O is, in some sense, an even tougher enemy than Mejiro McQueen. And for the next Mainichi Hai, I've already seen the entry list. It can be said that, besides Opera O and you, all the other Uma Musume are like supporting characters."
"That is to say, in the Mainichi Hai a month from now, it will only be a competition between you and Opera O, with no one like Tokai Teio today to interfere with you. In such a situation, do you think your chances of winning will increase?"
"I…"
Doto opened her mouth, she really wanted to tell Wada that she had the confidence. But as soon as she thought of Opera O, who was even stronger than Mejiro McQueen, and as soon as she thought that even with an advantage, she could at most win by half a Racehorse length against Mejiro McQueen… Doto instantly deflated again.
"We still have a lot to practice, Doto, don't be discouraged."
And even though Doto didn't answer, Wada could tell that she already understood that she still had a long way to go if she wanted to win. Wada stroked Doto's small head and said gently, "This race, for us, is just a warm-up. It's best if we win, but it's no loss if we don't. I originally planned to use this victory to give you confidence and make you braver, but now it seems that even without victory, you already know where the problem lies."
"There's a lot of experience to be summarized from today's race, Doto. Today's race was to let you know how to run a race, and for the next month, I will teach you how to win a race."
"How to win… Isn't it enough to just run to first place?" Doto was a bit puzzled by this. She had never thought about how to win a race. Isn't a race a competition of Uma Musume's raw strength, performance, and luck? What other factors are there besides these?
In reality, Doto's idea is also a common misconception among most of the new generation of Uma Musume, even Horse Girls like Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen—and this is where the Trainer's role comes in.
An Uma Musume has her strengths and weaknesses. Simply relying on her physical strength to compete, even if she wins, is just brute force. Most Uma Musume cannot train their bodies to max level before debuting; instead, they should focus on cultivating their strengths within an effective range.
And how to win a race is a major challenge for the Trainer—how to maximize the Uma Musume's advantages and strengths, avoid her weaknesses, and thus win a race.
"Alright, shall we go back?"
"Mm…" Doto's doubts were resolved, and the vexation and dark clouds vanished at this moment, a smile reappearing on her face.
But just as Wada was about to take Doto back, Doto suddenly stepped forward, carefully grasping Wada's sleeve.
"Um… Trainer… I have a request…"
"Can I… hug you?"
As soon as Doto said this, she immediately received a subtle gaze from Wada. Doto's pretty face turned crimson as if boiling water, and her hands nervously rubbed her fingers, as she carefully said, "I, I am very timid and easily scared, so I want to cultivate my courage. Next time, I probably won't be as scared by Teio as I was today…"
"And, and, I also want to thank Trainer for guiding me and always encouraging me, but I can't give Trainer anything, so, a hug… a hug should still be okay, right?"
As she spoke, Doto herself started to become incoherent, yet Wada remained silent, causing Doto's psychological pressure to grow. Even the single cowlick on her head swayed frantically like a bamboo dragonfly, and Doto's ponytail also swung back and forth non-stop.
"Su, surely not!"
"…I don't mind, though."
However, Wada's silence seemed to be broken just as Doto was about to give up. Wada looked around, and after confirming that no one was nearby, he hesitantly opened his arms and said gently to Doto, "But, don't let anyone see us. After all, we are Trainer and the Uma Musume he is in charge of. Strictly speaking, we are teacher and student. If someone takes a picture, I'll be in a difficult position."
"Ye-yes." Doto also nodded belatedly. Clearly, what Wada didn't know was that at Tracen Academy, there were countless cases of Trainers and Uma Musume getting married. In this almost closed environment, a mentor who wholeheartedly supported them, and an Uma Musume at the age of first love, spending three years together, anything could happen.
So, at Tracen Academy, it's not uncommon for Trainers and their assigned Uma Musume to have an ambiguous relationship. If it weren't for the fact that Trainers and Uma Musume often retired and got married directly after their journey ended, leading to a shortage of teaching staff at Tracen Academy, Tracen Academy wouldn't have strictly prohibited romantic relationships between Trainers and Uma Musume.
Of course, Wada's concern wasn't just this; it was mainly Doto's figure… it was simply too formidable. Wada wasn't the type of man who was completely unmoving like a mountain. He was very worried that when Doto hugged him, he would automatically bend over for certain reasons… Calm down, Wada, you are an excellent Trainer. Keep a normal mind. Think of this child as your student, and you are her mentor, then it will be fine… Why does it feel like the problem is even bigger now?
"Then, then, I'm going to hug you now, okay?"
And Doto, having received permission, carefully opened her arms. The enormous "heart" predictably gave Wada an extremely violent impact first. He only felt a soft and delicate body fall into his embrace, as if he had hugged a ball of cotton candy.
This scene, however, made T.M. Opera O, who had been following behind Wada and was now hiding in the shadows, unwilling to show her face or reveal her name, unable to sit still.
"This is truly… both sweet and heartbreaking."
At this moment, Opera O, who had secretly followed because she was worried about Wada and Doto's state, lost even the energy for her chuunibyou antics when she saw this scene from the other side.
She only felt a throbbing pain in her heart and a surge of bitterness that made her mouth and tongue feel sour.
This feeling, as if something she should have owned was snatched away… it was truly inexplicable…