It was night at Tracen Academy, and Opera O had accepted Tojo Hana's invitation to train on Tracen Academy's track.
At this time of night, the track was, without a doubt, almost deserted, which was a special 'private tutoring' training method among Tracen Academy's Trainers.
"Keep running, Opera O, your rhythm is excellent right now.
If you maintain this speed, the Mainichi Hai is ours!"
"Yes!"
Tojo Hana encouraged Opera O to continue solidifying her Sashi running style as arranged, and now, even Tojo Hana felt that Opera O's current Sashi rhythm almost no longer needed further training.
Sashi was the running style Opera O used to win both her Debut Race and the Yukinayanagi Sho.
After the Debut Race, Tojo Hana had been training Opera O exclusively with the Sashi running style, and the results were very good—at least Tojo Hana felt that, given Opera O's current potential, let alone the GIII Mainichi Hai, winning a GII championship wouldn't be a problem.
Just then, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness, walked behind Tojo Hana, and leisurely spoke:
"Sashi, huh... It's a method, but I don't think it's the most suitable running style for Opera O."
"Hmm?"
Tojo Hana was slightly startled by the voice behind her.
At such a late hour, the only person she knew who would sneak out like this was Okino T, who was quite familiar with her but didn't take his job seriously.
This voice, however, she wasn't very familiar with, so she immediately became vigilant.
But soon, with the help of the lights, Tojo Hana clearly saw the person, slowly relaxed her muscles, and said calmly, "Next time, don't be so elusive.
Luckily, this is within Tracen Academy; if we were outside, I would have already thrown you over my shoulder like a pervert, Trainer Wada."
"So, why are you here now? Are you scouting the enemy? I don't mind, you know."
"You could say that.
After all, the Mainichi Hai is coming up soon."
Wada made no attempt to hide his purpose; he was indeed here to scout.
Although he and Doto had watched replays of Opera O's Yukinayanagi Sho several times and analyzed Opera O's current growth in strength many times.
But everything still needed to keep up with the times, especially since Wada knew how quickly Opera O was growing, practically changing day by day.
Therefore, during the days leading up to the Mainichi Hai, he essentially needed to come and watch Opera O's races every day.
Because of this, unbeknownst to Wada, Doto herself was a little unhappy.
Even though the Mainichi Hai was approaching and it was a time for intensified training, and even though she knew Wada's scouting was for her victory, she was still a bit unhappy that Wada's gaze was so focused on Opera O.
But Doto had nothing to say about it; after all, she knew her Trainer was doing it for her own good...
"You really don't hide your intentions."
Tojo Hana, seeing someone as honest as Wada for the first time, then closed the report card in her hand and said calmly:
"Do as you please.
I'll give you five minutes.
I'm going to buy a bottle of water.
After five minutes, please kindly return to your Horse Girl and guide her."
"Thank you."
Wada smiled as he saw Tojo Hana off.
Although this Trainer was strict, she was certainly not a bad person.
Even though Wada was now her competitor, she still tolerated him.
This made Wada, who had some tragic experiences in the past, quite grateful.
Perhaps he had become accustomed to people around him not giving him a good look.
At this moment, having an opponent who competed fairly with him was considered a good person to Wada.
And just after Tojo Hana left, Opera O, who had been running halfway, suddenly stopped and walked straight towards Wada...
"Hahahahaha!
Trainer Wada, you really come to watch This Overlord's live performance every single day It seems you've been captivated by my aura as an Overlord, haven't you"
Opera O made no attempt to hide her exaggerated movements in front of Wada, not even her narcissism.
Clearly, it wasn't the first time she had seen Wada during training.
Ever since the Friendship Race, Opera O often saw Wada observing nearby during her training.
The two occasionally exchanged a few words, and Opera O also found this feeling very relaxed.
Coupled with Tojo Hana not objecting, Opera O became familiar with Wada.
The two, very comfortably, found a place to sit down.
Wada handed the water in his hand to Opera O, watching her slowly drink, but his eyes consciously glanced over, and he said with a smile:
"In a while, it will be the Mainichi Hai, Opera O."
"Yes, I, the Overlord, must also compete with my most beloved subject, hahahaha, fate is truly mischievous!"
Opera O wasn't worried about the Mainichi Hai at all; instead, she jokingly said to Wada: "Trainer Wada, you must be careful.
Even though your ambitious words from back then still echo in my ears, I, as the Overlord, will not hold back in the race, you know."
"Furthermore, even though Trainer didn't go to watch, I watched the entire Friendship Race, and Doto's performance is vivid in my memory.
This is not an opponent that makes me feel at ease."
"If you lose, Trainer Wada, don't cry then.
Instead, you must smile and appreciate my victory as the Overlord!"
However, as she spoke, for some reason, even though Wada hadn't reacted yet, Opera O, upon thinking that if she won against Doto and thus couldn't join Wada's team, felt a dull, stifling sensation in her chest... How strange...
Victory is the honor we Horse Girls should pursue, so why do I suddenly feel... so disliking of such a victory?
"...What's wrong?"
Wada, however, seemed to share some common feeling with Opera O.
Although Opera O's demeanor was as usual, Wada sensed her sudden dip in mood.
"—Hahahahaha!
I just find it amazing that I, the Overlord, seem to have no secrets in front of you~"
Opera O immediately masked her low spirits with a flamboyant burst of laughter.
This was her most common method, whether to break awkwardness, hide emotions, or cover up her embarrassment, she would laugh loudly, almost never revealing sadness.
However, at this moment, under Wada's gaze, that gentle gaze that seemed to see through even her innermost thoughts, Opera O's laughter grew softer and softer, until finally, even her ears drooped slightly, and for the first time, an expression other than confidence appeared on her face.
"...You're really strange, Wada.
When I look into your eyes, I always feel like I have no secrets at all."
Opera O's voice even lost its exaggerated tone, becoming like normal conversation.
If Tojo Hana and her other teammates were here, they would probably be startled by Opera O's sudden change.
But for Wada, this seemed to be Opera O's true self—no, it should be said that every facet was Opera O's true self.
This was Opera O herself, whether confident or unconfident, it was her genuine self.
"Perhaps we met in a past life, who knows."
Wada also smiled and reached out to ruffle Opera O's head.
Opera O's ears instinctively perked up, but not long after, they drooped down again, soft and limp.
"...No one has ever ruffled my head like this except my parents, not even Trainer."
Opera O was also a bit surprised that her reaction was unexpectedly not resistant at all.
To maintain her 'dignity,' she almost never allowed others to arbitrarily pat her head, not even her closest companions.
How could she, an Overlord, be petted like a pet by others?
Such a thing would never happen!—This thought completely vanished after Wada's action.
"Could it be that we really met in a past life? And the dream I had at night wasn't just dreamt by me alone?"
"...A dream?"
Wada stopped his actions upon hearing this.
It was the first time he had heard about Opera O's 'dream,' especially since this dream seemed to be related to him.
"What kind of dream was it, Opera O?"
Wada couldn't help but press, he had a hunch, and this hunch also made Wada feel that it was his only possible chance to defeat Opera O.
Opera O, however, paused slightly upon hearing this, trying to recall the fragments of her dreams—most were fragmented memories, but... there were also some things she remembered.
"In that dream... I don't know what it was, but I seemed to... have seen you in that dream..."
"I saw you crying bitterly, riding on a... hmm... some kind of four-legged creature, and I seemed to be... floating beside you?"
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