Author's Note: I am not an editor or a professional writer. I will write this and edit it to the best of my ability. I also do not own Uma Musume, which is owned by Cygames. Watch the animes and read the mangas, for they are pretty good. Finally, please enjoy.
Tyrant Rose POV
After everything that happened earlier, Sweets and I left the room together. She looked like she was having the time of her life after caving Spice's face in. As for me, I'd been assigned to watch over her for the night.
Talk about winning the lottery.
She, however, looked pouty about having to be babysat like a child.
Still, I couldn't have been happier walking beside her. Unfortunately, neither of us said anything. An awkward silence settled between us.
I wanted to say something.
Anything.
But the words refused to come out.
I wanted to reach over and hold her hand, but every time I tried, flashes of my past invaded my mind.
Why?
Why can she touch me without a problem, but the moment I try to touch her, my trauma resurfaces?
I was terrified of my past just as much as I was terrified of losing her.
Every time I stayed quiet, I worried I'd bore her.
Every time I reached toward her and pulled away, I worried I'd offend her.
I knew exactly why I was like this.
I just hated it.
After several minutes of silence, Sweets suddenly pulled out her phone.
She called someone.
"Hi, Rain! I missed you."
…
What?
She continued with a smile.
"We've missed so much and wasted so much time. Let's finally catch up our own way. Yeah… let's finally get together and do what we've always wanted to do."
…
What the fuck?
What in the goddesses' names is going on between her and Rain?
If I'm understanding this correctly…
I'm going to kill Rain.
After ending the call, she turned toward me.
"I'll see you later, Rose. Take care, okay? I'm meeting someone important to me."
Then she walked away.
Now, do you know one of the greatest things about parkour and free running?
You can stalk—
…I mean…
Watch over someone without them noticing while keeping up with them from the rooftops.
I quickly climbed onto the roofs and shadowed her from above as she made her way across the campus.
Eventually she entered another building.
I slipped in through a different entrance and started searching for her.
I was so focused on finding Sweets that I wasn't watching where I was going.
Thud!
I slammed full force into someone.
Both of us were knocked backward.
"Whoops, sorry—"
The girl froze.
"Rose?!"
It was Gray.
I immediately covered her mouth.
"Shhh!"
After I let go, she whispered harshly,
"What are you doing here?!"
Trying my best to sound casual, I whispered back,
"Nothing. What are you doing here?"
As she picked up her phone from the floor, I noticed something on the screen.
A tracker.
Specifically…
Rain's location.
"…Whatever you're doing," I whispered, "you came ridiculously prepared."
She snatched her phone back.
"It's none of your business."
…
She was in love with Rain.
Wow.
And here I thought she couldn't make it any more obvious.
Gray started sneaking deeper into the building.
Since she was obviously heading toward Rain…
…who was with Sweets…
…I quietly followed.
Without looking back she whispered,
"Quit following me. It's weird."
"Who's following who?" I whispered back. "Why are you going the same direction as me?"
She ignored me completely.
Eventually we found them.
Rain and Sweets were talking together just around the corner.
Gray and I ducked behind a nearby wall and carefully edged closer to listen.
Then—
Ping.
Gray's phone.
A second later—
Ping.
Mine.
Apparently everyone had received the same message.
Thankfully Rain and Sweets looked at their phones before looking at us, giving Gray and me just enough time to stop looking suspicious and pretend we had legitimate business here.
The two of them walked over.
Rain smiled.
"Hey, you got the message too?"
I checked mine.
"'Yo, guess whose girl just got her agency hired as the organization's primary agency?'"
I sighed.
"Looks like Ayana's moving up. I'll send my congratulations to Ayana… and my death threats to Spice."
Rain nodded seriously.
"Actually… I'll do the same."
For once, we were completely on the same page.
Spice deserved every threatening text she received.
Not only had she gotten us caught…
She was also an annoying little shit.
Rain folded her arms.
"So… what are you two doing here?"
Gray answered so quickly it was suspicious.
"Rose and I met up to discuss leadership work."
I immediately nodded.
"Yep."
Please buy it.
Please buy it.
"So…" I continued, "what are you two doing?"
I genuinely needed to know whether I had to murder Rain within the next thirty seconds.
Rain beamed.
"Us gym buddies are finally getting together! We're going to catch up on our workouts and embrace the spirit of youth!"
Sweets pumped her fist.
"Yeah!!"
…
Goddesses above…
Would it have killed either of you to phrase that differently?
Then Sweets smiled brightly.
"Hey! Why don't you two join us?"
She stepped closer.
Way too close.
Rain enthusiastically agreed.
"Yes! Together we shall chase the springtime of our youth this very night!"
Sweets leaned in even closer until my brain completely shut down.
"You'll come with us… right?"
She was so unbelievably adorable that every logical thought disappeared.
"Sure," I answered without thinking. "Why not?"
Gray slowly turned toward me.
"…Rose."
She leaned close enough that only I could hear.
"What the fuck did you just sign us up for?"
I thought she was exaggerating.
She wasn't.
The two of us were dragged into the gym before we could protest.
Hours later…
I regretted every decision I'd ever made.
Calling it a workout was an insult.
It was a massacre.
Weights.
Sprints.
Calisthenics.
Stretching.
Circuit training.
Then more running.
Meanwhile Rain and Sweets laughed through the entire thing like they weren't trying to kill us.
Gray and I were barely clinging to life.
After what felt like an eternity, we finally showered, borrowed fresh clothes from the staff, and went out to eat.
It should have felt like a double date.
Instead, every muscle in my body screamed in agony with every movement.
Eventually neither Gray nor I could walk anymore.
Rain and Sweets each carried one of us back to our rooms.
I ended up on Sweets' back.
At first I only held on because I had no other choice.
Then…
I realized something.
I was hugging her.
Voluntarily.
She smiled.
"Well, would you look at that."
"The first time you've touched me on your own."
She was right.
I could've waited for the staff to wheel me back on a stretcher.
Instead…
I chose her.
I chose to hold onto her.
My chest felt warm.
Safe.
Happy.
Before I knew it, sleep began pulling me under.
Just before I drifted off, I heard her soft voice.
"Good night, sweet prince."
She giggled.
"…Maybe princess, since you're a girl now."
I fell asleep smiling in her arms.
This version strengthens Rose's emotional progression—from anxious avoidance, to jealous misunderstanding, to the comedy of the workout, and finally to the quiet breakthrough where she voluntarily embraces Sweets. The ending feels like a meaningful milestone in Rose's healing while still ending on a lighthearted joke.