"You girls should dance too."
"Uuuh… It's not like we don't want to. It's more like we don't know how to."
After the dance, the 2 Galleons docked back at the port with their friends. The first dance session has ended, and people are now enjoying the snacks and drinks while chatting away.
Normally, people would be swarming all over Igo Heita and Mejiro McQueen, considering that they are the star pair of tonight's ball, but they were intimidated by the umamusumes around them. Symboli Rudolf, Sirius Symboli, Speed Symboli, and Mejiro Ramonu. Any stray soul stupid enough to try to mingle with those big shots either has a death wish, or they are also a big shot.
"Greetings, Mr. Igo Heita." Here comes the first big shot. "Long time no see."
"Ah!! Mr. Cigame Fujita!! Yes, it's been some time." The young man shook the JRA Chairman's hand like an old friend. "I do hope life has been kind to you."
"Besides the increased meetings needed to prepare for next year's surprise, everything has been good."
"Good evening, Mr. Fujita."
"Are you trying to act properly now that Rudolf and Sirius are here, Miss Speed?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about. I have always acted like a model member of the JRA board." The group giggles at Speed and Cigame's back-and-forth banter.
"Good evening, Ramonu."
"Good evening, Forever Darling. I hope you have been well."
"Indeed, I have. The scented candles Agnes Tachyon sold are a lifesaver."
"Do be careful with her stuff." Ramonu still has her eyes on that dangerous umamusume since she was close with her darling.
"You were talking about the New Year's surprise. What could that be, Mr. Fujita?"
"You didn't tell her, Mr. Igo Heita?"
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told them what's in the present, no?"
"I suppose so.
It's okay, Miss Rudolf. I assure you that you would love the surprise the JRA is preparing."
"I shall believe in your words then, Mr. Fujita."
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!
I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE NEXT DANCE SESSION IS DUE IN FIVE MINUTES!!"
"Now this is interesting."
"What is Mr. Fujita?"
"For the first dance, you were dancing with Miss McQueen since she is your fiancée, Mr. Igo Heita.
This second dance will be purely your choice. I would like to know who captured your eye after your beloved."
At the words of the JRA Chairman, the group of umamusumes froze and eyed the young man. They also wanted to know which one among them was currently ahead of the others.
"Sigh… You really know how to make things tense, Mr. Fujita." The young man complained while scratching the back of his head. "Well, I suppose there's only one correct answer."
"Eh? Me?" The umamusume that the young man offered his hand to dance is Speed Symboli. "Are you sure, Trainer Igo Heita?"
"I have been surrounded by unripe fruits this whole time. It's time for me to have a taste of the ripened fruit."
"You certainly live up to your reputation, Mr. Igo Heita. You have such a weird way with words."
"Did I just get rejected?"
"No, of course not. I was also hoping to have a chance to dance with you." The ripe fruit gently placed her hand on the palm of the young man. "Shall we go, sir?"
"Yes, let us go."
The unripe fruits' lower jaws hit the floor. They had expected at least one of them to win, but to be insulted as nothing more than unripe fruits was not what they had expected. Somehow, the young man found a way to destroy their expectation of him.
The pair of adults elegantly made their way to the center of the dance floor. With the smooth jazz accompanying them, the pair showed the unripe fruits how true adults dance.
"Hahaha~~ I couldn't believe I would get to see Ramonu so flabbergasted like that."
"She always acts as if we are in the same generation. It's a good reminder that she is still young."
"Then does that mean I'm not, Mr. Igo Heita? I know my age, but that still hurt, you know?"
"I wouldn't say that you are old, Miss Speed. The word I would use is… just right. You should eat an apple when it is red, and not green, no?"
"Fufufufu~~ So what reasons did you pick me as your dance partner, Mister Igo Heita? You just made me the enemy of those girls, you know?"
"I just want to be friends with you, Miss Speed. Please don't think too badly of me."
"Is that so? Ramonu always told me that you both are more alike than you would like to admit, Mister Igo Heita."
"Ooh? Do tell me how we both are so much alike?"
"That you never do anything for the goodness of your heart. That there is always a sinister or selfish reason for your action."
"Hahaha!! I wanted to surprise you, but that bitch ruined my fun!!
You're right, Miss Speed. There are reasons why I picked you."
"Do tell…"
"First, you're so beautiful. I want to invite you to my room tonight and have you move up and down on my crotch." As the young man proclaims his lustful reason for inviting Speed, his hand that is on Speed's back drifted downward to her butts. "Certainly those idiots are blind for never realizing just how fascinating you are."
"Urk…" This side of Igo Heita is one of the things that Ramonu had warned Speed about, but she didn't expect him to be so bold. Even the most lustful man would think twice before baring his feelings to someone like Speed.
"Second, I would like to know the meat I'm going to feed to my trainees."
"Ah…"
Ramonu's words resurfaced inside Speed's mind.
"He does not see us as a goal, but more as an obstacle.
Do not look him in his eyes when he professes his love for you.
You would never fall in love with anyone else ever again."
Speed wishes she had heeded Ramonu's warning. The young man had pulled Speed close to him when he professed his love (intention of defeating her), so their faces were only inches from each other, and Speed instinctively looked at the young man right in his eyes.
"I will defeat you, Speed Symboli. I will make you my stepping stone."
Ah… No… Don't say that… Don't give me hope…
My racing days are behind me! I have reached my peak!! No!!
Don't give me hope!! No!! Don't!!
I have retired!!!
"Keep waiting for me in your retired tower, Speed. I'm coming for you."
Well… There's nothing wrong with dreaming, no?
"Fufufu~~ Then I'll be waiting for my rescue, prince."
"And for my third reason," The young man gently pulled Speed's face to his chest so his mouth would line up with her ears. "I need you, Speed."