Chapter 39. Really "Clever" to Ask for Advice
As Music Station officially kicked off, Shuta Ann removed his headphones and settled in. Having never attended a live taping before, he found the experience quite different from watching at home. Since he'd already made it clear to the staff that he didn't want to be on camera, he felt remarkably relaxed leaning back in the very last row.
The Uma Musume sitting next to him had been watching his relaxed posture with a mix of envy and curiosity. Seizing the moment, she finally spoke up.
"Mr. Shuta, long time no see."
Shuta turned, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Ms. Curren Chan? It's been a while. I certainly didn't expect to run into you here."
"Curren is surprised too!" she replied, her eyes curving into crescents as she hid a smile behind her hand.
"I was invited here to gather some material and do a bit of 'business' for my fans."
When Shuta asked if she'd be interviewed on air, Curren waved her hands dismissively, explaining that such "pre-arranged" segments were old-fashioned and that her audience would see right through the act.
She quickly reassured him that he needn't worry about the cameras—she would manage the filming angles to ensure he stayed out of the shot. Shuta nodded, trusting her professionalism; in his eyes, the young influencer was quite credible.
—
As Silence Suzuka prepared to take the stage, Curren Chan's playful demeanor shifted. She leaned in and asked in a low, serious voice, "Mr. Shuta, I wanted to ask, do you think I have what it takes to be a qualified Uma Musume?"
Shuta was taken aback. He knew through Kurofune that Curren had expressed interest in joining the Central Tracen Academy, but he'd assumed it was just a case of her wanting to stay close to her best friend. Curren was already a massive success as an influencer; entering the Twinkle Series was a huge gamble. If she failed to win major honors, it could stall her current momentum.
Wanting to give her a real answer, Shuta closed his eyes and activated his attribute viewer. As soon as he saw her "Short Distance: A" rating, his mind was made up.
"Of course," Shuta said firmly. "Ms. Curren Chan is perfectly suited for sprint races. I have no doubt you can create your own legend in the Twinkle Series."
Curren blinked rapidly, stunned. It was the first time anyone had actually encouraged her dream. While others told her to play it safe with her idol career, the man she considered Japan's most "insightful" trainer had just given her the green light.
"Thank you, Mr. Ann. I've made my decision," she said with a respectful bow.
Shuta smiled. "Don't mention it. You're Kurofune's friend, and it would be good for her to have you at the Academy. I often have to ask Teio or Dober to keep her company so she doesn't look so lonely."
"Kurofune-nee-san, never told me she felt that way," Curren whispered.
"She's the type to put on a brave face," Shuta noted. "Many of the greats are like that—Oguri Cap, Berno Light, and even Suzuka. They're afraid of being alone but insist on acting tough."
—
Up on the stage, Silence Suzuka spotted the two of them chatting. She recognized Curren immediately, knowing the influencer was a close friend of Kurofune and a frequent contact for Team Sadalsuud.
"To think they'd meet here," Suzuka murmured to herself, her ears twitching. She watched them closely for a moment, then relaxed.
"Well, Ann's expression looks professional enough—otherwise, I might actually have to get a little jealous."
—
After Music Station concluded, Shuta Ann retrieved his car and picked up Silence Suzuka at the main entrance of TV Asahi.
"I don't want to go back to the academy today," Suzuka said once she was settled. Shuta was momentarily taken aback, but understanding her meaning, he readily agreed.
As they drove, Suzuka spoke up. "During the live broadcast today, the one next to you was Curren Chan, right?"
"Yes," Shuta answered. "She asked me if she had a chance of succeeding at the Central Tracen Academy."
"Oh?" Although she had heard Kurofune mention the rumor before, Suzuka was surprised. "So she really does have that idea. What was your take on it, Ann?"
Shuta pointed to himself.
"Me? I took a look and felt she definitely has a chance. But it is a bit strange," he muttered.
He recalled that he used to be able to see more of her attributes, but today he could only see her distance adaptability. He also noted that her way of addressing him had shifted from intimate to formal and distant.
Suzuka's eyes brightened at this news, her tone growing lighter. "Is that so? Well, it's probably because you haven't seen each other in a long time. It's normal for a young girl's enthusiasm to wane, right?"
"Suzuka is right," Shuta agreed. "It's not like I'm an object everyone has to like."
—
Meanwhile, leaving TV Asahi in her own car, Curren Chan let out a weary yawn.
"You look exhausted," her assistant noted. "Did something happen?"
"I ran into 'Big Brother',"
Curren Chan whispered. To her, that title belonged to only one person.
"Oh! Then you must have talked a lot?"
"Mhm, but Curren intentionally made the way she addressed him much colder," she said, leaning back. "If only Curren had been born a few years earlier."
She knew that with Suzuka watching her in the studio, she had to maintain a bounded distance. If she had used her old, intimate nicknames, Suzuka would have immediately put her guard up. To get closer in the future, she had to play it safe for now.
—
Back at his home in Shinjuku, Shuta handed the keys to Suzuka. The May heat in Tokyo was already rising, and the air conditioning was a welcome relief.
"Suzuka, do you want to go up and take a bath?" Shuta asked, tugging at his collar.
"Eh?!"
Suzuka had originally planned to let him go first, but she had felt sticky since her performance and was hesitant to even get close to him while feeling unwashed.
"There are three bathrooms upstairs," Shuta reminded her.
"I've even got brand-new Gelato Pique pajamas ready."
He had chosen the brand for its "sweet style" and comfort, having memorized her sizes through past "tactile measurements."
As he prepared to take a soak in his own private bathroom, Shuta's heart pounded. He started dreading the next morning—taking Suzuka back to the academy meant facing Tokai Teio and her relentless questioning. He even considered calling in sick to Symboli Rudolf via Line, though he figured wasting a day of leave just to avoid Teio was a bit much.
Little did he know, Tokai Teio had just finished chatting with Curren Chan.
"I wonder if Suzuka-senpai has returned to the academy yet," Teio muttered, staring out the window. Beside her, Mayano Top Gun heard every word but remained deathly silent, not daring to make a sound.