The rest of his conversation with the director went rather quickly Stay Gold had excused herself partway though after saying that she was going to set something up for after.
There wasn't much to discuss after between him and Akikawa so they remained in relative silence until Tazuna came to deliver Hope for Tomorrow's performance and whether or not she would actually be accepted inside the school.
When both he and the director heard her result they were both equally astonished.
Suffice to say she was soon accepted inside Tracen Academy.
All that was left to do was for him to tell her the good news and pay both Ikeno and Ikezoe a visit.
…
Being with Haru was fun, her expressions were adorable and she couldn't but smile after every little thing she did.
So she didn't mind spending some time with her will waiting for her results.
Luckily for her she didn't have to wait long as she was soon informed by Miss Tazuna that she had indeed passed, that she would be residing within Ritto dormitory and that she should ask the dorm manager what her room number was.
She hurriedly thanked Tazuna before the woman took her leave and left to guard the gate.
She then went to cafeteria with her new friend.
They had to wait for a bit to get their food but it was rather smooth sailing.
After getting seated at a table somebody else joined them, she had brown hair, eyes that started as an almost light red but slowly became darker the closer to her eyebrows they went and an almost exasperated look on her face.
"Haru…" she started, "Why did you run off?"
"I saw a butterfly."
The newcomer almost sighed.
"Ah King before I forget! I made a new friend!"
"You did?" King said, "Well that's great Haru I'd love to meet them."
Did she… did she not see her?
"Hi."
King almost jumped in surprise before quickly regaining her composure, "Hello, sorry I didn't see you there."
"It's no big deal."
"No, I'm sorry I should have noticed you, my names King Halo, what's yours?"
"Ah, my names Hope for Tomorrow, nice to meet you King Halo-san."
"Nice to meet you Hope for Tomorrow-san," She said as she sat down next to Haru and started to fuss over her appearance, in an almost motherly fashion.
She smiled and took a bite of her food, and almost instantly the first word that appeared in her head was "Bland," and it was bland. Well at least compared to what she used to have.
King Halo looked at her, "Bland?"
"… Did I say that out loud?"
She nodded.
"Ah, I see… sorry."
She looked down and ignored the heat that was building on her cheek.
"It's no problem, but why did you call it bland?"
"I guess I must have been spoiled, by my old man…"
King halo thought about it for a moment and seemed to determine that that made sense.
…
It took a bit longer than he would have liked to find Okino but he eventually did.
He looked out at the racetrack where a group of umas were practice running and then looked at the railing to see Okino standing there with a lollipop in his mouth timing and observing them.
Seeing a chance to annoy his junior he slowly made his way down to where the young man was standing and patted his shoulder.
"Yo, Okino, long time no see!"
He seized up before calming down after having recognized the voice and turned his head to look at him, "Yeah, long time no see… weren't you supposed to be in retirement?"
"I am, thank you, I've come to cash in that favour of mine."
"Have you now?" He said before taking a look back at the racetrack to see that the umas presumably his trainees had finished running a lap, "Alright!" He screamed, "Take a 10 minute break before doing another lap!"
A chorus of yes's and ok's erupted but as Okino looked at them before turning back around he froze.
"Wait… where's Gold Ship?"
He looked around nervously before turning to look at him and freezing in pure terror.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Is it something on my face? Is somebody behind me or something?"
And just about as he was going to turn around he heard her, "Hello Uncle."
He turned around and looked at Gold Ship, she was taller now, still shorter than him, but taller, her was white now and she was wearing a weird cap, he almost wanted to ask if it was Point Flag, how much they looked alike.
"You've grown, Golshi."
She smiled proudly
"Indeed I have uncle."
"I hope you've been eating well."
"I have been eating well, but sadly I still miss your food…" She said sulkingly.
"To think that not even 6 years ago you barely even reached my knee…" he started to pat her head, "You've grown so much."
She smiled embarrassingly will getting head patted, "Stop it you're embarrassing me…" she looked away in mock embarrassment.
Okino looked at him in complete shock, "H-h-how? What is this sorcery?!?!?"
"Sorcery?"
"H-How!"
"You lost me Okino…"
"How did you tame her!?!?!?!?"
"I… I didn't? She's not a pet…"
He sputtered, "I know she's not a pet! What I need to know is how you can do that!"
"I'm her uncle I guess?"
"I… I give up… well what's the favour?"
"I'd like for you to train my daughter."
"Eh???" Gold Ship started still getting head pats, "you have a daughter uncle?"
"Adoptive but yes."
Okino looked at him for a moment, "Is there a reason you couldn't ask Ikezoe?"
"Poor guy has to deal with Curren-chan, Dream Journey, Orfevre and that's not even taking into account his daughter…"
"Good points, good points," he muttered under his breath, "Then… why don't you take her?"
"I'm sick."
"You don't look sick?"
"I get that a lot," he said with a deadpan face, "So… are you doing it. Or not."
Okino looked to the side pondering on his options most probably.
It looked like he would have to force it.
"Am I really going to have to tell Hana about that incident?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"I would if you don't even consider taking my daughter as one of your trainees."
"Fine! I'll meet her later."
He gave a smile, "Glad to do business."
He heard Gold Ship mutter something under her breath as she moved away from them and went somewhere else.
"Yeah, yeah… what's her name anyway?"
"Hope for Tomorrow."
"Alright, I'll meet her tomorrow… have a nice day, I hope you get better soon."
He looked at Okino as he walked away knowing his job was done.
Hope had entered the school, she was all but guaranteed to join a team, her life would be good.
His mission complete he left and departed for the hospital.
…
It was getting dark out now, easily past 6 pm, and from what she had heard from King Halo-san the dormitories closed their doors past 8 pm, so it would probably be a good idea to go to her dorm room now and make a good impression on her roommate.
And so after biding good night to Haru and King she left for her dormitory.
As she ran to the building she couldn't help but feel that she was being… watched, it was weird… very weird.
She couldn't help but look side to side expecting and yet dreading that somebody would be there looking at her, but no matter what she did, she didn't see anybody.
She looked to the side and saw… darkness.
The void looked at her and she could barely resist the urge to look back.
After a bit more walking she finally reached what looked to be the dormitory after about 30 minutes of her looking behind her.
And so she sighed and shook her head.
"It looks like there was nobody there after all… thank god…"
She walked with her head down before she walked straight into somebodies chest.
She stopped slowly looked up and saw a tall white hair uma with sunglasses and a mask on looking straight down at her.
"Scarlet! Vodka! Spe! Get er!"
She looked to the side and saw an average height uma with a big chest and almost scarlet colour twin tails wearing the same get-up as the tall white haired uma, presumably the ring leader.
Another one who was more lean and had dark hair, with a streak of white hair. In the same get-up.
And another one wearing the same get up but with dark hair and what looked like white braids.
"Yes Gold Ship-san!"
"Why are you all wearing sungl—"
Before she could finish her sentence a burlap sack fell over her head before she was carried away by the group as they said "Heave-Ho!" Over and over.
————-
Authors note
I like writing Haru and Golshi it's fun.