T.M. Opera O didn't know what her dreams meant; they were all incredibly fragmented, and T.M. Opera O couldn't recognize a single thing in these dreams... except for one person.
Yes, in her dreams, T.M. Opera O had seen Wada's face—only older than the one she saw now, seemingly past his youth and approaching middle age.
In those fragmented memories, T.M. Opera O glimpsed some moments of that person who looked very much like Wada, paying close attention to a four-legged creature that seemed somewhat familiar. The bits and pieces of memory fragments... were almost all scenes of the two of them together.
However, these memories quickly faded from T.M. Opera O's mind, and the only memory T.M. Opera O remembered clearly and relatively completely was when she was floating in mid-air, as if flying, and saw the person who looked like Wada, riding a four-legged creature that was not the one T.M. Opera O often saw, competing with another group of similar people.
Is this... a Race? T.M. Opera O glanced at her surroundings, gaining a general understanding of the current scene. At this moment, she also noticed that the distance between Wada and the one in first place was incredibly small... And at this moment, T.M. Opera O made a move—she slowly floated closer to Wada's back, extended her hand, and gave him a push.
Although it was just a gentle nudge, T.M. Opera O could hear the sound at that time, the cheers echoing in her ears. She could also hear the commentator's excited shouts from the commentary booth:
"THE WINNER IS MIKKI ROCKET! TRULY UNBELIEVABLE! THE WINNER OF THIS TAKARAZUKA KINEN! ISSSSSS MIKKI ROCKETTTT, RIDDEN BY WADA RYUJI!!!"
"Wada Ryuji has now won his eighth GI victory after so many years! Let's congratulate him and Mikki Rocket, whom he rode!"
At that moment, T.M. Opera O, floating in mid-air, looked somewhat dazed. However, in the next second, she noticed Wada, who was riding the four-legged creature named Mikki Rocket, turning around with tears in his eyes, looking at her with a seemingly incredulous gaze...—This was the clearest and most coherent dream T.M. Opera O had had so far.
"Speaking of which, it's truly incredible. I'm even starting to wonder if I was like that strange four-legged creature in my previous life. Was I an animal in my past life?"
T.M. Opera O also inexplicably found herself amusing, and quickly dismissed this thought, turning to look at Wada beside her.
"...Hey, what's wrong? Why aren't you looking at me?"
"...Nothing."
However, Wada, who had turned his head away, subtly concealed his emotions. What T.M. Opera O had just said made Wada a little unable to control his emotions. Yet, at this very moment, he couldn't let his emotions out now—especially when T.M. Opera O was completely clueless.
But, it was truly wonderful... His long-held question was now answered.
So, in the end, it was you who pushed me, T.M. Opera O.
However, no matter how Wada tried to conceal it, T.M. Opera O was not a fool. Although she hadn't reached Wada's level of seemingly being able to read her mind, T.M. Opera O could sense Wada's emotional instability at this moment... Why did he seem to be crying? And, it didn't seem to be crying from sadness? Was it joy?
Did she do something that made Wada very happy?
"Ah, five minutes seems to be up, I have to go back." Wada seemed to have noticed Hana Toujou, who had already used buying water as an excuse and was now walking back. Having been here many times, Wada naturally knew what she meant; she was telling him not to linger.
Wada immediately stood up, casually wiped away the tears from his eyes, and then smiled as he said to T.M. Opera O: "T.M. Opera O, I'm afraid I won't be able to see you for a while. Doto's training takes priority. We'll only meet once we are at the Mainichi Hai."
"—Wada, wait!"
However, unexpectedly, T.M. Opera O's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and she immediately stood up to stop Wada. Facing the person who had met her not only in reality but also in her dreams, she couldn't help but slowly ask:
"You... I don't want to discourage you, but you really might lose."
T.M. Opera O swallowed, and couldn't help but ask with some trepidation: "W- what if Doto loses? Are you... really just going to keep training Doto?"
Are you really going to give up on having me join your team? T.M. Opera O swallowed this sentence back and didn't say it. She didn't know why she wanted to ask this question, but she knew she was afraid of getting a positive answer.
She couldn't go easy; she would never compromise, no matter what. Even if her opponent was anyone, even Symboli Rudolf, she would definitely go all out to fight and win—this was her pride as an Uma Musume, and her bottom line as the Overlord.
But... if she really won, would that be the result she truly wanted?
For a moment, T.M. Opera O's heart was filled with mixed emotions, and she even forgot to do her usual charade. She had no answer in her heart, so she wanted to know if Wada knew the answer to this question.
She felt that Wada would definitely make a choice that would satisfy her, an answer she could accept.
"...I've thought about that idea from the very beginning, T.M. Opera O."
However, upon hearing this, Wada also sighed silently after a moment of silence, a somewhat unconfident smile appearing on his face. In fact, he was even more worried about this outcome than T.M. Opera O.
"If Doto and I really lose... then, T.M. Opera O, it means you have a Trainer who far surpasses me, someone who can bring out your full potential even better than I can."
"I... you might find it hard to believe, but based on my understanding of you, I specifically wrote a future training plan template."
Saying this, Wada looked directly into T.M. Opera O's somewhat dazed and surprised eyes, seemingly a little embarrassed. After all, T.M. Opera O hadn't even joined the team yet, and he was already writing such a future planning template... It was as if he was certain he would win.
But in reality, whether he won or lost, this template would be of great use to T.M. Opera O.
"I originally intended that if I lost, I would share this template with Miss Hana Toujou, and strongly request her to train you according to this template—but on second thought, I'm still a bit unwilling."
"I want to give this template to you myself, T.M. Opera O. I want to use my own abilities to turn you into an Uma Musume who surpasses even the Emperor."
"... But why?"
However, T.M. Opera O seemed to be stunned by Wada's words, and asked with slightly dazed eyes: "W- why are you so good to me... You've even planned so many things for me. Why are you so persistent in helping me?"
Although T.M. Opera O was very narcissistic, she knew that she was currently just an Uma Musume who had only recently debuted. Although she always called herself the Overlord, her achievements were far from living up to that title.
Even her Debut Race was full of twists and turns, and she had originally thought her potential might only go so far.
Initially, when Wada wanted her to join his team, she had thought it was just because something about her had stimulated him, making him feel she was unique. But now, T.M. Opera O could no longer comfort herself with such excuses.
He had done so much for her, even though she hadn't even joined his team, he had already made plans for her. Why would he do all this?
And in response to T.M. Opera O's question, Wada's face merely showed a sad smile, filled with countless worries and emotions, yet he spoke in a very ordinary tone:
"Because everything I do... is for you, T.M. Opera O." (T/N: Title Drop!)
..."—T.M...? T.M. Ope...? T.M. Opera O?! Wake up!"
"Ah!" Hana Toujou's continuous calls finally brought T.M. Opera O out of her daze. She saw Hana Toujou looking at her with a strange expression, asking rather oddly:
"What's wrong, T.M. Opera O? Did that Wada guy do something to you? Your face has been very red since just now. Do you have a fever?"
"—N- NO! N- NOTHING HAPPENED! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"
T.M. Opera O, uncharacteristically flustered, waved her hands, then laughed loudly to cover her embarrassment, and quickly turned away, saying: "To make me, the Overlord, lose my composure this badly... Wada Ryuji, hmm? I'll remember that name! Next time at the Mainichi Hai, I'll definitely get my revenge for this humiliation!"
However, under the moonlight, Hana Toujou could see that T.M. Opera O, bathed in the moonlight, had ears hidden by her orange hair that were now tinged with a beautiful, lingering blush...
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Wada has that rizz frfr.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.