"Darley, thanks for all your hard work while I was away."
After returning to the office, Fujiwara Chiya thanked Darley. For the past few months, she had been responsible for Mejiro Dober and Agnes Tachyon's training.
"The one who worked hard was Trainer, wasn't it? I was only recording data."
She had sent the training footage and records to Fujiwara Chiya. Then, after he modified the training plan, he would send it back.
There was less than a week left until the final race of the Fillies' Triple Crown. Shirayuki's injuries had not healed yet, so she could not participate. Naturally, the favourites for the final crown were Mejiro Dober, Seeking the Pearl, and Kyoei March.
During the final month before his return, Fujiwara Chiya had applied the training methods he learned in Europe to Mejiro Dober's training. The final version had changed quite a lot, so even Fujiwara Chiya was not fully confident.
Darley was only an assistant, so she did not know how to improve the training content on the spot. She could only wait for Fujiwara Chiya's message the next day, which greatly reduced efficiency.
Still, judging from her results, Mejiro Dober had indeed improved, and the increase was not small. Later, he would have to ask her about her training condition.
These past few days after coming back had been extremely busy. There were student council matters, Central matters, and the new student entrance period. Both Shirayuki and Chiya had been spinning in circles.
Just when things finally settled down for a moment, the Shuka Sho arrived.
Even now, Shirayuki had barely managed to speak with Mejiro Dober and the others. Jet lag made Shirayuki sleep during the day and move around at night, making their already limited time together even shorter.
"How was your time in Europe, Trainer?"
Darley asked with a bright smile.
"Pretty good."
"Did you find someone who caught your heart?"
Fujiwara Chiya thought about it.
"…Byerley."
"Hah?"
"I heard Byerley knows you? She mentioned you before."
Darley breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mm, she and I are… colleagues, I suppose you could say. Trainer, you haven't taken a liking to her, have you?"
"I think she's amazing. For such a powerful uma musume to have no one know her name, it feels a little strange."
"What's strange about that? People say gold will always shine, but that only describes the gold that gets found. Most of it is still buried underground."
"Even if she debuted now, it wouldn't be too late."
"Haha, Trainer, at Byerley's age, what she needs to consider is no longer making herself shine. Of course, if you insist on becoming the discerning eye who discovers her, you can. The prerequisite is that you must be prepared. Gaining such a powerful uma musume comes with a very high price."
"A price?"
"Your body, and your soul. Both will become hers."
"What kind of nonsense is that? Do I have to swear loyalty to her just to sign a contract?"
"That's right. She isn't so easy to sign. Stop thinking about that, Trainer. I'm not inferior to Byerley either. If you're really considering someone, you might as well consider me first. Besides, what I asked wasn't who you were interested in. I asked whether you found someone you fancied. Wasn't there a little one who just defeated you?"
"Trêve?"
"That's right. Do you not have any thoughts about her?"
He did.
And he had already acted on them.
During those days when Shirayuki was recovering from her injuries, Trêve had been very happy.
Every day, she kept teasing Shirayuki.
Shirayuki had never expected that in just three short months, she would turn Trêve from an innocent, pure-hearted girl into a mature girl who had begun to enjoy exploring the mysteries of the body.
She had defiled the Queen of France.
Although she had not completely defiled her yet, that was probably only a matter of time.
"Remember to keep in touch. Otherwise, an uma musume's feelings can easily change as time passes. By the next time you meet, who knows what shape they might twist into."
"I haven't said anything yet. Do you understand uma musume feelings that well?"
"After all, I'm an uma musume too, so I understand their hearts fairly well."
By that logic, I'm also an uma musume, so why haven't I twisted?
…Probably not, right?
Fujiwara Chiya began thinking about whether his feelings for anyone had changed during this period.
It did not seem like there was anyone.
The only change during this period was the sense of peace he felt when Shirayuki and Chiya were together.
But it's not like my feelings toward myself could change, right?
Impossible.
That sense of peace was not brought about by changing feelings. It was because, amid the exhaustion of having to constantly care for everyone's emotions, Shirayuki's existence allowed him to completely relax.
That was a special trait.
It had nothing to do with feelings.
The burden on his shoulders was too heavy. Sometimes, he needed a safe harbour like that.
Shirayuki was his safe harbour.
And the reverse was also true.
"As long as one is an uma musume, this kind of problem will appear. Their feelings will settle and change with time. Without exception."
Darley smiled.
For a moment, Fujiwara Chiya seemed to hear the words, including you.
"What did you say?"
"Mm?"
"…Forget it."
He had heard of friendship changing into something else.
But he had never heard of someone's feelings toward themselves changing.
How could there be something that absurd?
"I recorded some training methods while I was in Europe. I'll explain them to you first. From now on, record their training according to this method. I'll leave the supervision to you, and I'll arrange the training plans."
"Trainer won't manage them anymore?"
"These were supposed to be your duties in the first place. I've been doing them for you this whole time. You've been interning for long enough, so it's time for you to work toward becoming a formal trainer. For now, you'll be responsible for Doto, Rice Shower, and Dober. Treat them as your own uma musume. I need to put more energy into this year's new students."
"…Yes."
Darley showed a reluctant expression.
Seeing that, Fujiwara Chiya's mood improved quite a bit.
…
"Shirayuki."
In the dorm room, Shirayuki was rewatching footage of the Arc when Mejiro Dober hugged her.
"You're back early. Are all your matters finished?"
"Mm. There shouldn't be much to do for a while."
For the past few days, every time Mejiro Dober was about to fall asleep, Shirayuki would finally return. And after returning, Shirayuki would not sleep either. When Mejiro Dober woke up in the morning, she would only then see Shirayuki asleep.
Because of that, there were many things Mejiro Dober had wanted to say to Shirayuki but never had the chance.
The same went for Trainer. He had been rushing back and forth between Central and Tracen, and she could not even see him in the office.
Hearing that Shirayuki was finally done with her work, Mejiro Dober's heart settled at last.
After not seeing her for three months, Mejiro Dober had practically developed withdrawal symptoms.
When Shirayuki was asleep, she would lie down on Shirayuki's bed and hold her hand to comfort herself.
Until she was completely exhausted.
Once Shirayuki's side was satisfied, next would be Trainer.
"How is your body? Should I help massage you and loosen you up?"
Before the race, Shirayuki wanted to do one final thing for Mejiro Dober. As it happened, she had learned a method from Yaeno Muteki to improve circulation and ease bruising.
Hearing those words, Mejiro Dober swallowed.
"Then I'll leave it to you. I want Trainer to massage me from head to toe. It's fine even if you're a little rough."