Because Mejiro Dober had asked way too many people while searching for Shirayuki, a whole pile of girls found out that Shirayuki had disappeared.
Then they messaged Dober.
And Dober, in her infinite innocence, replied that she had found Shirayuki and Trainer at a hot spring inn.
The result?
Everyone came.
"And that's how it happened, Trainer." Seiun Sky rested both hands behind her head and spoke to Fujiwara Chiya as casually as ever.
"Since when were you this proactive?"
"Seii-chan has always been proactive. I just work hard in secret, where Trainer can't see."
And you still want to pretend you're not a tryhard?
"By the way, that was seriously mean, Trainer. How could you only bring Shirayuki out and not even tell us? Don't you know we'd worry if we couldn't find you?"
"I'm already in my twenties. It's not like I'm going to get lost. If anything, you girls are the worrying ones when nobody can contact you."
"Uwah, I don't know about that. Maybe there's some uma musume out there who has a thing for good trainers, you know? What if someone sees your pretty face and just kidnaps you? Then we won't even be able to save you."
Seiun Sky smiled mischievously.
"So when Trainer goes out, you have to tell us, okay? You wouldn't want your uma musume worrying about you, would you?"
"Sky… you're not even my uma musume, are you?"
Seiun Sky's face visibly collapsed.
"I'm joking. I trained your trainer, so strictly speaking, that makes you half my uma musume too."
"Oh? If I count as half, then what does that make Shirayuki? Also half? Doesn't that mean I'm equal to Shirayuki? In that case, Trainer can just bring me next time. Or Shirayuki can bring me. The two of us complement each other perfectly, after all."
Hm?
Was that how the math worked?
Though she put it in a roundabout way, it was obvious that Seiun Sky was very unhappy about him and Shirayuki sneaking out together.
No, more accurately, she was nervous.
Every word she said pointed to the same thing.
"Bring me next time."
At this rate, Seiun Sky was basically going to write those words across her face.
Aside from Seiun Sky, Special Week and Grass Wonder had also rushed over. Unlike Seiun Sky, they did not seem particularly tense. They had simply come looking for Shirayuki.
What surprised Fujiwara Chiya more was Orfevre.
She had actually followed them all the way here too.
"What are you staring at me for?"
"You always used to say this and that about Shirayuki, but the moment she disappeared, you came running over faster than anyone."
Fujiwara Chiya pinched his chin.
"Orfevre, don't tell me…"
"Do not evaluate my actions with that foolish little mind of yours."
Orfevre lifted her chin.
"I was merely curious. As an empress, instead of accepting the praises of the masses, she ran off together with my trainer. I simply wanted to know what kind of nonsense could drive her to such stupidity."
She glanced toward Shirayuki, who was surrounded by the crowd.
"Despite possessing such astonishing strength, she refuses to accept the world's spotlight. In the end, that empress lacks the bearing to stand at the very peak of the world."
"You're acknowledging Shirayuki's strength?"
"I… I am merely giving an objective assessment."
Orfevre folded her arms and turned her head away.
Still stubborn as ever.
The fact that she had come all the way from Tracen was enough to prove her obsession with Shirayuki was anything but minor.
Originally, Fujiwara Chiya had hoped to enjoy a few days of vacation alone with Shirayuki.
Now, it seemed that was impossible.
Over there, Shirayuki had been surrounded by Grass Wonder, Mejiro Dober, and the others.
Over here, he had Seiun Sky and Orfevre.
That had been short.
Too short.
Still, every second he had spent with Shirayuki remained perfectly clear in Fujiwara Chiya's memory.
Just thinking about it was enough to make him smile.
Since things had already turned out this way, Fujiwara Chiya simply decided to take everyone out together.
His relationships with them were bonds he had built himself. He could not throw everyone aside just because he wanted to be with Shirayuki.
That would be far too irresponsible.
If he had another chance later, he would find time for Shirayuki again.
And if he did not, then he would quietly take care of everyone.
"Let's go walk around Shibuya. I heard they're holding an uma musume event there."
"Shibuya?"
"Yeah."
"Seii-chan came out in a hurry, so I didn't bring any spending money. Trainer, could you help poor Seii-chan out? Otherwise… I can pay you back with this body."
As she said that, Seiun Sky tugged lightly at her skirt and winked at Fujiwara Chiya.
"My rates are pretty high, you know."
"That's fine. My body's sturdy. Trainer can use me however he likes."
Mejiro Dober, Orfevre, and the others looked at him with strange eyes.
Fujiwara Chiya coughed several times.
"I'm joking. Let's just call it a celebration for Shirayuki's victory. I'll treat everyone to a trip around Shibuya."
"Trainer sure is generous."
There was a hint of regret in Seiun Sky's eyes as she smiled.
"Hey, Trainer."
As everyone prepared to set off, Orfevre came up beside him.
"Do not forget. My debut race is this weekend. You have not been so swept away by the empress that you forgot about me, have you?"
"I wrote your schedule down. I also handed your training plan to Darley in advance. Originally, I planned to head back after spending two days with Shirayuki."
"Then it seems the empress has not stolen your mind completely. She is indeed strong, but I am even stronger."
"I'll be watching you crush your opponents in your debut race."
"Hmph-hmph~"
Orfevre puffed out her chest in a very good mood.
Then, at that moment, she noticed a small white corner peeking out from Fujiwara Chiya's chest pocket.
"What is that, Trainer?"
Orfevre pointed at his chest. Chiya noticed it and hurriedly tucked it back in.
It was the wedding photo he had taken with Shirayuki.
After Mejiro Dober arrived, Fujiwara Chiya had quietly hidden it in his pocket.
He did not dare tell everyone about it right now.
If they found out that Shirayuki held the unshakable number one spot in his heart, the whole group would absolutely explode.
But how should he put it?
Fujiwara Chiya could already feel it.
The yearning of one half of his soul for the other.
If someone asked him who he liked, Chiya could give many answers.
Rice Shower.
Dober.
Tazuna.
Treve.
And others too.
But if someone asked who he liked the most, then Fujiwara Chiya could only give one answer.
The person who had been with him since birth.
The person who knew everything about him.
Who cried with him.
Who laughed with him.
Who went through the lowest valleys with him and climbed all the way to the summit by his side.
The person most familiar to him.
And also the person most strange.
Only now did Fujiwara Chiya finally understand that feeling.
The person he liked most…
Was herself.
Even if he searched the entire world, he probably would not find another weirdo like him.
After experiencing so much love from others, the thing that ultimately occupied Fujiwara Chiya's heart was, unbelievably, self-love.
"Trainer, what are you smiling about?"
Looking at Fujiwara Chiya's face, Orfevre asked.
"It's nothing."
Fujiwara Chiya smiled softly.
"I just suddenly feel like… I've become complete."