"You can really tell Saint Halo and Trainer Terizumi Shinji are close. The atmosphere inside Team Ziwei Star must be wonderful."
At the host's comment, the reporters had already gathered around them. They were standing right in the middle of the track, where even the people in the front rows of the grandstand could see clearly.
Saint Halo did not answer. She simply rested her head against Shinji's arm, leaving him no choice but to nod on her behalf, looking slightly helpless.
The reporters did not rush to fire off their questions. Since this was an on-track interview with the winner, they naturally had to wait for Saint Halo to settle her emotions a little first.
"Still not ready? Everyone's waiting for you, you know."
He leaned in and whispered the words into her ear. Saint Halo could hear the murmuring all around them, and hurriedly shoved at his arm.
"Don't lean in so close."
"Who exactly is the one leaning on who here?"
At that, Saint Halo only grew even more flustered. The system prompt chimed in her mind.
[Negative Emotion +100]
Looks like she really was dying of embarrassment.
Shinji exchanged a glance with the host, and she smoothly redirected the microphone toward him.
"It looks like Saint Halo still needs a little time to calm down, so while we wait for the big commemorative photo later, why don't we hear from Trainer Terizumi first? How are you feeling right now?"
"My feelings right now? Very good, I'd say. To see your own horse girl accomplish something this difficult... from how hard things were last year to the success she's achieved now, Halo put in an incredible amount of work through that whole process. She kept chasing her dream the entire way. I think that process itself must have become a precious memory and experience for her as well."
The host's eyes curved into a smile.
When he wanted to, this trainer was actually quite good at giving polished, official-sounding answers.
"In the first half of this year, you have undoubtedly been the most successful and outstanding trainer in Japan. Both Offside Trap and Saint Halo have achieved spectacular results. So how would you summarize your own first half of the year?"
"I think the greater share of the credit belongs to my horse girls. They're the ones running on the track, not me. Of course I'm not going to deny the work I do, but in the end, the ones standing on that stage are still the most important."
As Shinji said that, Saint Halo finally lifted her head.
Looking at the microphone near his mouth, she suddenly leaned in.
"It's not like that. The trainer trains us, designs our race tactics for us. He's amazing, and that's why we've improved so quickly, and why we can stay on guard against other opponents during races."
"This team having a trainer like him is our good fortune. We'll work even harder from here on, to repay him for that."
Saint Halo's interjection sent a wave of playful cheering through the stands, but though her face was bright red, this time she did not duck her head and avoid it. She looked seriously into the cameras, while the arm wrapped around Shinji's tightened even more.
"As expected, behind every outstanding horse girl is an equally outstanding and united team."
The host could not keep the smile off her face.
"Then I'd also like to ask Saint Halo, as today's winner: what do you think was the main reason you were able to win this race?"
"I believed I would definitely win. I think that was the most important reason. My opponents were strong too, but I stepped onto that turf with the conviction that I was stronger than they were. With a trainer like mine guiding my training, I feel like I absolutely have to answer that guidance with results. Maybe the trainer himself doesn't care about that kind of thing, but I do. I want people to know that he's the strongest trainer there is."
Saint Halo's answer visibly surprised even Shinji. The stubborn light on her face was caught cleanly by the cameras.
This was bound to become a hot topic.
After all, whenever people argued over who was number one in any field, there were always multiple candidates. Even in Japan, despite the existence of a trainer as outstanding as Tōjō Hana, there were still many who insisted that older trainers from before her had been better.
Saint Halo's words had just pushed Terizumi Shinji right into the middle of that debate.
Not because she thought his ability needed to be tested that way, but because Saint Halo genuinely believed he was fully qualified to be called the number one trainer in Japan.
In her eyes, that was simply what he should be.
Thinking back on her former self, and on everything that had brought her to this point, a thick, unmistakable trust rose onto Saint Halo's face.
"Saint Halo clearly has tremendous faith in her trainer. Trainer Terizumi, how would you like to respond to those feelings?"
"By training her even harder and holding her to even stricter standards, naturally."
That answer drew laughter from all around the venue.
Saint Halo, who had been holding her head up proudly a moment ago, immediately wilted, her face filling with helpless dismay.
Her trainer was already planning to make things even harder on her...
Still, when she saw the sympathy on the reporters' faces, she managed to find a bit of comfort in it.
After all, back when Offside Trap had done interviews, Shinji had claimed her training load "wasn't that high," and the reporters had actually believed him, which had completely wrecked Offside Trap's mood.
But now Shinji's true nature was already exposed, so at least these reporters understood.
"Then for the final question, one for Saint Halo. Right now, your teammate in Ziwei Star, Offside Trap, has completely secured her place as Japan's number one, and she has a very real shot at becoming the number one horse girl in the world this year. With a senior like that on your own team, do you feel pressure? Or pride?"
At that question, Saint Halo's gaze sharpened at once.
Offside Trap's strength was beyond question. Even if Saint Halo were to unleash the strongest finishing kick imaginable, she still felt she could not catch her.
She looked straight into the camera, and the reporters around her all turned serious as well.
"Offside Trap-senpai's strength is beyond doubt. Being on the same team as her does come with pressure. But I think overcoming that pressure is only one part of it. In my heart, I need to keep an even longer-term goal in view. So to me, Offside Trap-senpai is more like a marker on the road. I know exactly what I want... and what I absolutely must do is surpass her."
The statement sent a wave of shock through the crowd.
Saint Halo had already swept the three most important spring races in Japan, yes—but Offside Trap had already proven herself on the international stage. She was the genuine article, the strongest.
And yet anyone who saw Saint Halo with her chin slightly raised could tell:
she meant every word.
"Very well, that concludes today's interview."
As the host announced the end, Saint Halo's eyes went straight to Shinji's face.
She wanted to catch the expression he had made after hearing her answer.
Unfortunately, his face wore the same faint smile as always, giving away nothing.
Then his gaze turned toward her, and their eyes met.
She saw the shape of his lips.
He was very clearly saying:
"Do your best."
Join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 180)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl 285
"Is this chat group even serious?" 150
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 255
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 210
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 305
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer (This matter is completely finished.)
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 155
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 110
Still playing traditional Honk 96
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
What Should I Do After Switchi 51
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 105
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (This matter is completely finished.)
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 90
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 100
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 120
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
The Uma Musume Who Became 70
I'm Definitely Not the King of 105
After Maxing Out Every Class 110
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 95
I, the Elden Sword Saint 60
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 60
No One Knows Pokémon Better 60
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 69
From Trilobites to Titans 57
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 75
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 86
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 70
Honkai: The Fire Devil 70
Honkai Transformation Cards Volume2/30
Age of Heroes, I'm Just a Back 45
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin