"Ah ! Doto, you actually found a Trainer?! Is that true?!"
In the Uma Musume dorms, Meisho Doto and Air Shakur, who were roommates, along with another Uma Musume girl who had rushed over after hearing the news about Meisho Doto, were all shocked by the news that Meisho Doto had found a Trainer.
"E-everyone, don't be so loud, you'll disturb others…"
"I'm just surprised, Doto, that you actually found a Trainer." Air Shakur, an Uma Musume girl with a unique set of jagged teeth, said with a hint of surprise, "According to my data analysis, given your personality, Doto-san, the probability of you finding a Trainer within a month after your Debut Race was not high. I didn't expect such a coincidence to occur."
"Don't say that, Shakur. Doto-san is also very strong; she just lacks a little confidence." Beside Shakur, an Uma Musume girl named "Marvelous Sunday," who looked very much like a young lady, said happily to Doto:
"But this is great, Doto-san! You finally found a Trainer and can receive professional Trainer-led training."
"But I wonder who your Trainer is? Is it Tojo T, Opera O's Trainer, whom Doto-san admires, or Okino T?"
"N-neither." Meisho Doto shook her head at the words, timidly saying in a low voice, "It's…it's Trainer Wada, a new Trainer…"
"A new Trainer? One of the three Trainers who reported to Tracen Academy, among the top three in this year's written exam?" Air Shakur had clearly heard about this and said with some surprise;
"That's amazing, Doto. I didn't expect one of them to notice you. I heard that this year's three new Trainers at Tracen Academy are a very high-caliber group."
"Seize this opportunity, train hard, and I believe you still have a chance to beat Opera O in the Mainichi Hai."
"Ah…"
However, facing Air Shakur's encouragement, Meisho Doto was exceptionally lacking in self-confidence. Especially when she thought that her goal was to compete against Opera O on the Mainichi Hai stage, a sudden urge to run away welled up from the bottom of her heart.
Some time later, after seeing Marvelous Sunday off, Meisho Doto walked out of the dorm building alone, feeling uneasy, frequently looking in the direction of the Trainer dorm building, her heart a mix of emotions.
Sure enough… I can't do it, can I? The Trainer is so excellent; he should have a more outstanding Uma Musume as his in charge. I'm so clumsy and can't do anything right; how can I be the in charge Uma Musume for such an excellent Trainer? Doto looked at the in charge agreement she and Wada had signed, which she had received from Symboli Rudolf of the Student Council this afternoon. This agreement had copies for the Uma Musume, the Trainer, and the Student Council, bearing her and Wada's signatures and the Student Council's seal.
Now, Doto held the agreement, her fingers creasing its edges due to excessive nervousness. She was still hesitating whether she should explain to Wada that she simply couldn't do it… She couldn't win against Opera O. Trainer Wada should find a more promising Uma Musume, but she had already agreed at the time… Would it make her seem to go back on her word?
"Oh, what should I do…"
"—Hahahahaha! Isn't this my most loyal subject? Why are you here? Are you sleepless like me? What a coincidence!"
Suddenly, behind Doto, the moment Opera O's iconic laughter rang out, Doto's entire body, ears and tail included, shot up in fright. As she instinctively turned around, she clutched the agreement tightly behind her back.
"O-Opera O? Why are you here?"
"It's merely the Overlord's post-dinner stroll." Doto's actions did not escape Opera O's eyes; even in the dark of night, the Uma Musume's miraculous physical structure allowed her to see everything clearly.
Opera O clearly saw the two large characters "Agreement" printed on the paper Doto was hiding behind her back. Her heart skipped a beat, a strange feeling of unease rising within her.
"—Hahaha, Doto, my most beloved subject, do you have any hidden secrets from me?" Even so, Opera O did not imperiously demand Doto show her the paper directly, but rather said in her usual style, gradually approaching the topic:
"How about sharing your joy with me? My Overlord's mouth is very reliable, you know?"
"Th-this… even if it's Opera O's request, I…"
However, Doto stammered, unsure how to respond. She knew very well that Trainer Wada really wanted Opera O to join his team, but now she was the first to join. Showing this agreement to Opera O wouldn't be good.
If she did, Opera O would be angry, wouldn't she? She would definitely be angry!
As soon as she thought of this, Doto became even more afraid. Doto's unnaturalness and the paper clutched even tighter, however, made Opera O frown involuntarily, her mood even becoming agitated.
One must know, Opera O was an Uma Musume who could take all words spoken to her as praise; yet, this time, she actually felt agitated, which was rare.
But even so, Opera O still maintained her image, smiling as she said:
"It's alright, my most beloved subject. This is merely the curiosity of me, the Overlord. Whatever you are hiding, or if you wish to challenge my position as Overlord, I will not be angry."
"Of course, if you truly do not wish to reveal it, then as the Overlord, I should also be magnanimous and understanding…"
"R-really not angry?"
Just as Opera O was about to play hard to get, Doto's voice immediately pulled back Opera O, who was feigning to leave. Doto timidly took out the agreement from behind her back and nervously handed it to Opera O.
"Actually, I should have told you, Opera O, about this… Eh?!"
However, before Doto could finish her sentence, Opera O eagerly snatched the agreement from Doto's hand, instantly recognizing it as the in charge agreement she had already anticipated.
As Opera O's gaze fell to the bottom of the agreement, clearly showing the signatures of the in charge Uma Musume "Meisho Doto" and the Trainer "Wada Ryuji," as well as the distinctive seal of Tracen Academy, her fingers almost instinctively tightened.
For a moment, surprise, disbelief, and various other emotions flickered through Opera O's pink eyes, making it difficult for her to accept this fact. A strange, sour feeling suddenly welled up in her heart.
"Um… Opera O… actually… I think Trainer Wada really wants you to join."
Doto seemed not to notice Opera O's expression, but she did sense Opera O's unusual demeanor, and said timidly:
"But, you might not know, Trainer Tojo and Trainer Wada made a bet… If, if I can win against you in the Mainichi Hai in the latter half of March, then you can join…"
"I, I think Trainer Wada absolutely doesn't want to compete against you, but he's doing this for you. It's just that I don't think I can win…"
Doto then belatedly and anxiously said, "I, I'm going to apply to withdraw from the team right now. I really can't do it. Trainer Wada's in charge Uma Musume should really be Opera O. Someone like me can't…"
"—No, Doto, I won't allow you to withdraw, you know."
However, contrary to Doto's expectation, Opera O's voice, devoid of any chuunibyou tone, made Doto instinctively snap back to reality. She saw Opera O, at some point, had a smile back on her face, and she said to Doto very seriously:
"The Overlord's challengers should be endless; that is the best way to hone the Overlord! Even if it's the challenge of my most beloved subject, I will not shy away from it!"
"So, prepare well in these next two months, Doto. I eagerly await the moment we meet on the Mainichi Hai track!"
"At that time, I will not hold back; I will face you in my strongest form! Hahahahaha!"
Opera O let out a hearty laugh, and while laughing, she left the scene. Doto, still somewhat at a loss, looked at the agreement that had been returned to her, but surprisingly noticed something… Was it raining? Why was a small part of this agreement wet?
…Opera O, after leaving, did not return to the dorm building. Instead, she went to a quiet corner, subtly wiped away a trace of moisture from the corner of her eye, and immediately took out her phone to call Tojo Hana.
"…Hello? Opera O? Is something wrong this late?"
"Trainer, starting tomorrow, I need more practice." Opera O, uncharacteristically, spoke without any exaggerated tone this time, but rather very seriously, word by word: "And, I need to participate in more races, until I have a spot to enter the Satsuki Sho."
"…There are only two months left, Opera O. Are you sure you want to do this?" However, Tojo Hana, of course, understood the hidden meaning in Opera O's words and couldn't help but say hesitantly, "Your injury from the Debut Race just healed not long ago."
"Also, for the Mainichi Hai in the latter half of March, you need to face it in peak condition. Participating in too many races now might be a great burden on you, and if you win the Mainichi Hai, your Satsuki Sho spot will be absolutely no problem."
"Hahahahaha, Trainer, even I, the Overlord, need to make preparations, especially when I feel it's not a certainty." Opera O, of course, knew what she was doing. However, she had a premonition that her Mainichi Hai would not be so easy to win.
"As the Overlord, I have never intended to hand over victory, but I also have my own goals."
"…I understand. Don't worry, I still have a little influence; I can help you secure spots in a few races."